the HAMMER & TONGS VINTAGE CREDO.

[SIEGE]

ahoy Gentlemen

Now that I am exiting stage left, I thought it appropriate to reveal some of what was behind the curtain.
http://www.siegecraftnw.com/credo1.htm

This is a 3 coffee, plus one later kind of affair.

- CJ

[Tahitian_Red]

Bravo Siege!!!!

Thanks for the first Washougal, thanks for all the great T-shirts in my drawer and thanks for all the cool photos and the wonderful tales (Hollister and the torn down YZ400D come to mind first)!!!

    

[vmxken]

What a great piece to read to start the day.  I agree entirely with your philosophy on how to make most of the riders happy most of the time at a vintage event and the success of the Hammer and Tongs series over the years proves that fact.  So many vintage people from all over the US said to me 'Those guys in the NW really seem to have their act together'.  I don't necessarily agree with some of your other assumptions, particularly about the sad state of vintage because bikes are getting shipped out of the US - as a whole, that really only means that vintage bikes are in demand, that people are buying them to race or restore, somewhere.  I am 100% sure that the US will never run out of vintage dirt bikes!

But back to the main message, which is the same as the above post by Tahitian Red, bravo.  You've poured so much into the sport and I only witnessed the 'results' of all that effort at one event, at Washougal back in 2008.  What an event, one of the best I've attended.  The atmosphere was just amazing and I'll never forget the weekend.  VMX Magazine was even presented with an award and that was just too cool (flanked by the famous Siege models!) and I just hope that my enthusiasm for the event came across when it was featured in the magazine (Issue 35, in case anyone wants to see one of their great events).  I'll be at Hodaka Days in June, I hope we can catch up there Siege.

[Graeme M]

I've never tried my hand at race promotion (well, that's not really true, long ago I did actually run an entire race and it was a pretty big deal race - I never did it again much to everyone's relief!), so I can only imagine the mixture of pain and pleasure that it must bring. But I think I can catch a glimpse there in your words Siege. For me though, what I do catch much more than a glimpse of is what made the VDR and H&T thing look like the great thing it most undoubtedly was.

Your website stands head and shoulders above them all. Not because it's huge (it is), not because it's full of brilliant stories, insights, race results and brilliant photos (it is), not because anyone can buy some of the coolest shirts known to man (you can) and not because it features THOSE models (it does, sigh...). Nope, it is because beyond all of those essential ingredients the site captures the flavour of what I think vintage motocross is all about.

It is so many things - the bikes, the races, the memories, the fun - but most of all, it's the sheer soul soothing satisfaction in playing is the dirt with a whole bunch of like minded people who share the passion for a time and lifestyle that could have remained just a distant hazy memory.

Siege, I never met you or any of the guys who raced H&T and I never got to race with you, but every time I spent an hour or so looking at the latest galleries, I came away feeling better than I did before I started. So, for me, a distant wannabe racer who only knew H&T from your website, thanks for all the time, effort, love, sweat and tears...

[VMX247]

Bravo all right..
Great read for another day on the VMX front line......
I too was pretty taken back by the amount of bikes coming into our country with the market flooded and our shed finds still to be found..I still dont believe its had a hugh effect on the riders at the start gate on the Western side of Australia and with or without the imports, VMX will still be here tomorrow as we have passionate people behind the wheel stearing it in a pretty good direction...
Hope to see you downunder one day.
ps very smart looking Alron page.      http://www.wischt.com/alron-story1.htm
cheers

[firko]

What a superb piece of journalism. Siege has so beautifully articulated the thoughts I've been trying (and failing miserably :'()to get out for too long. His passion for vintage motocross shines through but we already knew that from years of following the Hammer & Tongs website and wearing the t-shirts. People like Siege are a rare commodity.

As glowing as I am of the piece, I'm with Ken in his assertion that because bikes are leaving the US by the container load, somehow Americans racers are missing out. Every bike I've ever bought out of the US could just as easily have been grabbed by another punter sitting in front of a computer, no matter where they live.

That aside, everything else in the piece hits the spot. Us lovers of bikes from era's long gone are well aware that they'll eventually become museum pieces as the '09 Honda 450 becomes vintage de riguer. It'll still be vintage racing but it won't be our vintage racing so we indeed need to use what we've got for as long as we can to keep our particular vintage era valid.

I really hope you can 'maintain the rage' Siege. Our global sport/hobby/lifestyle needs people of passion like you. Your influence and that passion has spread much further than Seattle and the Pacific NW...long may it continue!

*I managed to get through it with 2 cups of coffee!

[SIEGE]

hey Boys

first my very heartfelt thanks to all - it is an honor to share the sprt and my own thought with you guys

just to clarify - about the state of Vintage - it's not a sad state, it's just changing - away from what we know- and so the part that is dying is the vintage scene that we know - different bikes and different riders still make a scene- but it's like - well - when your band starts playing different songs, to quote Waters - so Vintage Racing will always be there - floating along about 25 years behind what ever year we are on - just not the bikes that WE love, and no one that we know anymore

and realize that this is just a notion of mine - I hope to be wrong, on this one. 



about the bikes being shipped away - it's not anything about Americans - just that from the Northwest  - the idea that a bike I could race, or race against has been sent away - against its will - anywhere else - driven solely by money - very much like people who just part out perfectly beautiful race bikes - a personal disgust of mine....

anyhow thank you for reading my scribblings - and thanks for having me.

rock // CJ

[SIEGE]

well yes I started drinking heavily after Falta forced me to have a sip of Becherovka...  naw- I just need to take stock, fix all the broken stuff, and do what I'm REALLY supposed to be doing - which is ART work. I am heading for shoulder surgery and a hip replacement, if you can believe that, and a brain replacement later on. I DO seem to have all kinds of time and energy to paint, which luckily I can do with my right arm....
- SIEGE

[eno]

Seige we salute you.

[maico police]

He's nailed it about trophies. Presentation of them is always an embarrassing end of day experience with people driving out the gate (rightfully wanting to get home) as a percentage of riders hang back out of respect for the club running the show and another percentage eagerly await another trinket to add to their little shrine to themselves in the garage......

* I'm all for end of year trophies or prizes that you're proud to display to people but the money wasted on end of day ones would surely be better spent on promoting the series. Plus the point scorers don't have to frantically work out who came where which is even more difficult with combined classes.

*Plus it's a bit of a wank that men in their fifties and there-abouts need to bring a bit of plastic home to show off their hunter-gatherer skills........