Things I Like.
Hitting all green lights, cold ones w/ bro's, rolling instead of walking, perfectly connected high fives, that Favre decided to go out as a viking, racing dogs and chili cheese dogs, mom's fried potato's, throwin tomato's, slingshots and ho's.
Totally Kidding Trud, but it sounded pretty good yes?
Cold milk and crispy cereal, Anthrax, Priest, Tesla and Native blood flowin in the arteriel, Heal,
rambling on this blog, knowledgeable drivers, making that last corner pass. tucked on my board and haulin ass, kylee's right jab, no tab, pork chops w/ no flab, UFO's, winning mains by a nose, those perfect throws and awesome loud live show's.
blah blah blah, last big weekend of the season starts tomorrow at Faribault, seems like forever since I've been to the home track, I'm pumped to travel, pay and play. shooting from the hip, elbow's blocking your hip, giving lip, looking forward to the state championship. 

No excuses, only the truth. If you don't like it, too bad. I had my 20 yr. high school reunion up in walker, MN last weekend and it was a blast. Had enuf fun for 3 people. My intentions were to show up at St. Cloud and take the win to make the championship more interesting. No such luck. Barely made the main. I actually ran off the track...got back on, and made a last corner pass to qualify. whew. (check the video) I'll tell you one thing tho, aint never gettin that silly the night before a race again. I'm almost 40 yrs old and it just doesn't work.  Sure, you could probably show up and maaaybe make the main. But you put yourself at great risk with slowed reaction and unclear intentions. DUH. I'm gonna be a tack in Isanti, I have no idea if winning the state championship is still feasible w/o somebody crashing, but I intend to get another 1st place trophy for my garage. 

I would call it a weekend of frustration except for making the mains both days, not crashing (some real close ones tho), hanging out in the beautiful weather, getting to know alot of friends a little more, watching my friend and teammate "The Spider" Shawn Primrose turn pro this weekend and make a main event on saturday, and..did I mention not crashing?
Wasnt really feeling it on friday nite and was hesitant to sign up. Well I did sign up and ended up not making the main. Doing the 6 ft step off over the triple to bull ride down the 1st straight was a spectacular feat. that was my last chance qualifier so ixnay the qualifinay that day. Saturday I made the main and was going for 3rd in turn 2 when Don Kern made an aggressive move and forced me to step off and straight up the berm. Everyone just went underneath.  (I had you Schwartz)
Sunday was another no-brainer. Me, up on the gate for the main, and for some reason, I was watching the lights, with the intention of sling shotting... I NEVER watch the lights. So all of a sudden, I hear my cadence key go by, and I'm like "whoa, i'm supposed to pull back right there!" So I pull back just as the gate goes down and I'm already late. 5th place.
Focus is fleeting when you're having fun at 1 or 2 in the morning. If I'm gonna use the lights, I'll go on red.  If I'm slingshotting, i'll pull back when I hear the end of "ready". It doesn't work to watch the lights and listen at the same time. Unless you know something I don't.  Overall it was still a blast and I can't wait till the state championship. Sure, it gets frustrating not finishing top three again, but there's always next year right? Right.

It's getting difficult to win in the 36-40 cruiser class around here for sure.  It's not gonna get any easier in the coming months either. Jayson Lindsay took the 1st today and he's 35. I'm pretty sure Don Kern is too.  Throw Mark Brander in there w/ Aaron Zdon and it gets pretty ugly. (the racing will be fast too) Just kidding you guys, you're all pretty.
PRETTY OLD! HA HA HA HAR HAR HAR cough hack hack.
AHHEM! ANYWAYS... I feel pretty good about today's 2nd place finish. Behind Jayson, I kept two guys in my class from getting that 3rd first place finish which would seal the deal on the state championship (for them) You see, going into the state finals w/ 3 wins certainly gives you somewhat of a cushion as opposed to only 2 wins and a second place finish.  I think there's only Detroit Lakes and St. Cloud left and I need to get another win to tie it up w/ those other two. This is the best year yet for this class and I wouldn't have it any other way. Next weekend is the Land-O-Lakes Nationals back in Isanti, MN and I wish the best of luck to all the guys in my class. Lets show them factory boys whats up and take a podium or 3. 

Whew! 7 races over the weekend. Got a couple 1st's on  thursday and friday (36-40 cruiser)  2nd place behind Jayson Lindsay in a stacked 32-40 condo classic. 3rd in the trophy dash. Those were undoubtedly my best achievements over the looong weekend. No crashes. Took some more photo's. The state qualifiers were not as productive, took a 5th place at Mankato, just got out pedaled down the 1st straight, it looked like I was coasting or trying to pump my way to the first corner. DUH. Then a 4th place at Faribault and the lesson of the weekend. In the 1st moto I had another phenomonal gate and took the win. I had just redeemed myself by beating all the guys who beat me the previous day at Mankato, and I was feeling pretty good about it. Come main time, I wasn't in 1st place going down the last straight so I sat down after the last obstacle, upset and basically quit. Well there go's Dan Wenisch by me. I was in 3rd and just gave it away.  As soon as I had done that, it occured to me that "oh yeah, I'm on a team and we have a team sheet" For all my raving and preaching about having a positive attitude and doing this for fun, I go and pull that crap. A grown man quitting cuz he didn't win. I apologized to my team manager John Primrose and told him that it would never happen again. Team RCJ took 1st place that day.
I want to tell them great job and also apologize as well.  Sure, I'm an individual, but teamwork   is also a very important skill to learn as a young person, Not everyone on this team is as young as I am, but they gotta learn from someone right?

Got another win, tho it wasn't easy. Had to pass Paul O'Brien right before the last turn. I told you these guys are getting faster. Or maybe I'm getting slower...NAH.  Anyways, BIG weekend of racin, got the Condo Classic tonight (Faribault) a state championship qualifier over at Mankato tomorrow morning, back to Faribault for a single pointer, then on sunday  another qualifier and pro-am back in Faribault. Whew. I'm tired already, J/K
This is Justin Finger   He's the most talented BMX rider I know personally and you will be seeing more photo's of this guy for sure. He won the bunnyhop contest at Rockford last year with a 44" leap. This particular shot was taken last night after a no-footed can can gone wrong. It was the first time I set him up for a photo as well. So kids, if you're gonna go big for the camera, make sure you account for safety as well. Sure, I'll make 'ya famous, but it's no fun being stitched up.

1st place!  Didn't jump the 2nd straight doubles yet but it's coming (I can feel it)  I did however jump a few other obstacles that were unconquered. It always feels good to progress in these matters. BMX, snowboarding, skate, moto-X, wake, hell...even skiing. chuckle chuckle cough cough. Anytime one advances to another level as an individual in these so called "action sports" it gives you a super good feeling and might even put you in a great mood for the ride home. I know it does me. The wife hates it, I get even more obnoxious and fearless. She's from a different world than I. She will never understand and thats O.K. So here's to all the individuals who know what I'm talking about. A toast to you my friends. Progression Session, keep it real, don't steal or pain you will feel. Go big or go home, keep your team, I am alone. Fearless and fast, never last. Bad attitudes get kicked in the asst. Charge it or dump it, champ it or chump it. Now go out and ride, or sit on the couch and lump it.

Another beautiful race day goes down in the books! It was raining then overcast in the A.M. but God loves BMX racing and it turned into a bluebird day just for us. Nice track over there in New Ulm I must say. A big Thank You to Willie and all the volunteers that make it possible for me to come race there.
2nd place. Pretty sure I could have taken 1st had it not been for my 2nd straight mishap. I managed to wack the fullface of my helmet on the bars whilst going over the step-up out of turn 1. In doing so, it pushed the bottom frame of my goggles up and over my eyes. So half blind and very surprised (1st time this has happened to me, and it was a bit of an impact) I lost alot of speed and was unable to execute the block pass that Mark Brander kept setting himself up for. Not taking nothin from Mark, he's one of those new fast guys I've been talkin about, but the turns at New Ulm are huge clay bowls that leave alot of room for what I call berm warfare. Yeah, so do I forget the goggles from now on? or just try to keep my face off the bike? hmmm
Oh yeah, I bought this shirt for Dennis Prudhomme, but I think I'll just keep it instead.

Anytime you fail to make a main, it effects your mind a little, humbling to say the least. I admit I had a good time at the Rock, but not making a main all weekend did not sit well w/ me. It's where you go to find the best racing there is right? I had that "knocked off the horse" feeling till yesterday. Up until then, I had been getting beat by a couple new guys AND some familiar faces as well. I needed a win and got it. Everyone I race with is getting faster every week. How long can I keep this up? Only time will tell. But I'll ride till my arms fall off.

What a great weekend! That track is sooo fast and smooth I cannot begin to tell you how much I wish I was faster and smoother than I was (or wasn't) I Did not get out of qualifiying saturday OR sunday! Got beat on sunday by SCHWARTZ! 
I crashed my very 1st moto on saturday, shredding my jersey, tearing my shorts AND putting a hole in my armor, as well as an armor tattoo on my back. I would like to say thats why I didn't do very well but I didn't feel any of that till later sunday evening. I think it's because I can no longer go fast and just "hang on" , especially at that level. I need to develop and sharpen my skills to beat anyone to the 1st turn. Bottom Line.
The wife and I stayed at the Clock Tower resort for the VintageBMX.com banquet saturday evening, where I met Mike Dominguez, Brian Blyther, Ron "2-Hip" Wilkerson, and the guest speaker, "stompin" Stu Thomsen . Who happens to be the Sherriff of Orange county CA.  I didn't get any gates w/ stu but I did spend my last 4 bucks to buy him a corona. SWEEET!

Spy Photo! Bubba Harris and Karl Clark were riding these, It's gonna be the new frame everyone wants.
Oh yeah, got some pics of the pro's in action, check the gallerys.