The End of CA
Another two weeks has passed, and its hard to believe we are already leaving the Golden State. This is coming to you from our last stop in California, from the town of Redding...about two hours northeast of San Francisco.
Two days ago we had the unbelievable happen to us: rain once again hampered the school we put on in Marysville. Throughout the night, rain accumulated more than an inch, but once day broke, so to did the rain. In an amazing twist, and thanks to the efforts of the Marysville Motocross track crew, the sun came out and the track dried to where it was not only rideable, it was fun. Thanks again to Charlie and Mike for doing such a great job with pumping the water out of that small river basin (not an easy task).
Two nights ago we made our way up here to Redding to stay with some more long time friends of Tony. Yesterday, for me, was my first day of enjoyable, non-school oriented riding in over a week (which is a long break when you are on a MOTOCROSS tour)! Coyote Ridge track is located only fifteen minutes from where we are staying and is tucked into the hills and canyons of the Mount Shasta area. With both Mt Shasta and Mt. Somethingortoher snow-capped in the distance, the green hills and deep canyons, for me its safe to say Coyote Ridge was in one of the more picturesque track locations I have ever visited.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
143 Day Record
What a wild few days it has been. Driving, eating, driving, sleeping, driving, riding...oh, and did I mention driving?
Staying alert on the road can be a challenge at times, but you adjust and find new forms of entertainment.
Beginning on Wednesday afternoon, and ending about 45 hours later on Friday, the Tony D Moto express made a non-stop journey from Yardley, PA to Phoneix, AZ via the Great American interstate system.
Watching the landscape go by, slowly changing from state to state is something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime.
Steve Ballmer, an old friend of Tony’s, is kind enough every year to let us crash at his house outside of Phoneix. They know each other from the very early days of Pro Circuit, back when it was called Anaheim Husqvarna. Steve worked with Mitch Payton there, and Tony helped out and rode their machines...many good stories.
When we arrived, the weather was a bit cold and with a forecast for rain. Actually on our way through Flagstaff, we ran through some snow so we knew the forecast couldn’t be far off. Although we had our doubts, considering there had not been rain in Phoneix for 142 days.
Sure enough, at 12:03am on Saturday, the rain started dropping, marking the record for no rain at 143 days! And why not let the deluge occur on the one day of our motocross school? Needless to say, the school was a quagmire. Of the students signed up, about 2/3 showed up, but by the end there were only four remaining. We had to give those guys some extra goodies just for sticking it out and making our 2500 mile journey worth the trouble.
Jeff “The New Kid” Yeomans and I just returned from the Speed World track after a nice, calm day of riding. Yesterday was just short of hell on earth, and unfortunatelyI was not able to take any pictures, but the bikes were still in the same condition this morning as you can see. Not the best way to break in two brand new motorcycles, but one must use the cards that are dealt.
Next stop is Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernadino, CA. We will be out there for about 10 days, getting the bikes set up by Pro Circuit, doing some meeting and greeting with moto-industry big shots, and trying to take in some Cali warmth...if its not raining!
What a wild few days it has been. Driving, eating, driving, sleeping, driving, riding...oh, and did I mention driving?
Staying alert on the road can be a challenge at times, but you adjust and find new forms of entertainment. Beginning on Wednesday afternoon, and ending about 45 hours later on Friday, the Tony D Moto express made a non-stop journey from Yardley, PA to Phoneix, AZ via the Great American interstate system.
Watching the landscape go by, slowly changing from state to state is something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. Steve Ballmer, an old friend of Tony’s, is kind enough every year to let us crash at his house outside of Phoneix. They know each other from the very early days of Pro Circuit, back when it was called Anaheim Husqvarna. Steve worked with Mitch Payton there, and Tony helped out and rode their machines...many good stories.
When we arrived, the weather was a bit cold and with a forecast for rain. Actually on our way through Flagstaff, we ran through some snow so we knew the forecast couldn’t be far off. Although we had our doubts, considering there had not been rain in Phoneix for 142 days.
Sure enough, at 12:03am on Saturday, the rain started dropping, marking the record for no rain at 143 days! And why not let the deluge occur on the one day of our motocross school? Needless to say, the school was a quagmire. Of the students signed up, about 2/3 showed up, but by the end there were only four remaining. We had to give those guys some extra goodies just for sticking it out and making our 2500 mile journey worth the trouble.
Jeff “The New Kid” Yeomans and I just returned from the Speed World track after a nice, calm day of riding. Yesterday was just short of hell on earth, and unfortunatelyI was not able to take any pictures, but the bikes were still in the same condition this morning as you can see. Not the best way to break in two brand new motorcycles, but one must use the cards that are dealt.
Next stop is Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernadino, CA. We will be out there for about 10 days, getting the bikes set up by Pro Circuit, doing some meeting and greeting with moto-industry big shots, and trying to take in some Cali warmth...if its not raining!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Final Preparations
Yesterday was a flurry of activity at Tony D's house. On top of getting all of the equipment ready for the road, the DiStefanos are in the process of finishing details for their new home so they can be granted their official occupancy papers.
Its always exciting to work on new motorcycles, and thanks to Suzuki we have the pleasure of working on five untouched bikes all at once.
Okay, so I haven’t really been working on them so much as applying decals, but believe me that is no easy task. Greg (aka, Greghead) is our go-to-guy when it comes to bike maintenance and has been working overtime to get us ready for the road. I tried to snap off a good photo of him for all the ladies out there.
No major changes to the graphics scheme this year for the bikes or the trailer. However, we may try to add a 25th Anniversary theme to the bike graphics after this West Coast trip.
That’s right, Tony D has been doing this gig for 25 years now, teaching motocross schools in every corner of the US (and apparently Canada at one point). Needless to say he feels very comfortable on the road.
Jeff (aka, New Kid) and I are both psyched to be getting out of this cold weather and get a whirlwind tour of motocross in America. This will be the New Kid’s first venture out west, and while I have done it before, every experience is a new one.
That’s all for now, this train...err trailer, leaves in two days. All aboard!
Yesterday was a flurry of activity at Tony D's house. On top of getting all of the equipment ready for the road, the DiStefanos are in the process of finishing details for their new home so they can be granted their official occupancy papers.
Its always exciting to work on new motorcycles, and thanks to Suzuki we have the pleasure of working on five untouched bikes all at once.
Okay, so I haven’t really been working on them so much as applying decals, but believe me that is no easy task. Greg (aka, Greghead) is our go-to-guy when it comes to bike maintenance and has been working overtime to get us ready for the road. I tried to snap off a good photo of him for all the ladies out there.No major changes to the graphics scheme this year for the bikes or the trailer. However, we may try to add a 25th Anniversary theme to the bike graphics after this West Coast trip.
That’s right, Tony D has been doing this gig for 25 years now, teaching motocross schools in every corner of the US (and apparently Canada at one point). Needless to say he feels very comfortable on the road. Jeff (aka, New Kid) and I are both psyched to be getting out of this cold weather and get a whirlwind tour of motocross in America. This will be the New Kid’s first venture out west, and while I have done it before, every experience is a new one.
That’s all for now, this train...err trailer, leaves in two days. All aboard!
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