Ive been wanting to post this topic for a long time,but never got up the nerve to do it.I grew up racing and riding at red devil and other local hayard cali spots.Some where around 15 years old i started getting in trouble and doing drugs.Now i was raised by a single mother who set a good example and provided for me and my 2 brothers very well.But i think some boys need a male role model in there lives to become a man.

I used drugs and was a basic low life for about 15 years.I hurt anyone that crossed my path.Including the wonderful woman and two awsome little brothers that are my imediate family.When i think of those times now,it seems sureal,like it wasnt me.Ive been to california state prison 3 times.Ive fought wild fires all over the state as part of my prison term and ive also met many great people in prison.I feel like the many walks i took around the yard at susanville with some pretty hard core criminals were some of the most benificial times to my rehabilitation.I looked up to and respected alot of these guys not because of the things they did to get them there,but for the genuine concern they had for me as a younger person that was doing it all wrong.I dont know how many good people i met in there with really bad drug problems.Im kinda rambling now so ill tie bmx into it.

Im now 32 years old and im going to turn 33 on christmas day.I knew that i needed something positive to fill the void that drugs and crime filled in my past.So i went back to my first true love bmx.I have had so much fun since i came back to it 2 years ago.I love building bikes and in 2007 im gonna be a force in the 31-35 class.Ive gotten into shape and im ready to go.

So i posted this because i know that there are others in my shoes and others that are staring down the wrong path.Just know drugs will lead you to heart ache dispare and jail or death.Its really not worth it.I once read something like,the difference between a wise man and a fool is a fool will only learn from his mistakes but a wise man will learn from others mistakes.Or something like that,but you get the drift.

So merry christmas and if you wanna talk to me send me pm.

The power of BMX.

Congratulations, merry Christmas and happy birthday sir.

Oh yeah one more thing i learned from dog the bounty hunter.Fake it till you make it.See ive also went thru school.And when i first started i felt like i didnt belong there ,but i kept showing up and eventually it became my reallity.Never give up and believe in your self!!!!!!!!

Cool post.

Keep on swinging jt!

Iceman

thaks guys.And a merry christmas to everyone and god bless you and yours

Hey Jt, My mother always said "It's not where you got the knowledge it's what you do with it". God Bless You, Merry X-mass and Happy B-day

Red Devil is still their waiting for you.

i actually went there like a year ago and it wasnt in the best shape.they even took out the rocket.i dont know how many times in my young life i screamed out rocket peddled my *** off and kicked out a sweet can-can!!!

Hope to see you out at Santa Clara BMX jt - get out there and RACE!

jt, PEACE !

I've lost some very good friends to drugs while I was a teen growing up. I comend anyone with the will to want a better life. Thanks for sharing jt.

Congrats man. I heard a simaler story just the other day. I had a guy who came in the shop who was 43 and who was a drug addict for 22yrs. He's now been clean for 6 months and is looking for something to fill that rush he doesn't get from the drugs anymore. He's more interested in skateparks than racing but you never know. Once Christmas was out of the way he said he would be back to the shop to get all set up. I'll keep you posted.

So JT you aren't alone man. Stick with it and good luck. If you kneed anything from the shop feel free to ask. And most of all the best of luck to you.

Jeff
SDVBMX.COM

Thanks guys.And you know one of the cool things about getting back into it now that im older,i can buy all the cool stuff that i never could get as a kid.I feel very blessed.

Very cool post jt.
Good luck with your future in BMX.
I heard an interview with the comedian Gallagher the other day when he said,
"Its not how you pick the booger, its where you put it that matters"

Oh yeah, a little side note.I also started my girlfriends son on his way to a promising fun filled bmx future.Ive had more fun taking him thru bmx racing,than almost anything i can think of.

Thanks for sharing JT. It's a good reminder that no matter how messed up we get in life, we can always turn it around.

Exactly.

January 1st 2007.Livermore cali.

sweet. strength and happiness to you as you travel down this new path and how fun that you have a riding buddy. best of luck to both of you.

Where in Livermore is that? I raced at the first Livermore track, I forget what street it was on but we used to ride our bikes from Pleasanton and ride the track, I won a few races there. This was probably 76ish, maybe earlier. Good luck.

That is the livermore community/nbl track,open to the public during non race times.its on patterson pass road and vasco.

good job man. keep at it.

JT I've said it before and I'll say it again- BMX kept me from dyin or doin major time. Finally got sober about 13 1/2 years ago and am now TOO, makin another comeback into this sport that helped me live! If you feel the need , drop me an email or pm anytime.

Trey