I just watched the video and wasn't sure what doug was doing.

MC - do you know who was racing in Dan Wenish's class. It looks like I would have been racing in that class. It's killing me that I hurt myself and didn't race New Ulm.

I think the 41-45 cruiser class finals are going to be fun to watch. Springer, Walton, Carlson, & Nelson are all in the hunt for that No. 1 plate.

Cool video's. Ya, that Wenish guy looks very with the program. I bet under pressure he's a rocket x 10... cool beans!

Put September 29th & 30 down on that thing hanging on the wall with numbers on it!

The LAST of the "Old School Meets New School" events is going to be at "The Barn", on their opening weekend.

This is going to also be an Old Schooler Race Inventational event.

Details coming soon....

Hey ye'all. I've been freestyling it for a while. I'm now back for some good old racing. Pauli, I will be looking for a free get back into racing clinic at Elk River. Tonight??

Nice to see you back Rod. We missed you at the track this summer.

MC - Will round two of the OS race involve special plates again?

I don't like to talk about it but it looks as though Elk River's track is probably done. Last nights storm I am sure beat it down pretty good. As well the city is not going to renew the lease on the land for next year.

I have to commend and thank Doug Knollmaier for having the dream to pull it together this season and make it rideable and fun this year. I didn't think it was possible and he proved me wrong. Doug Knollmaier, Matt Purcell, Paul Starke, Ken Paige & Jeff Moe busted their tails to pull it off and it was great. Please make sure you thank these guys for their efforts.

Rehbeins season opens on the last weekend of September with the last OS/NS gathering of the season. Let's make this a must attend (schedule your haircut mid-week Apold).

I hope everyone made it through the storm okay.

It's too bad about Elk River's future. I really enjoyed racing on that track. Thanks for all your hard work guys.

"Let's make this a must attend"

AGREED!!! Racer or not you gotta support the Barn. If you don't, you're a facist.

Scott, that storm was incredible last night. I was on the deck talking to MC on the wireless communicator and I had to let him go when the maple in the back yard was getting whipped around. That thing is 150+ years old!

2.3 inches of rain in 30 minutes. 494 and Portland had stalled cars that were up to thier headlights in water.

I just realized that I passed 2000 posts!!! YEAH!

St. Michael just missed the Elk River path, however around midnight we ended up getting blasted pretty good. About 2" rain, some wind and huge lightning. Pauli, how bout you?

So Elk River is probably a no go tomorrow? I still wanted to try and make it and I intend too. Ya, Matt, DUG and gang made an awesome track. I really enjoy riding it. Its a mixed bag of NS/MS/OS and its still easy for a beginner to tackle it and still challenging enough for the Rixen and gang... I feel bad if its a done deal there..

I scheduled a hair appointment tomorrow in honor of...never mind. But I am getting my hair cut. So I'm out.

I'm sick of these storms. Darn Storms.

2000 posts - I was happy to get 200.

No racing for me until next week. The back is getting really sore now. I was hoping to get a race in before St. Cloud, but I think I need to heal a little more.

I'm getting a hair cut....6:30pm in fact. Happens about every 6 weeks. We can't all have Salon's down in the basement like P. Springer. I will try to make it. Maybe I should pre-register and show up late.

I'm waiting on Kappa. Otherwise...I'm in.

I dug up some old pics of Russ when he visited us for the 1997 Great Salt Lake National. That's my wife with a 2nd & Russ with a 3rd or 4th. 10 years ago.....wow!
The next day they both crashed, she jacking up her rotator cuff & Russ separating his shoulder. He had to take the Greyhound bus all the way back to Denver!






b.

Was Russ born with Pecks?! Ha!

SAD NEWS- Elk River is no more Last storm wiped it out, and they are throwing in the towel...

DugDug is going to be spending his free time now getting the Barn ready

I was afraid of that, I am going to drive through there in the next few days and check it out. I am glad to say that I was there to ride it and be apart of the fun. R.I.P. Elk River BMX

Great pics Bruce, I look forward to you visiting possibly for the indoor season.

Please keep us posted on the birth of your future child brutha...

Mark, it sucks to hear abour a track closing. Hope no one else throws in the towel.

Finally got some time to post about how Sunday in New Ulm went for us. The 26-30 cruiser class was pretty tough with Chris Austin and the other guy that showed up. Forget his name, he was from Burnsville. I guess I would rather race against guys that can whip my butt than against guys that make it an easy win. Makes me a better rider.
My wife video taped the races. After watching that tape along with Marks, (thanks Mark!) I realized I needed a gear change. between the second and third hill right before turn one, I am just spinning and not even helping the bike move forward. Now, I know gearing is not going to magically fix the fact that I need more practice, experience and some leg muscle. I think it will definately help though. My bike had a 40/18 and I went with a 40/17. If that seems to be too much I will drop down to a 39 in front. I will find out tomorrow in Mankato. I was never a spinner, and was running a 44/16 with 175mm cranks as an 8 year old kid.

Blake had a wonderful day Sunday. transferred out of the first moto with a win, and won the main. Biggest win of his barely 1 year BMX career. He has 6 wins, and the 2007 rule book says 8 to move up to inter. When did they change that? I know two kids that moved up to inter that could have stayed novice for two more wins. I have a feeling he will move up before State in St. Cloud. He is going to struggle at inter for a little while, and probably will have a real hard time at state. I am real proud of that little bugger.
Last night right before dusk we went outside to put my new gear on. I replaced his seat and post that was about to brake. He helped me work on the bikes. I showed him how to put on a back wheel. He greased his seatpost, and help tighten the clamp. Then we started riding in front of the house. Before you knew it, we were drag racing each other up and down the street. We did this about 10 times I think. I was sweating my balls off when we were done. You know what? That was more fun than a great day like Sunday at the track. He giggled the whole time. He had to go inside to tell Beth that he "beat a cruiser". I was having a real hard time staying in front of him! Its not always the wins at the track you remember 20 years from now. It is moments like we had last night.

My favorite part of this pic is the reflection of my wife taking the pic, and me standing next to her with my shirt off. Before anyone points it out and laughes!

Awesome Justin!- you know Im jealous of all the BMX'n fun youre having. Wish Austin had a place to ride. We have a ton of newly minted grass fields from flood relocations...there's just gotta be a way to get a riding area!

awwww-man! Elk River is a gone'r? I really liked that track...

Any word on the plans of Rehbeins? Matt was giving me a "possible" insite and it sounds sweet. He's talking that the first corner might whip around to the last straight and then ride that to the "2nd" corner, of course then riding it reverse, and then a tight 3rd corner.... and that's as far as we got. It gets complicated after that (lack o room)

Awesome pics & story Justin, great stuff man!

Lets just say there has been some discussion of removing the bleachers behind the first berm to open things up a bit...

Great story Justin. You're right, the moments with your kids are the ones you'll remember forever.

See you at the State Finals.

Pauli, ya Matt did say they thought about removing the bleachers, which I'm betting you could hook a chain to the bobcat at yank that wholething down in one try. Can't wait to see what they'll do. Its always been my favorite place to ride, but after riding on a few outdoor tracks I'm finding out just how tight Rehbein's really is. Once I got out on Elk River I felt like a caged animal set free. LOL!

[ August 15, 2007, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Brad Apold ]

Great stories and pics!

I'm sitting on my thumbs right now. Scott sent me an email saying that the Frame and Fork are done, but the bars are going back in for the 3rd time. Glad to see they are doing it right.

Can't wait to actually ride and not worry about stuff.

You should have just told him to send it bare metal so you don't scratch that pretty bike when Springer and I welcome you back on the track.

You saw the pedals Chucky, that's so I don't have to wash the blood off of them!

Here is the basic information for the weekend. I am still working on awards and other information.

Also, don't forget about the 2nd Annual Classic in January

[img]http://markconley.com/finalosnsevent[/img]

Hey Mark, when is the last event?

They'll be a big enough OS class in January this year and I won't have to run...I'll flag people to go around twice like Boecker did last year... That race last year happend so fast I didn't know who was on the gate.
So, I'm "racing" and see F'n Boecker waving his hand to make two laps...I'm like "hey, wait a minute, isn't Boecker suppose to be huff'n and puff'n like the rest of us?" LOL!!!!!!

Can't wait for the end-o-Sept... Looks like fun!

All OS'ers have to race. No sitting on the sidelines watching. That's why it's video taped. We need something to laugh at on here.

Yeah, I was yanking yer chain. I'll be there rocking.

Prototype Faction shirt:

Here I adjusted it a little


[img]http://markconley.com/faction[/img]

Can we get those in white?

Mikko - I'm in for 1 white, and 1 black. AWESOME FONT!!

MC - STOP the negative vibe. I'm growing tired of it. There's room for both. This sport needs all the help it can get.

Mikko, so is there a Faction bike show like last Sept? Wasn't that the night of the Roger's Tornado? I think it was. I remember the wind was F'n insane during the day and Steef rode his bike from Mpls..... Anyway??? is there? I'm gonna take best rat bike... Haahaaa.

Brad, we got a BBQ going again this year as well.
It's bigger than ever.
http://minnesotafaction.com/Page/HTML/BBQIII.html
VBMX Discussion on BBQ III
-Bill

WDS, shoot. Where have I been? Geeeez! Well can't wait. Sorry Mikkolvo.

MC - as expected.

Let the nightmare begin...

Last chance.

BA, yes, the night after the BBQ Rogers had that terrible storm- blocks from Pauly's. No good.


MC, I didn't see what your version of the shirt said. Was it "Congrats to the Faction on 3 years of KICKING 100% BMX BBQ ***!"?

I meant "the night of the BBQ".

Haaaa, 2 miles from my house. I felt that storm. It took the neighbors trampolene and tossed it over to the next block...un-real! I can't imagine watching that tumble through the air...

Anyway, good were your having Faction party.. Thanks Mikkolvo

Holy CRAP! I guess if people can't take a joke and lighten up around here....

Ladies - BITD we would settle this on the track. Now we just poke each other with sticks.