It looks like New Ulm on Sunday? Says it's the State Championship - I didn't qualify, but I assume I can race anyway?? Any info on who's going to be where is appreciated.

Thats just a State Qualifier in New Ulm. State Finals are in 2 weeks in St. Cloud

Cool, thanks Mark - maybe I can qualify yet. Anyone else going to New Ulm then?

I think Paul is going to Fergus tonight and tomorrow (SQ Sat.), but I haven't heard of anyone going to New Ulm from the Old Schoolers. I think DC is headed to Canada, Sandberg is alway a possibility, he seems to "Just show up!" unexpectedly

Next Saturday is the last SQ in Glencoe, (Buffalo Creek BMX)

I'm out for this weekend also.. I guess i'm saving myself to possibly hit some of those other big ones the next weekend.. What's up with that big one on the 17th in Mankato?

The 17th is the Redline Cup Quailfier

Shawn, I'm headed to New Ulm on Sunday. I'm 40 so if you get three or more 41+ racers, you would have your own class.

FYI - The state championship is based on your best three qualifier finishes and your finish in the final. You should have some points from your St. Michael race, so you would need to race two more and the final. Here's your competition 41-45 state points (thru 7/20)

State qualifiers remaining: Saturday 8/10 in Fergus Falls, Sun 8/11 in New Ulm, and Sat night 8/16 in Glencoe.

I see the ALE is kickin' ur A s $

2 races - 2 first for a perfect 4-0. The "ALE" has one more race in, but thanks for the support.

Thanks guys, things just changed - a little family issue just came up, so I'm iffy for New Ulm.

Glencoe next weekend may work better.

I didn't even qualify at St. Michael, so I have no points - so I'm out of the comp.

Your not out of the hunt just yet. You get 10 points when you don't make the main at a state qualifier. You just need to do a Tonya Harding on DC, give Walton a big order & tell him to deliver it to Cannon Falls on 8/24, then run over Springer in the final and you could have the gold.

Why ain't I on this points chart... All the races i've been to this year... Don't I exist?
http://www.ababmx.com/index.php?page=defau...d%5B%5D=Cruiser

O' trust me...you do exist...

It would appear that either ABA or the Tracks (most likely ABA) does not have all of Minnesota points in the DATA base.

Points Up To List:

MN
412 BMX
Single
5/27/2008
6/17/2008
6/24/2008

DILWORTH BMX
Single
5/8/2008
5/15/2008
5/22/2008
6/17/2008
6/19/2008
6/24/2008
6/26/2008

FARIBAULT BMX
Single
6/19/2008
6/26/2008

GREEN LAKE BMX
Single
6/13/2008
6/20/2008
6/24/2008

Double
5/31/2008
6/1/2008

I-94 BMX
Single
5/8/2008
5/15/2008
5/22/2008
5/29/2008
6/16/2008
6/18/2008
6/19/2008
6/23/2008
6/26/2008

Double
6/20/2008

LAKES AREA BMX
Single
5/18/2008
6/10/2008
6/17/2008
6/19/2008
6/24/2008

MANKATO AREA BMX
Single
6/4/2008
6/18/2008
6/25/2008

PINEVIEW PARK BMX
Single
5/18/2008
6/2/2008
6/9/2008
6/12/2008
6/16/2008
6/19/2008
6/23/2008
6/26/2008

Double
5/26/2008

REHBEINS ARENA
Single
1/5/2008
1/6/2008
1/12/2008
1/13/2008
1/19/2008
1/20/2008
1/26/2008
1/27/2008
2/9/2008
2/10/2008
2/16/2008
2/17/2008
2/22/2008
3/8/2008
3/9/2008
3/15/2008
3/16/2008
3/22/2008
3/29/2008
3/30/2008
4/5/2008
4/6/2008
4/12/2008
4/13/2008
4/19/2008
4/20/2008
4/26/2008
4/27/2008
5/3/2008
5/4/2008

Double
2/23/2008

Triple
2/24/2008

RIVER VALLEY BMX
Single
5/5/2008
5/12/2008
5/19/2008
6/2/2008
6/9/2008
6/16/2008
6/23/2008

RUM RIVER BMX
Single
5/15/2008
5/17/2008
5/22/2008
5/27/2008
6/3/2008
6/10/2008
6/17/2008
6/20/2008
6/21/2008
6/24/2008

Double
6/22/2008

ST. MICHAEL REGIONAL BMX
Single
5/28/2008
6/4/2008
6/18/2008
6/25/2008

Triple
6/7/2008

Thanks for the info.. I should be appearing sometime soon. Maybe I do exist after all..

So now that the Son has a job at the bike shop, he is spending his money wisely

I have to say, new technology in all cycling has off the wall! But until I actually seen some of this stuff in person WOW!

[quote name='Mark Conley' date='Aug 9 2008, 11:10 PM' post='587040']
So now that the Son has a job at the bike shop, he is spending his money wisely

I have to say, new technology in all cycling has off the wall! But until I actually seen some of this stuff in person WOW!


WOW, screw bmx. LOL! That looks like a blast to ride. 7-Hills baby!

Look REAL close at the rear swingarm/chainstay....VERY interesting. This is a straight on shot too

Short Race Report, Fergus Falls SQ:

Springer 1st, RodB 2nd...

Calls were flowing in tonight that RodB was pushin' and shovin' Springer around in the mains, but on the last straight Springer "out-powered" the "skinny little feller" for a 1st!

Must have been a long ride home for you two....

On the way home there was a long uncomfortable silence but once Rod apoligized for trying to stick me it was all good.

We had a good time time racing with Joe Pazdernik from North Dakota for total points. The racing went as follows:

Joe Pazdernik: 3-3-2
Rod Byrnes: 1-1-3
Paul Springer: 2-2-1

I wish I could go to New Ulm today but I need to do some things around the house. Good luck to those that run today and be safe. I look forward to a racing report later.

I wanted to go to New Ulm also.. I just can't afford it.. I hope someone takes some pics...And lel's hear about the 36-40 cruiser...

Good job Paul ! Sounds like close fun racing . How was the track ? Any changes ?

Thank you Jeff, track was fast as always and in great shape. No changes, although Tossett said Billy Allen is coming to town in April to rebuild it.

I just got off the phone with Kraker, Sounds like 5 in cruiser class at New Ulm. Lynn Austin, Lance White, Chucky Kraker and two others. Sounds like it went Kraker, Austin, White and the other guy in the main. Kraker said there were some doors left open and a little bit of rubbin and slide outs in the main event. Kraker can fill in the details later.

That sound like it would have been fun.. Lynn Austin got 2nd... wow,, that's an older dude too.. He's in Mankato all the time.. I want more details about this one..

I didn't get to see that race because it was right after mine. Kraker looked fast while practicing.

Saturday night was the parent/kid race. They took the kids and the parent, and put then in the same moto right next to each other in the gate. There were 4 of these motos with a full rack each time. The only neg about it was they squeezed the parent/kid motos inbtween all the others. Blake's regular moto was 6, and our parent kid was moto "5 1/5".
I was the only regular racer out of the parents. Blake and I tool first and second all three races and we ended up winning the whole thing. Blake had a blast going 1 and 2 every one. After our first moto, he had to straight back up to the gate and race his regular moto. He ended up with first on that. I wish I had my kid's endurance!

The tropihes were a little obnoxious. Blake wouldn't let me keep it in my room, he wanted it in his. Too big for his trphy shelf!

Blake got second place today, and I got third. I really struggled riding this track. I really need to work on learning to manual.

Another great day for racing. Took the family and headed south for my first visit to the New Ulm track. I have to say that they have a really nice race facility there and a different track layout that is fun to race on.

Justin, you and your son look pretty happy with that big trophy. Great job on the father/son race.

36-56 cruiser class was pretty uneventful until we got to the second corner of the main. Lance had a good start out of gate 5 and I was coming from 7. We were close to even going into the first big sweeper and I settled into second right on Lance's tire. Going into turn 2 Lance went in high and left the door open, so I closed it (no contact). I didn't want to hit him so I left a little room for him and he made a run down the inside heading into turn 3. Just before we got to the corner he came right up on me and tried to nudge me with a little elbow, then stay low on the flat part of the berm. In an effort to make the turn, he slide out and went down right in front of me. I ran right into his back but didn't go down and went on for the win.

Lynn Austin was looking really good and he finished second. I think Jason Stukel finished third, and Lance forth.

Someone was taking video, so maybe the races will be posted somewhere. Jason, do you have any info on this?

Good job boys!

They announced that they were selling DVDs of the races for $15. The New Ulm races get taped every week, and are played on the New Ulm public access channels. I will try to pick up a DVD tomorrow night when we go there.

New Ulm does have a nice facility. They get a lot of help from the city, and have a good core group of volunteers. We are there pretty much every Monday night and it is nice to relax and watch my kid race. Since I am so involved volunteering at Mankato's track, it get's a little caotic some nights, and going to New Ulm is always low stress.

New Ulm 41-45 Cruiser Main Video

Looked like pretty clean racing to me. It looks like Lance slid on his own, am I missing something?

EXCELLENT Job Scott!!!

I guess Lance White is changing things up, this is a quote from his blog on Sponsorhouse:

Aaarrgghhh! I went down in the last turn to take a 4th place. I was scrubbing off speed to take Scott Kraker up into the berm, when the rear end of my bike went by. Too much braking I guess. I'll tell 'ya one thing though, I'm done being Mr. nice guy. I hear it from alot of the people I race, how they're hurt and are gonna take it easy, or ask me to "take it easy on 'em" before the race. And you know what, I was. WHY? because i'm a softee (the wife's words) or because I know this sport is for fun and it's not worth sending someone into the boards for a few extra points? After tonight I have taken a new approach to my game and it's this. We are here to compete. We all showed up to race, and regardless of your health, age or current condition, I'm gonna sell it to you if I need to. Nothing dirty, just aggressive, clean racing. So to everyone who's reading this, just know that I wear armor to stay healthy, so I don't have to tell someone to take it easy on me. So save it for someone who cares. If you line up on the gate next to me, it's go time.

edit to fix Lances language

Looks like clean racing to me.

b.

O' come on you HACK! You almost ruined our hometown hero Dougies racing career! Clean racing...Like you are going to be a good judge for that! J/K Don't need another angery Lil' feller around!

I see what Lance is saying in a way. But not in another.. When I race, the last thing I want to do is get hurt. Nobody does. As long as you don't do anything on purpose. But i'm all for going for it.. If there is an opening, i'll do it..

Like at Faribault's race last thursday...I could have went up and made a pass on the second corner, but for some stupid reason I backed off and got third. Now I wished I would have went for it. Just because, I didn't want to casue any possible friction.... So if somebodies in my way, i'm going to try to pass, that's the way it is.. If you say your injured or want to take it easy,, stay back and out of the way...

Honest to Gadd!

Be sure to tune in to K-FAN sports talk radio AM1130 around 12:30pm today, our ACE T.O. of Rum River BMX is being interviewed

Congrats, Kraker. Good to see you're back.

At this point in my life, when I race I like to feel safe, that no one is going to take me out or put their body into me. I personally try my best to hold my line in the corners and not dive inside anyone or block-pass them. That means I'll lose some opportunities (and races), but it also means I'll win some. And it means I can look someone straight in the eye after the race.

I doesn't mean I won't screw up sometime, get squirrelly over a jump and UNINTENTIONALLY affect your race. But it will never be deliberate.

My experience racing this summer tells me that most fellow old-timers race the same way. I got pushed around at the National, but that was the only time. I can think of some specific incidences with Brad, Dave and Shawn when they could have sent me, but opted instead to avoid that and slid-out as a result. I appreciated it guys!

Reading Lance's comments above definitely raises my attention. It reads...young. And full of attitude. It sounds like he's somewhere else on the spectrum of "clean......not clean......dirty."

I've never raced him or met him. I'll race him the same way I race everyone: Clean, with respect and fully aware that we all have jobs (and most have families).

Very well put Sandburglar, I must agree with you. You could not have said it any better...

In response to Lance's comments from his site - I can understand to an extent, but I think there's a darker line of logic running in his rant.

One thing I've noticed about the new-schooler guys that are racing in the old guys classes, is that their idea of acceptable contact is more aggressive and ultimately more dangerous. I'm not sure where this attitude comes from, but their really is no need for "contact as a passing strategy" at this point in our lives. We all have jobs, many have families - and it really doesn't matter in the big picture who wins and who loses.

So many of you guys have come out over the last few years and racked yourselves up pretty good - it's dangerous enough out there. Maybe Lance has yet to really stack it up bad enough to appreciate how ridiculous that attitude is, his wife says he's soft - the enabler? This is a dangerous attitude for the Dads class. He was trying to be "nice" and ended up taking himself out by braking too hard? Sounds like a guy who is barely in control. Not good for those of us just trying to have some fun and stay healthy in the process.

I play contact bikeball every Thursday night, I'm one of the best derbiers the Mpls Mafia has to offer, and I've been racing BMX as a second go-round for 10 years - if someone wants to make contact to get a few points or a bigger piece of plastic, be prepared to get hurt in the process is all I have to say - I've got moves you don't want to see my friend. I'm riding clean, but if you want to get dirty...

My preference would be that we all just ride clean and go home healthy, so don't get me wrong - but I really hate this new-school old guy attitude. BITD it was kind of an unspoken rule, but you never made heavy contact at local races - but Nats and World Championships? Hey, anything goes ... but then we were young and out for blood. Not the case anymore.

Keep it safe, keep it fun, don't give into the temptation to play dirty is what I say.

Not me, I'd take any chance I had to take Sandyshorts out at least one time in my life!

I look back and try to think where Lance's frustration is coming from. I think he's just upset about making a mistake when he slid out in turn 3. I certainly didn't obstruct his progress in turn 2, because he was with me all the way down the next straight. Did he think I shouldn't have attempted the pass in turn 2 because I was coming off an injury and should be "taking it easy". The pass was more than clean and fair for both of us. I don't appreciate his attitude about running me up the berm. I pass him clean, and his focus shifts to taking me out to retake the lead. His attitude definitely doesn't match the rest of us old school racers.

John, you couldn't have summed up my racing objective any better. I'm out to have fun with my space on the track and I never want to cause someone to crash. Before each moto, I always try to shake hands and offer "have a safe race" to each competitor, because going home healthy is the best trophy.

Iv'e got alot of respect for Dougie. After our "get together" we talked & he & I are from the same school of "Don't ***** about contact" & if your on the recieving end, you just come back the next race & get over on the guy that got over on you originally. That's what Doug did to me in the 2nd moto & got me in the main.

I think it was around 99' Russ came out & we raced & after some hard throwing bows' in the main, I ended up on my head & picking myself off the ground. Did I get pissed? Was I angry? No. If you want to run your own race & stay safe, that's great & I respect that but when the win is on the line & an important one at that, you better be prepared for some action if that 2nd place guy wants it as bad a you do.

I don't know what that guy who slid out is complaining about. Maybe he should let the Hammer have a shot at him.

The Hammer, pitching & catching.

Wow!

How do I access Lance's blog? We don't get Comedy Central with our cable package.

I think Lance and Chucky are both up for most improved old guy this season and one of them is taking it just a bit more serious than the other. I really enjoyed racing with both of them and think they are both great guys. I'm sure it will all be fine.




He really said that?

Notes FROM THE ANGRY LIL' ELF HERE



.

"I wear armor to stay healthy, so I don't have to tell someone to take it easy on me. So save it for someone who cares. If you line up on the gate next to me, it's go time."



Wow.........I guess I'll cancel my trip to see Russ this winter. This guy scares me!


b.

Naw, I think you still need to come and we can get Dougie to show up and get ALE in a Smoker-BND sandwich move

Well said Mr Sandberg... and I believe or incident was at the Nancy (god bless her) event. Side by side into turn one at Rehbien's is know place I care to wreck (been there!!!), so instead, you let the guy holding his inside line keep his line, out of respect, and!!!! purely riding smart. Could I have pushed the issue, sure.....but why??? Its suppose to be fun, and having John, or whoever get in my face asking me, WTF? isn't fun.... that's not what this is about for me.

Boecker on the other hand.... watch your arse this Fall at the barn your going down! j/k....

Are we talking Boecker or Sandberg here? I get confused.