Ask Ping!
Friday, October 22, 2010 | 6:32 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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PrintHey Ping-Ping,
You always say that a kid these days can't mow lawns and still afford to race. I would think someone with a work ethic like you would know otherwise. I would mow lawns everyday after school (sometimes on weekends too) and then go racing on the weekends. I would have to pay for all of my bikes, racing fees, and other expenses. Everyday I would be mowing lawns for a few hours just so I could go racing on the weekends. I eventually saved enough money to buy a YZ85 and then a new (yes, brand new, right of the showroom floor) CRF250 (yes, a four stroke with all of the expenses). I never (not once) had to not go to a race because I didn't have enough money. I even had enough money left over to buy a truck so I could get to the races on my own.
You seem like the type of person who would say if you work hard enough, then you will be able to race and keep up. I guess you try to sound a lot tougher than you really are, since I was able to mow lawns AND buy a four stroke with cash.
Thanks,
Jeff #318
Dear Jeff,
For a guy with the title "Lawn Maintenance Technician" you sure are a smart-ass. I don’t know where you are mowing grass [Or if you are selling it. Or smoking it...] but I’d like to see the spreadsheet on that little business venture. You mean to tell me that you paid $7,000 cash for a brand new bike, hundreds [If not thousands] of dollars in parts, tires, oils, gear, etc. throughout the season and covered entry fees on the weekends by mowing lawns? Really? REALLY? Something tells me that daddy had a hand in that racing habit. And there’s nothing wrong with that… in fact, that is one of the great things about this sport is that it includes the whole family. But for you to sit there with your little Briggs and Stratton and tell me that you’re raking in cash like an ecstasy dealer in Vegas by mowing lawns is ridiculous. If pops isn’t helping then my guess is you don’t own the bike… the bank does. You’ll learn all about the very significant difference between those two things when you get your first set of credit cards and tap them out. Send me another letter when that happens.
PING
Ping,
You seem to be one of the few "shoot from the hip" kind of guys in the motocross news business…so why is it that we rarely hear about anything negative between riders or team. I mean behind the scenes stuff like rider A and rider B almost came to blows in the pits after a race. Or, rider A is actually a real jerk and when not in the public eye or even an article about what riders think of each other. I know the teams and sponsors want everyone to hear their guy(s) being positive or super pumped about the race, the equipment, their team, and even the competition. But we’re talking about highly competitive adolescents (for the most part). You got to believe these guys throw a temper tantrum now and again, or get pissed at each other and do stupid $#it! As it is, the press makes it seem like one big love fest. Unless of course we see something like pushing or shoving on the track or someone blatantly standing on someone else’s bike so he can’t pick it up.
What’s with the lock down on all the dirt?
Steve
Dear Steve,
I think the problem media run into in this industry is that it is so small. If a journalist or publication said exactly what was really going on they would get blacklisted from that rider and his team. Because motocross is small we get to come into close contact with the riders on a regular basis. That isn’t normal with other sports. I actually walked into the Suzuki transporter this year at one of the races and had Dungey sign a poster for one of my wife’s friends. Do you think I could just stroll down to the locker room and get Kobe Bryant to sign something for me without a stringent ID check and media pass? Even then it would be difficult. It puts journalists in a tough spot. A few guys push the envelope and we pay a price for that; I won’t get Christmas cards from a few guys this year [Good thing I couldn’t care less]. Still, it’s tough to get an interview with a guy when he hates you for telling the world that he is a first-class doucher.
PING
Dear Mr. Ping,
Guitars, woodcarvings, sprockets, ETC… AMA trophies are just getting weird. AMA needs to standardize the award like the NHRA Wally or the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It would be only the front end of a bike with half the wheel mounted in a gold plated brick. The number plate would have all the info (sponsored by a decal company, of course) of the rider, place, date, etc. And did I mention the sponsor’s name? The handlebars would have the series sponsor on the cross bar (and a handle bar company logo) the fenders, forks, and wheel could all have sponsors also. The award would be called the "JOE" after me. It could also be called the "PING" if you wish to take credit. The tracks could also sell miniature versions with all the info of the day on them (you maybe could get one signed be the winner?). The series champion would get a 2-foot "BIG JOE" at the end of the year. The possibilities (AMA revenue stream) are endless.
Joe Mangiameli
Omaha, NE
Dear Joe,
That is just a terrible idea. But I’m getting a patent for the idea just in case I’m wrong. So if you see Adam Cinciarulo holding a PING at the end of the 2016 season don’t come after me.
PING
Is she holding a PING?
Got a question for Ping? E-mail him at [email protected].
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that trophie pick at the end is priceless...and i agree with the mowing lawns part...yeah right...i love this column...
I scrolled down to the trophy pick and proceeded to spit my coffee on the screen... Thanks ping.
Steve has a good point -- but even without the motomedia, I'm surprised the riders themselves don't talk more smack about each other. And with FB and twitter you'd think more stuff would get out. I'm sure it's mostly gag orders from their factories or publicists. But this is a SPORT and there's nothing wrong with rivalries: just ask Hannah or Bradshaw, you don't have to act like you love everybody out there! Great column today Ping, it actually made me laugh before I had coffee, and that's an accomplishment!! Now I'm going to do some research on starting my own lawn business...
I bet Ping wishes that trophy was his! Keep up the good work
It's because the journalists are more interested in being cool and part of the "IN" crowd at the races. Rick Siemen never cared who he pissed off. I'm glad that Ping and is on good terms with everyone so he is always welcome to get autograghs.
Hey Jeff, i was wondering if you were hiring. or maybe your old man is willing to sponsor me? i'll warn ya im not very good.
LOL... So little that you guy now about mowing lawning and lawn care... Ok... I have a friend of mine that works for himself doing lawns basically doing nothing but townhomes/townhouse... I does like 3 an hour at $25.00 a townhouse, that is $75.00 an hour... Which comes to $600.00 a day... $3000 a week... He does that for 7 months... and sits on his butt all winter watching football. He is knocking down over $80k a year mowing townhome lawns. Jeff #318 is correct about mowing lawns.
You are HIGH if you think lil homie bought and paid his way for racing fees, bikes, gear, tires ect. PPL working full time jobs can barely afford to make it out to the track, let alone buy a freaking $10,000 dirtcycle (my bad $7,500 out the door for this years model 250f) Im not trying to bash but come on now, be reasonable with your BS
mi buddie does mowe lawns and maks $80 hundred thousand buks a years. Wow, schooling these days sure does suck.
Hey Riders- there's a reason Hannah is still so popular: He said he hated the other riders and wanted to kill them. And then proceeded to do so. It was awesome. I don't think he every gave an interview where he mentioned camaraderie, or fellowship, or any sort of brotherly love. You know when BH lined up he was going to go for it and give no mercy- and tell you as much. We could use a little of that in the normal NASCAR BORING speaches.
Hey Ping: I would make $500+ a week mowing lawns (I could mow 4 for $25 per day) So thats like 2 grand a month. In three and half months I would have enough for a new bike cash. I also saved all of my money for moto stuff. No one was helping me out. No loans, No parents, No sponsors. And my truck I got used for $1500. And yes, I would spend hundreds of dollars on parts. I always buy last years gear(so it's cheaper). I guess you just try to make you sound like more of a hard worker than you really are. And no, I would never spend any of my hard earned money on drugs/alcohol, because that is money that could have gone towards racing. And what is someone like you doing calling someone else a smart ass. I think you're just jealous that you were never able to work as hard as me to pay for racing.
Can we all just get along? Bend over and kiss the Trophy !
Even here in Alaska I know several kids who started mowing lawns in highschool and managed to pay for snow mobile racing all winter. And we only have visible grass for seven months (mowable for less than six). there is good money in doing stuff for people that are too busy/lazy to do it themselves.
I mowed my neighbor's wife's lawn all summer and she bought me two bikes!
Hey Ping: it looks like most people agree with me and how it's possible to still race by mowing lawns. Maybe you were one of the kids who was never very good at cutting grass and are just mad at all of us who can do it successfully.
-1 Dude, mine was a joke. I guess there aren't any rockets on lownmowers.
Hey, GWN: Best. Reply. Ever. That was awesome! And, Ping, you're great and I love your column but real journalists don't ask for autographs in the field they work. Ever.
Hey GWN... I wasn't even talking about your reply. I was talking about the other people and how they know people that have made good money off of it.
Imagine Adam Cinciarulo's house in Arcrapectural Digest (ala RC) someday with a bunch of Ping's up on the wall. I have to admit, those special #1 plates are so tacky.
GWN- My wife is Brazilian, she doesn't have a lawn. Not sure what you mowed.
none of these professional lawn mowers (GWN excluded but well done) talk about the costs associated with mowing lawns, Lawn Mower, weed whacker, Business license, fuel, insurance, advertising, dumping fee's, phone, and vehicle. They also don't mention paying any taxes on revenue. Hope the tax man isn't reading.
I make 8-12 thousand a month mowing lawns 10 months per year. I keep 6-8. It beats the hell out of the 1900 a month i make as a full time paramedic/ firefighter. It is not what you do, but how u do it.
I race mx for fun because even at the nationals, the purse is a freakin joke!!!
Don't worry Jeff, Ping will get his ass kicked at the Fire academy. He thought racing was grueling, wait til he gets to the oxygen deprivation evolutions in a 1200 degree burn building. Your breaking point will be discovered...Guarenteed
To mow lawns for a townhouse in a complex, you have to be a legit business, bonded and insured. PING was speaking about a kid mowing lawns in his neighbornood. Not a business owner with 10,000 dollor industrial mowers and such. That is different. With the economy the way it is, nobody wherei live are paying kids to mow their yard, they do it themselves.
GWN is on to somethin. Get a rich girlfriend or wife or even somebody else's rich girlfriend or wife. Now thats using your peanut.
In the 80's and 90's everybody had 3 or 4 bikes and would show up to the races with a stock 125, a mod 125, a 250 and a 500. The gates would always be full, everybody would do all the rounds in a series. Nowdays if your gonna race int or even nov class in So Ca, you gonna need to take your $8000 new bike down and have motor and suspension work done or your gonna get killed. Now your in it for $12000 for 1 bike. And everybody wonders why the 250 beg class has only 3 riders.
The autograph was for one of my wife's good friends and clients. Something you'll learn when you grow up to be a big boy... When your wife asks you for a little favor like that you make it happen. Happy wife, happy life.
I beleive him about paying for bikes and trucks by cutting lawns...... when i was 12 i bought my own 91 suzuki tsr 200 by cutting the grass and splitting wood!!!! Yep Pa brought to the dealership and told me id worked hard for it. I beleived him at the time, but things sure do change once you get your own place. Bye some one a bike for cutting my lawn? sounds a little pricey. But my son sure does love his PW, he paid for it all by himself........ lots of hugs and kisses those are worth millions.
Ping, again I love your stuff and respect what you do. I get it about the autograph, I really do. But in the context of the discussion about moto-journalism I'm just saying that if you worked for the New York Times and was hitting Eli Manning up for an autograph you would probably end up getting fired. But in this industry, yeah, it's workable I guess. And I'm glad the wifey is happy.
Hey, Ping - in regards to the dirt, just do it the proper way: LEAK the info! (Dang... now you got me all curious!)