Ask Ping!
Friday, December 3, 2010 | 9:27 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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I am a big fan of your work and I appreciate the creativity involved in selecting random photos for "Ask Ping." I have attached several photos that I took at my local track in Austin, TX. When I saw this guy rolling up, I immediately thought "this is something that Ping will appreciate." My question is this: Do you applaud this guy’s ingenuity for solving the problem of how to get his bike to the track or do you condemn his stupidity for putting a 10" bolt through the roof, directly beside the driver’s seat? The driver of this rig was a kid about 18 years old. He drove up in a pair of Wranglers and a starched flannel shirt. I later saw him on the track wearing the same outfit, in addition to a helmet and an old pair of Fox boots. I think this is the first time I have seen a Cowboy who didn’t own a pickup truck. Apparently Kia’s have a remarkably solid rear window… Who knew?
I purchased your motocross101 DVD shortly after it came out. I found it both informative and entertaining and I’m not just saying that to get my letter printed. Keep up the good work!
Dale
You bring up a conundrum that I’m faced with frequently with this column. Do you applaud the determination to ride or ridicule the absurdity of the effort? Is he a jackass or a genius? I’d really like to sit down with the guy and get in his head. Does he use a ramp to load it up there? Does he leave the massive wooden wheel chock in when he uses the vehicle for work or dating? Has he ever impaled a girl with those bolts? Honestly, that is some of the shoddiest carpentry I’ve ever seen. And then there is the issue of the gear, or lack thereof. Riding in Wranglers and a flannel is not cool unless you are a member of the Professional Bull Riders Association and you’re attempting to go eight seconds on an irritated animal named Dr. Broken Bones. Still, I could overlook the gear if I had to. What tips the scales for me on this one is the car itself. A Kia? A cowboy in a Kia? That’s like President Obama rollin’ up to the White House in a lifted truck with super swampers, a gun rack and a rebel flag on the roof. Cowboys drive trucks or old Cadillacs with bull horns on the hood. Period. This guy is a jackass.
PING
Hey,
I have a question for you. You obviously know what the logo for James Stewart Entertainment looks like, right? Well, I was reading an article in a Canadian - based magazine from 2001 and saw the picture I have attached in one of the stories. Doesn't the logo look just like JS7's company logo? Do you have any idea what the logo on the hat above is or what company it represents? Cause I'm pretty sure James Stewart Entertainment did not exist in 2001. The picture is of a guy who lives in Montreal, Quebec. I'm just curious if you guys know the origin of James' logo, when it was developed, etc. Or if this is just a coincidence of two logos looking really alike.
That’s all. Cheers!
A moto fan from the Great White North
Dear Steve Matthes' brother,
The two logos do look curiously similar, don’t they? I stared at it for a while and tried to figure out what it could be… and then it hit me. Puffy. Puff Daddy. P Diddy. Mr. Sean Combs started a clothing line called Sean John somewhere between sampling every 1980’s pop hit for his own use and dating J-Lo. The company produced a logo that was simply an S and a J intertwined and that is what you see on that hat. I don’t know who created the logo for James Stewart Entertainment, but it’s pretty obvious they "sampled" it from Puff Daddy. It’s fitting, I guess. Somewhere, the Notorious B.I.G. is looking down and shaking his head at all this.
PING
Stewart was big in Quebec back in 2001.
Ping,
I was recently educating my little MX'er about great races in supercross history. You know, things like the Bailey/RJ battle in '86, Atlanta '90, countless Hannah, R.C. and M.C. stories, etc. But then I got to thinking about "moments" during a race that were unforgettable. There were a lot of thoughts about guys getting stuffed, unbelievable jumps and that one Monster girl that I can't get out of my mind.
And then it finally hit me.... without a doubt, the most memorable "snap shot" in supercross history belongs to you. That night in Phoenix the front end snapped off of your little pumpkin was freakin’ awesome to watch! I had it recorded on VHS and watched it over and over. I'm pretty bummed out now that my wife threw out all of the old VHS tapes and I can no longer enjoy it.
Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know that I will always have that thought of you in my head.
By the way, as a collector of motocross goodies I was pleased to win a signed Suzuki #35 Pingree jersey on eBay for the tidy sum of $35. Even though it's a Suzuki jersey, I will always think KTM when I look at it.
Thanks for the memories,
Rob Thompson (braaap)
I wish there were another race of mine that stood out more than that one. That’s like being remembered as the guy who got drunk and passed out at a party with his shoes on and was drawn on with a Sharpie by everyone in attendance. I actually sketched a little pirate mustache on my buddy’s girlfriend once when she passed out and it was a lot of fun. She inherited the nickname "Captain Morgan" after that and, sadly, it stuck.
Anyway, I wish I had a ’86 Anaheim I could be remembered for, but I don’t. I guess I should just own the one event that will always conjure images of me. It was certainly an inspired crash. I am the Picasso of dirt bike yard sales in that regard; nobody does it better or with more style. And just like that my self-esteem is back to levels that don’t require medication. Wait, you paid $35 for one of my jerseys? That was the year I won the season opener and led the entire series and you only had to cough up 35 measly dollars?! Time to get a refill on my lithium prescription.
PING
Got a question for Ping? E-mail him at [email protected]. Need an idea for a Christmas present? Check out www.motocross101.com.
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Ping, you forgot to mention to the poor guy that doesn't have the VHS copy of the race anymore that he can find it on the Motocross101 video which you can find at www.motocross101.com for the low, low price of $24.95.
Ping... I had know idea you had such vast hip hop sub culture knowledge
Sadly, when I look at that car, all I can do is shake my head, and thank God that when I was 17 my stylin' 83 Renault Encore had a trailer hitch on it. Because this looks like something my dumb a** would have attempted. Of course my father would have been the voice of reason and told me just what a dumb a** I was for trying it... Still, gotta love his "HAVE TO RIDE" spirit!
I definately commend this kid for wanting to ride no matter what vehicle he has, no matter what is deemed "fashionable" on the track, no matter what he has to do to get there he's riding. Too many people get caught up in making a fashion statement or not having the best set up over what is really important...riding. What I didn't read was how fast this kid was going on the track? Probably smokin' all those crayola fox wearing kids on their new 2011 bikes...I love it!
I seen two kids pull up at Baja in their moms minivan with two CRF250's stuffed inside. I thought to myself now there's some kids that really want to ride. It impressed the hell outta me!!
LMAO that guy hauling the bike on a kia vehicle is a classic, then he has a wood block in the car for support. What a genius. Thats a real die hard fan and deserves to win the Toyota Tundra MX ruffle just for posting that pic.
Oh and by the way That bike probably cost more than the vehicle. What a classic. Made my day man.
Motorcycle Car carrier would solve this problem. I used one for the back of a 1994 Chrysler concord aka the "green goblin" for a good while. Wish I had a pick.
Obviously he was trapped in the barn where the bike and kia where parked. Probably during a Texas rainstorm where it was raining sideways hard for a few days straight. "damn ,it's to far to the house to not be pounded out ,what to do...what to do..... ps, the concussion comment was hilarious.great column
That is actually my old 2007 KTM 250XC, sold it to him last October... yeah. Wow.
Back in 94 or 95 I was racing the Arena Cross amateur day at the Cow Palace in Oakland and these 2 brothers comes pulling up in a mid 70's Cadillac with a hammered CR 250 in the trunk and a equally beat CR 80 stuffed in the back seat. This was a pre-entry race only race so these guys had time to make plans to get to the race but they came up with this rig. They hopped out already wearing their funky gear, yank the bikes out and head to practice. CR 250 brother launces himself into the corner seats of the Cow Palace around the 3'rd lap of 250 beginner practice and is done for the day. CR 80 brother actually rides pretty decent and later trophys in his class. Too bad they didn't have camera phones back then, would have been a funny pic. Also, there used to be a kid who would tie down the front of his KX 250 upright in the trunk of this beater Corolla and unhook the chain and let the rear of the bike roll along on the knobby behind the car back and forth to Riverfront MX park in Marysville Ca Back in the mid 90's. I actually copied that one day when my trailor blew a tire on the way to a race at Prarie Cityin 2002. I kept a spare after that but it worked like a charm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRp3Roz6grk&feature=player_embedded BTW: bmil1, the Cow Palace isn't in Oakland.
in the late 70's this guy used to bring his racer on a sidecar to fremont,,ride to the races in his gear unload the scoot and kick some rick ryan, larry wosick butt...I foget the guys name,,he rode an orange can am and smoked alotta weed.. on a good nite when his bike stayed in one piece he flat kicked everyones butt..ah the good ole bad daze
Hahaha thats too funny- only in Texas. It would probably be a lot easier and safer just to strap a gas can on the seat and bomb the side of the freeway. I hate to see people wreck on dirtbikes and this wad especially turns my stomach. Our boy Ping was lucky not to be in a wheelchair from that. Thanks for dredging up this horrible memory.
MX 563 I know, it is in Daly City but I figured no one would know where Daly City is so I said Oakland. San Francisco or the Bay Area might have been a better choice but oh well.
I know for a fact that in 1980 David Bailey "trailered" his privateer Kawasaki 250 to a Texas supercross....meaning he hitched the front wheel to the back of the vehicle and the back wheel rolled along the interstate. No ****. And this was just after he and his dad conducted a motocross school in Tiftonia, GA. People don't realize that David was an amateur zero, but became a legendary hero. And I truly believe what was instilled in him back then is what has kept him alive and thriving now. Also, I was there that dreadful Golden State race and witnessed David's seemingly mild endo. But he never moved afterwards. Sad day. But his awesome spirit and determination prevails, for sure.
I don't quite understand the duct tape window. With everything else going on in that KIA death trap, he's worried about the elements getting in through the broken window?
Why doesnt the kid sell the car for what he can(before the modifications) and buy a cheap little S-10 or Ranger, or any small cheap truck?? Who cares what shirt he wears. Will a 40 dollar Thor or Fox jersey make him ride better. At least he had boots and a helmet..
Good call, BD... wait, doesn't Thor MAKE a flannel jersey now!? Dude was just stylin', that's all! Oh, and at least he even THOUGHT of bracing the roof!
I applaud the ingenuity! Back in college when I had no money, I bought a 76 Pinto wagon to get around for about 500 bucks. More to the point - I was in withdrawals from racing so I maxed my meager CC and bought a KX250. Guess how it got to the track? Loaded sideways into the back of the Pinto.
You do what you need to do to ride...