Hey Ping,
There has been a pattern of Dirt Wurx building big, beautiful whoops for all the practice sessions just to knock them down to stutter steps before the night show. Why do they do this? I miss the days of having such monstrous whoops that all but a few top guys had the skills and huevos to skim them. (Anaheim 2 in 2000 had some of the gnarliest whoops I’ve ever seen in my life.) Why, with all the advances in technology and power with the 450 beasts, are the whoops getting smaller? Why build big nightmares of whoops for practice just to knock them down for when the real racing begins? They can be used to help separate the men from the boys and provide passing opportunities, which seem to be few and far between with the tracks not evolving equally with the four stroke. Who makes these decisions?
Trent
Trent,
You’re preaching to the choir, bro. I was racing in 2000 and had to sack up and skim those whoops—on a 125! This recent trend of cutting the track down for the night show is stupid. Build big whoops and make them right out of a turn so guys aren’t hitting them with a bunch of speed and you’ll have a safe [relatively speaking] and challenging section. Put those same whoops after a triple where riders are in fourth gear and hauling ass and you better make some room up in the Asterisk Medic Unit. I’m not sure who is making the calls at Dirt Wurx’s these days but I hope one of them reads this.
PING
Hi David,
Hope all is good and getting better. I came across this picture the other day and we've been debating if it's Jim Holley or not... I'm sure you could help us clarify this. On that race he popped a wheelie and went around the whole track without the front wheel touching the ground, including this HUGE (at least I saw it like that back then) hill like the ones on Glen Helen; people still remember that today! Look at the title sponsor back then... LOL!
All the best!
Erik from the Dominican Republic
Erik,
Yes, that’s him! Jim “Hollywood” Holley is a national treasure in our sport and many of his best stories [and Polaroids] come from trips like this. The only thing Jim put more effort into than his racing was his post-race shenanigans. Let’s just say Mr. Holley is no stranger to strange, if you know what I’m saying. Jim makes Wilt Chamberlain look like one of Mitt Romney’s sons. If smashing butt were fried chicken then Sir James Holley is Colonel Sanders. Feel free to plug in your own “finger lickin’ good” comment here. Anyway, these days Jim is a wonderful, devoted family man who brings us Race Day Live at all the supercross rounds. Thanks for sending in the old-school photo. Now bring me out to the Dominican Republic! I need to line up some fun road trip stories for Racer X and the DR sounds amazing.
PING
Ping.
The race coverage is cool, but why hasn't Ralph Sheheen been replaced? He messes up riders names & sponsors on the regular, but is real quick to name drop his Nascar buddies..... Not asking you to bad mouth anyone, and I know it's not as easy job, but in your opinion is there someone better out there? Maybe somebody more rooted in the industry, or appeal to the masses better? Thanks for your time.
Adam Ro
Adam,
Honestly, the only guy I know who could do that job well is Jason Weigandt. Being a good color guy just takes experience in the industry, good speaking skills and a firm grip on the English language. To be the host of the show is a tough job. You have to be able to listen in your ear to the producer and time the dialogue to fit the show. Throwing to field reporters, asking good questions, maintaining an appropriate amount of enthusiasm without sounding like you just did a bump of cocaine of Jeff Emig’s Windsor knot is no easy feat. Go easy on Ralph; he’s a good guy and does a good job.
PING
Have a question for Ping? Hit him up at ping@racerxonline.com.
