Ask Ping

Brett,

I don’t know the reason behind Feld’s decision. What they told Jeff was that NBC wanted to differentiate between the broadcast team that was at Fox and the new team at NBC. However, as Jeff mentioned to me, he’s the only one that wasn’t brought over. Hopefully he finds something that gets him to the races frequently because the sport is better with him involved. In the meantime, enjoy Ralph and the GOAT in the booth. Also, we did mention the new broadcast team here on Racer X Online. You can read the post here.

PING

Hi David,

We appreciate your insights. My question relates to the Hampshire/Cianciarulo incident. After Adam parked RJ, how could he be so oblivious to the retaliation that could be coming? It seems to me that most racers would have protected their line better or would have “checked up.” Is it the heat of the moment that clouds the racing judgement? 

Thanks,
Troy in Oregon

Troy,

Not many folks know this but Adam was actually swooped up by a tornado off the start of that main event, bike and all. While you may have seen a #92 Kawasaki bouncing off other riders, taking detours off the track, knocking people down, crashing, and traveling at speeds normally reserved for lunatics on rocket bikes at the Bonneville Salt Flats, it was just Adam hanging on while the tornado tossed him about for 15 laps. True story.

I’ll say this: Go outside and get your heart rate up to 200 beats per minute, whatever that may require. For some it could be a light jog and for others it could be hill sprints. Once you’ve hit that heart rate, try to work out a few complex word problems or math equations and see how you do. Hypoxia is a bitch as it relates to cognitive brain function and when you’re bouncing off your own personal rev limiter, there is a good chance you make a few mental errors. Adam stuffed RJ before the whoops like chicken cordon bleu and he should have known it was coming back. My guess is that he figured he screwed RJ up enough that he wouldn’t be close enough to hit him. He was wrong. Either way, it would have been wise to cover the inside a little better. Maybe this week he’ll avoid the tornados and make better decisions. 

PING

Dear Ping,

When first announced, I had my doubts that I could sit through 90+ minutes of the new Whiskey Throttle Show just listening to another typical interview with a couple of guys talking about the same stuff we always hear. However, after listening to the first 2 episodes with DeCoster and Johnson, I can’t wait for more. For DeCoster, my favorite was the story about when they were at the Des Nations and he found Lechien drunk in the hotel room and asked, “Ronnie, what the F*** are you doing?” Then for Johnson, my favorite was when he described the YZ 490 that Glover won a championship on as, “a pile of sh**!” I’m an old guy, but I literally lol’d more than once listening to these shows. I must admit, though, that I'm a bit envious while listing in my car, of those at the show chugging the free beer! Yes, I realize that I have yet to get to a question, but it has to do with references included in both interviews that will likely be referenced in all interviews for anyone who was involved in the sport in the ‘80s. So here goes: WHEN IS THE RON LECHIEN INTERVIEW? Please tell me there are plans for this, as the one or two bits I got from these shows only increases my desire to hear a few stories that only he knows! While I have to imagine that we are beyond any statute of limitations at this point, I understand if legal issues may prevent this. However, you could always put him in the shadows, disguise his voice and claim he was just a good friend if you need to!

JBONE