Friday, October 31, 2008

Old school pitbike races - SL70 and XR75

Recently my old school friend Ronnie Welch sent me a bunch of pictures from TVRC's annual "King of the Ant Hill" race in Texas. If you were under the misguided belief that pitbike races were some new phenomenon, well, let me assure you that the only thing truly new in dirt biking is the backflip.

There were plenty of cool XR75s, including some single-shock models using aftermarket swingarms. But Ronnie was representin' for all the Po' Boys who had to ride 'em like they came from the factory. His beater SL70 was sporting nothing more than a Green Weenie filter and a DG-style megaphone.

Wish I had been there. I have two SL70 project bikes sitting around the house here somewhere if I can ever get back to them...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

MediaZone closes Moto Channel

Last week I got email notification that MediaZone is closing their Moto Channel. This is a big disappointment to me, as I just signed up for a 1-year subscription when I watched the MXdN on live video.

MediaZone will refund my subscription fee on a pro-rated basis, but the money isn't really the problem. I'm disappointed that what seemed to be a really good service for catching all the GPs has gone by the wayside.

I don't know anything about what motivated the closure, and the email gave no reason. But if you read my post on The right broadcast model for motocross you know I think full length video on the web is the right way forward for MX.

I suspect MediaZone lost their agreement with YouthStream, or the licensing fees went way up, or maybe there just weren't enough subscribers to pay the fees. I don't know. But I do know it's a loss.

Over on Eternal Two Stroke Derrick Harris is talking about the same topic in his post Which "M" is in?. Derrick points to this cool video highlight site for Australian Supercross.

Personally, I'm not happy with highlights. I want full race coverage. If not live, at least same day. And I'm willing to pay for it. Hopefully, MX Sports will be able to negotiate something along those lines in the near future. For now, we'll have to get by on the oddly structured SPEED TV coverage.

Friday, October 10, 2008

MX Sports press conference Saturday

In today's Racerhead column Davey Combs announced a press conference to be held tomorrow morning at the MGM Grand Hotel. Coombs will announce some of MX Sports' plans for the 2009 Pro MX season. There have been a lot of discomfiting rumors flying about. Many sound far-fetched, to me. But you never know. Hopefully we'll get answers that put the worst of them to bed.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Motocross des Nations ramp up

It's time for the Motocross des Nations, the largest international motocross race in the world. I just signed up for the MediaZone coverage so I can watch the event live on Sunday morning.

I attended the Budds Creek event last year and had a blast. I wish I could go every year. My goal is to attend an international MXdN before too much more time passes. There's lots of great info available at RacerX and the MXNationals web sites, including Ryan Villopotto's photo blog. He's got some great photos.

So get your favorite beverage ready for an early drop of the gate (7:00am EDT Sunday) and let's watch Team USA bring home the Chamberlain Cup for the fourth consecutive time!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

freecaster.tv to show 2009 FIM MX GPs live

I saw this announcement FIM Motocross and Supermoto Live Online in '09 on RacerXIll.com today. I haven't really kept up with the World GP scene and so wasn't aware that freecaster.tv already have video highlights of all the GPs on online. According to the release:

The FIM Motocross World Championship promoter Youthstream and the online broadcaster Freecaster.tv have reached an important agreement to broadcast the series for free live and delayed on www.freecaster.tv from 2009.

There's no press release on either the FIM or Youthstream web sites so I don't know where it came from, but RacerX is a pretty reliable source.

There are a lot of changes in store for American MX in 2009 and beyond. It would be cool if a similar webcast arrangement was one of them.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Updates to MuddyWatersMX.net

I've been working on some updates to the site, in an effort to make it friendlier for readers. I've got more to do, but the changes I made this round are:

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Davey Coombs takes on the future of outdoor MX

This just in: RacerX Illustrated founder, 2nd-generation motocross promoter, track owner, prolific media entrepreneur, and all-round good guy Davey Coombs just announced in Racerhead #28 that he is stepping down from the day-to-day operations of his RacerX empire to focus on the future of outdoor MX and the pro motocross Nationals. In less than a year we've gone from feeling the AMA genuinely wanted to kill the outdoor series to having someone like Davey step up to drive the sport forward. No one has a better grasp of the sport's past and future than DC. We could not be in better hands.

Coombs has already talked about things like raising the minimum age for Pro licenses, the problems with

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

NPG, SPEED, RacerX step it up with "Almost Live" coverage of 1st-ever night-time AMA MX National

Last nite was a big event in the world of professional motocross. The NPG, RacerX Illustrated, and SPEED TV are really stepping it up. David Clabaugh, owner of Thunder Valley MX, and the NPG put on the first-ever night-time AMA MX National. The lighting was tough on some of the riders, and it wasn't perfect. But it was workable, and it was a hell of a first-time effort for lighting an entire, national-caliber, outdoor MX track.

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Rick (aka Super Hunky) Siemen needs our help

This message came via e-mail from my friend Rick Salazar in southern California. With Rick's permission I reprint it here, in its entirety. There's some good stuff at the Super Hunky site. I just ordered a copy of "Monkey Butt" and some posters.

BTW, I did this post back in May when I first heard rumors of Rick's condition. It's a reminder to all of us about some new developments regarding PSA, what it means, and why we should get the finger every year. Please check it out.

Dear Friend,

I don't know if you are aware, but our old friend Rick (Super Hunky) Siemen has been facing some serious personal challenges lately.

SH recently found out that he has prostate cancer for the second time, and has been undergoing Chemo therapy. SH is now waiting to find out if the treatment was successful or not. As you may know, Rick has lived in Baja, Mex. for years, but recently had to move back to the US to get his medical treatment. Rick and his wife Tina moved out into the desert of Maricopa, Arizona, however, because Tina had to take a job to help with bills, they have had to move again. This time closer to town, to be near his doctor/hospital, so he could drive himself back and forth. The real estate market being what it is, Rick lost quite a bit of money that was earmarked for retirement and other things due to the moves.

I have been following SH's progress for months thru a friend of mine who is personal friend of SH and lives close to SH. A couple of weekends ago Rick's old friend Wes, (who was also arrested back in the day at the same time as Rick) gathered over a half dozen friends with trucks and trailers along with my friend and a few of the VMX community in AZ. to help move SH. SH being extremely weakened due to the chemo therapy was unable to help very much. My friend said Rick was quite humbled that so many strangers would turn out to help him move. Stephen mentioned to Rick that many in the vintage motorcycle community that had heard of SH's medical plight would like to help, if help would be accepted. SH said he wouldn't be offended or turn down any offers of help.

To be clear, Rick receives medical benefits from the US Navy, however he has lost quite a bit of money in the moves, and at his age (pushing 70), and condition (stroke, knee replacement as well as prostrate cancer for the second time) he couldn't really afford to lose that money.

For those of you that grew up in the "Golden age of Motocross" you may remember Super Hunky as the CZ, and Maico riding older brother that wrote of his adventures. Super Hunky gave us the straight scoop about the newest dirt bikes, which ones were worth the money, and which ones were junk. Rick also told us about waging a legal battle against the BLM and the Sierra Club to preserve riding land here in California. Rick was jailed, and almost bankrupt himself taking on the BLM, fighting to keep the Barstow to Vegas desert race going, for dirt riders everywhere.

The reason I'm writing this letter is that the vintage community has always helped out guys in need, and now Rick Siemen needs our help. It is time to give something back to Rick "Super Hunky" Siemen for his 35 plus years of giving to us.

There are FOUR ways to help Rick, whichever way you choose, the money goes right to Rick.

1. Go to his website SuperHunky.com and buy his books, CD's, posters and other collectible items. If you haven't read his book "Monkey Butt" you ought to.
2. I know not everybody has a PayPal account but if you do, a donation can be sent to Rick via https://www.paypal.com/ Simply click on "Send money to your friends and relatives". Enter Rick's email address: superhunky@gmail.com and follow directions.
3. Mail a donation directly to Rick Siemen. (this is his NEW address)
   Rick Siemen
   36607 West Cosa Blanca St.
   Maricopa, AZ. 85238
4. If everybody would forward this email to a friend or two and get the word out it it would help a great guy. Let the spirit of goodwill guide you.

Regards,

Rick Salazar

Sunday, June 15, 2008

MuddyWatersMX podcast in development

I've begun development of the Muddy Waters MX podcast. I'm planning to do some interviews with interesting folks from the vintage racing scene; "how-to" segments with some of the folks that do cool stuff with their bikes, trailers, and such; interviews with AMA area reps to better understand how we, the riders, make our voice heard in the AMA, and discussion with some of the leaders of the land access battle. I'm also open to suggestions for topics. Not sure when I'll be ready to publish the first one. I'm just getting all the gear together and lining up my first interviews. But stay tuned. It shouldn't be too long.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Vintage bike show this Saturday at the High Point MX National

This Saturday is the Parts Unlimited Vintage Bike Show at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, PA. Expect a first-class showing from our East Coast VMX brethren in conjunction with the world-class modern MX racing at the AMA Outdoor National.