Idaho State Championship Motocross Series Rnd 5, 26 - 27 June 2010

My main competition, Bob Harris #955.

Fossil Bowl is known for this knarly downhill.

The Creek Jump.

Riley Kienbaum, Project Filters newest team member. Im thinking he will be Mayor of Clarkia someday...

Hello Race Fans! The Smokefree83/Project Filter Race Team traveled to Clarkia, Idaho for Round Five of the Idaho State Championship Motocross Series.

Clarkia is tucked away in the pine trees somewhere between Lewiston and Coeurd’alene. Clarkia has a population of about 100 people. This picturesque little town is known for two things, their 15 million year old Fossils and their 29 year old Motocross Track that draws riders from all over Idaho, Washington and Montana.

The Fossil Bowl Motocross Track is the most challenging track that I have ridden. It offers a little bit of everything, from a challenging up hill / down hill section, technical jumps, hard pack, dry slick and a creek jump that is for real. The Creek Jump is about twelve to fifteen feet across with an eight to ten foot drop to the creek. If you don’t jump it, your going in, there is no way around once you take the approach. They run the track in one direction the first day and then reverse the direction for the second day, this gives you a chance to get it all, both ways.

Matt, Dani and I arrived on Friday to take advantage of the Test and Tune Practice session. This gives us a chance to learn the track, get warmed up and work the bugs out before the actual race gate drops. Matt had already mastered most of the jumps and Dani was trying to follow suit. Dani quickly found herself on the ground and before too long, Earl was changing a set of mangled handlebars.

Over the weekend there were several riders that hit the dirt, two went into the creek and one face planted into the swamp. Life Flight was on scene the entire weekend, thankfully no one had to take a ride. I had a few close calls myself but managed to keep it on two wheels all weekend. I ended up with second and third place overall finishes.

We met a really neat young man named Riley Kienbaum, he is nine years old, his family owns and runs the track. Riley helped us out in our fight against tobacco use by helping to hand out Project Filter footballs and drink coolers throughout our two days on site. We made Riley a part of the Team and he promised to help to keep Clarkia and the Fossil Bowl Motocross track smoke free. Thank You for your help, Riley!

Overall Clarkia was an awesome experience. Project Filter was welcome with open arms by all and once again, I am glad to have been a part of it. Thank You, Project Filter!

See Ya all in Moutain Home for the next round with White Knuckle Racing...

Gowen Field Health and Safety Fair 9 June, 2010

Pig Lung Demonstration.

Ed n Ann

The National Guard Patriot Chopper.

Wow! What a cool experience. Dani and I headed out to Gowen Field to represent the Smokefree83/ Project Filter Team at the 2010 Gowen Field Health and Safety Fair Day. This is a designated day for Gowen Field Military members and their families to celebrate, learn and share about health and safety concerns. It is a chance to connect as family, friends, teams and co-workers in an effort to promote healthier, safer, life styles to be shared by all.

This is where we came in, since that is exactly what we do in representation of the Project Filter Program. We support the fight for a smoke free Idaho and a healthier life style to be enjoyed and shared throughout our communities.

We talked with several Military Members, young, older, present and retired who made that same old statement, “I Sure Would like to Quit”. We let them know what Project Filter is all about, the resources that are available and that help is as easy as picking up the phone or going to the website. One thing that really helped us today was having the visual aid of actual pig lungs that were prepared to show the devastating effects that smoking has on the lungs themselves. We showed the comparison of a smoker’s lungs to that of healthy pink non-smokers lungs. This comparison really opened some eyes and sent several people away from the booth with literature in hand and with the intent of using the program. It also helped to confirm for many of our patrons, again, young and older that they do not ever want to smoke.

I feel like this was a very beneficial event, even though the military has made specific efforts to discourage soldiers from using tobacco it is evident that it is still a wide spread concern. I am glad to have this opportunity to educate people on the negative effects of the habit and to be able to show them that help is available.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by the booth and Thank You to Project Filter for offering this program in support for a Smoke Free Idaho!