Western Idaho Motocross Series (WIMS) Round #3, Pleasant Valley Raceway 25 June, 2011

Saturday afternoon I loaded up the Iron Horse from the Boise Rec Fest and headed out to Pleasant Valley Raceway for the 3rd Round of the WIMS (Western Idaho Motocross Series). The weather was perfect and I was anxious to get out on the track. I like the Saturday Night Races, it’s a totally different feel and the Pleasant Valley track is fun to ride. This track definitely tests your technical abilities and throttle control skills.

It was an awesome night. I really feel comfortable on this track; I was riding well and my Project Filter backed KX450F was ready to roll. I busted out of the first moto gate and made it through the first turn in second place. I was having a pretty good battle with an unfamiliar rider. We went several laps with not more than a bike length between us when suddenly he lost it in a right hand sweeper, I ducked underneath him and I was gone, taking the moto win.

I knew he would be after me in the second moto because if you can come back from a second place in the first and take the second moto win, you’ll take the overall. I was able to get the holeshot in the second moto and the race was on. Again, we went several laps and he was pressuring me pretty hard. Sometimes it’s good to be in second because you can pressure the leader and wait for a mistake to be made. As we headed into the long doubles on the backside I couldn’t hear his bike anymore, I don’t like to look behind me but I did because I couldn’t figure out what happened, he just dropped right off the pace. I ended up taking the second moto win and the overall. I found out after the race that his bike stalled on him and by the time he got it going, I was gone. It was a good race; I enjoy the competition and a little bar to bar action.

What a great night, I got to talk with a couple of people that were at the Boise Rec Fest and that I had seen earlier I the day. Thank You Project Filter for my opportunity to represent! What an awesome organization doing it for an outstanding cause and through a wonderful sport!!

Were headed to Salmon for Round #4 of the Thunder Mountain Series, It’s sure to be a good one, “Go Big or Go Home Boise!” Stay Tuned……

Boise Rec Fest 2011

This Saturday I helped to man the Project Filter booth at the Boise Rec Fest. What a great event, the weather was amazing and there were a lot of people out and about enjoying the sun shine. I’ll have to say , I wondered how effective Project Filter would be at this event since we try to target events where people would most likely use tobacco products but as the morning went on it all began to make sense.
The Boise Rec fest tends to draw a more healthy conscious crowd but the cool thing that I experienced while manning the booth was chatting with the people who came up to talk about their experiences with quitting tobacco. Several people said that they had used the programs that Project Filter offer and that they were really glad to have had the free product support. Most everyone talks about how hard it is to quit but once they finally get through it, they say that they are so glad that they did.

I talked to one person that said he has always been an avid runner, even when he was a smoker. He said that he would go for a run and the first thing he would do when he was done, is smoke a cigarette. Oh, and cough so hard that he thought his lungs going to come right out of his throat. He said it wasn’t enjoyable at all and it made him want to quit running. Well fortunately instead of quitting running he quit smoking. He raved about how much better he feels and how much more he enjoys his runs. He said he can run farther and with much more ease than ever before. It’s a proven fact that kicking the habit will make you perform better, it has immediate health benefits, your circulation will improve and your lungs will start to repair the damage, positive effects for the body will start within the first twenty four hours.

I also talked to several people who didn’t use tobacco but knew someone who did and wanted them to quit. They took information about the program and wanted to use it to encourage the people that they care about in their lives, to quit. I thought that was really cool, to care enough about someone to want to help them quit and want to see them improve their quality of life. I had one young man tell me that smoking killed his grandma and he was glad that we were there because he didn’t want anyone else have to go through what he did. He said that he will never use tobacco and I told him that was a great decision.

It was a great day, I heard some really good genuine stories about how Project Filter has helped people quit and how much better people feel once they have. That’s the payoff, I have heard it many times and it makes me feel awesome to be a part of building a healthier community and such an outstanding program….. Thank You Project Filter!

Idaho State Thunder Mountain Series Round #3, Preston, Idaho 4-5 June 2011

Over five hundred riders from five states came together this weekend for Round #3 of the Thunder Mountain Series. The Project Filter Motocross Team was on scene for the action and I must say there was plenty to be had.

This was my first trip to Preston Idaho (Preston is the home town of the Napoleon Dynamite movie filming). What a cool little town nestled in a picturesque valley. The Cache Motocross Track was located out in the middle of the farming community and was carved out of probably the best riding dirt that I have ever seen. The dirt was tacky and loamy all weekend long, which makes for some ultimate traction action. Although, this track is very technical because that tacky, loamy dirt also makes for some of the knarliest (yes knarliest is a word in motocross) ruts I have ever experienced. The weather was perfect, it was a steady 70 degrees and sunny all weekend.

Ok, so the weather is awesome the track is good and after Fridays test and tune, I felt great. I woke up Saturday morning to a unbelievable stomach flu, I felt terrible and along with the stomach issue came some serious body aches. I didn’t know how I was going to ride. I made it through practice and actually through my first moto which to my surprise, I won. As the day went on I felt worse, I had about a four hour break between my first and second motos and I laid out on the floor of the trailer and slept for about two. I made it up to the start line and just before we were getting set to launch I felt it coming, I asked Nate to hold my bike and I walked behind the line up and hurled out of the bottom of my helmet, I know TMI right. I jumped back on the bike and the gate dropped.

Despite the way that I felt I was able to pull off a win for the day in my over forty class and held on for a mid pack finish in the over thirty. Sunday I felt a little better but I hadn’t been able to eat at all and my body was incredibly week. I actually thought about sitting the day out but that’s not my style. I dug deep and held on for a second place finish in the over forty and again mid pack in the over thirty.

The weekend really made me think about why we do things and what we are willing to do for something that is important to us, even though it might be very challenging and a little uncomfortable. Ive got to tell ya, I was pretty darn uncomfortable working my way through the eight motos that I rode but when it was all over, I knew I had done the right thing by sticking with it and I sure felt better knowing that I had. It’s just like kicking the tobacco habit, it’s not easy and is probably going to be a little uncomfortable to get through but you will be glad that you did and you’ll feel great knowing that you accomplished something that you set your mind to.

It’s always fun to travel to new places; people are always interested in Project Filter and asking what we are all about. I would like to thank the Thunder Mountain crew for taking care of us at the races, they always make sure the Project Filter Team has a good spot to set up and that we are visible. They do a great job of recognizing our presence and letting everyone know that we are on scene.

Overall it was a successful weekend, we got to throw some dirt, we all got through it unharmed and we made it home safe…. Thank You Project Filter!

Next Race, Salmon Idaho, last year was brutal; we’ll see what they have in store for us this year…