Ask Ping!
Friday, June 24, 2011 | 2:20 PM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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Ping,
I know you have a ton of knowledge in a ton of different areas, but I think I have a question that might stump you. What does “to stong” mean in South African?
Teflon
Excited, but inaccurate.
Nice query, my good man, but I happen to know exactly what to stong means in the South African vernacular. Stong is another name for a swanky hotel room and it appears as though Rattray’s mechanic [and step-father, consequently] has spotted a pretty girl across the track and he is inviting her out to party. His guy just won and he was ready to throw down, you know? You don’t believe that? Would you believe me if I told you that To Stong was an old wooden ship used to sail the seven seas? No?
Alright, let’s just be honest here; Wayne was psyched that Tyla added more cushion to his point lead and his internal spell check was set to off. Tyla was definitely “Too Strong” at Budds Creek.
PING
Ping,
Well, the old "not if but when" happened to me two weeks ago. I was practicing at the track and took a pretty good spill. Long story short, I was taken to the ER and came away with a concussion, broken finger and pretty stiff neck. The ER doc's said wearing my Leatt and chest protector saved me from much greater and permanent physical damage. I've always been appreciative of life and don't take anything for granted. After my spill, I have a much more heightened sense of appreciation. Like you, I ride because I love to do so and it puts a big smile on my face. However, being out of work for a week and the thought of hurting myself again, and possibly more severely, has put a little damper on my zest for riding/racing (novice for now). I have a wife, two kids, mortgage, etc., that's making me think twice about getting back on the bike. Although you had a pro career in our sport and are now moving on to become a "smoke eater" and future Fire/Police MX champ, I know you still enjoy your time on the bike. You too have the same responsibilities as I do. Not looking for any answers here but just want your thoughts on dealing with the psyche of getting back on the bike after taking a good spill and weighing the risks/rewards.
Thanks in advance for your time and I appreciate the feedback.
Still Dizzy
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
You want to end up like Howard Hughes?
I have that very same internal argument from time to time. Is riding my bike really worth the risk of injury? The answer is yes. To me it is a slippery slope when you start letting fear control your decisions like that. Before you know it you’ll be locked in a containment room like Howard Hughes, not doing anything for fear of injuring yourself. Look, I understand the downside to getting hurt. If you can’t go to work or provide for your family it can be a huge setback. So do everything in your power to limit the damage. Are you wearing all the protective equipment you can? Is it quality stuff? Are you riding on [relatively] safe tracks? There is a common denominator among most guys who get hurt and it happens to be jumps. Every time you leave the ground you increase your odds of returning to it on your head. There are good tracks out there without all the jumps. Have you been to The Ranch lately? They have a couple old-school tracks with no big jumps. What about strength and flexibility? Do you try to prepare yourself for the times when you do hit the ground?
Anyway, I don’t think it’s good for your mental health to give up something you love because you are afraid of getting hurt. Let the bumps and bruises heal and get back on the horse that threw you.
PING
Ping,
Why doesn’t motocross have any kind of cool post-season event like other sports? The NFL does the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, the NBA does the slam-dunk contest and all that crap… why can’t we have something cool like that? I know there used to be a race in Hawaii and I think I remember you being part of some race over there once. Why don’t they still do it?
Big Fan
Can you name all these guys?
Can you name all these guys?
Can you name all these guys?
There used to be a big supercross event in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. I think the obvious reason that it didn’t last is that it’s difficult to ship bikes over there, or have bikes provided by such a small motocross community. All football and baseball players have to do is pack their uniforms and a couple balls [yes, I said a couple balls] and they are ready to go. I tried to help a promoter put on an event over there back in ’04 and it was a disaster. We had riders cancel on us at the last minute after we had purchased their tickets. The venue was supposed to be an arena in downtown Honolulu and they pulled the contract just prior to the event so we had to go to a different, remote location. Sponsors pulled some or all of their money when they learned of the location change. And to top it all off it poured rain on the Saturday night event. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The promoter lost money, riders didn’t get paid what they were promised and it left a bad taste in people’s mouths about supercross racing on the islands. Despite all that, we had a great time. And if someone decided to put another race on over there I would be the first one to get involved and help. You want to put up the money?
Anyway, how about the new Monster Energy Cup that’s scheduled for this October. The track is actually being designed by RC and MC as we speak and there’s a million bucks up for grabs. That’s pretty cool, eh?
PING
Got a question for Ping? E-mail him at [email protected].
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That guy has already sold the bike. I am sure his wife is the one really pulling the strings. Grow a pair, driving to the track is probably more dangerous then riding if you are riding within your skill level.
Sometimes a mechanic just needs to settle down and "remember to breath".
Ping, I think you left one imprtant factor out? when I retired in 94 I did not have insurance that kept me from racing, Well the retirement was caused by reduction in force "IE" a big layoff of the company. When I did get a nother job I had to work every Sunday so no racin for me then, Now after this hip heals up I might be able to race again, hope so.
To Pizza coner, hey there is a problem when the brain is conneted to the body you think you can still do what you once could it is a hard thing to control, Not sure but that is why I get scared when the novices or beginners start?
Davey Davey Davey.... Not your best writing.
brought to you by "Ping" the pro who made his career in the 125 and lites series. Don't complain about Rattray or Hansen and how long they've been in the lites class, until you see how many starts this guy had in the 125 series. I believe the Morais is the only rider with more races in the tiddler class than Pingree.
...just want your thoughts on dealing with the psyche of getting back on the bike after taking a good spill.
I cant wait to get back on a bike. This is the worst part of a rider's life is the time wasted sitting with an injury. It's agonizing! And if it happens right at the start of summer? Man that hurts worse than the injury.
I remember walking into the Honda dealership on crutches & buying a brand new motocross bike. I tell the saleman "I will be riding again, soon" (I hope!)
I get jealous of people who are riding while I'm injured & cannot.
As soon as I'm able to get back on the bike, I do! I wont rush an injury but I wont milk it either!
For all riders out there with kid's , and house payment's.......get AFLACK or some thing like it. It is like 30 bucks a month, it will help pay you when you are hurt. Helps with the stress, of being hurt!
October 10, 2005 - I came up short trying to jump an entire section at Elizabeth City MX and I broke my right collar bone, both wrists, my right thumb and worst of all - 2 vertebrae in my neck. I've been racing all my life and injury comes with the sport I know, but the severe injuries make you realize how important your family is and how unimportant and insignificant winning can be. Finally - at 33 years old, I realized at that time that I am mortal. I am grateful not to be in a wheelchair.
Ride safe, people. Keep your eye on the ball.
When I watched the race last weekend, I knew without a doubt that that 'to stong' would be on here and is the whole reason I read this. Wish I could play the lottery to the same effect.
And as for a cool off-season event, MXdN is as cool as it gets.
Why does every guy that has a little bit of talent on a dirtbike hate ball sports so bad. Bunch of haters if you ask me. Most likely got made fun of growing up, because they were small. Stop the hate.
Hey Jairtime... I don't think Ping has said anything about Rattray or those guys being in the class still. And as far as his career is concerned, unless you have more supercross wins than him you really have no room to criticize what he's done. I think most would be 'super pumped' to do what he did during his career.
@ jairtime suks... When is the last time you rolled up to a AMA supercross or outdoor gate? You are pretty fast behind that keyboard.
when i got hurt and had shoulder surgery at age 40 it took a year to heal up. I'm with Ping, get back on the horse that threw you. Riding and racing off road, not MX is a little safer too.
I too have been there. After racing for 15 years and making it (barely) to the local +30 expert level....I had a severe crash casing a rather large, steep double.
1. Shattered left femur up by the hip. 14" titanium nail inside it and a big screw thingy into the ball of the femur that joins to the rod, plus the scews in the lower part just above the knee to secure the rod.
2. Rib cage crushed, sternum cracked, right lung punctured and collapsed by a broken rib....
3. Broken left arm (both bones) 4" above the wrist.
4. 3rd degree separation of right shoulder.
5. Nice fat concussion.
6 days in a trauma center....3 weeks in a wheelchair, 4 weeks on a walker, several more weeks on crutches...months of limping around, at 10 months post injury I could ride again. I rode for another 10 months and was as fast as I ever was, but at that point I made a decision to hang up the boots, for my two children, so I can play baseball, football, run with them, when I am 50. I took up competitive long distance running in place of the MX, and have completed 3 half marathons and 2 full marathons.
Commit to it, or don't do it I say. Ride, or don't ride. I made my decision and walked away from it with NO regrets. Had a blast with it but it's time was done for me.
Ping,
Congratulations on one of your best responses to a submission with your words to Dizzy. I find your column to be either a hit or miss. Those words were a home run!
Now that I am way into the down slope of my racing career at 53, I have been trying to ride within my limits so I can ride up to the day I die. Am I much slower than I was twenty ears ago? Yep, but I am still riding and racing.
As a matter of fact, I am racing VMX to help extend my racing. At our ACR events, we stress that this is all about having fun and not getting hurt. And, it seems to working. Very rarely in a season do we see the ambulance leaving the track with a Vintage racer inside.
For those of you that do not think VMX racing can be fun, you need to come and see what takes place at one of these events. At ACR events (http://www.acrmx.com), we have classes for bikes built from wood to modern classes for those that also enter a VMX class. We also have mini classes for both kids and adults and mini classes for bikes made before 1975.
For non hard core would be VMX racers, look to an event put on by the independent clubs as opposed to the National organization. The independents run things much looser.
Again, Ping, great responce.
McLovin
...Let Brock Bye...
I finished my 1st moto at saddleback(83), with what I thought was one HELL of a wierd headache, and a severley stiff neck, (squashed the oddball YZ pretty hard of bonzia) Sat at the checkers as to not get a dnf so I could ride moto 2. Rode 1 lap,...said with sorta a grin "i think I broke my fkn neck" went home. Headaches got worse, couldnt move melon at all. Compression fractures t-7 t-8. cervicle 5-6 Had all the regualar stuff, shattered r collarbone, scapula, 5 broken anckles 2-l 3 r (size 12 boot) ruts. wrist, fingers, and i dunno all the stuff I never had looked at. But id do it all again....only not get the damned 83 yz this time :P
I was a all star in stick n ball sports as well, all conference football. ect ect....but nothing takes the place of motocross.......nothing.
Last post i promise. I also bought my own 1st real dirt bike (racer) at age 12 by picking tomatoes in tomatoe field with migrant workers for either .25 cent a bushel or .50 cent i ferget. I had to buy my own parts and gas too. I was 12.(1974) Maybe that has something to do with the spoilt kids & my bike sux ect ect....ya gotta want it. Or might as well not be there.
Right on, therapture
Dear Still Dizzy, Please don't give up riding because riding a dirt bike is probably one of the few activities that REALY makes you appreciate life. Like when you crash and hurt yourself the first thing you say to yourself is usually. '' OH F@#%. I NEARLY KILLED MYSELF''
Man you gotta be in it for the long haul. Sometimes its hard to follow your passion, but its what we live for. There are saftey issues in all walks of life. A guy telling me his kid broke his leg playing golf. ARE YOU SHITTING ME!!!!!!! So anything is a risk. Even getting plowed in the nutz with an 80 mile an hour ball. Ping made a good point, riding to your own personal skill level and tracks that provide them. Its all about having fun. Also as a side note I graduated from the JS7 school of lawn darting today at Milestone, not bad for 54. I also have a mortgage and a boy in college, but that picture of Howard Hughes scares the shit out of me. So its off to the track next weekend.
Oh ya, one more thing, I work with alot of former stick and ball players. I'm not a hater now, but when the weekend rolls around thats all they have left to do is sit there and play with there stick and balls. Keeping fit and healthy allows you to ride longer. Keep riding to the day I die!
I think u got it all wrong. The jumps aren't the common factor. Gravity is. It's all good going off the jumps, it just goes bad when gravity takes back over in a bad way.
What goes up, must always come down! Just like nut slapping the gas tank. I'll call that bad gravity. Good point Scott!
...To strong... ...Let Brock Bye...
...misspelling parody by mechanics...
(nobody got it...)
Ok! Alright Already!! You dammed kids have forced me to weigh in already on getting old and discouraged, because of some soreness and owies. I’ve had problems too! I took a Viagra pill earlier today. The damned thing got lodged in my throat. I’ve had a skiff neck for hours now!! Not sure how I’ll go ridin’ tomorrow. But I’ll find a way!
I have to agree with the guy in the first question-- He was simply asking for advice. I have a feeling he still will ride. Contrary to what "pizzacorner" thinks. This guy is actually thinking of somebody else besides himself. He realizes that there are people who count on him to provide for them (his children Pizzacorner) Those kids cant choose who thier parents are, and they need support. So it is comendable for the guy to do that. But I say take Pings advice and make sure you have good safety equipment and ride safe tracks at your skill level.
Remember, people posting as "jairtime suks" etc. are not me. They are what some journalists and announcers would refer to as El Chupajairtime, or The Jairtime Sucker.
To answer the question posted by "Why???" regarding why riders hate stick and ball sports, I speak for myself. When I was a pro motocrosser at 16 years of age, some guy who played football told me that motocross is not a sport. That pissed me off. I had to tell him how football is merely a sport where a bunch of fat guys run around in a field, bend over, fight over the skin of a pig, tackle each other to the ground, get up and pat each other on the ass, then say, "Let's go take a shower together."
A hottie I was talking with one night, some cheerleader who had the hots for football players and probably basketball players with overseas roots, said "I don't date motorcycle riders."
Those are two examples of stick and ball suckers taking potshots at motocross. Motocross is what runs through my veins, and anybody who doesn't like MX can go straight to hell. Anybody who doesn't think MX is a sport can take their sport to hell with them.
If you used to ride..... You never really did