by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: Heart and Soul
Thursday, September 8, 2011 | 12:30 PM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up.
Like so many other mornings I awoke to the voices of the local radio talent as they brought in the new day. The usual dirty “Cali-comedy” I had grown to enjoy was going through the motions. I heard them halt their scheduled broadcast for a breaking announcement of a plane crash in New York City...then came the Pentagon, then the plane in Pennsylvania....
I remember every cold hour of that day like it was ten minutes ago, not ten years ago. It remains the scariest and saddest thing I have ever experienced. It was for all of us. We need to remember it forever. One of my favorite quotes is, “We forget what we want to remember and we remember what we want to forget.” It’s no cliché in saying that it is our onus to never forget that day.
The season finale at Pala kicks off this Saturday at 4pm EST.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
I believe we all fight to wear a smile through this controlled chaos we call life. “Take the good with the bad;” “Everything happens for a reason;” “Fall down seven, get up eight;” “It’s always the darkest right before sunlight;” so on, so forth.... Life is, in its purest form, a never-ending algorithm of highs and lows. The things we have to live through are not fair and for most of the humans in the world, do not carry a lot of joy.
This Tuesday I was standing in the blinding rain carrying three heavy boxes of paint into a hardware store for delivery. My knees and arms were burning and it was raining so hard I literally couldn’t see. After making the delivery I ran back to my Fed Ex truck and quickly grabbed my cell to see how my brother was doing at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Through a dozen text messages, Twitter and Facebook updates, I read (in about 1.5 seconds) that his car had crashed into the wall. All I could think about was being miserable and pissed off. It hurt to know how much my brother hurt.
Wednesday was a new day and around noon I had to take a moment to stop and look at how beautiful everything was. The sun was shining through the low hanging clouds and the clean smell of the “day after” thunderstorm hung in the air. In an instant my knees felt strong and I was back in my work truck with steam in my stride. I actually caught myself singing out loud as I was shifting gears. Then I began to feel guilty about being worked up and emotional about such trivial things. They weren’t trivial to me at the time, but they didn’t mean shit in the big game and I was ashamed.
Can Dungey put on one final charge and catch Villopoto?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Where am I going with this? Well, I had an epiphany that we are all susceptible to darkness and hard times, and those instances are all relative. What doesn’t mean squat to you means the world to me and vice versa. What makes a person hard is their ability to weather the bad, yet carry the charge about the good. That’s what makes America hard and strong.
I hope some of that caught a little backside with you folks.
Be that as it may, it is time to get the shoulders back one last time in 2011. The final charge of 2011 makes her way to Pala Raceway in sunny Southern California this Saturday afternoon. Who’s ready for a grand day of racing in the mecca of it all? I am. Dammit.
What a season of professional motocross we have had the privilege to take in. I was there when the Georgia Dome exploded as Chad Reed cleaned out James Stewart. These two feet stayed stuck to the ground as I watched Blake Baggett pick himself up off the muddy ground at High Point to earn the win. I struck gold for the third time when I watched two of the fastest riders in the world go toe to toe for 35 minutes last weekend at Steel City. It was a true masterpiece and I was on my tip-toes watching #1 and #2 throw down. Two things you cannot take away are Ryan Dungey’s silky-smooth style and Ryan Villopoto’s head-straight, never-say-die determination.
RV got him in the last turn in that fight. It just might have been the nail in the coffin. Or was it? Ladies and gentlemen, it isn’t over. Both riders have fought back from far worse than what it’s going to take to decide the heavy weight title belt of the world. DNFs, carting huge, riding poorly...both Ryans have been through the whole deal this time around. Lest you forget how the 2010 250 championship was decided with Trey Canard and Christophe Pourcel. Do you think any heart and soul was involved with that one?
It's Villopoto's title to lose.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
In closing, I went with “Heart and Soul” as the title of the end of the 2010 season, the beginning of the 2011 season, and now the conclusion of what has been the nuttiest tour on two wheels. Because that’s what it takes. Our sport is 100 percent heart and soul. It’s what every team manager, mechanic, racer, and fan brings to the table with every drop of the gate. If anyone of you have read this far, you know that I am all heart and soul. I love it. All I want to see is RD1 and RV2 finish the game. Pure and simple. And that is exactly what they’re going to do.
It’s time to take it around one last time this season, folks. It is a very special weekend for all of us Americans. Shoulders back. God bless America.
Thanks for reading and see you next week.
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a 3/4 is all RV needs but I think he will win a moto....Maybe two if things fall right. he will ride smart just like the last SX. NO BAD LUCK PLEASE!!! LOL
So Andy... you see it that way too... "I was there when the Georgia Dome exploded as Chad Reed cleaned out James Stewart"
Andy always brings out the RED, WHITE, and BLUE in me!!! From the big picture of freedom and nation, to the small picture of having a blast roosting a friend on your small home track....it's great to be an American :)
Good write up today Andy; I remember where I was at on 9/11/01. I was stationed @ Nellis AFB, but was home (day off for working during the weekend prior) in my apartment on that particular day and when I got up and turned on Howard Stern, wasn't his usual banter about Breasts, lesbians and the sort. It was really shocking to hear that something like that would happen on our own soil. Called work in a panic and the flight chief let me know to stay put and he'd keep me in the loop as soon as he got the info. Told me to stay put and keep my ass at home and if I had to leave to check in w/ the shop and call back once I got home. Bought a few supplies and stayed near the phone. Didn't get online, no drinking beer or B.S'ing, just watched the news all damn day. Got called into work later that evening, went and prepped stuff for the Med Group to ship to New York just in case we got the call there to send personnel and supplies. Can't believe it's ten years later. On a lighter note, I am looking forward to the Pala National, it'll be nice to see some enjoyment such as a good, competitive race despite the tone of the whole weekend, considering it will be the tenth anniversary of that fateful day...
Right on, Andy!
Lot less comments now, aren't there? I've found that on other message boards / comments sections, many of the "haters" disappear when they can't hide in the shadows with a fake name. I'm glad RacerX has it's own registration and does not force you to use Facebook or one of the others.
It may not come down a winner-take-all last moto, but this has still been a great season. I see this going down kind of like Vegas, with Dungey winning both motos and RV taking the title with an easy (for him) 2-2(or so). Of course, the starts are always a wild card, but RV gets away remotely clean, he can get to 2nd by moto end.
In the 250s, Tomac will be motivated to end the PC streak, but Wilson hauled there last year and he's on a roll. I think he'll cap the year off with a win.
Yes, I'm not exactly going out on a limb with any of these predictions.
Motocross has been a big part of my life for a very long time.. as a racer.. in the industry and a fan.... life being what it is i kinda lost touch with the sport i love more then anything. so this years i mad a concentrated effort to get back in the loop... and have to say this has been the most enjoyable season I've veer had the pleasure to watch , i picked a great time to comeback... soooo looking forward to my home race this weekend... regardless of the outcome its gonna become great racing to watch and just maybe we get a little drama as well...thanks for everything.
Wow...10 years for 9/11 and it also marks my 5 year anniversay at my current job, like anyone cares...... I was driving to work in So Cal that day....Like many during those early am hours on the west coast....I was listening to Howard Stern....tuning in after the first plane had hit...I was trying to picture what they were describing thinking it couldnt be too crazy...maybe a little sesna or something...I had no clue what I was in for once I turned on the TV...what a day that was. I was near Ontario airport and there was plane after plane circling around waiting to land....crazy.crazy day that I will never forget.
Now PALA - I think its going to be RD and RV 1 and 2...not sure what order, but after last week, I think most folks will just let them go....nor can the keep up if they are racing....RD isnt the type to go take a dude out for a title, nor should anyone for that matter.. ..Win by racing the guy.....not taking him out....RV and RD are classy guys and know how to handle it...I say GO RV...and good luck to Dungey on the KTM....I hope it works out....
I'm tellin ya, the only way I see Dung having a chance, outside of RV2 getting hurt or having a mechanical, is to get Regal and Burn on a factory Suzuki's. That might possibly get you 3 Suzi's in the top 5, 4 in the top 10, throw in CR22 to occupy some additional top 5 space. Get Alessi involved there's 6 th place - assuming RV2 rides safe.
Donovanoleary....... You really think any of them guys will beat RV?? I know you want to see it get tight but from a reality stand point RV will blow by them guys like lappers, RD's only hope is a bad crash/injury for RV or a mechanical.
Gee guess Dungey might as well stay home
Stoked about RV2 finally getting thru a 450 outdoor season and winning the title. Minus injuries, i think he woudl be working on his 3rd 450 MX title right now and we woudl be getting sick of the dominance. That said, I hope everyone who last year/earlier this year were saying RD did not deserve his 2010 titles has changed thier minds now. he has battled like a champion, and minus Freestone moto 2, could very well be the guy in the driviers seat heading to Pala. Not meaning any coulda/shoulda/woulda - just saying his performace this year should increase the respect for what he did last year. Proved he was desrving, afterall, I say.
Great read Andy, you got a way with words and patriotism, I feel we need more people putting words on paper like you!! Now let's get this show started and let's see the finish to one of the best SX and MX seasons ever!!
Thank you to all you for a great season of racing, here's looking forward to 2012!!
BD25 don't be that way, You don't think RD needs something big to happen?? Whe are the 4 guys who are going to Beat RV for RD to win it? Only if RD goes 1-1 on top of 4 guys beating RV is how it can happen.
I dont want to see RV crash or get hurt, he has done enough of that, but he is human and anything can happen
heck his bike might run out of gas...lol
Sure anything can happen.. But the last thing that would ever happen is RV Crackin....Just not going to happen.He is human... Well maybe not LOL
One wrong move could change it all for RV, highly unlikely, but with forty guys heading towards the first turn at the stops I'd say RD still has a chance.
Thanks Andy.
Andy:
Thanks for the nice retrospect; I have a poster that I put on my truck every year at this time that reads:
"9-11-2001
Never Forget
Never Forgive
Never Again"
God Bless America