Matthes Travels

Posted by Steve Matthes on Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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Look at our ride! Man, if I was single I could really pick up some hot euro chicks that smoke and drink vodka like it was water.

 

Hey everybody, I hope this blog finds you well. I’m writing this from a hotel in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and it's Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. Me and my travelling companion, one Alan Brown (the former owner of the all powerful Moto XXX team) are here checking things out on a little euro holiday. Today was a tour of the mighty Akrapovic exhaust company. Once and for all, we’ll get this out of the way. The way you say it is "A-crop-a-vich." That is the way. I can’t tell you how many times I run into people that either don’t know how to say it or have never heard of it. This is the exhaust company that has won the last two supercross championships people! Learn it and love it.

Anyway, VERY impressive facility and I have to say I never knew or had any idea that they take this stuff so serious. I suppose that Chad Reed and James Stewart know something about riding a bike, and if it’s good enough for them-it should be good enough for you. It’s unbelievable the amount of time and machines that Akrapovic has put into its exhaust making. I’m not that heavy into the road race end of things, but they have something like 60 percent of the grid in World Superbike. They are now into cars and going hard into that, making exhausts for BMW, Porsche and a few others. Look for a more complete report in the future of this serious player in the exhaust world.

I also saw some secret things that I probably wasn’t supposed to, but maybe they didn’t know that I was an old mechanic with a good eye. I won’t tell you guys anything though; I don’t want to end up in a new Hostel movie.

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This is in the courtyard outside the hotel, kind of erotic and gross at the same time. I think someone needs a thigh-master.

 

We landed in Germany on Monday and drove the six hours here, but the landing in Germany will prove to be beneficial as we are going to the German GP this weekend. The trip got off to a flying start when we got upgraded in the rental from an Opel bubble car to an Audi A5 Quattro! That thing was sweet and so was going 200 km/h on the German autobahn. What wasn’t so sweet was me getting behind the wheel and promptly getting a speeding ticket upon entering Slovenia. I was doing 118 in an 80 and when I showed the cop my license, he said 80 Euro and that I would have to pay now! I just figured it was the old give me a ticket in an Eastern European country and good luck getting my cash. I pleaded with him and told him I had no Euros but then pulled the old “Oh lookie here, I have 35 Euros, would you take that?” and his english wasn’t very good but I think he said “25” so I gave him that and I was off.

That was exciting and a highlight for me in my time in Europe. I’d never gotten a speeding ticket before over here. Other than that, it has been the typical Euro trip. Runny eggs, warm drinks, no ice, people smoking--the staples of Europe it seems. I enjoy coming over here as it is a different vibe than at home and a bit of an adventure, but it always makes me long for the conveniences of America. It’s not better than over here, it’s just different. Things that are different are always scary to me.

You know, I’m pretty lucky as I was covering the first round of the Canadian nationals ten days ago, then went to Mount Morris for an American national and this Saturday I will go to the German Grand Prix. I think after the GP I will have a pretty good idea on why Canadian motocross truly has the best riders and tracks in the world.

 

 

Posted by Steve Matthes on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

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