Back to Basics

This has been the theme of our household for the past month or so. As I mentioned in my last entry, my longtime friend and mechanic Jesse Black and I partnered up to start The Dirt Lab - a full service retail, service, performance and accessory shop that sits like a hat on top of Phoenix, AZ. A lot of my days have been spent doing inventory, making signs, mopping floors or just sitting behind the computer ringing out customers. It sounds kind of mundane, but in truth I am really enjoying the change of pace. Plus our shop smells like new Dunlop tires, so that is a bonus.

Last Sunday I raced at a local track in Arizona called Firebird Raceway. Zack McKinley, the race promoter, has been trying to get me out there for a while and I finally gave in. I can't even tell you how much fun I had doing such a low pressure race and just hanging out with my family and my new friends that I have made since opening The Dirt Lab. There are a great group of guys that go to MMI (The Motorcycle Mechanic's Institute) that hang out at our shop and bench race. A lot of them are aspiring young riders themselves, and quite talented at that. Long story short, I am really glad I went out there and battled it out with some fast local pros, and even made a little spending cash for the week. Racing at the AMA Professional level is fun, but racing your buddies at the local track on Sunday is equally cool.

Speaking of cash, my wife and I have resolved to cut up our credit cards and go cash only for a while. It has only been three days but I can clearly see that I am much better at this than her. She has been dipping in to my supply and I am already down to $149.00, which has to last me for another week. I will keep you posted on my spending habits, or lack thereof, but it is looking like I will be packing my lunch from here on out.

One last thing on The Dirt Lab before I put it to bed. Jesse and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us get our doors open. Bob White from USA Sport for our gargantuan sign and track banners, Zack McKinley for helping us with promotions and metal projects, Tyler Harshman for your long hours of welding stuff on our behalf, our awesome interns for cleaning the commode, Chip and Amy Rish for your never-ending generosity, FLY Racing, WPS, Rockwell Watches, Kingdom, Factory Effex, Dragon, Yoshimura, Pure Pain and every one else who has had a hand in making our dream shop a reality. Last and so far from least, I have to thank my wife Cassie for always believing in me (even when she has good reason not to). She is my best friend, my love of my life, and my "Weird Science" girl.

Thanks for reading my rants.

RC