Not to rain on anyones parade, but that is just rude and unacceptable.
Yes, I thought so too...that cabby should not have slammed on the accelerator. http://www.powerslide.net/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/.....gif
Your attempt at high-horsing has FAILED. Pov, I guess you've never gotten shitfaced Mr. Holier than Thou. Oh, and for your info, even the cabby had a cool attitude about it, as I was the only semi-sober of the bunch I walked over to his cab since the door was still wide open. I apologized to him and he said without hesitation, "Dude, we all get stupid from time to time, no worries, just close my door". Pov, when I started this thread, It came across my mind that some people might take the stories and try to give us ...., actually the guy I had in mind was Supershitya, as you recall he would try and preach his ........; it seems here you have made a lame attempt to do so buddy, not cool. Try and remember that next time you are drinking your southern moonshine.
So, let me start by making a disclaimer.
#1 Disclaimer, some of these stories may be offensive. If you feel I've offended you. Sorry but FU. I'd like to keep it light and friendly. Oh, and feel free to click out of this thread.
#2 Disclaimer, I'm not even gonna attempt to post race pics because Gatorduc will put them to shame. BTW, they are still on a bit of a vacation, so is Arrabi, so they may take a while to post. Gatorduc won't admit it but the man is super talented with a camera and is meticulous about getting the magazine quality shot. Its really quite admirable and you will soon come to appreciate it when he finally posts his pics. So don't expect much race action pics from me. I'll just try to entertain you with funny stories.
Anyway, so on to next story (Povol, now would be the time to look away).
I know you just met me & Gatorduc, but, can he borrow your BMW?
So Gator & Co. want to take advantage of the beautiful area that is the Monterey peninsula (the greater area where Laguna is located). They were going to take this famous drive called the “17 mile drive” in their car. My two buddies had ridden their bikes (two Yama R6s) up to Laguna and were camped with us, so I suggested to Gator & co that they take bikes, as the ride would be much more enjoyable than in a car. My buddies being the stand-up guys they are didn’t hesitate, sure no problem. But I didn’t realize that one of the bikes didn’t have a back seat. So the plan was stalled. Then I started thinking perhaps we could get another bike. I told Gator’s buddy (who will probably join the site as soon as Gator gets around to sharing the website link, hahaha
inside joke.) anyway, I told him wouldn’t it be something if we could use Longriders bike, but it was just a silly idea. So later on I’m standing in line to get Nicky’s autograph when my phone rings. Its Gator who is back at the campsite. “Dude, you think Longrider would let me borrow his bike?” I reply, “well it doesn’t hurt to ask.” A pause on the phone, then Gator says, “nah nah man, don’t ask, its stupid, that is way too much, don’t even ask him.” I say "Gator, the dude is standing right next to me, let me ask, the worst he can say is no man." Gator comes back, “nah bro, don’t ask” so I press the issue, I tell him, Gates, this dude is a crazy mofo, he is like you and me, he is one of us. So I tell Gates, hold on man. Then I tell Longrider, "hey bro, 'I know you just met me & Gatorduc, but, can he borrow your BMW?” I add, feel free to say no man, seriously, no pressure, but its better to ask then talk about it later only to hear; dude, you should have asked. Longrider pauses... I’m thinking, Gator was right, I shouldn’t have asked. Then I say again, its cool dude, it was a dumb question. Longrider comes back, “No, no dude, I want to, I trust my gut, its not that, its just I’m on a trip with strict schedule and it will be difficult to get back on track if in the unlikely event it were to be interrupted. So I tell him, well I will let you take the pristine R6 as collateral if that were to happen, and then I will fly over your BMW wherever you are in the country if something were to happen on their ride. Longrider looks at me, then begins to nod; “ok ok, I will go for that. Sure, that’s cool. Tell Gator he is welcome to my BMW.” Holy .... I’m thinking, I was right, this mofo is crazy! I tell Gator, dude said its cool, but we are in line getting a Nicky autograph, so we will take you the key as soon as its over ( somethings just can’t wait).
I know some of you may be reading this with several perspectives, but I’m still amazed at Longrider’s ability to trust his gut. Personally, I’m not so sure I would have gone for it myself in similar circumstances, but who knows, I'd like to believe I would have those kinds of balls. I tried to give Longrider some consolation in case he was starting to sweat his decision by telling him how I met Gator at Indy where he was willing to pay for my tix while unbeknownst to him I had already paid for them; or tell him that this guy had trailered two bikes from his home in southern Florida up to Daytona bike week so that CaliKid and I could ride during the trip. I told him he maintains good friendships, like Levi who put us up in his house for a week. I even told him how he had hosted CaliKid on one of his business trips to Florida and took him under his wing (quite literally actually). But you know, he stopped me and said, dude, I’m over it, I trust you guys. Then he sped off to get some Nicky Hayden underwear boxers from the Hayden Bros store in an attempt to get them autographed by Nicky. Wow, I thought, a man after my own heart!
Longrider thanked us profusely for hosting him this weekend. But in reality, I am the one who is thankful. He actually reminds me of the same feelings CK and I have talked about in the afterglow of meeting such people like Roger, Gator/Levi & Co, Clark, Arrabi, etc. and that is:
I’m thankful that he restored my faith in man. I am thankful that he inspired me as well as others. I cringe at the thought of the risks he took, 1. Getting in a RV full of hooting and hollering people, 2. Spending the night in our RV with complete strangers, 3. Loaning out his beautiful bike (seriously dude, I don’t recommend this agai, lets not test fate). The man was inspiring and funny as hell (seriously, this cannot be underscored, as Arrabi said to me, “Geez Jumkie, every time this bloke opens his mouth he has me laughing).
Which brings me to this point, I know we give eachother a lot of shtick around here and sometimes feathers are ruffled (as I am guilty as anyone). But it must be tempered with perspective my friends, the opinions of riders and .... are all just ramblings and not to be taken too seriously by anyone on either end. This forum is not some place to be seen as beneath you or silly, as I’d say if you feel this way you may lack some perspective, its a place to screw around, talks some ...., share some well informed opinions about a sport that we in common all love, and if you are lucky like me, meet some of the greatest people on the planet. Arrabi and I were sitting around and talking a bit, as we had several conversations with Arrabbi imparting wisdom and some good perspectives. BTW, the few times he got a bit drunk, I take responsibility, as I was the one egging on the drinks, and I think he obliged me as he was in my care of sorts. Arrabi is a well mannered and wise man, and an excellent father (perhaps his best trait), and he's not hung up on being a prits, the man is genuine. The posts that we have been treated to are infact reflected in the man. Anywho, we got to talking especially about some of our forum nemeses, and he convinced me that in reality these are the people we’d most like to meet. So Boppers (and I say this with love), though I give you ...., don’t take it seriously, because in reality, I would love to sit around a campfire the night before a GP race and share a beer with you. Peace and love all around. If you find a kinder more gentler Jumkie, you have Arrabi to thank. (And no, I'm not drunk right now). As you can see, the glow from this weekend is still very much emanating.
Longrider gives last minute rundown of his bike to Gator. Gator: "So...the left side is the clutch right?" Yikes!
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Gator & Co leaving for their ride. (Check out Longrider in the background taking a pic. I wonder if he thought that's the last time he'd see his bike, hahaha).
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Longrider and my buddy "The Ordained Minister" (No really, he's a 'Man of the Cloth'). Giving eachother a consolation hug and shedding a tear perhaps of seeing their babies ride off with a stranger. Big props to my buddy too, really, if I started to tell you just how much of a stand-up guy he is, we would run out of bandwith. Roger can attest, the man is legit.
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Gator, the shot will not be denied! And honestly, when you need to capture that perfect moment, he is the man for the job. Oh, just wait till I get around to the 'Dani..Te Amo & Casey, can you sign my hat' stories.
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Nicky, service with a smile. Sadly, the underwear that Longrider ran a mile to get was not signed because he got back a little to late. That's when we were on the phone with Gator about the bike. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished. But I got the underwear, and I promised to have it signed for him the next time I see Nicky. (I hope he doesn't mind that I'm wearing it right now, going on three day actually).
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CK making the BBQ at the campsite while the rest of us mill around. (Not sure if I've mentioned it, but CK is an actual chef in real life, ironically its for a make believe world, as he chefs for Hollywood. No BS.
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Sitting around the campfire having a beer with Arrabbi. Can anyone guess what race we are watching in the back ground?
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