BEAR HUNTING IN MAMMOTH

This last weekend we left to go to the 2x Promotion race in Mammoth Mountain.  When we got to Mammoth the first thing we have to do is figure out the jetting on my bike because the altitude is so high the bikes run completely different.  Since I had won the King Of The West Championship, I had new graphics for my bike with red backgrounds on my number plates. My bike looked really sick!

After working on the bikes, we tried to get used to the altitude.  We went for a walk and even had a friendly game of “who can throw the pinecone the farthest”  I got close, but I think a few of the other players may have cheated a little – Todd.

When I got to the track, I found out that I had my picture in the event program.

Then it was time to start practice.  Look at that bike…..RED, white, and BLUE!

Practice went well.  My Dad worked on fine tuning the jetting and the guys from Thousand Oaks Yamaha even helped get my bike running perfect.

The Mammoth race is a little different than any other race because there is so many racers in each class.

• We have two divisions and the finish of the division races determines your gate pick for the main event.
• If you don’t transfer from the division race they have an LCQ race to give you a second chance to get into the main.
• The main event is the finish for the day.
• We repeat the entire race day, the same way, the second day to get day two finishes.
• Then they give an overall finish for both days combined.

Day 1 I got 2nd and 1st in 85 9-12 and 4th and 4th in Mini Sr 1.  At the awards ceremony that night not only did I get the famous “BIG BEAR”

I also got my custom Americore SMX scooter for winning the King Of The West….  See there are two #71 scooters because I was able to get both championships.

Day 2 I got 1st in both my heat races but had bad luck in both of my main event races.  In one race my bike was not handling well enough to let me get through the corners as fast as I wanted to and I was only able to pull out a 3rd place finish.  In the other race I had my bike handling better and I was heading to the front and and the bike in front of me went down and my bike got stuck in his bike.  I was able to race back from last place to 12th place.  I finished with an overall 2nd and 6th place.

Off the track we had a lot of fun at the Americore SMX and Lucas Oil Bowling Tournament.

All my friends from the track bowled but we should all stick to racing dirt bikes because we didn’t do very well.

It was really cool to have a lot of my sponsors at the track to support me and cheer me on for each race.

And they were on the podium with me after the race to congratulate me.

All my friends and sponsors also showed me a lot of support on social media.  Here are just a few of the posts……

Thank you to all my sponsors who have supported me and continue to help me do what I love.  Now its time to get ready for Loretta Lynn’s.

MAKING MUSIC WITH THE SEVEN-DEUCE-DEUCE

For those of you who don’t know….. Adam Enticknap races motocross as a pro.  They call him the Seven Deuce Deuce because his racing number is 722.  Adam is ALWAYS the life of the party and a fun guy to hang with.  In his spare time Adam records sick songs that have been hits and he even makes intro songs for other pro racers, he was featured on the Moto 7 movie and was asked to record the song for the movie that is a huge iTunes hit.  I have rode with Adam several times over the past few years and we always have fun hanging out.

When I first met Adam Enticknap (The Seven Deuce Deuce) a couple years ago we talked about racing and all the music he was making and about the song I had recorded (The Show- which is a song with good words but horrible music and beat….Adam will have to fix that song one day).  We said it would be cool to do a song together and I started working on some words and ideas for a song.  A few months ago while Adam was still recovering from his injury I called to see if he was around to get together and my Mom and I went on a 5 hour road trip to his house.

First we listened to a million different starting beats and tried to pick the one that would work best on my song.

Then it was time to get to work in his “beat laboratory.”  First I laid down some of the track.

Then he would add sounds, I would record an echo, he would record an echo, he would put down more sounds, etc.  He has an amazing ear for the smallest change in the music and the way he works on the computer is crazy.

Adam literally spent all day helping me with my song, he was so awesome.  He taught me a lot about making a song and how to flow….which I have a lot of practicing to do to be like him.  He has the attitude, the voice, the confidence, and the skills.  We worked together for about 7 hours and finally had a finished product.

Although I recorded a song before, this was really my first song.  It was crazy how he made everything sound so good and flow.  I learned a lot and I can’t wait for the next song, it will be so much better.

It was so Sick to work with Adam for the day!  On the long ride back home I was exhausted and my Mom took this picture of me.

Then it was time to make a cover picture for the song and put it out for people to hear.  Everyone has been so nice to me.  It is crazy that people actually know the words to my song and are singing it.

It was really cool that Adam spent his day hanging with me and helping me learn about making music.  You can check out my song on iTunes if you haven’t already downloaded it, here is the link.

http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1113090044?ls=1&app=itunes

Hope you like the song.  The next ones will get better!

RACING AND SCHOOL

Because I race Nationally, I spend a lot of time traveling.  Many of my friends that I race against are home schooled and don’t go to school every day like I do.  I am not able to travel to go to different places and practice everyday like a lot of them, but I do have to miss a lot of school for big races.  When I go to big races some of my friends will race and then stay the night and go home the next day or travel half way and then stop to get a hotel.  My family and I always travel throughout the night so I get home just in time to go to school the next morning.

Some of the things I have to do…….

• I miss my entire first week of school because I am at the Loretta Lynn Nationals.  It has been a little interesting coming into school a week late and not knowing any of my teacher, the rules of the classes, or all the homework I have to make up.
• I miss Friday’s when I have regional or area races for Nationals
• When I went to Texas to race my family drove 24 hours straight to get to the track and home so I could go to school on Monday.
• When we come home from Loretta’s we drive 36 hours straight so I can get to school on Monday.

Although I do everything I can to not miss school, It is in my contract that I have to be at some events, photo shoots, appearances, etc.

When I miss school I have to come back and make up all the work and tests from when I was out.

I am very proud that every year I have gone to Nationals, I have been a full time student, and on the Honor Roll….. and this year is the same.  Today is my last day of school and these are my grades.  Not bad for missing the first week and several times throughout each month.

NOTE:  A couple of the teachers have not yet put my makeup test into the book yet so these grades will be just a little higher on my actual report card.

LORETTA LYNN REGIONAL RACE IN WASHINGTON

This last weekend was the first round of regional races to earn a spot in the Loretta Lynn National Race.

My family and I drove to Washougal Washington and I practiced on Saturday and raced one class on Sunday and raced the second class on Monday.  Because they expected some rain on Saturday and Sunday they did not prep the track like normal.  We did not get any rain but the track got really slick throughout the day.

Sunday I raced Mini Sr 1, I had some great battles with some of the older riders.  I was able to finish up the day with the 4th place spot and earn my first ticket to the Loretta Lynn Ranch for Nationals.

On Mondays race the track was totally different.  They did not expect any rain and they did a full prep on the track.  Because I don’t ever ride in Washington, the morning of the race I had only three laps of practice to get used to the different track.  On the first lap I could tell that something was wrong with my bike and I wasn’t able to jump anything.  I stayed on the track to look at lines but could not practice at my normal speed.

My Dad was able to fix my breaks and the rotor and everything was ready for the first race of the day.  Since I didn’t get much riding in my practice my Dad and I walked around the track and talked about lines.  Because it was Memorial Day, I made sure to wear my Red, White and Blue gear.

In the first race I got a good start and heading towards the back of the track I was making a pass for the lead.  I railed the outside and hit a kicker that put me on the ground.  By the time I got back up I was in 14th place with a lot of work to do in the next four laps.  I was on a charge and was able to back it back into third place and missed the pass for second place by .006 seconds.  I was lucky I was able to come back close enough to have a chance for my second ticket, and I knew what I had to do to get it.

The second race of the day I had a good start and on the first two laps the front guy and I stretched out a lead and we all stayed consistent to get to the checkered flag.  Considering how my day started I was happy to get out of Washington with a second place finish 85 9-12 and another ticket to Loretta Lynn’s.

With my two tickets it is now time to practice for Nationals!  See you all in Tennessee!