Racing in my Genes

I took three year old Becca to the zoo yesterday and as we were driving down I-20 she expressed this observation:  "Pookie, your jeep goes FAST!" I smiled because really it doesn't. It's a 2-door soft-top Jeep Wrangler that shakes, rattles and pops and has little to no credible acceleration.  But OK, a three year old is impressed. I straightened my back a little, held my head up proudly.

Fifteen minutes later, Becca excitedly, confidently inquires, "Did we win yet, Pookie?!"

I smiled again because that's my girl! That's right, baby, we're in a tough vehicle, riding rough, going fast and we will win, suckers.

I don't really think I'm competitive, am I? I'm pretty cautious, kind of mellow.

Except for that time with the Busbees..... OK, so I was pretty riled up there.

And of course I get obsessed with the Dakar Rally every year.

And well, I worked for a place called The Race Shop.

Errr, I write an awful lot about Enduros.

Argh, I even love glider racing.

So maybe I do like racing.

But I'm not competitive.

Really.

Dakar 2021 Sketches

Dakar 2021 has concluded after two harsh weeks of excitement and cut-throat competition. Manuel Andujar took first place in the Quads. 

Kevin Benavides (ARG / Honda) took first in the Bikes with Ricky Brabec (USA / Honda) at second and the adorable Sam Sunderland (GBR / KTM) taking third place.

Those are generally the only rankings I watch, however, I was watching the cars this year for Cyril Despres (FRA) because I was a huge fan of his when he did Bikes. Back in the day. 

So here are a few sketches I did during the Dakar.

A watercolor based on a published photo by Charly Lopez.

A pencil sketch of Cyril Despres based on a Red Bull Content Pool photo.

A colored pencil sketch of Manuel Andujar at the finish line, winner of the Quads.

A watercolor of Toby Price.

Toby Price at the start.

Dakar 2014: Welcome to January

Each January, while everyone is making new years resolutions, I am reminded of one of my big regrets in life -- that I didn't finish journalism school at USC.  Having completed three years, I quit before my senior year, married, had kids and enjoyed life tremendously.

But each January, I really, really regret not being a journalist covering the Dakar.  The Dakar is a thirty-year old, extreme desert race for cars, trucks, and bikes, a two-week test of endurance that has cost some their lives, others, their health or bike and many, their desire to ever do it again.

There was a time when I "covered" the Dakar (and 2010 coverage) for The Race Shop.  Glory days.  The Race Shop closed after James' final Dakar rally.....

Comaraderie

Camaraderie

ca-ma-ra-de-rie

: a spirit of friendly good-fellowship existing among comrades

AMA National Enduro Round 3, Sandlapper 2012

 

The Sandlapper came to town this past Saturday.

Two or three of the national enduros come close enough to my home that I can go watch them.  I used to cover them for The Race Shop out of Atlanta, but The Race Shop closed its doors a couple of weeks ago.

Now I just go to the enduros for fun and to visit some of the guys I've met along the way....

Lafferty Takes Third in Round 2, National Enduro 2012

~ Husaberg Press Release

Greensboro, GA – Husaberg Factory rider Mike Lafferty landed on the podium for the second round in a row after earning a 3rd place finish at the second round of the AMA National Enduro Series......

AMA National Enduro 2012 Opener, Sumter SC

I got several interviews with the guys at the AMA/Rekluse National Enduro season opener in Sumter on Saturday.   I haven't actually gotten the interviews in print or video yet, except for this one with Husaberg's Nick Fahringer.  He's a great guy and what d'ya know, we have something in common.  Check it out over at TheRaceShop.  Here's the full video from the race with footage and interviews at TheRaceShop.

Here's my shot of Steward Baylor who took first place:

Here's my shot of The Race Shop rider, Mike Grizzle, sporting him some Klim:

And here's my shot of Ashburn who was in the top 10.  He's a young gun that I caught up with while he was eating pork chops with his mom outside the bike trailer.  He's got a great smile and more than a little energy.

Catch the brief, fun video of the Night Before the race here.  We'll publish full interviews soon.

First National Enduro 2012 Sumter

Marj and I had a great time last night at Sumter.

Dakar 2012 Final Post

I received two more pictures to share from Dakar 2012.

Here's James recouperating in the bivouac.
He looks pretty good here.


Below is Iain Stevenson's bike after Stage 5.  His bike caught fire most likely from some grass that got caught between the exhaust pipe and the baseplate.  Iain escaped unharmed and is more determined than ever to race again next year.

James Embro Talks About Injury and Dakar 2012

I spent some time yesterday talking to James.  He sounded great, said he's just now starting to feel some pain.  His face has been numb since the accident on Stage 7 of the Dakar.

The full interview was on TheRaceShop which has recently closed down.  This is now a dead link.  James appreciates the customers he has had through the years and wishes you all well.

James Embro Explains Freak Accident from Dakar 2012

Dakar 2012: The Long Flight Home

James is on a flight as I write, having withdrawn from the Dakar 2012 during Stage 7 and I want to kick some booty.  As a truck passed him, a rock strategically flew up and hit him in the face.  He was taken to a local hospital where it was determined he would not require surgery.  However, the swelling around his eye socket prevented his helmet from fitting properly, so he withdrew from the rally.

I can't imagine how disappointed he must be....

Dakar 2012

The Dakar Rally started once again on January 1.   So I'm a little busy over at The Race Shop trying to keep up with it all.  Between it and my health problems, this blog might get a little slow.

I apologize.... the following links are dead links because James has closed The Race Shop.  He appreciates all the customers he has had over the years.  I am in the process of retrieving all blog posts that were on the site, but I don't have them yet.

Race Shop owner James Embro has returned to the Dakar and left me here.  Read more on his adventure with these links:

Dakar 2012 James Embro Day One
Dakar 2012 James Embro Day Two
Great Video Review Dakar 2012 Day Two

James in Argentina, photo courtesy Leandro Garcia

Dakar 2012

I'm over at The Race Shop today talking Dakar.  You know I've been waiting ten long months to start talking about it again.  I've been a very patient girl.

Sandlapper Enduro, Salley, SC AMA Nationals

I spent the day Sunday with Nick Fahringer:

OK, so no, I only spent about 3 minutes with him. But he zigged and zagged past me all day long as he ran the Sandlapper and I sneaked thru the woods photographing the event like a crazed stalker.

I'm not really a stalker (honest!), it actually is my job to follow the enduro racing world and report on it.

That's not really stalking, is it?

Even if it includes hiding in the woods snapping pictures?

Because if I wasn't hiding, I'd get run over & kilt or something....

Dakar 2011 Highlights

For those who hear me talk about the Dakar, but have no idea what it is...
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And the summary of just Stage 6. . .
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Dakar 2011: Stage Three Summary

My Dakar 2011 Stage Three Summary is at The Race Shop today. Sluggish day at the Dakar with a surprise Top 5 Contender & Casteau remains gun-shy while Ullevalsetter still scratches his head over the 450 with visions of his 690 dancing in his head.

Grass Dragging: Bringing You One Step Closer to the Darwin Awards

I suspect not many of my readers are too terribly familiar with the Darwin Awards and even less are familiar with Grass Dragging, so let me just go into it a little bit because I find it all curiouser and curiouser. The Darwin Awards honor those who improve the species by removing themselves from it. Nominees significantly improve the gene pool by eliminating themselves in an obviously stupid way.
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I grew up on snowmobiles and while we occassionally ended up dragging across the grass, we certainly never did it intentionally. Who knew a few years later, it would become an extreme sport? Back in the day, there was no such term, but I assure you Matt and I performed a few extreme sports of our own on the snowmobiles and dirt bikes and I have the scars to prove it.
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Snowmobiles, in my day, were not meant to leave the snow; hence, the name. Today you can find the young, the hearty, the future Darwin Award Recipients running their stripped down, tricked out snowmobiles across dirt, grass, sand and/or water, with the water ones not always returning. Of course they launch, you know, as in up-in-the-air, and now they are even attempting backflips. With quarter-ton vehicles. Back. Flips. Go to NHSA Grass Drags to read all about it.
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So, with jaw dropped open, I've been on high-alert for, oh, a few minutes for anything snowmobile related. On New Years Eve, X games champ Levi LaVallee planned to attempt to break the world record for longest snowmobile jump, a 300' launch. Read here a great interview about the preparation process. Alas, when I searched for results of this attempt, these are the headlines I read, in order, as I scrolled.

• Levi Lavallee Injured During Practice.
• Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. Cancelled.
• Levi Lavallee Released From Hospital.

So.... Red Bull: No Limits apparently does indeed have limits.
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Poor kid. But he beat the world record by 60'. It's just a matter of seeing if it gets verified and accepted and I'm sure that's the first thing he asked when he regained consciousness. But the good news: he doesn't qualify for the Darwin Awards. (yet)

Dakar 2011: Stage One

My Dakar 2011 Stage One Report is up at The Race Shop. Check it out here.

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photo: Quinn Cody and Annie Seel

photo courtesy Quinn's Facebook

Over at The Race Shop today talking Dakar '11

Psssst.... I'm over here today. The Race Shop.com.