A Decade Under the Influence.

It is now mid April 2011. You write the date or at least see it on your phone or email everyday... so it doesn't surprise you unless you have just woken from a coma. But stand back and look at the big picture. The picture of your life. Whoa. I have been alive for almost 3.1 decades now. I clearly remember my parents being my age, which would have made me 6 ish.

  I have been thinking of my years lately... where I am, who I am. what I had planned. This post is about a decade. The last decade to be exact. In  mid April 2001 I graduated from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute as the top student of my class. You see, I was never good in school, barely scraping through High School. Not because it was hard, or I was slow. Because I had no interest in what the curriculum was. To me, the years of public schooling carried little weight in the real world. I guess it prepares you for College, which prepares you for a entry level job after 4 years of partying you or your parents money away while amounting tens of thousands of dollars of debt in student loans.

I liked to think I had the common sense to know better. To know that if I had no interest in High school, I wouldn't have interest in College courses either. I loved motocross. I loved the race track. I loved dirt. I loved working on engines and mechanical stuff. After High school I worked full time for my fathers land surveying company in our small town and surrounding rural areas of Western Maryland / West Virginia. Which at 19 years old is the equivalent of watching grass grow. Don't get me wrong, my father treated me well, I made decent money, and he supported my local racing habit. While he wanted me to learn the trade and eventually take over the family business, I couldn't wrap my mind around settling. I knew there was more out there and a way to do what I love.

When I broke the news to my family and friends that I found a technical institute that was at the forefront of motorcycle technology and I was thinking of attending, my mother was supportive, my father was silent, my friends were somewhat skeptical. It didn't phase me, even though the next start date was more than 6 months away, I was determined. I think my parents thought it would be my idea of the week and I would change my mind in the following months. I continued working for my father, saving all the money I could to make my trip to Orlando FL a reality. As my departure date grew near, it starting sinking in to people that I was really leaving all my family, friends, etc behind. There were still skeptics, that said I would be back working for my father again in a year, or considering my track record in high school, I might not make it to graduation. I left home in a van with my dirt bike, tools, BMX bicycle, clothes, and a big idea in my head on March 1st 2000.   I never looked back.

*editors note: My Father, family and friends are all very proud of my chosen path and choices to this date.

Me on the left my dad on the right, our racing trailer we used to go racing together... I miss those days.

 My dreams took me to Florida then to Phoenix AZ, where I graduated 10 years ago this month. I had aspirations to work for a professional race team after graduation. Even with my success in school it was harder than I expected to get my foot in the door. All I really knew is that I was not moving back home. I had never been west of the Mississippi before Phoenix, and while I liked it out West, I was a small town country kid still. I searched for entry level jobs at dealer ships and landed a interview at a Honda shop in Utah. They wanted to hire me and I was open to relocate. So exactly 10 years ago I loaded up my van once again with my race bike, tools, BMX bike, clothes and marched forward with my dream.

I drove to Utah not really knowing what to expect. Having no real money, we had to choose between my parents attending my graduation or them wiring me money to get to my prospective job in Utah.

I had one of my classmates take some polaroids of me on the stage accepting my diplomas, and sent them to my folks back home...






From my 1st job in Utah and the start of my career in the industry I love, I have worked as a Honda Instructor at my Alma mater, gotten my dream job on a professional race team traveling the country, and even started my own race shop "The Dirt Lab".
In the past 10 yrs, I have followed my passion, stayed true to myself, and beaten many odds. The most important things I have gained from my career are all of the people I've met, lifelong friends I've made, and life experiences I wouldn't trade for the world. Truth is, I have the world. A world, surrounded by people who share the same passions or fully support mine. It has been a roller coaster of a decade, a full spectrum of emotions, good times and bad times,  life given and life lost, marriages and divorces, good health and serious injuries. But it has been a good decade, a decade that started as a hopeful dream and led me to where I am today.

Racing dirt Bikes isn't everything in the world, but racing dirt bikes has given me everything in the world.


Racing dirt bikes gave me the drive to succeed, gave me goals and a education. It gave me a career and the means to make a living. It has allowed me to travel the country, see things I never thought possible. it has given me close friends in Brandy, Colin, Ryan, Mike, Dave, Max, Travis, Joe and so many more.

Racing dirt bikes gave me Jed Mingo. Jed was our transport driver on the race team from 07-09. Jed was much more than that.... he was my traveling companion, a true friend, and I looked up to him like a older brother, A brother I myself lost 15 years ago This month. We had the ability to work and play together, never argue, never get tired of one another. We would mostly see each other on race weekends as he drove the truck to race destinations all over the USA. I would fly into the races a day or 2 early to get the bikes ready for the weekend. We always picked right back up where we left off and were genuinely excited to
hear from each other about adventures of the road or current events in our lives. It was easy to do.  The way it should be, but is hard to find in people.
During the 09 season I didn't attend many races as I had just started my new shop in Phoenix. Jed also stayed home in Utah more to run his business, and rekindle a special relationship with the love of his life.

I didn't know it then, but our paths would cross again 8 months later at the X games in Los Angeles. Just like always, we picked up telling stories and filling each other in... we were both where we wanted to be, happy and in love with our girlfriends, with our businesses and of course told these stories over a twelver of Modelo Especial.  Jed drove our truck back to Phoenix the Monday after the event. He stayed at my house that night and I drove him to the airport Tuesday morning... he was excited to get back home to his girl, and for a fishing trip with his brother and father the following weekend off the Oregon coast.
That was the last time I would see my friend.... his plane he piloted went down in the remote mountains on the Idaho / Oregon border... I was in shock when I received the news, and devastated at his loss.

The only solace was that I got to see him that one last time days before... and that he went out following his passion of flying.

I wasn't able to attend the funeral and honestly didn't desire too. I held the memory of our last weekend together as his memorial. In the following weeks my relationship fell apart. I had never met the girl Jed held so dear, but knew she was special. In the following weeks I felt the need to email her with my condolences, and some rad pictures of Jed and I from over the years. I told her for what it's worth, " Jed went out on top, in love and being loved by you." I was not sure if I would get a response, or what her response would even be...

Jesse,


Some things people say can do two things - make it worse, or bring you comfort. Your message just made everything feel so much better. That doesn't happen very often. I am pasting that into my journal! I can't be reminded enough. You are the best - no wonder he spoke so highly of you. Thanks, Jesse.

Kirsten

And that is how are friendship started with the only thing in common being our love for Jed.
We would write periodically, exchanging stories or pictures of Jed. I quickly learned how wonderful and sincere of a person Kirsten is. She is very selfless and extremely loyal, very intelligent and witty, classy yet refreshingly unrefined. Jed is a lucky man to be loved that way.

A year ago this month, a couple  of weeks before the Salt Lake City supercross, Kirsten and I decided to meet up in person and catch up on our favorite Jed stories. It was easy to do, it was simple. The way it should be, but is hard to find in people. We hung out at the race and after, the next day before we left town she directed us to the Blue Plate Diner for breakfast, then we drove back to Phoenix. Kirsten and I grew closer the next couple of months, emailing and talking regularly. I knew the anniversary of Jeds crash was looming and she was having a hard go of it the last year.. I scheduled another trip to Salt Lake that August.... It may sound cliche or just creepy... But I had this overwhelming feeling that Jed would want someone to take care of Kirsten like he would. I respect Jed and I really respect Kirsten. I watched her struggle with the loss from a far, the whole time remaining dedicated to his memory. The way it should be, but hard to find in people.


Beliefs do not come easy for me. I do not hold many near and dear. I do strongly believe that Jed guided Kirsten and I together, wanted us to heal and comfort each other. And I made a vow to him that if I were to be the one he chose... that I would do it whole heartedly and never look back, I would love her like I have never loved another, respect her like she deserves... be loyal as she deserves.. and preserve his memory like he deserves. It is easy to do, it is simple, and it is pure... The way it should be, but hard to find in people.

A decade ago I graduated school and wound up in Utah.... for my Ten year anniversary I am moving back to Utah. This time in the pursuit of happiness with the most amazing woman a dirt bike has ever led a country boy with a dream too.


"Sometimes the thing you want most doesn't happen. And sometimes the thing you never expect to happen does."
Like leaving my career, my business, and my culture I have created in Phoenix, to move it all to Salt Lake.
"You meet thousands of people, and none of them really touch you. And then you meet one person and your life is changed. Forever."


Love & Other Drugs

Lady and the Tramp.

Here's to the decades together ahead.