So there I was...
Friday night I chatted with Mr. Fazzio.(Sorry I forgot your first name!) We spoke briefly about his work. He's in the car mechanic and body shop business. It's unusally not to specialize in one or the other, his shop does both! We decided if you can make a living at your profession, and have a little left over for a little fun and BMX racing, than that's all you need! Right on to that philosophy.
In Practice, TP showed me what life as a pro BMX racer is like. He came out of the gate and showed me how the pro's cut each other off. I bounced off him like and Eagle getting hit by a Patriot! It was great to see TP out at the track and realize he's much cooler in person than he presents himself on this website!
(JK-TP- Just keeping it real. Thanks for all you do locally, and good luck getting the title this, your last year of racing pro!) You are the man!
I just raced class against Jason Melton, Brian Oblad and that moutain biker dude. Jason transfered the first round. The 2nd round I was yelling at mountain biker dude to quit filming and come race. Brian and I were 2 seconds away from a boat ride. B.O.- got really sideways off that crappy table top. I thought he was going down so I headed right to avoid him. I ended up in the soft dirt and on my head off the double that was hard pack dirt on the bottom, and soft pack dirt on the top. Were you all out of chalk, or was the roller broken cuz dang! danger! danger! I was lucky that I landed on the soft dirt, and I was also dressed for the crash. It was the first time I raced in my chest protector in over a year. I was lucky not to have a scratch or a bruise on me. I pray for safety every race in the gate. It was nice to have it answered so quickly. It was the first time I haven't qualified in a long time.
You know how it is. When you don't qualify you're like, "Man, I suck at this sport! Why do I even come out to race! What waste!" I didn't know what to do with myself, so I sat back and watched the races. Brian Oblad's dad, and old family friend, reminded me of something my dad would always say. "Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you!" It was a good reminder. I just wanna say to anyone who doesn't qualify, let that feeling be remembered as inspiration to get on track, and work harder! That is what I resolved to do on the drive home. It was great to see Brian Oblad put together a really great lap to get the win in 28+ Expert class. Congrats Brian.
Needless to say, I started my weekend with a low, or a small. Until... Saturday. I woke up sore, remembering the night before- but excited that it was another race day! I busted out the old uni's from my first go around at BMX. Brooke Oblad asked me to bring some of my old school race wear! Brianna wore my old SE stuff. I almost fell off me bench when Roland spotted Brianna in her first qualifier and said, "Oh my, it's Gavin Story back on the track!" or something like that! Brooke wore my brother's old Ralph's Cycles stuff. She had Ryan Stout plastered on her back side. Jason G. and crew got some great pics of these girls in some awesome vintage bmx wear. Thanks again girls for wearing the old school unis! It made my night! Roland! You are the man! Thanks for making every race special- and intense! Thanks again for not taking the night off!
I heard 34 riders showed up to the clinic! What a great deal, eh? Danny, Jer, and Travis- great job on getting so many people out. You are the best deal in town when it comes to clinics. Keep up the good work. I know those kids really look up to you. Thanks for giving of your time and knowlegde and passing it along to the younger riders for realitively little money too! You guys are awesome racers and good people! Keep giving.
The clinic packed down the track nicely. It was much better then Friday night. Ok- I'll just go ahead and say it. I'm sure I wasn't the only one thinking it. The track was sad. A sure let down if you ask me. Okay, I know a lot of people worked on the track and stuff. Thank you all for your time and effort- but what the flip? In my opinion, that was the worst track I've riden since I started back racing! The corners held no one- ask Mitch Ropelato, Mike Oblad, Pheonix Passey, me, and 30 other riders who hit the dirt or went over the top. I doubt it was because we all need new tires. So, how about finishing the berms. Each one sent you in straight line....right off the track! Where is the geometry of track building! Brandon Smith will always remember the poorly designed table top. GET WELL SOON! I can just hear the replies now...."Stout- at least we had a warm dry place to ride...remember the tracks you used to ride on...and why don't you go pick up a shovel...." I don't mean to be uber critical, but wow, we really DIDN'T out do ourselves on the track this time. Steve- did you built this track? It doesn't seem to have your signiture on it. I shouldn't even complain not knowing who did it this time. This being the last weekend of indoor racing, we really didn't go out with a bang. I'm sure there is more to the story- so let me have it on this one.......I'll take my lumps- Just like I did on the track! Safety first!
Rough track, but great racing on Saturday. (of course I'd say that after I win....) no really! It was awesome to see the racing heat up in every main event! 41 motos of great racing! Awesome!
Jason H, Brian O, Steve S, Beau M, and I had a great time racing 28+ X. I couldn't have traveled to a national to get that kind of competition! Thank you all for coming out. (Jason M. I hope your back is feeling better) I've never had the chance to race Jason H. before. You know how ironic life is sometimes Let me tell you the funny story of the first qualifier.
Jason H and Staats bicycles- sponsered the summer series in Tooele. I won a fantastic TLD uniform through that series. Thanks again Jason H. Well in the second corner, I got the introduction of Jason H. on the track. He tossed me high and into the soft stuff. I crashed! The end result was a hole in both my new leathers and jersey! Thanks Jason H. for the new uni- and thanks for helping me break it in! I made extra sure to stay low in the second qualifier so that didn't happen again.
Dan Patterson saved the day again. After my wreck, Dan put my bottom bracket back together for me! Thanks again for helping out! Your are my sponsor in many ways!
OKAY- who can forget Ian riding his cruiser main with a cone strapped to his helmet and number plate! OH MAN was that classic! So, ya'll know Ian hit his hand on the cone that was in the middle of the sweeper on his first lap. (are we out of chalk or what? We should tell him about stuff like that, cuz he doesn't practice much. He's too busy getting everyone else ready to race.) The cone flipped up and hit him right between the eyes. This sent him to the outside of the track. Dave Williams just changed his gear and didn't adjust his breaks, so the lucky guy was headed off the sweeper, right for the metal bars! He's a lucky bug, and just headed right out of the exit, and through the gate like a steer in a rodeo! Yee haw! Great show you two!
The other ironic thing about that first qualifier was right after Jason H. put me in the dirt, Steve S. sent him packing, right off the track! Just when you think you are alone on the track, something like that happens. Thanks Steve, I know you have my back! What was it like to pimp your boss like that? I'm sure many people would like the chance to do that to their bosses-there you go again, living everyone elses dream! Sorry about running into you all squirl like in the first corner, I was recovering from Beau's move.
The main was one of the best laps I've ever had. Danny Patterson made my day by saying," You looked like Bubba when he was here. It was probably the fastest lap of the night!" I don't know about either of those things, but thanks for saying I ride like the best!- even though it's a far stretch. Brian O told me that the race would probably come down to lane position. ( I thought in my mind...Bull crap Napoleon- why don't you go find your grandma or something, you're buggin' the heck out of me!)- The reason I thought that was because I had lane 8 in the main! Well, I had a great time the entire lap. I race some awesome guys-on and off the track! Beau was the first of all of the guys to give me an enthusiastic congrats after the race. Steve and Brian were right there! Thanks for being great guys, and awesome racers! I was on an adrenaline high the entire evening!
As you can see, Friday started off low, and Saturday ended high!
Thanks again for all the volunteers and those who ran the races! I'm seeing new faces calling the motos, and staging people, as well as a lot of help all over the track. It was great to see all of the out of towners come visit. We hope to see you at your tracks in the future!
How was Sunday's racing? What was your weekend like?
Travis, Jason, and Curtis! Thanks for all you are doing to post awesome pics and video! I'm looking forward to it!
Rob P. It was good chattin' with you!
Over all, a great weekend of racing!
Well- let me have it ya'll.....
Jason Stout
jasonstout@utahbmx.com
And once again both came to my rescue this weekend, including a broken chain on my cruiser during Sunday's AM practice. Oh, and I am really enjoying my "PREFORMANCE" hat, you can see it in many of the pictures Curtis took of me 
comments are the same every time ? 
