CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! VALENTINE ROSSI IS AN ICBM LAUNCHED FROM ANOTHER PLANET. OLDER, MORE EXPERIENCED AND DETERMINED. I LIKE JORGE LORENZO'S WORK ETHIC THIS YEAR AND HE HAS BEEN A GREAT TEAMMATE TO VALLE. IT IS A SHAME HE MAY BE BEATEN BY THE GREATEST MOTO GP RACER TODAY.
A VERY HAPPY MAN!
GOODBYE MARK!
HE NEVER FORGETS THE FANS
A MAN ON A RAIL...
TEAM ROSSI!
A ROSSI WET T-SHIRT CELEBRATION
THE SAME AS LAST YEAR... I THINK LORENZO IS THE BEST RIDER ON THE TRACK
WHO WILL BE THE 2015 CHAMP? I WON'T BE UNHAPPY WHICHEVER WAY IT RUNS.
He has been called an enthusiast, an artist, a biker, a builder and an innovator among other things, but what it comes down to is David “ChopperDave” Freston is a motorcycle builder and fabricator that is passionate about motorcycles and it shows in the skillful craftsmanship he is known for. Building and designing while combining beauty, function and solid engineering are what he does best.
Dave’s love for motorcycles began early in life while growing up Studio City, California. He was exposed to them before he was old enough to have a driver’s license, since both his mom and dad owned motorcycles in the early 80s. Dave began working full time in the motorcycle industry in 1989 at Vic’s Custom Cycles in the San Fernando Valley. Vic’s is where he came back to after taking a break to attend MMI Arizona to further his knowledge of bikes. His infatuation with vintage motorcycles really started at t his time as he did alot of restoration work. In 1997, he started one of first websites dedicated to old school choppers and bobbers, something not easily available online at that time. In 2001, Dave went to work at West Coast Choppers and in the four years he spent there he honed his skills as a chopper builder and machinist to the highest level.
While working at WCC he began making sand cast chopper parts. Having acquired a great respect for Randy Smith, one of the first manufacturers of custom cast chopper parts, he wanted to carry on his legacy. In 2005, Dave decided to make the leap and start his own company, Chopperdave’s Casting Company based in Long Beach, Ca. He focused on cast motorcycle parts (both sand cast and investment cast) and accessories while expanding by building motors and transmissions, as well as custom fabrication and machine shop work.
His bike builds over the years are plenty and include a bike considered one of the most iconic choppers of the era, a panhead well known as “the Superfreak.” For photos of Dave’s builds, please see the Cycles page. His builds have been in shows such as Mooneyes Yokohama, Bornfree, the S&S 50th anniversary build-off, the Brooklyn Invitational, The Horse magazine 2006 Smokeout build-off and Cool Breaker Japan. They have taken awards at the Grand National roadster show, Ventura Nationals, and Bornfree among many others. Chopperdave is also a photographer and writer with over 100 published editorials/features in The Horse, Dice, Hardcore Chopper Japan, Chopper Journal Japan, Hot Bike, Street Chopper, Baggers and many other magazines.
Dave has learned to embrace his obsession with detail that only a true craftsman can understand. This is never more apparent than when he is immersed in whatever his current build might be as he meticulously builds every part he can by hand. Regardless of the attention he has received in the past, Dave will be the first to tell you that he is humbled by it and feels fortunate to be able to do what he loves on a daily basis and be a part of what the chopper scene has become.
Dave is currently focusing on an overhaul of Chopperdave’s Casting Company and launching the new Chopperdaves.com website. He is moving from being a one-man operation to taking on help so not only will the experience for customers improve but it will keep all levels running much more efficiently than in the past. He will be traveling to Japan in November for the Mooneyes show to exhibit his latest build, “The Steel Shoe.” He is in the beginning stages of deciding on his next build, as well. Watch for Chopperdave related articles in print and stay updated via the News page and his Blog.
Today he lives in San Pedro, California with his wife Paola and their children.
RECENTLY MARRIED... HIS WIFE SPORTS A COMPANY T-SHIRT.
HE GETS AROUND SO-CAL BIKE SHOWS AND TAKES GREAT PHOTOS.
DAVE DOES GREAT SANDCASTING AND MACHINE WORK.
THE "LOVELY LOSER". ALWAYS LIKED THIS BIKE, NOW REBUILT FOR FLATTRACK.
DAVE DOES DIRTY PICTURES... THE GIRLS ARE BAREFOOT IN HIS MACHINE SHOP!
HOLD ON! THE LOVELY RANDY MOORE.
NEED TO UPDATE YOUR BATHROOM... DAVE HAS AN IDEA FOR YOU...
KIMBERLY JANE... SO SWWEEEET!
HE IS INTO TATTOOS... DOES IT MATTER WHERE THEY ARE SITUATED?
HE TAKES SUPER PICS OF MOTORCYCLES... I KEEP TRYING.
DAVE TRAVELS TO EUROPE AND JAPAN... HE HAS FRIENDS EVERYWHERE.
HE IS NURSING A BADLY BROKEN LEG FROM A STREET CRASH... HE WEARS A FULL FACE HELMET... HE IS NO DUMMY.
chopperdaves.com
THE MAN HAS SEVERAL SITES. HEAL-UP MR. CHOPPERDAVE SO WE CAN SEE YOU RIDE THE "LOVELY LOSER REDUX"!
World champ Greg Hancock admits some of his changes for 2015 didn’t have the desired effect as he plays catch-up in the FIM Speedway World Championship race.
The 45-year-old may have three world titles under his belt, but that doesn’t quell his desire to innovate and find new ways to be even faster.
Standing still can see a rider go backwards, but sometimes changing a winning formula also backfires.
"The easiest way of saying it is that if it’s not broken, sometimes you don’t have to fix it. We’re always trying to be that little bit better and not be complacent. But it wasn’t bad where I was."
- Greg Hancock
Third-placed Hancock admits he has reversed some of his changes for this season as he bids to cement his place on the rostrum and close the 27-point gap between him and series leader Tai Woffinden.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Mitas Slovenian SGP in Krsko, he said: “All I’ve ever tried to do is just be that little bit better.
“What I had last year was good. It was great to win, but I always want to be that little bit better. Some of the things I’ve been trying and doing to be that much better didn’t turn out the way I had hoped for.
“Now I’ve had to back up to what I did before. The easiest way of saying it is that if it’s not broken, sometimes you don’t have to fix it. We’re always trying to be that little bit better and not be complacent. But it wasn’t bad where I was.
“We’ve turned things back around again and here we go – it’s wide open and full steam ahead.”
Hancock has been far from off the pace, but he was still relieved to get back to his best by reaching his first final of the season in Gorzow.
He said: “It feels like one of those years where I’ve been riding at half-speed for some reason, yet still going well. It was great to go to Gorzow and get back up to full speed again. It’s amazing what you can do when you’re at full speed. Now it’s just about maintaining that. I want to keep charging and taking points.”
Catching Woffinden is set to be a tall order for Hancock and his SGP rivals. But you won’t see the American legend waving the white flag yet.
He said: “The title is still within reach mathematically, but things have to happen to make that happen. The only thing I can do is hope I score a lot more points than the guys sitting above me.”
At 1:29 p.m. local time on September 5, 1993, Wayne Rainey crashed at the Italian GP at Misano in Italy. Running a little too hot into the first corner on a mid-race lap, the back end of the bike broke away as he got on the gas and he was thrown. Initially he slid over the tarmac at 100-plus mph, frightening but relatively risk free. Then, as he reached the gravel trap, he started to flip over the ripples that had been raked into the sand. Just as the energy of the crash was spent, the bike caught up with him and smacked him hard in the back. Either at that moment or when he was flipping through the gravel trap, his spinal column snapped at the sixth thoracic vertebra. In a space of five calamitous seconds, he had gone from race leader, championship leader and reigning world champion to a champion in the broken shell of a body. It was a mentally and physically shattering event for Wayne, his family and friends and the whole world of GP motorcycle racing.
In a space of five calamitous seconds, he had gone from race leader, championship leader and reigning world champion to a champion in the broken shell of a body.
Michael Scott has written the story of Rainey's life and career up to that tragic moment in time, including the desperation and determination that have laid the foundations for Rainey to move on with his life. The book was written in very close cooperation with Rainey and his family and the many people he worked with on his journey to the top. Wayne's father Sandy was the early motivator to his son, but in a supportive rather than overbearing way. His was a world of continuous improvement, determined that the son would have the best bike the father was capable of preparing for the dirt-tracks and ovals where the kids let rip. Corona, Ascot, Indian Dunes, Trojan Speedway became the crucible where the natural talents of Rainey and other top riders were honed. By his mid-teens Rainey had moved out of the Southern California scene to take on the U.S. National riders, linking up with legends of the sport such as Shell Thuet, John Reid and Itchy Armstrong. He never quite made it to the top of the dirt-track sport; he never won a Grand National despite being an Expert for two years. When Kawasaki stepped in and offered him a ride on their Superbike, the timing was perfect and the die was cast for greatness.
His 11 years as a road racer are better known. He was U.S. national champion on a Kawasaki in 1983, only to have the factory pull out of racing. An odd-ball year in Europe running a TZ250 Yamaha for Kenny Roberts was followed by two years for Honda back in the States and another Championship title in 1987. The seeds had been sown for his fierce battles with Kevin Schwantz to continue outside of the U.S., and in 1988 they found themselves battling it out on the GP circuits around the world.
Feeding on the competitive energy that was generated by the excellence of those with whom he raced, it was Rainey who was able to harness the skills he had worked so hard to develop, with a razor-sharp insight into the limitations of the bike he was riding. While Schwantz became the hero of the crowds packing European circuits to see his win or bust racing style, it was Rainey who was knocking on the championship door in 1988 and 1989. By 1990, he was the best roadracer in the world and the world championship was justifiably his, with an almost perfect performance. "When I crossed the finish line, and I was World Champion, I had a burst of emotion. I felt really great, for about two tenths of a second. Then it was gone, and it was like - wow, what happened to everything?" Then things went weird. "When I crossed the finish line, and I was World Champion, I had a burst of emotion. I felt really great, for about two tenths of a second. Then it was gone, and it was like - wow, what happened to everything?" Rainey found himself becoming obsessed with his racing, determined to win everything at all costs while receiving no joy in doing so. A bad crash at the end of the 1991 season left him with a badly broken leg that complicated his preparation for the 1992 season. More crashes followed as his driving determination pushed him over the limit. In the end Rainey was to triumph in the shadow of Mick Doohan's own peripeteia, that halted the Australian's almost unbeaten season and came within an ace of costing him his right leg.
But it was a hollow victory. "In 1992 I pushed myself so hard that I was a pretty miserable guy to be around. I remember going to racetracks and sitting at the red lights just hating it. Because the intensity was so much greater than before. By the time '93 rolled round I was going to be World Champion, and I was prepared to do whatever it would take." "By the time '93 rolled round I was going to be World Champion, and I was prepared to do whatever it would take."
He had the season licked when IT happened and the world of screaming two-strokes and screaming crowds was replaced by the silence of a hospital room and soft beep of a cardiac monitor. Lying in the gravel trap in a sea of pain and with an intense darkness pressing down on him, he had made a pact with God to give him the strength to resist the calm of death that threatened to overwhelm him. It got him out of the dirt and into the hospital bed and from that point it was the determination that had threatened to destroy him that was redirected towards saving and rebuilding his life. Anyone who has seen him at work in the GP pits running his official works Yamaha team, will appreciate the miraculous success of his recovery.
Michael Scott's book is superb, providing a view of the American era of GP domination that has never before been revealed. Many of Rainey's friends and foes have been interviewed for the book, with extensive quotes from Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz and of course the family. Throughout the book, Rainey is completely candid, about himself, the riders he competed against, the crash and its legacy. His openness will have you wriggling with discomfort as the horrors of daily life within a body paralyzed from the chest down are recounted in pure factual objective fashion, without a trace of self-pity.
It's clear that an exorcism is at work here, that the story and its telling is a part of the recovery process, laying the demons to rest. Despite the scale of the recovery, on bad days the black dogs can still be heard barking in the distance. Rainey tells poignantly of the emotions that suddenly overwhelm him as he watches a pre-season training session earlier this year trackside, his mind cruelly recalling the sensations of riding a 500cc racing bike at the limit. The man survived the crash, found fulfillment in a new career and peace with his wife Shae, son Rex and new found faith in God. The story of how this came to pass should be read by everyone.
"Wayne Rainey - His own story" by Michael Scott. Published by Haynes $34.95 ISBN 1 85960 401 3 Note: The book carries this title: "Wayne Rainey - The Two Lives of a World Champion" in the U.S. market.
Here is what three Americans did to prevent a train massacre a couple of days ago:
A Kalashnikov assault weapon with nine magazines of ammunition, a Luger automatic pistol with extra ammo and a box cutter were carried by the man who attempted to attack a packed high-speed passenger train, according to the French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, on Saturday.
With that kind of firepower, a massacre might have occurred if three American friends traveling together and a British passenger had not tackled, beaten and tied up the suspect, authorities say.
Of the Americans, two are U.S. service members. Spencer Stone serves in the Air Force and Alek Skarlatos is a member of the Oregon National Guard. The third American is Anthony Sadler, a college student.
The train was speeding through Belgium when the man emerged from the train bathroom, shirtless with an AK 47 slung over his shoulder, according to the Americans.
The three men responded quickly and prevented a deadly attack on the high-speed Thalys train.
“My friend Alek (Skarlatos) yells, ‘Get him,’ so my friend Spencer (Stone) immediately gets up to charge the guy, followed by Alek, then myself,” Anthony Sadler said.
“By their courage, they saved lives,” President François Hollande said. “They gave us an example of what is possible to do in these kinds of situations.”
Today the French government has shocked the American people by recognizing the bravery, selfless service, duty, and courage that our service members showed when they were willing to die to save the lives of innocent people. For their actions, all three Americas were awarded The Legion of Honor — France’s highest recognition.
As an American soldier, I am beyond proud of those service members for their actions to prevent another terrorist attack, but I can’t help to ask myself… what will the Obama administration do to honor them?
Honestly – I think nothing; Obama has shown us that when our military does the right thing, it doesn’t deserve an award or recognition.
I’m not saying we should award them the Congressional Medal of Honor, but for once, give our service members some recognition. A press conference or a simple pat on the back will do. But we all know is – sadly, that’s never going to happen.
INSTEAD OF FINDING A WOMAN IN DISTRESS AND GETTING REWARDED FOR A GOOD DEED...
I HAVE BEEN LEFT WANTING... FOR A VACATION. MAYBE A TRIP TO FANTASY ISLAND. INSTEAD, WORK HAS ME TIED DOWN. WE ARE DOING 50% MORE FOR THE CUSTOMER WITH 10% LESS MANPOWER. YOU ARE TOLD TO USE YOUR VACATION TO STAY STRONG AND HEALTHY, BUT THERE IS NO TIME AVAILABLE TO LEAVE.
WE ARE SLAVES TO THE MAN!
DON'T TRY TO SNEAK OUT, THEY HAVE RESOURCES AND YOU WILL BE HUNTED DOWN AND...
THANKFULLY I HAD CATARACT SURGERY ON THE LEFT EYE AND AM DOING FINE. THE LEFT EYE HAD GOTTEN REALLY BAD, NOW THE RIGHT EYE IS GIVING UP THE SHIP BECAUSE THE LEFT IS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.
I HAD GOTTEN LAZY WHEN READING AND THAT IS ABOUT 75% OF WHAT I DO AT WORK. MY EYES JUST DID NOT WANT THE STRAIN OF READING HOUR AFTER HOUR. WORKING IN THE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY LEAVES NO ROOM FOR A BLINDMAN, SO SURGERY IT WAS. WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT! OCTOBER WILL FIND THE RIGHT EYE GETTING IT'S RESCUE FOR THE DURATION OF MY LIFE.
THE LEFT EYE IS NOW FREE OF BLURRED VISION. WHAT WAS MOST STARTLING WAS THE RESTORATION OF COLOR AND CLARITY. THIS PICTURE SHOWS EXACTLY THE GOOD VISION ON THE LEFT AND THE DULL EFFECT ON THE RIGHT. THROW IN BLURRED VISION AND EVERYDAY TASKS BECOME MISSIONS IN FAILURE.
LEFT EYE - AFTER RIGHT EYE - NOW
LOOKING OUT THROUGH A CLOUDED LENS... LOOKS LIKE ZOMBIE SHIT TO ME!
THEN SURGERY WITH THE DOC... I WAS KNOCKED-OUT AND GLAD OF IT. TOTALLY PAINLESS RIGHT UP TO TODAY. THE DAY AFTER SURGERY I WAS 20/25! WHOO HOOO!
TWO HOURS AFTER SURGERY AND FEELING NO PAIN... STONED!
NOW I WILL BE LOOKING FOR KIMBERLY JANE!
ANYWAY... NEW POSTS OF THE SAME OLD STUFF COMING SOON!!
Pacemaker Press 09/7/2015 Medical Team carry the coffin followed by Family members during The Funeral of Dr John Hinds takes place at St Patrick's Church in Portaferry. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
The heartbroken partner of motorbike racing's 'flying doctor' John Hinds, who died in a tragic accident at the weekend, has called on people in Northern Ireland to back his campaign for the introduction of an air ambulance here.
Speaking for the first time about the Portaferry man whose funeral yesterday was attended by more than 1,000 mourners, Dr Janet Acheson described him as her "quiet man who will own my heart for ever".
Video: Mourners pay tribute to 'quiet man' Dr John Hinds
source: Belfast Telegraph
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04:18
And as his remains were carried from St Patrick's Church in Portaferry, Janet placed a red rose on his coffin as the song he played to her every night before they went to sleep rang out over the chapel's PA system.
Janet fought back the tears and clung to Dr Hinds' parents Dermot and Josephine for support as she listened to the lines that said "rest in peaceful sleep" and "just give love to all".
Dr Hinds, who saved the lives of many road racing riders and spectators, died on Saturday morning after sustaining extensive injuries while providing medical cover at a practice session for the Skerries 100 motorcycle races in the Republic the day before.
Dr Hinds - who was a consultant anaesthetist at Craigavon Area Hospital and a lecturer in trauma science - was travelling on his own motorbike behind the riders when he crashed into a wall. Yesterday dozens of bikers, paramedics, fire officers and motorcycling marshals provided a guard of honour as his huge funeral cortege wound its way the three miles from the Hinds' family home to the church where John was baptised 35 years ago.
Two PSNI motorcyclists were at the head of the cortege, which also included dozens of motorbike enthusiasts from all over Ireland.
Fr Michael Hinds conducted the funeral service for his cousin and read out a message from Janet, who said John had radiated grace from the heart and peace from the soul.
She added: "John believed it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and that is how his achievements leave us in his wake. There has been much made of John's age, but as he used to say to me, with his infectious sense of humour: 'Age doesn't matter unless you are a cheese'."
Earlier, in a statement, Janet said: "I urge you all today on John's behalf to help us ensure that his dream of a first-class, world-leading trauma network - with a doctor-led helicopter emergency medical service at its core - becomes a reality so that it can start saving lives on our doorstep."
Dr John Hinds who was killed in a crash during Skerries 100 practice session. Photo: Stephen Davison
Fr Hinds said the role reversal as doctors fought to save John's life in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin was almost too perverse to comprehend, adding: "The administration of medical care was his role, his expertise and even to a large degree his raison d'etre in life."
Fr Hinds, who called his cousin the 'bikers' guardian angel', said he had been a great but unassuming and unaffected man who with his brilliant mind and skilled medical hands had "perpetuated life for so many other people without seeking reward or praise in return".
He finished his homily by saying: "Ride on in peace Delta 7, ride on" - a reference to Dr Hinds' call sign, which had been given to him after he volunteered to work with the Ambulance Service to respond to road and industrial accidents. An emotional eulogy was delivered at the Requiem Mass by Dr Fred McSorley, another road racing medic and a close friend of Dr Hinds.
Dr McSorley said John had been an extraordinary man, an inspirational teacher and doctor, who only two weeks ago had spoken passionately at a prestigious trauma conference in Chicago.
He said that he first met Dr Hinds when he was a young medical student who was keen to join his travelling doctors team at road races, but was too young.
"He just wouldn't go away," said Dr McSorley.
"Little did we know what a star he was to become and rapidly the master was being taught by the pupil." He said Dr Hinds usually got to the scene of accidents first.
He added: "So instead of being the travelling doctor, I was becoming the travelling second opinion."
Dr McSorley spoke of the shock among the medical team who arrived on the scene of Dr Hinds' crash at Skerries.
"They thought they were going out to a fallen competitor. They had no idea they were going out to Dr John, their mentor, their teacher," he said.
"Through extraordinarily different circumstances, they worked heroics, but they did exactly as John had been teaching them during the winter (training) sessions. They just stuck to his teachings."
Dr McSorley said after Dr Hinds passed away, Janet had urged him to go to the Skerries races to help the emergency medical teams, as it was what he would have wanted him to do.
Turning to Dr Hinds' legacy, Dr McSorley said his friend had realised it would take a long time to improve the trauma care system in Northern Ireland.
"He recognised that a helicopter had to be part of an integrated, reformed trauma service, so it was integral to the service and not just an add-on.
"That will take several years of hard work and John was the very person who would have driven that on.
"I don't know who will take that on now - hopefully someone will."
Dr McSorley made a plea for people who wanted to keep Dr Hinds' memory alive in the shorter term to become blood donors.
He revealed that blood from 54 donors had been used on Dr Hinds at Beaumont Hospital.
He added: "That kept him alive long enough so that the last of his family, his brother Colin, could fly over from London to be with him while he was still alive."
Dr McSorley said he hoped that in time his colleague's dream of improving the trauma service here would come true, with a helicopter at the heart of it.
He revealed that Dr Hinds' Delta 7 pager had been deactivated by the Ambulance Service on Tuesday.
"I would hope with the help and dedication of people here that in the years to come the call sign will be heard again (on a helicopter) - as clear to land on a heliport at the top of the Royal Victoria Hospital."
Dr Hinds was buried in a graveyard adjoining St Patrick's Church at the foot of Portaferry's Windmill Hill, with the sun shimmering on the Mourne Mountains in the distance.
