My thoughts on GMB III

[char393]

I think it’s nearly impossible to sit back reading all these posts reflecting on the past weekend and not shed a few tears. Or maybe a lot of tears.

It seems like the weekend just flew by. Almost as if I turned around and all the sudden I’m back in California again. I kept asking myself over the weekend, “Am I really here?”. It was kind of hard to believe, really. Friday night at the Berg’s house was great. I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive about meeting so many new people, but that was just pure silly on my part. Machoman and Mr Berg were a couple of the first people I met…and my apprehension just melted away with the first hug and handshake. I went from being apprehensive to looking down the driveway to see who was showing up next. It was an amazing experience.

I should backtrack for a second….the Twisters are great, great people. Robbie and I joke around about being separated at birth, but I just feel even more sure about that now. From the second she picked me up at the airport, I was comfortable with her. Like I had known her all my life and we were just hanging out again, not meeting for the first time. Same with Clayton…the guy is funny! Her kids are great too…really well behaved and funny. Robbie…I have so many special memories. The kind that are irreplaceable and will be forever etched in my heart. I’ll never hear…”She bangs She bangs” again without cracking a smile. I love you Sister Sledge!

Saturday was great. Prag and crew weren’t there when we arrived, so Ima let me take her bike out for a spin. I took a slow first lap and thought to myself…I’m nut for being out here…very out of my element. Ima’s bike is the first 4-stroke MX bike I’ve ridden, but that thing is sweet! It pulls so nicely and amazed me at how little shifting I had to do. After a couple of laps I was starting to pick up the pace a little when the bike decided we’d better do something in honor of TexasDirtNap since he wasn’t there. : I found some mud and managed to get Ima’s bike and myself covered in the stuff. It was almost kind of fun.

Prag and crew showed up with the 125 and I took that bike out. I felt so comfortable on that bike….did I ever mention, I like 2 strokes? Suspension was working good for me…easy to do when you’re not all that fast, the power was predictable and I was having a blast. Towards the end of the day I started to feel it in my arms a bit, but that was alright.

Sunday was great too. I felt so excited about racing and getting to see everyone again. It was hilarious. Hard to describe really.

Eyes getting tired yet? Just a bit more, I promise.

A few things that really stuck out in my mind:

Meeting the Berg’s. They’re incredible people. To be honest, I don’t understand how they do it…open their home and hearts to so many people. Mr Berg stopped and waited for me on the track and we got to ride a little bit…that was amazing.

Keetoman…what can I say? The Keetobunny will live forever! Thanks for being you. You are an awesome person and friend!

Psyklone and Fluttergirl…you two are awesome. I’m so glad you were there, the weekend wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Pragmatic…thanks doesn’t even begin to cover it. You are so funny and I was so bummed to see you get hurt.

BigMaico…I can’t even begin to fathom how much work was done on your part to get this event organized. You are amazing! The beer butt chicken ROCKED! Tell Donna thanks for putting up with us tracking all that dirt in the house….and for putting up with you.

B-bike and Nikki…Wow..all that way you came! Nikki..it was a blast to ride with you! Boyd, meeting you was great. I hope to see you posting here more often.
Kirtwell…man, you are so stinkin fast! I know you’ll be reading this at some point, so be sure I get a copy of that video! Thanks for riding with me man…that was cool.

This is getting too long…the ride home with the Moto Gypsies was awesome! 27 hours in a vehicle with Zoo, Ima, Woody_CRF, DBD and Isaiah was a freakin’ blast! We laughed so hard and so often. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

If I’ve left anyone out, it wasn’t intentional. There were so many people there…Satch, Jaswhitt, VintageDave(such a smooth rider), mfuhre, mxmike, kk, yam250fgirl, everyone.

Looking back…I’d do it all over again. The riding was just a fringe benefit. The opportunity to meet everyone and to honor the memory of Garrett was the whole reason for this trip and it was well worth it…SO WORTH IT. There were friendships made that will last a lifetime. You guys are special, so special and I’ll always hold these memories close to my heart.

[zoohoot393]

Char...I will ditto what you said about everything, especially the drive home

That was the most fun, terribly long drive I have ever had

[skinnyJM]

We ALL loved meeting you, you are way cool!
And that is a compliment!!!
You are one of the major reasons to look forward to GMBIV.
Texas is worth it, ain't it???

We might even get down to 50F here tonight.
What's the low there?

[Keetoman393]

Great write up Char.

[MrsTwister393]

She bangs She bangs

[pragmatic393]

Excellent!

[Satch0922]

Great write up Char. If there is anyone out there that thought about going but for whatever reason decided not to, that is what you missed. It is difficult to describe.

BTW...don't inflate Kirtwell's ego any more than it already is!!! However, he was hauling *ss in the over30/40 race!!! After the first moto he said "DUDE...that is the fastest I have ever ridden a motorcycle...EVER! " It was a fun race to watch...all 8 laps of it!! (sorry Keeto).

[KTM250rm393]

Ok, now MOM leaves out meeting her favorite lost son:

OR,

maybe she thought it would embarrish me mentioning she whooped my butt on the track that Saturday:

[Macho393]

Char you are something special to us all! Gurl you can ride to! You ain't no poser. Thanks for making this last weekend more special to us all

[Imahoot393]

Wow Char what a write up that was. It was great to meet all of the new people there this year. Isnt ATM a great community of people? It was truly amazing to experience the brotherhood/sisterhood of so many people from this site ad feel welcomed by everyone. Everyone was chipping in on help with bikes, kid watching, finding parts, and exchanging smack talk. I am in awe.

Char- you are an amazing person plain and simple. I cannot express how sad that I am that we do not live closer to one another. It was so hard to say goodbye yesterday to such a great friend. I'll pm the rest because I cannot help but get sappy and weepy over it all. We are just going to figure out a way to see each other again. What airlines fly to Alaska?

Your riding- It was so much fun to see you ride. I believe that it was actually fun having you kick my butt. That trophy sure looked pretty. Put that thing on the mantle with pride!!!!! You looked completely comfortable on the track. You looked good on my bike too until you went mud-whomping. Good job gurlllllllll!

[popfuhre393]

EDIT: oops lol im on my dads username! This is MxMike!
Char: You are the man...well...you know what i mean! LOL Meetin you at the bergs house was awesome! Did ya like my accordian skills?!?! HAHA Thats was such a good night! Best of my life I would say! Are we all gonna make it next year?! Or how bout 6 months for the planning meetin...or better yet...3 months for the pre planning planning meeting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[char393]

Ima...I didn't leave you out on purpose. The sadness that I felt leaving the track on Sunday was exactly what I felt when leaving your house on Tuesday. You are awesome. Seriously. I am in awe of you. I wish you, Robbie, and I lived closer together. I've never had two female friends that I've felt closer to.

Rick...you silly short bus boy. You might be a little : obnoxious, but you have a heart of gold. I'd ride with you any day, but only if you let me win like you did this weekend.

[Blitz393]

sounds like fun fellas, wish i was there. i know the shock-and-awe feeling would be multiplied greatly with all the new people hanging around bergs' house. maybe next year!

*rob wishes he was at GMB3*

[MotoMan]

Excellent write up Char!

I had a great time, even though I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with ya'll.

[char393]

Well there you are stranger!

I wish we could have spent more time together, Jim. It was great meeting you though...and your girlfriend!

[Keetoman393]

Originally posted by Satch0922
It was a fun race to watch...all 8 laps of it!! (sorry Keeto).

It was only 7 laps! I gave them one to grow on

[char393]

Keeto...dude, it was the +30, +40 class, I'm pretty sure they're done growing.

[Keetoman393]

I plead the 6th! Wait, is it the fifth? SEE, I told you I have a hard time keeping count! Besides, I got distracted.

[char393]

That's cuz you and Clayton were too busy talking.

[Keetoman393]

We were talking about how funny it would be if we made them ride an extra lap... didn't know it was really going to happen! i remember asking Clayton "Dude, was that the 4th or 5th lap?" Umm, I think the 4th. "OK, 2 laps to go then!" DOH!