Char's GMBIV report...

[char393]

GMB IV actually started on Thursday for us. After driving down from Dallas, we stopped at Howard's and visited for a bit. Ok, it was pretty much all day long. We just hung out and enjoyed the air conditioning in his house. We went to lunch and then went to visit with Pop Fuhre and MxMike for a while. It was a typical BS Bench Racing session. That evening we went to dinner with Howard & Donna, MrsTwister & her kids and Pragmatic. I tried to just enjoy the time. I really got a kick out of watching Wobbie's & my kids, they just clicked. It was so cool. The food was good and the company even better...we laughed LOTS.

Friday morning we got up and went to the NASA Space Center with Jedi and Jedi Jr. We had a great time there. It amazes me how after not seeing each other for so long, we can get together and it's almost like we'd just seen each other a few days ago. My kids absolutely loved Clint...I kept wondering if he would get tired of them crawling over him, but he didn't seem to mind one bit. We spent most of our visit to the Space Center at the huge play area they had there. No, not just the kids either, but all of us went down the big spiral slide more than once. I was thinking maybe they'd kick us big kids out of it, but it never happened. On the flight home to Anchorage, I asked Anna & John what their favorite part of the trip to Texas was. Both of them answered, "The big slide at the space center."

Friday evening at the Berg's was awesome, as usual. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new ones. I recognized Macho's Mom right off the bat. Just as you would expect from someone who raised a fine man like Macho, she is very, very cool. I got the usual big hug from Mr Berg which I've come to expect...and I love it. The fajitas were the best! I really enjoyed just hanging out and seeing everyone again.

Saturday practice was a great time, except for Macho getting hurt. I'm glad Zoo was there to go with Mama Gwynn and Macho. Zoo..you ROCK! Jedi Jr let me take his bike out for a few laps. I've decided I probably ought not borrow anyone else's bike, as I always seem to find the ground. : This time it was in the turn before the finish line, I was going too slow and just tipped over. What made it hilarious was the fact that Clint was right there to see it and gave me a huge thumbs up as I went by. I had fun riding my own bike and getting used to it all over again. The weather wasn't too bad, but dang, it was humid! As the day went on, I could see my big plans of running three classes fading away. I enjoyed riding with everyone again. Jedi was there to coach me over doubling the triple step up once again. I cleared it first try, only to find myself landing on someone as I singled over the top step. I don't know how, but somehow neither of us went down. Scared me though. BUT, I cleared it a few more times and decided I'd had enough for the day.

Saturday night at Howard's was great! The turkey and the beer butt chicken were awesome! It was hilarious to watch Daniel, Jedi and Madcow out there wrenching on Jedi's bike...with about 15 guys standing around. I felt like I was at a convention for government workers.

Sunday...it was HOT! There is something about being there Sunday that really just brings everything into perspective for me. The riders meeting and listening to Mr Berg is just, I can't even describe it. I would be surprised if you could find a dry eye, which is one of the things that I find particularly touching. A bunch of motocrossers grieving the loss of fellow riders...beyond words.

I rode the ATM/TT class and the chick class. I didn't finish as well as I wanted, but managed a 4th overall, so it's cool. The second moto I slowed down to ride with Shannon Berg and Imahoot...which was way cool. The first moto I got to ride with Wobbie some which was a completely new experience for me.

There were so many new people this year... WFO and crew, Tskwared and family, DPW, Boyd's wife Karen, DBD's wife and Dirtbiknkid, ZipNSplat, John Lorenz, Lawdog...I'm sure there's more. Sorry I can't remember everyone. It's always cool to put new faces with the screen names I know so well.

My family had a blast...Daniel is already wondering when GMBV is. I'm ready to come back to Texas...NOW.

Keeto, SkinnyJM and Kirtwell....you guys were MISSED. Keeto...it just wasn't the same without the bunny there.

A few pictures...and I'll upload the rest as I get the time. I know this is getting long, so if you managed to wade through it all...thanks!

Becca (I think this is my favorite pic)


No explanation needed


This wasn't even his best...

[pragmatic393]

Excellent, write up Char.
You all are so good with words; I read through all of the renditions and say to myself....yeh, exactly, thats it. I really feel it

[OLDMXRACER 393]

Cool Char!

[crdude]

awsome char! i find this really fun to read what everyone has to say about the weekend

BTW awsome pics! he really has the kawi over

[crfjedi393]

I have been to Splendora twice before but this was my first GMB. I didn't carry any expectations with me but I did have some notions about the whole GMB event just from talking to so many others who had attended previously. This is a great family. The Bergs and the close-knit Band of Brothers have done a wonderful job in allowing Garrett's death to have a positive impact on many, many families. While it is great to meet and bond with fine folks from all over the US, I would readily give up this family and the unity we have if Garrett could still be alive and Mr. and Mrs. Berg would not have had to face the anguish of losing the company of such a fine young man. However, none of us can change reality and I applaud the Berg's wisdom in letting their son's legacy grow into what it is today. I think we only get a glimpse of the real agony they still endure but an especially small glimpse of the hopeless agony they encountered during those first few months.
My thoughts on GMB IV are much the same as everyone else's. It was a weekend of camaradie. A weekend of putting faces with names. A weekend of learning little things about people that you can't learn online. A weekend that flew by way too fast.
Clint and I had an absolute blast with Char and family at the Space Center on Friday. I have a pic of myself and her kids that I will post later. They are great kids and I am going to enjoy watching them grow into adults. The fajitas were indeed the best I have ever tasted! It was here that I met b-bike393 and wife. (Boyd and Karen) Great folks and I knew from the start that Boyd and I would be friends. I got to ride with he and John Lorenz durning the ATM/TT class and was honored to double the triple step up between them. Again, I just hope somebody got a picture of it. Friday night was a great kick-off but it was already going by much too fast.
I was totally bummed to see Macho get hurt Saturday morning but was super glad that it wasn't any worse. It could have been MUCH worse. It was great meeting Gwynn Hobby. (macho's mom) On Sunday, Macho made his way up to the finish line to watch the Bergs and the Prestons make their parade lap. She asked me to ease up there and keep an eye on him and I was happy to oblige. But I made the mistake of responding verbally rather than just marching my butt straight to Macho. She cut me off with "I don't care. I just want you to go keep an eye on him!". I laughed. Moms never quit being moms. She's a fine lady.
If my bike hadn't quit on me early Saturday, I would have jumped the triple step up. I WOULD HAVE! I REALLY WOULD HAVE! This was definitely the time to do it. The face was rebuilt and the approach was perfect. But since I didn't really get to work on it Saturday, I decided not to do it during the races on Sunday. I sort of wish I would have. But there will be another time. I was easily holding onto 5th place in the over 40 class and it would have been nonsensical to try a jump I had never tried before and lose several positions if I screwed up. : Before I move on...... Many thanks to Lawdog for helping me tear into my bike at the track. It was sort of hectic and we were naturally in a hurry so we could get back to riding but I should have listened to him a little more about checking the timing. My own lack of knowledge kept us from getting it running at the track. As it turned out, Madcow talked me into giving it one more try at Big Maico's house. We worked on it until well after dark. We moved it inside the garage and kept plugging away. Daniel kept telling me it was going to run and I kept betting him that it wouldn't. There eventually came a time when it was just Daniel, John, and myself in the garage and everyone else had either left or were in the air-conditioned house. And Zoo kept capturing a little video now and then. We finally got it buttoned back up and Zoo had the camera rolling as I kicked it. It busted off with one easy kick and I was about to do a back flip off of it from shear elation! About that time the kitchen door swung open and everyone in the house came flooding out whooping it up and clapping. It really surprised me. What a funny moment. I've never seen a wrench job get so much attention. I bet this is the most well documented troubleshooting event in ATM history. But even this provides the evidence of the family that we are. No words can truly describe it.
As for Sunday, many of our Nocona crew were there and it was great to visit with them. But I truly enjoyed seeing the ones I had met at the planning meeting in March as well as the ones I knew from ATM only. Maybe a few PM's here and there. It was great to fill in the spaces as we visited and bench raced. Good people are drawn to this cause. The rider's meeting alone was worth the trip. Mr. Berg did a superb job of defining the purpose of ATM. I was standing next to Satch up on the platform and we were behind Mr Berg and the others as they talked. I didn't dare look at him but we were both sniffing and blinking back the tears. We're tough guys. We're motocross racers. We're "real men". Well let me tell you this. Mr. Berg is a real man and real men shed tears. Real men step up and help shoulder the burden of other real men. I am honored and humbled to have been a part of GMB IV.
As most of you know by now, the chick class was my third class to race. It was a total blast! I might have to start a separate thread about that as now is not the time to go into it. It takes a lot out of you to ride slower than normal! I was spent by the time the second ATM/TT moto came around! And contrary to that sandbagging remark, (whoever it was) I messed with a few chicks for the first 2 or 3 laps and then made sure I got lapped. I may be a total weirdo but at least I have honor.
Saying goodbye after the racing was a long process. I made every effort to shake hands or hug everyone that came and I am especially in awe of those that traveled so far. All of the Cali crew, Boyd and Karen, Char and family, and Madcow. Florida393 made sure his son was there even though he was unable to make it himself. That speaks well of you, Bill. It was bitter-sweet to drive out that gate. Sorry about the length of this post.

[Satch0922]

excellent write up Char and Jedi! Is it March/April yet?

[MrsTwister393]

You both hit it right on Thanks for taking the time to put into words as best as possible!! Thanks Jedi for "going slow" with me for a bit Being on that starting gate with Char and Ima.......amazing

[Keetoman393]

Char, that was a pleasure to read and it felt like I was there with you guys. Jedi, you made me feel the same with yours. I missed a great one!

Is it March yet?

[zoohoot393]

Great write-up Char and Jedi

SWEET whip photo Char

[Imahoot393]

Wow to both of you. Great write ups and great pics Char.

[OlSchoolFool393]

Man i really missed out this Yr
Glad ya'll had fun see Ya soon
and that's Joshua Wineman doing the whip
OSF

[wFo250]

Great write-ups both y'all! Sorry I didn't get to hug you 'bye' char..I looked all over fer 'ya. YES! on the whip pic! I was going to ask you to send me that one thanks for posting it. Best shot so far (IMHO) well, mabye the group pic is better...quite a handsome bunch of folks

[char393]

wfo, shoot me your email addy, I'll send you the full size image

[skinnyJM]

Sorry I wasn't there Char, THANK YOU for noticing!
Please don't hurt me...I missed you too!

You're one of the best!