"Remembering Those Who Rode" - GMB 7 [Post Event]

[yzernie]

Man, where does one start a story like this from such a great weekend. I guess the beginning is a good place!!

After weeks of uncertainty about whether Dane, VAL and I could make the usual road trip, it was finally decided that the road trip was not going to happen. I wasn’t sure if, without the road trip, I would want to go by myself. The wife told me if I wanted to go to get something booked. So, as any married man would do, I did exactly what the wife said and booked a flight!!

Thursday – Up at 3:30am, throw the suitcase into the car and head off for the airport. I landed and met George, Jim and Kim for lunch then off to the hotel. A screw up on the reservation but it all got worked out. Thursday evening with Mr. Berg, George, Dave, Mr. Bazzy and Howard was a fantastic gathering. I (we) laughed hard and I really enjoyed the no stress atmosphere. We all shared stories that make you realize you are not alone in some of the struggles of life. It was a great evening.

Friday – George, Jim and Kim went to Three Palms for some riding. I met Char, Robbie and Keith for lunch. Again the company was fantastic, the food was good (when Keith finally got his!!) and having the time to get to know each other a little bit better was nice. We laughed and joked but we did not forget the underlying meaning of the weekend and more importantly the memory of Garrett and the impact he has had on all of us.

Friday evening – The Bergs again welcomed everyone into their home for socializing. Despite the heartache they have to be feeling at this time of the year they are worthy hosts. Got to meet a few new faces and those I hadn’t seen since I arrived I got to see there. It was a nice reunion. George and I (I was driving) got lost on the way home when I somehow missed the Hwy 59 turn-off. I’m sure it was because we were talking, joking and laughing like two teenaged school gurls. As we are cruising up the highway I tell George that nothing looks familiar. As we look around we find that we are on the west side of Houston and not on the east side. No worries, a little detour on Hwy 45 to Hwy 8(?) to Hwy 59 and we are back on our way to the hotel.

Saturday – We go to breakfast on the way to the track and have a great time. Get to the track and say our hello’s. Since I took a pretty good digger last year I had no intentions to ride so I did not bring my gear. Everyone gets ready to ride and as I watch everyone get geared up, I smell sweet aroma of the 2 strokes exhaust, hear the thunder of the 4 strokes and I realize I made a bad decision to not bring my gear. I stall on all of the offers of gear to wear and bikes to ride. I take a walk to the fence and keep lying to myself that I don’t want to ride. A couple hours into it I break and roam through the pits asking people if their offers are still good! I want to give a HUGE thanks to Keith for allowing me to use is gear and for trusting with his BRAND NEW helmet to wear.

I had plenty of offers to ride many different bikes but I refuse to ride a Honda. Get this, even Sam offered me his CRF450…WOW!!! Daniel and Char were kind enough to let me ride their newly rebuilt YZ144. That bike is FUN to ride!!! I also rode Char’s YZ250F. I could tell I hadn’t ridden for a year and felt my skills came back fairly quickly but my nuts failed to drop!! What a great day of fun.

Saturday evening – We went to Howard and Donna’s house for the usual Saturday evening feast and socializing. The food was its usual fantastic nature and I ate until I was stuffed like a goose hanging on the wall. Like Lawdog said, except for the drink fiasco the evening was a lot of fun. George brought his lap top and had loaded the pics he took that day for all of us to see. The backyard football game was fun to watch but I have no idea who won!! The party broke up earlier than usual but that was ok as I was one tired guy and needed o get some sleep.

Sunday – Breakfast with George was another amazing experience that cannot be adequately explained!! We get to the track and I get to see David who couldn’t get there until late Saturday. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to ‘race’ but that quickly changed when I walked to the fence and looked at the track and that sweet red dirt. As usual for me, the day was filled with emotions from the morning tears to laughing so hard my stomach ached. As the day wound down I hated to have to say the good-byes that followed. It is such a whirlwind weekend for me that I wish it could last a couple days longer.

Sunday evening – The ritual of having Sunday supper at the Saltgrass continued. It was a great meal surrounded by fantastic people whom I have grown to know better and better as every year passes. I was sad to see it all come to an end and all of us go on our ways. It has to be that way but it sure does make me anxious for 2009!!

Sorry for the length of this and thanks for supporting the GMB.

[egoallenpoe393]

Hi Mike

I did not make GMB this year "again" but you never know about next year

However you asked
- What did you like the most about the event, or your weekend?
Reading about all the experiances and seeing the photos of old friends, brings back alot of memories and emotion
- What was the most special moment for you personally?
GMB I, but GMB IV was pretty cool too
- Tell others "Why do you keep coming to this event?"
Coming back? I have missed all but 2 unfortunately, but it does not stop me form telling others about the Memorial Ride, most notably the BOD and how it was formed. In fact, I spoke about this very thing last nioght to a friend of mine. How the BOD was formed and wht the gMB truly means to those who venture to this most life changing experiance

Love Ya man, sorry I missed the years

[yami250fgal393]

wow that looks amazing, im so happy it seems like everyone had fun and rode awesome. I really dont liek i didnt get to get out there, I cant wait to seem more pics and some videos guys =)

[DRGSin393]

Originally Posted by egoallenpoe393

Hi Mike

I did not make GMB this year "again" but you never know about next year

However you asked
- What did you like the most about the event, or your weekend?
Reading about all the experiances and seeing the photos of old friends, brings back alot of memories and emotion
- What was the most special moment for you personally?
GMB I, but GMB IV was pretty cool too
- Tell others "Why do you keep coming to this event?"
Coming back? I have missed all but 2 unfortunately, but it does not stop me form telling others about the Memorial Ride, most notably the BOD and how it was formed. In fact, I spoke about this very thing last nioght to a friend of mine. How the BOD was formed and wht the gMB truly means to those who venture to this most life changing experiance

Love Ya man, sorry I missed the years

Sorry you missed it too Ego. You were def on Mike's mind because he mentioned you Thursday night. Looking forward to meeting you one of these days.

[The Kimster]

My first GMB... I don't even know where to begin and I feel like I still am soaking in what the trip meant to me, what I have gained from it and what it will always mean to me.

I was introduced to motocross about 13 years ago, but have just been a spectator if you will. I have always loved the sport and the people that came along with the sport. B/c it seems no matter what kind of motocross track or event you are at, everyone treats you like family. It is a wonderful feeling.

Over the past month with the death of Matt and all the injuries that we have read about, I knew that I would always be a part of the sport but I didn’t know if I wanted my son to ever race or get on a bike again. Going to GMB and experiencing the entire weekend first hand, has made me realize that my son already has it in his blood and so do I!

Motocross has developed a whole new definition in my book. Before, the definition of motocross to me = getting on a dirt bike and riding, having fun at the track with family and friends and maybe some bumps, bruises and broken bones along the way. And I never understood why the pain was so worth it. After GMB the definition of motocross to me = getting on a dirt bike, riding and racing, carrying on the legacy of other’s who aren’t with us to ride anymore or can’t ride anymore, the best family in the entire world, the most fun you will ever have and if and when you get hurt, I see that it is pretty much worth it b/c of the ride you had or have on the way! It’s not just a sport to me anymore it is more of a way of life!

I would like to thank each and everyone of you at ATM for opening your homes and hearts to me on my first trip to GMB and making me feel more welcome than at my own family reunion, lol!

Doc thanks for the help in getting us there and home safe! Ernie thanks for getting me conditioner! Char your cheeseburgers are mighty yummy! Doc, Jim and Ernie… what fun we had at our breakfasts!!! Robbie, thanks for trusting me with your bike! I had a blast!

Mr. Berg, Suzette and Shannon thank you for opening up your home and hearts to me as well. I felt so welcome at your home. You 3 have no idea how much you have inspired me. I can’t really find the words how to explain the feeling. And all I can say is thank you.

Howard and Donna, thank you so much for dinner on Saturday night and making me feel at home in your home! It is greatly appreciated!

And to everyone else I met at GMB, thanks for impacting my life in a way I could also never explain. It was great getting to know everyone!

What did you like most about the event or your weekend?
The whole thing weekend was absolutely amazing to me.

What was the most special moment for you personally?
Talking with Suzette and Shannon, they both touched my heart in ways I can’t describe. ~ Shannon my strength comes from people like you and your family and I only wish that I had half the strength as you. You’re an incredible person.
And finally getting to put faces with names!

Why I will keep coming back?
For more memories with the awesome people of ATM. And to always Remember Those Who Rode.


I can't wait for Next Year! But in the mean time... I will be Remembering Those Who Rode.

[DRGSin393]

Nicely said Kimster!

[Keetoman393]

What did you like most about the event or your weekend?
Friday and Saturday were just completely awesome. I got to spend a lot more time than usual meeting people I had already met, only getting to know them better. I tell all my friends here about what a great family I go meet every year and they just don't understand it. I just smile and tell them they would have to be there to "get it". Sunday I was asked to flag the finish line once again and lost out on more time to bond with others, but I made the most of it by playing around with my brothers and sisters as they rode by me. I wont forget that laugh I got from Ernie as I Black Flagged him for roosting Mr. Berg. A big thank you to Robbie and Tina for coming out Sunday to keep me company as I was flagging and baking in the Houston sun. You guys made it that much more special. Thanks to Char and Daniel for putting up with me as well as putting me up. Thanks to Howard and Donna for the great food and for being such great people. You guys rock. Thanks to the Bergs for another Friday night of sharing their pain and their lives with us Friday night. You guys are special!

What was the most special moment for you personally?
The people, plain and simple. Getting to know a few of them even better this year was my goal and I more than succeeded that measure. My life has been blessed and I am truly grateful.

Why I will keep coming back?
You guys are my family. I look forward to this gift of friendship that was created by Garrett's legacy more and more each year. I am amazed more an more each passing year by the bonds created and the lives that have been forever changed by our ever growing family. I love each and every one of you more than you know. That being said, I would give it all up if Mr. and Mrs. Berg could have their son back.

[The Kimster]

Wow Keeto... That was amazingly said and very powerful.
Thank you.

[bambam727]

What did you like most about the event or you weekend?
Great people! Getting to hang out with good friends, meeting new ones and doing what I love.

What was the most special moment for you personally?
Being able to take part in such a special event. Taking a step back and remembering what life is really about!

Why I will keep coming back?
This was my first GMB and I can't even begin to decribe the feelings that overcame me this weekend. But, one thing is for sure I will definitely be back to support this event!