First race results

Yesterday was HUGE for Manly Man Race Team- We had our very first race. Besides the fact that we didn't have any jerseys, stickers, branding of any kind, logos, or practice, I think it went really well.

Now that I think about it, I should tell you about something my rider said. I asked if he was going to practice before the race, and he said, "Well, I guess I should get there a bit early to take a few laps, but I really don't want to get up that early."

I tell you, when you hear dedication like that, it just about brings tears to your eyes. Literally.

Anyway, we got there a couple of hours later than most, but that was all part of our strategy. We got everything set up in our pit area (the parking lot), walked to the grandstands (two sets of wooden bleachers that were in imminent danger of collapse), and surveyed the competition (at the time, the eight year olds and younger were on the track). Some of them looked FAST. I became worried.

The time for our race arrived, and my guy was first out of the gates. He actually led the race for about 100 yards, at which point I sprinted up to a track official and tried to get the race ended on a technicality. They said no, unfortunately, and for some reason continued to allow other riders to pass my guy.

Rest assured I will be filing a formal protest.

So, long story short, we had a great time, and even though we didn't have to clear space for a giant trophy we were winners in the only way it really matters. We were the manliest men at the race, and have the candles to prove it.

More manly engineering

Love your old motorcycle, but disappointed that you can't ride it on the water? Problem solved. I can't find a video of it actually moving, but if it works as good as it looks then there shouldn't be any issues, right?

MMCC racing update

Just a quick update on the Manly Man Candle Company Race Team (MMCCRT- An acronym that rolls off the tongue). We're preparing for our first big race. Lap times are decreasing. Speeds are increasing. We're practicing starts, trying different lines, turning double jumps into triples, triples into quadruples, and quadruples into whatever is one bigger than that. I'm putting the finishing touches on the new stickers, working on new shirts and team colors, and figuring out ways to have a lot of fun and put in some good finishes.

I'm excited, and I'll probably bore you to death with updates when the season actually starts. Wish us luck!

Human nature

I was looking through some old pictures the other day when I came across a bunch of great snapshots from a trip I took to Laguna Seca. I went there to see the U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP race, and it was AWESOME. The race itself was incredible, but one of the best parts was just watching the people.

Now, I don't condone treating women like objects, but at the MotoGP race they have a bunch of "umbrella girls" walking around advertising various motorcycle related products. These girls will sometimes wear skimpy outfits to garner more male attention, which, again, is a practice I don't believe in.

Let me show you some of the pictures I took of them to prove how much I don't believe in this. Here's an example:


In case you were wondering, the guy with the beard and the white shirt is NOT an umbrella girl. Men just love having their picture taken with these girls for some reason. Now, in this next picture:


You'll notice that the men are happy to see umbrella girls. But I want to talk about human nature for a minute here. See, the interesting part of being at the race wasn't looking at the girls (really, I swear!), it was watching how the guys interacted with the girls. Or, as in my case, didn't interact. I kind of like being a fly on the wall at events like this.

Not like this guy:


See how he got right in the middle of all the girls, no shirt on, and wraps his arms around them? Confident. Manly. A little arrogant, even, but some girls like that. This is one example of male behavior.

Now look at this guy:This guy is with the same group of girls, but look at his arms. If this guy could actually detach his arms and have the camera guy hold them for this picture he would. He's clearly scared to death to touch the girls, and I've got to think they find it cute and endearing. Heck, I found it cute and endearing!

Me? If I'm truly honest with myself I would say I'm a lot more like the shy guy than the shirtless guy, but I have my alpha dog moments too, don't get me wrong.

To sum up: Some people are aggressive, some are passive, some are boisterous, some are shy, and one thing is absolutely certain- They ALL love manly candles.

Bike pictures!

People always ask me about my favorite motorcycles, so I thought I'd share pics of my two favorites. This one is my 98 Honda VFR, taken on a trip to Yuma, Arizona one beautiful fall day. If I may geek out for a moment, this bike is one of the best sport-tourers of all time, and the gear driven cams help make what many people, me included, think is the sexiest engine noise of all time. Fast, comfortable, great handling and reliable.
This is my all-time favorite bike, a 2003 Kawasaki KLR 650. I think I spent more money on accessories than the bike itself, but it took me everywhere from the Grand Canyon to Hoover Dam to Death Valley and a thousand other places. I always tell people that the bike was ugly and heavy, but at least it was slow... and that it could fly like an eagle, but it landed like a piano... but I loved it, and selling it was a big mistake.