tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68431157715575209372024-03-18T00:25:49.920-04:00Electric HorsemanFlat Track Racing and Stuffmlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-24139910785124875142024-03-04T10:42:00.002-05:002024-03-05T23:50:55.927-05:00More Than Zero (From my stuff in The Vintagent) <p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #303133; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; text-align: center;">FXE>0</span></p><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; line-height: 0.4em; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px;">M</span>y first moments on the ZERO were nearly my last.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I picked up the bike on a damp winter’s day.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Traffic was heavy as I merged onto the road in front of the dealership.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Rolling on the throttle aggressively to blend into traffic,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">the ZERO spun up the back tire hard,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">snapping me opposite lock sideways in a lurid slide.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The kind of moment when atheists see Jesus.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Cold tires on a wet day caught me off guard.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I could lie to you, saying my flat track experience saved me.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">But in reality, it was the excellent balance and neutral handling of the Zero.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">A lesser machine would have put me down hard.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">It’s always the memorable bikes that put the fear of God in me.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85094" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_85094" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 714px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-85094" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Greater-than-Zero-The-Vintagent-7-1024x645.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="714" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-85094" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The FXR has a lightweight dualsport vibe, and weighs only 309lbs. [Raymond C Schwab IV]</figcaption></figure></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I was left gobsmacked by the ZERO FXE</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Didn’t expect such fun in a silent, efficient package.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No honking intake or bellowing exhaust.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Just effortless thrust as the throttle is rolled open.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No banging gears, just seamless acceleration.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The rushing sound of the wind is your companion.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">She whispers in your ear while center punching with a wall of torque.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">(If you’re a numbers person: curb weight 309 lbs./78 ft-lbs. of torque per ZERO)</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I used to say ‘they’ll pry my four-stoke from my cold dead hands’.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">But after some saddle time with the FXE,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I felt like shouting: ‘I’ve seen the future, and it’s fun!’</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85092" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_85092" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 675px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-85092" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Greater-than-Zero-The-Vintagent-5-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="675" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-85092" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The controls are as simple as can be, with no clutch lever and digital instrument panel. [Raymond C Schwab IV]</figcaption></figure></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The FXE has the lightweight feel of a dual-sport.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Wide handlebars give that urban gorilla vibe.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Direct drive makes local stuff fluid & graceful.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Swinging effortlessly from stop light to stop light.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">To sum up the riding experience in a word? Elegant.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Traditionalists may scoff at the lack of a clutch lever, though.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The bike carries its weight well.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Changes direction like a Rotax framer. (high marks)</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">There is no vibration-even at full throttle.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No warm-up time is needed either.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Just push the button and ride away,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">even on the coldest mornings.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85088" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_85088" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 675px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-85088" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Greater-than-Zero-The-Vintagent-1-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="675" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-85088" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">A perfect urban runabout that doesn’t make enemies…except ‘loud pipes’ bikers. [Raymond C Schwab IV]</figcaption></figure></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I’m silently trolling for photo spots late at night in a corporate office complex.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Just singing along with The Doors.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">(I’m a spy in the house of love. I know the dreams that you’re dreaming of)</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I’d be safe from security if I could toggle off the lights.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Being silent is my friend and ally here.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Love riding in the crisp winter air.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The rides are fewer, so I savor every mile like it’s my last.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Coming upon another bike that night really opened my eyes.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The big twin had open exhaust, running way fat.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">You could smell the unburnt fuel in the air.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The rider was blipping the throttle,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Making his presence felt and pissing people off.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I didn’t want to be part of that scene,</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">so I turned right to give him the Irish goodbye.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85090" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_85090" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 675px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-85090" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Greater-than-Zero-The-Vintagent-3-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="675" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-85090" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Looks small because it is small. Zero survives because they’ve remained focused on what they do best, and slowly built a following. [Raymond C Schwab IV]</figcaption></figure></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Know someone who wants to learn to ride?</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Especially if they’ve never driven a manual transmission car.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The complications of a manual choke, the fuel tap, and the clutch.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">All that is out the window with an electric bike.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">It’s direct drive, so there’s no whiskey throttle moments learning to use a clutch.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No bogging down because the motor’s not warm.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">It will never stall like a big single in traffic.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">(Oh the joys of kickstarting a <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2020/02/19/paean-to-the-thruxton/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">persnickety single</a>)</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No scary moments switching to reserve in heavy traffic.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Heck, its belt driven, so there’s no chain maintenance.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">No winter fuel stuff/storage issues.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Perhaps it’s a safer way to get into the sport.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Just twist the throttle and go.</p></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Curious? Check out <a data-wpel-link="external" href="http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Zero Motorcycles</a>. [And our <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/the-current/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">years of EV coverage on The Vintagent</a> – ed]</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85089" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_85089" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 450px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-85089" height="675" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Greater-than-Zero-The-Vintagent-2-683x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="450" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-85089" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Two forms of electric transport. One is a lot more fun. [Raymond C Schwab IV]</figcaption></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p><div><br /></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-61534748575498930042024-02-14T22:50:00.004-05:002024-03-05T01:23:30.094-05:00Of LAWYERS, LIQUOR & MOTORCYCLES (Part 5)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYPeyKYZERYb_3pxM9IBE62X_gkqa7wD9gSkrdhrjYnBBR7CfX5WUPS-2JWg0_n-hzGb9aXld8gUXYFhWHYIsWUyX8KZFXFIiAtDoYGtSY5juGO93hUv9IkhVnPeDatAWS6W1i3Yy3JngE1a8lZ1lMx8DzFjYmMaC1vEYy_rKjfbkyW9_YhmMheEGKgbY/s6723/9%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5379" data-original-width="6723" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYPeyKYZERYb_3pxM9IBE62X_gkqa7wD9gSkrdhrjYnBBR7CfX5WUPS-2JWg0_n-hzGb9aXld8gUXYFhWHYIsWUyX8KZFXFIiAtDoYGtSY5juGO93hUv9IkhVnPeDatAWS6W1i3Yy3JngE1a8lZ1lMx8DzFjYmMaC1vEYy_rKjfbkyW9_YhmMheEGKgbY/w640-h512/9%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you wondering what happened to Valerie?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She thought I stood her up that night.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Decided to head down to her parent's </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">beach house the following morning.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Her friends came down to hang out for the weekend.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Did she hear about that guy we graduated with?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, some big motorcycle accident in downtown Royersford.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">They flew him to a trauma unit.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">He was running from the cops when it happened.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She had a sick feeling in her stomach.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Replaying our flirty little conversations in her head.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Realizing I didn't really stand her up after all.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She tried to call my apartment.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, reaching out to my friends during </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">those pre-cell phone days.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Valerie found out I was staying with family </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">until I could move around under my own power. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">----</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I made it back to my apartment the following Tuesday.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">There was a knock on the door.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I hobbled over, struggling to open it.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">And there she was. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fresh from the beach, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">kissed by the sun. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She looked glorious.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm so sorry!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She placed her hand on her face.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">My God, what have I done?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">If I didn't invite you over this wouldn't have happened.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She pulled me close to hug me, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">then paused, kissing me on the lips.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I would wreck again to relive that moment.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We stumbled over to the couch, still kissing.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">My hands glided over her skin.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Her fingers thru my hair.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The kissing was bottomless. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We shed our layers as the room spun around us.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She got on top of me and took me over the edge.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Way better than any painkiller they were giving me.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">She would stop over to visit every day or so.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We connected on so many levels.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Talking about music, art, motorcycles, our dreams.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Life was pretty good between having her, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">the wine, and the pain meds.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I loved the city, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">and she always wanted to hang out there </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">but wasn't allowed by her family.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">But before you know it, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">we were blasting down there on my motorcycle.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We walked through the art galleries holding hands, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">ate sushi & did vegan.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Got dressed to hit the town.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Roared around the streets on my clapped-out 500 single, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">stopping for cannoli and Americanos. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">And then baseball season ended.</span></b></p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0Phoenixville, PA 19460, USA40.1303822 -75.51491279999999111.820148363821154 -110.67116279999999 68.440616036178852 -40.358662799999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-54038551123408127652024-02-07T23:41:00.000-05:002024-03-05T01:18:08.563-05:00Of Lawyers, Liquor & Motorcycles (part 4) <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI__Rqe_lNQ0Uc3l26e5z2V9Awfrn0pJb2o2QYZU75GB_2NbROs_hi75bQZn4cE7m_e36cwWndwI1FvB3trxeETKYVqjEOBVsZC-N2gbaV8tPoWqUYHX0zx1YQ_fRT6gxB8KH3Cgs8iibHNMd3gf3FMLzNGyAZAMVb0aLiNXj_schFIjOViqeBw2q4WLRT/s2048/IMG_4712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="2048" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI__Rqe_lNQ0Uc3l26e5z2V9Awfrn0pJb2o2QYZU75GB_2NbROs_hi75bQZn4cE7m_e36cwWndwI1FvB3trxeETKYVqjEOBVsZC-N2gbaV8tPoWqUYHX0zx1YQ_fRT6gxB8KH3Cgs8iibHNMd3gf3FMLzNGyAZAMVb0aLiNXj_schFIjOViqeBw2q4WLRT/w640-h514/IMG_4712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The reward from being back at work was a clapped-out 500 single.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I was tempted to just hit the road to duck my court date.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just run 'til the marshals tracked me down or my money runs out.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I got a 'to-do' list the week before the trial from the lawyer's</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> secretary. She said just stay calm, that I was in good hands.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I was feeling ok until the officer testified.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Telling the judge he was just trying to stop me </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">before I hurt myself.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">That my blood alcohol level was more than double the limit.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">How I was trying to elude the law when I lost control of the</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">motorcycle, crashing into a car that was parked on the oncoming</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> side of the street. That I landed 157 feet from point of impact.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">From their calculations, traveling 83mph in a 25mph zone.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Their harsh professionalism was driving home the point. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I deserved to go to jail.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I look over to see my lawyer playing with his suspenders.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">He seemed disinterested in what was going on.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">It bordered on complete disrespect.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The judge asked if the defense had any questions.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">My lawyer started by stating how he drives a twelve-cylinder Jag.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">That the six-cylinder model was beneath him.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">How twelve-cylinder automobiles were pure decadence.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone seemed confused.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The prosecutor barked out 'relevance'.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">He continued by stating that tonight </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">when he drives home,</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">if he pulled up behind me and turned </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">on his high beams,</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I would know to pull over because </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">he's an officer of the law.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The officer blurted out:</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">'But you're not an officer of the law.' </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Precisely! How do your headlights differ from mine?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">You never identified yourself as an officer of the law.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Due to your error, you nearly chased my client to his death.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">My client has incurred huge financial debts due to his </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">medical and legal fees. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Look at what you have done to him.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I demand all charges be dropped immediately, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">or we will seek further litigation. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The DA put his head down as the judge called for recess.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I must have looked pretty rough in the lobby.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Arm in a cast, left eye taped shut, and walking with a cane.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The officer came over, stumbling through an awkward apology.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">He seemed on the edge of tears.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Saying he didn't mean for this to happen.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The tides had changed.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I realized the lawyer changed the course of my life. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">If not for him, I would have gone to jail.</span></b></p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-27131422985710031622024-01-22T22:20:00.008-05:002024-03-05T23:43:16.412-05:00OF LAWYERS, LIQUOR & MOTORCYCLES (Part 3)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgkGKCo72EQIiAFpUbB9ttWXu6aGi3ahB8fAp8lDNp2imp5ML3hhyphenhyphenaWUEm2QcjURA_ZWWxsYZnWPmvOF7WrJ3S4fbTg7AkOdvqmj-msOygi1A68JIA7SRwDn-DIhsFzmFIOb1dLyX7s0IR30tgtfL2klwPbGAwZ0S8SssTtpE0Lo1ElKxtEaY3qgfmSn2/s2736/IMG_0466.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2375" data-original-width="2736" height="652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgkGKCo72EQIiAFpUbB9ttWXu6aGi3ahB8fAp8lDNp2imp5ML3hhyphenhyphenaWUEm2QcjURA_ZWWxsYZnWPmvOF7WrJ3S4fbTg7AkOdvqmj-msOygi1A68JIA7SRwDn-DIhsFzmFIOb1dLyX7s0IR30tgtfL2klwPbGAwZ0S8SssTtpE0Lo1ElKxtEaY3qgfmSn2/w750-h652/IMG_0466.jpg" width="750" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo from John Lawless</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">By Thursday, I was struggling.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I scraped up the loose change from the glove box </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">of my beater Volvo</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> to buy a jug of red wine.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My buddy stopped by with a baggie.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We passed back and forth while drinking the red on my porch.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The music was going on, so we didn't hear my brother pull up.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">He wanted to show me his new machine.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Under the streetlights sat a gleaning GSXR 1100 </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">with a throaty full race exhaust.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I tried to lift up my leg to sit on it but was still too battered. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My brother said 'careful' as my buddy helped me climb on.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I loved the hardcore feel of that bike.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">'Let me fire her up so we can hear how she sounds'.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The roar of tearing silk echoed off the brick houses.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> I let the clutch out before they could stop me.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">No helmet or riding gear, my left arm still in a cast.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I blasted up the street, feeling no pain.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lured by the racy all-business feel of the GSXR.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Turning around at the stop sign three blocks away from home.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I rolled on the throttle hard in first, </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">the wailing GSXR leaped into a near-vertical wheelie.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Standing on pegs, grabbing second and third gears.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rock hard, feeling like Superman.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Squeezing on the rear brake made the front tire kiss the ground.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Coming to a stop, I joked this bike is too fast for me.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That's when the patrol car pulled up.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There was no fight, my only option being flight; </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>otherwise, I was going to jail.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I heard later they had three patrol cars skidding </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">around the streets after me.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sirens and lights ablaze.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It's only fleeing and evading if they catch you.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I got back to my apartment at 3 am.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My buddy is still there smoking.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Grinning-bet it felt pretty good running like that.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some might think I'd see the light.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That my luck would run out.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But I didn't care.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It was just Thursday.</span></b></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p></p><br /><p><br /></p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-61904983970578777802024-01-22T22:05:00.011-05:002024-03-05T01:29:15.705-05:00OF LAWYERS, LIQUOR & MOTORCYCLES (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhButh3ysprDFbwLqr_0bIVT9u-iYAbsZvw1Hsm3LqmMXEbXc_KQG4xsBA5SLDUScBLDZmO5NZToHExGAZmwHAIFcHc4BRO0fsExsb0I-2k7ZFJGkuKiASEshLw937C8vPOrwpAtY0QtGxUo_kPOcERYsv5TL8cbVX-zXSnGr31TO9XkzwwkFyJGlirzIgj/s2736/IMG_0466%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2375" data-original-width="2736" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhButh3ysprDFbwLqr_0bIVT9u-iYAbsZvw1Hsm3LqmMXEbXc_KQG4xsBA5SLDUScBLDZmO5NZToHExGAZmwHAIFcHc4BRO0fsExsb0I-2k7ZFJGkuKiASEshLw937C8vPOrwpAtY0QtGxUo_kPOcERYsv5TL8cbVX-zXSnGr31TO9XkzwwkFyJGlirzIgj/w640-h556/IMG_0466%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I think of him,</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I picture blue suits with red suspenders.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He was brash and condescending.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The epitome of a successful lawyer.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The other advisers would look busy when he brought </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in his wife's Volvo wagon for service.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He'd grill the unfortunate who handled his paperwork.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawyer relished unleashing his abrasiveness.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our mutual appreciation of Jaguar automobiles </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">kept me in his graces.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was my first day back at work.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Still hobbling, hungover, and strung out on pain meds.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I dropped into business mode as he entered.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kept it professional throughout the transaction.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawyer seemed amused by my battered state.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally smirking, what happened? </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your woman get tired of your Irish ways?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ya know, Jewish women will forgive their husbands' </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">indiscretions if the diamonds are big enough.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawyer made my skin crawl,</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">but he was all I knew.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you ever take new clients?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He flashed me an alligator smile.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You can't afford me.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked down at my shoes, nodding yes.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alright, you're a nice kid. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hand me a dollar bill.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then the lawyer said to give him the details.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I told him everything: the bike, the girl, and the drinking. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He asked several questions, sometimes a few</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">times over, and made me repeat my answers.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawyer said he could help me.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What he will need is my paperwork </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plus a cash retainer dropped off tomorrow.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He said ‘let me be clear. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It must be tomorrow, and it must be cash.’</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He wrote the amount on his business card.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was more than every penny I had.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I had to hustle to get it together.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Somehow managing to get to the lawyer's office on time.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">His secretary took the cash and paperwork.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">She said they'd be in touch.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lawyer did not even come out to say hello. Next,</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I had to drop off the title to the salvage yard across town.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My heart broke when I saw my bike. The forks bent so</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">far back that the front wheel broke the engine cases. She</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">was just a pile of mangled metal tubes and a busted engine.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Everything was shattered, crushed, bent, or gone.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I touched the twisted handlebars, telling her I was sorry.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The man took the bike's title, laughing. </span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You're the kid they flew out in the helicopter.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yeah, they thought you were going to bleed out.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You were lucky that the helicopter was on a return flight.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; outline: none; text-align: start;"><b><span color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God must want you around for some dumb reason.</span></b></p><p aria-hidden="true" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; outline: none; text-align: start;"> </p></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0Phoenixville, PA 19460, USA40.1303822 -75.51491279999999111.820148363821154 -110.67116279999999 68.440616036178852 -40.358662799999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-30386487552592742312024-01-13T20:50:00.018-05:002024-01-18T23:06:27.800-05:00OF LAWYERS, LIQUOR & MOTORCYCLES (Parts 1)<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpMo4ISh4xJR0khRTKmT-767cAF8CaRVZhrDN8gcsQr3KBp-G6MofOsBl1W1sbcEOVMubM9_jLLuxNuj0G9ORnB9CiL9Q0p9_0Io0_NY3vob-wwpvxuAmEw2gDjK8E6YGOZxs9tkgMokOOopMdVeGtLEYzoIu7l1XhJcTDHGwF6n_67TItomQU7Xo5ikB/s3000/24_ZR900NRFNL_0004_13.high.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1999" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpMo4ISh4xJR0khRTKmT-767cAF8CaRVZhrDN8gcsQr3KBp-G6MofOsBl1W1sbcEOVMubM9_jLLuxNuj0G9ORnB9CiL9Q0p9_0Io0_NY3vob-wwpvxuAmEw2gDjK8E6YGOZxs9tkgMokOOopMdVeGtLEYzoIu7l1XhJcTDHGwF6n_67TItomQU7Xo5ikB/w640-h426/24_ZR900NRFNL_0004_13.high.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos Courtesy of Kawasaki USA</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">It had been a hard day at work, but that's why they pay you, right?</span></b><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The ride home was my redemption.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My mental anguish faded as the revs came up.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The snarling 750-4 ripped through the meandering back roads.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The speed and intensity forces me to forget.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hunger beckoned, so I headed for the ranch.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I climbed off my machine as my neighbor walked by carrying a case.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Wanta brew?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Nothing like a cold one to wash away the road dirt.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We knocked out a few over conversation.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Would have had more if his wife hadn't yelled over.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I covered the bike post-dinner after she cooled off.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I had washed down my meal with a bottle of red.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">After, I made a double espresso with a shot of</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Grappa to give it some kick.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I walked out onto the back porch, reflecting.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I had given her my number but never expected her to call.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She had been the thing of my dreams in high school.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hadn't seen her since graduation, but there she was.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">In school, I was a quiet kid afraid of my own shadow. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't think she would even remember my name. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Didn't think I changed until she asked what's up with the crew cut and leather jacket?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> She reached up and touched my hair, sending a wave of electricity through me.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My buddy barged into our conversation.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">You won't believe it.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lawless got balls.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He won't be alive much longer the way he's riding.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Luckily some party girls called him away to do shots.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Want to see my bike?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My black machine stood out in a gaggle of Honda Interceptors.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She said she didn't know I was the motorcycle type.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I laughed and asked her if she wanted to go for a ride.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">No, my dad would kill me.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I started to talk about music to keep the conversation bouncing.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It's the first warm night we've had.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you sure you don't want to go for a ride?</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNkfcMKa0VAFGQi7CgNEZ93GIMXQsLOjn6k0TlxuCn5vnPy0lKgAii4-87RoBkrm7PVXGI6h9opdPbzY2erTgnnKpzYIJLt9xPyUCX3-zwNfaNLrsz6UyOTHDy9NCI2LRcSSpyXA_fVMBjmZ3ixtrxgsBpo0r-jrxHcydv-6rQHOb8nOBU-01V5hdjMD7/s3000/24_ZR900NRFNL_0005_14.high.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1999" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNkfcMKa0VAFGQi7CgNEZ93GIMXQsLOjn6k0TlxuCn5vnPy0lKgAii4-87RoBkrm7PVXGI6h9opdPbzY2erTgnnKpzYIJLt9xPyUCX3-zwNfaNLrsz6UyOTHDy9NCI2LRcSSpyXA_fVMBjmZ3ixtrxgsBpo0r-jrxHcydv-6rQHOb8nOBU-01V5hdjMD7/w640-h426/24_ZR900NRFNL_0005_14.high.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The ringing phone snapped me out of my stupor. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Her parents are out for the night, </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">would I like to come over?</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I knew I was too lit, but I couldn't say no.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sure thing...I'm 45 minutes out....Seeya in half-hour.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I climbed back on the bike, mindful I was over the limit.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The lure of getting close to her was too strong.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I made quick work of the empty back roads.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gearing down hard as I entered her town.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I noticed a car in a parking lot turn on its lights. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It pulled out behind me, rolling up close, switching on his hi-beams.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I knew there were a lot of yahoos in this town.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I wasn't looking to race; I just wanted to get laid.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I dropped the hammer hard as the light turned green.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The street went downhill and had a kink to the right. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Charging up through the gears, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I was in third as I flicked her into the kink. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The exhaust touched down hard, causing the tail to come around.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The little man in my head said 'I got it-I got it'!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">That's the last I remember.</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCigs1WROrfRerQQTZQW7y7gv8OeQhDQGRfdhW7smL5WDgBjflT4i0EVo02G7D4N9lTVueFTi3gt9QoFpH0s3xCUM6O7DFONUyODuxtVKG2HGpqgzzoiMPMBSmfkCafavTypr9CN4pzoyuwCIW23HBw9reuRUqOWBhUz0vnB8KW2orxNZk9IbLumntQdo/s3000/24_ZR900NRFNL_0002_11.high.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1999" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCigs1WROrfRerQQTZQW7y7gv8OeQhDQGRfdhW7smL5WDgBjflT4i0EVo02G7D4N9lTVueFTi3gt9QoFpH0s3xCUM6O7DFONUyODuxtVKG2HGpqgzzoiMPMBSmfkCafavTypr9CN4pzoyuwCIW23HBw9reuRUqOWBhUz0vnB8KW2orxNZk9IbLumntQdo/w640-h426/24_ZR900NRFNL_0002_11.high.jpeg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I was cold, freezing cold.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">That's odd. It's summertime.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I struggled to piece it together.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Aware I was lying on a metal table, but unable to open my eyes.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Fighting hard. Finally, my right eye pops open to find blinding light.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Flat on my back, I lifted my head forward to survey the damage.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My left wrist was twisted the wrong way.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lots of blood and abrasions.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Watched the doctors slicing into my lower abdomen.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I said, 'If it's bad or I'm paralyzed, just let go of me.'</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I hear them yelling 'Sedation, Sedation' as the lights go out again.</span></b></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming to, I'm aware of the tubes.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Up my nose, down my throat, and one where a man doesn't want one.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A state police officer sees my eyes open.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">With the nurse present, he reads me my rights.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The nurse welcomes me back.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Saying, 'You're lucky to be alive</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">but sounds like you're in a lot of trouble. '</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The crash was a real eggbeater.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I broke a laundry list of bones, along with ripping my eyelid in half.</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Learning that the car with the high beams on was a police car.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">So, I was drunk and running from the cops when the crash occurred.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It seemed that the lure of a pretty girl mixed with alcohol had taken me out. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I was off from work to heal for weeks, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">so I had plenty of time to contemplate my mistakes that night.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The legal paperwork came in.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I had my preliminary date with the judge.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">They said I was up for getting two to five for what I did.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Couldn't believe I could go to jail for this.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember my dad telling me that if I ever got in trouble to get a good lawyer.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-72380113806774953552023-11-17T11:35:00.008-05:002024-03-05T23:56:19.740-05:00A Benevolent Outlaw<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkvOuU9iPPF0uZFKMG7TYbpjWb3aU981bzvdlgLouHApK7j0GeZyUIaDnda9dGll4x3ARtukj7BefQOcmbnM7MiwuqkMM0smMrYuX1YzGPk0dP0WACMysVku5Xa_825FBl4YaJ7e28xNcLDQr_IdBBbuvADhOfT9pWT0yY0f8DFT97MsDcoeWw3fuBZ6z/s506/IMG_7406.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="506" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkvOuU9iPPF0uZFKMG7TYbpjWb3aU981bzvdlgLouHApK7j0GeZyUIaDnda9dGll4x3ARtukj7BefQOcmbnM7MiwuqkMM0smMrYuX1YzGPk0dP0WACMysVku5Xa_825FBl4YaJ7e28xNcLDQr_IdBBbuvADhOfT9pWT0yY0f8DFT97MsDcoeWw3fuBZ6z/w640-h418/IMG_7406.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of MV Agusta</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><blockquote style="background-color: white;"><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hello, my name is Michael, and I'm an addict.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My kick isn’t special K, meth, or G.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't have time for alcohol.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Give me a motorcycle like an MV Agusta.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That's my drug of choice</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhuR1W7XdPziTFi7Vxw2aBv-3i3nmodh1z2T2up6rc9M6-6iTu1Yiyq6fKntaJvV0y2zwZ54B2rm1pYTnBzCG_hztMGqDBvhwOdFHbdPufgjMya6njj0xErMfVALdabWH5SZiasVPgiHo81mHF0R6sPSfuB_GRFPDWawOVsO_ET8PKonlIRi9dQ5wKfO2/s446/IMG_7407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="327" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhuR1W7XdPziTFi7Vxw2aBv-3i3nmodh1z2T2up6rc9M6-6iTu1Yiyq6fKntaJvV0y2zwZ54B2rm1pYTnBzCG_hztMGqDBvhwOdFHbdPufgjMya6njj0xErMfVALdabWH5SZiasVPgiHo81mHF0R6sPSfuB_GRFPDWawOVsO_ET8PKonlIRi9dQ5wKfO2/w470-h640/IMG_7407.jpg" width="470" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results.</b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My morning mantra is to take it easy riding to work today.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tired eyes are glued half shut until she fires up.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The sound of the engine brings me to the surface. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pulling away from my house, </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>part throttle short-shifting to please my neighbors.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kind of reminds me of riding across the pits to staging.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There's magic in the air just riding this bike.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq8EbTxE4vU2brGvSO1ISE1HKx3ZShG_JsVnxqGMv2D3Ikg3lSLOTFrZfLT4oxIGn1j_1Hg8OSFrWmC9lW81c3YR__zGSuGh-MAVq2ZoxfYQY3LCFgXobbb10A_ZwfrcCtEJR-QGZZIuPzO6e8UvImPF0POXi00rEOBNG9SRs996Gu2Ix5onmEBi7eWBk/s640/IMG_7404.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="640" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheq8EbTxE4vU2brGvSO1ISE1HKx3ZShG_JsVnxqGMv2D3Ikg3lSLOTFrZfLT4oxIGn1j_1Hg8OSFrWmC9lW81c3YR__zGSuGh-MAVq2ZoxfYQY3LCFgXobbb10A_ZwfrcCtEJR-QGZZIuPzO6e8UvImPF0POXi00rEOBNG9SRs996Gu2Ix5onmEBi7eWBk/w640-h434/IMG_7404.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b><br aria-hidden="true" /></b></span><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphen4_2INajBUI-Z2fV6EetadTO_75E7MiMGxsR5P2LxmArBrkBERBBmhr16bR_tvFXn3bSMYebQk21_f5NfIprE1g17LO1slEHUjW60xTgUdA7DPhbTgZCNzE1f527tmMkRTl0sW7sD8SX_EHTaEgJaQ7pxVNoVUgoCcrIG6geanA71Qu_jk3NnN-XmU9A/s640/IMG_7403.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="640" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphen4_2INajBUI-Z2fV6EetadTO_75E7MiMGxsR5P2LxmArBrkBERBBmhr16bR_tvFXn3bSMYebQk21_f5NfIprE1g17LO1slEHUjW60xTgUdA7DPhbTgZCNzE1f527tmMkRTl0sW7sD8SX_EHTaEgJaQ7pxVNoVUgoCcrIG6geanA71Qu_jk3NnN-XmU9A/w640-h434/IMG_7403.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What started off as simply riding to work </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>escalated into a search-and-destroy mission.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A woman wearing big sunglasses is holding her phone horizontally, pulls her Benz out in front of me without even a look. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Senna's words are hard-wired into my brain.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>("if you no longer go for a gap that exists-you are no longer a racer")</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dropping down two gears, rolling open the throttle as I flick her over.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The bike moves like an extension of my body.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The screaming wail from the engine comes from within.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>All the frustration, pain & anger comes out.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just want to destroy everything in my path.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I rocket by, riding on a </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>wall of sound, running a wide line </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next corner taking a tight line to get maximum drive.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Catapulting by three cars before the entrance to the good section.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some see traffic, I see opportunity.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'm playing with the big chips now, pushing hard.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ripping and running is freedom.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The rush is better than anything over the counter.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A twist of the wrist, here is there. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just down a gear to disappear.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The sound and the fury at this frightful velocity.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Maybe I lack acceptance?</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I smile at those who speak of their struggle to be in the moment.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ride one of these beasts...you'll be in the moment. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I took the long way to work, </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>yet somehow got there sooner.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>High on the intensity, </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I walked into work flying on adrenaline. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The truth cuts through my speed daze.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Realizing I'm tied to a job I hate to pay for my bad habits.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Only at speed do I feel alive.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The bike transforms me.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>From work-class laborer to a benevolent outlaw.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXRrqPiLYRbKCAVfqIfy7VwMA9KhkFKY3Clp2W4aQ_EaBzv3O57vwgffU9UKGAYdeRHP7_IiAXM7M55c-hG0TLQ3J_09LGCrAjz2IZZl9Z4zsClwT84G4Z_e25IuDLhQtAUmGahVdCaXyAg3btTLF8DlaakjDqZpP49aZZuggbXgCg9mov_HEhaF7cHs1/s1709/IMG_7400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXRrqPiLYRbKCAVfqIfy7VwMA9KhkFKY3Clp2W4aQ_EaBzv3O57vwgffU9UKGAYdeRHP7_IiAXM7M55c-hG0TLQ3J_09LGCrAjz2IZZl9Z4zsClwT84G4Z_e25IuDLhQtAUmGahVdCaXyAg3btTLF8DlaakjDqZpP49aZZuggbXgCg9mov_HEhaF7cHs1/w422-h640/IMG_7400.jpg" width="422" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Had a pretty woman in my life once.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>She called the bike my mistress, </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>saying it gave me things she couldn't.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>how I walked taller after a spirited ride.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And she liked that. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I've carried more scars from relationships than any crash. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I know more or less how much traction I have with a bike,</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not so in relationships.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The pretty ones come and go. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But the bike been with me through it all. </b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Just turn the key and go.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTMnDbcs5KLGmyZ7VWaeS0T7wKhRJwIdLErCuLAVI7m6EA0qIsw3s3D-6DspIB8PQElFQFV6gL72FR0jimgNfWHFrI_o8NKeY1pCaf4wbm9PvEG-dQ42JDIsVsajnHbCjO-9gGFUFg-h0n2wdhrfaU1UlojKMpOCoX6MUWUtUEWKJOeYPjiJNXtVFIsV1/s640/IMG_7405.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="640" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTMnDbcs5KLGmyZ7VWaeS0T7wKhRJwIdLErCuLAVI7m6EA0qIsw3s3D-6DspIB8PQElFQFV6gL72FR0jimgNfWHFrI_o8NKeY1pCaf4wbm9PvEG-dQ42JDIsVsajnHbCjO-9gGFUFg-h0n2wdhrfaU1UlojKMpOCoX6MUWUtUEWKJOeYPjiJNXtVFIsV1/w640-h436/IMG_7405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0px 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #242424; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p></blockquote><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br aria-hidden="true" style="background-color: white;" /></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-447944442601736432023-11-03T10:47:00.002-04:002023-11-03T12:38:22.253-04:00She Is So High Above Me<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWD5Fhmkgp38DXdmfTZAfu79WljCtbKOC30aepxeSKVupzFcYHwtx4TvK-IXXfO-KEoj2SGKW1DctJ7GKWTr7BWHUEcH1MJib98iSX0NtDt_tsGtB2Y1gfb723D3UE6waIMStWkKyB5XjExGGOMvVo4zwEzZ8IXC1ypNJJmQljWodijn6ty86MaraAX7z0/s6723/9%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5379" data-original-width="6723" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWD5Fhmkgp38DXdmfTZAfu79WljCtbKOC30aepxeSKVupzFcYHwtx4TvK-IXXfO-KEoj2SGKW1DctJ7GKWTr7BWHUEcH1MJib98iSX0NtDt_tsGtB2Y1gfb723D3UE6waIMStWkKyB5XjExGGOMvVo4zwEzZ8IXC1ypNJJmQljWodijn6ty86MaraAX7z0/w640-h512/9%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos courtesy of MV Agusta</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>She stood out among the faces I saw daily.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Her elegance unique in a sea of bad fashion and heavy makeup. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Didn't have to open her mouth to know she was cultured.</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She glided into my store, sitting across from me</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Understated suit with just a hint of expensive perfume. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She was just so far above me, </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Seemingly unobtainable for a kid from the rows.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't even bother to try.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I may have acted professionally, </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">but I wanted to be putty in her hands.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Just cause I came from low income doesn't mean I have to act it.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Being a gentleman is a choice.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I held the door for her, rolling out the red carpet.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It was nice to dream, if only for a few moments.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0in;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_w4oUVh2suDBk9IzybnvsrMk5zXnLzLhu0Tnk-6XkgYXXCilTZ1IihNEM4rsyqnh13kid3jafxGHb6ofkmXaETv3lqMkoTD8A0ZlNSZuyaCAEs0JOnT-xbR7zE2dIVJovmbhCc37hePq4IXEgEDavvAZ6hA0DrudqK0LcoR-Vw52_RHl00GhDeIy7j1w/s6000/2%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_w4oUVh2suDBk9IzybnvsrMk5zXnLzLhu0Tnk-6XkgYXXCilTZ1IihNEM4rsyqnh13kid3jafxGHb6ofkmXaETv3lqMkoTD8A0ZlNSZuyaCAEs0JOnT-xbR7zE2dIVJovmbhCc37hePq4IXEgEDavvAZ6hA0DrudqK0LcoR-Vw52_RHl00GhDeIy7j1w/w640-h426/2%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><br /></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></b><p></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Weeks rolled by.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A workplace friend pestered me into being his wingman for some corporate happy hour thing.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This was not my usual. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He had to drag me kicking & screaming after work.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The trendy spot was packed with office types.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">All one more important than the next.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Or so they said.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The girl he came to see couldn't care less.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I kept sipping in the shadows until I saw her.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Couldn't believe my luck in seeing the elegant one again. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Seizing the moment,</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I walked over to her.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello miss. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She smiled lavishly; </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My name is Laura.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0in;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyC13BrxvCzgGrSXrTAbhaNUai0THslYyEhh374q8k6irsb9VOTHmgOXzmAYbBvRDOA32qiJMBkixRXXNbXq8Vz0jXNNai8ymGSUSqkh-0-yVP-kRPSVXw4gIRFa1r2pNLGsh0f99aGzh8pmk06z1i2BlPnnRQPPau2lIRtqmLSDGSiz1TTsx978hrM0d/s6723/7%20LIFESTYLE%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5379" data-original-width="6723" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyC13BrxvCzgGrSXrTAbhaNUai0THslYyEhh374q8k6irsb9VOTHmgOXzmAYbBvRDOA32qiJMBkixRXXNbXq8Vz0jXNNai8ymGSUSqkh-0-yVP-kRPSVXw4gIRFa1r2pNLGsh0f99aGzh8pmk06z1i2BlPnnRQPPau2lIRtqmLSDGSiz1TTsx978hrM0d/w640-h512/7%20LIFESTYLE%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><br /></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></b><p></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We jousted over drinks.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She fired the first shot.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My friend said you have a penchant for trouble,</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">That you've left behind a trail of crashed motorcycles. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, we all have hobbies.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you do for fun, Laura?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I work in the financial field, </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lucrative, yes, but is it fun?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I'm an equestrian; horses are my passion.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Really? I know a few girls who do barrel racing.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I bet you do, Mr. Lawless.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">So, what type of horseplay do you engage in?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She smiles, I prefer dressage.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">So I'll see you perform at Devon?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">You attend Devon? </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I’m wondering what type of saddle I’d see you on.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m comfortable with either;</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I say how motorcycles are merely mechanical horses.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And shared my favorite T. E. Lawrence quote. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">(A skitish motorcycle with a touch of blood</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">in it is better than the riding animals on earth)</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you been motorcycling yet?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We swapped numbers as she emptied her cosmopolitan.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0in;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34KZ7Y07ZUwLFBWkr5HoWuBjDMQGhutN57j9tI8QCa-BM1Oq8KUdC4zF5ygH0XmvhPqsLuedS2xjjEXS0XzUWOm90J86G20mXf9zp9HdOhdiDSIy2DktooaxStLlRbwYeNTct6y1YkDhEujnegGxphdJ1aas4YZLy-YaEYs3GDomC6Mq3bV-lsLMmRcDf/s3250/24%20LIFESTYLE%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2167" data-original-width="3250" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34KZ7Y07ZUwLFBWkr5HoWuBjDMQGhutN57j9tI8QCa-BM1Oq8KUdC4zF5ygH0XmvhPqsLuedS2xjjEXS0XzUWOm90J86G20mXf9zp9HdOhdiDSIy2DktooaxStLlRbwYeNTct6y1YkDhEujnegGxphdJ1aas4YZLy-YaEYs3GDomC6Mq3bV-lsLMmRcDf/w640-h426/24%20LIFESTYLE%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><br /></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></b><p></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal x_ContentPasted0" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in;"></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Pleasant conversations ensued in the days following.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She had to be at the stables <u class="x_ContentPasted0">Saturday morning</u> but offered to meet for lunch.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We agreed on a trendy eatery.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I rode over with a spare helmet, just in case.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The only motorcycle in the parking lot.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My leather jacket contrasts the blue blazers and polos around me.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I could feel their eyes on me.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">They vanished once I locked eyes with her, though.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She smiled warmly as I sat down across from her.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Our conversation picked up where we left off.</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What was a squid-like me doing with such a lady?</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She was so much more than just good-looking.</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaqSj0VzaZbokulItMYBGLCBhbakH3eJC8Rozlh5WkbkndHT2W6-jQJrXCw3GLwY132hqgItQDhQQmoNHzli9YphrSbiKy66TeAE_lCIVF966UEGtZAPX8efkZYfzV4h7y-9DgjeOdG4B3bnh-LJDGAXkZ_mTmXo5ecs-EOsIYRpDnUtS3fpXvmAtXF7M/s6723/8%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5379" data-original-width="6723" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaqSj0VzaZbokulItMYBGLCBhbakH3eJC8Rozlh5WkbkndHT2W6-jQJrXCw3GLwY132hqgItQDhQQmoNHzli9YphrSbiKy66TeAE_lCIVF966UEGtZAPX8efkZYfzV4h7y-9DgjeOdG4B3bnh-LJDGAXkZ_mTmXo5ecs-EOsIYRpDnUtS3fpXvmAtXF7M/w640-h512/8%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div></span><p></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She agreed to go for a ride. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Just helping her into a full-face helmet was a sensuous experience.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_ContentPasted0" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It was no longer words across a table.</span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_ContentPasted0" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_ContentPasted0" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Our hands touched as I looked into her eyes, securing her helmet strap.</span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_ContentPasted0" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My plan was simple. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_elementToProof" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A casual slow ride to win her trust.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal x_elementToProof" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We glided peacefully across town only to come upon a slow-moving MGB right before the scenic bit by the river.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Couldn't control myself.</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My monsters took over. </span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I dropped down to 2</span><sup><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span></sup><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> gear, squeezing my elbows inward to pin my passenger.</span></span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The whisper of my sport bike turned into a shrieking frenzy as the revs soared.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Blinding acceleration in the blink of an eye.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We ripped by the slow-moving MG, front wheel in the air.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Upshifting as we plunge downhill on the narrow two-lane road.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I stay out in the oncoming lane to get a better line entering the right-hander at the bottom.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Never rolling off the throttle.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The rush of being at maximum lean angle just heightened the intensity.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We ran way above the ton on our killing spree of speed, </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">devouring the road by the river as it snaked right and left.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Seeing the bridge meant we completed our loop.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I popped out of the bubble and squeezed on the brakes.</span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Her body squashed up against mine. </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I pulled into a coffee shop parking lot </span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Helped her out of her helmet.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She reached into her bag, pulling out her cigarettes.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I noticed her hands were shaking, so I lit it for her.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She exhales, saying, 'Well, they warned me about you'.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I offered coffee, but she said she needed something stronger.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have a bottle at my place, w</span></span><span class="x_ContentPasted0" color="inherit" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ould you like to come over?</span></span></b></p><p class="x_x_m3277065208000852704xmsonormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0in;"></p><div style="color: #242424; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></div><span class="x_x_m3277065208000852704contentpasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVVZc4CeSlPiSh3zBRlEyxUTBxlD3p6WnaVjgjJIOUaQ1iOxxzWqxV406DYHDsFfobSciNFuoFb5orfkbFBeGpYLUVhcWvzGdBg2cnqhEY4yV2ko4LbvoAqsDvy2gQRKSSKS7dNCC2dnFmcJow6chTZD_aQ7TVhw6HYS3U2iJ5WO3PC9QcTFv_zZGhOXS/s8256/11%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVVZc4CeSlPiSh3zBRlEyxUTBxlD3p6WnaVjgjJIOUaQ1iOxxzWqxV406DYHDsFfobSciNFuoFb5orfkbFBeGpYLUVhcWvzGdBg2cnqhEY4yV2ko4LbvoAqsDvy2gQRKSSKS7dNCC2dnFmcJow6chTZD_aQ7TVhw6HYS3U2iJ5WO3PC9QcTFv_zZGhOXS/w640-h426/11%20LIFESTYLE.jpg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><br /></span></div></span></span><p></p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-22597005925780582992023-04-02T11:20:00.006-04:002024-01-10T20:20:47.293-05:00THE ESSENTIAL MACHINE<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVrWZl8TgOPsgew5wTxv81RC2oa_yXzTFUFxcW-93UpKNN5QwwcgrzpHY-EFra51oL2QNvBZLmyQQN7fI0jSBXBRwJCu7iR4B8l_fKtQm2PuG3mXWSwlg1E-6uz3BFfUiVSw_4RM46YM2QQE-S_KLYFU1KVzGTm4Z99-eXWGRY0KCmLPoIGopvuB6wg/s1280/k4.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVrWZl8TgOPsgew5wTxv81RC2oa_yXzTFUFxcW-93UpKNN5QwwcgrzpHY-EFra51oL2QNvBZLmyQQN7fI0jSBXBRwJCu7iR4B8l_fKtQm2PuG3mXWSwlg1E-6uz3BFfUiVSw_4RM46YM2QQE-S_KLYFU1KVzGTm4Z99-eXWGRY0KCmLPoIGopvuB6wg/w480-h640/k4.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Is there anything as lonely as riding a</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>single-cylinder motorcycle on a blustery winter's day?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Riding bolt upright,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>getting tossed around by the wind reinforces my thoughts.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I felt alone but not forsaken.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Am I the only one out here today?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I try to keep up on the highway without pulling too many RPMs.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It's a miserable run maintaining stall speed.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>After an eternity, I start the countdown to my exit.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The relief of getting off the highway.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I bang her over hard right, sailing down the exit ramp.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>No need for braking, the single cuts like a scalpel.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>That blustery wind is not an issue cruising about town.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Just braaping thru the gears from traffic light to traffic light.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The mellow aftermarket slip-on makes mechanical music.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For me, skinny lightweight singles are pure motorcycle.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>There is no fat.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It's not an extension of ego or some twisted fantasy.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It is all that is really needed.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The essential machine.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JRY01wmbiz1QKjfbD9KPt3lsIDgbFUEtLj7CBJF6C-STUjhZKWDNgr0KFVe2T6xG5hGbKcTU4lxB-fliZXXEcIxhdGwkFH9Af4azoBOBg2d1nIFTEPndN1TC87DJ_SbntX-i2Rli_5SOAajE4MkKgCCywpBabIOpSP75McDcKGFpVr1eJLUFime8zQ/s1280/k1.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JRY01wmbiz1QKjfbD9KPt3lsIDgbFUEtLj7CBJF6C-STUjhZKWDNgr0KFVe2T6xG5hGbKcTU4lxB-fliZXXEcIxhdGwkFH9Af4azoBOBg2d1nIFTEPndN1TC87DJ_SbntX-i2Rli_5SOAajE4MkKgCCywpBabIOpSP75McDcKGFpVr1eJLUFime8zQ/w512-h640/k1.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The KLX is no highway hero.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It shines brightly in urban environments.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>While being a genteel friend meandering down country lanes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It’s an absolute party on dirt roads and trails.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I like the slender two-gallon fuel tank.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Large fuel tanks make for awkward, top-heavy motorcycles.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'll trade agility over range any day, especially in my corner of the world.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The handling is what you would expect of a dirt bike on the road.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It's super light, ultra-narrow, and tall.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The slightest input makes changes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Quite different if you're used to sport bikes or heavy street bikes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuSZP-WvWTz1KCkkiYhvIqOvi1Sl0u9RBSA7pNCw2k_KH6RYXzIMmjPCc26YpeeVR5TIXAMIdBpkimZlzewH5MJErmcP6ZHoVzMrm28VxzjJKCUv-k-5e4-FkadxnoacR1RELRDrLaBqz3EURFT2XOTgd0AoZHAOWIjm1O22F0kKIhsQVTZmc-okCpg/s1280/k5.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuSZP-WvWTz1KCkkiYhvIqOvi1Sl0u9RBSA7pNCw2k_KH6RYXzIMmjPCc26YpeeVR5TIXAMIdBpkimZlzewH5MJErmcP6ZHoVzMrm28VxzjJKCUv-k-5e4-FkadxnoacR1RELRDrLaBqz3EURFT2XOTgd0AoZHAOWIjm1O22F0kKIhsQVTZmc-okCpg/w360-h640/k5.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I'm not used to being the center of attention.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Riding across town, kids shout out, 'pull a wheelie!'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Getting fuel, a loud Hemi Charger rolls up "Dawg! THAT JAWN’S LIT!!'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dress in black, rolling into the Porsche dealership.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The receptionist noted "that I looked like the bad guy from a James Bond movie."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Must note the curb appeal of the KLX is strong.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8TFCuKma-rlF9dmzBr1ZmI87hdX_XaIzLkDSJHKmgfFXWbVp0ZBeUbhzNus8zMRKkYiprRtAi6UVySdOxAG4kzkWxaxDSKhtoYbTP_u2RC0PCFdzc1Snls4-a8Bf4wSfz1zenzi-2pG9pCNlFVrsXu0Wv9FiDJMw-v6GgrxvkpF9RTYYzGxKbJyqCw/s1280/k6.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8TFCuKma-rlF9dmzBr1ZmI87hdX_XaIzLkDSJHKmgfFXWbVp0ZBeUbhzNus8zMRKkYiprRtAi6UVySdOxAG4kzkWxaxDSKhtoYbTP_u2RC0PCFdzc1Snls4-a8Bf4wSfz1zenzi-2pG9pCNlFVrsXu0Wv9FiDJMw-v6GgrxvkpF9RTYYzGxKbJyqCw/w480-h640/k6.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Another advantage to being skinny & light?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You can take it with you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The KLX can be easily squeezed into a minivan, pickup truck, or onto a bike carrier.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Why ride two hours of crappy highways when you can just offload</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the bike at the base of some tasty mountain roads?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A KLX250 was my gateway to flat-track racing too. (see my other articles )</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yes, simply remove the lights and front brake lever, swap tires, and put on number plates.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Everyone knows Kawasaki builds bulletproof bikes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You're race ready without even having to safety wire.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It’s a very inexpensive way of going racing too.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The KLX is much like but way more docile than a 450.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My experience taught me that hooligan class or modified street bikes are just too heavy.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Flat track racing is about putting the power down.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lightweight singles are the real deal.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Truly race on Sunday, ride to work on Monday.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-6bSNrQjRqDddpaqbLh6SDqHDFyWMU2deSggqesgXu_t4cpFC7Dncp-vlqBx8BDcTeEpJezREKdxmKKxCdYRgiaaSTSHnJyoWut2Xhj2p8gkuQFMyNd1EFBYhhg_0RMPufulg6F1S0uccJSmqSVitbL-CQH-4AQKEjbidlWYcWZFXuqGyu9oM7ZM5g/s1280/k7.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-6bSNrQjRqDddpaqbLh6SDqHDFyWMU2deSggqesgXu_t4cpFC7Dncp-vlqBx8BDcTeEpJezREKdxmKKxCdYRgiaaSTSHnJyoWut2Xhj2p8gkuQFMyNd1EFBYhhg_0RMPufulg6F1S0uccJSmqSVitbL-CQH-4AQKEjbidlWYcWZFXuqGyu9oM7ZM5g/w588-h640/k7.jpg" /></b></span></a></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-38379865428570156452023-03-27T13:52:00.003-04:002023-04-02T12:21:05.369-04:00The City Bike<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCVlW_kkvjmA4Wx1btWYQacIyk0eSeyMaCkIRTSXlhbup2puKLiZbmGmMYltRYCA3HY1vmtWSP8m41Cj3TefzYMkS_k_WE6HIiMKgZ74fgyoMdq2bjUUAs_i2DjuMnKNSGAHi7ckHhwLiCyfQcF0byimNAup12p3zvNDoA_Ar-fex28gE1v3tgW73_g/s4032/IMG_6533.HEIC"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCVlW_kkvjmA4Wx1btWYQacIyk0eSeyMaCkIRTSXlhbup2puKLiZbmGmMYltRYCA3HY1vmtWSP8m41Cj3TefzYMkS_k_WE6HIiMKgZ74fgyoMdq2bjUUAs_i2DjuMnKNSGAHi7ckHhwLiCyfQcF0byimNAup12p3zvNDoA_Ar-fex28gE1v3tgW73_g/w640-h480/IMG_6533.HEIC" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I met the most fabulous woman.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My stylish lady friend lived in a trendy,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">up-and-coming part of the city.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Parking there was awful.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Traveling in from the burbs</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">meant dealing with city traffic</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A complete nightmare on my Ducati due to its clip-ons.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Furthermore, I did not trust parking there.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What's a gentleman to do?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wiBmcqbq9AyEyaJ_E1qxDdWr0eUBZCZDdN2wKWpm1qGjUtaituJ-e53l3nfJtXYAWgsBWQZpg0XzvxwNlQNSnUKG0bHSL-3f8siMbUiEZCtgPCuhbA7BH-76nGtMmZ5sPPB_GLO9ReqzuqHL13tkDmBh_4Hkabv-Qht2cBst-JBTENqyU8S_D9wZdA/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(97).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wiBmcqbq9AyEyaJ_E1qxDdWr0eUBZCZDdN2wKWpm1qGjUtaituJ-e53l3nfJtXYAWgsBWQZpg0XzvxwNlQNSnUKG0bHSL-3f8siMbUiEZCtgPCuhbA7BH-76nGtMmZ5sPPB_GLO9ReqzuqHL13tkDmBh_4Hkabv-Qht2cBst-JBTENqyU8S_D9wZdA/w640-h612/FullSizeRender%20(97).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I decided a city bike was needed.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps something shaft driven, water-cooled, with an upright riding position.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And it would need to be so undesirable that no one would want to take it.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePlvFxE7G6Y3AJNzZnXUAHTi1Wdbo_pP7dGD65gNAGPE6nC_IBf9oJu3PleG9PrrS3hg1OOcao3EbU4rJw8fa4ZbpPcCA6I414mqNnVhA_jDlwn_px67Cbc1nn-eR6CQ2xqtgEKqap-QtC-Nb10RPtTo9E0vaU2ARME50S0XQAuxsk4gs0tRh8TfV1A/s4032/IMG_6521.HEIC"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePlvFxE7G6Y3AJNzZnXUAHTi1Wdbo_pP7dGD65gNAGPE6nC_IBf9oJu3PleG9PrrS3hg1OOcao3EbU4rJw8fa4ZbpPcCA6I414mqNnVhA_jDlwn_px67Cbc1nn-eR6CQ2xqtgEKqap-QtC-Nb10RPtTo9E0vaU2ARME50S0XQAuxsk4gs0tRh8TfV1A/w640-h480/IMG_6521.HEIC" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">So I saw an ad on Craigslist.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">'04 Honda Shadow 750 Aero, low mileage, new white walls, has minor damage from being dropped-wife said must go!'</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The photos revealed a scruffy gloss black and burgundy Honda Davidson with bent handlebars.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Who would want to steal that?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I got talking with the owner as I looked over the bike.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He said he stopped at a friend's place to show off his new white walls.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Had a few beers but later low-sided onto some guy's lawn only to get DUI'ed.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">His wife told him, 'either sell the bike or quit your drinking.'</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">His bad decisions were my good fortune.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I pointed out some additional damage while striking a cash deal.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01rczE4lPc9CNXnrwrOET2NDCvc0wdqEtWFx7dciz75-NcBLl6tsVvX4vDX81WTQV4ytiILGNB6ZbiZ3vwJUAwAuowiLJFuE0XBYugRYHW7JQX9T38ZixJdSSXtbOtjFOqLBqCAJoJpQqAm4MPoaiP_3PY3U1NKj9qVkX88cMB1eYZQt0sJS92sS3VA/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(92).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01rczE4lPc9CNXnrwrOET2NDCvc0wdqEtWFx7dciz75-NcBLl6tsVvX4vDX81WTQV4ytiILGNB6ZbiZ3vwJUAwAuowiLJFuE0XBYugRYHW7JQX9T38ZixJdSSXtbOtjFOqLBqCAJoJpQqAm4MPoaiP_3PY3U1NKj9qVkX88cMB1eYZQt0sJS92sS3VA/w394-h640/FullSizeRender%20(92).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I got a feel for the Shadow on the ride home.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only did have a vintage look, it felt vintage too.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Honda is a study in just enough.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The 750 cc V-twin engine does not dominate.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It will gracefully propels the steel-fendered beast down the road at a sedate pace.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">While the engine has decent torque considering, raw power is not a strength.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">No use in breaking formation; you're not going to outrun anyone.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Though it is a pleasantly smooth platform to watch the scenery blur by.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Shadow feels nicely balanced,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">changing direction from side to side effortlessly,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">enhanced by the wide handlebars.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A sport bike guy might feel the brakes are sketchy,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">but they are adequate if using both properly.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Shadow oozed Honda build quality.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDF5uozUXa0T9Ibp7sRO8CScZsWODVFtvWJiPOAs7i0E_wn6ZWd_e2o0ll4ioTJZclKupPFbj0LWTEr6fuNrGuQxox3qn5q1f08S9Ty16Bxw4dbirX5nkCpg-MXf3mjLgDqUBFP_wRZI-X4Vp3WWFzNN9OO9scSQFZYAeXZhAaCLCCxc7Zl1eNgIjg/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(94).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDF5uozUXa0T9Ibp7sRO8CScZsWODVFtvWJiPOAs7i0E_wn6ZWd_e2o0ll4ioTJZclKupPFbj0LWTEr6fuNrGuQxox3qn5q1f08S9Ty16Bxw4dbirX5nkCpg-MXf3mjLgDqUBFP_wRZI-X4Vp3WWFzNN9OO9scSQFZYAeXZhAaCLCCxc7Zl1eNgIjg/w400-h371/FullSizeRender%20(94).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I stopped on the ride home to buy a rattle can of satin black.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Prepped and painted the bike in my driveway as she cooled off.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Removing the sissy bar and gingerbread as I went.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Burgundy and gloss black weren't relatable to me.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I kept the exhaust stock on this now logo-less machine to give me anonymity.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not all about a brand or a lifestyle.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Just a man on a motorcycle quietly gliding past.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlB3tuyGfiGR2389EldSzabAqFvFSG27NHXjn8lOf26NxV40izllzSWroMAGFJOE5HoEp9rzP29qe4XgfFC53TFh1uA2RPjOFIXyzwUicsfMZ9NLNS2WpPpuVT8REjXkxIFsVIa9QEX9wyfomPczKuqgpk3I-g2Vp8d0u8HqaJqfFZAHdQyas9gTrlg/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(91).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlB3tuyGfiGR2389EldSzabAqFvFSG27NHXjn8lOf26NxV40izllzSWroMAGFJOE5HoEp9rzP29qe4XgfFC53TFh1uA2RPjOFIXyzwUicsfMZ9NLNS2WpPpuVT8REjXkxIFsVIa9QEX9wyfomPczKuqgpk3I-g2Vp8d0u8HqaJqfFZAHdQyas9gTrlg/w640-h517/FullSizeRender%20(91).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Life changes like seasons.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Being an outlaw was overrated.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">On the run and trusting no one was a lonely life.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">There was no rest living life with my finger on the trigger.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Riding the Shadow brought memories of simpler times.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Before drugs and alcohol, before 'going fast' was everything.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">When the simple pleasure of being on the road was enough.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And the possibility of what lies ahead.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDF5uozUXa0T9Ibp7sRO8CScZsWODVFtvWJiPOAs7i0E_wn6ZWd_e2o0ll4ioTJZclKupPFbj0LWTEr6fuNrGuQxox3qn5q1f08S9Ty16Bxw4dbirX5nkCpg-MXf3mjLgDqUBFP_wRZI-X4Vp3WWFzNN9OO9scSQFZYAeXZhAaCLCCxc7Zl1eNgIjg/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(94).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIDF5uozUXa0T9Ibp7sRO8CScZsWODVFtvWJiPOAs7i0E_wn6ZWd_e2o0ll4ioTJZclKupPFbj0LWTEr6fuNrGuQxox3qn5q1f08S9Ty16Bxw4dbirX5nkCpg-MXf3mjLgDqUBFP_wRZI-X4Vp3WWFzNN9OO9scSQFZYAeXZhAaCLCCxc7Zl1eNgIjg/w640-h594/FullSizeRender%20(94).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Honda achieved mission success.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Riding back and forth to the city was a pleasure.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I wake up at 3 AM, pressed against her, skin against skin.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't want to leave, but I gotta get home, shower, and be at the job by 7 AM.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I blearily put on yesterday's clothes.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The smell of her perfume and sex in the air.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I close her door softly.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Push the motorcycle down the street before starting the engine.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I enjoy gliding across the empty city streets in the wee small hours.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The summer air like warm velvet.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">These are the times worth remembering.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE95LbN_5s0AWZ5cHvEzctjozB5tOI_tg8BMUfIQa-aXxT3bvziwhBsVc9tKIXY2iz_vPRgbCaGahlDuAJg5q_7eawZN3WEFniq0Uqj-k8fbbb_g2FXoOII8FqXSrYPYY0xdAHLYAADy_meQxzxprTB3Bwv7lMke6oc1opqLG8rynovx9RTuXYfdBl2A/s2048/FullSizeRender%20(96).jpg"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE95LbN_5s0AWZ5cHvEzctjozB5tOI_tg8BMUfIQa-aXxT3bvziwhBsVc9tKIXY2iz_vPRgbCaGahlDuAJg5q_7eawZN3WEFniq0Uqj-k8fbbb_g2FXoOII8FqXSrYPYY0xdAHLYAADy_meQxzxprTB3Bwv7lMke6oc1opqLG8rynovx9RTuXYfdBl2A/w640-h573/FullSizeRender%20(96).jpg" /></span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I rode the bulletproof Shadow everywhere.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">From city streets to the gravel roads up in coal country.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Even the chance of weather didn't stop me.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Shadow's big fenders kept the rain off me,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The engine's even disposition worked well in slippery conditions too.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">All these adventures as my Ducati gathered dust in the garage.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-12717425731656156002023-02-28T21:19:00.003-05:002023-02-28T21:20:57.334-05:00The Unloved (from my article in The VIntagent)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="header-style-light header-scrolled" data-imgready="true" id="page-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; width: 1483.99px;"><div class="header-basic style-light" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; overflow: hidden;"><div class="background-element header-wrapper header-scroll-opacity header-parallax style-color-jevc-bg header-only-text" data-height="75" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 403.5px; min-height: 300px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; transition: height 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, opacity 0.5s ease-out 0.2s !important; width: 1483.99px;"><div class="header-bg-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: calc(100% + 30vh) !important; left: 0px; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; transform: translate3d(0px, 100px, 0px); transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1483.99px; will-change: transform;"><div class="block-bg-overlay style-color-jevc-bg" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; height: 614.149px; opacity: 0.65; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s; width: 1483.99px;"></div></div><div class="header-main-container limit-width" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 403.49px; margin: auto; max-width: 1404px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; table-layout: fixed; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1403.99px;"><div class="header-content header-center header-middle header-align-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 403.49px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 1403.99px; z-index: 5;"><div class="header-content-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 54px 36px !important;"><h1 class="header-title font-762333 fontsize-338686 font-weight-700 text-uppercase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: Poppins !important; font-size: 75px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; display: block;">PRAISE FOR THE UNLOVED</span></h1><div class="post-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="date-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;">JANUARY 21, 2023</div><div class="category-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>IN <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/category/motorcycles/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" title="View all posts in Motorcycles">MOTORCYCLES</a></div><div class="author-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>BY <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/author/michael-lawless/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">MICHAEL LAWLESS</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="header-scrolldown style-light" style="bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 741.997px; margin-left: -6px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; z-index: 100;"><span class="fa fa-angle-down" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; cursor: pointer; font-family: uncodeicon !important; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div></div></div></div><article class="page-body style-color-xsdn-bg post-82237 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-motorcycles tag-reviews" id="post-82237" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; height: 11834.2px; position: relative; width: 1483.99px;"><div class="post-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 11834.2px; margin: auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 1483.99px;"><div class="post-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; table-layout: fixed; width: 1483.99px;"><div class="post-content un-no-sidebar-layout" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 840px;"><div class="row-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="row row-parent style-light double-top-padding double-bottom-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; line-height: 24px; padding: 36px 0px 0px; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;">You and I have the same addiction.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">We endlessly scroll the internet trolling for our next motorcycle.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Does the ‘disease of more’ impel the search for something better?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">There are much worse addictions.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-82290" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_82290" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 400px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-82290" height="711" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Unloved-The-Vintagent-11-576x1024.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="400" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-82290" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Low mileage, late make, high tech, and cheap. But it’s a 250. What to do? [Mike Lawless]</figcaption></figure>I stumbled on a bike nobody wanted.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The price was beyond right for a newer street legal motorcycle with a title.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The ad had been running for weeks with no takers.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The Suzuki GW 250 is an odd little duck.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Not much info for the American market.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Small Japanese machines bear the stigma of gutless beginner bikes.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The road tests said the GW was underpowered.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Could barely keep up in freeway traffic.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Bad reviews are the kiss of death.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I know Suzuki has many versions of their 250 street bikes.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Both singles and twins.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">For the record, the GW250 is a water-cooled, fuel injected parallel twin.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I drove out to the country for a look.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The condition was typical of a bike in a barn.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The seller was gracious enough to allow a road test before buying.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-82288" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_82288" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 667px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-82288" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Unloved-The-Vintagent-3-1024x767.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="667" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-82288" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Where lightweight canyon carvers belong: on the bendy bits. [Mike Lawless]</figcaption></figure>My first thought was ‘how petite’, compared to most street bikes.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The riding position; classic UJM.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The instrument cluster just about perfect:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Analog tach with digi speedo, clock, fuel gauge & gear indicator.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">All you need and then some.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The engine was a pleasant surprise.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The reviews shouted: counter balanced, long stoke, two-valver.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">To me it was a twin that felt more like a four.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Very smooth revving out to a pleasant crescendo at 11,000 RPM.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Suspension and brakes were fine, considering.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Handling is good, even if the front lacked feel when pushed.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Which might say more about me being a ham-fisted rider.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">While the GW250 will never be a freeway flyer,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">It was a pleasant roadster on narrow lanes.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-82287" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_82287" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 527px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-82287" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Unloved-The-Vintagent-13-1024x972.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="527" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-82287" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Don’t let the mean bunny get you down – he’s not getting any lady rabbit despite spending $35k on a special special Italian stallion. [Mike Lawless]</figcaption></figure>The price was so cheap I gave the man my money.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I took her home, removed the stock mirrors and a few logos, put on a pair of my favorite grips.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Plus the usual stuff; changing the oil, service the chain, set the tire pressure.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">My eighteen-year-old daughter liked the Japanese Anime styling.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-82289" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_82289" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 791px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-82289" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Unloved-The-Vintagent-7-1024x582.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="791" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-82289" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Exploring the backroads leads to unexpected pleasures/treasures. [Mike Lawless]</figcaption></figure>For weeks I cruised the back roads and commuted.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Enjoying the back roads.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">You must carry your momentum,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">This bike will never go down a gear and disappear. Ever.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">But the motor has good character.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">It sounds like a motorcycle should, even with a stock exhaust.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The GW250 is quite a refined little package.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I dubbed the little roadster “Lusso”.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-82292" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_82292" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-82292" height="625" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Unloved-The-Vintagent-5-819x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-82292" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Pulls like a train…well actually not. But that’s ok, you’re still riding. [Mike Lawless]</figcaption></figure>I love modern, giant gas stations on a motorcycle.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Clean bathrooms, lots of pumps & fresh coffee.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">A young man rolled up on his Ducati as I refueled.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I nodded in his direction.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He took off his helmet and asked “Is that your piece of shit? Like are you just learning to ride or something?”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I laughed, mentioned the Ducatis I’ve owned, and that I was service manager at a Ducati dealership.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Said Ducati makes nice art work, but his sportbike is miserable as a road bike.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The riding position is a pain in the neck, the heat from your 1098’s engine will melt your legs on a summer day.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Plus, we all know what they’re like to get serviced.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He fired back ‘Well I meet babes”.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Shaking my head I replied ‘If you want to meet women, buy a Vespa”.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">There is not much respect for small motorcycles.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The adage of the bigger the engine, the bigger the man is tiresome.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">A brand doesn’t define the man.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Are we not all riders?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I paid cash for my little bike, and will carry on riding it.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-71189" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 300px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Michael Lawless [<a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/electric_horseman/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">@electric_horseman</a>], our ‘Poet of Packed Earth’, is the <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/contributors/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Flat Track Editor for TheVintagent.com</a>, and has his own blog: <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://ehorseman.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Electric Horseman</a></figcaption></figure><div class="widget-container post-tag-container uncont text-left" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 36px 0px -9px; text-align: left; transition-duration: 0.3s; transition-property: box-shadow; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.57, 0.21, 0.69, 1);"><div class="tagcloud" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -9px; margin-top: 0px !important; position: relative;"><a class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-113 tag-link-position-1" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/tag/reviews/" style="background: 0px 0px; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 8px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">REVIEWS</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-61565077427023337572022-09-19T17:09:00.002-04:002023-04-02T12:37:25.347-04:00Would You Risk Your Life for $1500 ? (in The Vintagent)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw7jBAjSocCnTpzFu4mGJuamIfvlUp2F8O02twO0y7UwOSAfhHcEZawJs7aR31zTDBnf9au6k9eN-E30vWaAAJG90EeAK67lXxwP6PUQNvLM1KVlXTuA1fLcXmcJTgthxoWnrEnruuXlVHc1AAIvxxaKzXJntK4jUaxjnn0WbSPCq2QKQPGT0iprO4A/s750/IMG_7367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="750" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw7jBAjSocCnTpzFu4mGJuamIfvlUp2F8O02twO0y7UwOSAfhHcEZawJs7aR31zTDBnf9au6k9eN-E30vWaAAJG90EeAK67lXxwP6PUQNvLM1KVlXTuA1fLcXmcJTgthxoWnrEnruuXlVHc1AAIvxxaKzXJntK4jUaxjnn0WbSPCq2QKQPGT0iprO4A/w640-h622/IMG_7367.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">The yelling is over.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">The champagne has been sprayed.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Done with the autographs and selfies with the fans.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Packed up and on the road.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He rings my cell.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Would you risk your life for $1,500 bucks?</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">‘I got friends who frame houses or do timber who make more.’</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I risk my ass and then some.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">What the f***.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-81102" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Would-you-risk-your-life-for-1500-The-Vintagent-3-1024x630.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="731" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">They said it was a breakthrough win on the Mile.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">The racing in Singles is vicious.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He rode his ass off,</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">hung it out hard,</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">full throttle, running three wide into corners.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Banging and bumping thru traffic.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Staying out of the wind, then drafting,</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">trying to squeeze every ounce out of her.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">A soundtrack of singles wrung against the stops.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">They said he was too big to win on a mile.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He drove home smirking.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Refueling, another truck stop black coffee.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He lets his mind drift on the highways.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-81103" height="450" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Would-you-risk-your-life-for-1500-The-Vintagent-4-1024x682.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="675" /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">His buddies might make more money.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">But they’re never happy.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Always bitching about their jobs.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">They live for the weekends.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Smoking and drinking just to get by.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Their lives a series of days rolling past.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Weekends off if you’re lucky.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Feels like another form of slavery.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Racing gives him freedom.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He might not make a fortune winning races,</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">but it’s a life worth living.</div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-391925730776196142022-03-04T23:55:00.025-05:002022-03-08T22:37:41.549-05:00Ready for the Times to Get Better<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjna_Ope9KPOkGlZxNy6FrR_bDZs54Z8icJruZm9j_YzGwpbEY2n_0NvGcPNUNcju1CKPzNF-FDh4a5pN9qX5_gjO5OrzG5VyhKzDGyMChGGebWiAmwl1xuhwNCU1LL_CEGGBv799pCbOpQI8X63ML7Fb7SDx5ZmV9maHCqPu4NJr2XExbT369SusuQ3g=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjna_Ope9KPOkGlZxNy6FrR_bDZs54Z8icJruZm9j_YzGwpbEY2n_0NvGcPNUNcju1CKPzNF-FDh4a5pN9qX5_gjO5OrzG5VyhKzDGyMChGGebWiAmwl1xuhwNCU1LL_CEGGBv799pCbOpQI8X63ML7Fb7SDx5ZmV9maHCqPu4NJr2XExbT369SusuQ3g=w512-h640" title="[Photo by Steve Koletar]" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Photo by Steve Koletar]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>The New York winter ended in Florida.</b><div><b><br />He can breathe again; the waiting is over.<br /><br />Everything fades as he gets up to speed.<br /><br />Ryan Wells feels he is entering the best part of his career.<br /><br />He's got championship-winning skills mixed with years of experience.<br /><br />Could strong results on a KTM single lead to a ride on one of their twins?</b><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXejGVNw3U4XmvZju5uzp6voN4_Q2A2jbdO_PdScqD78Eti8ewjU-RcRYYXmkRubOaFZ4QFVpFrQkZTuOrREgq_2hAlHLzpppK4tHD0AU5PTvNYzZYhKnPcSkaKCxLCl8-gMF4P_uTxHnUyFX_X8c2pmkEGgY9pzZEJ3SODCh5larqL916keCA_IeYVA=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXejGVNw3U4XmvZju5uzp6voN4_Q2A2jbdO_PdScqD78Eti8ewjU-RcRYYXmkRubOaFZ4QFVpFrQkZTuOrREgq_2hAlHLzpppK4tHD0AU5PTvNYzZYhKnPcSkaKCxLCl8-gMF4P_uTxHnUyFX_X8c2pmkEGgY9pzZEJ3SODCh5larqL916keCA_IeYVA=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Photo by Steve Koletar]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A new Ryan Wells is emerging this year,</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">after what he calls the bleakest winter ever,</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last season's results ate at him during the downtime.</span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Racing with an injured shoulder last year didn't help.</span> </div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The death of a favorite uncle added to the gloom.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, appendicitis struck while loading the van for the Winter Nationals.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Plenty of time to ponder after surgery.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He wondered where was he going with his life.</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maybe it's time? </span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">S</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hould I just walk away and take a day job or wrench in the pits?</span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recovering from surgery took time but he was soon jogging again.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Running solo gave him plenty of time to reflect.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Racing is all he knows, really all he ever wanted.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tired of his party-boy image,</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ryan realized it was time for a change.</span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He was not ready to quit just yet.</span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOTlZcDDjdzgrFBVwVe6F524OHSCcPmz2boWnKDlBXyFisvN55j2AeLgcPzCyNpYnyawxau4hEavXt2ela89ECQ_rdMdURzTHRVquo2HM8TX4yE485kOpHYFpNzvP_sD8onQt3wjp3NN6JcRCOBmPBHsGtJLVpICSW6s6lSkQ8bSvJFvBqP71su4w-Zg=s788" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOTlZcDDjdzgrFBVwVe6F524OHSCcPmz2boWnKDlBXyFisvN55j2AeLgcPzCyNpYnyawxau4hEavXt2ela89ECQ_rdMdURzTHRVquo2HM8TX4yE485kOpHYFpNzvP_sD8onQt3wjp3NN6JcRCOBmPBHsGtJLVpICSW6s6lSkQ8bSvJFvBqP71su4w-Zg=w610-h640" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Photo by Steve Koletar]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">He doubled down on training.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Better diet, more rest, and no alcohol during race season.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Wells feels alcohol is a distraction that takes away focus. </div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Laughing that he's not touching the stuff "unless he's spraying champagne from the podium."</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">He realized he did not like being a fly-in rider either,</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">how he felt disconnected from the team and the bike,</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">saying he'd rather prep and clean the motorcycles himself.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">It was time to stop seeing racing as a job. </div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Ryan seemed tense when we talked last fall but now,</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">he seemed happy and relaxed like the Wells of old.</div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Track is home for Ryan Wells, and home is where the heart is.</div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyjGWPX9GDXv0EXQJciXcmo0cUk--TT82icTvsrI8WhlhtP4aBZLmUifFwjR9qRNhqZWgF999c0w5Kw-ZS5JepvzF1RnIshryAZQmNlfiq930wdGQWhjh5rh2_AAFEIJ4K9eVO9jaEjIyNO9W6KLgLqadKbWz3EEzAaynMtXbSCVRfMNZRDtoxvPR3A=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyjGWPX9GDXv0EXQJciXcmo0cUk--TT82icTvsrI8WhlhtP4aBZLmUifFwjR9qRNhqZWgF999c0w5Kw-ZS5JepvzF1RnIshryAZQmNlfiq930wdGQWhjh5rh2_AAFEIJ4K9eVO9jaEjIyNO9W6KLgLqadKbWz3EEzAaynMtXbSCVRfMNZRDtoxvPR3A=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div></div></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0Philadelphia, PA, USA39.9525839 -75.165221511.642350063821155 -110.3214715 68.262817736178846 -40.0089715tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-40260622842646695452022-01-09T22:46:00.031-05:002022-01-23T00:07:41.964-05:00HOW DID I GET HERE ?<blockquote><blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicjkT5ugQ-_8QTJV0PR-iuVMvFYZY2ijqGJ5GUuosVjqpPL55DKDHiiYXXykLQm-o6eh3Uu0qR1gYqYr5MIkd1Q6-3Ai7UGgHlrTz0_tEdZ_a999Vh83zuY_j9k2JY6X_HLOnxYZd6VgLR2BSn6S5FXupebujtCJVV69Qr4VaeCKxeyHcfXdSZxqERNw=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicjkT5ugQ-_8QTJV0PR-iuVMvFYZY2ijqGJ5GUuosVjqpPL55DKDHiiYXXykLQm-o6eh3Uu0qR1gYqYr5MIkd1Q6-3Ai7UGgHlrTz0_tEdZ_a999Vh83zuY_j9k2JY6X_HLOnxYZd6VgLR2BSn6S5FXupebujtCJVV69Qr4VaeCKxeyHcfXdSZxqERNw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How do you spend your Saturday nights?</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We're at a flat track race run<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n conjunction with a state fair.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span>t's blazing hot and <span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span>'m sweltering<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n full race leathers, helmet on, ready to go.</span></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Standing next to me<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n staging<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>s my daughter Olive.</span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">She's happily eating chicken fingers from the concession stand. </span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For me just making a race<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>s a win.</span><br aria-hidden="true" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>realized we would never be having these adventures<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>f her mom<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_markcadgoadn0" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">did</span>n't leave me.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, part of me died but<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t's no excuse not to live.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span>n my younger days,<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>blew an offer to road race because<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>was too busy partying.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>use to kick myself about<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> that</span> <span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">but maybe this was God's way of </span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">giving me another chance.</span></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>knew<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>f<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>fell back<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>nto my drinking ways none of this would be happening.</span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The regret<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>experienced from my earlier decisions propelled me forward.</span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chasing my dirt track dreams pulled me out of the hurt<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>was<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in.</span></span><br aria-hidden="true" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Being on the road, sliding around dirt tracks made life worth living again.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>feel awkward when normal folk see me<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n my racing gear. </span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kind of like the guy<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> in the movie "Electric Horseman" wearing his purple cowboy outfit.</span></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">They say<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t's crazy for a man my age to be flat tracking.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span>'m just like him, trying to unscrew the damage<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>created.</span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">These racing adventures with my daughter<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n tow are the best memories<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>have.</span></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>can look back now knowing the hurt was worth<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>wrote down these stories for Olive to remember me by.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just because the marriage<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_markcadgoadn0" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">did</span>n't work out doesn't mean<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t's game over.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>had to accept<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t,</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t was what<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t was.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Regret<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>s a monster.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>couldn't let<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t paralyze me.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span>t could destroy the good that might be around the next corner.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>had to realize that my decisions put me<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark7f99nzeyc" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">here</span>.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>t was me and only me that could pull me out of this too.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>got down to doing what<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>was doing when<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>was happy: </span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">trying to go fast on motorcycles. </span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Balance<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>n life<span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="x_mark14xdnbkfe" color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i</span>s the key for me.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Between work, being a dad, a writer, and yes, a racer.</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(Thank You to Jake Shoemaker and Kenny Lamazza)</span></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b>( Music: </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5rlpIxVB0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5rlpIxVB0 </a>)</b></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBZZqwKOGiuOvlV1eQ7aW70XAOEY81ivM7tLFOouIr4FhzWA_CTfY3ZoMyaTLNKn0amzW7FAlpGjFyPwpLMr9jO8W73b7uPLUV8sxFU_nuRLHSMJGVYiCG0oi4vm7z8zpBRx-F7a1F-J0GEjZze0SlqOP1l-yw0ALtvpzdUhRut3Zqn6Rql-DAbwvwsw=s544" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBZZqwKOGiuOvlV1eQ7aW70XAOEY81ivM7tLFOouIr4FhzWA_CTfY3ZoMyaTLNKn0amzW7FAlpGjFyPwpLMr9jO8W73b7uPLUV8sxFU_nuRLHSMJGVYiCG0oi4vm7z8zpBRx-F7a1F-J0GEjZze0SlqOP1l-yw0ALtvpzdUhRut3Zqn6Rql-DAbwvwsw=w564-h640" width="564" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2xWxG_nsebuc87IvVAYnowYtjoK1FkKK6_l-6G6kn4QPYtUYifOKakFDX_qQj6PCj9HKSYz4YwxxEdbjTNGlEgZIAdphv_mJFO7-1fflwfWRJzxnlBY8chwn4hReBKrcLT5CGj-_vWBrLKJOfYkTywPxsdCA7kMWsNEyzPeiBhK4Zvss5oVDkF851og=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2xWxG_nsebuc87IvVAYnowYtjoK1FkKK6_l-6G6kn4QPYtUYifOKakFDX_qQj6PCj9HKSYz4YwxxEdbjTNGlEgZIAdphv_mJFO7-1fflwfWRJzxnlBY8chwn4hReBKrcLT5CGj-_vWBrLKJOfYkTywPxsdCA7kMWsNEyzPeiBhK4Zvss5oVDkF851og=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitOCYDwiLSzq0rFeRWEBnzB3S-j1C0XLoqvbP7SLJFaS5EbXAyQa__NCHOHWAw8E0Fz72jTa1XZiDjH-2f9OQWvc7BlBq9XAOFyBKBgf_cz7Ke4L2Rv8bUIe7zfEyG8Y1m3XxGqMlvyUhi4DK2sSqyx9ABlPDrOzI3WQDsLdWU_sIkWk2yH1U1SFF9Jg=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="960" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitOCYDwiLSzq0rFeRWEBnzB3S-j1C0XLoqvbP7SLJFaS5EbXAyQa__NCHOHWAw8E0Fz72jTa1XZiDjH-2f9OQWvc7BlBq9XAOFyBKBgf_cz7Ke4L2Rv8bUIe7zfEyG8Y1m3XxGqMlvyUhi4DK2sSqyx9ABlPDrOzI3WQDsLdWU_sIkWk2yH1U1SFF9Jg=w640-h512" width="640" /></a></div><br />mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-31444714091146338112022-01-09T13:18:00.006-05:002022-01-11T21:28:14.013-05:00Regular Hospitals Hate Us ! from "The Vintagent"<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; text-align: justify;">C</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">an winning a race make one immortal?</span></p><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Perhaps if one was to beat ‘The King’ in a straight fight at the Peoria TT.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Who would not want to be remembered as the man who beat ‘The King’?</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s the equivalent of Arthur pulling the sword from the stone.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">So far, many have tried but none have done so.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">A win there could be every bit as big as clinching a championship.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Peoria TT is a fearsome place.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The younger generation calls it sketchy.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The type<span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> of track that puts a premium on skill and bravery,</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">separating those who have it from those who don’t.</div><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77372" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_77372" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 570px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-77372" height="600" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="570" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-77372" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Airborne is not typical flat track stuff! But TT racing is a very different animal, and a little MX training couldn’t hurt, no? Henry Wiles airborne and sideways. [American Flat Track]</figcaption></figure><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">There is more to flat track than turning left.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">TT courses like Peoria have a right-hand turn and a jump.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unlike the ovals, front brakes are used on TT courses.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">This track is built in a valley forming a natural amphitheater.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Perfect for gladiators.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">A rider must pull different skills from his bag of tricks to be competitive there.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole Zabala’s plan was simple.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Train at motocross to build the skills needed for TT.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unfortunately, while training he got out of shape on a jump which led to him </span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">coming down sideways crashing heavily. </span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lying on the race track, dazed from the impact Cole accessed the damage done.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pain everywhere, the lack of movement in his right wrist followed by coughing up blood</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">And the realization a hospital visit was required.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77380" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_77380" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-77380" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-9-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-77380" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Give my cast a zipper, doc! When your livelihood is at stake, and you gotta race, regular hospitals just don’t get it. A little plaster didn’t dampen Cole Zabala’s spirits. [Taylor Bellegue]</figcaption></figure> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Going to a regular hospital after a motorcycle accident is never fun.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s bad enough you pitched it away but now you have to explain yourself.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The doctors diagnosed Cole with a broken scaphoid and a bruised lung.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">They were not impressed.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">They recommend surgery on the wrist with a non-removable cast.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He would need to cease training for ten weeks.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">They said a removable cast was out of the question.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole spoke of the need to decrease the timelines due to his racing schedule.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The doctors would not flex.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dreams of Peoria glory faded.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77412" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_77412" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 600px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-77412" height="600" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-Cole-Zabala-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="600" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-77412" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The need for speed! Cole Zabala blasting along the straightaway with nobody in sight. [American Flat Track]</figcaption></figure></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Racers always look for a better way.</span></div></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole went for a second opinion at a sports medicine clinic.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He liked being treated like any other athlete there.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">They offered a plan to minimize his downtime to 3 weeks.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole did PR only at the <span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pennsylvania round.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">His first race weekend back was New York.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He was able to get a third in one of the qualifiers.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bike issues prevented better results in the mains.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I talked with Zabala during that New York round.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole’s smiling face told the story.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Saying the pain was manageable.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">We laughed about the hospital visits we riders have.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Commiserating about the ‘less than’ treatment for guys who crash bikes.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cole laughed saying “regular hospitals hate us!”</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hey we should do an article!</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">That line stuck in my head.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thinking about it while watching practice.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I started pecking away on my iPhone:</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><blockquote style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-left: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #888888; margin: 27px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 27px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Regular hospitals hate us.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Have they never suffered for their art?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Experience has taught me I’m better off saying I fell out of a tree.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">They roll their eyes when we drive ourselves to the ER after declining the ambulance ride.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">I need your help, not your judgment.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">I know your words come from a good place.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">The kindness is much appreciated.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">I can get thru the pain and the bullshit</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">Cause I’m living to line up again.</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-77390 size-large" height="433" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-NBCSN-1024x528.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="840" /></div></blockquote></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Peoria was next.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Time to find out if the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">But Mother Nature was not cooperating.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">It took a whole lot of magic from Caterpillar to <span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">get the rain-soaked track together on time.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">As the race day wore on the track got rougher.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">T<span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">heir race was the last of the day.</span></span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The battle began as the green flag dropped. </span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The King was on form.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Two of his challengers crashed out in the pursuit of victory.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Two red flags with the pressure of being perfect for the restarts.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Zabala still on the mend fought gallantly.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">At one point running close second to The King.</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77385" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_77385" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-77385" height="750" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-14.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-77385" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Game face on. That’s racing – you win and you lose, and sometimes you get hurt. Cole Zabala focussed on the win. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">But The King was on a planet of his own.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He left the intensity behind.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Leaving second, third & fourth locked in a frenzied battle.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Pass after breathtaking pass at a ferocious clip.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Cole made a bid for second in the last corner but came up short.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Still a fine third place on his second race since the injury.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Jubilant times on the podium were a fine payback.</div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I just wonder how he’d do on a twin.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77411" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_77411" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 552px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-77411 size-full" height="552" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Regular-Hospitals-Hate-Us-The-Vintagent-Cole-Zabala-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="552" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-77411" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Coie Zebala looking like a centaur on is racing machine. [American Flat Track]</figcaption></figure></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-71761079165399535412021-11-06T22:10:00.001-04:002021-11-06T22:10:30.577-04:00THE SOUND & THE FURY! As seen on The Vintagent<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He knew by her stripper hug that he was going to have fun tonight</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Dinner and drinks, her for dessert.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She makes the good nights better.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />All week he struggled to sneak out for a ride but work got the better of him.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His buzzing wristwatch signaled it was time.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He slipped out of her body hug,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Climbed into his riding gear.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Grabbed a quick double espresso on his way to the garage.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He toggled through his choices.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The sun crests the canyons as he wheels out his machine.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He coasted down the hill, away from the house before firing her up.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The sound of a three-cylinder MV barking to life.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The engine makes the music,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turning from growl to wail as she revs.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It’s the soundtrack for this morning’s ride.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-77088" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Sound-and-Fury-The-Vintagent-Glasses-1024x671.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="763" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The stress of the week melts away as he picks up speed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />That job sucks all the joy out of him.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But between her and the bike,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />he was glad to be alive again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Howling down the straightaway,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />he drifts over to the double yellow,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />flicks hard right, arching from the double yellow to white and yellow again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Tossing her left, he tags a knee then rockets up the hill through the trees on the narrow two-lane road.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Smiling in his helmet high on adrenaline.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He follows his asphalt path as it snakes through the forest.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The rider is all in,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />with the Armco keeping him honest.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turning right the road follows the coastline.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The smell of the ocean and eucalyptus trees fill his helmet.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />All good things come to end.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He silently glides back into his garage.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Electric motorcycles make for happy neighbors.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The sounds of the MV are just computer-generated.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His onboard system reads his throttle input, pumping in the appropriate engine sound into his helmet speakers.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The advanced system even mocks the power delivery and corresponding engine vibrations.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His bike is so quiet that the dogs don’t even bark.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Heavy metal thunder is dead.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The future is silent.</p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-56475008048992251362021-10-13T17:10:00.000-04:002021-10-13T17:10:16.909-04:00THE SPECTACLE OF SPEEDWAY (from The Vintagent)<p><br /></p><div class="header-style-light header-scrolled" data-imgready="true" id="page-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-basic style-light" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; overflow: hidden;"><div class="background-element header-wrapper header-scroll-opacity header-parallax style-color-jevc-bg header-only-text" data-height="75" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 287.25px; min-height: 300px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; transition: height 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, opacity 0.5s ease-out 0.2s !important; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-bg-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: calc(100% + 30vh) !important; left: 0px; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; transform: translate3d(0px, 74px, 0px); transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1208px; will-change: transform;"><div class="block-bg-overlay style-color-jevc-bg" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; height: 464.176px; opacity: 0.65; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s; width: 1208px;"></div></div><div class="header-main-container limit-width" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 300px; margin: auto; max-width: 1404px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; table-layout: fixed; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-content header-center header-middle header-align-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 300px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 1208px; z-index: 5;"><div class="header-content-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 54px 36px !important;"><h1 class="header-title font-762333 fontsize-338686 font-weight-700 text-uppercase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: Poppins !important; font-size: 75px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; display: block;">THE SPECTACLE OF SPEEDWAY</span></h1><div class="post-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="date-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;">OCTOBER 4, 2021</div><div class="category-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>IN <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/category/motorcycles/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" title="View all posts in Motorcycles">MOTORCYCLES</a></div><div class="author-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>BY <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/author/michael-lawless/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">MICHAEL LAWLESS</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="header-scrolldown style-light" style="bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 603.991px; margin-left: -6px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; z-index: 100;"><span class="fa fa-angle-down" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; cursor: pointer; font-family: uncodeicon !important; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div></div></div></div><article class="page-body style-color-xsdn-bg post-76771 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-motorcycles tag-people tag-racing" id="post-76771" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; height: 7370.81px; position: relative; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 7370.81px; margin: auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-content un-no-sidebar-layout" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 840px;"><div class="row-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="row row-parent style-light double-top-padding double-bottom-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; line-height: 24px; padding: 36px 0px 0px; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; line-height: 0.4em; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px;">W</span>hat’s it like to ride a speedway bike?</span></div><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’m told they go faster when you shut the throttle.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">That they do zero to sixty in three seconds</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">With no brakes or rear suspension.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The alcohol-burning 500 cc singles crank out 70ish horsepower.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yet weigh in at 175 pounds.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">They are explosive machines, vicious and unforgiving.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Their battle is a series of heats,</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just four intense laps of mano a mano racing.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Welcome to the world of Speedway.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76775" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76775" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76775" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-ACTION-PARK-EAST-GREENE-NY-SPEEDWAY-BIKES-TRIKES-9-4-2021-7499-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76775" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Johnathan Oakden is an up-and-comer in the Speedway scene, and keeps his body in shape with MMA training. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Who dares to race such machines?</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The first speedway racer I met was 18</span><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">-year-old J</span><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">onathan Oakden.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The likable young man’s life plan is a move to California.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">There he will <span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">take his</span><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> shot at becoming </span><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">a professional speedway racer. </span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">If that doesn’t work out he is training to be an MMA fighter.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I felt like I was talking to <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/its-all-relative/201401/the-lloyd-dobler-effect" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Lloyd Dobler</a>.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Johnny spoke of his love for combat sports.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">How he grew up racing motocross, then made the switch to speedway.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Johnny studied martial arts and wrestling in school.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I applaud his decision to chase his dreams.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Plenty of time later to work in cubicles if they don’t pan out.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76774" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76774" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76774" height="567" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-Jake-903x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76774" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Jake Meyer looking more pro wrestler than motorcycle racer, but that’s Speedway… [Stever Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The second rider I spoke with was Jake Myer.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He looked more weightlifter than motorcycle racer.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He could easily bench press a speedway bike.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">How did he get involved?</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">As a boy, his parents took him to the local speedway races,</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">and he was taken with the spectacle.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-color-black sh-color" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jake hadn’t been to a race in years but spotted an ad for a local race.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He had such a good time he took his wife to a second event.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">She asked – why don’t you race?</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">With her blessing, he started competing.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’m not sure what her motives were.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76779" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76779" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76779" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-CHAMPION-SPEEDWAY-OWEGO-NY-SPEEDWAY-BIKES-TRIKES-9-5-2021-9665-1-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76779" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Max Ruml is the master of the one-handed wheelie on his speedway bike. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">One racer stood out among this motley crew.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Max Ruml has an air of professionalism mixed with that west coast vibe.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">This showman is ruthlessly fast while pulling off one-handed wheelies.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He recently clinched the 2021 AMA National Championship.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Max hopes to race in Europe next.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76776" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76776" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 625px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76776" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-CTION-PARK-EAST-GREENE-NY-SPEEDWAY-BIKES-TRIKES-9-4-2021-7663-1-1024x819.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="625" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76776" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Gino Manzanez (another MMA fighter!) broadsliding at extreme angles, which is part of the Spectacle of Speedway. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our photographer Steve Koletar is a well-traveled race enthusiast.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He covers both automobile and motorcycle racing.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I asked Koletar what’s the best show in racing?</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Steve said “Speedway is out of this world.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s a <span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">must-see</span> spectacle.”</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I confessed I’d never been.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">He wouldn’t take no for an answer,</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">so we attend the next</span> AMA National together.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The racing is intense.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">You can see all the action on these small tracks.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">I noted the <span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">enthusiastic crowd seemed very 420 friendly.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speedway is a box that should be checked off by any true racing enthusiast.</span></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76781" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76781" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76781" height="625" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-CHAMPION-SPEEDWAY-OWEGO-NY-SPEEDWAY-BIKES-TRIKES-9-5-2021-9897-819x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76781" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Jason Bonsignore and Len McBride with the trophy Len created celebrating Jason’s 25 year ownership of Champion Speedway. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Note: We would like to thank Jason Bonsignore.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jason manages both Champion and Action Park East in New York.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">His love for speedway keeps the sport alive on the East Coast.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speedway has a huge following in Europe but is mainly based in California here in the USA.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">This was the first time the AMA Nationals were held outside of California.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hopefully, it will be an annual part of the schedule.</div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76778" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76778" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76778" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spectacle-of-Speedway-The-Vintagent-CHAMPION-SPEEDWAY-OWEGO-NY-SPEEDWAY-BIKES-TRIKES-9-5-2021-9631-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76778" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The racing is very sideways in Speedway, as full broadsliding is the technique for racing. And wheelies. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure>The broadsliding technique used in Speedway was invented in the 1920s, some say by American rider Sprouts Elder, who improved on the original ‘leg trailing’ technique, in which a rider dragged his foot behind the machine. The sport of Speedway was originally called Dirt Track, and was the most popular motorsport in the world – period- in the mid-1920s. Riders traveled the world on an international, professional circuit following the seasons: the USA, Britain, South America, and Australia.We have plenty of archival stories of Dirt Track racing in its original days: have a look at a few here:<p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;"><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2017/10/03/from-glorious-to-notorious-the-fay-taylour-story/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Faye Taylor was the Queen of Dirt Track in the 1920s.</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;"><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2017/11/02/all-in-the-family-the-alta-story/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Derek Dorrestyn, founder of Alta Motors, was a Speedway competitor first.</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;"><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2008/08/23/rocket-cycles-part-2-archibald-low/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Dr. Archibald Low’s rocket-powered Speedway racer in 1947.</a></li></ul></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div><div class="sh-modified-inline sh-color sh-color-black" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></article><p><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: justify;" width="300" /> </p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-9561741537461541702021-09-28T22:22:00.002-04:002021-09-28T22:22:19.405-04:00At The Vintagent : EZ Does It!<p> </p><div class="header-style-light header-scrolled" data-imgready="true" id="page-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-basic style-light" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; overflow: hidden;"><div class="background-element header-wrapper header-scroll-opacity header-parallax style-color-jevc-bg header-only-text" data-height="75" style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 287.25px; min-height: 300px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; transition: height 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, opacity 0.5s ease-out 0.2s !important; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-main-container limit-width" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 300px; margin: auto; max-width: 1404px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; table-layout: fixed; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-content header-center header-middle header-align-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 300px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 1208px; z-index: 5;"><div class="header-content-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 54px 36px !important;"><div class="post-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="date-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;">SEPTEMBER 19, 2021</div><div class="category-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>IN <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/category/culture/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" title="View all posts in Culture">CULTURE</a></div><div class="author-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>BY <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/author/michael-lawless/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">MICHAEL LAWLESS</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="header-scrolldown style-light" style="bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 603.991px; margin-left: -6px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; z-index: 100;"><span class="fa fa-angle-down" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; cursor: pointer; font-family: uncodeicon !important; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div></div></div></div><article class="page-body style-color-xsdn-bg post-76655 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-culture tag-people tag-racing" id="post-76655" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; height: 6516.65px; position: relative; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 6516.65px; margin: auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-content un-no-sidebar-layout" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 840px;"><div class="row-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="row row-parent style-light double-top-padding double-bottom-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; padding: 36px 0px 0px; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px;">D</span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">oing it the hard way is painful:</span><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Life over the limit beat me down,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I grew gun shy from injury.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Tired of explaining the damage from my latest get-off,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">those hours of reflection in the ER.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2020/09/29/the-dark-place/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Should I just write</a>?</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76674" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76674" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 754px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76674" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-5.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="754" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76674" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Writer and flat track racer Michael Lawless aboard one of his racers, from his story <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2021/01/21/passing-pain-and-purpose/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">‘Passing, Pain, and Purpose.’</a> [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">Not racing is hard too.</span><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Part of me dies at the track when I’m not suiting up,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">and the dream floods back watching American Flat Track on TV.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The contradiction was killing me.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Lucky, I ran across Kenny Dahlin.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He runs a flat track racing school called <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/people/EZ-Does-It-Race-Training/100057121913369/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">‘EZ Does It’</a>,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">named for his approach to racing.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">We crossed paths on social media,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">thumbs up & positive comments.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">On the track Kenny looks effortless and in control.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Exactly what I wasn’t.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I knew I could learn a few things.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">So, I decided to invest in my riding skills.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76669" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76669" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76669" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Too-Late-to-Learn-The-Vintagent-5-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76669" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Kenny Dahlin keeping a close eye on a student. [Kris Keath]</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Kenny teaches on the track.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He sent me out first, then joined me:</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">We rip off a bunch of laps elbow to elbow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He dropped back to tail me, then cleared off to see what I’d do.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">His feedback made me realize</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">a lifetime of sport riding had made me lazy.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">On the road, to corner quicker I’d enter fast and lean harder.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">This doesn’t work on the dirt.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Charging into a corner,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I’d lose front grip then pick her up to regain traction.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">By then I’m running wide, struggling to change direction,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">and grabbing throttle to make up for mistakes.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Out of shape and into the next corner too fast.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Over the limit is thrilling</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">but actually slow.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Just a hot mess on the edge of crashing.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76670" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76670" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76670" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Too-Late-to-Learn-The-Vintagent-6-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76670" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Getting real feedback on riding or racing is invaluable, especially from a pro who knows. [Kris Keath]</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Kenny helped me dial it in.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He said my leaning in is <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2019/10/29/will-the-rain-never-stop/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">something bad waiting to happen</a>,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">and forcing it only compounds the mistakes.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">He said use the front wheel to steer,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">and roll the throttle earlier to make her turn.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Kenny likes to keep it simple.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Don’t overwhelm the student.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Focus on one or two things to make progress.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">His approach paid off,</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I was going quicker yet calmer.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Flat track can be brutal, so EZ Does It.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76666" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76666" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76666" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Too-Late-to-Learn-The-Vintagent-2-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76666" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The average age of students in Kenny’s school was 50 for the first two years…something worth noting! [Kris Keath]</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Kenny has coached over 100 students just this year.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">For the first two years the average age of his students was 50.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Are you listening, motorcycle industry people?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Dahlin has spent a lifetime flat track racing.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">As a kid, he rode to the races hanging on the back of his daddy’s Harley.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Kenny climbed thru the ranks to carry an AMA Pro number.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">You benefit from his experience by taking his school.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I think you’ll agree <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.facebook.com/people/EZ-Does-It-Race-Training/100057121913369/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">it’s well worth it</a>.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></article>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-20645895496077577182021-08-29T11:43:00.007-04:002023-02-28T22:07:41.593-05:00Ground Zero (Bio)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-350cF4r1dfc/WYIRNg9omQI/AAAAAAAAAiE/PAZUHnaB1nA6_aEuMiG1Km348oNsIngNACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/READING%252520PA%252520FAIRGROUNDS%252520D-6%252520AMA%252520FLAT%252520TRACK%252520BIKES%252520%2525208-8-2015-7630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-350cF4r1dfc/WYIRNg9omQI/AAAAAAAAAiE/PAZUHnaB1nA6_aEuMiG1Km348oNsIngNACPcBGAYYCw/w425-h283/READING%252520PA%252520FAIRGROUNDS%252520D-6%252520AMA%252520FLAT%252520TRACK%252520BIKES%252520%2525208-8-2015-7630.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b>I'm an analog guy in a digital world.</b></span></p><p><b><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">No</span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> cable TV or VCRs growing up. </span></b></p><p><b><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just</span><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"> </span><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">lucky to have a library across the street.</span></b></p><p><span face="Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b>I read about racing and tales of aerial combat.</b></span></p><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>These stories got me through life in the rows with the have-nots.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>College was out of range.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>The reward of working was purchasing my first motorcycle at eighteen.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Mom was not amused-I moved out.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>The women and booze came and went. </b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Motorcycles were my constant.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>My dislike of most of what was in the motorcycle media got me to take up writing. </b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Trying to bring something fresh to a sportbike magazine led me to flat track.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>I befriended racer Jake Shoemaker and got to see the circus from the inside out.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Drove all night to get to races, hung out with the stars & slept on hotel floors.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>I loved the over-the-limit riding and cowboy lifestyle. </b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b>It got me racing again, which led me here.</b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>My blog Electric Horseman was started with words of </b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Inspiration from artist Atti Anonymous.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Riding and racing are always on my mind.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>I checked out happy if my riding boots were on.</b></div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white;" /></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-83211069666727450342021-08-29T10:58:00.000-04:002021-08-29T10:58:24.167-04:00THE HIGHLINE/THE INSTAGRAM INTERVIEW (from THE VINTAGENT)<span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;">W</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">hat does it take to be a motorcycle racer?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Some outside our circle might say ‘balls’.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">But to a racer, risk is a calculated decision, not blind aggression.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Outsiders have no idea what self-control and self-discipline it demands,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">from eating right to working out.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Time spent wrenching while others go drinking.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It takes more than dreams.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It takes hard work and plenty of it.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">And for most, years of struggling.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">And when you make the main event,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">you’re way back on the third row.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76529" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76529" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76529 size-large" height="560" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Highline-Morgen-Mischler-WEEDSPORT-NY-AFT-BIKES-Stever-Koletar-3-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="840" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76529" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">How it feels: all bunched up in turn 1, looking for a magic line. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; text-align: justify;">I asked Morgen Mischler for his thoughts the morning after his big win in New York:</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Ever since I was a little kid, people would tell me I had balls of steel (lol). The first thing I’m thinking sitting on the third row is I’ve got 8 people ahead of me. I need to position myself on the line so I can get the traction I need to close that gap to the leaders. Starting is a big key in this sport, especially if the racing funnels down in the corner to a single file (which I loathe). The next thing is making sure the guys ahead of me are good starters and aren’t going to be roadblocks in the first corner, but also to hit a line I’ve found on the warm-up lap to give myself a chance to move forward.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-weight: 600;">Tell me about passing – are you stalking them or killing everything in your path?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Passing on the highline. For me, it’s threading a needle others don’t think about threading. Trusting my bike placement won’t be in the marbles and having enough mid-corner speed to make the pass and keep it under control without running my clutch lever into their exhaust or knee, risking going down. If I’m the only one on the high line, it’s more about how fast I can run that line and find what else may be faster. Up there it’s more about finding your marks and hitting them while trying to find spots to improve and not lose time in the process of experimenting with the line. If someone else is on the mainline like Volusia, then it’s more like stalking and trying to find where you can squeak by. It takes a lot more commitment to thread the needle and come down to the mainline ahead of whoever was ahead of you.”</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76528" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76528" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 688px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76528" height="550" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Highline-Morgen-Mischler-WEEDSPORT-NY-AFT-BIKES-Stever-Koletar-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="688" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76528" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">At times out front means all alone, but not usually… [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; text-align: justify;">What does it feel like to ride on the limit?</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“My Lima video kinda shows my bike on the limit. It’s a badass, the bike becomes an effective extension of your body, so much of it is bike feel. When you have the gearing right it makes everything a lot easier because you fall into a rhythm. My bike is built very well by Vance and Hines. I can’t thank them enough for their support. I don’t like ripping my fast bike on the limiter unless it’s at a national, gotta take it easy on that thing cause these pockets are pretty shallow compared to some teams. Not a huge fan of rebuilding things, so I try not to beat up my equipment outside of nationals. Really fortunate Vance and Hines builds all my KTMs. My main bike is a stout. I’m working on getting a backup machine just as powerful too.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-weight: 600;">What it’s like running high? (the high line AKA ‘high, wide & handsome’)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“The highline is the slower way around, but it carries your momentum instead of having to slow down as much for the corner. There are so many different approaches to riding the lines that form. Some tracks you can’t get off of the main groove where all the rubber forms or you’re going backward in a hurry. A lot of it is people ride defensive and guard the inside. Last year Indy mile and this year Volusia II for example you couldn’t get off the mainline, but people wanted to protect the bottom so they wouldn’t charge into the corner as fast. I had to leave it on longer and flirt with the top of the groove next to the marbles to get enough momentum to pass them and immediately close the door to get on the mainline to make the pass. It’s a tough needle to thread because just above where the rubber has formed on the track is marbles of dirt that will carry you up the track”</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76537" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76537" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 533px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76537 size-full" height="800" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Highline-Morgen-Mischler-WEEDSPORT-NY-AFT-BIKES-Stever-Koletar-11.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" width="533" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76537" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">It feels good to win! Morgen Mischel enjoys the rush, and the adulation, after a win in NY. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; text-align: justify;">Tell me about the euphoric feeling of victory?</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“It’s a large amount of being pleased with yourself and knowing you just whooped some ass. Along with the relief of getting first after the stress of it. But euphoric is an accurate description.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-weight: 600;">Tell me about race day?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“An overview of the day was that we switched shocks to something I thought would work, chased the setup with it and qualified 20th. We switched back to the shock from the other day and made some adjustments before the semi to see if it would help. Mark and I had the provisional card ready just in case I didn’t get into the top 8 😂 but went from the 3rd row to 5th in the semi. Nailed a start and picked my way through on the first lap and put my head down. If you look at the gap, I picked up .1+ almost every lap. I didn’t check to see the gap until there were 2 laps to go and get a better view of it in the last corner on the last lap.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-weight: 600;">Tell me about your plans for the future?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“I’m not totally sure what the future may hold for me. I’m so invested in my program, I’m just trying to piece the right support together to actually make my program remotely comparable to the factory teams. I’m sure if we’d compare budgets, it’d be laughable. I’d also want to take everyone that’s supported me this far along because they deserve it just as much as I do. I’m fortunate to have the support I do because I never thought I’d get this far. Also, I would like to give extra special thanks to Randy Triplet, Bill Mischler, and Mark Muth.”</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76538" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76538" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 612px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76538" height="550" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Highline-Morgen-Mischler-WEEDSPORT-NY-AFT-BIKES-Stever-Koletar-18.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="612" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76538" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">A moment in the pits with our writer, Michael Lawless, and Mischler’s team. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">This was great fun putting this together.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Morgen gives a good glimpse of what’s in his head.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">It all came together easily.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I was so stoked to be at the American Flat Track race in New York.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">This was the first time back at the track with photographer/wingman Steve Koletar.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">He’s the ‘Weegee’ of dirt track. Be it sprint cars or flat track bikes.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Steve has a gift of capturing those magic moments seen here in this article.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">We palled around the pits talking to riders and tuners alike.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">This was the first time I talked at length with Morgen Mischler.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I was impressed by how talkative he was for a flat tracker racer, articulate too.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Morgen mentioned he was game for </span><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="http://www.thevintagent.com/" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">The Vintagent</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I knew he was serious when I saw Mischler started to followed me on Instagram.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">We wrote this together without even talking.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Just using Instagram.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">We plan on keeping these lines of commutations open for future updates.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76534" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_76534" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-76534 size-large" height="560" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Highline-Morgen-Mischler-WEEDSPORT-NY-AFT-BIKES-Stever-Koletar-8-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="840" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-76534" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Up close and personal. [Steve Koletar]</figcaption></figure><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-71189" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_71189" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 300px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></figure><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Michael Lawless [</span><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/electric_horseman/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; outline: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">@electric_horseman</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">], our ‘Poet of Packed Earth’, is the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"> </span><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/contributors/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; outline: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Flat Track Editor for TheVintagent.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">, and has his ow</span> </p>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-53379559967153317952021-05-22T23:26:00.001-04:002021-05-22T23:26:48.831-04:00Passing, Pain & Purpose (from The Vintagent)<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #303133; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">The moment after the best pass of my life</span></p><div class="post-content un-no-sidebar-layout" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 840px;"><div class="row-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="row row-parent style-light double-top-padding double-bottom-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; padding: 36px 0px 0px; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; line-height: 0.4em; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px;">I</span>ndoor short track racing is motorcycle combat.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Greenlights on – you attack.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />No quarters asked or given.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The competition crowds your personal space.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Passing is hard work,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />you must be aggressive and totally committed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The intensity makes it rewarding.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I look forward all year to indoor racing at Timonium.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The impossible was what I needed: a do-all motorcycle.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Big enough to race outdoor but small enough to race indoor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And street legal so I could commute to work.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Searching the classifieds, a Buell Blast seemed to fit the bill.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Not that I knew of anyone who raced one.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It was just for fun – to make the show.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I had the tank and tail repainted.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She might not be fast, but she’d look good.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My competitors looked amused, strolling past.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Buell was not a competitive ride:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />too big and way too heavy.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The ice was broken when some kid admired the paint job,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />gushing ‘it’s orange like the General Lee.’</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74434" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74434" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 665px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74434" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-4.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="665" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74434" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Yep, it’s orange, but in an H-D kinda way, not a rebel flag kinda way. What was that kid thinking? Don’t answer that. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure>On the Buell’s maiden heats,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the first few laps were get-to-know-you.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />By the third session, I’m first in line in the cattle chute.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The safe bet is to start at the back:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />you’re less likely to get run over.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />If you’re first out, you gotta run<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />like you’re chased by wild dogs.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It was sketchy to start up front,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but how else do you learn?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You just gotta go for it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The lights flashed green,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the back tire chirped as I dropped the clutch,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and the big single thundered down the straight,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the pack snapping at my wheel.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The brake squeals as she starts to slide sideways<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />into the first corner.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I spin up the rear tire coming onto the straight,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />drifting to the outer wall.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Into the next corner,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a rider squeezes by on the inside.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Time slows down, he’s in front but drifting wide,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I squeeze the brake calmly,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />swapping outside for in,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />aiming the portly Buell beneath him.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Taking a squeaky line I re-pass him on the exit,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />so close I can see WTF on his face.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My line had the drive out,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but his lighter/faster 450 motored past.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74431" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74431" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74431" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74431" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Not a lotta room here, it’s elbow to elbow on a short, slippery concrete track. Gladiatorial, like. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure>He was taking the inside, so I gunned around him to brake later,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />blocking him so I could lead on the main straight.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He popped up braking as I was hard on the throttle,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and we went bar to bar, BLAM! Contact.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My bars snapped to the right,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and I slammed onto the concrete,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as the other rider ricocheted off the outer wall.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’m told the third-place rider ran over me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I slid to a halt, flat on my back with the Buell over my left side,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The engine still running.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I reached shut to her off.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The marshals waved red flags yelling ‘Don’t move!’<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I hit the kill switch and leaned back<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />as the ceiling lights blurred.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><blockquote style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #888888; margin: 27px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 27px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;">It’s a warm summer day.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’m 8 years old and my mom is so young.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We’re doing yard work,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Laughing and having fun.</p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Someone is yelling my name.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My visor yanks up and my eyes open.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Wow – I was racing a motorcycle.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It a second to sort which was real.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sadness sweeps over me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I miss talking with my mom.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">The marshal asked the normal questions to see how hard<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’d been rattled.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />What’s your name, where are you?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I said I needed to get back up for practice.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As the marshal helped me up the lights go out again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I go limp and crumple to the floor.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74437" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74437" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 652px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74437" height="250" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-7.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="652" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74437" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Not the best of days, but hey, a visit to Mom on the astral plane can’t be all bad? Michael talks to God all the time though. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure>It’s dark, I’m cold, and I can’t see anything.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Is this judgment day?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />God, we had this conversation before.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You remember?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A certain AMA pro and I discussed dying.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I wanted to check out with my riding boots on.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />To leave this world like a man.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Not to wither away with colon cancer<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />or some other horrible illness.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yes God, that’s right, the Pro<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />who unwillingly taught me to make that pass.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You know I was going for P1.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I could check out like a boss.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Prayer is talking and meditation is listening.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It got quiet.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ok God – I know my is job is to take care of Olive.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">My eyes open as the EMTs cut off my body armor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A fellow racer lurked in the background.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The EMTs repeat questions.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I impatiently asked<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“can I get back out for practice now?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The racer turned around and yelled<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“He’s OK!”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The EMTs laugh “No!”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The female EMT asked to cut off my shirt.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I said “I like it when you tear it off.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The male EMT started laughing again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As I was wearing my lucky t-shirt,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I asked if she would kindly help slide my right arm out.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She looked over my bruised torso and noted<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the broken left collar bone.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“You’ve hit your head too and need a hospital.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I agreed with her but pointed out<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />it would be better if I went to my local hospital.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After much discussion they relented.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But they insisted I leave the track on the stretcher.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I felt embarrassed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The female EMT said, “Don’t look sad –<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />smile and wave to the people in the stands.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I did, and was surprised by the relieved<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />looks and the smiles I got back.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As I was carried off the track, an upset Olive waited.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I made a silly face, “I feel like Cleopatra up here!”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She laughed.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74441" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74441" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74441" height="553" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-Olive-Lawless-926x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74441" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Olive, for whom Michael must live. Simple as that: our children come first. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure>I told her my shoulder was hurt so our day was done.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Several racers checked on me and offered assistance.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They loaded up my stuff and tied a sling around my arm.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I was touched by the friendship and warmth.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Every time my body moved,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I felt broken glass in my shoulder.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The pain kept me focused, driving my manual-transmission truck two hours home.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Olive and I talked the entire way, never turned on the radio.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />If anything it made us closer,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and a trip we will both remember.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Pulling into the driveway both the truck and I were about out of gas.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I leaned my head on the steering wheel as my door opened:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />my girlfriend is there to take me to the hospital.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’m fresh from the track.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Still in my sweaty racing gear with my left boot taped on, my arm in a sling.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />She looks me up and down.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“You look so damaged.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Off to the hospital, but the ER doc can’t set my collarbone,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and I waited to see an ortho the next week.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I texted my brother John,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />who drove up the next morning, unloaded my truck,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and insisted I use his truck since it’s automatic.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74440" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74440" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74440" height="568" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-John-Lawless.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74440" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Just to be clear, Mike isn’t the only Lawless with a motorcycle problem: big brother John has some sweet rides too, and indulges in vintage road racing. [John Lawless]</figcaption></figure>All seemed good, till the lecture.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Michael it’s like you’re 50 years old<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and have decided to take up bull riding. What the f**k Michael?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I hear where that’s coming from.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He cares about me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’m lucky to have a big brother like that.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Am I upset or disappointed with crashing?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Not in the least.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Those few brief laps were memorable.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I felt like Senna….a racer battling from position.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Not some voyeur sitting up in the stands or watching on TV.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It was real.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I came a long way from being a broken divorcee.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Racing gave my life purpose again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It got me out of where I was.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It took hard work and dedication.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I train for racing. I push my limits.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But I found myself along the way.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74436" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74436" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 549px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74436" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Passing-Pain-and-Purpose-The-Vintagent-6.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="549" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74436" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Indoor short track is pure excitement to watch, and falls are not typically dangerous…unless a rider gets run over. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-71189" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 300px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Michael Lawless [<a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/electric_horseman/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">@electric_horseman</a>], our ‘Poet of Packed Earth’, is the <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/contributors/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Flat Track Editor for TheVintagent.com</a>, and has his own blog: <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://ehorseman.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Electric Horseman</a></figcaption></figure><div class="widget-container post-tag-container uncont text-left" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 36px 0px -9px; text-align: left; transition-duration: 0.3s; transition-property: box-shadow; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.57, 0.21, 0.69, 1);"><div class="tagcloud" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -9px; margin-top: 0px !important; position: relative;"><a class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-121 tag-link-position-1" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/tag/people/" style="background: 0px 0px; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 8px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">PEOPLE</a> <a class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-123 tag-link-position-2" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/tag/racing/" style="background: 0px 0px; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 5px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 8px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">RACING</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-after row-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); 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transition-property: box-shadow; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.57, 0.21, 0.69, 1);"><div class="vc_custom_heading_wrap " style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="heading-text el-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px !important;"><h5 class="font-762333 fontsize-160000 fontspace-502722 text-uppercase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-family: Poppins !important; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-top: 0px !important;">RELATED POSTS</span></h5></div><div class="clear" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px !important;"></div></div><div class="isotope-system isotope-general-light isotope-processed" id="index-15588655905" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 36px; position: relative;"><div class="isotope-wrapper half-gutter" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: -18px !important; position: relative; transform: translateZ(0px);"><div class="isotope-container isotope-layout style-masonry isotope-pagination un-isotope-init" data-layout="masonry" data-lg="1000" data-md="600" data-sm="480" data-type="masonry" data-vp-height="" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 338.864px; margin-right: -18px; opacity: 1; position: relative; transition: height 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;"><div class="tmb tmb-iso-w4 tmb-iso-h4 tmb-round tmb-light tmb-overlay-text-anim tmb-overlay-anim tmb-content-left tmb-entry-title-capitalize grid-cat-105 tmb-id-66370 tmb-content-under tmb-media-first tmb-iso" style="background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; padding-right: 18px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 393px;"><div class="t-inside style-color-xsdn-bg animate_when_almost_visible bottom-t-top start_animation" data-delay="200" style="animation-duration: 0.6s; animation-name: anim_btt; backface-visibility: hidden; background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; margin-top: 18px; opacity: 1; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; width: 375px;"><div class="t-entry-visual" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="t-entry-visual-tc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white;"><div class="t-entry-visual-cont" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="dummy" style="background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: -1px; padding-top: 245.241px;"></div><a class="pushed" data-lb-index="0" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2018/08/22/the-vintagent-trailers-motorcycle-man/" style="-webkit-mask-image: -webkit-radial-gradient(center center, rgb(255, 255, 255), rgb(0, 0, 0)); background: 0px 0px padding-box padding-box; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px !important; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; inset: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; perspective: 1000px; position: absolute; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" tabindex="-1" target="_self"><div class="t-entry-visual-overlay" style="box-sizing: border-box; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; z-index: 2;"><div class="t-entry-visual-overlay-in style-dark-bg" style="background-color: #141618; box-sizing: border-box; height: 244.247px; opacity: 0.5; width: 375px;"></div></div><div class="t-overlay-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; inset: 0px; position: absolute; z-index: 2;"><div class="t-overlay-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 244.247px; position: absolute; table-layout: fixed; width: 375px;"><div class="t-overlay-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 244.247px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="t-overlay-text single-block-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px auto; opacity: 0; padding: 10px; transform: scale(0.9); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, transform 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; width: 375px;"><div class="t-entry t-single-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 355px;"></div></div></div></div></div><img alt="" class="wp-image-66371" height="675" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/the-vintagent-motorcycle-man-uai-1032x675.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: none; position: relative; transform: scale(1, 1); width: 375px; z-index: 1;" width="1032" /></a></div></div></div><div class="t-entry-text" style="backface-visibility: hidden; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 5px !important; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="t-entry-text-tc single-block-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 10px;"><div class="t-entry" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p class="t-entry-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></p><h3 class="t-entry-title h6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: Hind; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-transform: capitalize; word-break: break-word;"><a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2018/08/22/the-vintagent-trailers-motorcycle-man/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_self">The Vintagent Trailers: Motorcycle Man</a></h3><div class="t-entry-excerpt " style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 9px 0px 0px; width: 355px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Racing legend Dave Roper is hardly an…</p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="tmb tmb-iso-w4 tmb-iso-h4 tmb-round tmb-light tmb-overlay-text-anim tmb-overlay-anim tmb-content-left tmb-entry-title-capitalize grid-cat-105 tmb-id-63329 tmb-content-under tmb-media-first tmb-iso" style="background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 393.273px; padding-right: 18px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 393px;"><div class="t-inside style-color-xsdn-bg animate_when_almost_visible bottom-t-top start_animation" data-delay="200" style="animation-duration: 0.6s; animation-name: anim_btt; backface-visibility: hidden; background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; margin-top: 18px; opacity: 1; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; width: 375px;"><div class="t-entry-visual" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="t-entry-visual-tc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white;"><div class="t-entry-visual-cont" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="dummy" style="background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: -1px; padding-top: 245.241px;"></div><a class="pushed" data-lb-index="1" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2018/02/03/the-vintagent-trailers-dream-racer/" style="-webkit-mask-image: -webkit-radial-gradient(center center, rgb(255, 255, 255), rgb(0, 0, 0)); background: 0px 0px padding-box padding-box; 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inset: 0px; position: absolute; z-index: 2;"><div class="t-overlay-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 244.247px; position: absolute; table-layout: fixed; width: 375px;"><div class="t-overlay-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 244.247px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="t-overlay-text single-block-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px auto; opacity: 1; padding: 10px; transform: scale(0.9); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out 0s, transform 0.2s ease-in-out 0s; width: 375px;"></div></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-76373249086849534832021-05-22T23:24:00.000-04:002021-05-22T23:24:03.115-04:00The Man Who Beat Marquez (from The Vintagent)<p> </p><div class="menu-wrapper menu-no-arrows style-light-original with-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; 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box-sizing: border-box; height: 485.611px; opacity: 0.65; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s; width: 1208px;"></div></div><div class="header-main-container limit-width" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 321.435px; margin: auto; max-width: 1404px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; table-layout: fixed; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; width: 1208px;"><div class="header-content header-center header-middle header-align-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; height: 321.435px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 1208px; z-index: 5;"><div class="header-content-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; padding: 54px 36px !important;"><h1 class="header-title font-762333 fontsize-338686 font-weight-700 text-uppercase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: Poppins !important; font-size: 75px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; display: block;">THE MAN WHO BEAT MARQUEZ</span></h1><div class="post-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; font-family: "Source Sans Pro"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="date-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;">APRIL 29, 2021</div><div class="category-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>IN <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/category/culture/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" title="View all posts in Culture">CULTURE</a></div><div class="author-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 14px;">|</span>BY <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/author/michael-lawless/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">MICHAEL LAWLESS</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="header-scrolldown style-light" style="bottom: 10px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 603.991px; margin-left: -6px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.5s ease 0.2s; z-index: 100;"><span class="fa fa-angle-down" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; cursor: pointer; font-family: uncodeicon !important; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; speak: none;"></span></div></div></div></div><article class="page-body style-color-xsdn-bg post-74943 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-culture tag-people tag-racing" id="post-74943" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-row; height: 8876.65px; position: relative; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; height: 8876.65px; margin: auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; table-layout: fixed; width: 1208px;"><div class="post-content un-no-sidebar-layout" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; max-width: 840px;"><div class="row-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="row row-parent style-light double-top-padding double-bottom-padding" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; padding: 36px 0px 0px; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px;">He was all of 20 years old.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yeah, he had a Grand National Championship under his belt,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but no passport.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When the ink dried, he hopped a jet to Spain.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />To face a man<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />even the great Valentino Rossi couldn’t beat.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74985" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74985" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74985" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Man-Who-Beat-Marquez-The-Vintagent-1-1024x683.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74985" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Brad Baker’s style and skill made him the National Flat Track Champion, but would it serve him against the very best racer in the world, Marc Marquéz? [Brad Baker]</figcaption></figure>In the road racing world,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Marquez was the newly crowned MotoGP wonder-boy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />whose speed seemed effortless<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and victory inevitable.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Superprestigio race<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />was created to showcase Marquez’ ability<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />to dominate on dirt as well as asphalt in front on his countrymen.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Two worlds would collide in Spanish arena.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For the first time, a MotoGP World Champion would<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />face an American Flat Track Champion on a dirt track.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The idea was to jump-start the then-declining sport of flat track<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and legitimize the sport to the nonbelievers.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Superprestegio was meant to bring the best of different motorcycle racing disciplines together,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but no American Flat Track riders were invited initially.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />American journalist Mark Gardiner heckled the promoters via social media,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and soon after, the new American champ,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Brad Baker received his invitation<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and an offer of a bike from the Spanish KTM importer.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74992" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74992" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74992" height="666" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Man-Who-Beat-Marquez-The-Vintagent-8.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74992" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Two brilliant and very young racers: Marc Marquéz and Brad Baker. [Brad Baker]</figcaption></figure>Arriving in Spain,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Brad was hustled to a press conference,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />suitcases in hand,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and met his competitors.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They may have been superstars,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but every one was friendly.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Brad was surprised by the sea of press<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and the army of enthusiastic fans.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He’d never been put on such a pedestal.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Motorcycle racing is huge in Spain,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but American flat track racing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />has a county fair vibe.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />After the press conference,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a fellow racer toured him around Barcelona.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />From the back of a scooter,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Brad saw the old city,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />its architecture and its nightclubs.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Arriving at the oval dirt track,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />was where Baker finally felt at home.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This was his world.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His European competitors were pleasantly surprised<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and found him a fine ambassador.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Superprestegio format had two categories,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />dirt racers and road racers.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The top 4 from each final advanced to the super final.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Baker dominated the dirt<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />while Marquez had his way with road racers.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74987" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74987" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74987" height="394" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Man-Who-Beat-Marquez-The-Vintagent-3.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74987" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Up close and personal: a match between the very best in the world. [Brad Baker]</figcaption></figure>They faced each other for the first time in the Super Final.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When the gates dropped,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Marquez came out swinging,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />taking the holeshot.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But Baker was on him,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />showing a wheel constantly.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A few laps in,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Brad ran around Marquez’ outside in turn four.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but Marquez hit him firmly,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />bouncing Baker off the outer wall<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />hard enough to bend his exhaust.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Baker said ‘he was aiming for me’.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Marquez was playing for keeps.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But this wasn’t Bakers’ first rodeo.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He lived the unwritten rule in flat track:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />you can bump but you can’t knock ’em down.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He gathered himself up and set off in pursuit.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Baker lined up for a pass down the front straight,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />charging hard up the inside.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Marquez tried to block him,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />chopping his throttle and swinging to the left,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but his timing was late.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He bounced off Baker’s side<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and was slammed unceremoniously onto the track.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sure seemed like flat track justice to me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Baker looked back to see the MotoGP champ<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />lying on the track and thought “Oh F***!”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He took it easy for a lap or two<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />to show it wasn’t intentional,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />then picked up the pace and wheelied across the finish line<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />to take his win.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXqT20FDaWM" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 840px;" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">Marquez did not seem too happy at first,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but shook it off and congratulated Baker.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />All was forgiven, and the party began.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Baker returned to Spain many times,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and now considers it a second home.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">For years after, I badgered Baker for an interview<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />about that first Superprestigio race.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But every time I lined him up,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />he’d throttle up and out.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Did he not see the significance?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In 20 years he’d be giving speeches about the night he beat Marquez.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I wasn’t going to give up,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />though I could read between the lines.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />At that point, Baker was too busy looking forward to talk about the past.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For him, life was a blur of travel and racing, punctuated by victories.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74998" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74998" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 768px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74998" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Man-Who-Beat-Marquez-The-Vintagent-13.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="768" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74998" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Gladiators and friends at the 2013 Superprestigio race: Marc Marquéz and Brad Baker [Brad Baker]</figcaption></figure>My brother John and I were having dinner with Peter Starr,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />who directed ‘Take it to the Limit.’<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As a kid, I saw the film and it changed me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Suddenly, being a fan was not enough.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I sat quietly, soaking up his words,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />trying not to say anything awkward.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But I had a chance to speak<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />of a race that deserves to be remembered.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Of a young American who traveled overseas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />to face the World Champion,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />on a borrowed motorcycle.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I confessed I’d been struggling to lock down an interview.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Peter asked “so what’s the holdup?” and picked up his phone,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />right in the middle of dinner.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Tom, ask Baker to make time for Mike Lawless.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Peter encouraged me to keep at it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Maybe I’d get my story after all.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">A few weeks later, in the pits at Williams Grove,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />it’s after the main and packed with fans.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’m just a fly on the wall,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but the sea of people parts<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and Baker walks over to me, still sweating hard from the race.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />‘Hey, sorry I’ve been tied up.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I got stuff going on for the next couple of weeks.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Message me and we’ll talk.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I was floored – did that just really happen?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;">I waited those weeks, then nervously shot him a text.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Several minutes later my phone rang.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Coffee in hand, I grabbed my notepad, and had that interview.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Flat trackers are a humble lot<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />and Brad is no different.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He plays the strong silent type well,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but warmed up as the words flowed,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />about his wonderment for that Spanish experience.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The interview was worth the wait.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Thank you, Brad Baker.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans" !important; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px;"> </p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-71189" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 300px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-71189" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Michael Lawless [<a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/electric_horseman/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">@electric_horseman</a>], our ‘Poet of Packed Earth’, is the <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/contributors/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Flat Track Editor for TheVintagent.com</a>, and has his own blog: <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://ehorseman.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, border-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Electric Horseman</a></figcaption></figure><div class="widget-container post-tag-container uncont text-left" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 36px 0px -9px; text-align: left; transition-duration: 0.3s; transition-property: box-shadow; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.57, 0.21, 0.69, 1);"><div class="tagcloud" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -9px; margin-top: 0px !important; position: relative;"><a class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-121 tag-link-position-1" data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/tag/people/" style="background: 0px 0px; border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 9px; margin-left: 0px; 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margin: 0px auto; text-align: center; transition-duration: 0.3s; transition-property: box-shadow; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.57, 0.21, 0.69, 1);"><div class="vc_custom_heading_wrap " style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="heading-text el-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin-top: 0px !important;"><h5 class="font-762333 fontsize-160000 fontspace-502722 text-uppercase" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #303133; display: inline-block; font-family: Poppins !important; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-top: 0px !important;">RELATED POSTS</span></h5></div><div class="clear" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px !important;"></div></div><div class="isotope-system isotope-general-light isotope-processed" id="index-15588655905" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 36px; position: relative;"><div class="isotope-wrapper half-gutter" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: -18px !important; position: relative; transform: translateZ(0px);"><div class="isotope-container isotope-layout style-masonry isotope-pagination un-isotope-init" data-layout="masonry" data-lg="1000" data-md="600" data-sm="480" data-type="masonry" data-vp-height="" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 340.554px; margin-right: -18px; opacity: 1; position: relative; transition: height 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;"><div class="tmb tmb-iso-w4 tmb-iso-h4 tmb-round tmb-light tmb-overlay-text-anim tmb-overlay-anim tmb-content-left tmb-entry-title-capitalize grid-cat-97 tmb-id-73350 tmb-content-under tmb-media-first tmb-iso" style="background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; padding-right: 18px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 395px;"><div class="t-inside style-color-xsdn-bg animate_when_almost_visible bottom-t-top start_animation" data-delay="200" style="animation-duration: 0.6s; animation-name: anim_btt; backface-visibility: hidden; background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; margin-top: 18px; opacity: 1; position: relative; table-layout: fixed; width: 377.003px;"><div class="t-entry-visual" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div class="t-entry-visual-tc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white;"><div class="t-entry-visual-cont" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-71835847806744988942021-05-22T23:19:00.001-04:002021-05-22T23:19:43.906-04:00THE LAST VICTORY (from The Vintagent)<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Domine; font-size: 5em; text-align: justify;">I</span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">t’s a long way to the top if you want to rock ‘n roll.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Damn shame Baker is starting way back on the fourth row.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Seemed plenty fast all day but the Harleys kept breaking.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Guess they turned fragile in pursuit of speed.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Mechanical failure snatched him from contention repeatedly that season.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">This was his final National for the factory team.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He won’t win a Championship today,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">but maybe redemption.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74820" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74820" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 750px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74820" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Last-Victory-The-Vintagent-bakerspringfield-1024x682.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74820" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Brad Baker in full gladiator mode. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">The track started smooth and fast but turned rough and dusty.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Conditions forced more than one racer into survival mode,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">everyone ran the safer line down low.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">When the lights turned green for main,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Baker dropped into beast mode.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He brazenly ran the high line out by the fence.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Spectacularly over the limit.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Passing competitors on a wide-open throttle, hopping through the ruts and blinding dust.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">There’s no room for error running high, wide and handsome.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Insiders stood with mouths open as Baker roared by.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Baker gloried in the madness,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">passing the entire field, taking the lead on lap 3.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">With no challengers, victory was his – if the Harley held together.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Baker later said he took the first ten laps WFO.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Blasting through lapped traffic, the blinding dust pasted his taped-on faceshield.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">With eyes burning from the dust, he eased off but still won handily.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74818" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74818" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 866px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74818" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Last-Victory-The-Vintagent-BAKER-VICTORY.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="866" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74818" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">The sweet wheelie of victory. Brad Baker takes the checkered flag at a heat race in NY. [American Flat Track]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">The battle for the Championship was settled well behind him.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">In their excitement did the cheering crowd notice Baker’s win?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I knew I’d seen something special.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">It wasn’t until the post-race party I knew others saw it too.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Some racers spoke in awe of his riding, some shook their heads side to side.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">One tuner joked he’d worried ‘Baker’s balls would get tangled up in his chain’.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I was floored by the honesty of the new Champ when he confessed,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">he tried to hang on to Baker but couldn’t.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He’d almost pitched it away in the chasing, but reminded himself</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">he was there to win the Championship,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">not beat Baker.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I couldn’t find Baker for comment.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74828" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74828" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 851px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74828" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Last-Victory-The-Vintagent-Jared-MEES-Brad-BAKER-1024x602.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="851" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74828" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Brad Baker just ahead of Jared Mees at the white flag – one more lap to go. [American Flat Track]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I’d been chasing Baker ever since.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">A Media badge doesn’t guarantee face time.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I saw my chance on a break at The Kentucky Mile.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Baker stood in the shadow of the transport, like a gladiator, looking lean and mean.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Waiting for the battle to come.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">But a fan munching the largest chicken leg I ever saw beat me to him.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Hey, Brad, you going to win tonight?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">The hard look of a racer dropped into a smile.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“I’m going to try – hey thanks for coming out tonight man.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">The fan was aware Baker noticed his chicken leg.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“I guess you can eat all the chicken you want huh?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“I’m allowed 6 ounces with lunch and it can’t be breaded or fried.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Really, wow, what’s that you’re drinking?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“It’s a gallon of water with lemons & cucumber.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">At the end of the day, I gotta hand it back empty to my trainer or else I got to drink it right there.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">The fan stood, comprehending that flat track racers had changed,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">and as he drifted away, Baker eyed me wearily knowing I’m media.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Hey Brad – what it’s take to run high wide & handsome?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He took a hit from his water jug and said, “Big huevos,”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">smiling broadly. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“What’s it like going that fast with that wall in your face?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“You don’t see the fences, you’re looking where you want to go.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Don’t you think about…”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“You can’t…”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“What would happen if it goes wrong?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Brad laughed, “I’d end up face down in the parking lot.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He reached for his helmet as his crew fired up his bike.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Hey, I was thinking we could do an article about your beating Marquez,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">or about winning Santa Rosa?”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“Yeah ok, you know where to find me…”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">That night Baker beat Henry Wiles for third place by mere inches</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">in one of the most electrifying battles of the season.</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74824" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74824" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 500px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74824" height="524" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Last-Victory-The-Vintagent-Brad-Baker-Olive-Lawless-978x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74824" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Brad Baker taking a moment with Olive Lawless. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I wanted my daughter Olive to see the spectacle that is the Springfield Mile.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">We did the 16-hour drive with our friend Barb Shoemaker.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Since we weren’t hauling Jake’s race bike she insisted we stop for Krispy Kremes.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Olive stopped calling her Ms. Shoemaker and switched to Aunt Barb.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I got to show her my favorite spots to observe the race action:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">row one at start/finish line takes your breath away,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">inside turn one against the rail is magic too,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">the spooky tunnel under the track, and the media room.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Walking through the pits we bumped into Baker.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He’s sweating hard in full leathers, right after practice.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Brad thanks me for the Marquez article.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">I introduce Olive.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Much to her amusement, he reached out and said ‘Hi, I’m Brad’.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">They chat for a few minutes.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">As we walk away she says,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">“You make him sounds like such a desperado, Dad, but he’s really nice.”</p><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74826" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_74826" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 840px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-74826 size-large" height="500" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Last-Victory-The-Vintagent-Brad-Baker-wheelchair-1024x609.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="840" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-74826" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Brad Baker as an advisor to the Indian factory flat track team, with Kelsey Stauffer and Jake Shoemaker. [Michael Lawless]</figcaption></figure><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">I was gutted when Brad was permanently hurt at that shitty little X Games short track.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">For me, it was the day the music died.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Baker had seemed unbreakable.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">But a wheelchair hasn’t stolen Brad from the sport he loves.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He’s a TV commentator for American Flat Track and an advisor to the Indian factory team.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">He’s set to be married this year to his sweetheart Kelcey Stauffer.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">His passion for dirt racing led him in a new direction,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">and he recently started racing a dirt track car with hand controls.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">It reminds him of the old days – just him, a bike and van.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">It’s not easy, but that was never the point.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">Life ain’t over ’til the checkered flag is thrown.</p><div><br /></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-28419827361700695012020-10-07T21:22:00.005-04:002021-02-09T16:52:39.512-05:00The Rush Job (In The Vintagent)<span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Domine;"><br /></span></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where were you a year ago?</span></span></span></h2><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; line-height: 0.4em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0.05em 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">It all looks easy now.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James Rispoli is dominating American Flat Track:</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">7 Victories in Production Twins this season.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James is the fastest Harley Davidson rider on the circuit.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Finally, Willie G. and the boys have something to be proud of.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">It’s the synergy of right rider, right team and right bike.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Rispoli is in that magic flow state,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">his riding burns with intensity,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">his consistency uncanny.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">The competition is rightly spooked.</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_73756" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 495px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-73756" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-4.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-4.jpg 364w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-4-297x300.jpg 297w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="495" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-style: italic; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sweet taste of victory for James Rispoli. [James Rispoli]</span></figcaption></figure><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">A short while ago, things were different.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James returned to America</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">after the high of European Superbike racing.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">He came home to his roots – flat track.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">To prove he’d lost none of his mojo.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Despite the wild contrast between those two worlds.</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">On our first conversation, the connection was poor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Where are you calling from?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Are you still in Europe or something?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />James confessed he was in Mexico<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />stunt riding for movies NorteAmericanos will never see.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He realized I was shocked into silence by his revelation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Hey man, I’m getting paid good money to do what I love.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I pictured him in some seedy bar checking out the local talent,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />a Hemmingway-like existence.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He added that he was getting lots of seat time,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />training every day,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />but admitted the hours were long on set,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the endless waiting<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />before pulling off sketchy shit the locals wouldn’t dare.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />To James, he was living the dream.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Making bank riding motorcycles.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />While working deals for next season’s ride.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Here is a fighter who will not quit,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />who knows how it feels to show up to a race with a negative $1000 balance.</span></p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_73759" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 500px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-73759" height="520" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-7.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-7.jpg 664w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-7-288x300.jpg 288w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-style: italic; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Racing has never been easy. If you’ve <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/2020/01/01/james-rispoli-dont-hold-back/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">read our previous article on James</a>, you know the struggles he’s pushed through. [James Rispoli]</span></figcaption></figure><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James was stoked to land the Latus Harley-Davidson ride for the 2020 season.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">There silver lining to the black cloud that is COVID</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">was the team had plenty of time to train.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">They’d turned over 500 laps before the first race.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James spoke of a win-win situation</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">having the Latus team’s professionalism</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">plus the savvy of former champ Joe Kopp as team manager.</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_73755" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 666px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-73755" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-3.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-3.jpg 750w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-3-300x225.jpg 300w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="666" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-style: italic; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Latus Harley-Davidson team is fielding one wicked fast 750 – James Rispoli’s lap times typically would put him first among H-D riders in any class. [James Rispoli]</span></figcaption></figure><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Motorcycle racing is a team sport:</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">great riding is not enough,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">but a gifted rider like Rispoli puts wind in the team’s sails.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">At the Indy Mile, an issue in the Semi meant a 17th spot start for the Main.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">James blitzed thru the pack to climb to 4th on the first lap</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">and brought her home in 2nd place.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">The next night, he won the main.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">He was 12.32 seconds ahead of the pack when the checkers flew.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Riding like that inspires everyone.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">It warms my heart to watch this fighter see such glorious success</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_73760" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 543px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-73760" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-8.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-8.jpg 715w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Rush-Job-James-Rispoli-The-Vintagent-8-300x276.jpg 300w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="543" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-style: italic; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A man in the flow, and inches from a major title. [James Rispoli]</span></figcaption></figure><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">[James Rispoli is arguably the fastest Harley-Davidson rider on the flat track circuit today, regardless he is on a Production 750cc twin, rather than a Supertwin factory racer – ed.]</span> </span></p></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843115771557520937.post-55369703515011296962020-10-07T21:18:00.000-04:002020-10-07T21:18:19.725-04:00THE DARK PLACE (In The Vintagent)<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">I </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">was in a dark place.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Home alone yet on the run.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; text-align: justify;">Nothing left and nowhere to go.</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-73691" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-2-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-2-800x600.jpg 800w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="667" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Windows open on a quiet night,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I could hear the sound of a muffled twin approaching.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The rider shut her off about a block away,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />then the quiet ringing of chains on sprockets<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />coasting down the street,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />into my drive.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brakes hissing to a stop.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-73690" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-1-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-1-768x768.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="500" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boots knocked my wooden steps.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A brogue in my doorway announced<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />‘God Bless all here.’</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this how it ends?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The running was over,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />so I handed him a cuppa.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He poured out an inch then added some of his own.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For the sake of the craic, I asked if the exhaust was stock.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He shook his head,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“They don’t need to know if I coming or going laddie, that’s my business.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You’re a good man.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It’s fine to take what you want, but there’s a price.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He told me what was expected of me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And not to worry,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I’d find myself on the road.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It was safest for me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Follow your voice, you know the one.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Do what’s right versus what feels good.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They need your words boy.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Nothing’s free – there’s a price tag on everything.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Even your freedom.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-73692" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-3-1024x777.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-3-1024x777.jpg 1024w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-3-300x228.jpg 300w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-a-Dark-Place-The-Vintagent-3-768x583.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="659" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I gave him my word.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We locked eyes and shook on it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Thanks for the cuppa…be free.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He coasted downhill, dropping the clutch in second gear.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Odd such a hard man rides a quiet machine.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And just like that, Death rolled back towards New York City.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;">(For the riders Jack & Duncan)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75; margin: 18px 0px 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_71189" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: table; float: none; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; text-align: justify; width: 300px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-71189" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg" srcset="https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor.jpg 960w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor-150x150.jpg 150w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor-300x300.jpg 300w, https://thevintagent.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Michael-Lawless-The-Vintagent-Contributor-768x768.jpg 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; caption-side: bottom; color: #777777; display: table-caption; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin: 9px 0px 0px; text-align: center;">Michael Lawless [<a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.instagram.com/electric_horseman/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">@electric_horseman</a>], our ‘Poet of Packed Earth’, is the <a data-wpel-link="internal" href="https://thevintagent.com/contributors/" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;">Flat Track Editor for TheVintagent.com</a>, and has his own blog: <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://ehorseman.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s, background-color 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.785, 0.135, 0.15, 0.86) 0s;" target="_blank">Electric Horseman</a></figcaption><div><br /></div></figure><div class="widget-container post-tag-container uncont text-left" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 36px 0px -9px;"></div>mlawlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13815087000746994304noreply@blogger.com0