Last Men Standing [Archive]

copper154

12-08-2007, 11:19 PM

A Few Lms Pictures

TexasShadow

12-08-2007, 11:29 PM

I witnessed the most grueling feats of endurance, perseverance, steel nerves, and skill on ground I have ever seen. You can watch them ride it out, fall, get up and try again and again. But when you look close enough to see their faces is when you ride a mile on their wheels.

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/14463/2336978600100746484S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2336978600100746484FFqDHB)

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/33107/2281534680100746484S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2281534680100746484SlqKej)

This young man, Eric, was the last through the day course. I'm glad I watched him through the Texas Stadium, a section of ledge shelfs, and the Triple Threat. His humor and perseverance impressed me and everyone else that stayed to cheer him on. From Montrose, CO, I suspect he'll be back, and better. To me, he was a winner.

http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/33061/2281042260100746484S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2281042260100746484XGReRc)

After watching only a fraction of what they went through, I can't imagine riding it again in the darkness. Three of them did, but only two completed the course.

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/33268/2807058770100746484S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2807058770100746484NTkFGk)

You could sure recognize those riders with trials background. What a difference!

This was my first attempt at action shots (sports) and I discovered the power of burst. Uh oh. That's dangerous. I'm going to need more memory cards.......

I mentioned to Bill about combining vids from the event onto one DVD for all of us, or those who would like to see or have one. I have a few and Bill has an outstanding one. If anyone else took videos and is interested in combining them onto a DVD, let me know.

If only I was even a quarter as good as these guys, (and 15 years younger), I would ride dirt all day and never go anywhere else.
If only...........

DFW_Warrior

12-09-2007, 08:53 AM

DFW_Warrior

12-09-2007, 09:02 AM

Photos a plenty!!! I've got some great video clips, but you will have to wait for those. I have mashed potatoes to cook here in a while! Yes, I'll put the recipe in the TWT section!!!:lol2:

Anyway, on with the photos!!

The Start!!!
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image015.jpg

Off to Joshua Tree:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image031.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image027.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image022.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image021.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image020.jpg

Then to Waterfall:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image047.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image046.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image051.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image058.jpg

Time for Texas Stadium, (it was a team effort):
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image009.jpg

A picture is worth a thousand words:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image007.jpg

Then to Triple Threat:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image003.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image004.jpg

Enjoy!! I've got some more, but I have to get cooking.:eat:

TexasShadow

12-09-2007, 09:12 AM

I'm working on uploading photos as we speak... but I'm no good at cropping so it's just raw photo's for y'all! Elzi, what do you use to crop and resize and is it pretty idiot proof to the point to where I could use it? Or do you have any suggestions for easy crop and resize programs?I'm a mac head, so I use iPhoto which for me is enough. It's powerful but it's not photoshop (I dig in my heels about using Photoshop. My philosophy about photography as an art is rather old-school). But it is very easy to use and, if you would like, we can do a weekend afternoon of photo processing with coffee, cobbler and ice cream. I'll bring the macbook.

What do you think about combining photos and vids on a DVD? The advantage of combining is we were in different vantage points during the day race, so offer different perspectives.

TexasShadow

12-09-2007, 09:14 AM

Photos a plenty!!! I've got some great video clips, but you will have to wait for those. I have mashed potatoes to cook here in a while!

A picture is worth a thousand words:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/DFW_Warrior/LMS%2007/image007.jpg

This is priceless!

I'm cooking eggs and hash browns :mrgreen:

Janet

12-09-2007, 09:30 AM

I'm not cooking, but those photos are great Bill.

ShafT

12-09-2007, 02:14 PM

Hey TexasShadow,

That first Photo of #12 I believe to be Ryan Dudek, the off-road editor for Cycle World. You might be able to email that to him (perhaps he'd trade for some swag).

Bill,

Those are some great shots. In your 4th shot at the waterfall, I'm in frame behind the tree with the video cam. Unfortunately, my battery died with only video of the start, Joshua Tree and the Waterfall - no more stills or video.

Anybody have recommendations for decent video editing software for XP? (these are the times for Mac envy)

thumper

12-09-2007, 02:33 PM

Wow!!:eek2: Thankyou for those excellent photos.

One word and one word only comes to mind...Passion in perhaps one of it's puriest forms;-)

TexasShadow

12-09-2007, 04:07 PM

Hey TexasShadow,
That first Photo of #12 I believe to be Ryan Dudek, the off-road editor for Cycle World. You might be able to email that to him (perhaps he'd trade for some swag). I have a few more of him that are excellent. Burst rocks ;)

I'm still weeding through the 297 photos and four videos......
Anybody have recommendations for decent video editing software for XP? (these are the times for Mac envy) The mac is outstanding for video editing. I'm still learning iMovie.
I don't know what is available for Windows that doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

gocatgo

12-09-2007, 04:45 PM

That was quite an amazing race! I am energized to get back on the trails and mimic the 'big guys". Well, kind of. :roll:

It was a COLD ride on the DR up there and home. I wanted to find a local weatherman and choke them. A high of 80 degrees my .......

I stopped by Starbucks for a warm-up on the way home, and a rider on a big cruiser was pulling in at the same time. We chatted a bit, and he asked me "isn't it uncomfortable to ride on the street with all them little bumps on those tires?" I had to smile inside - I had just left watching world class off- road racers on some of the most challenging terrain in the world, and now I am discussing the "little bumps" on my tires with a fellow rider who is just as much a part of our sport as the racers.
I love motorcycling!!!:mrgreen:

copper154

12-09-2007, 05:24 PM

Tough day on Joshua Tree LMS

Photojojo

12-10-2007, 06:20 AM

I'm still weeding through the 297 photos
I'm going through 1500. :eek2:

I'm still learning iMovie.
I don't know what is available for Windows that doesn't cost and arm and a leg.

Gimp is open source and free. Just as powerful as Photoshop, but you'll need to read the help files.

TexasShadow

12-10-2007, 07:45 AM

Who spectated and who volunteered and how was the viewing in both cases? I know some ppl that volunteered but I wonder how limited the viewing is spectating as opposed to working the event?You'll be able to see the difference in some of the photos Bill and I post. Note that all workers wore vests: blue and red (staff), yellow (media), and multi-color (emergency: medic and fire). Watch for those wearing the vests and the spectators in the photos.
(still working through the photos trying to pick the best)

Example:
This was the bottom of the hill climb at Joshua Tree. Bill was down there but no way was I going to get a vantage point for viewing or photos (he's a giant, I'm a shorty). Nor did I have the luxury of the long lens in the foreground.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/JoshuaTree3.jpg

I found a tenuous spot on the side of the hill, but the view of most of the hill was obscured by trees, except for the very top. I like this shot because it depicts how busy it was up at the top. And it got very busy......
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/JoshuaTree6.jpg

However, I was able to get some good close shots, despite the fog and dust, of the top from the side....
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/JoshuaTree7.jpg

and at the bottom of the hillside from where they rode in to reach the bottom start of the climb.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/JoshuaTree4.jpg

As you can see, workers had the best vantage points for watching.

Texas Stadium was worse; none of the spectators could see down in the ravine. I stationed myself at the top of the rocky ledge where they climbed out. And got some good closeups.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/TexStad8.jpg

TexasShadow

12-10-2007, 07:46 AM

Texas Stadium was the mid-way point of the 40 mile course. Many of the riders were exhausted when they reached the top of the bowl of the ravine; and it showed. After Knight went through as the first rider, it was some time before the next rider. And the time between subsequent riders increased. A few packs of them came through, but most were well spaced out between Joshua Tree and Tex Stadium points.

Theresa and I noted the exhaustion and fatigue in them on top of the rim. They often stopped to rest several times in that series of obstacles alone. One stopped at topside to rest and drink water someone handed to him. At the cost of making it in time behind the first rider to qualify for the night course. I suspect many considered themselves lucky if they finished the day course.

We talked to several spectators who had family, friends or team mates in the race; from Washington state, Canada, Colorado, South Dakota and Texas. While they rooted for their own, they rooted for every rider out there. It was amazing.

What I wanted to capture most was some of the individuality in the race, and cooperation. Many times I zoomed in on riders and just pressed the shutter release in burst mode. But I would have loved to have been there in the thick of it to get some better shots that expressed more of what it entailed. It's really a different perspective watching it all in action versus seeing it in their body movement and faces. You get a sense of empathy with the riders.

This is one of my favorites. I don't know who #12 is, but I sure do have some really good shots of him: the colors, anticipation, suggestion of movement and facial expression range.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/lzvolk/TexStad12b.jpg

Greasemonkey

12-10-2007, 02:04 PM

Nice guys,thankyou!!!!

JTM

12-10-2007, 03:33 PM

nice pictures

TexasShadow

12-10-2007, 03:43 PM

I'm going through 1500. :eek2:I don't envy you.

BTW, sent you a pm.

copper154

12-10-2007, 04:59 PM

Yes LMS was saturday and saturday night. I hear that it's not coming back to Texas.

FireMalt

12-10-2007, 07:11 PM

I'm surprised to see so many riders WITHOUT goggles!

DFW_Warrior

12-10-2007, 07:17 PM

I'm surprised to see so many riders WITHOUT goggles!

They were going soooo slow and with the cold temps and high humidity, they were just fogging up way too fast. So most ditched them. Knight threw his off by the time he got to the Waterfall.

Outlaw6Guy

12-10-2007, 08:49 PM

Here's one fer ya. Saturday night, after all three guy cleared my section, I rode the four wheeler over to the finish line to see if Taddy was going to win. I'm standing there with my buddy Mike on my right side, and some tall guy standing on my left. Mike says "hey Jack, have you met David, and I said David who, and he says David Knight, and I said no I haven't, and he leans forward and says, David,this is Jack Jeter,Jack this is David Knight! I liked to have fell over! I can't believe I didn't even know who was standing next to me! I got to have a three minute conversation with Knight. He told me that he wasn't feeling well, and that he was glad that his mate Taddy was finishing first. What a classy guy. I was there from Thursday noon, until midnight Saturdays night, and I must say, my *** is draggin. Oh, and one of the best parts of the whole weekend..............I got to meet Chris Hardy. What a cool guy,I'd kill for his hair!

TexasShadow

12-10-2007, 09:00 PM

David is a big guy. He almost dwarfs his bike.
During the night course on the waterfall, I nearly got Taddy's front wheel in my face :eek2: I couldn't believe how he turned that bike around on the back wheel and was off like a Tasmanian devil. I was awestruck. That guy is really danged good!

We 'heard' that Knight dropped out of the night race because he was sick. Was that confirmed?

I thought about looking for you at 'the' white tent. Do you know how many big white tents were there?????
:rofl:

TexasShadow

12-10-2007, 09:02 PM

Bill, that shot you have of #37..... I have a series of shots of him finishing the Triple Threat that are awesome. He was hurting at the top.
It would be neat to put those together in a slide show.
Can't wait to see your videos. You sure got some good ones!

Bagwell

12-10-2007, 11:22 PM

Oh, and one of the best parts of the whole weekend..............I got to meet Chris Hardy. What a cool guy,I'd kill for his hair!

Hahaha!!!
He can ride all day and pull his helmet off and his hair is still in perfect place. :)

Outlaw6Guy

12-11-2007, 09:31 AM

Hahaha!!!
He can ride all day and pull his helmet off and his hair is still in perfect place. :)

You mean to tell me that old guy can still ride a motorcicle?:lol:

Photojojo

12-11-2007, 11:48 AM

Here's a few of mine from both days.

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228230-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228303-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228408-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228582-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228658-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228737-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228806-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231228998-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229101-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231231464-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229231-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229308-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229411-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229516-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229677-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229725-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229765-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229873-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231229922-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230006-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230175-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230294-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230363-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230615-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230698-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230770-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230945-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231230996-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231232115-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231232279-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231231153-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231231226-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231231295-L.jpg

http://chrisjennings.smugmug.com/photos/231231375-L.jpg

the bset part of the night was David and Taddy were talking about the course like it was a regular trail ride. You could see it in their conversatin that they both had fun. They both said in seperate interviews that it was fun racing someone. Taddy fresh from the trials world where it's individual and all about finess, and David who up until recently finishes these race 30-40 minutes ahead of anybody. I really got the impression from interviews that David likes having someone that he can actually race with. All the better that he's on the same team.

A few intersting things

David pulled out because of a respitory infection. He had the flu the week before.

David started the night race with an open face helmet.

Taddy's bike was stock with no bark busters.

Geoff Aaron said in his post race interview that he wanted to do these kind of races to put trials riding more in the spotlight.

David spent the night at the Silver Spur partying with the regular folks. I also know he stayed up pretty late Friday night. I'm sure that didn't help how he felt.

There were two KTM trucks because they had so many people racing. One was east coast the other west.

#100 was the Turkish motocross champ.

I rode at RRMT Monday with a buddy who raced and followed some of the course. For the most part it's 100 yards, then a 20 foot drop into a ravine, 50 yards then you climb straight out, go another 100 and repeat.

Costa Rica is cool.

Taddy said Erzberg and LMS were different but equally as hard.

I bet in two years the Christini all wheel drive (not 2 wheel drive) system will be common and the price down closer to $2000.

Rumor from a couple of different sources is Utah next year.

TexasShadow

12-11-2007, 01:05 PM

Awesome shots, Chris. I sure wish I had your vantage spots ;-)

Thanks for the commentary, too. It provided an insight into the race and competitors.
:clap: :clap:

Greasemonkey

12-11-2007, 01:47 PM

GREAT pict's Chris,thats why you make the big bucks.

Bandit33

12-11-2007, 03:24 PM

Yes, Chris, those are great shots......you would think you were a pro or something!! I recognized a few of those "moments" like the guy stuck on top of the concrete pipe there at the start of qualifying. Poor guy struggled with that forever before he finally became unstuck.

I had a lot of fun up there on Friday and Sat. Weather was quite a contrast from Friday to Saturday, that's for sure. Interesting experience using the mountain bike to get around, going from one venue to the other. Riding the bicycle on those "roads" dodging pedestrians, atvs, trams and other mtn. bikes was entertaining, while rushing to the next viewing area.

Don

X1Glider

12-11-2007, 11:01 PM

Excellent pics! I was about about to mention Erzberg, wondering which is worse.

Ryan Dudek rode a 2WD Christini equipped 250 last year and did quite well. Don't bet on it getting down to $2k ever as it's a new frame and 2WD system.

I was thinking about riding the LMS course this week as I'm off of work finally. Looks like rain all over the places I want to go.:argh:

Cagiva 549

12-12-2007, 07:12 AM

Hahaha!!!
He can ride all day and pull his helmet off and his hair is still in perfect place. :)

I think he keeps it on a shelf by the door , it looked exactly the same 20 years ago . SEYA Chris

Things that are impossible for mortals are fun for Supermen .

Boomhauer

12-12-2007, 09:02 PM

I for one do not think David Knight was as sick as they say he was. After the race he and several others went into town and shut down the local dance hall. He was known that night as the Last Man Dancing.

I think Taddy just pushed him to hard. We were working several sections that the regualr spectators did not get to see. On the 1st loop Taddy was all over Knighters rear end and even passed him a few times.

All in all it was a great event just like the past 2 years. I think it is great that Knighter had someone of his caliber to race with. I know for us it made for some great stories & pictures.

Goat Trail Green

12-21-2007, 12:04 PM

Great pics !

Thanks Yalllllllllllll

Mike Green

FirstMan

12-26-2007, 11:23 AM