An Off Week- So I Thought…
Well this week had no FMX shows slated, so what does an announcer who travels a lot do? He catches up on all the things he has not done in a few months like yard work, washing the super bad announcer hauler, catch up on things at the shop, maybe take a nice ride on my new mountain bike or just get his laundry finished. I had all this planned and was planning on spending the weekend getting the list of chores finished and polishing up on some Guitar Hero.
Forward to Thursday afternoon at three o’clock, things at the shop are running well, rain is in the forecast so the car wash is postponed, laundry can wait and I am getting the MTB ready for a nice long ride when I get a call on the celly from Live Nation HQ. They have a dilemma and need my help. Help entails getting on a plane for New Jersey to do a Monster Jam. “No sweat” I say even though I had never done a Monster Jam and had only attended half of one in my life, “When do I fly out?” In two hours is what I am told! I scream home in my filthy car, grab my still packed gear bag, dirty clothes and all, and head for the airport. I make it there in time and thanks to a flight delay get to hang out in a land of $5 dollar bottles of water. I land in NJ at one a.m., snatch the worlds fastest off road vehicle (rental car) and proceed to follow the directions given to the hotel. Now, I am not sure if you have ever driven in the Newark area, but it seems that the roads and highways were designed by angry escaped lab rats that are hell-bent on revenge against all humans. After navigating an hour’s worth of dead ends, u-turns and potholes, I arrive for my cheese- which is a hotel older than me and stinkier than my dirty clothes filled Ogio rolling home.
Early to rise since I want to get a jump on the show and not knowing what to expect from the day, I arrive at the arena to see a whole lot of hard work going on and start to get familiar with the show. The FMX riders on hand were Gary Robertson and Tim Boca who are both at the trailing end of their careers and are happy to hang on the Monster Jam circuit while they transition into the next phase of their lives. They were joined by a kid named Justin Hicks whom I had yet to meet. Turns out he is a nephew of Bryant Gumble apparently.
There were three shows for the weekend and it started off pretty well. All the riders were doing some good stuff, but the course got worse as the shows went on. You see, it was a concrete floor show, which makes traction sketchy unless you put some grip agents on the floor. The riders did, but the trucks made a mess of hydraulic oil, engine oil, and antifreeze that no matter how hard anyone tried to clean up in the limited time was really slippery. In fact, I nearly busted my rear a few times while doing the show just walking, and these guys are using a 40 foot run up to jump a sixty foot gap with a 40 foot braking zone slick as sheep snot. The last show of the weekend saw Gary spin up the ramp and roll off the top on the brakes. He flat landed twenty feet out and saved a near disaster which would have claimed a rider of lesser skill and ability. I was ready to clip the show for safety when Gary told me he was done. Then Justin busts a Dead Body in the horrid conditions! Luckily- all made it out unscathed and the weekend was over.
Next week for me is Tacoma, WA which should be good. A pretty big building means setting up 75 foot hits should be cake and that also means the tricks may be bigger with more combo time available. Good seats are available still and I am trying to pick a fan for some special treatment this weekend- so get your questions, suggestions and general ramblings into me via fmxannouncerman@live.com today as time is running out.
Now, a question that came in with no name or location: What is the stuff they put on the floor during a concrete floor competition? Well, it’s kind of depends on who is doing the show. Ones I do involve an unnamed energy drink (no free plugs!) that dries quick, is sticky as my six year old niece’s nose butter and is stable in humid conditions. Some floors at the buildings are smoother (meaning slicker) than others so that determines how much is used and where. Other times we will supplement the floor with some conveyor belt rubber or just plain old carpet before the ramp and after the landings if needed. Good question no name! Get yours in quick. I will answer it in between loads of laundry and you may win some great stuff. See Ya!
-Cory Stem
