Vurbwes Chilidog
The year was 2004. I should’ve been a senior at Grayson High School, but I wasn’t. Instead, I had decided to go to college instead and skip that BS. Why? Because the year before, as a junior, my teachers just didn’t understand your boy here was trying to make it big time in the dirtbike film game. I skipped two weeks to hit Lake Whitney and Mosier Valley to film In the Ranks, and upon my return the admin was just not having it. So that year, I didn’t get to go to World Mini like I wanted. When the Joint Enrollment program allowed me to hit a community college for the my senior year, I knew that was my jam. The college schedule pretty much allowed me to go where I wanted, when I wanted, and so I started hitting everything within driving distance on any given weekend, plus all the big dog amateur races as well. Equipped with 40k Delta Skymiles gifted from my mom, I booked a plan ticket to Vegas in April 2004 – just in time for my 18th birthday.
I can’t say that I remember too much. Don’t even recall where I stayed… but I’m pretty sure it was with Osborne or Ransdell. Vegas was mind-blowing and the track was the likes of something I’d never witnessed before. I’d seen it in Mini Warriors 3 so perhaps I knew what to expect, but in person, feeling that wind, the dust, the four divisions per class; it was crazy.
I’m honestly not sure how I’ve always held onto this footage, but I’m glad I did. It’s quite a trip down memory lane to see some of this stuff. First gen four-strokes, Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson on 85s, Alessi vs. Grant, and so much more.
Anyways, follow your dreams kids. Maybe that’s the moral of this post. And definitely have fun watching this, too.
