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Welcome to our new monthly
column page written by Fred Frese. We will have new columns monthly.
If Fred doesn't run out of things to talk about.
March - 2006 column:
--Special “K” vs the “A” Bomb–
A
friend recently asked me “What’s the best MX race you have ever
seen?” Now I’ve seen 100"s of races from Trans Am’s to
Sx’s to outdoor nationals to Loretta Lynn’s, but I didn’t have
to think too long or hard come up with the one that stands out the
most to me. It was on the Pee Wee track at Redbud in the fall of
“2000". First a little
history lesson. Back in
“2000" the Pee Wee track classes were PW 4-6, PW 7-8, and the
Junior and Senior classes. The Junior and Senior classes were the fast
50's, like KTMs, Lems and Cobras. This
was the 1st year for splitting the 50 class.
Previously it had been 4-8 years old. Back then we had
qualifiers at every race for the PW classes. There were no Wobblers or
Wobbler advanced and all the other classes there are now. Back then if
you won the PW, Junior or Senior class you were really the “Man”!
Some of the “Heavy Hitters” back then were Logan Nevins, Kyler
Giminez, Boo Morris, Dylan Church, Dillon Finley, Austin Wagner, and
my son, Kyle Frese. However, the “BADDEST” was Alex “A” Bomb
Ditton. Without a doubt no one
has ever ridden a PW 50 faster than Alex. That year he took 2nd
place in the Mini-O’s and 4th place at Loretta’s.
He should have won Loretta’s. When he got back from
Loretta’s and ran that big #4N
plate he had a swagger about him just like Carmichael and was just as
intimidating. He won every local race he entered. There was no one
even close to running his pace and personally I think the kids were
just scared to race with him. When he showed up at a track you were
racing for 2nd place.
Now back to my best race. It was a nice fall day, and the Pee Wee
track was “ PRIME” Tim had built some sweet whoops, about 6 in a
row. The 1st moto
went to the “A” Bomb, Alex. My
son, Kyle, took 2nd and was as close to Alex as anyone had
been all year. The difference between them was about 5 seconds.
Between motos, Pee Wee track referee, Barry Cline, came by and said,
“Man, Kyle was close to winning that moto.” I said, “No one is
going to beat the “A Bomb”. During the wait between motos though,
quite a few folks came by and said they felt Kyle had a chance to beat
Alex. I tried not to get my hopes up too high. But Kyle was really on
it and even I began to think he had a chance.
Before the start of the 2nd moto, Kyle said to me,
“Dad, I think I can beat Alex”. “I’m
faster in the whoops.”
Finally,
time for the 2nd moto.
Red, yellow, green. The gate dropped and Alex was gone. I
remember, me and Bobby Wagner walked out to watch the race.
All the other dads ran. Kyle was up to 2nd by the
end of the 1st lap and Bobby said, “ Hey, Kyle is
catching Alex. I tried to
play it cool but I was seeing the same thing. After the finish line
jump there was a long sweeper. I can remember watching them go through
it wide open, never letting off the gas, foot pegs dragging in the
dirt. They were in lappers by the 2nd lap and Kyle was all
over Alex by now. Lap after lap
they went at it. Alex’s Dad was on one side of the track screaming
and I on the other. It all came down to the final lap. Kyle was all
over him as they went to the backside of the track. Over the big
tabletop triple, now there were lappers in the way. Alex took the
outside, Kyle took the inside. They
hit really hard in the next corner an suddenly Kyle had the lead.
I couldn’t believe it. The
place was going crazy! Man, Kyle was going to beat the “A-Bomb.”
But Alex wasn’t giving up.
Alex tried his best to get Kyle back but there were only a few
turns left. I thought Kyle had it. Kyle was flying but was going just
a little too fast. He overshot the last corner and Alex slide
underneath for the win. I couldn’t believe it. I was devastated.
Alex won and Kyle had 2nd. Everyone said what a great race it was. Maybe Kyle just
wasn’t ready to beat Alex yet. I don’t know. Kyle and Alex raced
against each other many times after that and it was never close again.
Kyle never did beat Alex. Who knows what might have happened had Kyle
won that race.
Kyle
and Alex were good friends as were Kendra and I with Alex’s parents,
Brian and Sue Ditton. We all were at the track the last day the
“A-Bomb” ever raced. Alex was injured very badly and hung up his
boots forever. I still talk to Alex and his folks. They are still good
friends. I’ve asked Alex if he remembers that race and he says no. I
think deep down he really does. I know I will always remember it. Alex
is into basketball now. He leads his team in scoring and almost every
other category. He plays football and soccer. Kids like him only come
along once in a lifetime. I wish him all the best.
As
I sat on the back of my truck with Kyle after that race he was crying
so hard. He said, “Dad, I had it and I blew it.” I told him”man,
I’m proud of you.” “That was the best race I have ever seen”! And 6 years
later it still is.
Peace,
Fred
February
- 2006 column:
It has been a long time since I stood in line for an autograph,
but Kyle and I are big Notre Dame fans. I went to the Notre Dame
bookstore to get some Christmas presents for Kyle and I just happened
to be there when Charlie Weiss, the football coach, was doing an
autograph session. I decided I wouldn’t get the chance again so I
waited and waited and waited. It took over three hours. It was the
most organized autograph line I’ve ever seen, especially, compared
to motocross where it’s a free for all. He had a meeting so he would
only be there from 4:00 to 5:30. As the time counts down I’m
getting nervous I won’t make it up there before he has to go, but I
make it, and get a football signed. (Kyle better appreciate this).
He was a really nice guy and very down to earth. I then moved on
to my next destination which was Dicks sporting good store. I
got all of my purchases and while waiting in line to check out, the
guy in front of me looked like Jeff Smardizja #83, a wide receiver for
Notre Dame. He just happens to be Kyle’s favorite player.
I asked the cashier if it was Jeff Smardizja and he said it was.
He said, "He comes in here all the time". I
asked the clerk to hold my stuff and went running out to the parking
lot. I made it before he left and asked him to sign the football.
He agreed and we talked for a while. I told him Kyle was a big fan and
he said he would talk to him on the phone and wish him a Merry
Christmas. He was a really a cool guy. Can you believe my luck.
The coach, and a player. What a day!
Now let’s talk motocross. I’ve talked with Mark Palagreno and he
has loaded up the family and moved to Texas. He has bought 100 acres
in Kemp, Texas and will be opening M.M.T.F which stands for Mad
Mark’s Training Facility. There will be a supercross and motocross
track and full hook-ups. Mark hopes to open sometime in March. Someone
else who is opening a practice and testing track is Bob Gench from
Renegade Suspension. He has had a professional track builder there
working hard to get things done and ready for April. You can
contact Bob for more details. We also have a new store for all your
pit bike parts and accessories Mad Mikes Minis. If you need anything
give Mike Butler a call at 517-467-2442.
I made a road trip to Ohio and stopped in to see Jim Durivage at
Championship Power Sports. Tyler and I kidnapped Jim and Greg and
headed to the Toledo Arenacross to check out the racing. While Patti
stayed home recuperating, from knee surgery. We hope she feels better
soon. If any one needs a new bike, Jim has them. Give him a call at
the shop, 1-888-647-4713.
If any one has any questions or something you would like me to talk
about. Let me know. So till month, see ya.
Peace,
Fred
December - 2005 column:
Drex has been asking me for awhile to do a column for the DSP web site
I’ve been waiting till I had something to talk about and now I do. I’m
going to try to do a new column every month. I hope a lot of you read
this and let me know what you think or what you would like me to talk
about. I’ve also been thinking about a name for the column and what
I came up with is As I See It. This month I’m going to talk about
the road trips I’ve been on.
On November 11th a friend of mine from Chicago Bob Rizzo
and I went to St.Charles, MO. For the 2nd round of the Boo-Koo
Arena Cross series. I left early in the morning and met Bob at Subway
race shop for a meeting with Chuck Schultz the owner of the Subway
racing team to work out the details of Frese sponsoring the team again
this year. We were now on our way we pulled in the parking lot found
some seats and practice started. This was Josh Woods 2nd
Arena Cross and he had it figured out. The racing was good and we
talked to a lot of riders I hadn’t seen in a long time. Brad Ripple
won the 250f class and Josh Woods won the 450 class. We left after the
races and got home very early Saturday morning.
Monday morning crazy Greg and I left for Florida and hit the Florida
line at 5:00am Tuesday morning. We went and got our rental car and
headed to Miami in hopes to get a new tattoo from Miami Ink. They were
taping for a new segment for the show so we waited and got to see Dave
Mirra leaving with some new ink. After the long drive and hours
waiting we thought it was our time only to find out that the artists
that film the show are not the ones that would be doing our tattoo’s
so we left disappointed and headed back to Gainesville. Wednesday was
a day to relax and we went to play some golf. Thursday we were able to
pull the Frese mobile into GatorBack Raceway. I got to announce the
semi’s on Monday all 108 pages of them. I learned a lot from Wes
Kain and Rodney Tomlin they are both very good at what they do. By
Saturday I had seen a lot of racing and was ready to head home. Some
of the riders that impressed me were Phil Nicoletti, Brock Tickle,
Trey Cannard, James Justice and Bryce Stewart. While I was enjoying
the racing crazy Greg was back at the truck blowing out shoes he was a
big help. We pulled out of Gainesville Saturday night and were both
ready to get home. After a few days home, I headed to Toronto with the
Subway team. We got to Toronto just in time for press day and got to
watch Tedesco, Reed, and Voss do some laps. The Rogers center which
used to be the sky dome is the best stadium I have been to. The Hotel
was right in the stadium along with a few restaurants that overlooked
the stadium floor, and the view was great. I met up with a few guys to
watch practice to me it looked like RC was the man, Bubba looked good,
and Reed looked off the pace. Bubba pulled it out in the heat race and
beat RC. In the main RC and Bubba went at it, it was one of the best
races I’ve seen. In the light class Andrew Short had the race won
until his bike broke and the win was handed to Millsap. I wasn’t
planning on going to Anaheim one because I’ve been gone so much but
after this race it’s on like Donkey Kong.
So in the last month I’ve
put more than 5,200 miles in the driver’s seat and saw a bunch of
racing and loved every minute of it. The Subway guys finished 7th
and 9th in Toronto. After the races we were tearing down
the bikes to ship to Vancouver. RC walked by and stopped to talk a
minute I told him it was one of the best races I've seen in along time
he said thanks shook his head and walked away. I know he was pissed. I
am calling the cable company to get the speed channel because this is
going to be the best season ever. I’m going to go to as many rounds
as I can if Kendra will let me. RC is the man, Bubba wants to be, and
Reed is going back to the drawing board but that’s only As I See It!
Fred
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