Lead no long just for fishing weights.

At the beginning of 2009 the U.S. Product Safety Commission started the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The act was created as ban to toys and other children products.
Before the CPSIA was put into effect, the motorcycle industry did not think this rule applied to them and companies also were not warned that the ban could target certain products made by top ATV companies.
After the CPSIA was put into action top companies like American Honda Co, Inc. American Suzuki Motor Corporation, and Yamaha Motor Corporation USA. Had to tell all U.S. dealerships to remove their motorcycle inventory targeted to children 12 years and younger and put in warehouse.
The ATV companies have ask for the bill to be lifted for them while they work out some agreement, but the ban still remains.
If you catch a kid trying to digest a shiny new motorcycle, odds are that kid has been eating lead and/or other various vehicles for long time.

The fastest show in the stadium.

Who: Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, and Chad Reed.
Where: QWEST Field, Seattle.
What: Round 15 of AMA Supercross.
When: April 18, 2009.
Quote: “I could have pushed it to go for Ryan, but I knew the track was brutal.”

Saturday April 18, was a day to remember for Supercross fans as over 50 thousand people filled Qwest Field in Seattle for round 15 of the AMA Supercross Series to see what has been one of the closest points battles the sport has ever seen.

One of the biggest surprises of the night came from Ryan Villopoto, 20, Poulsbo, Wash., riding for Monster Energy Kawasaki won the event in front of his home state with all his family in attendance. Villopoto said "It was good night I couldn't ask for anything more in front of the hometown." This win marked Villopotos first win in the premier 450 class. However a bit of luck was thrown Villopoto’s way as race leader Mike Alessi went down early, and points leaders Chad Reed and James Stewart Jr., were plagued with bad starts and a first corner crash which guaranteed an interesting race.

Most attending the event expected a closer battle between James Stewart Jr., and Chad Reed who are battling for the championship which has only two rounds left. Stewart who has 332 points this far, now is beating Reed who has 329. “I could have pushed it to go for Ryan (Villopoto), but I knew the track was brutal,” said Stewart after it was over.

Reed who came to Seattle with a five point lead needed to have Stewart not finish more than two spots ahead of him to keep his points lead. However a first corner mishap made it hard to pass the pack and reel Stewart in who was sitting in second. Reed worked his way up from twentieth to finish seventh at the races end. His worst result this year for Reed who has finished on the podium every race.

Stewart, who started the race with difficulties, stalled his bike and could not catch Villopoto who had settled in a comfortable lead. Stewart managed to end the night in second place. Stewart entered the race three points down now and now leads by five.

“It’s definitely awesome,” said Villopoto after coming away with the win in Seattle. Villopoto had missed the previous three rounds due to illness and is out of contention for the championship, but showed that may be a contender for the title next season.

The dirt brought into Qwest Field for the event was mostly sand which allowed for deep ruts and rapid changing track conditions that forced riders to be extra cautious. The track was made and prepped by Dirt Wurx who designs and builds all the tracks nationwide for the supercross series.

Supercross started coming to Seattle in 1978 but took a five year break from the city in 2000. Previous two years Seattle round winners are Kevin Windham and James Stewart Jr., who won the race in treacherous conditions due to rain.

This U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey disk located on a private Island in the Washington side of the San Juan Islands. This disk is dated 1897 which represents the date it was placed. There are three on this particular Island, and the triangles line up latitude and longitude lines in respect to the triangulation station somewhere in the vicinity.

The U.S. Coast & Geodetic was established in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to help chart waters for safer navigation. It has since been renamed twice and is now National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

According to a NGS surveyor the disks are named by the area or property owner, dated, and is meant to be read by someone facing North. This one says PLANE 1897 and has a 250 dollar fine for disturbing.

How Far Must You Go To Be Number 1

On April 18 at the Seattle AMA Supercross, Ryan Capes Claims he will beat his previous world record of 390 ft. at Toes Motocross Park in Royal City Wash. Capes held the record before Robbie Madison who had the record before Capes at 322ft. Capes says he will jump over 500 ft. later this year, which will just crush the previous record.

He will jump a custom built Service Kawasaki 500cc two stroke motocross bike. Capes said at the moment his bike is capable of speeds exceeding 120mph. His jump speed was 101mph. for his previous jump.

When Capes attempts his jumps and succeeds, Who will step up and go even farther? There are not very many people in the world who make a living breaking records, and it's not a job that gets any easier.

Seattle Supercross.

The finish lines bursts with flames for Jame Stewart as he wins another race. Photo courtesy of Flickr.com

April 18, 2009, is the one day of the year that Supercross comes to the northwest, taking place in QWEST Field home of the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, WA .
This is an exciting season as this is 15 of 17 in the championship. James Stewart trails Chad Reed by 5 points for the lead in the standings. Seattle can make or break the two of the worlds fastest racers season. There are also some additional factors that riders must prepare for coming to QWEST Field, it's not a covered stadium, and it has rained at this event in past. But they race rain or shine.
Tickets are still on sale, so if you have never been to a Supercross race it's guaranteed excitment

Future story

For my next story I am considering looking into the Benton County Skateboard Coalition. I do not know much of anything about them, I do know they are kind of like a charity and help with parks and boarders throughout Corvallis and Albany.

Last Chance: A Window to the Big Time

Nic Wolfer charges out of shadows ahead of some fast competition. Photo by Erik Bender

• Who: Nic Wolfer
• What: Applying for pro motocross license.
• Where: AMA sanctioned tracks, mainly in Washougal, Wash.
• Quote: "I wanted to start (racing) before then but my
  mom always over ruled my dad."
• Quick Fact: Nic won his first ever race and only 5 years later turned pro.
  

Motocross is a tough sport, because it’s expensive, physically demanding, dangerous, but also hopelessly addicting. And that is why millions of people ride and race, but it is also why so few actually make it a living and compete at the national pro level of the sport and turn riding into a career.

Nic Wolfer, 22, Beaver Creek, Ore., is a local pro that is going for broke this season in an attempt to earn his national pro license and race the 2009 AMA Motocross Nationals series at Washougal MX Park on July 25.

Wolfer has genuinely kind and pleasant personality that almost seems to quickly disappear once his helmet is on. On the track Wolfer shows no fear and rides with a smooth style that makes it look it easy. But Wolfer is not afraid to bang bars with anyone at any given race as his passes are some of the most aggressive in any local pro race.

The motocross nationals are one of the top motocross championships in the world. Washougal MX Park holds round eight of the national series every year and draws crowds in excess of 30,000, and has been called the most scenic track on the circuit.

The American Motorcyclist Association requires a rider to obtain 75 points as an A-Class rider in AMA PRO-AM motocross series events in order to apply for a license in an attempt to qualify for any round in this series.

With a majority of the West Coast races held down outside the Northwest, it’s hard for a full time OSU and LBCC student to travel far regularly. Wolfer said “There are not too many of these races in this area. Most of them (nearby races) take place in Southern California during the school year and I can’t make it to them like other racers can.”

At five years old Wolfer got his first dirt bike for Christmas, but got a late start racing and started at 14. “I wanted to start before then but my mom always over ruled my dad. Then she finally gave in and little did she know I would win my first race and want to keep doing it this long.” Wolfer says most what people don’t understand about motocross is that it is very family oriented, and that it takes a lot of dedication from everyone to make it work.

Wolfer says his biggest achievement was turning pro and being able to do it in such a short time is a great accomplishment for him. “I mean I know people that have been racing longer than me that still aren’t pro, so for me to do it in the time period that I have done it in is also one of my greatest achievements,” said Wolfer.

On April 5, 2009, Wolfer battled hard for the lead in every race he entered at Washougal’s Gold Star series race. Wolfer ended the day finishing fourth overall and earning 18 valuable points towards his national license. He currently sits fourth in the points standings.