Gearfest 2009
09-21-2009, 02:39 PM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Jax, FL
Age: 38
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Gearfest 2009
Well... we headed down to Tampa again this weekend, this time for another stunt event , no not StuntWars, this time it was something new. GearFest was on one of the most official landscapes i have ever been to any sort of bike show on, much less a stunt show. It was in the florida state fairgrounds and it was more like HIN than the muddy parking lot and poor viewing angle of last weeks StuntWars.
The track was a sick stretch of concrete that looked to the spectator more like it was poured specifically for a motorcycle stunt show,than the midway im sure its used for during the agricultural fair when it rolls through. There was a parking lot set aside and fenced where a drifting demo was held, a freestyle moto cross ramp where they were flying dirtbikes like kites the entire time it was dry enough, and a dirt course where they could race when it wasnt.
There was even a kids area with slides and giant inflatable whoo-haaas where the biker juniors could chill. And enough food and drink vendors, clothing stores and even wheelie machines,to keep all us non-stunters busy when the events slowed.
Inside there was no shortage of fun either and there was even more vendors, what seemed like hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, custom in ear monitors, even Verison was in on the deal.
This is where it gets funny... and im not going to bash anyone here so just read it how it was intended.
We all gathered at a small table at the end of the event to see what we placed, because there was no awards presentation, and i guess since all the money that was supposed to be given to the winners for the work that went into their craft... dissipated or was somehow not available.. suddenly...
Let me explain why i say suddenly, the events were all narrowed down to their respective top 10s on Saturday, a day in which im sure that either the money was their, or the event staff already knew it wasn't, but no one told anyone they weren't getting paid on Saturday night because...well.. no one would have showed on Sunday, duh. So the secret was kept overnight, forcing many innocent people to pay for hotels , sitters, and gas for another night , in an effort to come collect the prize money they rightfully deserved.
But i digress, we gathered in a wet huddled mass in the forum we were soon to be escorted from , by the extra police force that was already on tap to keep stuff under control when the secret was eventually let out.
And escorted out we were, police in force pushed the array of bikers out into the rain to hobble home, or back to their hotels on the same bikes they had worked hard to impress the judges on all weekend.
It was no longer a party, we were an inconvenience , an angry force that wanted what we rightfully deserved, but knew that aside from sacrificing another night in Tampa in the form of jail time, we werent going to leave with an ounce of satisfaction more than knowing where we should have placed , or how how much of how time , energy and gas money "should" have been reimbursed.
So here is MY personal effort to congratulate everyone who was there, to everyone who rode,parked,stunted and even wrecked their bikes to make this weekend worth being a part of, this is my personal thank you to everyone who was there and did your thing this weekend, please dont let this be a discouraging moment.
To every chick who drove down with bikini in tow to show us all your unmentionables and every dude who towed down a bike to show your ***, to every vendor who was there to feed us and every degree of a/c the venue provided.
Thank you.
And i would like to personally say Congrats to Roaring Toys the self proclaimed "leader in Custom Sport Bike and Custom Sport Bike Parts and Accessories" for winning first place in the Amateur Show bike competition.
Your bike truthfully was the nicest Amateur bike there.
To anyone who was there and took part in this weekend i would like you to repost this.. let everyone know that no matter how bad they got fucked financially by what was otherwise an great event, that we still appreciated how hard our friends and co-riders worked to make this weekend fun for everyone.
At the end of the day.. i wouldnt trade this beautiful landscape and close city proximity.. for the muddy .. shitty.. out in the country parking... of Stuntwars..or the honest payouts they have come to produce.
The track was a sick stretch of concrete that looked to the spectator more like it was poured specifically for a motorcycle stunt show,than the midway im sure its used for during the agricultural fair when it rolls through. There was a parking lot set aside and fenced where a drifting demo was held, a freestyle moto cross ramp where they were flying dirtbikes like kites the entire time it was dry enough, and a dirt course where they could race when it wasnt.
There was even a kids area with slides and giant inflatable whoo-haaas where the biker juniors could chill. And enough food and drink vendors, clothing stores and even wheelie machines,to keep all us non-stunters busy when the events slowed.
Inside there was no shortage of fun either and there was even more vendors, what seemed like hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry, custom in ear monitors, even Verison was in on the deal.
This is where it gets funny... and im not going to bash anyone here so just read it how it was intended.
We all gathered at a small table at the end of the event to see what we placed, because there was no awards presentation, and i guess since all the money that was supposed to be given to the winners for the work that went into their craft... dissipated or was somehow not available.. suddenly...
Let me explain why i say suddenly, the events were all narrowed down to their respective top 10s on Saturday, a day in which im sure that either the money was their, or the event staff already knew it wasn't, but no one told anyone they weren't getting paid on Saturday night because...well.. no one would have showed on Sunday, duh. So the secret was kept overnight, forcing many innocent people to pay for hotels , sitters, and gas for another night , in an effort to come collect the prize money they rightfully deserved.
But i digress, we gathered in a wet huddled mass in the forum we were soon to be escorted from , by the extra police force that was already on tap to keep stuff under control when the secret was eventually let out.
And escorted out we were, police in force pushed the array of bikers out into the rain to hobble home, or back to their hotels on the same bikes they had worked hard to impress the judges on all weekend.
It was no longer a party, we were an inconvenience , an angry force that wanted what we rightfully deserved, but knew that aside from sacrificing another night in Tampa in the form of jail time, we werent going to leave with an ounce of satisfaction more than knowing where we should have placed , or how how much of how time , energy and gas money "should" have been reimbursed.
So here is MY personal effort to congratulate everyone who was there, to everyone who rode,parked,stunted and even wrecked their bikes to make this weekend worth being a part of, this is my personal thank you to everyone who was there and did your thing this weekend, please dont let this be a discouraging moment.
To every chick who drove down with bikini in tow to show us all your unmentionables and every dude who towed down a bike to show your ***, to every vendor who was there to feed us and every degree of a/c the venue provided.
Thank you.
And i would like to personally say Congrats to Roaring Toys the self proclaimed "leader in Custom Sport Bike and Custom Sport Bike Parts and Accessories" for winning first place in the Amateur Show bike competition.
Your bike truthfully was the nicest Amateur bike there.
To anyone who was there and took part in this weekend i would like you to repost this.. let everyone know that no matter how bad they got fucked financially by what was otherwise an great event, that we still appreciated how hard our friends and co-riders worked to make this weekend fun for everyone.
At the end of the day.. i wouldnt trade this beautiful landscape and close city proximity.. for the muddy .. shitty.. out in the country parking... of Stuntwars..or the honest payouts they have come to produce.
09-21-2009, 02:40 PM
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Jax, FL
Age: 38
Posts: 697
Re: Gearfest 2009
Ive got tons of pics of everyone btw .. shoot me your e-mail 904paintpros@gmail.com
09-21-2009, 03:19 PM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: FL
Posts: 249
Re: Gearfest 2009
Ponis, you sandbagging s.o.b....Took my first place...lol...j/k homie, you killed all weekend and deserved the win. I agree that the event was sick all up until the final 2 hours when it came time for awards...See you guys in two weeks...
You guys should come down to our spot sometime to shoot some film...
You guys should come down to our spot sometime to shoot some film...
09-21-2009, 03:51 PM
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Jax, FL
Age: 38
Posts: 697
Re: Gearfest 2009
Ponis, you sandbagging s.o.b....Took my first place...lol...j/k homie, you killed all weekend and deserved the win. I agree that the event was sick all up until the final 2 hours when it came time for awards...See you guys in two weeks...
You guys should come down to our spot sometime to shoot some film...
You guys should come down to our spot sometime to shoot some film...
You killed it too sir!
09-21-2009, 04:46 PM
#10
ESADmethods.com
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ESAD Land
Age: 57
Posts: 3,950
09-21-2009, 04:47 PM
#11
Soup Mafia
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vero Beach, Fl USA
Age: 35
Posts: 7,922
Re: Gearfest 2009
09-21-2009, 04:54 PM
#12
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Location: North Andover, MA
Age: 47
Posts: 23,872
Re: Gearfest 2009
09-21-2009, 05:07 PM
#14
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: daytona florida
Age: 39
Posts: 693
Re: Gearfest 2009
09-21-2009, 05:08 PM
#15
Soup Mafia
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Age: 35
Posts: 7,922
09-21-2009, 05:24 PM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jax FL U.S.
Posts: 2
Re: Gearfest 2009
"At the end of the day.. i WOULDNT trade this beautiful landscape and close city proximity.. for the muddy .. shitty.. out in the country parking... of Stuntwars..or the honest payouts they have come to produce."
he said the well placed lie was Not worth it.. not vice versa.. sure bet (stunt wars) can be water logged all it wants.. its pay outs kept up with their promises.
09-21-2009, 06:04 PM
#19
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jax FL U.S.
Posts: 2
Re: Gearfest 2009
Yea.. im the ... first time builder.. daily driver... gold framed double r that entered the amateur contest and mysteriously had to compete against Roaring Toyzs show bike.. and my wife was the tattoed chick with the pink hair that shoulda copped an easy top3 .. maybe a win in the bikini show... lol.. so the weekend was **** for all of us..
Its ok at least it was fun till the last min.. i guess
09-21-2009, 06:06 PM
#20
Dead Babies Syndicate
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Otown
Age: 36
Posts: 1,332
Re: Gearfest 2009
Eventhough I ate **** it was worth it
