Monday Morning Coffee
By Billy Rainford
Wake me up when it’s time to head down to Atlanta and Daytona! Wow, the ‘winter without snow’ disappeared in a hurry around here. Seriously, we went from green grass and the ability to ride to about 2 feet of snow here in the London, Ontario, area. Seemingly, overnight!
On Saturday, we ventured out into the blizzard (I finally bought some off-camera flash equipment) and as we pulled into a rather desolate TD Bank parking lot, we noticed an elderly gentleman with his car up on the factory jack with a badly smashed front left wheel resting in the deepening snow. It was a newer economy car and so all he had was one of those horrible temporary donut wheels to replace it with.
We asked him if he was OK and he said that he was so we went to the cash machine and then into a store next to it for a couple minutes. When we came out, he’d managed to get the spare on and was putting the stuff back into his trunk. I told him that there was probably no way he would be able to drive in the conditions with that thing on the front. He kept promising us he’d be fine but then sat there just spinning that silly 60kph max tire without moving an inch.
We were in the Volvo wagon/tank and so the deep snow wasn’t an issue for us but he was about to head off with his bags to the bus stop. We couldn’t have that and so we offered him a ride. He was heading downtown and we were going that way too, sort of, so after having to twist his arm he hopped into the back seat and off we went.
What is it about a snowstorm that seems to bring out the best in people? I mean it. For some reason, neighbours who barely say “boo” on a sunny day, are pulled together in these rougher times. It turned out, this gentleman had a very interesting story and was on his way home to his wife with something he’d bought her for Valentine’s Day.
Next? Well, our 80-year-old across-the-street neighbour has a long but narrow driveway. We live on one of those streets that is far from the top of the list when it comes to snow removal. Fortunately, a plow finally came through late Saturday night, leaving one of those horrible, heavy snowbanks across the bottom of our driveway to shovel out if we wanted to leave the house.
There’s always that feeling of guilt as you get to the end of your job and look at the few houses around to see that theirs are still blocked. Not to worry, Bob has a new snowblower, right? Wrong. What’s the use of these things if they won’t start when it’s cold?!
You guessed it, next thing we know, we’re shoveling out another driveway. And much to my chagrin, I look over to see Emily heading up the driveway, continuing to shovel! What? We’re doing the entire thing?! (Emily is an emergency department nurse, so she’s used to doing nice things for people, but it wasn’t quite so familiar to me.) OK, we’ll keep moving up until Bob gets his machine fired up.
Yep, we got all the way up to him and did the entire driveway. Not only that, I think we even made it a foot wider on both sides! If you live somewhere that doesn’t get any snow, this may all sound pretty foreign to you, but these are things the average Canadian deals with a few months of the year.
Anyway, my point is that it would be really nice if it didn’t take some sort of emergency for people to treat each other with this sort of compassion. There’s a very rewarding and satisfying feeling that comes with helping someone out in a time of need – it’s just too bad we don’t usually get to feel it without a situation like that.
Since it’s Family Day here in Ontario, not to mention Valentine’s Day was just yesterday, I thought I’d up the ‘sappy metre’ and tell that little story. We can all get back to ignoring one another when this snowstorm ends…
What is it about a snowstorm that brings people together?
The series heads to Dallas, Texas, this weekend. Dallas used to mark the beginning of the East, but it’s another West round in 250 competition and then we’ll head to Atlanta for the beginning of the East.
You can read ‘McThoughts‘ for San Diego 2 here: 250, 450.
Amsoil Arenacross Results
Arenacross Class
Monster Energy Arenacross UK
Round 10 – Saturday, February 13, 2016
Sheffield Arena
Sheffield, England
Canadian #664 Kieran Doherty has one more round of Arenacross UK to go in 2 weeks at Wembley Stadium in London, England. These races have been his first foray into Pro racing. Let’s see how he did this past weekend in the Pro Lites class:
He’s been slacking a little with his podcasts, but here is his last one from Newcastle, if you missed it. Come on, Kieran, this one is from 12 days ago!
Get Well Soon, Kenzie Hennessy
From his Facebook page:
Not how I had hoped for my trip south to go. I guess it’s part of the sport. Just dislocated for now MRI when i get home to know more. Thanks to everyone helping me out! #blessed #sore #havefaith #motocross #ax @trendmillwork @ride100percent @foxheadcanada @formaboots @innovativewrap @atlasbrace @matrixconcepts and all of the others behind me! #thankyou
Wyatt Waddell Goes Blue
From Wyatt’s Facebook:
Excited to announce i have made a switch to GA Checkpoint Yamaha. Got a lot of cool stuff in the works. Really excited to start the 2016 season #blucru
The Age of Motocross
I’m not even sure who Jim Chamberlain is, but he’s working his butt off to promote motocross and get it out to the masses from somewhere out in the Maritimes. Here’s his latest installment of ‘The Age of Motocross.’ Thumbs up, Jim.
Brock Hoyer on HGTV?
Brock Leitner Wins ArenacrossTour then Races San Diego 2 Supercross
After winning the ArenacrossTour Pro Lites series in Tunica, MS last weekend, #497 Brock Leitner made the jump up to ‘The Show’ this past weekend in San Diego.
San Diego Results:
Qualifying: 50th
Night Show: Did not Qualify
Congratulations, Brock. That is a winter you’ll remember the rest of your life. Seriously, you and your family will remember every little experience…even something silly from a breakfast you had somewhere. I remember when my Dad and I went to Florida the first time to race. We were having breakfast in Gainesville, and the server asked if everything was OK. Instead of replying, “Yes, it was great, thanks,” my Dad blurts out, “Thanks…Great…Yes.” We laughed until tears ran down our faces. I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s an experience we both still laugh about to this day.
OK, lot’s of stuff to do today, like getting in touch with Cole Thompson and Brock Leitner about Sand Diego. It’s also time to go shovel the driveway again. Thanks for reading, and have a great Family Day and work week.
Happy Birthday to this guy – Ryan Millar. ~ Bigwave photo
