*Liam's Wild Ride*

[johnc]

And yes, that kid was sitting one row behind me, just off to my right. When he would start up, another baby in the section ahead of me would respond, so they worked off each other. That was a rough one.

two words of advise for you next time you fly: tranquilizer gun

yes, i know it might be difficult getting one through security, but if you let the tsa peeps know it's for taking down screaming babies, you get a free pass. and, the rest of the passengers treat you as a hero.

 

[TylerW]

What it's like flying coach [/B]

I've been saying for a while now, they should seat all the kids under six with their parents in the same cabin, away from people that don't love the sound of screaming babies. Either that or administer Ether or have parents store their kids in the overhead bin.

 

[RaoulDuke]

I like the AirTran solution, kick the brats and their parents off the flight. If you're already at 35K feet, just give them parachutes.

 

[MotoLiam]

Anyone know the song in this Video from last year's (2006) IRTA test at Montmelo?

And who knows this song?

I've been staring at my computer screens for 12 hours a day ever since I got off the plane from London, and it's giving me one hell of a headache, haha. Maybe tomorrow I'll spend some time on personal stuff, but I doubt it. I was checking the schedule to see if I'd have any downtime in the next two months, but it looks like it's going to be one week at the track, one week crunching the numbers, track, numbers, track, numbers, and so on. On the plus side of things, I took a short break this afternoon to catch up with Team KR, and I asked some of the questions you guys posed earlier. Expect to hear it within a week or so, editing gods willing.

Dirty Laundry? Yeah, I got some of that, too

 

[secn8ure]

I spy Optimus Prime. Can't wait to see the movie.

 

[Zerox]

Heck yeah Barros was flying, congrats to D'Antin!

I talked to Barros for a few minutes after the press conference at the '99 Suzuka 8-Hrs. He was freaking exhausted after riding all day in that humid July heat, and summed it all up by sighing "I'm tired." And yowza he has a gorgeous wife, no wonder he always has those bags under eyes.

That crying baby was a painful noise.

 

[MotoLiam]

My Prime knows teh Shocker!

I spy Optimus Prime. Can't wait to see the movie.

 

[MotoLiam]

And if one is good - two is better! I am looking forward to the movie as well, having seen a couple trailers and "sneak-peaks" over the internet the past year.

 

[MotoLiam]

And on a more personal note. . . .

Early this morning I received a reply to an email I had sent out to Billy Lane, of Chopper's Inc. Some of you may know him from the Discovery Channel show, Biker Build-off, and from some of the other motorcycle specials that have appeared on TV, but I've known Billy since '99 when I first contacted him while going through MMI in Phoenix. Haha, I almost moved to Florida to go work with him - who knows where I would be right now had I followed that life path! Anyway, I consider Billy to be one of the most talented, creative forces behind the custom movement here in the US, and he's regularly featured in various international magazines, like Vibes. In fact, and that's where I first learned of him. Others of you probably only know of him because of the horrible tragedy he was involved in last year when he was driving home drunk one night and he killed another biker. While I will never condone Driving Under the Influence, you have to think that life moves on, and I'm sure for him it's just been a nightmare. How do you live with yourself after going through something like that? How can you deal with the guilt, the despair, the sense of loss, and how do you go about putting everything back together when there are pieces missing you can never replace or rebuild?

I was up early this morning to get a head start on my day, but his email kind of shook me up a little and I find I'm having trouble concentrating right now so I thought I'd throw out a post and send some positive vibrations his way. I hope you guys can all take a moment to think about how lucky we all are, and to give a thought to all the bikers that have met with an untimely end and are no longer with us.

Billy made these one-off handlebars for me, long before his shop blew up and he became successful enough to start making parts in large numbers, and I promised him that I'd run them on one of my bikes. Life has a way of distracting you and running on, like the waters swirling along the edges of a stream, and it took me a couple years before I finally mounted them on something. But I did. I hope it doesn't take Billy a couple years to get back on the horse. Peace out y'all.

 

[secn8ure]

Watermark it (across the pic) before someone sends it to Break.com or use it as their avatar.

And if one is good - two is better! I am looking forward to the movie as well, having seen a couple trailers and "sneak-peaks" over the internet the past year.
]

 

[tribalcbr]

keep up the good work Liam!!

 

[MotoLiam]

Heck yeah Barros was flying, congrats to D'Antin!
And yowza he has a gorgeous wife, no wonder he always has those bags under eyes.

That crying baby was a painful noise.

Barros is single now, with a 23 year old gf back home in Brazil. We had dinner together in Bangi Baru a couple weeks ago and some of the stories he tells!

I hope not to run into too many babies on my flights, but it's all part of the game.

Thanks Tribal! And about the Prime Shocker, if we see it in the future, we'll know where it came from

 

[Hawaiirider]

" I'm sure for him it's just been a nightmare. "

I wonder how his vicitm's family feels about the tough time poor Billy is going through. Maybe Billy will be assuaged when he takes full responsibilty for HIS ACTIONS - like any of the rest of us non-celebrities would be called upon to do.

" who knows where I would be right now had I followed that life path! "

- Well, if you moved to Florida and continued to ride 2-wheelers you might have wound up as Billy's hood ornament, as it workd out somebody else drew that straw.

I have a world of respect for what you've done Liam, and for sharing it with us, but I can't dredge up much sympathy for Billy Lane and only hope he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law to show we ALL are accountable for the things we DO, even the rich & famous. Well, except in South Dakota, of course.

No offense to you intended Liam, but killing somebody while drunkenly driving a truck in opposing traffic (with a license suspended for drunken driving) makes it hard for me to feel bad for the guy that CAUSED the problem in the first place.

Yes, those bars look kinda cool - What a waste.

 

[MotoLiam]

I agree with you, Hawaiirider, and here's an email I sent to someone who commented on the post on my website:

You're absolutely right - I'm not condoning his actions in any way,
because I feel strongly myself about the issue of drinking and
driving. I personally believe his celebrity status contributed in
some way to his irresponsible behavior. But as he was a friend of
mine before all this stuff happenned, I feel it's better to try and be
somewhat understanding. If your father or brother was involved in a
similar incident, what then? Everyone makes mistakes, some far bigger
than others. This one was huge. I'm sure he does feel the full
weight of his guilt, at least I hope he does, and I also hope he can
learn something from all this.

Please don't miscomprehend or misconstrue my "positive vibration" as a
way to forgive or congratulate him on all of this. I assure you, it's
anything but. The positive vibrations are for everyone, Billy
included, because there's so much pain and suffering for everyone
involved. I'm sure they all can use it.

Best,
Liam

 

[Hawaiirider]

Sorry to get riled up, and yes, I've gone and visited friends in jail before (boy, is THAT depressing, everybody should go see one of those with thier own eyes) - I realize you can still like the person without endorsing thier behavior.

Having suffered the sudden death of a family member maybe I'm just touchy about the impact on those remaining.

All my best to you L, and I hope the man does make something positive out of the days he gets. Days that somebody else lives without thier loved one, and spend wondering why.

 

[MotoLiam]

My sincerest condolences, Hawaiirider. My thoughts also go to the family of the departed.

 

[Zerox]

Barros is single now, with a 23 year old gf back home in Brazil. We had dinner together in Bangi Baru a couple weeks ago and some of the stories he tells!

Sorry, didn't know he had split up. He and the wife were sure in a good mood that day at the 8-Hours, I hear that race brings a sizeable cash bonus (he and Tady Okada won).

He's been around a long time, sheesh hard to believe he was once teammates with Kevin Schwantz on the RGV500. It's really cool to see him back in MotoGP doing well, and Hoffman too (I thought Hoffman's career was over after that street crash on the Kawi).

 

[jrace]

(I thought Hoffman's career was over after that street crash on the Kawi).

Me too. But everyone has done dumb stuff on the street. Alex's just happened to be in front of a large crowd, expecting greatness. If he with d'Antin can pull out a great result this year, I'll be flyin' the Pramac colors!

-jim

 

[com3]

...visited friends in jail before (boy, is THAT depressing, everybody should go see one of those with thier own eyes)...

try living in one for a LONG time.

 

[MotoLiam]

4AM. Time to head out for Qatar! I'm really looking forward to this test, because the first race of the season will take place here in roughly one month.

Whoa.

It's coming - and fast! I'll be looking to support my squad to the fullest, and once again, continue to learn and pick up some tricks from this guy, Davide Baraldini. "Baralda" is the best there is at this game.