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Remembering the Good Old Days of ECW (Part 1)

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You wrestling fans out there that watch WWE “Raw”, “Smackdown”, TNA , MMA or the UFC are probably a bit young to remember the early days of ECW, and no, I’m not talking about the WWE version of ECW, there’s simply no comparison! No ill-will towards WWE but ever since the “Invasion”, the ECW got watered down and commercialized compared to the late 80’s when ECW at that time was called the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance.

Now despite we all know wrestling is acting and has storylines and pushes the envelope with risqué themes more aimed at the 18-35 age bracket, these are still athletes that take their bodies to the limit and perform stunts that the majority of us would never risk. ECW pushed that envelope in a way that it was obvious that the WWE (back then it was the WWF, who later changed the name due to the animal organization with the same acronym) was keeping a sharp eye on the brand due to constant good ratings for TV and their pay-per-view events.

Still seen on WWE today is Paul Heyman, the man that brought the ECW to excellence in the 80’s and 90’s. ECW is the reason we have the Dudley Boyz, Shane Douglas, Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and many others. ECW at this time was competing against the WWF and the WCW. Once they changed their name to Extreme Championship Wrestling, people saw the difference in style and it when on to popularize hardcore wrestling as well as lucha libre and Japanese wrestling styles compared to the American and European styles the other leagues had.

ECW was as underground as it could get with the majority of it’s shows in Philadelphia and off I-95 at ECW Arena, which was just an empty warehouse set up with folding steel chairs and makeshift bleachers and a ring. This was the start of true, unglamorized events that kept people coming for more.

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Go-Kart Racing: Still As Fun As When We Were Kids

January 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Indoor kart racing

Image via Wikipedia

I think any kid at any age still gets the thrill of driving a go-kart as we once did growing up and it’s hard to believe how popular these things still are. Just the small size of these, the way they just zip in and out of turns is cool in itself. To be totally honest, I think I have wrecked numerous times with these and still was able to walk away unscathed each time. Now, I’m not saying this will be your good fortune but these are a pretty safe ride if you have the padding, goggles and helmet on as the newer models are a bit more open than when I was a kid. The go-karts nowadays can reach speeds of 45mph also, another reason to be safe since back in our day, you were lucky to do 30-35mph with the latest and greatest lawnmower engine that was “enhanced”.

Go-kart facilities are everywhere, no matter what city or what state you go to. One of the huge facilities that has many western locations, Pole Position Raceway, has just opened a facility in Jersey City for serving both residents of New Jersey and New York. The facility caters to walk-ins who want to race family, friends and other customers as well as handle small and large private groups, corporate events, building programs for teams, product launches, training classes, meetings and even birthday and bachelor parties are welcomed. You can obtain a season racing pass for $199 right now which is good for all locations and is valid for 36 of the seasonal races. Membership packages are very reasonable as well as the special public and private events you may want to schedule. This is a good way to keep your kids from thinking mom and dad are boring and getting old!!

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No Place Like Drome

January 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the early extreme sports people have forgotten about is the motor drome. Dating back to the early 1900′s, the art of the drome was merely found at fairs, circuses and carnivals. The drome is a 15-foot circular wall, usually wood, that has a serious pitch to it that if a motorcycle gathers enough speed, can take these turns and leans with almost no effort. If that isn’t enough, there’s shows that have 10-15 bikes and they interesect with one another, making you think they’re going to crash at some point. To pull off something like this is all about timing, speed and precision let alone the training and choreography that goes behind it. Many of the shows involve Indian Scout cycles which are relics themselves and a few people still out there are keeping this old-fashioned spectacle alive.

The Indian 101 Scout is the performer favorite for doing tricks. The bikes were built in Springfield, Massachusetts from 1928-31. Other bikes noted would be the vintage Harley Davidson 2-stroke models that ran from the 50′s to the 70′s.

The origins of dromes came in the form of boardwall racing, a circular or oval track a mile or a mile and a half in length with steep walls. Some builders and daredevils got to the point that the walls were at a scary 68 degrees. Between the speed and the danger, several stunt people as well as spectators lost their lives. This is how the sport got nicknamed, “the wall of death”, and eventually was outlawed.

The “Wall of Death” show is the only current U.S. thrillshow still going, run by the American Motor Drome Company. The late part of the 1930′s was when the dromes were king. There’s a few in Europe that run similiar shows but not as well-known as this group. They are currently working on their 10th season of the show.

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Extreme H2O: How Water Sports Can Be Extreme

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Running the Crooked Chute on the Petawawa Rive...

Image via Wikipedia

Water can be extreme. In nature, it is unpredictable, hinging on weather-forces to unleash its power. For that reason, many water sports are extreme sports. For a few other reasons, some water sports are more extreme than others: Danger in the sports elements, the unknown in the surroundings and the skill of participants can make some water sports super extreme. Let’s take a look at a few of these.
Rafting
Rafting is an extreme sport because of the unknowns. A river can turn from gentle waves to Class IV rapids in a short distance. Additionally, other unknown rafting dangers, like rock outcroppings and waterfalls, can make rafting unknown or unchartered waters very dangerous.
Whitewater Kayaking
For the same reasons, whitewater kayaking can be extreme. The rocks can be problematic and unchartered waters are dangerous. In addition, though, the skill involved in whitewater kayaking is even more advanced than the high skill level needed for rafting: A kayaker must be skilled enough to traverse the dangerous waters all by herself in an overly responsive vessel.
Whitewater Canoeing
Even more dangerous in some senses, whitewater canoeing takes all of the above dangers into consideration and adds some more on top. In addition to the dangers existing in the water and the skill needed to steer, a whitewater canoe team must be able to work together to steer the canoe or a single canoer must be able to steer quickly and accurately with a single paddle.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving has its own sets of difficulties. Divers must know their skill levels and limitations because they are so far under water. For example, divers should know how quickly they use the air in their tanks, how fast they can descend and how fast they may ascend (to avoid the bends).
Water sports can be extreme. However, from rafting to scuba diving, respecting the power of water can help athletes compete in extreme sports.

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Board to Extremes: An Introduction to Extreme Board Sports

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Extreme sports all have a few things in common: danger and power. All extreme sports get labeled as such because they are highly dangerous and use powerful equipment or powerful athletic prowess. Is basketball extreme? No: Injuries are possible but not probable, and there is no powerful equipment. Is trampoline basketball extreme? Yes: Injuries are probable and the trampoline qualifies as powerful equipment.
So, by that definition, if you want to get into an extreme sport, a great place to start is boarding. With a common theme of using a board of some sort to complete extreme stunts, boarding can satisfy your need for danger and excitement. The following are some suggestions to check out:
Snowboarding — Snowboarding is one of the more widely accepted extreme sports, but the potential for injury is still high. Using a board to travel down mountains, snowboarders can also travel through terrain parks made especially for extreme snowboarding tricks.
Sandboarding – Sandboarding is similar to snowboarding. Participants board down a sand dune rather than a mountain. The sport becomes extreme when boarders use boards without straps, making injuries probable.
Windsurfing – Also becoming more mainstream, windsurfing is a favorite among vacationers. With a sail connected to a surfboard, a windsurfing board allows the boarder to take advantage of the wind as a propellent in calm or rough waters. The sport requires a lot of strength, so the injury rate is high.
Kitesurfing – Kitesurfing uses the power of the wind in a different way: It harnesses wind from a large kite above the board. Boarders use the wind to propel forward, but the wind that high in the sky can make kitesurfing unpredictable and dangerous.
Boarding sports can be very extreme. Not only are the natural factors surrounding the sports dangerous (snow, wind, ice, sand, etc.), but the sports take a certain level of athletic prowess, a certain power, to compete and/or compete in well. That’s extreme.

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Injury and Power: The Extreme in Extreme Sports

January 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What makes a sport extreme? Is it the potential for injury? Is it the size of the engine? Actually, it’s both. Extreme sports are dangerous sports — their potential for injury is generally high. But that’s not the only thing extreme about the sports: Many extreme sports also rely on power. Whether it be the power of an engine or the power of a participant, the power is always extreme.
By that definition, an extreme sport is a dangerous, powerful sport. To be classified as extreme, the potential for injury must be high or the sport must be one in which few average citizens participate. Let’s take a look at some examples to clarify.
Motor Bikes
All motor bike sports can be classified as extreme. Even with helmets, the potential for injury in motor bike sports is very high. Riders are not protected well from injury at all: There are no roll bars and no seat belts. Riders travel at high speeds over treacherous ground, and they general race in large packs, which encourages accidents.
Go-Carts
Go-carting in serious competitions can get really dicey. Some of the competitors drive up to 160 miles per hour in tiny carts. Basically tin cans, the carts are large enough for one person, and the lightweight design helps drivers go fast but does little to protect them. Even with roll cages (in some carts) injuries are commonplace.
BMX Bikes
BMX biking is a rough ride. Bikes are little more than child’s bikes: They are equipped with one speed. However, they are designed for some extreme jumps and bumps, with thick mountain tires and better suspension. Even with the upgrades, though, BMX biking can be seriously dangerous — missed jumps and harsh dumps are the norm.
So, what makes a sport extreme? The extreme people who design and participate in the sport know the dangers yet still race — that makes an extreme sport truly extreme.

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Ultimate Racing: Go-Cart Races for Everyone

January 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A kart race in Atwater California

Image via Wikipedia

Go-cart racing is a multi-faceted sport. Racers from 8 years old to 80 can experience the thrills of racing, and racers can get in the game with little money — carts can cost less than a thousand dollars. Perks, however, do not end here, because go-cart racing can also become a serious sport, with serious competitions (and serious trophies). Let’s take a look at the types of races and their competitions.
Sprint Races
With tracks ranging from 1/4 mile to 1 mile, sprint racing courses showcase a varied course with left and right turns. The race heats typically lasts 15 minutes, making speed and passing very important in the short racing period. With only three heats and a final race, the competition is quick and intense. The ultimate sprint racing competition is the Karting World Championship.Endurance Races
Just like they sound, endurance races measure the go-carter’s endurance, although the period of endurance can range from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Multiple drivers are often used in long races, and team work is the ultimate measurement of a team’s success. Winning the race depends on reliability, team work, consistency and pit strategies more than speed. The Le Mans go-cart circuit, the 24-hour race Champ Car, is the most well-known endurance cart race.
Speedway Races
Speedway races use a 1/6 to 1/4 mile long oval asphalt track. The four left-turn corners lend themselves to a speedy race, made quicker by the length of qualifying laps (most often less than 20 laps). There are three major speedway associations that offer serious competitions: the International Kart Foundation, the World Karting Foundation and the American Kart Racing Association.
With three types of races, go-carting can become anyone’s go-to sport for fun, competition and trophies.

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Need for Speed: The Design of a Racing Go-Cart

January 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Go-cart racing can be nice race for families, or it can be an extreme sport. Racing is generally comprised of different kart designs, built for different racing styles. The amusement park carts are made for low speeds of about 15 miles per hour, while the most extreme cart can reach speeds of 160 mph. Other cart designs can produce slower speed carts with mega-springs that can compete off-road. However, all carts are based off of a general design, so let’s take a look a the general components on which carts are based.
Chassis
Go-cart chassis are made of flexible steel tube. There is usually not a suspension system, so the chassis must be flexible enough to absorb strain yet rigid enough to maintain the cart’s integrity.
Chassis can be built as open, caged, straight or offset, depending upon their purpose. Open designs are used on paved tracks because they have no roll cage, whereas caged carts are used on dirt tracks. Straight chassis seat the driver in the middle and are used for sprint racing. Left-turn speedway racing designs, however, call for an offset chassis, where the driver is seated on the left.
Wheels
Wheels are much smaller than car wheels, and chassis design around the wheels is made to lift the wheel slightly upon cornering, loosening its grip on the ground and allowing the cart to slide with the turn.
Power
Racing carts are typically powered by a two-stroke or four-stroke 125 cc clutched engine. The engine powers the cart through a rear axle chain connection, and cart engine/axle design is adaptable to each new track.
The general design of a racing cart is simple: A flexible chassis, small wheels and a small engine. However, these elements are designed for maximum maneuverability, which makes racing the small carts a much larger feat than it appears.

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Racing Against Time: Land Speed Racing

January 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Land speed racing is a very exciting motorcycle racing event. In the race, one competitor races against the clock to beat top speeds in his/her category. The track is a flat, straight, smooth surface ideal for speeding toward the clock point at the end.
Although the race does not seem as dangerous as multi-competitor track events, the extreme speeds of land speed racing make this event very dangerous — any bump or misalignment can send the 300 mph vehicle careening off the track. Let’s take a look at motorcycle land record history to give you an idea of exactly how fast these machines can go.
Motorcycle Land Records
The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) governs all motorcycle races and speed records, and they first recorded a land speed record in 1920, when Gene Walker claimed the record on his 994 cc Indian in Daytona Beach, FL. Walker topped out at 104.12 mph (notably below an unsanctioned record of 136 mph in 1907).
Over the years, mph steadily increased, bringing in a record of 173.68 in 1937 before closing shop for World War II and a decade-long post-war clean up.
In 1951, when land record racing resumed, the top mph went to Wilhelm Herz at 180.29. The following couple decades were dedicated to topping speeds of 200 mph, pulling in a speed of 254.84 in 1970.
Finally topping speeds of 300 mph, Don Vesco brought in the first 300-plus mph record at 302.92 in his Yamaha 1480 cc in 1975. However, over a quarter of a century later, the 400-mph era is still on our current horizon — the last recorded speed came in at 376.363, won by Rocky Robinson on September 25, 2010.
As you can see, motorcycle land racing speeds can be extreme — and this is only piston-engine machines. Thrust-powered motorcycles are in an extreme class of their own.

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Extremes in Bikes and Roads: Motorcycle Track Racing

January 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Racing motorcycles leaning in a turn.

Image via Wikipedia

Motorcycle track racing (or road racing) mimics car track racing, except the motorcyclist is battling for the title on two wheels — without steel protecting him/her from crash impacts. As is the case in car racing, races occur on paved tracks, which are either circular or employ multiple twists and turns. The speeds in motorcycle track racing are intense, making turns gut-wrenching on a motorcycle, for both the rider and the audience.
But the extremes in track racing don’t end there: There are many extreme subsets of road racing, including Moto Grand Prix, superbike racing, closed-road racing and indoor track racing. Let’s look at each.
Moto Grand Prix Racing
The premier motorcycle road racing, the Moto Grand Prix (MotoGP) breaks levels of moto road racing down to three classes: 125 cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125 cc class allows two-stroke engines and is designed for mid- to late-twenties riders. Moto2 competitions target 600 cc four-stroke motorcyclists, and MotoGP is for 800 cc four-strokes.
Superbike Racing
Designed for large-engine bikes, the superbike racing allows modified motos: the four stroke twin engine must be 800 cc to 1200 cc, and the four stroke four cylinder machines must top out between 750 cc and 1000 cc. Even with such super engines, the bikes must maintain the same appearance of a road-legal bike.
Closed-Road Racing
Moto road racing was originally developed as a closed-road sporting event. The track was made out of roads either temporarily closed to traffic or out of closed roads modified for racing. This allows for intense racing around the natural curves of the “open” road.
Indoor Track Racing
Taking these races indoors may seem counter-intuitive: Where are the roads? However, indoor track racing uses a polished concrete floor with added traction or a hard-packed dirt floor to accomplish track racing indoors.

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