Last chance for Christmas orders

13 days till Christmas. Anyone needing last minute small prints I can take orders up to the 18th and have them to you for Christmas. That is prints up to 11x14 as these are printed in-house. Gift certificates are also now available and are good for 1 year from date of purchase.

Congratulations to all overall winners. Still working on MAORA awards, but all mx and hare are in the hands of the tracks. I plan on making all the banquets this year. Providing the weather cooperates.

Just an update

What's happening here at PBP? I'm finishing up on the LTM hare scramble plaque pictures. That gets me down to 2 more series award pictures to process.

Lots of Christmas shopping going on. Remember, the last day to order clings/banners is this Friday (Dec. 5th). Posters and prints can be ordered up to Dec. 13th for guaranteed Christmas delivery. We also now have gift certificates available. If you want an amount different than those offered just give me a call. All 2008 pictures will go off-line on Dec. 30! I will repost pictures upon request anytime.

We will more than likely shut down for a few days the first of the year. There is plenty to do to get ready for the 2009 season. My schedule will be posted as soon as I get the majority of dates set. Dates already confirmed: CRMX for the Qualifier in April; practice and racing. April 25/26 I will be attending a workshop instead of on the track. Any track or event you'd like me cover? Let me know and I will see if it's possible.

Local racers at the Mini Olympics

Mini Olympics Final Standings:

Chase Sexton took double 1st! Both SX and MX in the 51 7-8 Stock class. SX: 65 7-9 Mod: 14th, 65 7-9 Stock: 12th. MX: 65 7-9 Stock: 29th, and 65 7-9 Mod: 24th. Not sure if it was Chase that went down in the mx mod. or he just got caught up in it. He was running 10th and dropped to 32nd on that second lap when I hear them say a rider was down. Congratulations Chase.

Jace Owen: SX: 85 Mod: 3rd. MX: 85 12-13 Stock: 5th, Supermini 12-16: 4th, 85 12-13 Mod: 6th

Zach Loehr: MX: 85 9-11 Stock: 20th, 85 9-11 Mod: 13th

Brianna Mahon: MX: Women +12: 5th

Ted Pauli: MX: 250B Stock: 35th, Open B Stock: 22nd, Open B Mod: 18th, and 250B Mod: 46th

Beau Hayes: MX: Supermini 12-16: 32nd

Hope I didn't miss anyone! Tried to keep up with the riders we all love to watch.

Congrats to all racers; even those who didn't make it to the finals. As always the competition was fierce and breakdowns happen at the worst times. It was pretty cool listening to the races online. Thanks to Dunlop for the live feed.

PBP riders take District 17 top honors

PBP racers capture five Illinois state championships and 7 top five finishes. Congratulations to all of you!

Hare Scramble:

Paige Garecht 1st Women

Jarred Hall 2nd 65cc

Lee Lankutis 1st AA

Derek Toberman 4th 86-OpenA

MX:
Dustin Anderson 2nd Open B
Dillon Hall 1st 250A, 2nd 14-24
Cody McMurray 2nd Schoolboy
Gage Noblitt 4th 65 Sr.
Ryan Shull 1st 4 wheel C
Aaron Thompson 1st Super mini
Shelby Thompson 2nd 4 wheel C

Truck/Buggy Videos

PBP Mini Enduro Pilots at LTM
John Frana MAORA and CORR races
Nick Sedler In car camera from Fall Classic at LTM
More Fall Classic

They are too large to embed in the blog, so I had to link them. Any more out there?

Nice write up in Decatur Herald & Review

Dirt Riders Hare Scramble received a nice write up in the Herald & Review. HERE Sounds like it was a good day of racing and for a worthy cause. Note to MX parents: Keep your children away from me. I think I've turned Aaron Miller into a tree dodger!

Bike Team Hare

Thanks to teams Wargo/Lankutis and Becktell/Shaffer for an exciting 3 hours of racing. 15 laps and at least 11 lead changes. Mike made the final pass on the mx track to give Wargo/Lankutis the win by 1 second. Now that's racing!

Great showing by the MX racers on Sunday. Curtis Batson took the Heavy C class Ironman style. Micah Thacker, Aaron Miller, Dave Ulrich, Domnick Sparks, and Andy Brown also competed well. Did I forget anyone? You guys need to come to the woods side more often.

Year end award winners: Please let me know which picture you would like on your LTM plaque as soon as possible. Or submit you own picture to the track. Banquet is set for the first weekend in January I was told. Watch LTM's website for the final word on that.

Sad news

Quad harescramble racer Brent Foltz was killed in an auto accident Tuesday. Out of respect for Brent the Lincoln Trail team quad harescramble has been rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 9th. The bike team harescrambles will go on as scheduled Nov. 2nd. IXCR is dedicating their race on Sunday at Lawrence County Recreational Park to Brent also. Donations will be collected for a gift to The Rider Down Foundation in his memory.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Foltz family. Brent was an awesome racer and all around good guy. You will be missed.

Latest updates

All 2008 race pictures are slowly being put back online for your Christmas shopping pleasure. 45 race days and close to 47,000 pictures this year. That's about what the total will be after this weekend. No wonder I'm exhausted. I think it's time for a little break before I start in on award pictures. PBP will be closed Nov. 5 - 7. Have to get back to work on the 8th with MAORA fall meeting/fun run at Greene County Motorsports. (weather permitting)

NEW: Thank You cards. 5x7 folded photo cards with standard "Thank you for your support." inside or create your own message. 24 cards with envelopes for $80.

Rider: Lee Lankutis Inside text:
My season of tree ducking just wouldn't be the same without your support.
Thank You

Last Day to Order for Christmas Delivery:

Prints/Posters/Cards: Dec. 13th
Wall/Trailer Clings and banners: Dec. 5th

Year End Awards

Banquet time is fast approaching. All of this year's pictures will be back online within the next week. I will send pictures to the tracks for your year end awards. MX: I normally pick out the image to save time. HARE: Please let me know which picture you want as soon as possible. If you’ll pull up the single image you want and hit “email a friend” that would be great. Send to phyllis@phyllisblume.com along with the riders name, number, and class. If I do not have a picture for you the track will contact you to submit one. Those wanting to submit their own pictures please send to the appropriate track along with the rider’s information.

Archview MX

With CRMX having to reschedule their Appreciation Weekend I headed over to check out Archview MX. What an awesome track. Lots of spectator seating with a good view of the track. Best dirt I've seen in quite some time. Multiple lines formed up quickly during practice. No hard pack, slick jump faces or flat track corners. I love quads as much as the next gal, but I do see how differently a track takes shape without them.

Being stuck in the "spectator" section was tough, but I had a great time being able to watch the races for a change. Denny Dooley is just amazing to watch. So smoooth. (I do know how to spell, he just deserves and extra "O"). Todd Sheedy was looking good, but just couldn't quite catch Denny. Great watching Rob Long again too. Hadn't seen him in awhile. Chase Sexton was having a good day as was Logan Dagner. New riders to me that stood out were Talon Kobush, Nick Peterson, Tucker Thower, Gulley brothers, and all of the women's class. Some really good riders there. There are quite a few more, but I'm just not putting names to bikes yet.

It's a bit of a drive for me to make, but well worth the trip. I strongly advise anyone going to race to get there early. Parking is tight.

Season is almost over

Hard to believe the season is about to come to a close. Sure doesn't seem like it has been 7 months since I first hit the track this spring. Looks like it's going to end the way it started though; cold and wet. With a little luck we won't have any of that nasty white stuff just yet.

2008 has had it's ups and downs just like any other. Injuries are always a part of motorsports and I've seen too many it seems this year. We can only pray that those hurt this season will make full recoveries.

On the up side I have watched several racers improve tremendously this season. There are just too many to mention them all. And I'd probably leave someone out and think of it later. Quad 300 and 50cc Quad have been exciting to watch. The 50, 65, 85 and mini classes, both hare and mx, have made huge improvements. I feel privileged to watch these kids learn and grow as racers. I'm proud of all of you.

Good luck to everyone in the last races of the year in the midwest. Some will head indoors for the winter season while others travel south. Where ever the cold weather takes you be safe and we'll see you in April for another year of dust, mud, and great racing action.

LTM Appreciation Weekend

Perfect weekend for racing. Thanks to TJ and the crew for a great year of racing. LTM is my "home" track and seems like a home away from home sometimes with being there so much.

I got the best of both worlds with MX on Saturday and Hare on Sunday. Quad 300 MX has been hot all year. This race between Rex Goodwin, Jacob Lynch and Wyatt Halfhill. When we can add in Tyler Duvall, Skylar Goff, and Ryan Wade it's even better. Now with Kyle Dye moving up to the 300 I can't wait for next year! This is a must watch class with so much talent it's impossible to predict who will cross that finish line first. 50 shaft gave me probably the best shot of the day. Joshua Franklin giving up a little mini whip out of the whoops. He was flying as usual.

Hare scramble numbers were down on Sunday. Where was everyone? Getting ready for Ironman I'm sure. Jon Shaff and Parker Jones are always a treat to photograph. Some of the toughest racers for me to catch since Scott Flechhour. PBP's Jarred Hall fought a race long battle with Chance Farve. Chance got him last race and Jarred was determined not to let him by again. Chance sure made him work for it. Great race guys!! Zach Kirchoff got a bad start on the 65 Beginner, but worked his way back to I think 3rd. (I really need to write down results) Big bikes found me hugging a tree as Derek Toberman and another rider (can't remember who right now) picked the wrong line. Yep, I'm a tree hugger of a different sort. Derek went on to finish 2nd, so maybe it was the right line after all. Jay Hall was simply hauling out there. What was in your Wheaties Sunday morning Jay? I think I could use some.

The eyes have it

Capturing a racers eyes is something I strive for. They show the drive and emotion that the rest of us can only imagine.
And they're sometimes cute. Yea Matthew; it's you. Watch it or you'll bite it off one day!

Sponsorship Part II

I've been speaking with several racers lately about sponsors. It's amazing to me just how many do not check in with their sponsors during the season. Sponsors want to hear how you're doing. Good and bad. They are investing time and money to support your racing career the least you can do is talk to them once a month or so.

Every sponsor is different in how they prefer you correspond. This is one of the first things you should ask about when offered a sponsorship. Call? Mail? Email? Stop by the shop? How often? Now follow through! Give them your results and pictures (mine or yours doesn't matter). If you are using their products let them know what you think. If there is a problem with a product point it out; tactfully. And last of all send a proper thank you note/card at the end of the season. (I have really cool ones coming out soon)

You asked for the sponsorship; now do your part to keep it.

Team PBP 2009

11 new racers have been added to the PBP roster. To all who applied: thank you and if you didn't make it this time please try again next season. You are all excellent racers and are very deserving of sponsorship.

See the Sponsored Rider page of the website for more on these racers.

Welcome to Team PBP

Thomas Borders: MAORA
Blake Diesser: Hare Scramble
Paige Garecht: Hare Scramble
Dillon Hall: MX
Jarred Hall: Hare Scramble
Lee Lankutis: Hare Scramble/MX
Gage Noblitt: MX
Stanley Stables: AHRMA MX
Ryan Shull: MX
Aaron Thompson: MX
Shelby Thompson: MX

Returning Racers

Dustin Anderson: MX
Carter Gordon: MX
Grayson Hall: MX
Cody McMurrary: MX
Charles Nice: MX
Derek Toberman: Hare Scramble/MX

Sponsorship

It's that time of year again. I have received 15 resumes so far with a few days left to go before the deadline. It will be a very tough decision on who to sponsor. I wish I could take them all as they each are deserving in their own way. Unfortunately that just isn't possible. Time and money only go so far.

Many looking for sponsorships see a photographer as not really necessary. A photographer can't help with parts, bikes, etc. right? Yea, but your other sponsors want to see you in action. Most cannot be at your races. I take it a step farther. The Sponsored Rider page of my web site will be expanding next season. I hope to be able to give riders the exposure they need with their sponsors. It takes so much time keeping bikes running, training, practice, travel, etc. that you just don't have time to maintain a proper web presence. I want to help fill that gap. It will not take the place of keeping in touch personally with your sponsors. That is an absolute must do for all who have sponsors. They want to hear the good and the bad. Stay in touch on a regular basis. Even it's Grandma and Grandpa!

Am I different than other photographers? I sure hope so. Promoting racers and racing in general is what I want even more than catching the perfect shot.

First time blogger

This blogging thing is new to me, but thought I'd give it a shot.

Just getting things set up for now. Check back and have a glimpse into the life of an off road racing photographer.