June 24, 2009 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

San Bernardino County – Caltrans continues work on a $3 million project on Interstate 40 (I-40) to repair girders on eight bridges. The work consists of installing shear keys to stop/delay progression of girder cracks.


The long term lane restriction over the 4th of July weekend will be eastbound I-40 at Haller Bridge (PM 95.1) One lane will be available across the bridge. PLEASE NOTE: The one lane available will provide for a 16’ width. Any oversize loads should contact Caltrans Transportation Permits at (909) 383-4637. In order to keep you moving and on time, we have provided the work schedule below:

June 25 and continuing for approximately six weeks,
Eastbound I-40 at Haller Bridge (PM 95.1),
One lane will be available, 24 hour closure.

Please prepare for your trip across the desert. BRING WATER, medication, snacks and make sure your car is in good running condition. As safety is Caltrans number one priority for both motorists and workers, we ask that motorists please be aware of the construction area and always make a point to SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE.

Posted in Travel, Boats, California, Cars, Hiking, San Bernadino, United States of America, Arizona, News | Print | No Comments »

June 18, 2009 by PT Rothschild.

TRAVIS SIFLINGER ANOTHER TIP OF HUGE ICEBERG

Lake Elsinore, CA – Before the music show started with free hats from Rock Star at the Diamond Stadium where the minor league Storm play baseball, I had a chance to stroll around and see the vendors’ booths. After seeing only one food vendor, Smokin Aces Barbeque (714.737.1044), I kind of wished Mr. Pete’s had been there also to offer folks a choice, but some of the Mr. Pete guys were playing a show, Ivan was running a stage, and I was being my social butterfly self, so there you are. I met a lot of people at the vendor booths and most of the clothing companies I’ve already mentioned in the previous article, but there were more than just great looking ‘splash front’ T-shirts available for purchase or models for eye candy. To help popularize the event and put their name out, both Used and Optic Industries tossed out free T’s to the crowd, one of which I donated to a friend with a busted wing who couldn’t jump for the tosses. The ‘dirt’ culture, like the hot rod culture, or the boating industry, is big, second generation young and still mostly underground. By underground I mean like skateboarding before Tony Hawk became a household word to anyone under 40. So far, there is no ‘household word’ for the dirt culture, though there are three that I see in the running. Two of them will be covered in this piece. But first, a shout out to the ’real as dirt’ folks I talked to, all of whom were pleasant, engaging, and informative once I broke the ice.


As I looked out over to the horizon at the gleaming McMansions sitting above a shrinking lake, I wondered if the lake gatekeepers knew that Elsinore lies conveniently in the middle of the dirt empire. Justin Morgan of Raw Music Management rolled down from the furthest point, Reno, Nevada. One of the first booths that caught my eye as other booths were still setting up was the Game Over Fight Wear. Meeting Vince, Vance, and Game, talking a bit of politics raised by the images of their ‘Respect, Honor, and Support’ draped flag T-shirt showing a soldier charging toward you wearing a teargas mask as Ivan whizzed by us with a “Watch out, he’ll talk you ear off” (me?), it wasn’t long before I was getting the inside skinny about the band who chiefs the GOFW label, a hip-hop group named White Virus based out of Hollywood, CA. One visit to the band’s MySpace where the default banner reads ‘Boycott the Radio’ and list key words like ‘2012’, ‘Aliens’, and ‘The Illuminati’ show my ‘Spidey sense’ was politically correct. WV has just released their fourth CD, ‘Collapse of the Puppets’.

Rounding the corner of one vendor aisle, there was a set of ‘homemade’ kart style cars with a young boy and several adults milling around them. Striding over, I came across someone who may one day become a household word in the ‘dirt’ world, fifteen year old Conner Hart. The somewhat stocky kid who had a huge banner strung along the parking lot chain link acquainted me with his automotive passion, driving ‘trophy modifieds’ like #550, a 450cc stadium kart around the tracks at Lake Elsinore and at the Perris Speedway. The karts are called that because they are hand built from after-market parts. “I’ve been driving for two years. My folks help support (my interest, but it’s) my neighbor who built these,” as I peer over a 250cc and the larger 450cc (Honda powered) kart that is basically a roll bar cage fitted over an engine with four wheels attached. Conner smiled when I told him that I wished I had had one of these (karts) to drive around when I was fifteen. Next up I joined Real Smokers Only, a vendor from Buena Park, and got my membership card. Some hottie from San Diego passed me a guest V.I.P. pass to Pure Platinum, a gentleman’s club down in S.D. Then it was over to talk to Nick Nicholls, the cool rep under the Planet Minis Magazine big EZ-Up. PMM ties up all the loose ends with the latest in dirt track racing, the ins and outs of having, fixing up and racing mini bikes, like the FMX uses in their events and lifestyles of the Colorado River, the wet side of the dirt scene, the ‘river rats’. Having been a ‘river rat’ back in the 80s on the mighty Miss, I know first hand the fun and camaraderie you find in these groups. If the truth be known and if I can wax philosophical here, most people anywhere just want to live in peace, have fun, and be free of government intervention, and that is especially true of Americans, no matter what the color of skin. There’s a reason why everyone wants to come here to live. The opportunity to make money and have fun is huge in the USA, and in Southern California, it exists in spades, which segues me into the second person vying to become a household word from the dirt world.

Perhaps the one vendor who opened my eyes to the real dirt back story was the guy at Kronik Minis, a guy named Pete. Pete is a product tester/developer for SSR Motorsports and has been for the last seven years but now faces expulsion from his job because the state government has recently said that Pete needs to complete certain state requirements and pay state fees to keep doing the same job he has been doing for those last seven years. You have to wonder when the ‘state’ will quit pimping the working people to pay for the political/bureaucratic unearned ‘royal’ lifestyles. Pete explained the world of minis to me, which exist alongside the cars and boats in the world of extreme motorsports. Pretty much Honda introduced the kids to small 50cc lawnmower engine mini bikes. ATV’s followed and a culture sprang up of big and little kids riding around in the woods or hills or anyplace off the beaten path. But Hondas are expensive so a few years ago China entered the flay. They created beefed-up mini bikes and aftermarket parts that pack more punch but still fit the size of the Honda minis at a fraction of the cost. “Little 70s (70cc) get the little kids aged 5-6 years old started. These ‘pit bikes’ are stouter than the Honda 50cc but a Honda will cost you around $1000-$1200. The 70cc model that we carry, (a starter Kronik Mini) starts at $570. The bike has an automatic clutch so the kids don’t have to shift gears. For adults or the bigger kids we have an 110cc model with a hand clutch at about the same price. From there the prices go up,” said the SSR rep. “This is a huge but underground (market culture).” It was when I asked him how he got into this dirt tour underground that his face lights up. “I’ve known Travis (Siflinger) since he was 16 (years old) when the ‘dirt tour’ was just an idea and dream of his. He has a lot of heart and a lot of drive. He was the best friend of the son of the body shop owner that I managed. He takes care of everyone out here,” he said spreading his arm in a sweeping pattern. “He takes care of what he created. In fact, I owe him for the shade today as my EZ-Up blew over when a gust of wind got it after we had first set up out here yesterday.”

Though the Dirt Tour wasn’t as successful as it was hoped for, no one can deny the heart and soul of Dirt Alliance creator, Travis Siflinger, a Murrieta resident, to grow the whole scene and maybe one day to be the ‘Tony Hawk’ of the ‘dirt world’.

Posted in Sports, Inland Empire, Cars, Hemet, Christianity, Riverside County, Orange County, California, Motorcycles, Boats, Corona, Arizona, Perris, Temecula, Murrieta, Our Favorite Things, Family Attractions, Food, Lake Elsinore, Las Vegas, Moreno Valley, United States of America, San Diego, San Bernadino, News | Print | No Comments »

June 15, 2009 by PT Rothschild.

“NO FILLA, ALL KILLA” – DJ CIRCA (DGAF)

Lake Elsinore, CA – It has been a long time since I rolled into the Diamond Club for a free beer and a DJ (DJ Louie Ochoa, Classic Cuts, this time), in fact, it was back when an event called ‘Throttle’ was put on at the Storm Stadium in 2002, pretty much at the start of my music writing career. Now this past weekend, looking out over a ball field so green and even Tiger Woods would putt here if he could, I enjoyed another free beer(s) and revisited another ‘throttle’ style event. The author of this venture wasn’t a cool, rich MX rider named Steve who rode with folks you read about in the industry mags. This time the minds behind the event were one Travis Siflinger, ‘Mr. Dirt Alliance’ and his promoter, Ivan McClain, of Ivan Promotions, who I’ve rolled with on past music adventures, but more on Travis in the companion piece. First bear with me for a little historical background on the demographic found in the ‘dirt’. In the MSM, there is much ado about the stars, the connected, the middle class, and the minorities, rich or poor, honest or dishonest, but there is one group of people who have been ignored and maybe a little misunderstood too. Had there been no racism set into orchestrated living patterns, this group would be the white kids living next door to the black kids that are the first generation in that family to graduate collage. This is the group that falls through the cracks of notice. In a perfect world, if you have an N.A.A.C.P. then you would have an N.A.A.W.P. But this isn’t a perfect world; however, in the midst of the way Satan would spin the world by deceit, God sprinkles the world with His sense of humor that I call ‘paradox’.


Remember that point. This unnoticed demographic, the ‘bottom of the bottom’ segment gravitated toward mechanical things in the past the way other cultural segments used sports or entertainment to gain recognition. Over time and further sifting brought about separation of this demo into a class of boaters, and a class of inlanders with dirt hot rods. Now the sons of this inland demo have branched into a huge underground market with a culture all its own. The ‘Bros’ are the scene kids at the heart of this underground culture, though the ‘bro’ look also extends into the hardcore and straight edge underground markets. In the dirt world, what used to be the world of Glamis (‘desert rats’) has now spread through the neighborhoods of suburbia. Eminem with his edge are the flashpoint and inspiration for the ‘white boy hip-hop’ music culture that bookends one end of this dirt underground while marijuana bookends the other end. In simple terms, this scene is almost a mirror image of the black hip-hop culture (except with different beats and melody flows) but with less reaction to outsiders coming in because this scene also ties in to the motor sports. Like black pride, white pride is high in the hood, but a lot less bitchy than gay pride from the rainbow hood. It is from this ‘hot rod’ stock that the U.S. has drawn steady on for drafts and soldiers for the wars. Now like most sub-groups honed by current events, a strong political vein is present, though the ‘white boy hip-hop’ portion is more into holding on to the home turf, partying, sexing, and fighting rather than shooting. As the most political music rap/hip-hop group that brought heat Saturday night said, “We don’t vote, and we don’t complain,” showing not naiveté but a realistic isolation away from ‘the Establishment’. “You’re either with us, or against us. And if you’re against us, Whaaaa! Fuck U!” (- DGAF.)  When you stir in the natural handsomeness of many of the young people who live in Southern California, add girls who have visual Latino influences to the Viking mix of straw haired platinum pin-up babes showing mid-riffs and being cheeky, happening on a early fall-like weather night (thanks ‘June gloom’), the event becomes like a late summer concert in Iowa, only without the rides, for wholesomeness, and also like a block party back in the days of early Motown (crowd-wise, both in dress and actions). Away from the stages people wandered through the middle two merchant aisles that featured the many logo clothing companies there to sell their wearable artwork. The logo label names say much about the mindset found in this particular youth centered culture. ‘Lost’, ‘Outlaw Industries’, ‘Fatal’, ‘Controversy’, ‘Corrupt’, ‘Sullen’, ‘Hostility’, ‘Pure White Clothing’, ‘Dirt Tour’, and, of course, ‘Skin’,  with only the name brand of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires to show the hot-rod roots of this new side culture that anchors on Tony Hawk, Brian Deegan, Mike Metzger, and Ryan Johnson, among others, with many of these old schoolers also founding a clothing company logo label that paved the way for others to see past traditional vocations for income. Out in the parking lot there was a ramp set up allowing different kids, all teenagers, to practice and pop wheelies on their 250cc FMX motorbikes as fathers looked on. At one end of the vendor area was the main stage, the same Ernie Ball Stage from Warped Tour that I last saw Animo (now Heart ‘n’ Soul Radio) on two years ago. At the other end was the smaller Addicted2Riding stage, presumably for hip-hop artists. Our RV was parked over behind the EB stage so after a look-see for a lay of the land, I rarely ventured back out past the main stage area except to return to see who won the battle of the MC systems between 103.9 FM and the cool dude at the ‘4130 Clothing’ tent. ‘Molly chrome’ won.

The show opened with a couple of MCs and a DJ who did a very short set, ending it with a “Fuck you, if you don’t like it”, showing the ‘line in the sand’ rap attitude, think ‘Gangs of New York’ done ‘So Cali’ 21^st Century urban style. Passing the J King set back stage, I was back for Divide The Day, recently signed to a major label (Universal) record deal. Billy, the band’s bass player had his parents in attendance as did fellow friend and Inverse bass player, Paul. The sound was crisp for Divide The Day and the original straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll outlaw, think Sunset Strip, sound drew in a nice crowd to listen. DTD rocked it and got a small gaggle of girl fans to dance down front. The power ballads really gave the afternoon that Iowawegian feel to it and smoothed out the aggressive hip-hop edge. Besides the record deal, a hit single from DTD, ‘One Night Stand’, is in rotation on X103.9FM and 105.9FM. After this it was time for Inverse and I took photos for Corie who wanted to dance. The crowd gathered in somewhat but decidedly could have been bigger though radio spots and more ad co-ops done in all available markets coupled with some form of discount, like a ‘2-fer’ ticket for these lean economic times. Still, the crowd that was there enjoyed the set and danced because Inverse is always a good rock show live. However, the next group, DGAF, a ‘white boy hippy-hop’ group from Hermosa Beach, part of the famous South Bay area, represents the culture ‘where the dirt meets the sand and took the night back to the hip-hop groove. DGAF provides the paradox I spoke of earlier in that the funky rhythmic melodies that are layered over the aggressive lyrics bring about both a circling mosh pit and young girls gyrating their buns into their boyfriends’ crotch to the beat of the turntable music. Ah, those house parties of long ago, but just like the funky heat in those days, these days the raw funky sound is felt in a group like DGAF, which stands for ‘don’t give a fuck’, on the hottest underground label there is right now, Suburban Noize Records. The group’s philosophy is put out straight from the opening lyrics, ‘if you’re down on your luck, feeling rich with one buck yeah, D-Gaf, D-Gaf, if you don’t give a fuck, staying drunk as fuck, then yeah, D-Gaf, D-Gaf, either ride with us, or collide with us’. The heavy funk bass line booming under the top of the tamping head and hand motions brought in a tight crowd that knew the Suburban Noize Records label group. At first just ChuckyChuck, Gillies (Gil-lees), and SaintDog, with DJ Circa working the ‘tables’, were driving the crowd, but after a few songs and some ‘Burning Man’ style hottie dancers, BigHoss, a rapper in whiteface makeup with black stitch mouth makings, a belt loop bandana, and an ornate blond wood cane from Jamaica, joined the group and the stage show cranked it up another notch. Being down front in a four person deep belt of people with the pit behind us gave me a chance to chat with ‘Crazy’ Angie Martinez, a petite hottie there with her boyfriend Josh. She brought me up to date on the guys being her faves, sang and moved to the words/chorus, and had that left coast ‘Westside Story’ look to her. From the video of ‘Knuckle Up’ I knew this band had a raw pit-bull ‘throw down’ energy that went out unharnessed. I expected the pit and the ‘bro’ stomp. What I didn’t expect was the ‘groovin’ couple-up scene hittin’ it to the funky R&B verve. For me, it shows the music has come full circle. This is the N.A.A.W.P. edition of R&B. Damn well! More on this group in the review of their CD. After a finale of FMX with jumps you could see from the stage area, the headliners, Unwritten Law, hit the stage. UL didn’t disappoint as the largest crowd of the night gathered to listen with a large pit being hollowed out in the midst of it. Though the sound could have been clearer, perhaps DGAF had melted the dials, the band still got both couples dancing to their power ballads at the same time as the bros moshed counterclockwise. At this point even Paul (Inverse) entered the pit for awhile as did several models that stayed dead center as the mayhem in motion circled around them. UL had the wildest drummer of any act, and with his long hair flailing, added that flair to the guitars full sound and stadium band look. When the mosh pit continued to songs like ‘Up All Night’ and ‘My Fault’, you see that it is the culture, not the songs that bring out the mosh pit, which for me was an interesting observation. A highlight of UL’s set for me was the acoustic opening lead-in to the song ‘Sinner’, of which there is a video out. Before the night was over, I had seen my share of ‘rat-tails’ validating an earlier season’s observation (search Faraway, CA in the archives). All in all, it was a good night, a good show, and a good crowd.

Posted in Hemet, Cars, Christianity, Arizona, Fallbrook, Sports, Inland Empire, Motorcycles, California, Corona, Orange County, Riverside County, Perris, Moreno Valley, Our Favorite Things, Temecula, Family Attractions, Food, Music, Murrieta, Wildomar, San Diego, United States of America, San Bernadino, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, News | Print | No Comments »

June 10, 2009 by PT Rothschild.

ARF & AFMXA ADDRESS LUSK AND NEW SPORT RIDERS

Lake Elsinore, CA – Though I had a rocking good time listening to great punk music, some of it fun (Strike Twelve), some of it political (Unit F), and great ska music, also fun (Failed to Victory) and political (VooDoo Glow Skulls), the real reason we were all there at the Trevi Entertainment Complex was to bring attention to a brand new activity that is quickly becoming a big blip on the sports radar screen. That new sport is Freestyle Motocross and the reason that it is here has to do with three ‘perfect storm’ elements.


The first element is the climate of southern California, basically the desert weather and rocky hills found from here to San Diego and on north to LA. Even with all the past extensive housing development, there are still plenty of trials and paths on which to ride a trail bike, one that is either un-powered or powered. The second element is the explosion of the next generation of ‘snap-on’, gear-head, sons and grandsons of old school hot-rod enthusiasts. This generation has grouped together to create the ‘bro’ scene that was birthed in Murrieta and Temecula, and has given us names like ‘Skin’, Metal Mulisha, and Dirt Alliance, among others, and is as Californian as the NHRA in its origins. The third element is the young men who have embraced this outdoor recreational opportunity to develop into pioneers and role models, like Ryan Johnson (past BMX [bicycle motocross] champion), Mike Metzger, and soon to be honored by a Temecula/Riverside County proclamation for his contributions to the community, Jeremy Lusk, the ‘patron saint’ of the FMX (freestyle [motorized] motocross) scene due to his untimely death from injuries sustained while performing FMX stunts.

It was precisely this tragedy that gave birth to two new organizations. To help sustain Jeremy’s legacy and vision in the sport, the Lusk Legacy Foundation came into being. To aid BMX, FMX, and skate riders who have been injured or are recovering from injuries, the Athlete Recovery Fund is the older non-profit to help fill that need and finally, to govern the new sport, the AFMXA has recently been created. The American Freestyle Motocross Association is a trade association established by Freestyle Motocross riders and leaders in the industry to organize, protect, and assist the development of the new sport in building its growth from the grassroots beginning which was based solely on recreation into a recognized sport akin to snowboarding.

“Promoters don’t always have MediVac coverage (at the events they put on)”, said Leah Steiger, good friends with the Metal Mulisha, Loren Lusk, and a principal organizer. “There was a need for someone to be sanctioning these events whose riders start at 10-11 years old, turn pro at 16-17 and retire at 28-30. There is more to this than just some ‘crazy kids’ (racing motor bikes) in the hills, it is a legitimate sport like snowboarding, which wasn’t considered a sport either at first. Now look at it, (it’s) in the Olympics.”

When asked about having a table presentation at the VGS music show, though it was her sister, Rachel Holmes, and her daughter, Britten Bennett, who were onsite, Leah, manning the booth at T-Town’s Balloon & Wine Festival with Loren, Brian Deegan, and his wife, replied, “(at these events) something musical is always going on in the background.”

By offering memberships to professional, recreational, and corporate sponsors, the AFMXA hopes to improve rider safety, preparation, and education by providing programs, services, and information to assist in such development. It is also a goal, especially at the professional level to have an emergency response plan in effect and a network of trained physicians available to the riders, along with guidelines for proper ramp landings. Being in the scene as this new sport blossoms from its broad grassroots base is as exciting as watching the new music sounds spread forth into mass market appeal. Just another reason to be out here ‘in Paradise’, as David Lee Roth would say.

Posted in Sports, Hemet, Christianity, Inland Empire, Riverside County, California, Motorcycles, Corona, Fallbrook, United States of America, Our Favorite Things, Family Attractions, Music, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, San Bernadino, Menifee, News | Print | No Comments »

June 4, 2009 by PT Rothschild.

BENEFIT FOR JEREMY LUSK FAMILY ALL DAY AT TREVI COMPLEX

Lake Elsinore, CA – Ivan Promotions and Travis Siflinger’s Dirt Alliance/Dirt Tour are pulling out all the stops this weekend, Saturday, June 6^th, in putting on the benefit for Jeremy Lusk’s family and the Athlete Recovery Fund, which was originally set for March 28^th. Now all the roadblock dunes have been jumped in Lake Elsinore and the mega show has the green light. Headlining are the Voodoo Glow Skulls (see archive story for VGS info/review from the relocated March 28^th show) atop a pyramid of local talent featuring punk, rockabilly and hardcore rock.

Featured are No Dice with their killer stand- up/stand-on bass (see ‘wonder wall’ pics from ‘Holy Ghost, Batman…’), Lake Elsinore’s Ready For Vegas, T-Town’s Strike Twelve, also Unit F, DeFunKeD, Seenless, The Hellraisers, Skamikaze, and Murr-ville’s A Simple Ending. And it doesn’t stop there for music. The all day (2PM-10PM) extravaganza will also have DJ Joy Basu, Tattoo Junkies doing live Hip-hop, Hi NRG electric mashups with live guitars, along with house, trip-hop, and electro at the Dirt Tour Pre-Party along with Master Splinter and the Shredders and dance troup BOONIEZ.


But wait! There’s more. Dirt Alliance is doing their 2009 Model contest featuring home grown ‘eye candy’ for the sweet tooth of everyone who enjoys So Cali curves like the ones showcased in David Lee Roth’s song video, ‘California Girls’. Show $15, Pre-Party $15. But now the GOOD NEWS. If you already purchased a ticket for the original March 28^th fundraiser show, you have FREE access to the Skulls/music show (2-10PM) AND the Dirt Tour Pre-Party (10PM-2AM, 18+Bar(21+up). That’s right, Sports Fans! All March 28^th tickets will get you in FREE to both events, as long as you meet the age requirements of the pre-party event.

This IS the next BIG event for all you ‘party hounds’ so you better be there, be there, be there. And you can help support a very good cause in honoring one the ‘stars’ from this valley, Jeremy Lusk. Remember, party now, cause 2012 ain’t that far away. Be sure and click twice on right side poster link to expand it full size. You’ll be glad you did.

Posted in Fallbrook, Perris, Moreno Valley, Hemet, Sports, Inland Empire, Winchester, Riverside, San Bernadino, Menifee, Family Attractions, Food, Music, Our Favorite Things, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, News | Print | No Comments »