One Way to Convince Your Parents That Motorcycles Are Cool...

Here's how this story goes:

I brought my mom to her first AMA event at NJ Motorsports Park and sat her on the bleachers where a lot of crashes take place, Turn 5. I figured if she was going to approve of my "CRAZY," then she would have to be convinced that Motorcycles are not "death machines" nor are they for "organ donors" and that the gear really does help the racers get through and walk away from most crashes. At this point my mom has never even seen an up close and personal car accident, let a lone the flipping of a motorcycle 5+ times while the rider slides and tumbles across the asphalt and into the grass SAFELY.  

The races begin, my mom's all 

"OMG, the colors are so nice" and 

"Oh Joi, look at how far he's getting the bike over..." and 

"Are they holding these bikes up on their knees?"

It was so cool to watch her actually dig this sport. THEN IT HAPPENED, after 3 laps into the race, one of the Pro Racers crashed in Turn 5. The crowd simultaneously responds to the crash as a symphony 

"Ooooohhhhh" 

My mom's one voice beat out the +70 fans as she screamed 

"OH MY GOD, IS HE OK?" 

I looked around to see like half the stand of fans looking at her as if she was nuts like "of course" and my poor mom's heart was probably in her throat. I was watching the drama take place in my moms head while we all waited for the little racer guy to reappear from out the smoky dirt cloud made by the flipping bike that just bucked him off of it. When she was able to see the crashed racer walking and waving to the crowd, signaling that he was ok, everyone clapped and cheered and MAMA SJ turned around and gave me the dirtiest look... LOL.... It was as if I personally plucked the dude off of his race bike or something, all I did was find a seat in the stands to watch the AMA races. I mean, it was totally innocent. TOTALLY.

After a few more races and a few more crash angles she was ready to go. While on the stroll back to the car she asked,

 "Joi, is this what you said you wanted to do with those bikes you ride?" 

I just grinned... 

...And there you have it folks. 

Mamma SJ Desensitized... 

RACE ON YOU CRAZY KIDz #sidewayZon2s