We Have a Winner from Lowe's Motor Speedway!

We had such a great time at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday with all the NASCAR fans! We felt right at home with all of the Harley Davidson and Sturgis shirts we saw, too. We had great conversations with folks about their motorcycles, ATVs and even bicycles. It was a great day. Ok, it could have been better if Jeff Gordon pulled out a win, but it was a good night for him in the points and he even lead for a bit to get those all important 5 bonus points!

If you stopped by to see us...thanks! You couldn't have missed us, right? We were directly in front of the main, Speedway Blvd entrance. We just thought that was cool!





We also were running a contest which tons of people entered. We are giving away a New York Chain, New York Disc Lock, Evolution Mini and a Superman padlock along with an Ingersoll Rand Thunder Gun. No, we are not giving away the Club Car...sorry. We'd like to have that ourselves, but it was only on loan and is already back at its home at Club Car.

So....we have picked a winner.....could be you.....

Drum roll please.....

Our winner is.....

Kevin Powell from California!!!

Congratulations Kevin. I'm still traveling, but when I get back on Friday I'll give you a ring and make sure you get your prize next week.

Thanks, again, to everyone who stopped by. We hope you enjoyed the race and having a safe place to park your motorcycle at the track.

Come Visit Kryptonite at Lowe's Motor Speedway

We're back at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina for the Bank of America 500 Saturday night! We sponsor the motorcycle parking area so you'll have a great place to park your motorcycle when you are at the race. I just looked at the weather and it's supposed to be a beautiful night tomorrow. Perfect to ride to the race.

We'll be in the yellow Kryptonite tent just to the left of the big office tower/front of the track. C'mon by and visit. You can also enter to win a security package (all kinds of locks) along with a Thunder Gun!

Eric, Don and I look forward to seeing you.

Don and Eric checking out the motorcycle parking area in front of the track today.

The motorcycle parking area in the infield was filling up today.

Thanks to Club Car, one of our sister companies, for loaning us this great vehicle!

Don enjoyed looking at the monster Toyota.

Happy Birthday to Dale Earnhardt Jr! For his birthday, Dale Junior announced a new sponsorship with Unilever at LMS. That means you'll see Dale Junior in a few Nationwide races next year!

Who's going to win tomorrow night? The birthday boy...well, that would be ok, but my bet is always with the 24 of Jeff Gordon, of course.

Lowe's Motor Speedway This Weekend!

If you are headed to Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend for the Coca Cola 600, feel free to ride your motorcycle. There's plenty of motorcycle parking. Just look for the Kryptonite banners!

We won't have a tent there this weekend (what was I thinking?), but our sister company, Club Car will be there. Stop by and say "hello" to them. Tell 'em Kryptonite sent you!

My predictions? Danica Patrick. I know, I know, that's Indy, but don't forget it's a full day of racing on Sunday! So, Danica will take the first one....and Jeff Gordon will take the 600. Really. Believe me on this one. ;)

Enjoy the races.

Lowe's Motor Speedway Here We Come!

Ok, this is a huge week here at Kryptonite. Seems like just about every member of our team is out and about. Dave Perewitz is down at Myrtle Beach Bike Week with his new cool '66 Shovelhead. I talked with him the other day and he's pretty excited about it.

Eric is off to Bike to Work Day in Washington, DC. We've been a proud supporter of this event for years and year. This will be Eric's first time and he's looking forward to it. If you are going, please see him under the yellow Kryptonite tent and say "hi".

But, I think I have the best end of the deal. As a friend said to me this week, "Talk about combining work and pleasure ... it's your dream trip!" She's known me a long time so she's right.

Don't get me wrong, we all love what we do here at Kryptonite. I don't think we could do our jobs as passionately as we do if we didn't. But, my friend is right....guess where I'm going? Guess...Ok, the title of the post gives it away. I'm like a small child right before Christmas.

Roby, Craig, Nicole and I are going to be at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend for the NASCAR All-Star Race! We are the official motorcycle parking area for the speedway this year and we are all stoked about that.

Our ad in the Fan Guide

If you are going to the track on Saturday night c'mon down on your motorcycle. There's plenty of room to park and the Kryptonite Krew will have a yellow tent near there (you can't miss us) so come by and say "hi".

On Saturday afternoon from 1-3pm Nicole Hoffman Roesch will be signing autographs. All day we'll be taking entries for a cool prize pack, too. A Kryptonite security package that includes a New York Fahgettaboudit chain, Evolution series 4 Disc Lock, a KryptoLok series 2 Mini and a Superman padlock. On top of that.....we've also got a Street Legal Thunder Gun! I'm not kidding....ok, it hasn't arrived yet so I might only have a photo at the tent...but it's on order and I have my fingers crossed...but, regardless, whoever wins will get it next week. Winner announced right here on Tuesday!

We'll also have lanyards and stickers and one of the new cool Club Cars to display (and ride around in....beep, beep).

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself!!! Do come by and say "hey" to this fellow NASCAR fan...and let me know who you think is going to win the All-Star Race. I already know who (hint below) but you can weigh in, too.

Ride safe and see you at the track!

Look for this ad in the Lowe's Motor Speedway program!

#24

Let's Go Racing!

Today is a very big racing day for two reasons...

1. The Tour of California kicks off today! It's been a bumpy ride for pro cycling lately, but it's good to get the season started. Personally, I'm more than psyched. It's a return to racing for my friend Tyler Hamilton. Today's short 2 mile individual time trial could be fantastic for him, although it is a little early in the year for him. I also know the great talent of this guy, though. I can't wait to come back from the show tonight and see the results. Go kick some serious butt, my friend! I'll be cheering all the way from Indy.

2. It's the Daytona 500, of course. I don't think you can live in the US and not know that, if you watch the news at all. It's the 50th anniversary of this great race. We'll be showing it in our booth at Dealer Expo. If you are here, come watch it with Dave and Jody Perewitz and all of the rest of us! I'll be the one with the Jeff Gordon gear on. I think it's time for him to win another. I can't wait.

Go get 'em Tyler and Jeff!

Look what just arrived....

Yes, that's the brand new Dale Earnhardt, Jr./Hendrick Motorsports Chevy Impala. Yes, that's a replica of the car that won on Saturday night in the Bud Shootout. It's so new, in fact, that I'm almost afraid to touch it and smudge the paint because I can smell the new paint on it! Yes, I went online and ordered it Saturday night after the win. This will be a classic one day, but for right now it's comfy sittin' here on my tire.

So my prediction for the big race on Sunday? Junior will be second by a nose....to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jeff Gordon. Of course!

Sharing November 15 with Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon

A few weeks ago the NASCAR guys were in Atlanta where they celebrated the 15 year anniversary of a major milestone. It was at that track 15 years ago where King Richard Petty made his last NASCAR start and a young guy named Jeff Gordon made his first NASCAR start. Talk about a baton pass – wow! Of course, nobody knew then about Jeff Gordon’s career what we all know now….4 championships later. But, still, it’s pretty poignant.

The actual date of that race was November 15. When I looked at that date I realized that another significant event happened that day. No, not to the world at large, but in my little world. It’s the day I started at Kryptonite. Yes, 8 years ago today I walked into the doors of a funky, fun family business. The air was electric and dynamic – and sometimes held balls that sailed by your head when you least expected it (affectionately, of course).

Day to day you didn’t know what might happen – a pick up flag football game in the back yard, movie clips played over the intercom system, a dog wandering the hall or practical jokes orchestrated by quite a few pranksters on just about anyone (nobody was immune). The one thing that you were always guaranteed to find was passion and hard work. We had fun, sure, but we all worked really, really hard. It was a magical time and I couldn’t believe my good fortune at being picked to work at this great company (thanks Peter, Gary and Karen).

My dog Chauncey (RIP) goofing off in my first office shortly after I started.

She spent many days at the office with me and loved all the attention from her friends!

Through the 8 years I’ve traveled around the US, to many different countries (I highly recommend Lago di Garda in the spring) and met some incredible people along the way. Some I consider more friends than colleagues or business associates – a couple I’d consider just about family even. I think that’s just the nature of the business we are in, though. The people in the bicycle and powersports worlds are nice, down to earth, fun people. People I really enjoy spending time with. I’ve been lucky, very lucky.

In 8 years the building has changed (we moved), my office has moved (5 different ones and counting) and many things along the way are now different. But, the passion for the brand is still very much alive by everyone here. And the fun? I haven’t had a ball wiz by my head recently, but the practical jokes? They still happen – just ask Roby about the Snowball (cupcake-like desert) and his car......
So, happy NASCAR anniversary, Mr. Gordon and to all those who have made my time at Kryptonite special...thank you.

At the Races!

As I mentioned, I was in Charlotte over the weekend for the NASCAR races. As you know by now, I'm a complete NASCAR nut - that's no secret. My friends send me tires, for goodness sake, because they know I'll think it's darn cool.

But, this weekend I was able to see NASCAR through the eyes of some 'rookies' and it was even more fun. Roby and I were able to take some of our customers to the race this weekend - one was a NASCAR fan just like me and we hit it off great. But, I wasn't so sure how Roby and the other three guys were going to fare. Roby has been to one NASCAR race, but that was a few years ago and hasn't really seemed interested to go again. The other guys hadn't been to a race but were game to give it a go and see what it was all about. Turns out they were all fabulous race companions and I think everyone came out of there with an interest in the sport, which is cool to me.

The view from 7 stories above the track

Roby and I went out to Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday morning to get the lay of the land and have a meeting with one of their sales folks, John Cox. We chatted about some programs and then John was nice enough to take some time out of his extremely busy race weekend to give us a tour of the facility via his Club Car. John....you ROCK!

Roby saw things he's never seen before like converted buses and the most loyal fans in sports showing pride in their favorite drivers. When I say to him, "there's nothing like it," he's now a believer.

Our customers arrived Friday afternoon. We were fortunate that Craig and Tom from Western Powersports were able to join us as were Alan and Ed from Tucker Rocky. I met them all for the first time and we boarded the bus out to the track for the Busch series race. A big kudos to Craig who had just arrived back the day before from half way around the world - but after spending a weekend at the track with him, I now know that not much would have kept him from these races! He's a pretty big Greg Biffle fan.

The race on Friday night was good, but I'm not sure good enough to make fans out of the 'rookies'. Saturday, however, was a whole different ballgame.

We were able to take a stroll through the pits, see some cars, converse with some guys on the crews and just generally soak it all in. I think I started to see some NASCAR fans emerge in our group....it was great to see the guys getting excited about where we were and what we were seeing. Made me excited to be there and be one of the people to show it all to them. I wish we'd had a little longer in the pits, but soon it was time to exit and hit the suite to get situated, get some food and watch the race. Apple carmel pie...that's all I'm saying about the food. Yummmm....

Personally, I thought the race was awesome, but then again, I'm a Jeff Gordon fan. I've been to a bunch of races, but never saw him win live before. That was just awesome! I felt badly that Craig's driver didn't have a good night, but not that badly as I watched Jeff do his celebratory burnout.....

Here are photos of the weekend. Enjoy.

The things you see in front of the speedway....

Just about every team hauler had bicycles with them.

Tom and Alan wondered if they should attend the Rookie Meeting.

The view from the suite. It was right between turns 1 and 2.

Tom found Tony Stewart's car heading for inspection. Later Tom was sporting a #20 hat. Shhh...I even saw him wearing it on Sunday morning! Do I sense a new Stewart fan???

Alan seemed to like Denny Hamlin's car.

Ed found the Hendrick gang with the #5 car.

Craig not only inspected Greg Biffle's car before it went out on the track....

..he and Ed also seemed to be getting some race strategy secrets from the crew.

Roby found the stash of spare parts for his favorite car. This isn't unusual since each team has full kits ready to go for every on track possibility.

Craig did an excellent job making sure everything was just right in the 24 car before the race! So good, in fact, that this ended up being the winning car! Thanks, Craig!

These tires went on to win the race!

Notice that the best teams partner with the best companies (see the Club Car logo on the pit box)

Check out the special 'guest' down on pit road!!!

Roby the Race Fan!

A NASCAR Surprise

Thanks to my friend Jeremy Pepper, who knows I'm a NASCAR nut, a got a fantabulous surprise yesterday! Even our UPS guy was impressed. Turns out he's a NASCAR fan, too.

Check it out!

Yes, folks that's an actual tire that was used on Jeff Gordon's car during the 2003 'Dega race. It even as a certificate of authenticity. The action figure is just an added bonus. The real treat is the tire. My office smells like rubber now. That's just too cool.

Thank you, Jeremy!!!! I absolutely love it!

And, this all came at a perfect time...I arrived today in Charlotte. Why? Well, there's a NASCAR race here this weekend, of course. Mr. Gordon just qualified 4th for Saturday night. So...think he'll give up his practice tires? I only need 3 to complete the set....

8 Random Things

My friend Tim tagged me....he wants to know (and wants all of you to know) 8 things about me that you didn't already know...seriously? 8 things...ok...here we go...

1. I've said before that I have an 'events background'. What does that mean? My first job out of college was working for the Boston Athletic Association. They are the organizers of the Boston Marathon. No, I wasn't a volunteer, I was an actual employee. I was there for 6 races. During that time, I was also a consultant for a company called DMSE. I'm a little biased, but I think they put on the best events anywhere. I learned so, so much from working with Dave McGillivray both at the marathon and at DMSE.

2. For the past 16 years or so, I have been involved with the Falmouth Road Race. It all started when I was at the Boston Marathon. I went down to volunteer in the press area for the lady who has had the biggest impact in my career, Sue Smith. Everyone needs a mentor and she has been mine; she provided the foundation for all of my career successes. Anyway...Falmouth...I went from volunteer to organizing the media efforts, back to volunteer (job change those years) and then back to organizing the media efforts and, in most recent years, working the media credentialing on race weekend and organizing the press tent and athlete escorts. I love every minute of it - hey, who wouldn't like "working" on the beach for a weekend? The Cigna Falmouth Road Race is in less than a week.....I can't wait to see the co-directors and the other dear friends that I don't see often enough!

3. The first person I met in the cycling industry (aside from the triathlon folks) was Rob Vandermark (long before Seven was formed). But, not in the capacity that you'd think. He had just created the first titanium racing wheelchair. It was light, fast and pretty darn cool - won a lot of races and set some world records, too.

4. The first bike race I attended was the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic back in 1991, with some friends. Didn't know a thing about bike racing; just went for the fun of being with friends. Went back to the same race in 1996, with a good friend to watch her new boyfriend compete. I learned a lot that year about tactics, teams and chalking the road (yes we did!). It was a blast - and the new boyfriend, who later became a husband to my friend, won the race.

5. Non-career fact? I don't eat meat. I'd say 'vegetarian' but I do eat fish sometimes so I don't know if that counts in the truest sense of vegetarianism, but no meat for me. Not since 1989.

6. I'm an animal lover (gee...you might have guessed by the previous fact). I love all kinds of animals, but I love big dogs the most, probably. Grew up with German Shepherds, but my favorite are Rotties. I had the friendliest doggie you'd ever meet who was a Rottie. Until she passed, she'd come here to the office and made friends with everyone in the company. Not a mean bone in her body.


7. I'm a NASCAR fan. Big. Huge. Grew up at race tracks in New England - racing is in my blood. On a Sunday I'm watchin' the race (or at least have it on while I'm doing other things). Favorite driver? Jeff Gordon. Hands down. But, I am also a Jimmie Johnson fan and a Dale Jr fan - I can't tell you how happy I am that they will all be racing for the same team next year. I've been to races at Loudon and Bristol. Been to Fontana but not for a NASCAR event, saw an IRL race there.

8. My favorite movie of all time is Moonstruck. Hands down. I just love all the nuances of the Italian family depicted in the movie. Perfect.

That's it...8 things you probably didn't know about me before right now. Do you feel better knowing all that? I can't imagine how, but I'll play along....so now I get to tag 5 people...

1. Carlton Reid - Quickrelease.tv
2. Roland Burns - R.E.Load bags
3. Jill Hamilton - Haro Bicycles
4. Jonathan Maus - Bike Portland
5. Chipps Chippendale - Singletrack Magazine

Can't wait to hear what you five have to say!