Franchise News

Congrats go out to homie Gerald Norman for gettin’ out the joint on some bullshit yesterday and finally gettin into the new apartment in SF. So long south fives, hello to the four-one-five.
In other news, Marco over at vimby posted a new video of the hell on wheels jam that went down a few weeks ago. Face and Kyle both got some clips, along with the savvy Chris Savoy from the flats. My favorite clip has got to be Kyle’s shoulder-check-a-skater to 180 tabe line at hubba. I also think he got about twenty bucks, an eighth, and a half-full fifth of E and J for the nollie-360. I would take that prize over an X Games gold medal any day. Oh ya and speaking of Manface, he finally went ahead and cut his mop top off after about two years straight of growth without a trim. Shocking i know, but sometimes you just gotta turn over a new leaf.

-Sean

 
So, as I’m sure most of you out there have heard, Metal bikes owner, and Franchise video voice-over-cameo star, Jimmy Levan has been in the hospital with some serious head injuries sustained in a downhill skateboarding wreck, while on a trip on the east coast.  Jimmy has been making much progress but he’s still got a long way to go. 

To help out Jimmy, Tom over at Empire BMX has started a fund that you can send money to.  Here’s a repost from a bulletin on the Empire myspace:

“i spent the whole day with jimmy today, heis doing a lot better but is
very confused and cannot recall alot of the last year. His insurance
will not cover the rehabilitation he needs, he is going to need to go
to a rehabilitation centre for serious brain injuries, i was talking
with his mum today and we are
going to see if we can get him into a centre in jfk edison under some
sort of charity or low earning fund, but this will cost $70.000,
$40,000 before and the rest after.he needs to be there soon, so if you can pass it along to anyone
raising funds etc that his family need the money by the first of
december, so he can be in rehab for month and get back to be his good
old self again.
www.empirebmx.com
please forward this news.
i know you guys know about the help jimmy fund just put it in there so
we can get this forwarded to as many people as possible.
thanks.” – tom hooper
I did a little math myself, and if everyone threw down just $10, it would take about 7,000 donations to cover the 70k that Jimmy needs, and I know with all the coverage this event has gotten, that’s totally doable.  Plus, Empire will match every donation. So tonight when you’re at the store eyeing up that cold 24 pack of Natty Ice, or when you’re homie is twistin’ one up and asks if you got five on it, keep that money in your pocket and send it on over to Tom, because Jimmy really needs your help.  Tis’ the season, so get to givin’ here: 
EMPIRE BMX JIMMY FUND

-Sean

KEP photo

Apparently this has been up for a little over a week, but as I haven’t had any internet for the last week or so, I missed it, but the locals over at Catty Woods need your help. Here’s a quick rundown of the situation:

The trails are on land owned by the local airport, Lehigh Valley Int’l. The city thinks the trails are awesome, as they keep kids out of trouble, generate revenue for local businesses (including the airport), and don’t cost the city any money (as a skatepark or some other city funded recreational area would). Obviously, we know where the locals stand. The problem is, you guessed it, the airport is worried about liability and getting sued. So if anybody out there has any knowledge about liablity insurance for this sort of thing, maybe you’ve sat through a couple skatepark meetings, if you have any info that can help out at all, shoot Chris Janis an email over at ridebmx329@hotmail.com.
In the meantime, please take a couple minutes out of your day to SIGN THE PETITION to save Catty. Really, all it takes is a couple minutes, and it can really help the guys out. It would be a shame not only to the locals, but the entire BMX world to see this place go, it is hands down one of the best trail spots on the face of the earth. No fuckin’ joke. Do it now.

Below are a couple photos from catty i shot last time i was out there of Robbo, Cardona, and Slatterly. To see some even sicker photos from Catty, check out Axelrad and PA Woods. Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

-Sean

Zac came into the city last night and went to see Del tha Funkee Homosapien at Slim’s with Dustin and myself. Many an Olde English tall can were consumed in the back alley across the street from the club. Upon entering said club, my sense of smell was bombarded with the magical scent of dozens of torched Phillies. The show was dope. Devin the Dude and Coughee Brothaz started it off, then Del came through and killed it. I’m lucky i can even remember how dope it was with all the booze I drank. Pictures from the show? Ya right!

Anyway, here’s some new photos, Dustin, Face, the crew and Del. Enjoi.

-Sean

That’s right kiddies the time is here. Time to cover your ex girlfriends front yard with toilet paper. Time to tweak out on a sugar high from Halloween candy and Sparks. Time to warm up your throwing arm and stock up on farm fresh eggs (if you were a real pro, you would’ve done this a week ago and left em outside to get nice and rotten). Time to run as fast as you can from the Police.
Halloween is my second favorite day of the year (first is St. Patrick’s Day). What other day of the year can you get blacked out, throw food, break shit, leer at sluttily dressed girls and feel zero guilt in the morning? Ya, i guess you could do that on St. Patty’s too, but anyway.
News? Kyle took best trick and 2nd place overall at the latest First Rule jam in SF. Fakie down the second hubba set? And a nollie 360? Daaaaamn son. Kyle was rewarded a buncha cool t-shirts and a pair of screenprinted XXL tighty whitey’s.
If you live in the southern New England area, go over to Circuit BMX in Pawtucket, RI this Saturday for a BMX swap meet and world footdown championships. If you got some balance, you might be able to get your hands on some cash. There’s also gonna be bands, booze, and Vic Bettencourt. How can you lose?
OK, photos. First is KEP, lookin all sexy-like over in Cokeland, better known as Oakland. Two is our homie Jordan we met in Santa Cruz a few weeks ago, that KEP shot. Third, we got the WOOF, boostin a tabe in SF, photo by Nick Hammertime. Lastly, flyer for the swap at Circuit.
Now go out and cause some mayhem.
-Sean