Some of you might be wondering how we became “Rabblerouser racing.” Well, if you look up the definition for Rabble Rouser in Urban Dictionary, this is what you’ll find:
- rabble rouser
One who starts trouble.
Don’t invite that kid to a party, he’s a real rabble rouser.
If there was one thing these kids knew how do well, it was getting into trouble! The core team grew up in the small town of Woodside, CA. This was a town with a population of 5025. It’s tucked away among large redwoods, flowing creeks, and horse trails, but it’s a stone’s throw away from Silicon Valley. Considering it was such a small town, most of these kids met when they started kindergarten, and went to school together all the way through senior year in high school. As a matter of fact, these guys have been paling around for over 30 years. Growing up, these kids found mischief everywhere they could. When it rained outside, they cheered because that was an open invitation for mud fights! As day turned to night, these boys’ imaginations ran wild. Toilet papering fellow friends’ houses was a favorite past time. Terrorizing the streets of Woodside with mag lights taped to their handlebars, they often had to scurry away from the local Woodside Patrol for breaking curfew. Not to worry, though. All of their shenanigans were in harmless good fun!
Along with their devious side, their passion for hot rods, motorcycles, and 4 wheel drives came at a young age. Bobby and Gio got their first motorcycles at age 8. They had matching Honda 50s. Jeff, the older kid of the bunch (by one grade) started his dirt bike days on a Honda 110. He sometimes confused his 3 wheeler for a small boat, as you could find him floating his 3 wheeler across the water in the woodside creek. From there, their toys exponentially grew! They graduated into KX 80s, KTM 350s, and now Bobby owns the streets on his Ducati 800 monster, Gio rips in Enduros on his KTM 350, and Jeff tears up the trails on a Yamaha YZ 450.
Motorcycles weren’t enough to keep these adrenaline junkies satisfied. They also had bigger toys. When these boys were 16, they all went out and bought the baddest 4 wheel drive toys to ever hit the Woodside High School parking lot. Bobby’s 1969 Ford Bronco could conquer nearly every hill climb at Canada College…. He had to stop his quest, after getting caught by the local police for trespassing… oops. Gio’s green 1975 Chevy Blazer was a force to be reckoned with. You could often see him spinning gnarly doughnuts at Los Trancos backwoods, in Portola Valley. Jeff’s Toyota Landcruser was the baddest rig around, and he still masters the toughest terrain the Rubicon in Lake Tahoe national forest, has to offer.
Desert racing was un charted territory for these guys, until just a few years ago. Jeb Boynton, the founder of the Hecks Angles Racing Team, put together a 4 man motorcycle team to race in the 2010 Baja 1000. Gio was one of the 4 riders, and Jeff was the lead technician and pit crew boss. Bobby came down as a spectator to watch the most intense races in history! For all of them, this was a life changing experience. As a racer, Gio said it was the most insane experiences he has ever had. As he waited at the pits for his turn, a shiver ran up his spine every time a trophy truck ripped by him at 120 miles per hour. The glare of the baja lights lit up the entire night sky, while the roaring rumble of the motors shook his entire body. “Mother of all creatures, am I going to have these trucks spitting dirt, and dust, and roaring up behind me?” His nerves were trembling, while he waited for his turn to ride. There was Jeff, at every check point in his chase truck, making sure all systems were a go. “It’s OK G, just get on and pin it.” Sure enough, it was Gio’s turn to ride, and he rode like he never rode before. One with his motorcycle, and the crazy desert air, the excitement, fear, and fatigue combined, caused an emotion that he had never felt in his life. The team finished the race strong, and they were all hooked ever since.
Since that experience it was only a matter of time before these boys were able to start a race team of their own. Bobby began looking for the rig in February, 2012. There were no if, ands, or buts about what they were going to race. It had to be a vintage Bronco! The same bronco type these boys used to drive around the streets of Woodside 20 years ago. When Bobby found Lil Hussy on Ebay, it was love at first sight. Not only was it one of the only race bronco he had found, there was something else about. It just called his name, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. The negotiations were made by phone, and it was settled. A deposit was made, and a road trip was in order. The three boys packed up the very next weekend and drove to Medford, OR to pick her up. She was everything they had expected, and more! She was a rough, raw, rumbly, beautiful vintage race rig!
The rest is…. Well…. Guess you’ll have to wait and see!
~Rabblerouser racing~