Catching Up with...David Pingree

Aug 12 2009 - 4:31pm - Steve Matthes

Photos by Simon Cudby

Look out Walton, David Pingree is coming up to race and he’s only good at two things. Kicking ass is one and I’ll let you guess at the other one. Watch out Colton Facciotti and everyone else in the MX1 class as the #181 (or 201, or maybe 101 now that Carpenter is out) is coming and I think in times like this, I prefer to let the noted thespian, Kenny Loggins, speak for me as he basically talks about Pings race-

Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go
Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone…

That’s right, Ping’s going to the Danger Zone! Actually it’s not that big of a deal but the Label-It guy asked me about bringing up some guys and I was asking Ping who could go up when he suggested himself! One thing led to another and we’re going to pen a witty Racer X feature down the line on our weekend at Walton. Ping joins Florida’s Troy Adams on Team Label-It for the CMRC finale. To get the hype machine started, I thought I’d get some words from Ping himself.

DMX: So Ping, we’re going to Canada this weekend and you’ve raced up there before so let’s start there. Tell me about your previous races up there.

David Pingree: Well yeah, I did a couple of races up there. I raced at Deschambault , Quebec in like…like…boy a while ago. Maybe ’04? Anyways, I liked it and it was a cool track. I raced for the Diablo Honda team, is that this same team?

No, different team.

Well, they both use the devil in the team logos. I’m like, why not just put 666 on the bike. Alright, different deal. Then I did Calgary in ’06 and that was a blast. I was really not ready for that one physically. Both were fun, it’s a different vibe up there and is so relaxed up there. I’m looking forward to going and I checked the place out on the web and it looks great. I’ve heard good things about the track and I’m pumped to get going.

Ping showing good form, according to him we should see this for about five laps this weekend.

You been riding and training? I picture you as Rocky in Rocky IV just locking yourself in a cabin and training, running mountains to get ready for this…

No, I didn’t do any of that. I worked on my computer doing team manager stuff. I got some new gear. That’s about where I’m at. I rode a little bit before X-Games but not nearly as much as I would’ve liked. I think I’ll have something to throw down for five laps and then head in a backwards direction. I’m going to try and hold the bleeding.

So you’re going to be teammates with Troy Adams this weekend.

Oh yeah? I didn’t know that. Cool, Troy’s a good dude. That will be fun.

Can I get some moto predictions?

Well, it’s really hard to say for sure. I don’t know how fast those guys are going and I have no gauge of guys riding down here but I’m going to say…10-8. We’ll have to count on faith, if I do better- than great and if I do worse, I’ll be disappointed because I would like to be top ten.

Ping can do it all, here he is supermotoing.

Well, Paul Carpenter is out so that’s one more spot for you and maybe you can use #101.

Yeah that sucks for him and I’m going to be really bothered if I can’t get it. Might have to throw a fit, prima-donna style. I’m begging the guys up there, whoever is in charge of that stuff, let me use it. It’s not going to be pretty if I can’t.

What do you remember about the Canadian fans? They treat you good?

Yeah, from what I could remember. I don’t know if they like me, I like them! Everyone is laid back but to be honest, there wasn’t a ton of fans around when I went up there. At least they weren’t around my pits (laughs)!
Nah, everybody I talk to about racing up there, they are cool with the fans. It’s Montana style, where I’m from. It’s not the Sourthern California raditude up there. Everyone’s cool.

There’s not going to be the tattoos, flat-billed hats and black socks up there.

Yeah, exactly. I’m in Montana right now for a race and we walked into my favorite restaurant. The guy taking my order had a dip in and a hat that said “Drinking Beers, Shooting Deers is how I roll” and I thought, I’m home.