Every single day we add new friends to the Mirraco Myspace profile. We have passed the 4700 mark and are waiting to add number 5000 to the list of Mirraco friends.

The Mirraco Myspace site has big photo folders of each team rider so make sure to stop by that section next time you’re visiting Mirraco on Myspace.

Mirraco on myspace

Thanksgiving weekend I traveled up to Bancroft, Ontario for my very first Rally of the Tall Pines. What an experience. I was enroute to the rally and I didn’t really know what to expect. I arrived at the airport in Ottawa, Ontario around 2pm, where Lance Smith (the man behind Vermont Sports Cars) picked me up and we headed to Bancroft which was like three hours away. Shakedown (practice in rally terms) started at 6pm so we went straight to rally headquarters to sign in and go drive.

The point of shakedown is to make sure everything is working properly on the car. So, we’re all checked in and I meet my co-driver Alan Ockwell (He is one of the best in Canada). I had a little trouble in shakedown so I decided that night, I really needed to pull back just a little bit. I needed to finish this rally for experience and driving only a few stages won’t show me a full rally.

Ken and I had to be up at 6am to get over to service where the rally kicks off. Start time for Ken was at 9am for me it was 9:45am .

I started off great and made it through the first 9 stages out of 15 with no serious problems. It was cool I got to pull Ken out of a ditch on stage 3 and that is what rally is all about. The point is to help other drivers and they will help you if you have any mess ups. So here’s where it gets pretty crazy.

On the transit to stage 10 we get a front flat tire, so we pull into a gas station, change the flat and move on because there is a time limit you have to check in. We make it and enter stage 10 and half way through the stage I get another front flat so I finish the stage with three tires basically. So we finish and since I only had one spare I had to put the first flat back (it had like 10 lbs in it) on for stage 11. I was getting to see why they call it a rally.

So, I start stage 11 with a flat and I was fully committed to finish. I think I drove my best that stage because I figured, if we weren’t going to make it, I may as well drive as fast as I can. It was pretty exciting to say the least and we made it, but remember we still had to transit back to service which was like 30km. We get to about 10km away and we lose the entire tire from the rim. Pretty funny. We pull in to service with 3 tires and a rim. The service crew was laughing and was like; “What happened?’. They are used to this kind of stuff.

We start our transit to the final four stages with two spare tires this time. So, stage 12 went great and 13 was going great until about 1km from the finish I get lazy and slide into a ditch. I couldn’t believe it. I was in pretty deep. 3 drivers try to pull us out but no luck. One more try, Nigel Mathews got us out at the last minute before sweep comes through and if sweep has to pull you out you’re DNF’ED. That means you don’t finish. We got out but the front end and the rack of lights were ripped off. So, Alan and I throw the lights in the back of the car and I cable tie the front end on so we can finish stage 13.

The final two stages went great and I finished my first rally. I was so amazed we made it considering the luck we had and not to mention all the ice and snow . This was one of the coolest things I have ever done and I couldn’t have done this alone. Many thanks to Vermont Sports Cars, Lance Smith, Ken Block for all the encouragement, the entire service crew (Chris, Wee-Gee, Dan, and David), Alan Ockwell, and the sport of rally.

Thanks,

Dm

Photos by Andrew Harvey

Maxime Charveron hails from a town called Brignais over in France. At seventeen years old Maxime is an experienced rider who simply likes to have fun on his bike. Sometimes at contests it works out, sometimes it doesn’t and Maxime can’t be bothered. Dubai X-Games are up next and this is the bike he is bringing.

Frame: Mirraco Black Pearl 20.8′ gray
Fork: odyssey race
Stem: Solid Bikes Lite stem
Pedals: animal Steven Hamilton with one looseball and the other sealed
Bars: subrosa 8′
Grips: animal Edwin Delarosa
Lever: odyssey M2 lever
Brake: Demolition Vulcan brake
Detangler: odyssey M2 and snafu
Front Wheel: Profile Mini front hub 36h with flybikes rims
Back Wheel: Profile Mini cassette rear hub - LHD 10t 36h with flybikes rims
Seat: Animal Cush seat - Strip gray
Seat post: Animal All Day stump post
Seat Post Clamp: Animal seat post clamp
Crank: Demolition Medial cranks
Sprocket: odyssey vermont 30t
Tires: animal GLH and odyssey Chase Gouin
Pegs: flybikes

Welcome to the new Mirra Bike Co. website. This is the first look and you will find some “Under construction” messages but at least you can take a look at the 2008 bikes, watch some videos, the Contact button works as well as the Links button. To get back to the main page, simply hit the Mirraco logo on top.

We will let you know when the Team section, Gear section, Dealer Locater, Online Register, FAQ list and other parts are up.

Ryan Guettler tells you about the top five spots to ride, his favorite bands, riders that inspire him, the cars he likes and the things he cannot live without. What do you think he answered?

———————–

A. Spots to ride?

1. Beenleigh

2. Animal house

3. Backyard

4. Crestmead

5. Brownsplains

———————–

B. Bands?

1. Metallica

2. AC/DC

3. AFI

4. Pat Benatar

5. The wlltiles

———————–

C. Riders that inspire you?

1. Dave Mirra

2. Nasty

3. Puppa

4. Mick Bayzand

5. Cooper

———————–

D. Cars?

1.Ones

2. that

3. go

4. real

5. fast!

———————–

E. Things you can’t live with out?

1. Friends

2. Family

3. Music

4. Dagger

BMX has been around for a long time. The trends come and go. Neon bikes to black bikes. Front brakes to no brakes. Heavy bikes to the new trend of ultralight bikes. Dave Mirra’s logic was simple. If he weighs 165 lbs and is riding a bike that weighs 25 lbs, a kid who weighs 100 lbs would have to work almost twice as hard to flow a 25 lbs bike. Although his math sucked, his logic was spot on and so Dave’s “Project” was born. But, how do you build a steel bike under 20lbs? Easy answer: you don’t. The Solution: Aluminium. Welcome to the Project 16.

Price $ 659.99

Frame: Project Series Alloy 16″, 6061 T6, 16.5″ Top Tube

Frame: Colors: Black anodized

Fork: MirraCo Full Crmo Headset TH / FPD 1-1/8″ Integrated headset w/ 15mm cap

-Drivetrain Components

Crankset: Lightweight 3-Piece Crmo 152mm

Bottom Bracket: Euro BB / 4 Sealed bearing, 48 spline 19mm hollow axle

Chainwheel: M3 Alloy 25t

Freewheel: Cassette 9T cog

Chain: KMC Z610

Pedals: Wellgo Magnesium Jr. 9/16″ w/ molded pins, Crmo axles

-Control Center Components

Handlebar: MirraCo 2-pc 6061-T6 Alloy, 150mm tall, anodized

Stem: M3 Downside CNC Alloy

Aheadset: 1-1/8″

Grips: Odyssey Dash Mini w/ flange

Saddle: MirraCo M3 Jr. 7mm rails

Seat Post: Alloy Micro-Adjust two-bolts, 27.2×200mm

Seat Post Clamp: M3 alloy 31.8mm

-Wheelset Components

Front Hub: Alloy 28H 2 sealed bearings, 3/8″ Crmo axle

Rear Hub: Alloy Cassette sealed bearings 28H, 3/8″ Crmo axle / RHD

Rims: Alloy 16″ 28H black anodized

Spokes: Stainless black, 15g

Tires: Maxxis Hookworm 16″x1.95″, 110 PSI

Pegs: Colony “One-Way Street” 7005 heat -treated alloy, 1 pair for 3/8″ axles

-Braking Components

Rotor: SST with SST upper & lower cables

Brake Set: Diatech 997 U-Brake rear w/ grey soft compound pads

Brake Levers: Tektro 289 alloy w/ adjuster

Weight: 18.7 lbs/8.5 kgs

*Specifications, geometry and pricing subject to change at any time and without notice.

Why would the little brother have to ride a bike that weighs the same as the 20 inch wheeled models? The younger riders are smaller, don’t have the same muscles but they want to get rad too. At 18.7 lbs (8.5 kgs), the Project 16 is the perfect bike to even the playing field to younger, lighter weight riders. Get your order in before they run out.

I got a great story for you. I just recently got a 2008 Honda CRF 250 (limited black). So anyways, here’s how it went down. My buddy Scot and I were riding a track in N.C. called Crystal Coast motocross. At the time I was riding a ‘08 kawasaki and I was having a few problems so I decided to try his ‘07 Honda CRF250. I took it for a couple of laps and I come in. I was in shock, and couldn’t believe how much more in control I felt. No b.s. I promise. So here is the best part.

Scot has been talking about this black Honda for like two weeks and on the way to the track that day I told him to save his money, the 07 was fine. So anyway, after I rode his bike he was like “there’s a shop in Kentucky and they have two”, so we got in the truck and headed 9 hours to a shop called Heritage Honda.

Scot was talking to Thadd and he was super cool. He worked with us and gave us the bikes for 6,100. out the door. That is amazing, considering there was a shop in Raleigh NC only an hour away that wouldn’t take less than 7,500. So, we make the drive and get to the shop the next morning. Thadd was waiting for us with the bikes all dialed in. The staff welcomed us and were super cool . They showed us around, helped us get loaded up, and we headed straight back.

Scot and I got talking about how cool the shop was from the owners to the mechanics that got everything straight for us. I guess my point is, it’s great to see people in the business for the right reasons, because they love the sport. That’s awesome. If you’re ever in Maysville, Kentucky look these guys up.

Thanks to everyone at Heritage Honda.

Dm

Our friend Stephen Murray had a horrible crash in dirt at one of the Dew Tour rounds earlier this year. He has been spending all this time in the hospital and doing rehab. Rob Wise recently donated his bike to the Stephen Murray family fund and Mirraco have donated material towards the cause to help out. Murray’s dad Jeff sent out an update on the latest development regarding Stephen. Help out if you can.

Seems ages since I tapped these computer keys and typed out an update for you but for these last 2 weeks we have been waiting for some important confirmations from the Craig Hospital and it is only today that I feel confident enough to spill some juicy juicy news—more about that later in this bulletin. During my last trip out to stay with Stephen we saw some huge changes in his breathing abilities and we were on a countdown to try and get rid of the trach from Stephens neck which has been keeping him alive for the last 21 weeks via the life support machine[ ventilator]. The large diameter plastic trach with the speaking valve and inner balloon was removed with a lousy yelp from Stephen, it really hurt me just watching let

alone having that monster pulled all the way up his throat and out of his neck. No pain no gain!

Thankfully they managed to quickly insert a stainless steel jackson trach with a slightly smaller diameter as a replacement, then after 4 days they pulled it out [not so much pain this time cos there was no inner balloon to worry about] and inserted another jackson stainless steel trach with yet again a slightly smaller diameter This procedure allows the hole in Stephen’s throat to heal up a bit and get smaller and smaller each time. Finally and thankfully Stephen managed to breathe well enough by himself ,without any support from that life support machine; and the nursing staff gave the long awaited OK to pull the smaller Jackson trach from Stephens neck, then a special patch was put over the hole in his neck in order to keep it surgically clean and to help close up for good that horrible neck wound.

YES—YES —YES—-AT LAST NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN MY MOUTH OR THROAT

These were Stephens words at the time—–can anyone imagine what that has been likefor 21 weeks? Because Stephen is breathing air at a very high altitude [Denver is a mile high] he is taking in a lower oxygen content than we are down at sea level, so as long as he remains in Denver he has to wear an oxygen tube up his nostrils and get his top up from an oxygen cylinder and get his lungs used to breathing on their own without that life support machine This has been the news we have been praying for and dreaming about, it is such a huge step forward for Stephen in his determined efforts to get better from this most crippling of injuries. A huge well done son, is my way of thanking him for staying strong and continuing to fight to get rid of that machine

BLOODY WELL DONE SON———WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOUR ATTITUDE

Other good news is the fact that Stephen and Melissa have found a suitable house to live in,[ back in the Riverside area of Southern California ] and signed a 12 months rental lease,. Because of their unfortunate financial position we had to come up wth all the 12 months rent up front—thanks to all who have helped with the STEPHEN MURRAY FAMILY FUND we have managed to do this, so today, Friday 16th November, Melissa is flying back to California to pick up the keys and start the house moving process.

In my first paragraph I did say we have been waiting for some news from the Craig Hospital for the last 2 weeks, this following is what it has been about Stephen has been waiting for his own personal brand new electric powered wheelchair to arrive at the Craig Hospital so that he can have it fitted around him comfortably and learn to use all of the controls with the back of his head,[ cos that is all he has the use of at present]. It is now believed that his new wheelchair will arrive in Denver Friday 23rd November and if all goes well, the hospital staff will work with Stephen for about a week or so to ensure he can totally control it well enough to be finally discharged from the Craig Hospital in Denver , keeping our fingers crossed for hopefully Friday 30th November.

I will be flying across the Atlantic Ocean for the umpteenth time to spend the last week in Denver with Stephen and then flying with him from Denver to California and spending another week or so helping him to settle in to a new way of living away from the Hospitals which Stephen has been living in for these last 21 weeks

Cynthia is flying to California a few days ahead of us so she can put her own little touches into making their new house, a nice new comfortable home, ready for Stephens arrival, and will also be staying with Stephen for a week or so to help him to get to get to grips with his new way of living in his own home, with his wife Melissa and their 2 sons 5 year old Seth and 2 year old Mason—— not forgetting Stephens 2 Golden Retriever sister dogs Cassie and Geordie and his giant St. Bernard, Rocky.who have been such a miss to Stephen but have all had very good homes these last 5 months.

That’s all for now folks and it goes without saying that you are so much appreciated for everything you helped with ,YOU have made us all STAY STRONG FOR STEPHEN

Thanks everybody

Jeff

Yo Rytell here.. what’s up everyone. Last few weeks in Florida has been pretty sweet. Dew tour and then Baco a-go-go jam was held at Mesh skate park in Longwood FL. IT WAS NUTS!

Starting off the Dew tour was nuts! Happy hour was sweet and some power wheelies behind the house of Dew haha Gator you know what im saying haha.. thanks for your help man.. would have been dead without you. Then the morning of BACO I woke up pedaled my way to Mesh, arrived there an hour before the place opened and rode with all the profile and UGP guys, it was sweeabt!!

Then I started filming for Vital bmx and took it to the shoulder really hard. The street jam and the bowl jam were amazing and then finals were insane! The video is on Vital, check it!

Went riding today trying to film at the 2 block and I snapped my crank arm doing a 180 over the rail. Bad day. I guess can’t ride till Monday waiting for a crank arm or maybe I will find one before then.. wish me luck, peace!!

Rytell