Todd Lyons Days Of the Wildman

Looking back in my daily journals over the years, here is one of my old journal entries and also my comments looking back now.

Big Money ABA Race – September 5th, 1993

Actual Journal Entry
“ABA Las Vegas. AA Pro motos: 1-5-4 Main – Didn’t make it. –Won $200 for first moto & $75 for 8th in the semi. Pro Open motos: 3-3-4 Main 5th –Won $70 for the main & $800 for the weekend! My best money weekend ever. I should have won more money, though. Drove back home to Huntington Beach after the races with a smile on my wallet."

Looking Back Now
During this era, when there was an ABA race up against the NBL Grands, the ABA would throw all kinds of crazy money into the pro class. My only results this weekend were 5th both days in open & a 3rd at the Friday night race & I won $800! Not bad. I was well stoked to go home with a fat wallet. At the time, this was the most money I’d ever made in a weekend.

Remember, this was the early 90’s & the BMX cash flow was at an all time low. I was riding for Supercross at the time and barely getting my entry fees paid. A salary was not even an option in this era. To put my cash flow into perspective, check out a snippet from my journal from a few days prior:

“At night Fayla came over & we went out to eat ($20) –She didn’t say thanks or offer any money again. Me paying for her has got to stop.”

I was mad because I took a girl to dinner and she did not offer to pay for her share of a $20 dinner! And if I recall, she was pretty hot too. Man, it sure is fun to look back to see how different I was back in the day. For sure, I probably wouldn’t mind paying $30 to take here dinner to dinner now….

Photo
You should be able to tell by the white dirt that this photo’s from a Vegas race. I’m beating some heavy hitters here. Charles Townsend, Billy Griggs, and Pete Loncaravich. Shoot, I used to be kind of fast.