Motorcycle Stunting - Starboyz Stunt Fest 2006

It's a funny thing, seeing your friends grow up. When Ohio's Starboyz, the original bad boyz of stunting, threw their first Stunt Fest at Thompson Dragway outside of Cleveland, Ohio, way back in 2001, it was a chaotic affair remembered more for its legendary pre-event (and midevent, and after-event...) parties than for anything even resembling professional organization. Five years is a long time in the stunt-riding world, though, and apparently it was more than long enough for the Starboyz and their signature Stunt Fest to come of age. The fifth-annual Stunt Fest '06 looked absolutely nothing like the first running, and with industry supporters like Joe Rocket, Chicago Cycle and Maxxis Tires contributing to the unprecedented $40,000 prize package that drew the top stunters from around the nation (not to mention, 5000 spectators on the final event day), Stunt Fest '06 was a quality production all the way. We'd still hesitate to call the Starboyz responsible or even mature adults (we're almost sure they'd consider that an insult!), but when it comes to getting down to business and putting on a first-class, professional stunt event, they've definitely shown that they know how to get it done.

This isn't to say that the Boyz were all business. The on-track action was executed with almost military precision by founding Starboyz Kevin Marino and Scott Caraboolad. The two manned the mics to provide play-by-play commentary and kept the events on-task despite the uncooperative weather and other complications. Off the track, the good times still rolled. By that, we mean the weekend's festivities still kicked off the way they always have, with a balls-to-the-wall party that attracted hundreds. Once the last beer had been drained, it was a brief night's sleep for everyone before heading out to the dragstrip for two days of serious stunt competition.

Make that "mostly serious" competition. For the most part, everyone who showed up to battle it out for the big bucks had competed against one another before, and it was cool to see the sense of brotherhood exhibited in the crowded staging area. The Starboyz events are known for their original contests, and this year's was no different. It included the usual individual freestyle, team and longest stoppie/longest coaster contests plus some fun ones like the most circle wheelies in a minute and the fastest wheelie. The latter contest drew the longest roster of the weekend and was won by none other than Bill Dixon of Kentucky's Road Hazards Extreme freestyle team, who broke the timing beam with the back wheel of his '05 Yamaha R1 at 117.26 mph.

Dixon has been on a tear this year, winning events all around the country, and Stunt Fest '06 was no different, with Dixon also taking the top prize in the longest coaster and longest stoppie competitions, which paid $1000 each. What's more, the three wins added up to enough points to earn the weekend's Top Rider grand prize, too-a brand-new, zero-mile '06 GSX-R600 donated by Chicago Cycle! Busting stunts in a pair of funky Bermuda shorts and a helmet that looked like a leftover prop from Gladiator, Dixon was understandably jacked up about the weekend's results, even if he told us the first thing that he was going to do with his new Suzook was try to trade it in for a Yamaha R6! Yes, Dixon bleeds Yamaha blue thanks to his relationship with his sponsors at McCoy Motorsports, and Dixon's highly customized R1 stuntbike, with a dirt bike bar, handbrake, diamond-plate supports for his tandem passenger and enough accessory chassis bracing to support a cell phone tower, was testament to the faith Bill D has in that company's products.

What's even more amazing was Dixon was able to pull this all off while walking wounded from a freak accident earlier in the week: "I feel like crap today because I got bit by a poisonous spider. The wound ended up getting infected, so I could hardly put any weight on my one foot," he told us after the final event. "But I've been practicing for months to get my program down right, so I still came out and gave it my best shot." Maybe some of his competition might consider the spider-venom performance-enhancing program before their next event.