Spectating at a sporting event can be hard work if the venue isn't in top form, and this year's Stunt Wars remedied many of the previous problems.
The staff at Stunt Wars took a lot of heat from riders, vendors and magazine editors due to various problems at the 2006 event, but this year saw a new venue and solutions to many of the complaints.
Stunt Wars founders Todd Colbert, Adam Chamita and Chris Nichols took a step back, checked out the suggestion box and found ways to remedy many of the concerns. The first step was to move the competition to a professional motorsport facility and away from the backwoods drag strip it had previously called home. The judging criteria was also improved and used a modified XDL model.
This year, pit passes were introduced and allowed the spectators to mix with the riders. In doing so, it gave the fans a chance to hang with their favorite riders, while also making the competitors feel some of the all-important respect that's been missing at major events.
The mayhem and destruction in the host town of Lakeland, Florida, has become as notorious as the event itself. This year the police were ready and had undercover officers posted at various hotels and gathering spots. However, the controlled chaos didn't get as far out of control as in previous years.
Stunt Wars 2007 has taken an average stunt competition and presented it as a truly professional sporting event. Because of forward thinkers and dedicated individuals, the lifestyle may soon become a professional-sporting reality.
Starboyz Release party: FTP 5
The notorious Starboyz are at it again with FTP 5, and we checked out their release party to see how the original street maniacs are livin'.
It's been 10 years since Akron's Starboyz put a video camera in motion to capture some of the most legendary street stunting imaginable. Contrary to what the police (and numerous others) have predicted, the 'Boyz are still at it today, and they recently hosted a party in celebration of their fifth installment of the FTP series.
The party started at the Cleveland IMS bike show as legions of fans mobbed the booth for autographs and first copies of the highly anticipated movie. Afterward, it moved to a club for everything you'd expect at a Starboyz gig-lots of babes, booze and testosterone.