#1-CX SPORTS OWNER, JOHN, IS BACKING OUR RAFFLE TO HELP FUND THE PARK. THERE HAS BEEN A DOWN PAYMENT ON ALL THE PRIZES AND I LOCKED INTO BUYING THE PRODUCTS, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER NOW. IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONTACT HIM, THE CX TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 302.368.4088

#2-TALKS BETWEEN THE OWNER, OF THE MUSHROOM PLANT ON RT. 41, MIKE BASHIANI HAS BEGONE, AND HE IS AND I QUOTE "VERY INTERESTED". RIGHT NOW I AM WAITING ON WORD FROM HIS BROTHERS WHO ARE HIS BUSINESS PARTNERS. AND I WILL KNOW BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, FRIDAY THE 12TH.

THERE ARE TWO RAFFLES, ONE FOR A FLY ESTAMPIDA FRAME AS THE FIRST PRIZE, A UGP T-SHIRT FOR SECOND PRIZE, AND AN ANIMAL AND CX STICKER PACK AS A THIRD PRIZE. EVERYONE THAT ENTERS GET'S CX AND ASSORTED OTHER STICKERS

THE SECOND RAFFLE IS FOR A TREE SPROCKET. IF YOU HAVN'T HEARD OF TREE BICYCLE COMPANY IT WAS STARTED BY THIS GUY NAMED ADAM FROM MINNASOTA. HE MAJORED IN PHYSICS AND ENGENEERING, AND DESIGNED THE "PERFECT" SPROCKET. IT IS LIGHTER, STRONGER, AND STIFFER THEN ANY OTHER SPROCKET EVER MADE. IT'S CNC'D FROM 7075 ALUMINUM (THE STRONGEST ALUMINUM, OVER 25% STRONGER THEN 6061 T-6 ALUMINUM) AND IS SOLD FOR A WHOPPING $65 AT ONLY A FEW SELECTED SHOPS. THIS IS THE REAL UNDERGROUNDOF BMX. SECOND PRIZE IS A SNAFU RIM JOB TIRE, IT'S RATED AT OVER 130 PSI, THE HIGHEST PRESSURE RATING ON ANY TIRE (EVEN MORE THEN CAR, MOTORCYCLE, BOEING 747'S, ECT.)AND THIRD PRIZE IS A CX T-SHIRT.

ULTIMATELY THE CHOICE IS YOURS, ENTER THE RAFFLE AND SHOW YOU SUPPORT, OR GO ON WITHOUT AN INDOOR SKATE AND BIKE PARK WITH IN 45 MILES (FRANKLYN MILLS X-GAMES PARK)

Hey, how's this for some trippy shit?!?! I bought the newwest RIDE bmx mag the other night because it featured the FBM Ghetto comp I went to. Well I checked it out and saw my self in a few pictures, needless to say, I was really stoked. Well, just this morning (wednesday the 10th) I finally got over myself and started reading the rest of the mag. Fliping to the first page I saw it was an article written by Mark Losey, the head editor over at RIDE. So I began to read it, it goes something like this, ">>START

IN THE YEAR 2003, you have to be out of your mind to be involved in the skatepark business. With free city parks popping up everywhere, the only way a pay-park can survive is if the place is incredible: even then it still has to be supported by a dedicated scene that understands how important the place is. But when all the right elements come together, you can get way more out of a rider-run park than from any concrete slab your city may give you. Don't get me wrong-cities should build parks for everyone who wants to ride, skate, or whatever, but the feeling of riding a city park can rarely match the vibe at a park run by guys who know what riding is really about.

So here's my pitch. If there is a pay-park in your area that's run by guys with the right intentions, do your scene a favor and support it. Ride the place a lot and be cool to the people who run it, because you never know how long even the best park will last. And to those crazies out there running skateparks, thanks for keeping things going. Everyone working at a pay-park could be making more money and dealing with fewer headaches if they found another line of employment, but they're staying in the game because they love what they do. Keep it up. -LOSEY"

Now just to show how realavent this story is, I'll explain how I see it. Ok first off, Mark says anyone in the skatepark business must be loco....anyone denying that a Lafrance isn't crazy, is crazy them selves. He also goes onto say a pay-park must have a good scene to back it up... now I'd like to believe there's a good BMX and SK8 scene here in Chester county that spreads all the way into New Castle county, and if I'm right then there shouldn't be any problems with getting a good park that has a stereo system, movable indoor ramps so there will always be new lines, out door rain proof dirt jumps, and a kidney bowl. People with the right intentions, now I know if you know me and your a Giest you're probally thinking "Jamie??? Why he's the biggest crook around!! What kind of good intentions can he have?!?" well for you guys and everyone else that seems to have that mind set, you need to understand my first intentions of a park weren't even mine, the were CX Sports owner's, John C.. He and I discussed him opening a store with a skatepark, but he never pursued it after that. I sat on the idea for a while and finally decided I would find and old gargae at some mush room farm and put a few ramps in for myself and a few people I ride with from DE that are soon to turn pro. The whole idea of building a skate park just happened when i started looking at bigger places that were out of my own price range, but could be met by making it into a small "private club" skate park (the private club makes it easier on insurance, that's all). And as you can see those were my intentions, whether you believe me or not. "...staying in the game because they love what they do...", now i've been riding a while, and BMX and skating are a big part of me,and if you've seen me ride then you can tell there is no way in hell I could ever get sponsored, so to stay part of the whole scene and to stay involved with my beloved 20inch I'm trying to constuct a pay-park for minimal costs to the riders to help you (and myself) from going to indoor bike parks the closest being Franklyn Mills Mall. I know I don't feel like paying $15 for two hours every time I want to ride when it's raining or snowing out.... How about you???? If you're as dedicated to your 20 inch or your ABEC bearings as much as I am, then this park will happen, and it will stay around for quite some time. Chew on that. -updated Wed, 10th December 2003