highside
02-26-2010, 10:03 AM
By our own Marc Perone/TLR67:
At the request of a couple people I am writing what I spoke about at the Funeral on Thursday. For those of you that could not make the funeral I was honored to take a moment and talk about some of the last moments of Todd's Life before he was taken from us. I also got to tell a story about Todd a few years ago at Deals Gap. I knew Todd for several years and we became very good friend's. We shared the same beleif's, we were both married with 2 kids, we were both in the Technology feild, we both loved the outdoors and most of all we both loved to ride Sportbikes. It was a privledge to share the last evening, morning, and afternoon with Todd before he lost his life. Todd was very excited about the upcoming weekend at Roebling Raceway. I left early and drove over by myself to claim our Pit area and set up. After a couple of long hours of seting up EZ Up's bikes and wrestling with the Tent Todd showed up with his sleeping bag under his arm and said "Is that my tent?" That was Todd....We worked on bike's most of the evening where normally we would be drinking Corona's and BS'ing.. We had to change tires, Prep bikes and get everyone for the next morning. After we were done we decided to settle down and watch a Movie on the computer under the EZ Ups. I brought "Dust to Glory" so we popped it in and started to watch it. The temperature was dropping and Blakes Digital themometer on the EZ up wasn't helping.. We broke out Blakes heaters, Plugged them in only to have OT Sit right in front of them both blocking the heat, then turning around with a grin saying "I dont know about you guys but Im comfortable!" That was Todd.... The movie Dust to Glory has many legends in it and is a Documentary on the Baja 1000. For those that havent seen it I would highly recomend it. It has greats such as Ricky Johnson, Malcomb Smith, Ivan Stewart, Mario Andretti, Robby Gordon , Mouse McCoy and even James Garner telling their tales and adventures of this great race. One story was about the 1967 Race. Malcomb Smith was partnered up with JN Roberts to team up on a motorcycle to endure the mad race from Ensenada Mexico to La Paz Mexico. Malcomb Smith did the first 500 Miles and of course had the lead by far. Handing the bike off to JN around Dusk Malcomb offered the Maps but JN refused and said he knew where he was going. Well after mistaking the North Star for the lights of La Paz JN ended up crossing the Baja Penninsula twice without even gaining a mile during the race. His crew found him 6 hours later sleeping under a cactus. They filled his bike up and off he went still finishing in 1st place. Malcomb Smith said"" When you go through life if I knew we were making History then I would have paid closer attention to it"" I feel this same way about my relationship with Todd. I wish I would have paid more attention... There is also another racer byt the name of Johnny Cambell. Johnny has won the Baja fro 94 to 2004 10 years straight which is unbeleivable. Johnny said "There are certain risks you take, you just cant live in a Box or your going to run from everything" After he said that I looked at Todd (OT), Blake(Lazy Destroyer) and Steve (Dirt46) and said Hell yeah.. Live Life to the Fullest... OT turned and me and said your Damn Right... That was Todd.... After the temps dropped more and we were done cussing the weatherman out OT offered one of his sleeping bags to Blake who was planning on sleeping in his car...That was Todd.. We told blake to sleep outside by the heaters which he did then Todd and myself got in the tent to get settled in. Then it happened.. I was awoken at 5AM By the gnarliest sound ever.. It was Todd Snoring.. I couldn't complain because I knew I had to have been guilty as well.. Well I couldn't sleep so I got up, fired up a pot of Coffee and proceeded to make Breakfast Quesadilla's or (Cascades as Todd called them) As soon as Todd smelled them the tent came unzipped and there he was... That was Todd... It was a beautiful morning with the sunrising and the roosters crowing in the distance... We were all there.. All ready and all anxious for the day to begin.. Especially Todd... The Scooter Story..... Todd and myself loved to Camp.. His Family and mine would get together every Memorial day or 4th of July on the Lake and Camp all weekend... It was a Blast.. However I planned a trip up to Deals Gap one weekend and told a couple people from Kentucky and a few People from Georgia. Well a couple from Kentucky turned out to be about 20 and a few from Georgia turned out to be about 25. We were all at a remote site under the Foothills of Tennessee. This campsite was great, It had a trout stream, waterfalls, hiking trails and only had 16 spots, so Im NOT going to tell you where it is... One afternoon after a hard day of riding we were all settled in at the main congregation are at the campsites... I was cooking Cascades for everyone... I cant even remember how many of those things I cooked but it was alot.. Anyway I brought my scooter with me and decided to head up to the bathrooms and get cleaned up.. My scooter is like one of those Razor scooters only it has inflatable tires, a chainsaw engine and no exhaust on it.. When I went in the batroom which was at the top of a 60 foot sidewalk Todd ran out and stole the scooter.. I tried to catch him but off he went on some trails back in the woods.. I wlaked back down to the end of the sidewalk at the bottom of the hill and everyone asked why I was laughing.. I said like a 4 year old.. OT stole my scooter... Then said I also didn't tell him that it had NO Brakes... With 20 people being on both sides of the sidewalk we then heard Todd coming... Out from behind the bathrooms he jumped up on the sidewalk... With the engine screaming we all knew what was going to happen... Down the sidewalk he came like Evel Kenivel Jumping the fountains at Ceasars through the crowd we all yelled NO BRAKES!! He hit the bottom of the sidewalk which dumped into a Gravel turn around only to do 3 Cart Wheels with My scooter following closley. A Ford Truck was looking for a campspot and Todd did all of this right in front of it. Todd got up with a skinned knee and elbow and took a bow like someone on Broadway.... That was Todd... Todd I am going to miss you dearly and I pray for ALL of your family members and friends...
Marc
RIP Todd Phillips 1965-2007
At the request of a couple people I am writing what I spoke about at the Funeral on Thursday. For those of you that could not make the funeral I was honored to take a moment and talk about some of the last moments of Todd's Life before he was taken from us. I also got to tell a story about Todd a few years ago at Deals Gap. I knew Todd for several years and we became very good friend's. We shared the same beleif's, we were both married with 2 kids, we were both in the Technology feild, we both loved the outdoors and most of all we both loved to ride Sportbikes. It was a privledge to share the last evening, morning, and afternoon with Todd before he lost his life. Todd was very excited about the upcoming weekend at Roebling Raceway. I left early and drove over by myself to claim our Pit area and set up. After a couple of long hours of seting up EZ Up's bikes and wrestling with the Tent Todd showed up with his sleeping bag under his arm and said "Is that my tent?" That was Todd....We worked on bike's most of the evening where normally we would be drinking Corona's and BS'ing.. We had to change tires, Prep bikes and get everyone for the next morning. After we were done we decided to settle down and watch a Movie on the computer under the EZ Ups. I brought "Dust to Glory" so we popped it in and started to watch it. The temperature was dropping and Blakes Digital themometer on the EZ up wasn't helping.. We broke out Blakes heaters, Plugged them in only to have OT Sit right in front of them both blocking the heat, then turning around with a grin saying "I dont know about you guys but Im comfortable!" That was Todd.... The movie Dust to Glory has many legends in it and is a Documentary on the Baja 1000. For those that havent seen it I would highly recomend it. It has greats such as Ricky Johnson, Malcomb Smith, Ivan Stewart, Mario Andretti, Robby Gordon , Mouse McCoy and even James Garner telling their tales and adventures of this great race. One story was about the 1967 Race. Malcomb Smith was partnered up with JN Roberts to team up on a motorcycle to endure the mad race from Ensenada Mexico to La Paz Mexico. Malcomb Smith did the first 500 Miles and of course had the lead by far. Handing the bike off to JN around Dusk Malcomb offered the Maps but JN refused and said he knew where he was going. Well after mistaking the North Star for the lights of La Paz JN ended up crossing the Baja Penninsula twice without even gaining a mile during the race. His crew found him 6 hours later sleeping under a cactus. They filled his bike up and off he went still finishing in 1st place. Malcomb Smith said"" When you go through life if I knew we were making History then I would have paid closer attention to it"" I feel this same way about my relationship with Todd. I wish I would have paid more attention... There is also another racer byt the name of Johnny Cambell. Johnny has won the Baja fro 94 to 2004 10 years straight which is unbeleivable. Johnny said "There are certain risks you take, you just cant live in a Box or your going to run from everything" After he said that I looked at Todd (OT), Blake(Lazy Destroyer) and Steve (Dirt46) and said Hell yeah.. Live Life to the Fullest... OT turned and me and said your Damn Right... That was Todd.... After the temps dropped more and we were done cussing the weatherman out OT offered one of his sleeping bags to Blake who was planning on sleeping in his car...That was Todd.. We told blake to sleep outside by the heaters which he did then Todd and myself got in the tent to get settled in. Then it happened.. I was awoken at 5AM By the gnarliest sound ever.. It was Todd Snoring.. I couldn't complain because I knew I had to have been guilty as well.. Well I couldn't sleep so I got up, fired up a pot of Coffee and proceeded to make Breakfast Quesadilla's or (Cascades as Todd called them) As soon as Todd smelled them the tent came unzipped and there he was... That was Todd... It was a beautiful morning with the sunrising and the roosters crowing in the distance... We were all there.. All ready and all anxious for the day to begin.. Especially Todd... The Scooter Story..... Todd and myself loved to Camp.. His Family and mine would get together every Memorial day or 4th of July on the Lake and Camp all weekend... It was a Blast.. However I planned a trip up to Deals Gap one weekend and told a couple people from Kentucky and a few People from Georgia. Well a couple from Kentucky turned out to be about 20 and a few from Georgia turned out to be about 25. We were all at a remote site under the Foothills of Tennessee. This campsite was great, It had a trout stream, waterfalls, hiking trails and only had 16 spots, so Im NOT going to tell you where it is... One afternoon after a hard day of riding we were all settled in at the main congregation are at the campsites... I was cooking Cascades for everyone... I cant even remember how many of those things I cooked but it was alot.. Anyway I brought my scooter with me and decided to head up to the bathrooms and get cleaned up.. My scooter is like one of those Razor scooters only it has inflatable tires, a chainsaw engine and no exhaust on it.. When I went in the batroom which was at the top of a 60 foot sidewalk Todd ran out and stole the scooter.. I tried to catch him but off he went on some trails back in the woods.. I wlaked back down to the end of the sidewalk at the bottom of the hill and everyone asked why I was laughing.. I said like a 4 year old.. OT stole my scooter... Then said I also didn't tell him that it had NO Brakes... With 20 people being on both sides of the sidewalk we then heard Todd coming... Out from behind the bathrooms he jumped up on the sidewalk... With the engine screaming we all knew what was going to happen... Down the sidewalk he came like Evel Kenivel Jumping the fountains at Ceasars through the crowd we all yelled NO BRAKES!! He hit the bottom of the sidewalk which dumped into a Gravel turn around only to do 3 Cart Wheels with My scooter following closley. A Ford Truck was looking for a campspot and Todd did all of this right in front of it. Todd got up with a skinned knee and elbow and took a bow like someone on Broadway.... That was Todd... Todd I am going to miss you dearly and I pray for ALL of your family members and friends...
Marc
RIP Todd Phillips 1965-2007