MARYLAND MOTOCROSS

 It's time to Recognize.
 
Stephen Plank #719
 
     

You know him.  You like him.  He’s always having fun and he most likely encourages you to do the same.  He is Sir Stephen “Shuck and Groove” Plank.  #719 is a complicated man who enjoys the simple things in life.  He lives for motocross.  He’s taking the steps toward attending the Motocross Mechanic Institute in Florida and is getting ready to move up to the 125A class next this coming summer.  Things are going well for this Pro hopeful.  Stephen tells about his origins in MX, how he feels about some controversial MX issues and pretty much outlines his experience.  A respected rider and a respected friend to most, he is a idol to some Motocross Hooligans and a mentor to some of the younger potential Hooligans.  Feel free to talk to him, I can promise you nothing other than he’ll give you an honest answer.

 

 

MarylandMotocross.com:  Yo “Shuck and Groove” how’s it going?

Stephen Plank:  Hold on, Hold on, Hold on (Yelling) GET AWAYYYYY!!!!

 

MMX.com:  Hey you okay man, want me to call OnStar???

SP:  (Laughing) A couple girls are chasing me down.

 

MMX.com:  Girls chasing you around, that’s awesome… Ready for the interview?

SP:  (Laugh) Yeah, but nothing real bad about girls. (Yelling) Owwww, I’m just joking.  Hey! Keep the noise down in the background! (Laughing)

 

MMX.com:  I can’t promise, but I’ll try…

SP:  Is this Ese’?

 

MMX.com:  No, this is Vance; Ese’ had a date tonight.

SP:  Ooohhhh, yeah!

 

MMX.com:  Naw man you don’t even know the half of it, I’m average height around 6 foot, but when I came to the door there’s this girl that was around 3 inches taller than me asking for Ese’

SP:  Whhhhaaaatttt???!!!???

 

MMX.com:  He’s only like 5’7”, practically a Hobbit…

SP:  Yeah, he’s a half pint…

 

MMX.com:  Exactly, how does he pull of a chick that tall, Swedish blonde, and she was Hoootttttt!

SP:  Oh, there ya go; Swedish.

 

MMX.com:  He thinks he’s a player, we’ll never hear the end of it.  (Sigh)  I got a hat here with the staff’s questions; I’ll just grab one.  All right, first off, what’s the deal Bra, Kevin Duffy says you’re always shucking and grooving when you walk, what’s up with that?

SP:  (Hard Laughing) I don’t know.  It’s just something I do, I guess.  (Laugh)  I’ve done it always since I’ve started racing. 

 

MMX.com:  I can dig it.   So how old are you, how long have you been riding, and where do you see it all leading to in the future?

SP:  I’m currently 20 years old.   I’ve been riding just about 6 years now, and hopefully turn Pro, I turn A after Loretta’s this coming year, so… we’ll see what happens.  I’m working on it.  I have my weekends where I spend them on a bike.

 

MMX.com:  Nice, so you’re #719, and Ese’ says you’re a ladies man, is 719 the number of girlfriends you’ve had or something?

SP:  (Hard, long laughing) Noooo, I wish.  The number comes from my first race was at Budd’s Creek.  I bought Chad Downing’s old 1988 RM 80.  Chad was there that weekend and I had to put a 7 on my bike and they gave me #719 for my first race and I’ve had it ever since.  And I’ll fight for it…forever…(laugh)

 

MMX.com:  Hmmmm.  Food for thought.  So, what are your favorite moment / memory in MX?

SP:  I’d probably have to say this past year at the Ponca City Amateur National when I got the hole shot in 250B stock.

 

MMX.com:  And the worst?

SP:  I broke my femur in 2000.  4 days before my birthday.  They kinda…(laugh) they <Medical Personnel> kinda stripped me naked and everyone saw me at the track.

 

MMX.com:  (Laughing) Well, I guess you wouldn’t be as nervous if something like that happens again.

SP:  (Laugh) No, nothing anyone hasn’t seen.  I’m not ashamed… (Laughing)

 

MMX.com:  Sorry man, gotta take advantage of the fact that I’m illin’ with a MX Pimp, so what lines do you used to use on girls and stuff?

SP: (Laugh) That’s a secret.

 

MMX.com:  Awww come on.  Ese’s goes with the UPS’s line… “What can brown do for you?”  Do you ever ask them to “Walk the Plank to the starting line”?

SP:  (Hard Laughing) Let’s see…Maybe something like that at night after the races on a weekend or to come with me to the starting line for good luck, but I don’t do that anymore.

 

MMX.com:  Right in, right on.  What pointers would you give to a brand spankin’ new rider?

SP:  Just give it as much determination as possible and if this is something they want to do, it won’t happen overnight.  They have to keep working with it.  Give it you all; even when you feel like you got nothing else.  The key thing with me and a lot of people I know is to have as much fun as possible.

 

MMX.com:  What is your favorite track and favorite event to attend?

SP:  My favorite track would have to be Ponca City, definitely.  That is one of the sweetest tracks I’ve ever been to.  I don’t have a specific event really, I’ve only been to a couple really big races, but basically every time I’m at the track really; I’m always having fun.

 

MMX.com:  Got any hobbies besides motocross?

SP:  Not really, I just hang out with my friends a lot.  Music is a big influence in my life.  I listen to it all the time.  Basically I just ride and go to college for right now.

 

MMX.com:  College?  Sweet what are you taking?

SP:  For the moment I’m just taking a bunch of General Study courses, but I’ll be moving to Florida in July to attend the Motorcycle Mechanic institute. 

 

MMX.com:  Wow, so Motocross really is a big deal for you?

SP:  Of course.  Yeah.  Definitely.  Racing is the greatest thing in my life.  I’ve played basketball, football, soccer, and baseball.  Nothing else compares to what motocross is. 

 

MMX.com:  Sweet.  Along those lines, Mike wants to know if you were given the power and you could change anything about MX, what would it be?

SP:  I’d change…probably the point system.  I feel that people some people get moved up way too quick.  On the other hand, I feel that some people get held back also.  I mean, I’m not accusing anyone of sandbagging, even though I’ve been accused of it myself… (Laugh) by people faster than me (laugh), but maybe someone can some up with a better system.  It would be nice.  I feel sorry for those people who come under fire for it, but sometimes someone gets moved up when they aren’t ready for it, and some people belong in the class above.  It’s a tricky situation at times and sometimes it’s obvious.

 

MMX.com:  I see.  Well, Scooter has the next question.  “Hey Stephen, there can be a lot of trash talk going on at times, where-be-it at the track, on internet sites such as M.A.M.A., MMX.com or what have you, how do you feel about it?” 

SP:  Well, people will have they’re opinions, they always will.  I believe that they are entitled to them.  No matter what you say or try to do to change it, it will remain to some degree.  We all do it sometimes. We’re only human.   Some people take it waaayyyyyy too far.  I’m talked about a lot.  It really doesn’t bother me anymore because people just won’t leave anything alone.  I believe that if you’re going to talk some serious trash about someone, you should say it to his or her face.  You owe it to them.  Not to their friends, to people who are associated with them, and especially not on the web.  The worst is people who leave anonymous posts.  They make themselves look really cowardly.  Personally, it acts as a way to give me more drive.

 

MMX.com:  I feel the same way.  I feel like I do a little at times, mostly in fun, but if you take it too far, you really do make yourself look like an idiot.  Someone WILL know and they’ll know you don’t have the guts to confront that person.  If you hide behind anonymity, it proves that your point is mute and that you’re really either wrong about him or her or scared of him or her and on top of that you have no class or professionalism.  Okay I’ll get off my soapbox now. (Laugh)  Anyways, recently at the landing you got to do a little bit of Camera / Stunt Man work, care to comment.

SP:  Yeah.  A little bit.  Kevin Duffy and Ese’ were out there late in the day and me an Gregg Duffy took turns chasing each other on the practice track on the double with Ese’s camcorder Duct Taped to out helmets (Laugh) it sure got heavy.  We were having a lot of fun with it.

 

MMX.com:  Well, maybe if we ever get a budget someday we’ll get better technology.  Do you have a Sinful Pleasure that no one knows about, but that they will after this interview?  Scooter likes to roll around in a kiddie pool of Vanilla Bean ice cream during the summer.

SP:  (Laughing Hard) Sinful Pleasure.  Hmmmmm…how sinful are we talking?

 

MMX.com:  (Laughing) Ummm, PG-13, wait!  That’s been pretty iffy these days.  Lets go with PG.

SP:  (Laugh) I’ll go with not wearing a shirt even if it’s like 30 degrees out and playing with my nipple rings (laugh).  Wait, can I say nipple?

 

MMX.com:  Ummmm, I dunno, I’ll ask Mike.

SP:   Yeah, I’d say that does it for me every time.

 

MMX.com:  Or at least the days that end in Y.   Moving on, to more wholesome stuff, Kevin wants to know what you think of all the 50 parents.

SP:  They’re great.  I’m friends with a lot of the parents and kids at the track.  Some parents take it too far with the yelling at times, but they mean well.  I enjoy watching the 50 races.  Seeing the bond that parents have with they’re kids is great.  Not all the time do you see a parent so closely involved with what they’re kids are doing for recreation.  That’s one thing I really like about Motocross.  The best thing I believe to do is encourage them, be firm, but ease off a bit.  A lot of the 50 parents know their kids well enough to know when to get on them about certain things and when to back off and just let them have fun.  I think the relationship they have is one of the greatest things in life.

 

MMX.com:  Who’s your favorite rider?

SP:  Kevin Windam.  You hear names like McGrath and Carmichael, but I really respect Kevin.  He’s got the style and determination and I think he’s one of the smoothest guys out there.  When he’s on, there’s nobody that can touch him. 

 

MMX.com:  So hopefully, one day one day you’ll be out there battling and mixing it up with the likes of him?

SP:  Oh yeah.  Every rider dreams of one day, coming out of a factory rig, with their bikes sitting underneath the tent, and living that dream.  If you get the chance to be one you really are blessed.  A lot of parents sacrifice a lot of money for their kids.  They deserve a ton of credit.  Also, there are the privateers paying out of their own pocket.  It’s all for the love of the sport.

 

MMX.com:  Kewl.  Well, thanks for your time Mr. Plank, good luck in your schooling and riding.  Hopefully as little or no injuries as possible and we’ll catch ya at the track.

SP:   Thank you.  Take it easy… Peace…

Maryland Motocross
 
Mark Davis
Tommy Mudgett
 Ryan Jones

 

Paul Hines
Michael Anderson
Zach Harrington

 
Stephen Plank

 

Travis Pastrana

 

Cheryl McCullough

 

Nick Evennou

 

Jason Lawrence

 

Jeff Slusher

 

Ali Mills

 

Jen Miller

 

Tony Cygan

 

Kevin Crine

 

Amanda Brown

 

Jessye Davis

 

Zeke Ziemann

 

Devon Pilkington

 

Anthony & Meagan Cascio

 

 David Segal

 

Michael Groves

 

Josh Hines

 

Ed Fratoni

 

Zach Osborne

 

Gregg Duffy

 

Chad Wages

 

James Lewis

 

Todd Wilcom

 

TammyLynn Posey
 
 
Brandon Bender
 

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