LOOKBACK: ++ 19th edition of the FAT-JAM. 2007. Lookback on the JAM ++

Aug 03, 2011

Written by Bart de Jong

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The FAT JAM is not to be confused with the Mini FAT JAM that we do earlier in the year to open up the outdoor season. The Mini-FAT JAM is coming up strong too with the 20th edition in 2011 (I believe). But the FAT JAM is the big one, where shit happens, on all fields. See you Saturday in Aarle-Rixtel.

The FAT-JAM started in 1987 and this would have been the 20th year the FAT-JAM took place in Aarle-Rixtel. But we had a break one year so we’ll save the 20th anniversary for 2008. It didn’t mean that nobody showed up. It was almost the most international version of all time with Greg Illingworth there from South Africa, Clint Miller from Australia, McGoo from the USA and plenty of Germans, Belgians and Dutch people.

Those who come over know what they can expect, not much. But there’s no stress, it’s free, everyone can ride when he wants to, there are some tunes and it’s a good time to catch up with other

people. Basically it’s a good excuse to have a session with people who are in it for the same reason (having fun).

Coming up with something new every year isn’t easy but this FAT-JAM had all new jumps that were actually adjusted during the day to make them work.

The sets on the right saw most action by riders like Sven Fucking Grieten, Waldemar Vroegop, Mike Buse, Barry Kohne, Greg van Zulder, Clint Millar, Pim van den Bos, Hanny Cools, Michael van der Lee, Greg Illingworth, Peter Geys, Harm van Brussel, Dimitri, and many others. At the end of the day the second take off was a feet lower and 10 degrees less steep. It was a monster at the start of the day. The middle set and tables were a good way to either warm up or to work on your dirt skills.

The FAT-JAM wouldn’t be the FAT-JAM if we didn’t have goodies to give away. Thanks to our sponsors we had 9 prize packages available:

1. Fattest trick
2. Fattest slam
3. Fattest wallride
4. Fattest dude
5. Fattest blunt
6. Fattest wheely
7. Fattest bike
8. Fattest excuse
9. Fattest drunk

Something for everyone…. Even if you didn’t ride.

McGoo has been a great help and his Snafu 8.6 race is worth another report. He put the packages together at Paul’s Boutique and handled the scoreboard during the one hour contest session.

Category one was won by Barry Kohne. He always seems to leave the FAT-JAM with an Eastpak backpack. His no-foot cancan style tailwhip over the second set was rad.

Dylan van Och couldn’t pick up his prize for best slam as he spent a night in the hospital with a concussion and a sore shoulder. His complete Snafu safety gear package is waiting for him at Paul’s Boutique as soon as he can get back on the bike. Wearing a helmet isn’t bad idea either Dylan so while you’re out there….

The Fattest wallride prize went to South African Greg Illingsworth with a wallride to tailwhip out. There wasn’t a huge session on the board this year but he planned it right and hit the obstacle during the contest to pick up a backpack and an extra Bavaria beer.

Andy Zeiss wanted to be on the board and made it right away in the Fattest dude category. He didn’t even have to ride to get on McGoo’s scoreboard. The prize however went to 7 years old Sem Schonewille who was the skinniest little BMX-er on course. It’s gotta be fun, you know.

Fattest Blunt went to Mike van de Kerkhof. Not a lot of smoking was going on so this was the hardest prize to give out. Thanks Mike.

McGoo wrote down the names of the winners in the best way possible (for the American). Fattest Wheely went to Mike von Foehler. His stand up wheely in the dirt gave him his first BMX prize in his life.

Last year Mark van Lieshout broke his ankle at the FAT-JAM and won jack shit. He got some plaster for 6 weeks. This year the Lierop local won the Fattest bike award. A chrome KHE with no brakes.

In the morning of the 18th McGoo went to the local store to buy a package of tampons for the Fattest excuse awards.

During the day there were a bunch of candidates who were either injured, forgot their bike, or just don’t ride dirt. The best excuse of all came from youngster Nick Zwanen: “My grandma wasn’t home!” He received some goodies for that one and McGoo was smart enough to take out the pack of tampons before handing over the bag of stuff.

Mario Maat is non stop. He won the Fattest drunk category without trying hard.

Hannu Cools, Sven van Grieten and Greg van Tulder showed up after the official session but were all ripping the second set. The soft sand made it more like a resi section so new stuff was tried by all of them. Greg did great superman nothings.

Sven did nothings to no-footed cancans (super stretched) and Hannu was enjoying himself (as always) and threw in a few one handed no-footed cancans. Pim van den Bos had problems clearing the set so he decided to frontflip it and that worked out really well. Whatever works.

JD Sinned’s i-pod was blasting all day and the 10 Euro megaphone + Paul took care of the announcing. Shovels were available for instant repair and the sun was out most of the day. With a relaxed atmosphere it was hard to complain about anything. Bikes, Beers and Bitches once again at the FAT-JAM. Make travel plans for 2008: 20 years of FAT-JAM.

BdJ