I've been asked a thousand times, but I am sorry, I can't control Steve Matthes' urges. If he wants to hate on amateurs getting paid, he's gonna hate. If he wants to eat Cheezies, he's gonna eat Cheezies. If he's gonna piss off Jason Anderson, it's gonna happen. Steve's gonna Steve!

Sometimes Steve gets a glimmer of free time and goes down the industry rabbit hole known as the Cycle News archives. He emerges like a rabid Basset eating cargo shorts. His latest masterpiece? An in-depth story on Eddie Hicks, known within some industry circles as the fastest minicycle racer ever, yet someone who never really made it as a pro. 

Matthes has spent two months pouring his heart and soul over this Eddie Hicks project, tracking down multiple sources who witnessed him in his 80cc prime. At the Glendale SX, Steve was more into talking to Kyle Lewis about some rando 1983 CMC Golden State 80cc race than he was the actual main event.

The problem? Steve's story is TOO GOOD! 

It's 5,000 words, it has great quotes and answers a ton of questions about what minicycle racing and factory rides were like generations ago. It serves as a tragic and cautionary tale, too. We're not going to waste it as a quick RacerXOnline.com feature, taking two months of Steve's hard work and a lifetime for Eddie Hicks and covering it up, an hour later, with this week's How To Watch: Arlington, which is just a freaking TV schedule, basically.

This needs to be a magazine feature in glossy print, or a longform feature.

It needs to be something special. But Matthes does not want to wait! He wants this story to run right here, right now.

Now, I present to you, yesterday's phone text convo between Matthes, myself, and Chase Stallo.

Matthes:

When is Hicks story running????

Chase Stallo:

never.

It sucked

Weege:

All that work for nothing

Matthes:

So much jelly in those two texts

Chase Stallo:

?

Deciding what to do with it. I think it could be a mag feature or longform

Weege still needs to read

Matthes:

Not mag. Too long

Chase Stallo:

Could be longform if we added a bit more

Matthes:

U told me u wanted this kind of stuff every now and then chase. Here u go. Run it

Chase Stallo:

yes. But why run it as a regular feature?

Matthes:

It’s good. Weege never wanted me to do this anyways.

Chase Stallo:

hahahaha

Matthes:

He’s not a supporter of a story on a random guy from 1984 for some reason

Just run it. The guy's on my ass to see it

Weege:

Damn wait I just read it. This is too good

Has Davey seen it?

Matthes:

He knew I was doing it but I HIGHLY doubt he read it

Weege:

True. No one wants to read your stuff.

Chase Stallo:

Its really good. Would hate to just waste it as a regular feature.

Weege

Same here, it needs to go somewhere more prominent

Matthes:

Stop it. 

Run it this week and next. Bump back up. 

Weege:

They will care more if we package it right, which is either longform or magazine

Chase Stallo:

agree. A good story is a good story.

Weege:

A-Mart and Phil aren’t stars like McGrath, but your 11-10 longform was a big hit

Matthes:

Just run it. There are long-ass stories on the web all the time

It’s not long enough for longform

Weege:

Never do we have stories with this many sources and quotes, plus this is an all-time story

Tell Eddie Hicks the last time he rushed it he got on a 125 Yamaha and ruined everything. Slow down.

Chase Stallo:

?

Matthes:

?

Weege:

BTW, after reading this, I love how the sport worked back then. “We gave you 4 races as a pro and you didn’t even win one so you’re on your own next year”

Matthes:

Yeah, so gnarly.

A lot of guys from the 80s have stories like that

Weege:

Privateers ranting have no idea how much harder it was to get and keep a ride when there were like 10 spots in the entire sport, both classes combined.

Matthes:

What’s crazy is all the support as an amateur, all that money spent on the kid is just wasted

Like u invested in a stock for five years and just dumped it the first time it took a loss of $10 bucks

Just run it

Chase Stallo:

No.

Weege:

CHASE IS THE BOSS NOW, STEVE

Weege:

Nick Gaines on a 4-race deal with Traders? Where do they come up with this? Why 4?

Matthes:

Really? I thought he was off the team

Chase Stallo:

Texted Mark yesterday bc he was on entry list with Traders. Said 4-race deal

Matthes:

Like what’s the cut off for Gaines? Lol. How do you determine what results mean he should stay on the team?

Weege:

Ask Eddie Hicks how it works. He'll know.

Matthes:

Seriously tho. Just post it

I’m putting it on Pulp

BOOM. MIC DROPPED

Weege:

What the eff Matthes, is someone holding a gun to your head

Chase Stallo:

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. NO ONE WILL READ IT

Weege:

Do you owe Hicks drug money?

Chase Stallo:

HAHAHAH

Matthes:

☹️

No I just want it out bro.

Weege:

Bullshit

Something is up

Matthes:

I swear. Nothing is up. I mean he’s asking me, but that’s not a big deal

Chase Stallo:

Let me talk with weege. Calm down

Matthes:

I cooked this turkey for weeks. It’s ready to go

OPEN THE OVEN

Chase Stallo:

I wish I could block you from this text

Matthes:

BUT IT WAS EASY TO GET

OPEN THE OVEN

Chase Stallo:

GET OFF TWITTER

Weege:

THIS MEAL NEEDS HEAVY EDITING

Matthes:

LET THE BIRD OUT

FEED THE PEOPLE

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

EDDIE HICKS

RELEASE THE HICKS

RELEASE THE HICKS

Chase Stallo:

New number? Who dis? 

Matthes:

Eddie is sad

[Update]

Once we hit publish on this article, Steve continued his onslaught against us.

Matthes:

You guys fuc** Eddie and me

Hope you’re happy.

Weege:

We are just trying to give ignite proper due

Chase:

?

Im dying. This is amazing