Personal History
I grew up riding with my family. I left riding for 15 years until 2007. I purchased my son a quad and my self a modified XR400. 6 months later I signed up for my first race. It was a 2 day race and I didn't finish either day. It was a 6 hr drive home and my wife couldn't believe how happy I was even though I didn't finish either race day. It was always a great passion but time and money never allowed me to persue that passion. We have raced as a family since. We race hare scrambles, scramblecross, and just about any cross country event out there. We recently moved from West Texas. It made it very costly to drive 4-6 hrs one way to race. We now live outside of Dallas / Fort Worth. We are right in the middle of the primary area of TORN, TORO, TCCRA and Scramblecross territory. Yes that was by design.
Riding Goals
Took a little break from riding and racing this year with moving and recovery. Recently raced and found out just how out of shape I really am. Raced the TORN over 38 Amatuer class and managed a 2nd place. That would seam like enough but the track conditions where awesome and fit my style well. I simply couldn't push in sections that I normally would have used to capitalize on and pull first place. Needless to say I was happy but agrivated at myself. I let a first slip my hands. I have raced for 9 years and have only had one 1st place finish. That was in Scramblecross late last year. I wanted that elusive 1st place in a true cross country event. That has motivated me to get back in shape before the fall season. Post race one week and am pushing myself to get my cardio back. My son has also had to lay off due to a late season football concussion and an ACL Injury. It was a rough winter and we are both working to motivate each other to get back in shape and back to racing.
Competitive Highlights
My first podium in 2010 after 3 years of racing was bitter sweet. That was the tipping point that motivated me to push hard and have consistently found my way to many podiums since. It's motivated through several injuries since. Last year my son and I both took trophies home at the same events. He managed a first in his class and walked over with his plague and asked me if I had one? I was one the line warming my bike. He knew the answer was no, I cut 10 seconds of my previous lap times, Watching him slowly develop has been such a pleasure and highlight. Watching him pass me one of these days will be a true highlight but he's going to have to work his butt off for it until he crosses the finish line. That time is most likely a lot closer than I'm willing to admit. When he does that will probably be my proudest racing moment ever.