|
|
Father & Son racing
And we're not talking dirt...
 Publisher's
note: In January 2005, Randy Grein and I had several discussions about him
providing track racing content for Sound RIDER! in 2005. We came up with a
number of articles I believe many readers will be intrigued by. But the
clincher in the whole thing was that Randy was passing on tradition and spending his time prepping his 14-year-old son, Justin, for track
racing!!! We hear a lot about families doing dirt racing, but rarely do we
see a 14-year-old hitting 95 mph on the track. So here's the first in a
series of articles that will run throughout the year chronicling Randy and
Justin's adventures at the track. Justin will provide sidebars throughout
as well. With any luck these pieces may inspire other dads and sons to hit
the track with their kids.
With apologies to the Grateful Dead, what a long strange
trip it's been. I started racing in 1980 on the advice of a friend at University
Honda. I had just bought a nearly new GS750 and was curious how fast it was.
Chris Miamoto, a serious racer with a real GP bike, suggested coming out to the
track to race, but was rather coy with what that entailed. There were no
training clinics or track days back then, novices were gridded in the back of
whatever class they entered. I showed up with number plates (no brackets to
mount them) and a toolbox on the back of my bike. The good people running the
club got me straightened out and on the track, and I was hooked. Except for a
few years off to get finances straight, I've been racing ever since.
Interview with Justin
Justin is a quiet kid not given to
tooting his own horn, so we gave him a few questions to get started:
Q: What does it feel like to start racing
so young?
A: I think it's just real cool. I can finally
race without playing a video game. I welcome the chance to ride for
real wholeheartedly, wishing that the first race day would come
sooner.
Q: When did you first want to go racing?
A: It's hard to remember exactly when I
started wanting to race. I have wanted to ride since age 7, when my
dad first told me he would give me a bike. I always wanted to go as
fast as I could, but 50 mph just wasn't fast enough. I guess I
really wanted to go racing most seriously about a year ago, when the
prospect of racing in a year came up. But, like I said, I've always
wanted to go racing like my dad.
Q: What do your friends think about this?
A: My friends think it's cool that I go
racing, but don't bring it up constantly. Life mostly goes on the
way it has for thirteen years.
Q: What does your MOTHER think?
A: Let's just say my mom is not thrilled with
the idea of me racing. She wants me to do what I want, but crashing
is not exactly what either of us wants for me. I don't think all
that fear is really necessary though. Even though my mom has these
reservations, she lets me go race. So she must not be too worried.
Q: What are you doing to get ready?
A: I go riding in the dirt as often as I can
to get ready. Reading A Twist Of The Wrist as I am is not enough.
Books can describe what there is, but only riding a bike shows me
how to do those things that have been described. It's not quite the
same on dirt as on pavement, but you get the basic idea.
Q: How do you think you'll do?
A: I don't think I will do too well in the
first year or two, but I'll get there. But it's all for happy times,
blazing winds, high speeds, and a couple of medals here and there
make up for any and all disappointments I meet. After all, I can't
expect to be a champion the first time out, now can I? |
And, like most people, I was lucky enough to marry. Wife,
children, career, house. School, soccer and baseball for the kids. Time got tight
but with the willing support of my family I continued to race. More, they came
whenever possible. My son and daughter (now 13 and 11) grew up at the
racetrack with the idea that they could race in their turn if they chose.
Justin has made that choice, and begins his career this year.
The first question people always have "and what does his
MOTHER think about this!!??!" Funny thing, that she thinks it's great. Laurie
knows the real risks of racing (no worse than football); she's seen me crash a
few times. The fact that Justin will be riding a vintage bike in the immensely
popular Vintage 250 class filled with Honda CB160s really helped. A bike with 11
hp and a top speed of 83 mph is much less intimidating than a modern hyperbike.
It's also easier to control, more forgiving and less likely to cause serious
injury in an accident. The lower cost of campaigning a bike that needs tires once
every 3 years is just gravy for me. I will continue to campaign my '02 SV650 in
the usual SV classes. It would be interesting to try a bigger bike again, but
the realities of finance prohibit.
Preparation
Twenty-five years of racing have taught me the FIRST step in racing
is to prepare a budget. The average race career is 3 to 4 years a year as
novice, a year to get fast, and a year to get frustrated, overspend and quit.
With my own racing program we needed something light, inexpensive and durable.
Something so easy to maintain a child could do it. And something that wouldn't
eat tires. A small vintage bike would be great, but while looking for a CB 160
we found a slightly better bike a Penton 125.
We've spent a few years riding dirt bikes (never enough)
but more is needed. It's a truism that kids rarely learn best from their parents
I'll be there to help, but Justin will have other mentors for most of his
training. That's not to say I haven't given him assignments he is studying the
bible of the craft (Twist of the Wrist) and we watch most races on TV. Naturally
there's On Any Sunday and Faster! and all the WMRRA videos and Saturday
afternoons wrenching. He will be responsible for his own maintenance, but like
any apprentice he'll be under a watchful eye.
His bike will be a real classic, a Penton 125 Enduro
modified for road racing. We bought it from a racer who had done all the work
and had some success before retiring. Modifications are modest, consisting of
higher pegs, shocks, forks and an 18" front wheel.
The current, not cast in stone, plan is to enter him in the
classroom portion of the WMRRA New Rider's Clinic, but as he won't quite be 14
we will skip the track session and wait for the first 2Fast rider clinic.
Besides, WMRRA places all novices in a single track session. It's absolute
insanity placing an 11 hp bike out there with R1s, doubly so when everyone is a
novice! Providing he does well, we petition the Executive Board of the club
(something required for all novices between 14 and 16 in Washington) and he'll
enter the next race.
Next installment: Justin's first day on the track. Join us
as I fight against parental over-control and Justin learns how to carve corners
on a bike almost as old as his father!
Randy Grein/Winter 2005
|
|
