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Gerit Callie recently earned a spot atop the podium at Hagerstown, Maryland
Gerit Callies and his crew recently rolled into Hagerstown, Maryland Half-Mile Clay Track around noon with eagerness, and high hopes of what would transpire in the hours to come.
Although the temperature had already climbed above the century mark, Callies had no intentions of letting the stifling heat adversely effect his desire to experience a great day of racing. Referring to the conditions, he said, "Temperature doesn't really bother me; hot or cold."
Racing in the AMA Pro Singles class, the rider had his 2008 Honda sitting on the back burner, and made a few last minute changes on his KTM SFX450 to get it dialed in prior to the main event. After tweaking the suspension, making a few changes to the gearing and fine tuning his air pressure, Callies was chomping at the bit for the race to be deemed underway.
"My confidence level was pretty high," recalled the rider. "I had placed second there the year before on a 2009 Honda, and I like that groove one-half mile. My season was going great, and I already had two wins under my belt."
At the waving of the green flag, fellow rider, Stephen Vanderkurr, took the holeshot, and in turn had the early lead. Callies didn't let up though, and continued his pursuit for the front position until a red flag came out in lap six, calling for a stagger start. As soon as the race resumed, Callies made his move and took the lead position. For the final ten laps the rider went uncontended, earning his third victory of the season and his rightful spot atop the podium.
Riding professionally for three years, Gerit Callies has determined that hole shots are an essential element of success, as a rider simply races differently when they start out with the lead. That said, experience has also taught him that one can still walk away victorious without being first out of the gate.
"When I didn't get the holes hot, I was shocked," recalled Callies. "But I still had a lot of confidence that I could win it. I just stayed calm and rode my race. I knew I was catching up with the lead rider before the restart."
In spite of a recent serious accident, Gerit Callies is already anticipating a successful season in 2013
"After I took the lead, I was confident that I could win it, because my team had my KTM SFX450 dialed in" he continued. "Once I got around Stephen Vanderkurr, I was not really challenged by anyone for the remainder of the race. It felt really good, but now I would like to win a one-mile race."
Gerit Callies' record is a testimony to his riding skills, but he is quick to credit his team for a portion of his success. "I couldn't do it without them," he explained. My brother, Nick, is the main mechanic, and does everything I need. My dad kicks in and helps a little bit too."
"Maintenance on the bike is key," he explained. "You got to take care of your bike if you want it to run right. If you respect your bike, it will respect you back." The rigors of his sport are demanding on his equipment, to say the least. That in mind, Gerit Callies and his crew depends upon K&N products to keep the internal components of his engines running at peak performance and contaminant free.
"We've been using K&N's universal filters for five years," he shared. They work really good at keeping and adding horsepower to the engine. They also help the bike breath better.
With a victory at Hagerstown under his belt, Callies moved on with confidence and an anticipation of success throughout the remainder of the season on his side. But a stroke of bad luck followed at Peoria TT Track, in Peoria, Illinois when the rider was involved in a serious accident, not only putting him out of the chase, but taking him out of competition for the remainder of the year. Although 2012 ended on a sour note, Gerit Callies is on the mend and already anxious to get the 2013 season underway.
Eric Jennings can only watch as his 2012 season goes up in flames
If there are still any lingering doubts about what role high-octane enriched DNA, and environment plays in racing success, we have a little anecdote for you. The ESJ Graphics Race Team running out of Otisville, New York is a father and daughter squad. Dad, Eric Jennings raced his first ATV event at a local track in 2003, and oddly enough he won. Suspecting he might be on to something, Eric wisely stayed with it, and has since tallied wins in 35 Nationals and 16 Championships.
It appeared at first as though this was going to become the sort of addiction even Dr. Drew couldn't get under control. Then in 2007 Taylor was born, and Eric understandably kicked back his racing schedule to dote over his new daughter. Somewhere along the line doting began to include tech-talk, and discussions about how the fastest path from one corner, to another is a straight line, and the next thing you know Taylor is pointing at dad's ATV and saying "me want one." For the record that last part is only a theory, but here are the facts. In 2010, at the ripe age of three, in her very first year of racing, Taylor earned the number 4 National plate in the ATVA EDT Series. The next year she earned her first championship in the NE EDT Series.
Taylor graduated from kindergarten this year, and before she started the first grade on September 1, she spent the summer testing her speed against the fastest 50cc riders in the country, racing in the NE EDT FNS series, the same one dad competes in. Eric had to sit out Round 1 back in April due to a cut tendon in his thumb, leaving Taylor on her own to defend the ESJ Graphics team legacy. The diminutive dynamo from Otisville proved she was up to the task finishing in 2nd place.
Eric came back with a vengeance in Round 2, finishing 2nd in the Pro class and 5th in Pro/Am. Taylor also finished 2nd. Then in Round 3 Taylor won, and so did Eric, in both Pro and Pro/Am. After the first three rounds Eric and Taylor also both had the overall championship points lead. But that's when the mustard began sliding off the hotdog for the ESJ Graphics Race Team.
Taylor Jennings held up the family racing legacy, missing the 2012 50cc Championship by just five points
In Round 4 Eric scored another 2nd place in Pro/Am, but after a first lap tangle up with another rider, he had to post a DNF in the Pro column. Taylor meanwhile continued her run of straight podium finishes with one more 2nd place. Eric had no way of knowing at the time that this would be the last complete race of his NE EDT series season.
In Round 5, Eric, along with several hundred fans and spectators watched powerlessly, as Eric's YFZ 450 went up in flames on the last lap of the Pro heat, while he was in 2nd place. "I can't buy good luck," declared a dejected Eric. "I missed the first round because of my thumb, I'm four points out of 2nd in the Pro class, and now this!"
Proving that bad luck can be as contagious as winning, Taylor's transmission locked up during her Round 5 race, putting her out of the championship chase. However, with her bike back in full race force for Round 6, and a genetically driven need-to-lead, the pocket-sized girl-wonder dominated both her heat and main event, coming just five tiny points short of the 2012 50cc Championship. "I tried dad!" stated Taylor afterward.
Halbert was all smiles after his come from behind Santa Rosa victory
There are a couple of key facts you should know about Graham, Washington's Sammy Halbert right up front if you entertain any notion of competing against him. He's smart about how he fuels his body. "I generally eat healthy," he says. Egg whites are one of his go-to sources of protein. Yet more significantly, and this is important, Halbert is without question one of the gnarliest, most tenacious, never say-it's-over-till-it's-over, competitors you'll ever come up against.
After a 42 year absence, the thunder of big-bore, AMA Pro Flat Track racing returned to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for Round 14 of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship. With only five laps remaining in the 25-lap event, contested on the one mile oval deep in California's wine country, Bryan Smith had a five-second lead. But the sweltering California sun and blazing competitive pressure was beginning to take its toll. Conceivably, he may not have had his egg whites that morning. So when Halbert got scent that Smith was wilting ever so slighting, he hammered the throttle and flat-out stole the lead, inking his fourth win of his 2012 season. The near capacity crowd of 12,000 screaming fans were on their feet for the final laps, enjoying every thrill-packed second of dueling between some of the best flat track talent on the planet.
"In the beginning, I was playing cat and mouse with Bryan (Smith)," said Halbert after the race. "Once I passed him, I just kept looking back and saw the guys catching me but I adapted and overcame it. It was a great win. I loved coming out here to Santa Rosa and really want to thank all the great fans. I also want to thank my mom, dad, girlfriend and all of my sponsors."
The Indy Mile was the Halbert's first mile win of the year
For the 2009 Overall Grand National Champion, the first win of 2012 came in Round 5, in front of another huge crowd in attendance for the AMA Pro Flat Track Lima Half-Mile National. When the checkered flag fell on the 25-lap national it was Halbert that greeted it first aboard his South East Harley-Davidson.
"I didn't get a very good start and I was running about fifth or sixth, and I wasn't gaining anything," Halbert said. "Then Jared (Mees) went around me on the outside and I thought 'Well, I guess I better try that.' I just went higher and higher until I found my line."
In 2011 Halbert was also able to find the right line, marking the Lima Half-Mile National as his third win at that point of last year. So what is it about the typically hot Lima, Ohio track that brings out the K&N sponsored riders best racing?
"You can always count on Lima to provide great racing because the loose pea gravel, cushion surface as we call it, creates multiple lines and lots of passing. It is my favorite track because I am able to ride hard and get a good workout," declared Halbert. "Lima was my first win of the season, since then I have also won the Castle Rock, Washington TT, and then I got my first mile win at the Indy Mile."
Halbert had 12,000 fans on their feet for his win at the Santa Rosa Mile Grand National Championship
Last weekend, Saturday October 6th, Halbert finished third in the Tucson Half-Mile in Arizona. Heading into the season finale' next Saturday October 13th in Pomona, California, Halbert now holds the number two spot for the overall points tally, only three points behind the leader, Jake Johnson.
"I have been thinking about next season a little and making a list of things I need to do to get prepared for it," added Halbert. "As soon as our last race is over we will turn our attention towards that. I hope to bring in some additional sponsors and make some improvements to my equipment."
Haslam makes incredibly tough and risky freestyle tricks appear like air-ballet
On Facebook, posted under a rainbow-arch-like picture of Robert Haslam doing a back-flip on his motorcycle is the following quote - "Make sure to remember why you chose to do something in the first place no matter where you are today."
It's fair to assume that's the mantra he chants while flying two-wheel airlines, because absolutely nothing good happens if you lose focus, or interest, in mid-air on a motorcycle. Haslam is a FMX freestyle competitor. To recap, freestyle came about because some motocross racers didn't feel what they were doing was sufficiently extreme, so they built ramps to launch themselves three or four stories, or more into the air. And then, once free of earthly restrictions, the full-goose-bozo zaniness really gets started.
In an utterly counter-intuitive reaction to being 40 feet in the air on a motorcycle, riders such as Haslam, perform motorcycle air ballet, carrying out stunts like "Superman." That's a trick where only the hands remain on the grips and the riders body flails in the air parallel with seat. When that trick stopped being sick enough it evolved into the Superman seat grab with Indian leg whip. Don't even ask - you need to see it to believe it. Freestyle competition is a judged sport and over the past decade the amount of fans coming out to "see it" continues to multiply exponentially each season. And Haslam is one of the riders fans come out to watch in droves.
The Redmond, Oregon native started riding wee-bitty motorcycles when he was only 4-years-old. "That's when I got a Yamaha PW50 for Christmas," he says. What began as a weekend hobby transitioned into a career when he rode his first professional FMX demo in 2009. After that he teamed up with the Metal Mulisha's, Justin Homan, and he has been staging FMX demonstrations all over the Pacific North West (PNW) ever since.
Performing in Eugene, Oregon early this year
Back in June Haslam kicked-off his FMX summer with a show in Prosser, Washington for the Desert Valley Powersports 20th Anniversary. Haslam said at the time, "This show holds extra meaning for me as it was the first legitimate show I ever rode back in 2009, and that was more or less a tryout to see how I'd do. I'm stoked for the Desert Valley crew to see how I've progressed since then, and even more pumped to get back into the swing of things."
We spoke with Haslam this week and his comments were, "The Desert Valley Demo was awesome! That show in particular meant a lot to be a part of because it was the first professional demo I ever rode, and where I first got to ride with Justin Homan and his MX13 team."
Haslam explains that 2012 got off to a rocky start when his season was interrupted at the end of January at a show in Bakersfield. "I had a mishap that sent me into the stands at the event which resulted in a broken fibula and a few months off the bike. It took some time to get reacquainted with my bike and with moving forward."
This is how flying over your motorcycle looks to Haslam
"We had a very busy summer that just got wrapped up here in the PNW. We were booked nearly every weekend for three months with demos all over the area. Tilly's had a grand opening in Tacoma, Washington that was probably one of the best events of the year despite Mother Nature's efforts to put a damper on it."
After upping his bag of tricks each season so far, Haslam is understandably not as satisfied with his progress this season. "I had bigger expectations for myself this year as far as my progression, but sometimes things happen out of your control, and that's what happened with my misfortune in January. I've been working hard to get as comfortable as I can with flips and have a few basic flip tricks under my belt that I've been working on."
"Riding with Homan has really helped me to not ride over my head, or push it when not necessary. To take a new trick to a show, or event, you have to have it wired at home. At home there are very few variables that differ, that you have to worry about, whereas at a show you are dropped into a new environment where conditions are usually less than ideal."
At the moment Haslam says he's "enjoying little break from all the traveling and time spent constantly on the go. I plan to ride more moto(cross) than FMX this winter to brush up on my all around riding skills, so I'm ready for the season to start once again in the spring."
"For 2013 you can expect more of the same from Homan and me up here. My schedule for next year should look similar to 2012, with lots more thrown into the mix for different events here in the PNW. Be sure to check out myself and MX13 team out on the road this coming year. We're coming to a town near you!"
Henry Wiles is confident that his team plays a large role in his success
Henry Wiles, and team Wiles Racing recently rolled into Springfield, Illinois with confidence and vigor. Geared up to race in the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) Grand National Series, Wiles was no stranger to this particular venue. In fact, one could say with confidence that he was very familiar with competing in the Springfield TT (Tourist Trophy), at the Illinois State Fair Grounds. One could go one step farther and say that he had experienced his fair share of success at this particular location as well. During past outings, he had earned four first-place finishes and secured second place twice.
I had a good confidence level," explained Wiles. "I like racing TT's and had won this event for the past three years that I had raced it. Referring to his performance prior to the Springfield TT he continued, "The two prior races had been Daytona , and they were tough. It put me in the hole in the points race. The keys to success in this race were great starts and mistake-free riding."
The track was in great shape, but a very tight and simple layout would deem passing other riders a challenge. The difficulty level had no bearing on wiles intentions though, as he had showed up with fire in his eyes and success on his mind.
After winning his heat and walking away from the "Dash for Cash" victorious, Wiles focused on the feature. Starting in the first position, the rider took the lead in the 25-lap main event and never looked back. It was a picture-perfect night for Wiles as he was not challenged throughout the entire race, and in turn took the checkered flag and his rightful spot atop the podium.
"The competition was stiff, and the track was tough to pass on," he recalled. I think it was the best riding done by many of the riders on a TT course." Although holding the lead throughout the entire feature, experience told Wiles that there are no certainties in the sport until a race is over. "I wasn't confident I had this one in the bag until I was heading for the checkered flag", shared Wiles. "Anything can happen in racing. Even though I was not challenged, there are always possibilities for a mistake when you're riding that hard. Mechanical problems can happen, but we have never had one with my current team. The team behind me is what makes it happen," he ensured. "I realize it would not be what it is without them."
Henry Wiles recently walked away victorious from his heat, the Dash For Cash and the 25-lap feature in the Expert Class, at The AMA Grand National Series held at Springfield, Illinois
The driver is also acutely aware of the importance of keeping his bike in perfect running condition. "Maintenance is very critical," he said. "If you let things go without maintenance, they break; it's a simple formula. I use the K&N filters, oil, and cleaner," he continued. "I've been using K&N products from the very day I started dirt track on the professional level. K&N products are the best on the market. It's the best quality, and for a reasonable price."
Henry Wiles' success has earned him a household name in the world of AMA pro racing. In fact, the rider has won eight straight Peoria TT events in a row, an accomplishment that only one other rider, Chris Carr, has experienced. His most current victory at the Springfield short track positioned him in a tie for the all-time short track list with Carr as well. That in mind, Wiles is perfectly aware that both crowns are out there for the taking. With a little luck, perseverance, and a continuance of impressive riding, singly holding each of these titles is a strong possibility and could be lurking in the rider's future. "It took seven years to get there, and it boils down to the final lap," explained the rider in reference to his accomplishments.
When asked what fans can expect from Henry Wiles in the future, it quickly became evident that Wiles has a great appreciation for his supporters and feels a responsibility to please them. "Fans can expect me to be the last rider to leave the pits," he promised. "I try to talk to a lot of fans, and answer as many questions as I can. I have many people who started out as fans and have progressed into friends, and even sponsors. I especially try to welcome the kids, because I remember what it was like when I was a kid, and loved to see the professional guys in action."
In closing, Henry Wiles shared his recipe for success. "I think to win a championship you have to have consistent finishes at the front. That's the goal - to win the overall championship."
