So we're at the Kilowatt in the Mission having a couple of pints, Cliff and I. How about an interview on your race history? How much do I get? he asks. Hmm... a smart racer he is. Will a pint do? A deal was had.
What made you take the Racer Path?
This was probably back in '97, Marie Oberg and I were riding around Napa, her on an Moto Guzzi V-5 and me on a Moto Guzzi Le Mans, at the time "Diesels" and "Shaft-drives" were the norm for us. While enjoying the roads we ran across Sears Point (now called Infineon Raceway). I had met many Racers at Zeitgeist and Kilowatt, Mission biker hangouts as in motorcycle and bicycle messenger, back then if you didn't ride you had better not enter, a really cool era. Local legend and Racer Sean Crane was a great influence in my riding skills so we decided to watch him and some live AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists) road racing for the first time.
My initial impression was that these guys were nuts, Marie was impressed. We saw many familiar faces in the pits, the atmosphere had a feeling of intensity yet everyone there seemed to be having a great time, Sergio Galvan and Franz Oehler 250SB experts, who really were an influence to my start were battling it out. I wanted to be out there as well.
Never did I think I would be a racer, then Sergio offers to sell me a Honda NSR 250 two stroke GP bike. With a nudge from Marie the bike was mine. Now to learn to race, Marie was to be my pit crew. Back then there were only two real tracks available to the new racer, Sears Point in Sonoma, and Willow Springs in Rosamond. I really wanted to learn on my own without distraction from my friends so I chose Willow Springs.
Is there a motivation to your racing?
To go quicker on the bike every time out and constantly show improvement, which isn't easy as it sounds. To do this everything has to be right, with the bike and with me. My belief is, "idle hands are the Devil's workshop", so I like to tinker on the bike, though some say too much. It's easy to overwork the bike.
My desire to win another championship has always driven me, I won in '02 on my highly tuned Yamaha TZR 250 and that was the greatest feeling of accomplishment, of a job well done. Since then I've only been the bridesmaid.
Currently I'm running second in the Kilowatt Bar 250 Superbike Championship, however I will win again.
What's your method to stay fit, physically as well as mentally?
As a carpenter staying fit physically is a natural part of the job. When going for the AFM 250 Superbike championship in '02, Roland Cushway my tuner and mentor gave this wise advice. You can't win races just showing up one weekend and running. Racing has to be a constant in your thoughts which keeps you focused, you spend 28 days thinking about 28 intense minutes. To switch it on and off is a disadvantage.
After tough times what made you get back into racing?
The first time out at Willow Springs for the new rider school Marie couldn't make the initial drive out (about six hours), so she flew out! That's a dedicated pit crew. The Friday practice which was my first time out on a track, was at first intimidating, once out there I was completely overwhelmed, which we all are the first time on an open course.
At the WSMC newcomer school which is held Saturday, we go out at lunch, I crashed in turn Three. Later I found out I kept asking Marie the same questions. Marie then asked if I wanted to pack it up. Hell No! was my answer, and my motivation was to not quit, pass the newriders school and become a racer. The next month I became a Novice licensed racer at Willow Springs, with the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club.
Were the good times enough to strengthen your resolve?
Yes, however it's not easy. The primary focus for the 250 SB guys is to get on the Formula 2 podium, which generally has machinery with a better chassis and componentry. The racing in this class is of a higher/faster caliber.
Is it the competing or the elusive trophy that keeps you going?
More than the trophy it's the competition that matters. If you do your job your times go down and you get faster naturally. Of course the faster you go the funner time you have, to have a bad weekend is to be four seconds off without improvement, this really sucks. Sometimes you try too hard and actually go backwards, it's very difficult to relax when this happens a very weird thing. The more relaxed you are will be when the best times happen. If the front runners are 4 seconds faster during practice relaxing isn't easy.
I have a tendency to drop 3-4 seconds in the heat of battle, to crash Friday or Saturday in practice would be detrimental to the program so I stay conservative in practice, which generally is not good as far as setting the bike up. Fortunately for me my competitors are consistent, maybe dropping a second during race time, this allows me to know where I'm most likely to be in the race and from there make some sort of strategy. A double edged sword. However it's nice to know I'll do better once the flag drops, being fully confident in my abilities. Once the race is done I'll know I've have given it my all.
What keeps you sane between races?
Nothing.
How about support from friends or family?
When I first started racing Donny and Crystal from Scuderia West were a major help. Donny had many parts I didn't know I needed and was always there for my questions. So thanks to Donny and Crystal. One day I jokingly asked Peter the owner of the Kilowatt Bar for money to go racing, he said sure and I was blown away. Since then he's been my #1 sponsor and is now the sponsor of The AFM Kilowatt Bar 250 Superbike Class. Thanks Peter. I also had Jefferson Burks, one time mechanic for Sean Crane start building a bike for me, in the middle he received a call from HRC to work with Nicky Hayden's crew, well we all would have chosen to go. So with a half done motor I was hanging out in the pits one race day when my pal Chris Thomas introduces me to Roland Cushway and from there my bike and I are competitive. Roland built me a rocket ship, thanks Roland.
Since the beers are empty and we're tired of talking our interview was over. Thanks Cliff have a great year racing.
~Cheers, Alx