So there I am minding my own business, the year 1997, having a pint-o-Guinness in my favorite bar when "Hey you! You're 86'd". Of all the people, it's the one person I didn't know, the owner. The prick thought I was selling drugs you see. Nope, it was bullets and I was giving those away. So no big deal right? However this battle was lost before even started, so instead of going to jail (for kicking his ass) I left. Time to find a new hideout.
That's how I came to find the infamous Zeitgeist and from there stumbled into meeting Pat and Abi Eichorn before they were married and before Subterranean Cycles was born. After hearing of my aspirations to race the Isle of Man TT, they introduced me to an actual TT racer, Wade Boyd of Subculture Racing. Little did I know at the time, but my life would change forever.
This year Subculture racing turns 10, and over that decade the tales of deeds and adventures have been told over many a pint and shot of spirits. Even as I write this, I sit at Toronado having a pint with Stu and eating a Hungarian sausage from Rosemunde... why not? I hope to bring these tales to you for inspiration; as well as in recognition of many a racer (past, present and future) who is "Subculture" in spirit and thought.
Being a racer for 15 years and currently campaigning The Isle of Man, I feel qualified to write my thoughts and answer your questions. (Just don't write me if you're on a moped... sheesh)
If there's one thing I've learned over the years, the Subculture clan are not quitters, wether it be a sidecar rig racing, illegal soapbox car racing, a newly engineered bicycle suspension, or even fabricating non-existent parts for a TT racebike, there has always been a "we can do this" attitude. I've been there and seen it. To be an existing racer this outlook is a must, for surely luck will always seem to be in the other camp.
Wade started running with Todd Sokol, a founding Subculture member on the #99 "short rig" sidecar with a Fitterman chassis. Think: size of a Mini-Cooper with three wheels, Todd was to act as the fourth. At the height of Subculture's sidecar campaign four rigs were being raced with the Sidecar Racing Association, and the tracks visited were in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Road America in Wisconsin, and Barber, Alabama. Of course they also ran in California, including Sears Point, Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow and Willow Springs.
Past Subculture sidecar racers have included Rory O'Conner (a three time TT veteran), Todd Sokol (also a TT vet), Christine Blunck (the first female American to get a TT finishers medal) and Wendy Epstein from Mission Honda Yamaha, who, again ran the TT course. Jerry Walker from Oregon ran the TT and is currently in Europe living the dream of racing the circuit, and Jennifer Brohm who own's Die Werkstatt, was a pilot for Subculture at one time. Back in the day of the Donner Hill Climb, the daring duo of Wade and Rory raced to victory against Rick Murray Racing, the current plate holder, and also won the SRA #1 plate in 2002.
While sidecar racing takes a prominent spot in Subculture's racing program, there is a need for interested racers. Not many teams can say "come on out, if you want a ride, lets go." This happens for Subculture, and as it's the only way someone can ride a rig, which is very uncommon, drop us a line. Just remember to bring your gear.
Currently Subculture's effort is going into racing sidecars as well as getting a team to race superbikes at the Isle of Man TT and Manx GP, both very tough tasks. Oh yeah, how about getting a good full grid together all year for the Illegal Soapbox Races, any volunteers? One sure thing we like is vision with a passion.
At Subculture we have an unofficial program to help aspiring racers, from soapbox to sidecars, watching as well as playing. We live, eat, breathe, and sleep racing and the art of riding properly.
Imagine your favorite backroad. Add some towns, hills, valleys, no traffic or speed limits and double your fastest time, toss in some unpredictable weather and you now have an idea of racing on the Isle of Man TT course. There's no room for error, probably the funnest way to scare yourself silly or die. Subculture's been doing it for ten years now. Interested? Let us know.
~Cheers, Alx and Wade