I'm a Pro?

I am writing this story against my better judgment, you should feel privileged that I am sharing it with you. If certain people read this, I run the risk of being banned from the CMA forever! What heinous act did I commit you ask? Read on my friend.

   It was winter 1989. Calgary and Edmonton were having some arenacrosses, you know the ones where Jim “Hollywood” Holley, Jeff Hicks and other fast guys came up to do battle with the one rider that could stop the evil Americans from taking our money and trophies back south? That man was Ross “Rollerball” Pederson, and he never let us down. He didn’t always win, but the Americans knew they were in for a battle when they lined up against the 26 time Canadian champ. These guys were my heroes. Motocross Action was my bible and the riders in it were my prophets. I was 15 and didn’t care about anything but motocross. Every year the Winnipeg Arenacross was the highlight of my life. I even got to go down on the track one year and stand by Ross, you know, in case he wanted my opinion.

My brother, Jason was a pretty fast expert back then and I rode the 80 expert class. My dad Tom was a hard-core moto parent and invested a lot of time and money into my brother and I so that we could fulfill our (his) dreams of becoming champions of the world. My brother met some guys from SoCal, and decided to spend a couple of months training and riding in the “mecca of motocross”. My dad saw to it that he was back in time for these races. The plan was for me, Dad, and my buddy Curt to meet my brother in Calgary to watch what he had learned while training in California. When we first saw Jason he looked like he had spent more time sunning on the beach than running sand hills, Tom was not happy. His hair was long and grown out and he didn’t mention riding at all. He was mostly excited to tell us about flying to Anaheim Supercross in the private jet of Peanuts creator Charles Schultz.   

The first night was Calgary and it didn’t go well. Jason really didn’t look very good; he didn’t qualify and from what I remember, basically just rode around. This led to a huge argument after the race between him and my dad. Tommy basically reminded him of the money that we spent to come here and watch him suck. The argument got very heated and my brother said he refused to race the next night in Edmonton. Tom turned to me without hesitation and said, “You’re racing.”

Jason went through all of the morning sign-up procedures but I knew that I wasn’t off the hook. Despite the fact I was 15, had never ridden anything but 80’s, and the small fact that I wasn’t a CMA expert, I was racing the Edmonton Arenacross. I wasn’t going to argue with Pops, he said it would be good racing experience. Tom’s plan was for me to get dressed very quickly and to NEVER take my helmet or goggles off under any circumstances. At this point, my brother and dad weren’t speaking so it was easy for him to disappear all night.

I lined up for practice with fogged up goggles on this strange powerful beast and hoped for the best. After the start the track made a left and then a double that seemed 140 feet across. I rocketed down the start made the turn and gassed it over this double. All I saw was the roof, I had looped out! It seemed this 250 had a little bit more than the old 80 I was used to. After I picked myself up, I rode around the rest of the session, and according to my dad “looked real good out there”. Apparently the beer stands had opened during practice.

It was time for the race when some white jacketed dude said that I had to go down to the starting line for the national anthem. I wonder if he thought it was strange that this rider still had helmet and goggles on hours after practice? I wish I had a photo of all the riders standing out on the track and me, the only guy with helmet and goggles on. I remember having to tilt my head up and look down to see the flag because of the fogged goggles!

I was in the first race and they had us draw clothespins for starting gate. I was in Holley and Rollerball’s heat and drew the number 1. I lined up and Ross and Holley took the gates on each side of me. I promptly crapped my pants at this point.

I didn’t qualify that night but also didn’t get last in the LCQ. It was a surreal experience and something I will never forget. If there are any CMA referee’s reading this, I apologize and wish to remind you guys I was a minor at the time. Or maybe the statute of limitations has run out?