Witchkraft Racing: The Search for Speed

Home » General » Racing Ain’t Easy – A Dad’s Perspective

Racing Ain’t Easy – A Dad’s Perspective

We received this extremely nice email over the weekend:

"The 1st time since 2007, I went to the WERA forum to sell some 06 gsxr 600 parts and I saw your post after I read about a kid from california doing very well. My son was 16 then and we had very high hopes until bad advice, bad suspension setup and lack of funds dashed them. I just wanted to congratulate you for living your dream with your family. Could there be anything better on earth?

Cade, my son, was a natural I was told by the instructors. At his 1st track weekend, on a stock bike, they said that his lap times would be mid pack in wera expert and I should get the suspension done asap and sign him up for novice. The bike was ready for the 1st race in Nashville. While taking the Ed Bargy school, he came in and said that the bike won't turn. The mechanic I called, said it's because he is not riding hard enough. UGH!!. The ziptie on the fork showed that he was only getting 1/2" travel. He weighs 145lbs, 5'9". Ben Thompson gave him his K-TEC forks and this mechanic put in stiffer springs than Ben was using. We had no clue. When he went back out and tried to push harder, he missed a turn into the chicane and hit a culvert there and flipped the bike. You were gracious to come over and show me how to set up the sag.

Naturally, we could not get close and with other parts not available, that was the start of a long expensive nightmare trusting the wrong guy. As I read Tucker's (Lancaster) post recently that you congratulated him on, I can only imagine what fun we could have had if we had met someone like you 1st. It takes good friends, sponsors, family to get through a season now more than ever and we will always be sorry that we couldn't be part of that community.

If I had to do it again, I would leave the bike stock and just let him go race and have fun until we know what we are doing. You are a class act Eddie with an amazing family. We will keep following you and wish you the best. Thanks for taking time that day. Be safe,

Paul and Cade"

Monday, April 15th, 2013 | POSTED AT: 5:13 AM
FILED UNDER: General