Issue 10 Sept 13-October 3, 2006
Bits and Pieces, From Carrie Watts
For this issue of Watts Happening, you're going to hear what it
is truly like being the wife of an Off-Road racer. Shane is
going flat out right now, so we thought that this was a great
opportunity for me to shed a little light on the subject of racing,
family and just about anything else that crosses my mind in the next
hour while I'm typing away...so here goes!
When Shane and I met in December of '03, he told me that he raced
dirt bikes for his job. I thought to myself, "Great!
Another guy that's going to mooch off of me, and then disappear
right before the Valentines gift has to be bought." Little did
I know that the life of an Off Road Racer, and the lifestyle
afforded by such a career would bring me to where I am today-a
"jobless", transient, Skymiles Medallion Card carrying, orange
wearing, pit board yielding, and highly proud Off Road Wife
and Mother.
It wasn't until my first race in Georgia '04 that I actually saw
what Shane and racing was about. Until that point, Shane had
never told me anything about his career, or his history in racing.
When the first person came and asked for his autograph, I nearly
laughed myself silly. Who would want this guys autograph, and
why would they want it? From there, I was approached by who I
like to call my teachers, these were the people that would toot
Shane's horn, since he wouldn't. Needless to say, when they
marveled over his accomplishments, I was still clueless. What
is ISDE, and what is so special about the 6 Days? Yes, the
learning curve was steep, but I am getting it figured out as I near
the end of my third race season with Shane. Still, he is
reticent to discuss the past. I wonder to myself sometimes,
and I know the answer, is it because he is so humble that he doesn't
like to discuss it, or is it because he refers to those days as "the
glory days" with the look of a man disappointed that he isn't still
delivering the same kind of results? I think that it is
probably a little bit of both.
Now that I have a firm grasp on what Off Road Racing is, I have
to tell you my most favorite and least favorite parts about it.
Most Favorite:
1. The Family Aspect. In what other sport do
you see this kind of involvement and commitment from an entire
family? I love it when I see that a family, including
Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles, travel hundreds of miles so that
maybe just one member can race. This, on top of the countless
dollars that have to be spent to facilitate a working bike, and the
occasional emergency room bill. If someone thinks that
dirtbikes and off road racing is a sport for "rednecks" or
"hillbillies", count me in, because I am proud of what it means for
the futures of all of these people-the kids especially-knowing that
they are supported 110% by everyone around them. And for once,
the parents actually do know where their kids are on a Saturday
night-sitting around the campfire at the track, telling old race
stories or changing a tire at the last minute with their
grandfather.
A Mixture of Both:
2. Watching Shane get the Checkers-even in 20th
place. When people ask me what I do, I forget that I have
a degree in Biology and Chemistry and a Master's in Business. I
forget that at one time I could tell you if you had a genetic
mutation for Methylenetetrahydrofolate-reductase. I forget
that I quit a job making six figures wearing beautiful designer
suits and drinking good wine in great restaurants. Instead, I tell
them I am the wife of an Off Road Dirt Bike Racer and I am a Mom.
For most, that doesn't begin to tell the story, but if you're
involved in the sport, you know what that entails: a lot of time on
the road, many bad hotels, lots of dirt and laundry, insurance
nightmares and, most importantly, a healthy dose of pride mixed with
fear. I am proud of Shane for getting on that bike every time,
knowing the kind of condition his body is in and the trauma it has
suffered. A lesser human being would have hung it up years
ago, and started a career behind a desk. However, with every
minute that ticks by on the stopwatch during a race, that pride
becomes mixed with fear and apprehension. I am afraid of what
could happen to him, or to anyone for that matter, out there on the
track. I am apprehensive if he isn't having a good race, that
he will be so disappointed in himself or so frustrated that he will
pull out. Even though the days of pulling out of races for
this reason are over (I hope), the fear of him getting injured
will likely never go away. So, when he's a minute behind his
previous lap time, you'll know what I, and every other person feels
on the sidelines, when their rider hasn't come in. And when
they cross the finish, you don't really care what place they're in,
as long as they're still riding and in one piece (heart and mind
included). And sometimes, just a finish isn't a guarantee that
everything is okay, like this past weekend in North Carolina for
round 10 of the GNCC series. Shane was so worn out, over
heated and dehydrated the medics had to help him off the finish
line. Click here for Shane's race
Report.
Least Favorite:
3. The Politics and Judgments. Last year, a
thread got started on a website about Shane and what others perceive
him to be (that is putting it mildly). It wasn't very nice and even
worse, the thing that got it all started and the Wattsy bashing that
ensued were completely unjustified and speculative. Shane has
earned a certain image throughout the industry as a crazy,
eccentric, and non-PC rider. While I think that some of this
was, key word: was, well-deserved, and might still be
partially true, Shane is highly misunderstood. He will
probably be mad at me for admitting this, but he rarely drinks,
never parties, and prefers to have a good meal and veg on the couch
to anything that might be deemed "crazy". He was raised in a
country very unlike the U.S., where the frequent "F-Bomb" isn't even
noticed. His up-bringing was one of frugality, bordering on
excessive, hence the "sleeping under the box van" and "riding with
holes in his gloves". These kinds of things might be construed
as eccentric, but really it has been a means to an end for Shane.
Without this mentality, Shane would never have made it in the racing
world. He started out making no money, and even when he did make
money, he knew that racing was short term for most, so the money
would have to last a long time. The one thing that Shane is
though is highly intense, and that might be what is contributing to
many of these stereotypes. All of this being said, the things
that most people don't know about Shane are the things that make him
the best guy in the world, and the best rider I know: Heart, Mind
and Soul. These three things allow him to be the best father
and husband, and a human being with more strength of character,
personality, loyalty, honesty, tenacity and humility than any
person I have every met, or can hope to meet. Last weekend, we
were at an open house in NC, and some man came to ask Robbie Jenks
and Juha Salminen for an autograph. Shane was at the same
table and asked the man if he'd like one, or a sticker, and the man
said he didn't want anything from Shane. Now, I know I'm a
little biased, but whether you like my husband or not, you have to
respect him for what he's done on a bike. And if you have
decided that you don't like him, make sure you know who the real
"him" is, because I would hate to think that you'd made an error in
judgment based on ignorance. Sorry for the soap box, because if
you're reading this you probably have either respect or like Shane
and likely don't need to hear this. I'll finish with this: any
person who can persevere, put it all on the line, and risk failing
in front of hundreds of people, deserves, at the very least,
support. Every one of the riders out on that track do what I
couldn't, so they all get a my respect and admiration. "Good
on ya!", as Shane would say.
I hope that this gives you all a little insight into me, and
Shane, and my thoughts on racing. I personally want to thank
each and everyone of you, with my sincerest thoughts, for making our
life what it is today, and for your support of Shane and our family.
With any luck and a few prayers, we'll finish out the '06 season
strong and healthy and the Watts Family will be back at the track in
2007 proud, strong and ready to compete!
Thanks for reading!
Carrie
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Link of the Week!
United Off Road Racing and the OMA Nationals
Series
I have been riding in this series since it was started by Bill
Gusse in 2003 as the East Coast WORCS series. The tracks
are notorious for their technically challenging sections, but
compared to a GNCC, they are more rider friendly because they use a
separate course for the ATVs. Gusse, the promoter, is a
strange sort of guy (not unlike myself) but definitely hosts a great
event! Give their site a go, and you may decide to try out one of
his races if you haven't already!
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Product Highlight
As you all know, I have had my fair share of knee injuries. I
often get asked what kind of knee braces I use, so I thought that
this would be a good product highlight. Also, I firmly believe
that you should wear as much protection as your budget allows, for
me, knee braces are a must.
For me, the Cti 2 brace from
Innovation Sports
works the best. I use it because it is custom fitted, and has
a lifetime warranty. That means if the hinge wears out, I can
just send it back, and they will either fix it, or send me a new one
for free. I have been using them for almost 15 years now.
At the time, they were the best knee brace on the market, they were
custom made, and were the only one with a lifetime warranty.
I still believe they are the best ones on the market. Check
out their website for more information on how to order, warranty,
and other products available.
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My Favorite Snap...
Not the best photo quality, but this is a picture from my first
GNCC win ever in the US. It was the Okeechobee, FL race in
'99. Man, sure do miss those days!
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And the winner is…
J.D Falcon from Largo, FL
Congrats, JD! You're the
proud new owner of a pair of Pro-Grip Goggles!
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Things to Look Forward To...
Coming Soon...
'Nuf Said? |