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Taz Racing News
This is going to be the Year of "The Taz"
3/15/98 PEEWEE’S DO THE LAKE
Good News! The bad weather changed direction and headed to the West Coast.
(Sorry Mom!) The racers and their families all came to Lake Sugartree to ride. Lake
Sugartree Motorsports Park has been a legend for almost twenty (20) years. The Pros and
Amateurs come from all over to ride this track. Ryan has been helping and giving his
thoughts on how they can improve the peewee track to make it more like the big track.
Ryan, the "TAZ" is so fortunate to have this great place right in his back yard.
Ryan’s mom was in the concession stand trying to keep up with the crowd. It was going
to be up to Papa and Dad to keep their eyes on the "TAZ" this day.
In addition to the new KTM motorcycle, Papa gave Ryan another surprise
for the 1998 Racing Season. The TAZ RACE TEAM now has a 40’ Trailer. This is equipped
with living quarters, a garage area for the bikes and even a parts room. We can sell some
of our great TAZ apparel and products from within the trailer. Ryan was so excited! He was
finally able to ride his new 98 KTM, and at his home track.
Time for the first moto. Ryan was off the line in great form and the
first to reach the sweeping turn at the bottom of the hill. Wide open was his game plan
for the day and you could tell he was in a rush. The "TAZ" won with room to
spare. Great finish, especially because he had not been on the track since they changed
its direction.
Moto number two…Off they went…down and around the
turns…up and down the hills…across the dam to the finish line. Ryan,
"TAZ", had a great lead for most of this race. Ryan and some lapped riders all
came into the last turn and he tried to go to the outside of them. The mud was so deep
Ryan sunk! The 2nd place rider, Jordan David got past Ryan with a few feet to
go. Ryan has a great 2nd place finish.
It was great to see the Pros and other riders come from all over to
ride at Lake Sugartree.
3/22/98 SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT THE
CREEK (Not the weather)
The TAZ RACE TEAM heads to the Birch Creek MX Park in Danville, VA for the 2nd
round of the U.S. Eastern Spring Series. Last weeks race at Lake Sugartree Motorsports
Park was Ryan’s first time on his new 98 KTM. The TAZ and his new bike were both
ready to try the hills of the creek and kick some tail.
Ryan was sure surprised to see his oldest brother, Bobby, who is in the
Marines and stationed at Camp Lejenue, North Carolina. Bobby had never been able to see
his little brother race before. Now that he’s been transferred to North Carolina the
5 hour drive was worth it to see the "TAZ" in action.
Ryan was ready for the first moto. He lined up with a full gate of
peewee’s. Off they went into the sweeping first turn. Zach Alvear and Ryan were
running 1,2. The raced back and forth for the entire race, coming across the finish line
with Zach’s tire just ahead of Ryan’s. That was a great 2nd place
finish for the "TAZ".
While waiting for the other teams to race, Ryan had time to spend with
his older brother. Bobby comes from California (like the TAZ) and he isn’t used to
the "Howdy Neighbor" ways back here in the southeast. Ryan took Bobby around and
introduced him to lots of his friends, riders and non-riders. He enjoyed meeting Ryan's
pals.
Time again for the peewee’s to race. The "TAZ" had Papa,
Dad, Mom and big Brother all there to cheer him on. The "TAZ" dude was out of
the gate like a rocket this time. He was bound and determined to catch that Cobra and
Action by the first turn and be the first racer down the big downhill. He almost got
them both but Zach Alvear got the inside edge on the turn they went neck to neck again for
the race. After a fight all the way to the finish line, the "TAZ" came home with
the 2nd place trophy.
Ryan is thankful to Papa for his new 98 KTM bikes. He thinks they are
just so cool. After each race, TAZ and Papa discuss what the bike did or did not do during
the race. This enables them to work on it and be ready for the next race. Next stop for
the Spring Series is ACTIONTOWN, Dillwyn, VA.
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Alright!, I see the line I'll take.
BirchCreek MX. Danville,VA
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Fly'n Ryan takin the whoops at
BirchCreek MX |
3/29/98 TAZ Heads to Actiontown
This was to be the boy’s weekend out. Mom and Sister Melissa stayed
behind this time. Papa and Ryan took the new TAZ RACING trailer up to Actiontown for the
two-day event. Dad was going to meet them later at the track. Melissa had a soccer meet so
she and mom were doing "the girl thing".
The weather finally broke and the weekend forecast looked good. (Yeah!)
Saturday the "TAZ" rode in the Loretta Lynn NE Area Qualifier. What a great day
for Ryan, he was on a roll and was winning all day.
Ryan invited about half a dozen of his racing pals to join him in the
trailer. They watched TV and had some popcorn until it was time to go to sleep. They
needed to get ready for the race the next day. Everyone was having so much fun they asked
Papa (Mr. Bailey) if they could come over again. Before they knew it, the whole gang was
back and had come for breakfast with the "TAZ".
Breakfast was over and it was time for the little racers to get on the
line. The "TAZ" had another great day of fun playing with the other racers. Of
course his winning made the weekend even better
4/4/98 TAZ GOES TO NORTH CAROLINA
Ryan and Mom headed to Sanford, North Carolina for their first event at
Devil’s Ridge MX Park with the new 40’ TAZ RACING trailer. We had a full weekend
planned. The AMA Southeast Area Qualifier was on Saturday, and the U.S. Eastern Motocross
Spring Series Sunday. It was a good thing we arrived Friday night. By Saturday evening
there wasn’t room to park a car. There were people from all over the United States
entered in the area qualifier as well as the locals from District 29 (NC & SC Region).
With over 500 riders there we knew it was going to be a long weekend.
Saturday morning practice started right on time at 8:00 AM, with the
races off and running at 10:00 AM. They didn’t mess around and kept the racers
moving. Practice was going well except that Ryan’s bike was having a power problem.
It just wouldn’t open up when you got on the gas. We asked the dad of a fellow racer,
Scott Woods, to take a look at it for us. Problem was a loose carburetor; tighten it up
and away TAZ goes! Ryan came in from practice with that smile of his that says
"I’m ready to race".
The time had come for the peewee’s first moto. With a great start,
Ryan came out of the turn in 3rd place and held on to that position for the
entire race. Up front with the "TAZ" were Colton Bailey (from Maryland) and Zach
Alvear; these three were about half a track ahead of the pack for the whole race. Ryan and
Colton had raced together at the Winter AM’s and Mini O’s in Florida this past
winter. They enjoyed the challenge of racing one another at this track because neither one
had raced here before.
Ryan came in and said the bike just wasn’t up to his liking. He
asked his Dad to do what dad’s do best…tinker…little adjustments until the
combination is just right. Dad worked on it until it was time for the peewee’s next
moto.
This time Ryan had a new challenger for the 2nd position, it
was Ian Trettel. Ian and Ryan had raced one another last summer at the Greensboro
Coliseum. They really kept the crowd on their toes watching them battle back and forth at
that event. Both Ryan and Ian like to show that the peewee’s can fly like the big
boys do. Now they were off, Ryan, Ian and Colton just smokin’ the track. Ryan and Ian
were on the gas, attempting to keep up with Colton. But the laps ran out. They finished
Colton, Ian and Ryan. This 3rd place finish gave Ryan a 2nd place
overall finish for the day.
Ryan really deserved that 2nd place finish. He had been
working hard and trying all day to make his KTM keep up with the Cobra’s. The
"TAZ" just didn’t feel that the KTM was putting out all it should. When we
got home we had the Professor (Gary Bailey) look over the bike to see if his expertise
could help us find some speed.
4/5/98 TAZ Goes to Devils Ridge in Sanford, N.C.
Sunday came and boy, you should see all the people ! We had
twenty races for the day, and thank goodness we were at the 5th position of the race
lineup. We had a great 50cc 4-6 class lineup with over fifteen entries today.
They were off, with Ryan in the middle of the pack. All the boys and
girls were just wailing down the switch back turns as the race was on again between Zach
Alvear and Ryan, battling it out. With the leader ahead of them, they had their own race
going on with Zach just ahead of Ryan right to the finish, giving Taz a third place
for Moto one.
After a long wait, Ryan was more than ready for his race with Zach to
begin again. They were off, but Oops, Ryan's tire got stuck in the starting gate and
flipped his bike. Dad sprinted to get to Ryan but, before anyone could get to the Taz, he
was back on his bike and into the first turn past the slower riders.
The Taz was on a mission for the front, and he knew he had to fly to
get there. He had passed all but the front five riders which gave him a sixth place finish
for Moto #2, and a fifth place for the day.
He was disappointed, but if you could have seen his racing, you would
have been proud to see how determined he was to catch the leaders. Mom and Dad were proud
to be there cheering him on, no matter what the outcome was, as the Taz had it pinned and
trying his best to get the lead.
Well, next weekend is an Easter Egg hunt and then racing at ECMX in
North Carolina so follow us there.
4/12/98 TAZ Goes to ECMX in Elizabeth City, N.C.
Taz Family and friends went looking for the Easter Bunny in the
sands of the motocross park at Elizabeth City N.C.
The Smith family were going to Richmond, to visit their friends the Piersons again for a
long Easter weekend. We have a race at Elizabeth City Motocross Park on Sunday, and with
the kids having a long weekend, we decided to have a family "getaway" weekend.
We traveled on Friday evening and then Saturday, the kids played
on their scooters, washed and prepped the bikes for race day, it was nice to just visit
with friends and relax for a change.
Everyone got up early Sunday morning and then chased Uncle Dean
Pierson for the two hour drive through the back roads of Richmond, to arrive at ECMX just
in time to start some practice runs. This weekend also showed with quite a few riders
entered.
Ryan was, at first, a little unsure of himself, as they had changed the
track in some places, but by the end of practice he had it wired. Off they went into the
first turn, at this track you hit the whoop section first and then head into the backside
of the track. Ryan Zimmer and the Taz fought it out the whole race. Every time Taz would
try to go under him, Zimmer would get squirrelly or cut Taz off. When asked about it, Taz
replied "Instead of taking us both out, I just played it safe and gave him the first
Moto, but Moto #2, is mine !"
The kid's got to practice most of the the day on the newly designed
50cc class track, with virtually all the older kids taking the double jumps, and flying
over the table top jump.
Time again for the 4-6 class to get going. Ryan Zimmer and the Taz were
out the gate and side by side heading into the switch back turns, Taz with the advantage
and the rest of the race was,as they say, History.
The Taz Man was flying over jumps with style and took the checkered
flag with a win for the day. Taz was so stoked, Ryan Z. and he, high five'd each other
after the race. These guys are great sports as well as competitors, and have a great time
both off the track, as well as on the track.
Well, off for a weekend of mx school and then on to Birch Creek, See Ya
There !
4/26/98 Taz goes to Birch Creek Motosports in Danville, VA.
Taz Returns to the Creek for some Spring Action
Weather at the Creek was the best we have had for quite some time
with El Nino lurking around. Mom, Dad and our friend and Chef, Benny, came to watch the
flying action that the Taz loves to perform here.
The Pee Wee's were near the top of the line up, and there was a
group of them ready and, literally, roaring to go. The classes were split up into age
groups, 4-6 and then 7-8. Taz was ready for the first Moto and finally, they were off into
the first turn with Ryan coming out of it second, Ian Trettel #19 in first. The chase is
on going up and over the hills, and into the whoop section. It soon became a three way
fight for the lead with Ryan Zimmer trying to take the top spots, but Taz was not going to
give it up easily. The race was one of the crowd pleasers of the day, as we were all on
our feet cheering them on till the end with Taz taking a second place. 
After the race, all the kids come down to the new Taz Racing Trailer to
review race videos, it has become a ritual with the PeeWee's that after a moto, they watch
themselves on T.V., which they think is great fun. The second Moto was not far off and the
kids were once again, ready to go. The two Ryan's were in the air most of the race and it
was great to see these two on the track and then at play.
The Peewee's were off again and the three musketeers had the front part
of the track all to themselves. They kept the crowd on their feet this whole race due to
the fact that these "bad boys" just fly and are only 5 and 6 years old. The boys
got to the end of the Moto and they were all very excited, knowing that they had raced to
best of their abilities and had fun doing it.
The day was a 3rd overall with Taz still in the lead of both the Spring
Series, and District points. The Spring Series is held at various tracks in North Carolina
and Virginia until the end of May, so its off to North Carolina's East Bend Race Track,
see ya there
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5/2/98 Taz goes to East Bend in N.C
We arrived Saturday afternoon looking forward to that evenings races. Mom acted as
navigator on the way so we got to see a few extra miles of country, but we made it there
in time for Mom to get Ryan signed in. The 4-6 and 7-8 year old classes were run
together, so that put 15 riders at the starting line. With the off and on rain all
week the track muddy and in some places hard and slick.
At the start, Ryan got a good jump and was ahead of the pack in 2nd. position.
All the riders were slipping and sliding so there efforts were focused on maintaining
their positions. Most of the riders finished in the same positions that they in
going into the first turn, at the flag it was (19) Ian, (931) Taz and (44) Zimmer for the
top three spots.
The second moto looked like it was going to be a carbon copy of the first until the
lead riders were going into the last lap. As the Taz was about to pass a lapped
rider, he slipped and went under Ryan taking him out as well. The 931 bike was now
upside down and stuck in the side of a very slick hill. This brought Mom and Mr.
Schmitt running, but by the time they were able to get across the track and get the bike
upright, a few riders had passed. With just under a lap to go those lost positions
were going to be hard to pick up. At the finish of the second moto, Ryan was 4th.
giving him 4th. overall for the evenings racing.
5/3/98 Taz goes to East Bend in N.C (Sunday Morning)
The morning starts with everyone anxious to get on the track before the rain did.
The peewee's were scheduled 5th out of the 19 races for the day.
As they started their first moto, the track in better shape, not as slick as the
evening before. The three musketeers took the lead, Ian Trettel in first with Ryan
Smith glued to his rear fender looking determined not to let him pull away. Ryan
Zimmer was right behind them and that's the way it stayed until the last lap.
Up ahead there is a rider down with a parent helping him get going again, the Taz picks
his line and Zimmer takes the other to avoid the bike that's down. As the bike,
rider and parent start to move in the track the Taz's way through closes, Zimmer stays on
the throttle and at the finish it's (19) Ian, Zimmer (44) and (931) Taz. This moto
ended as one of the most challenging for the three young riders as each one had pushed the
other two to ride hard.
5/17/98 Taz goes to Rolling Hills MX Park in Reidsville, NC
The Smith and Bailey families had a race packed weekend. With Ryan and his Dad going
ahead to set up and get ready to race, Mom, Papa and friends Jim Hedrick and Benny Bryant
followed to arrive just as practice was starting. Ryan had practiced on this track a
few weeks earlier in preparation for this race. Rolling Hills track is just as the
name suggests, making it very different from the rest of the MX tracks in the area.
As the official practice began, Ryan and Ian had the rest of the peewee's behind
them the whole time.
The riders meeting has ended and the peewee's will race in the 7th. moto out of 16 for
the day. Just as in practice, as the race started, Ryan and Ian took the lead and
with each lap they moved further ahead of the pack. Both riders keep their throttles
wide open through the whoops and straight-aways. The finish came with Ian, Ryan,
Ryan Zimmer and Jordan David taking the first four spots. All of the peewee's seemed
to be having a great day and running faster then we had seen in the past. Lauren
Hite (the only girl in the field) and Brandon David both seemed to have their Yamaha 50's
stuck with wide open throttles and were having a lot of fun.
In the second moto the lead group now consisted of four riders, with Ian, Taz, Jordan
and Ryan jockeying back and forth as the race progressed. As they crossed the
finish, it was Ian, Taz, Jordan and Ryan Zimmer, giving Taz a 2nd. overall for the day.
Next weeks schedule puts us in Elizabeth City, so it looks like we will be spending a
day at the beach and then off to race.
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