My First Race
 by Rich Williams

  The Fire and Police Nationals rounds 3&4 were this past week and Team Havasu Fire was ready.  After a
four hour drive and a record camp set up time the festivities began. The first night was an opportunity 
to share stories around the fire.  For me it was the first event I have participated in and right from the 
start I was feeling more relaxed.  The members of our groups have thus far been co-workers and occasional 
riding partners, but around the fire, fueled by beers, they were all  story tellers.  I got to meet Schulee's 
dad and brother who were as down to Earth as two guys could be. "Big Rich" had great stories and was only 
one upped by his  son Clif.  I am still not sure what "San Winkle" is but I am sure of one thing, Clif can tell 
a great story.  We continued to discuss the bowel movements of race day as well as urinating at the line, so 
I was feeling confident that if I could just keep myself dry my first race would be okay.
    We all arose the next day and you could feel the excitement in the air.  The smell of two strokes wafting 
through camp, and the deep throaty sound of 4 strokers firing up their machines, to be sure thay would be 
ready by race time. I began my morning by sharing some cereal and banannas with Wendell and discussing 
my strategy for the day.  I was determined to ride within my abilities and my goals were to not stall my bike 
and not to crash.  Well, you've got to have a plan right.  Unfortunately the problem with planning is you have 
some type of expectations and when they are not met you may feel let down.  I ended up crashing in my first 
race along the back, at the bottom of the first table top.  As I got up to check myself for a halo I discovered 
I was at the landing and riders were coming right over me. I got over to my bike which was about ten feet 
away and picked it up and rolled it to the side of the track.  By now I am breathing heavily and having difficulty 
seeing out of the one side of my goggles, the other side is caked with mud.  I begin my starting procedure 
and after the rest of the class laps me twice, old reliable fires up.  Did I mention that I had a great start 
for a first timer, 6th place in the first turn. Oh, and also, when I crashed I was in 4th place trailing the third 
place rider by only two bike lengths.  Such is the way for a newbie. After all this I was a bit shaken and was 
nervous about the rest of the 3 races I had coming in the next days. I then replaced my bars which were 
bent and licked my wounds.  It was then I found the answer to my problem....  Relax, have fun, and everything 
will work out.  And it did.  I was reassured by Tobin, Wendell, and Schulee that if it was easy everyone would 
be doing it.
     I went on to have a blast in my next races and even made some friends at the line.  Chris from Colorado, 
we battled for fifth place in our second moto, and fortunately for me he laid his bike over in a turn, giving 
me just the few seconds I needed to get in front of him.  I also had a great conversation with another rider 
from Oregon who placed third in the first moto.
     All in all, I think that for my first time in a motocross race it was all I could hope for.  I got to witness 
the triumph of my teammates as well as some tribulation, but I think that ultimately it was a triumph for 
all of us.  We are working in the greatest field in the world  and we get to go out and spend a few days doing 
something so fun yet so challenging, meanwhile people with real jobs are stuck indoors behind desks.  We 
work in what Wendell would certainly argue, is one of the finest climates surrounded by a riders dream, 
unlimited desert to ride in.  I am surrounded by greatness, whether it be Schulee's ability to do it better 
than anyone on anything, or Wendell's flawless cornering and fitness on the track.  Tobin's relaxed approach 
at the line backed by his solid riding skill, or Carl's willingness to try anything out on the track, and win or 
lose, have a smile on his face.  As for Tim, I admire your focus and determination to be the best. The moral 
of this story is nothing new, but it is new to me, "If you have good friends, good weather, and a dirt bike 
that runs, smile, life is good...."