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What is the biggest thrill that a rider could give to one of his fans, let them race your bike! Here is a little something special we did for one of my biggest fans!

With the final district 37 event of the 2011 season coinciding with the national, we decided to do something special for one of my biggest fans. Blake Guyse is a District 37 Mini Racer, and a member of HBMC. He has been at the finish of just about every desert race this year, and since he only has to race 1 loop as a mini, is one of the only people to be finished before I am.  

He lives with his grandparents who have been bringing him out since he was a little kid, so he really is a big part of the whole desert family. They have been members of HBMC since before he was born, so Desert racing is really his live. We have spent some time this year talking shop, and going on play rides, but Ed and the Off Road Support team wanted to do something special for him at the end of the season. 

We decided that probably the coolest thing for a Mini-class racer would be to race a factory bike. Well my KX85 isn’t quite factory, but Ed was able to set it up just like my 450, and we let him race it for the day at 100’s.

Blake really reminds me of myself about 10 years ago. All I wanted to do was ride, ride, and ride (and maybe check out a lizard from time to time). He is very excited, and always wants to go for a ride AFTER the race. I don’t get to do that as much anymore, but we have had some fun riding on Saturdays before the events this year. After a quick ride Saturday morning, Ed made a couple tweaks to the bike, and Blake was ready to go.

We set it up with a new pair of shoes (Dunlop Tires of course), a complete handlebar setup (Fastway Steering stabilizer and handguards with ASV levers), new Fastway Footpegs, and a fresh set of TBT Suspension.  Other than that it was just how I raced it 5 years ago. Same top end I had raced Endurocross on a few years back, and the motor was pretty much brand new.

Blake did really good, and actually won the Novice class finishing 3^rd overall mini! It was his second win in a row at a National Hare and Hound, and there is no way that he will be a novice for long. I’m proud of him, and glad that he had the chance to put my old bike to good use! I’m sure that we will be seeing a lot more of him next year in the Off Road Support pits!