Article By: Tyler Porter Photos By: Brent Pierce
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s a reader of Cycle Source Magazine, I feel there are a few things that you don’t mind hearing about twice. One may be a bike style that just speaks to you; maybe it’s a nearly original but still custom Knuckle. For me, it’s Jimmy Frizzell’s column each month. A few months back I told you about the joys of Springfield Illinois. I wrote that story from the promotional standpoint of the event. Since the Springfield Mile happens twice a year and its part of my “Grand Slam of Flat Track Races” I feel it deserves another story. However, this time, let’s take you INTO the pit area. Professional flat track has always been one of the most accessible sports on earth. Maybe it’s the typical low incomes of the racers where fans literally help them get from race to race. Maybe it’s the basics of the sport; go fast, turn left. The American Flat Track organization has done a great job at providing access to the fans. There are always open pits during the race day, both before the
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December ‘18 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE
races get started and after the races are over. This allows fans to be in the pits, get an autograph and see the teams at work. If you’re a true fan though, what if that isn’t enough? What if you have to know what REALLY goes on? This entire story starts with a simple text message: Friday, August 31st 4:28 pm: From 2018 Moto America Supersport Champion JD Beach: “You want to help us on Sunday?” Me: “Do you guys need it?” JD:“Yes” At the time of this text, I’m actually racing during the Amateur day at the Springfield Short Track, just next door to the legendary mile. I had already made plans to party down Saturday night with my friends and then tailgate the infield during the races. Working for a racer would thwart both opportunities. Tuning for the mile is waking up early, working hard all day, and being too tired to move when all is said and done. Nevertheless, I took the job. The pay? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The rider? The Man in the Van with a Plan
himself, a guy who is more like my little brother than anybody else on earth; Hayden Gillim. While I’ve known Hayden nearly all of my life, this was a pretty big deal. Hayden is a full-time road racer in the Moto America series, finishing 2nd in this year’s Supersport Championship but he’s still a worthy dirt tracker, making all three AFT Twins main events that he had competed in so far in the season, finishing 4th at the Buffalo Chip TT, 12th at the Black Hills Half-Mile and 5th at the Peoria TT. However, Hayden had only ever been on a mile on a twin one other time, and never on an Indian FTR750, so the odds were stacked against us. JD and I weren’t alone on this mission. Öhlins suspension technician Jon Cornwall hung around all day to not only monitor suspension performance and chassis adjustments, but he also knew how to work with the ignition mapping on the Indian Motorcycles FTR750 that Hayden had been loaned for his four race tour. We also had journeyman
