Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126781
Don Estep (left) end Chris Cerr (right) ere the two hottest riders in the Junior Netionel Chempionship Series. Double Chris Carr & Don Estep troulJli By Matt Hilgenberg & Gary Van Voorhis The AMA's revival of the Junior National Championship program has cast a lot of up and coming yellow platers into the spotlight before the crowds at all Camel Pro Series dirt track Nationals, but none more so than Californian Chris Carr and Ohioan Don Estep. The halfway point in the 26 season found Carr, with 155 points. in the Lead for the title followed by Estep at 127. but there are still a lot of Nationals left to run as both are quick to point out. There will be only one champion crowned and bolh want to be that rider. . In effect, what they have every time .they race each other is a perfect East versus West shoot-out. They even play it up as Carr did aftheJuly 7 St. Louis Short Track National where he lost out to Estep. "Ron Wood calls Don Team Easund me Team West," said runner-up Carr in winner's circle. "I guess you can say East beat West fair and square tonight." Sponsorship by Ron Wood Racing's Ron Wood is only one of many similarities the two 17-year-olds share in common. Wood has seen his investment in both payoff handsomely. "I decided to work with Novice and Junior class riders exclusively," said Wood, "to help the industry and kids who have needed it. It's worked well and I've had a lot of fun. I'm really pleased wilh both Chrjs and Don. They have been an excellent team and they're running 1-2 in the Nationals." We talked wilh Carr and Estep on separate occasions to get an insight into what makes the two tick. ChriaCan "I started racing in 1973 when I was six-yean-old," says Carr. "When I was three-weeks-old, I went to my first race and, I guess, I haven't missed many since." . By the time he was 10, Carr was competing in the AMA Amateur National Championship dirt track events. "It took me a while to get my fint title, but after lhat I just kept rolling them in," said Carr - to the tune of 10 Amateur and one Minibike National Championship titles. Competin~ for that many series championships has given lhe Manteca, California residentquitea bitof experience. "I've ridden on probably 120 or 150 different tracks in my life. When I go to a different track, it's easier to adapt. I think that's my major advantage," Carr says. "We go to a race, look at the track, and say 'Oh, Jhat loOks Jike: the lraclLaL so and-so'lhen set up lhe bikesirnilar to that and go from lhere." After his first-ever ride on a mile at Sacramento, California, Carr fell in love with racing on the long tracks. "I had a blast going over 100 miles per hour down the straightaways and then pitching the bike sideways into the corners. It's quite a thrill." . His win at Sacramento was a continuation, after mechanical problems in the Ascot TT. of a rocket-like start to the season for Carr. In lhe first races of the year in lhe Houston Astrodome, Carr was a double winner, taking the victory champagne in both the short track and TT Junior Nationals. "Only two others, Bubba Shobert and Jimmy Filice, have doubled in the Dome as Juniors and now they both are factory-backed riders." (Shoben has a Honda contract while Fili'c.e is backed by the Harley-Davidson Owners Group). ''I'm not saying I'll get a factory ride next year, but you never know what will happen." Carr went to Florida in March to sharpen his skills during the Daytona Dirt Track Series. Carr ran the Tampa Shon Track round before heading to Daytona Beach and the annual Cycle Week shon tracks at Memorial Stadium. "I enjoyed going to Florida," says Carr, "but I didn't like racing there. I enjoyed the competition, but the track preparation wasn'l great. It was follow-the-leader raci,l'lg wbe~e yoJ.! j1J:st, ge.t..-tb halesh.bL~:y_olt\.:ยท front. I raced against the Experts five times and I made the main event in lhree ofthe five. I was theonly Junior to make those finals and, even though I placed seventh once and ninth twice, I feel good about my performance. I can't complain a bit." Although he is sponsored by Blendzall Racing Oils, Shoo Helmets, NippoodensoSpark Plugs. Hi-PointRacing and Kal-Gard, Carr's major support comes from Ron Wood, the man behind the Wood-RolaX. His machines use Austrian Rotax 500cc powerplants in a Wood chassis and are the terror of the Junior class. Team Wood-RolaX consists of Carr and Donald Estep, of Ohio. "Team Wood-Rotax isn't a true factory team, but we joke around and call it one," Carr says. "It is a fullforceeffon towin the Junior National Championship and that is something we set up with Ron be:fore this season. I think we can do it." While his interest in racing is obvious, Carr is also an excellent student and maintained a 5.5 grade average at Manteca High School in his junior year. Carr sometimes has to miss races to keep his grades up. Such was the case atlhis year's Louisville Half Mile Nationals. According to Carr's father, who is an ex-racer himself, "Chris takes his schooling seriously and we're not going to sacrifice his school work for racinR." Cart fee's his ma.in competition for -'. he~jltJc!:Wi1I' be Estep, PtlLI!JPS._