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/127722
subsidize the bottom line with outside jobs to imp rove their year-end bottom line - Camlin is a labo r technician for a robotic systems firm during the winter months while Eak en build s d irt track motors for several top 'competitors in th e GNC Series - analyzing the duo's estimated racing expense reports is nothing short of depressing, and certainly enough to make you wonder why they do it. Nonetheless, Camlin remains very enthusiastic about his chosen profession. " I' d live in a shoebox jus t to ge t to the races," Camlin said. "When yo u b reak it down, we didn't make much money . We 're racing for the same money that we were racing for 20 years ago. But for me, the bottom line is that championship. I want to win, and I want people to say, 'That's Dave Camlin, he 's number one.' If they only paid $500 to make the ma in, I'd still b e there." Perhaps owing to his years of experience, Eaken is a bit more analytical, and perhaps skeptical, about why he continues his involvement in dirt track racing. "The only way we're ever going to make any money is to attract bigger sponsors," Eaken said. "Race results are im p orta nt but th ey shou ld be used to attract bigger sp onsors, not for a bigger check at the pay window. I don't know of any other major motorsport where they m ake all their money from the purse. It all comes from sponsors or the factories. But we're forced to race for purse money now." The kicker, Eaken says, is that it takes more money to make more money. "I want to make it more financially rewarding if I can," Eaken said. " I' ve spent a lot of money this year trying to make our motorcycles look better to attract the bigger fish (sponsors). I've got a $1000 bill in graphics alone. If that doesn't work, then I really don't see myself doing this for too much longer. My time would be better spent in my shop than at the race track." . The inevitable question comes: Why keep going then? "I don't know," Eaken said. "I have the same conversation with myself. I guess that the hope is that you will be able to build upon what you did the previous year. Actually, this year I have the same deal with Dave, and we're going to start with less money this year. But we're still going to race . "The thing about dirt track racing is that most teams are a famil y operation," Eaken said. "People in this sport spend all they have to keep going. The fact of the matter is that if a gu y has $1, and he needs a $2 part to help him win, he 'll figure out where to ge t the other $1. I'm just as guilty of it myself." While not speaking in riddles, Eaken gives the impression that he is tactfully evading the question, "Why do you do it? " But finall y , when p ressed hard enough for the answer, the veteran tuner comes clean, and in doing so not only echoes Camlin's sentiment, but provides profound commentary on his sport. Money be damned. It's all about winning the Grand National Championship. "That's the only goal we really have," Eaken said. ·" 1 don't think that we'll win the championship this year, but maybe in two or three years. I guess we go around in circles to see who's the best, and winning the championship means you're the best. It's an ego thing. People know that yo u're just the baddest son of a bitch doing it. That's what it's all about." Some things you jus t can 't put a price tag on. a I I I I I World Championship Hare & Hound March 11 • Jean, Nevada 1st Todd Hoy (KTM) SCORE San Felipe 250 March 11 • San Felip e, B.C. Mexico 1st Danny Hamel (Kawasaki) .