VOLUME 58 ISSUE 26 JUNE 29, 2021 P137
sands of miles away.
Long hours, late nights on
weekends and holidays—it
doesn't matter. Race teams have
to get the bikes prepped and
ready to race, and the hauler
drivers are right there alongside
the mechanics and crew chiefs,
taking care of their needs while
they work on bikes. From test
days to race days, the drivers
are the ones who set up the
awnings, put down the flooring,
and get everything ready for the
team.
They usually serve as the team
cooks, as well, which means
shopping for groceries once the
pits are set up. Hans was the
best at grocery shopping and
making sure that every team
member had the snacks that
they liked. He could also whip
up some good eats at lunch,
and dinner, if necessary. And as
anyone in the pits knows, when
a team is eating well, they work
well—which likely contributed
to the 11 championship teams
that Hans was part of. He would
tell everyone that he had more
championships that any other
driver in the paddock. And it was
true.
Without people like Hans and
the hundreds of others who work
behind the scenes, racing would
not happen. The riders get the
glory and the riches while people
like Hans do it purely for the love
of the sport and to help their
team win. Being on a race team
is not easy work, no matter what
your role is, and Hans was truly
one of the unsung heroes of the
AMA Professional Road Race
paddock and a great teammate
as well. So, here's to you, Hans.
We'll miss you, buddy.
CN
Hans was the best at grocery shopping and making sure
that every team member had the snacks that they liked.
Hans never sought
the attention of the
fans or the media,
but he became
known to them
regardless, simply
because he was one
of the nicest people
in the paddock and
a true character
as well.
And as anyone
in the pits knows,
when a team
is eating well,
they work well—
which likely
contributed to the
11 championship
teams that Hans
was part of.
