2017 WORCS & AMA HARE & HOUND NATIONAL CHAMPION GARY SUTHERLIN
P140
INTERVIEW
in Phoenix for about six years. I actually worked at
a motocross track running heavy equipment, and
then I started working for Jonny Weisman, who is
Destry's mechanic, and that's how I started getting
into off-road. I was like, 'oh my gosh! Destry Ab-
bott wants me to go ride with him.' It was so crazy
because now me and Destry are pretty much best
friends. Back then I always idolized and looked up
to the guy. Then I wrenched for Dietrich the end
of 2006 when he won his championship. It's kind
of crazy that I won a championship with Ricky as a
mechanic and then I also won one as a racer."
Sutherlin admits that he's not crazy about being
his own mechanic. "Not anymore. I would like ap-
plicants please for a mechanic! Being a single dad,
working on bikes, trying to train and practice and do
everything—I spend a lot of time in the shop—it gets
overwhelming. But that's with anything. I'm thankful
to have what I have and be able to do what I'm do-
ing, but at the same time it's like, man… it's a lot."
Every minute of every day is pretty spoken for
when it comes to Sutherlin's everyday life.
"Emerie, my daughter, she's six now. She's in
first grade. She goes to school at 8:40 a.m. and
I pick her up at 3:30 p.m. So, basically I get up,
make us breakfast, do everything and get her
ready for school. I basically have to say from 8:40
to 3:30, that's my time to do what I need to do
to race. That's when I have to fit in bicycle rides,
track and as much bike work as I possibly can in
that small amount of time. Then after that there are
nights where you have to spend down at the shop.
Luckily, I have a house now with a shop and I put a
TV in it and stuff. She rides around on her scooter.
It's getting easier. Basically it's about getting it all
"I don't want to sound like I Dungey'd
it—but I did. I just rode and tried to
beat him but I wasn't going to push it
and ruin my chances of winning the
championship."
