Ben Brown 5-15-09

We ran a feature called Ben Brown, Mission Possible. Todd Macke, through his Ability Riders of Tomorrow, put together a dream ride for Ben at the 2008 Red Bud National.

Like many of you I was impressed with Todd’s effort and Ben’s remarkable desire to continue to race despite his disability. It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by since Ben’s dream race. So, like many of you, I was curious to see what Ben has been up to now days. What better way to find out than an interview…

Thanks to Todd Macke’s ART (Ability Riders of Tomorrow) you got to race for the first time since your accident. Talk on that for a minute.
It was my second motocross race since my accident. I raced an arena cross in Summerside, Prince Edward Island two weeks before. To tell you the truth, the Red Bud National was the best experience of my life! I got to race one of the world’s best tracks that only a few people in my area have ever been to. I got to race with Tim Farr, Shane Hitt, Mitch Reynolds, Hunter Miller and John Ragon in the KTM class. I also got to hang out with almost every pro rider. I got to meet Jeremiah Jones. Chad Wienen even signed me a helmet and told me some very inspiring words. Doug Gust signed one of his race jerseys for me. I got tons of posters and got to see full on factory quads up close. Amy Ritchie, owner of Redbud, was so great to me and I can’t thank her enough. Factory Yamaha and Hetrick Racing helped us out when I had some clutch issues. I even got to be interviewed by one of my sponsors Brad Phillips, owner of Premis Industries. I never expected this experience would have happened after my injury. It was absolutely fantastic and I’ll never forget it.

Ben, Todd Macke and Doug Gust at the ’08 Red Bud National.I’m curious what did Chad Wienen tell you?
He said to never back down and don’t let anyone tell me I don’t deserve to be on the track. He was sincere and I really appreciate his and all the guy’s support.

Have you raced since then?
Yes I raced some obstacles and one motocross race up in Loch Lomand in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It’s a really fun track.

When did this ATV passion of yours begin?
My ATV passion started when I was 14 years old when my dad bought us a 2002 Honda 450 Foreman 4×4. We still have it.

How did your accident happen?
I was training for a race on my old Honda 300EX and I somehow cased a 30 foot single to table top jump, got thrown over the bars and the quad lawn-darted on my back.

When you were told you wouldn’t walk again what went through your mind?
It wasn’t really the not walking part that affected me the most. I thought about friends, riding, racing, being able to work. There were a lot of questions on just everyday stuff that went through my mind a lot at the time.

What did your doctors say when you told them you wanted to continue racing ATVs?
The diagnosing doctor told me it wasn’t going to happen but my surgeon said to go for it and showed me information on Ricky James. Watching what Ricky does on a bike, race truck, etc. really motivated me. He still does, and I push myself harder because of what he’s been able to accomplish.

You moved on very quickly, maybe faster than most.
Yeah, I was sent into rehab three weeks after my injury, which was three days before my 19th birthday, which is legal age here in Canada. Instead of the traditional bar night I was watching movies and eating Taco Bell and Subway. I look at it now as a good trade off. I was told I was first going to be there until February 2007, then December of ‘06 I got out of there in just over two months, way ahead of what they thought. The first couple of weeks were a pain but after I got over it I showed up each day ready to rock and roll. I wanted to get back to riding as fast as I could, and the only way I saw that happening was by putting in all effort I possibly could. We had a couple of big fundraisers to help refit my home, pay for medical supplies and for future education. I made some close friends and did my first set of 10 chin ups since my injury there.

Do you lift weights?
My training is currently three to four times per week in my basketball chair for about two hours at a time, which includes shooting and chair skills to build up my speed and conditioning. Three times per week at the weights, which includes: chest and lat pull downs, bicep curls, two medicine ball exercises to help build core strength, on my back chest presses, dips, cable crossovers, back rows and chin ups. I do three sets of 30 for everything except dips which are five sets of 20 and chin ups which are three sets of 10. I also use a punching bag and I noticed John Natalie uses one too, so I must be doing something right.

Wow! I bet you’re pretty strong after all that.
I split it up into two different routines. I want to build muscle but also make sure I have the best endurance I can for both motocross and wheelchair basketball possible.

I would think a lot of people in wheelchairs become depressed and lazy. You couldn’t be more of the opposite.
Yes I’m very active and far from depressed. I always find a way to step up my weight training or I look into what I can add to it. I know when I move back home from college I will have to make some changes.

What’s this I hear about an athlete of the year award?
I was just awarded the Nova Scotia Community College Student Association’s Truro Campus Athlete of the Year. I just got an e-mail about it yesterday. It’s great but the student success banquet is right before Unadilla, so I am not sure how I am going to receive it if I am in Unadilla.

What have you done to your quad to make it easier for you to ride? How do you shift your YFZ?
I run a Rekluse Z-start clutch and Z-start rear hand brake. I also have snow board bindings, which were custom fabricated by my friend Andrew VanHattem, on my AC Racing Nerf Bars. My seat is custom and I run knee blocks with leg straps, which were built by my friend Glen Baker and his shop Apple Auto Glass. I also have a Pingel Electric shifter that makes shifting really nice. I bought it before they started making ATV kits; so it’s a universal kit we have been spending a lot of time with. I will be getting a proper mount made to get it to shift perfect.

You’ve raced a National at the motocross level, is a GNCC next on your to do list?
I love motocross I want to stick with it but I would love to try a GNCC, TT/Supermoto and really would love to give dune riding a shot too. I love all types of riding and racing. It doesn’t matter what you’re on.

It’s nice to see you enjoy riding so much. A lot of people get so caught up in racing that they end up distancing themselves from the roots of the sport, which is just hitting the trails and enjoying the ride.
Yeah I’ve always loved just getting out and riding. I think we all need to stick together to keep areas open and make sure everyone of all ages and abilities gets to experience this great sport. I can’t believe this new lead law we have to deal with now. What a load of crap. People are complaining about the economy then why would the CSPC go after something that is a big part of the economy?

What do you plan to do when you’re done with school?
My goal is to become an adapted sports/recreation coordinator in a community close to my home; so children, youth and adults living with disabilities have equal recreational opportunities. I also want to make Canada’s Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team.

You seem to be into basketball, whose going to win the NBA Championship this year?
Honestly I am not much into able-body basketball only wheelchair basketball. I am more of a hockey fan since I used to play hockey and my pick for the Stanley cup is my team the Detroit Red Wings.

Are you currently on a basketball team?
I play for the Halifax Heat and Halifax Storm of the Maritime Wheelchair Basketball Association. Since this my second year of basketball period I’m still learning the game, but I’ve come a long way. My shooting has gotten better, my defense, court awareness, my speed has just picked up and I have always worked on my conditioning since I can be out there for 30-35 minutes of a 40 minute game. I enjoy it a lot.

 

How did you meet Blair Morgan?
I met Blair at the 2007 Riverglade Canadian Dirtbike National, which is about four hours from my house and always a good time. He’s a pretty cool guy.

Who is Anthony Purcell?
Anthony is a friend of mine who I consider my mentor. He has given me the opportunity to play wheelchair basketball and he’s shown me what it takes to be part of the national program.

Let’s say someone that just got paralyzed Googled their way into this very feature, now that you’ve been where they’re going for three years what would you say to him or her?
Don’t be afraid to push yourself. You will amaze yourself and others in what you can do. I also think these words are very powerful, “Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can” – Dave Bailey

Why do you call yourself reconmaster in the ATV Scene forums?
Well I had a Honda 250 Recon that I pretty much replaced everything but the chassis components and rode it like a racer. I actually beat some guys on Banshees in competitions and jumped up to 30-35 feet on it….(laughing) hey Bam can you top that?

Any parting words?
Never back down from what you want to do in life.

Any thanks?
Yes lots. I would like to thank my mom, dad, step dad, my friends and family, my wonderful girlfriend Ashley, Robert Simon at Xtreme Motorsports and Scott Lockhart for helping me get an electric shift on my quad, Todd Macke, Guy Sutton, Craig Suggs, Debbi Bartosek, Paul Turner, Rich Hetrick, Ross Dantonio, Jody Bateman, Stan Digby, Mitchell Shelton, Rick Stockton, Chad Wienen, Terri Green at Powermadd, Cole Townsend at Fasst Company, Kurtis Miller at Streamline, Lynn Cutsforth at Rox Speed FX, Christian Chambers at Moto X Nutrition, my basketball team Halifax Heat, my coach for wheelchair racing Ueli Albert, Andrew Vanhattem, Geoff Hennigar, Rick Balsor, Andrew Mckinnon for selling me my YFZ so I can ride and race after injury, the Nova Scotia Rehab staff, Nicole Schnare for selling me my first Rekluse clutch, Sue Tabor, Roger Toney, Kevin Keddy for helping me out around the farm and helping build my practice track, Brad Phillips at Premis, Dave Keddy at Valley Glass and Mirror, Mark at Mark’s Autobody, Derek and the guys at Valley Tire, Robin and Jacob Horsnell at Northridge Farms, Avery MacDonald for letting me race his sweet track at Loch Lomand, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and everyone who has helped me get on my YFZ, practiced with me and helped me in any way at the gym or at the track.

Know Ben Better…
Name: Ben Brown
Nickname: Racing Ben Brown
Birthdate: September 9, 1987
Home:  Weston, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born in:  Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada
Occupation: Student, soon to be employed in Therapeutic Recreation
Education:  College
Brothers, Sisters? Brother Nick
Racing #: 19
Current Quad: 2005 Yamaha YFZ 450
Sponsors:  Ability Riders of Tomorrow, Big Daddy Motorsports, Blomidon Performance, Browns Equine Centre, Clutch Industries, Fasst Company, Fundy Xpress Transport, Hetrick Racing, ITP Tires, JB Racing, Mark’s Autobody, Moto X Nutrition, Northridge Farms, Powermadd, Premis, Protech Suspension, Ready Racing, Rekluse, Rick Balsor Welding, Rox Speed Fx , Streamline Braking, S&S Xtreme Motosport ,www.enduropilot.com, Vanhattem Hi-Tec Mechanical, Valley Glass & Mirror,Valley Tire, and Tabor Cycle and Service

What do you drive?  2000 Chevrolet S10
Must have ATV bolt on:  Fasst Flex Handle bars, Powermadd Handguards and Rox Speed FX Pivot Risers
Magazine: ATV Sport, Quad and Dirtwheels
Restaurant: Subway, Wendy’s and Boston Pizza

Pets: dog Max
Laptop or PC?  Both
Biggest Pet Peeve: Some peoples ignorance to what I can do because of my disability
Hottest Girl on Earth:  Is it safe to answer? I am very happy to be with my girlfriend Ashley

Favorite Place on Earth:  Redbud Motocross
Worst Place on Earth: Hamilton Trail also known as the Trail from Hell, also the emergency room sucks
Coolest thing you’ve won:  When Doug Gust autographed a jersey for me, Chad Wienen signing a helmet for me and when I won the Karl Mitchell Memorial award for most dedicated ATV JR rider in the CMRC Atlantic region in 2006 while I was in rehab
Websites: atlanticmx.com
Myspace: myspace.com/racingbenbrown

What’s on your iPod? Metallica, Megadeth., AC/DC, Disturbed, Papa Roach, Pantera, Fort Minor, Guns N Roses, ASG, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock…
Cell phone and carrier? Nokia Rogers
Worst Habit? Being late!

Flicks?  The Factory, Carpe Diem Movies, anything with quads, Will Ferrel, Friday the 13th
What’s usually on your TV? Family Guy or Premis Movies
What’s on your walls? Quads, Quads oh did I say Quads?
Who would you like to trade places with for a day? Any factory ATV racer or any member of Team Canada Wheelchair Basketball

My motto: Never back down, never give up and victory is reserved for those who want it the most and those who want it the most will do anything to get there!
What’s in your bucket list? Make Team Canada Wheelchair Basketball, Place top 10 or better at a GNC and ramp a foam pit
First job: Farmer
Dinner: Steak, Caeser salad

Talent you would love to have: To be a better three-point shooter
Favorite athlete in another sport?  Anthony Purcell in wheelchair basketball, he’s who I consider my mentor and who I owe a lot to.
Favorite Sports Team(s): Detroit Redwings, Greenbay Packers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

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