First Lady of ICE

By Mandy Brodil Cervantes
Photos by VA Pilot

I have been very excited about rounds 8 and 9 of the ICE Racing Series because it included my “hometown” race in Hampton but first we was the Roanoke Rapids, Va round 8. You would have thought since both races were driving distance from my home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina it would be relaxing but that wasn’t the case at all. On Wednesday night the entire J&M Racing team headed six hours northwest so we could wake up extremely early for local press. I highly considered skipping out on the extra track time after feeling good in Cedar Rapids but I wanted everything to feel great! So after four hours of sleep I dragged my husband to the arena at 5am to change my Lone Star Racing swing-arm in hopes of improving my cornering speed and hole shots. While things were going smooth for me, my dad was having a terrible time getting traction, it seemed like he was spinning out in every corner. I tried offering some help but only time would tell if changes would benefit both of us.

After some much needed rest, it was time to head to the track and get ready to race. Both heats consisted of J&M Racing competing against one another, which most likely meant that one of the Brodils would be heading to the front row of the main and the other to the last chance qualifier. Although Jeff is on a Honda 450R and I’m on a quad 20 years its senior, my Honda Fourtrax 250R, we have all of the same components; both machines are tuned by Sparks Racing, Custom Axis Shocks, LSR bolt-on components, ESJ Graphics (just different colors), even our bumpers and nerfs are the same. The only difference is our choice of tires. In both heats, Brodil pulled the hole shot and was first to get the checkered, including fastest qualifier while the other Brodil finished 2nd and 3rd. In this case #62 comes before #56, my entire setup felt awesome and I was sitting on pole for the main event! My dad went to the LCQ and earned his spot in the feature race as well.

This was my first time in the #1 spot with the hope of carrying my momentum to the top of the podium. I was a little nervous as I looked to my right and saw the entire Iowa Posse lined up next to me. I knew I would have to rely on a quick gate response and hook-up from my Hoosiers to not get slammed in the first corner. The tape went up and I went into the first corner the same as I did every lap, with determination and caution because the ride of Sam Wiggins (who happened to be in first), had motor problems putting the points lead in my grasp. I was second into turn one behind Zach Thomas and went for the pass in every corner but kept running out of room. I had the inside line half way through the race going into turn three. Zach slammed the door (to put in nicely) and sent me over the inside markers. Normally, this would be the end of someone’s night but I managed to stay on the gas and wheelie over and keep second place. I caught back up to the leader but didn’t have enough time to go for the pass again. My teammate went from 8th to 5th. At nights end, J&M Racing was back on top of the points with my dad in second and me leading him by 20. Next stop was Hampton, VA.

Round 9 Hampton, VA
Woohoo! Time to show friends and family who have never seen me race, just exactly what World Cup Ice Racing was all about. My confidence has been going up week by week as my quad and I have become one, what a great feeling! I thought I was going to get nervous but I didn’t have time to think about anything because of the different things I was lined up to participate in. The coolest thing probably had to be meeting with a Boy Scouts Troop from the area along with pro motorcycle racer Kirk Cheney. We took a half hour of our time to explain what ICE racing was all about but most importantly the measures we take to insure our safety. Today there are so many kids who don’t wear helmets, chest protectors or even the basic long sleeve shirts and pants which have created so much controversy in the ATV industry. I wish parents would take the extra measure to instill and mandate their kids to ride with full protection because it’s not if they’re going to fall, it’s when. The boys had no clue how much we put on to go out and race. They had tons of questions about what each thing did and of course they wanted to know if they were going to see wrecks. We let them know there was a 99% possibility but hoped it wouldn’t be either of us. When we are all done, we had gained 30 new fans in our cheering sections.

 

Soon it was time to get ready for the night’s races. I can actually say this was the first time I didn’t have to do any changes to my Sparks powered Honda 250R. I put my Hoosier tires on and was ready to race. The first heat included both riders for J&M Racing, not the way we wanted to start the night out but that was the luck of our draw. On the line I watched Wiggins flinch before the tape went up which completely screwed up my start. I finished in third with my dad in fourth, not a great start. We both had our sights set on wins which we both managed to pull off. In fact, I was able to pull away by almost a straight away.

After all the points were tallied, J&M Racing was headed to the LCQ. There was no way I was going to miss this main event, I rocketed off the line and lead from start to checker with my dad coming in forth.

While my family was celebrating in the pits, I was able to make someone else happy. One lucky guest was going to win a replica Wild Child jersey courtesy of Answer Racing. I know this might sound bad but I was praying I drew a girl’s name. Nope, it was a nice gentleman but even a better daddy who said he filled it out for his daughter. The smile I saw on her face when I put it on her and the hug I received made me so happy, almost as happy as what happened next.

Every parent would love to be their child’s hero and thankfully for me, I am my 2-year-old daughter’s (for a little while anyways). My night was at its peak when my little Miss Amelia came out in her racing gear, light up shoes and bike helmet on her pink power wheels 4-wheeler. The crowd went crazy cheering for her, prompting my little one to keep one hand on the gas and the other one waiving to everyone. Mommy had the biggest smile, I was so proud of her. When her time on the ice was over, we asked her how she liked it. “Mommy, I was racing and I won. My fans mommy and daddy, my fans, I was waiving to them”….PRICELESS!! We will always be her biggest fans.

Ok, time to get back to racing which was exactly what I had to do mentally as well. I decided to change my air pressure for the main event, I was looking for an extra launch off the line starting from pole on the second row. After assessing the front line, I decided to commit myself behind the guy who had been fast the last couple of races, Zach who was also on pole. I knew that if he had the slightest bobble my strategy was going completely out the window because we would get pinched off in turn one and everyone would go around the outside. When the gate dropped I dumped the clutch with the gas pinned and came out of turn two in fourth. By the second lap I had passed the defending champion and moved into third. Palmer, who was in second was a little harder to get around because he races down the straight in the outside groove but then cuts down really hard in the corner. Finally coming out of turn two on lap number five I cleared him and had my sights set on Zach in first.. Oh lord, here we go again! I set Zach up in turns one and two for turns three and four of the final lap perfectly but the finish line just wasn’t in the right spot. I don’t think either one of us knew who won until the announcer said, “Zach Thomas by an inch”. I think the picture shows just how close it really was. In the end it became the Zach and Mandy show for the VA races with me stretching my lead to 51 points in front of my teammate J. Brodil and Wiggins tied for second.

I can honestly say I was the fastest one on the track both nights but with ICE racing, one slight bobble can hinder the outcome. I do know that I raced smart, aggressive and felt like the 3-time champion that I am which is huge for the last two races!

MavTV is a huge series supporter and was kind enough to send highlights from this weekend. Please tune in weekly to MavTV in HD on Dish to see the World Championship Ice Racing Series!

 I would like to give a special shout out to all of the wonderful friends and family who came out to support J&M Racing; it was such an awesome night of racing. Also, I was lucky enough to have the 2-time and defending Women’s National EDT Champion in my pits for the night. My friend, Paula Shank drove two hours to catch up and watch what I do on the ICE. I am really glad I got to see her and very excited to go watch her on dirt this year. She has been given an amazing opportunity, teaming up with Casey McKibben and Frank Batista for the 2011 season. Best of luck to McKibben Racing!

Look for my Bloomington, IL write up and thoughts on the 2011 dealer expo later this week!

 

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