A Conversation with Jeremy Schell 12-8-05
- Updated: December 8, 2005
Photos by Corry Weller of Weller Racing
Name: Jeremy Schell
Nickname: “The So Cal Hick”
Number: 14
Age: 31
Residence: Hemet, CA
Home: Hornersville, MO
Occupation: Pro Racer
Quad: ’04 Yamaha YFZ
Hobbies: Racing – a hobby turned career
Track: Daniel Boone
Movie: Forest Gump
Tech Gadget: Ipod
Carrier: Sprint
PC or Lap: Laptop all the way.
Truck: Ford F-250 Diesel
Food: Steak, but eat it rarely
Ride Spot: Glamis
CD: Hick stuff
Website: socalhick.com
Girlfriend/Wife: Wife – Jayme
Role Model / Admirer: Michael Jordan
Twist or thumb: Thumb
Sponsors: Golden West Cycle, Epic Racing Products, Sparks Racing, Precision Concepts Racing, Elka Suspension, ITP, Tires, Predator Toy Haulers.com, Oneal USA, Smith Optics, One Industries, TAG Metals, Maxima Racing Oils, K&N Filter
Jeremy Schell’s third consecutive ITP QuadCross title wasn’t easy. The wind in moto one was so intense it blew him right off the quad while he attempted to clear a table top. Schell knew it might mean the championship since Dana Creech trailed Kory Ellis in second and trailed season championship points by eight. Schell quickly remounted, fired his Golden West Sparks Racing YFZ and still managed to finish in the three spot. In moto two he rode smooth and conservatively and finished with another third place, wrapped up the title and instantly becoming our choice rider of the month.
We talked to him about his West Coast quad moto dominance, his race quad, the direction of the sport and what’s in his future. Here’s what he had to say…
ATV Scene: So should we change your “SoCal Hick” nickname to “Quadcross” or what?
Schell: Yeah that’s three in a row. I’m pretty happy right now. I broke my ankle and my wrist this year but still managed to stay consistent.
ATV Scene: With that said, was this the toughest year to win it?
Schell: By far. The QuadCross Series has gotten more competition in its third year. Plus being hurt, coming back, then getting hurt and coming back again — all in one year didn’t make things any easier.
ATV Scene: Last time we interviewed you you mentioned that ATV racing was growing enormously out on the left coast. Do you feel that is still happening?
Schell: It’s got even bigger in the last year. And I don’t see it slowing down any. It will be even bigger and more competitive next year. Things are good out here.
ATV Scene: Do you feel the QuadCross series should expand its horizons and travel more?
Schell: Yes. In fact next year’s QuadCross Schedule is out and the series is indeed going to hold rounds at additional tracks. Going to the same track gets boring after a while. And I think a lot of riders out here need to ride somewhere other than Glen Helen now and then. I’ve seen it time and time again, — you go to a track that has something a little gnarly and all the ITP Quadcross guys kind of freak out about it. They’re so programmed to race on that one track, I think it’s hurting their overall racing careers some. So, I’m very much for expanding the QuadCross to new locations.
ATV Scene: How’s your life away from ATV racing going?
Schell: Things are good. My wife and two kids are great. A lot has turned around and it’s a great life. I’m really fortunate.
ATV Scene: Are you still a construction contractor, or are you officially a full time ATV pro now days?
Schell: As of the 2005 season, I’m a full time ATV racer. Golden West, Ryan at Epic and Curtis Sparks have really made things good for me.
ATV Scene: You were making some pretty good money as a construction manager. We’re assuming you’ve sacrificed a lot by leaving that job to race four wheelers full time. Can you talk about this for a minute?
Schell: I was making about $89k a year in construction, so yes, I’m sacrificing a lot. Any ATV enthusiast out there that does this knows that you need to make sacrifices in life. I felt that if I didn’t give it everything I had this year I might never have the chance to do it again. I’m not getting any younger. This is another reason the third championship was really important to me. I sacrificed my job to train and ride full time. Not everyone knew what I was going through, with the injuries and all, but if I didn’t win after giving up so much it would have really bothered me and made me second guess the sacrifices I’ve recently made.
ATV Scene: Do hicks desert race?
Schell: (Laughing) No hicks generally don’t make it to Baja. I guess growing up in the midwest, desert racing is not in my vocabulary. I might consider it someday, but I tear stuff up on the motocross track so I dont know how far I could go in the desert without breaking something.
ATV Scene: Tell us about your newest quad.
Schell: It’s actually a 2004 Yamaha YFZ. It was a magazine bike used mainly for pictures. When I switched from Alba to Golden West they made it into my race quad for the year. Curtis Sparks did the motor on it. It’s an actual 450 (note: this year QuadCross Pro riders were allowed to compete with big bore motors). A lot of guys went bigger and put big bore motors in, but I still managed to get all but about four moto holeshots all year with this motor. We’ve got it dialed it in. Precision Concepts and I are always tinkering with stuff.
ATV Scene: All but four moto holeshots? That’s pretty impressive.
Schell: Thanks, but I owe them all to Curtis Sparks. This motor is incredible. The only problems I had was getting off of a stock 450 and on the Sparks motor. It’s actually hard to adapt to it. There’s so much more power! The race bike jerks your arms and gives you way more of a workout. People that never rode a Sparks motor wont understand, those that have know exactly what I mean. It’s amazing how fast it is.
ATV Scene: We’re assuming you’re going to stick with this winning combo for next year?
Schell: Actually I think I’m going to move to a Golden West / Sparks Racing Honda 450R for 2006. I rode an ’05 Honda throughout the year and really liked it. It was fun to ride and I think it suited me well. I pretty much rode the wheels off of it and tried to demolish it. It held up well to my abuse. And just about everyone that is riding for Sparks next year will be on a Honda. Curtis suggested it and that’s what we’ll do.
ATV Scene: Do you miss the old 250R based machine?
Schell: From a maintenance standpoint I do. The only issues I have with the new production quads are the frames. I break them too often. And with a thumper you’re in trouble if you blow one up. With the two stroke if you blew it up it still wasn’t that bad. Now you’re in serious trouble when you grenade a motor – the whole thing is usually ruined, not just a cylinder.
ATV Scene: The ATV sport performance industry is no longer playing second fiddle to the bike industry. What’s next in your opinion?
Schell: I think by 2007, there’s going to be at least six different OEM quads that will even be a step above the current YFZ and 450R. I’m sure everyone will follow suit. Competing manufacturers aren’t going to lay back and let others reap the benefits of this market. After all this is a 900,000 unit a year market. The bikes aren’t even close to that and they have 4-5 good racing choices right now. So I see it getting better than many might imagine.
ATV Scene: Do you think there will be more motocross race ready quads available off the showroom floor like Suzuki’s new Quadracer?
Schell: Absolutely. I dont know if others will go as motocross race ready as Suzuki seems to have done, but when you think about it it’s safer to have it wider right off the showroom floor — so I hope they all follow Suzuki’s lead. We (motocross riders) have had to widen them for a long time. Maybe it’s not so bad that cross country guys will have to narrow them in the future.
ATV Scene: In total, how many championships do you have to date?
Schell: This one makes seven, but I have a few more little titles like an Arenacross Championship I won in the late nineties.
ATV Scene: How did you get your start in ATV racing?
Schell: I started racing in ’94. I was racing the B class back then. I started with a few TTs and moved into MX. I rode all my life though — three wheelers and everything.
ATV Scene: What’s your word of advise to the guys and gals just coming into the sport?
Schell: I think there’s a big future ahead of them. The younger guys need to carry the torch for us old vets. It’s been a long run for a lot of us like Farr, Hitt, Byrd, Gust, Spader and others. I think they really paved the way and gave up a lot of their lives to racing ATVs. We all know the money really hasn’t been there for them until recently. And I would like to think I paved the way on the West Coast like they did at the GNCs. I guess what I’m saying is they should stay motivated, work hard, be respectful of the sport and make us all proud.
ATV Scene: Last year you had big plans to chase points in the GNC series, but you broke your ankle just prior to round one and scratched the whole idea. Are you planning to return to your GNC roots in 2006?
Schell: No, we’re going to go race the new ATV Super Tour, the Pro Quad Stadiums and we’ll go for another QuadCross championship. I’ll be training, racing and traveling a lot in 2006. I’m really looking forward to it.
ATV Scene: What are you looking forward to the most in 2006?
Schell: Everything actually. I cant wait to see the new series on the block. If it’s anything like the Great Outdoor Games, it will be phenomenal. And now the QuadCross is affiliated with Yamaha, so we have a major manufacturer that’s helping to support the West Coast scene. It’s a step forward for all of us. This thing is really taking off and getting more recognition. The only thing is the magazine editors out here seem to not show up from time to time.
ATV Scene: What do you think of three different motocross champions in 2006?
Schell: I guess it’s just advancement of the sport. I dont know, I guess that’s a good thing. It wasn’t long ago when there wasn’t anything out here to race at. We no longer have to sit back and watch it continue to get bigger out east. ATV racing is growing and I think having three motocross series to choose from will make the promoters of each series step it up. Competition is a good thing.
ATV Scene: Is it possible to compete at all these series?
Schell: I dont see that you can do every event. There’s going to be conflicting dates, not to mention, there’s not much time to train and practice if you’re doing nothing but traveling and racing every weekend. I guess if you’re living out East it might be possible to chase points in the GNCs and the ESPN Super Tour. My hat’s off to those riders that can last through the end of both those series. It’s 23 races, plus training, traveling and having some sort of life. I certainly respect any rider that can do that.
ATV Scene: You know a lot of the pro riders, what are they saying about this new choice?
Schell: A lot of the guys are interested in the new ESPN Super Tour Series. I’ve heard rumors that several of the pros are going to try to race both. For me that’s out of the question. The way I see it, anytime that you bring major television to the sport it’s a plus for us. I really liked how they ran the GOG so it was an easy choice for me. To tell the truth since I heard how big they’re going with it, It’s been a shot of adrenalin for me. I cant wait for 2006.
ATV Scene: Well let’s wrap this up. Any last words?
Schell: Things are going good for me. I know quitting or fading out has crossed a lot of people’s minds in this sport over the years. It happened to me I had to quit for a few years. When there’s no money in it – it’s hard to keep going year after year. I never had rich parents with infinite money to support it. Now days a lot has changed. I can’t tell you how great it is to get the chance to pick up where I left off and go at it again. I’m thankful to everyone that’s helped me and the sport as a whole all these years, and happy to be a part of it.
