Old School
- Updated: September 7, 2005
By David Porter
We were approached by David Porter of PRP Racing at the Unadilla GNC with an idea for a new column, “It’s a glimpse into the past, present and future through the eyes of one of our sport’s biggest supporters, — me,” said Dave. Since we knew first hand that Dave has been around this sport longer than Mt. Morris dirt – we figured he might be on to something here. With hundreds of road trips traveled and more championships won than anyone currently on the track, how could we not make “Old School” the newest feature on the Scene? So here you go, introducing Dave Porter’s Old School…
My Intro
Before I get to my first column, here’s a little of what to expect from “Old School”. I’ll be filling these pages with my thoughts, both “old school” and present day. I’ll be looking at things from various points of view and I’ll try to cover topics from every angle whether it be from the way things used to be, the way you and I think things should be and the way things actually are going to be. From time to time, I’ll go so far as to analyze the topics most deem too ridiculous to discuss, I’ll actually be pretty good at that.
My credentials for this type of thing aren’t very long. OK who am I kidding; they’re non existent, but that doesn’t mean I’m not qualified. In the past twenty years, from the first year of ATV nationals, (before the invention of the fourth wheel, mind you) to the present day, I’ve seen almost everything this sport has had to offer. I’ve raced against everyone from Curtis Sparks, Marty Hart, Travis Spader to Tavis Cain & Dana Creech. Hopefully through my many races, travels, mechanical issues, spousal and parenting experiences, I can bring a perspective that just about everyone can relate to.
By no means does this make me an expert on everything ATV. I’m just someone who loves quad racing – simple as that. I’ve seen our sport go from backyard fairground races to organized nationals with full on factory teams, twice. Things are good again right now. As you know, it’s an exciting time to be involved in the sport of ATV racing, but let’s just hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.
Dunk Hunting
Okay enough introduction, now on to my first column…
For the past (I don’t know how many years), it has been same old same old in the pro class. Gust, Jones and Farr and a few years ago a little Spader mixed in. Basically it was the same guys up front running the show. Now we have John “Ironman” Natalie in the mix. I think you’ll agree, it sure is refreshing to have someone else up front mixing it up with the usuals. I’ve seen so many pro races I can’t begin to count. Each time I watch one I wonder if that might be the day that someone other than the usuals steps it up. Who is going to stop taking second fiddle to the big time names in our sport?
I think the most consistent guys to make you look twice are Dustin Wimmer and Kory Ellis. I would add a little Tavis Cain now and then as well. With some guys like Dustin, the pro class just clicks with them right from the start. With some others it seems to take a little longer to get used to the incredible speed and mistake-free riding it takes to be a consistent front-running pro.
In my opinion it looks like the guy trying to knock on the door the hardest has got to be Lost Creek Cycle’s Jason Dunkelburger. He’s not consistent enough yet but boy has his and Lost Creek’s game come together. This year he got some great starts and rode his butt off. Seeing Jason up front means a lot to me personally. I’ve known him since he first started racing national events in ’99 when he raced the 250A class with me. Jason was a wanted breath of fresh air if you ask me. I’d been in that class for quite a few years. He was a ton of fun to race with, and the best way I can describe it is – he didn’t know any better. What I mean is everyone in that A class, which is like the Pro Am Production Class is now, was so darn serious. No one talked much before a race and no one was much fun. Then came “Dunk”. All he wanted to do was race and have fun while he was there. That’s my kind of rider.
When Dunk has this look on his face, trust me – he’s up to no good.We instantly became friends. And boy did we have fun on and off the track. As for on the track fun, the Pine Lake TT in Ashtabula, Ohio comes to my mind the most. Dunk and I would yell stuff back and fourth on the line and look back at each other and give each other hand jesters at about 75 mph. Everyone else thought we were serious, that made it even more fun.
Off the track we had super soaker fights that should be put in some sort of hall of fame. A typical Dunk hunt meant rounding up as many guys as I could find. I would arm them with super soakers filled with ice cold cooler water. On one particular hunt I had a pretty good team prepared. We were ready to conquer. It was Ben Betis, Jason Watt, Nate Frees, Cory Elerbrock and myself. We had a plan and we were ready to get him. He didn’t stand a chance. Sure enough, we ended up getting the poor kid pretty bad. It was great.
After that I knew my time would come. Ashtabula rolled around and Dunk didn’t forget the soaking he got. No doubt, he was hunting for me, but I sensed it was coming – so everyone in my pits was armed and ready for the slightest sneak attack. We could hardly contain ourselves with how prepared we were. He was going to get soaked if he came anywhere near our barricade. We thought we would show him, but let me tell you, we were not ready for what he had up his sleeve for us.
Dunk’s Revenge
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a Honda Forman 4×4 approaching with a 55 gallon drum strapped to the back rack and a gas powered pressure washer in tow. No big deal, I thought to myself. It’s someone getting wash water. I went on with what I was doing. On second look I discovered Jason sitting on the top of the 55 gallon drum with a pair of Scott goggles on his head and pressure washer nozzle in hand. His driver seemed to be on a mission too. Before I could think of anything but back peddling they were under our easy ups and firing like there was no tomorrow. I got real wet as you might suspect.
I have to give him props on that one. It was an A+ idea with a matching A+ execution in my book – a classic that won’t likely be matched. Dunk rekindled my trackside fun. To tell you the truth, it has been a long time since I have had that much fun at a national. I guess the moral of my first column is to remind you all that you don’t have to be so serious. Be competitive, but take a lesson from pro number 19 – don’t forget to have fun along the way.
PS
Attention skilled Dunk hunters, meet me at the PRP trailer next race.
