Get to Know Pat Brown 6-4-04
- Updated: June 4, 2004
Curious as to who will be the next big thing? Us too. Currently there is a good handful of up and comers that have what it takes to someday win the lucrative pro class national championship.
Perhaps heaping out of that hand is New Jersey’s Pat Brown. Hot off an extraordinary first year effort in the Formula USA Pro Quad Stadium Series, where he won the final round in St. Louis, Pat has elevated his game even further.
He now has an extremely impressive collection of races in this year’s GNC MX series. He leads the most competitive Pro Am classes. And amazingly he’s this good with only three years of racing experience under his belt. Finally, and just as important in our book, is the fact that he’s a humble and likeable young man with a great attitude. We sat him down and discussed a few things. Here’s what he had to say…
ATV Scene:Let’s get right to that big win at the final Pro Quad Stadium Series event in St Louis. Rumor has it that you won. Amateurs don’t just line up next to the top professionals our sport in front of 60,000 people and actually beat them. Tim Farr just doesn’t go down that easy if you know what I mean. Did you really win or is this all some sort of conspiracy?
Brown: (Laughing) No conspiracy. I won the thing. I guess I’m proof that when a tree falls in the woods it really does make a sound even if there isn’t any photojournalists there to see it. Thanks a lot for not covering that round! You guys covered all of the stadium events except the last one, the one I won! What’s up with that?
ATV Scene: Sorry about that bro. Let’s cover the race now. Start at the beginning and tell us how it all happened?
Brown: I didn’t even qualify at the opening round in Anaheim. The stadiums were a lot different that’s for sure. I buckled down and finished fifth in Phoenix, got second at San Diego. Then at the final in St Louis I pulled the holeshot and led the whole race all the way to the checkers. A lot of people tend to thing it was a fluke, but I would like to think otherwise.
ATV Scene: What’s it like to win a race like that in front of all those people?
Brown: Awesome! Just getting to stand there with those guys on the podium in front of all those people, and knowing that I was in front of them at the end of the race was something to remember!
Pat joins Kory Ellis, Jason Luburgh, Dana Creech and Tim Farr on the Phoenix Pro Quad podium – his first pro podium ever.
ATV Scene:What was it like packing up the trailer and driving from NJ to CA to race and train for months on end?
Brown: Incredible! Jason Dunkelberger and I went out there together in my truck. We had a great time. It was a road trip to remember that’s for sure.
ATV Scene: You guys picked up some SoCal women didn’t you?
Brown: Absolutely, always use the motocross thing to your advantage. It works.
ATV Scene: How’s the GNC series going for you?
Brown: Very well. I’m currently leading the Pro Am 265 class and the Pro Am Production class, I’m pretty excited about this year.
ATV Scene: Are you planning to race the pro class next year.
Brown: It’s a real possibility, we’ll see.
ATV Scene: What’s your favorite GNC track?
Brown: I like the Red Bud track in MI.
ATV Scene: What event are you looking forward to?
Brown: I would have to say the 12 Hours of ATV America. I really like it. It’s cool because it’s a little more relaxed than the rest of the season. But at the same time, every team really wants to win it. Instead of just us motocross guys, there’s a lot of cross country guys out there too. We all get a long great, but there’s definitely a rivalry going between the two groups. Both groups want to win and take home the bragging rights for their respective series. It’s almost like the NFC vs. the AFC in the Superbowl.
ATV Scene: Favorite place?
Brown: Southern California. The weather is always awesome and it was a blast hanging out at Kory Ellis’ house. (Laughing) Anyone reading this – go ahead and stop by his house and stay a while.
ATV Scene: Cell phone carrier?
Brown: Verizon. They’ve got the best service.
ATV Scene: What’s the best thing about this sport?
Brown: The people. Everyone is great in this sport.
Lost Creek riders can easily be found on the track. Just look for the white and yellow quads. Hint: To find Pat look near the front of the pack.
Another pretty good rider started his career with the number 99. Can you name him? It’s none other than multi-time national champion, Tim Farr. Pat also shares Tim’s smooth and smart riding style.
ATV Scene: Are you going to college now?
Brown: I’ve been going to a community college near home, but only about one semester per year. I’m taking some criminal justice classes and liberal arts classes.
ATV Scene: What do you do besides race?
Brown: I wake board, snow board a little paint ball here and there, but honestly I haven’t done anything other than race in the last three years.
ATV Scene: Who is your biggest competitor?
Brown: Dustin Wimmer. We run the Pro Am Production class together. He just keeps getting faster and faster.
ATV Scene: What do you have to say about your choice race quad?
Brown: I’m riding a Yamaha YFZ. I think they put a out a great bike. It’s fast and handles better than anything out there. There’s a few minor glitches, but any quad you ride at this level is going to encounter a few problems. I’ve broke some frames but we’ve learned from it. We run a gusset kit now. It really holds everything together nicely. I love what Yamaha has done for the sport.
ATV Scene: Girlfriend?
Brown: Actually no. Should we list my phone number?
ATV Scene: Maybe we should start datepatbrown.com instead?
Brown: Fire it up! Sounds good to me.
ATV Scene: Tell us more about this Lost Creek team that you’re on.
Brown: Kevin (the owner of Lost Creek) really takes care of us. It’s really cool being on this team. We all get along great and help each other out. I’m happy to be a part of it.
ATV Scene: How’s a race track listed as one of your top sponsors?
Brown: Quinn, Mike and everyone at Rausch Creek do a lot for me. I wouldn’t be half as good as I am if they weren’t helping. The facility is top notch too. I can’t say enough about the place and the people there.
ATV Scene: We often see “Ironman” John Natalie talking with you between motos. What is he telling you?
Brown: John helps me out a lot. He sees where I’m messing up. He’s been there, done that – you know. He’s always giving me pointers and advise. We ride together at Rausch Creek too. I really respect John a lot.
ATV Scene: Who else do you look up to in the pro ranks?
Brown: Ellis, Natalie, Gust, Farr… Actually all the pros are great guys. To be honest everyone one of them are really friendly and good people.
ATV Scene: Now that your out there rubbing elbows with the top riders, do you get intimidated at all?
Brown: Yeah a little. I try to push that aside and concentrate on learning from them though. They’re the best of the best. They’re doing it right and if I can follow and get in their groove, I know I’m doing it right too.
ATV Scene: OK time to wrap this thing up. Any last words?
Brown: I want to thank my biggest sponsors of all, my mom and dad. It’s all them. Without them none of this is possible.
