Racing

A Weekend With The Am Pro Yamaha Team

May 24, 2013

Boise Idaho’s Brian Elliott works with 7 Time National Enduro Champion and AMA Hall of Fame Member Randy Hawkins. Randy owns and operates two very successful race programs, one you may have heard of (AmPro Yamaha) and another that lies quietly in the shadows of mainstream NASCAR industry, (Hawk McCall Motorsports).

Brian took his camera along on his latest trip, for the Big Buck GNCC in mid-April, and lets us into what a normal week looks like with Randy Hawkins and his championship winning race programs.

Promoting a positive message in the community ranks on the top of the list for the Factory Yamaha Off Road Team. Here AmPro’s Walker Fowler and Bekka Sheets spend the morning talking about the negative effects of bullying at a local elementary school. Photo by Brian Elliott.

From there, we headed back to the race shop to get ready for the week ahead. The shop is set up to house 3-4 full racecar projects as well as all the entire off road team’s race and practice bikes. Photo by Brian Elliott.

AmPro’s newest team member and Multi-time AMA Motocross Champion Jessica Patterson aka JP Money is not afraid to get her hands dirty when it comes to bike work! Photo by Brian Elliott.

The next morning the cars are ready to be loaded and head to the NASCAR track in Richmond, VA. Photo by Brian Elliott.

This time of year the days start out pretty normal… the boys meet up at hunting camp around 5:00am and go turkey hunting on Randy’s property in Union, SC! Photo by Brian Elliott.

Even on the morning of the race the AmPro family is all about having fun. Here Pro Female Rider Bekka Sheets enjoys a little taunting from her fellow teammates… she sunk her bike in a large mud hole at the previous race so everybody pitched in to make sure it wouldn’t happen again! Photo by Brian Elliott.

Paul and I had an agreement that if he grabbed another holeshot, I’d go on another torturous mountain bike ride with him… the terms also continued into if he won the race I’d make him a big turkey dinner. The image I drew was a 3-hour reminder of our agreement! (The underlining joke here is that turkeys are regarded as pests in Paul’s Home country and are rarely eaten on any occasion.) Photo by Brian Elliott.

A mid afternoon bike ride is part of the weekly routine. Anybody that wants to try and chase down Paul Whibley through the mountains of North Carolina is welcome… Fair warning, Paul Whibley isn’t human and this trip is PURE TORTURE! Photo by Brian Elliott.

After 3 intense hours of racing both Paul and Jordan crossed the finish line. Paul’s broken hand was factor in his finish and he was happy to salvage a 5th place spot at the end of the day! To learn more about the AmPro Yamaha Race Ream or the Hawk McCall Race Team visit their websites at www.AmProYamaha.com and HawkMcCallMotorsports.comPhoto by Brian Elliott.

That moment when I realized I’d be going mountain biking with Paul again. This would be his 18th Consecutive GNCC Holeshot… I guess the odds were against me a little. Photo by Brian Elliott.

Once the bikes are prepped and detailed the crew loads up and heads the GNCC. Photo by Brian Elliott.

Back to the shop for some final sticker work on NASCAR’s Tony Stewart’s trusty late model steed. Photo by Brian Elliott.

Randy is not a sit back and watch type of owner. Here, he works quickly on last minute adjustments before the race. Photo by Brian Elliott.

After and 8 hour trip north both cars head out on the track! Photo by Brian Elliott.

After a busy day of hunting, bike prep, car work, and intense exercise its time to sit down with the team and eat… a post supper basketball game is not an uncommon practice either! Photo by Brian Elliott.

The common bond that is shared with the AmPro Yamaha program is unmatched by anything I’ve ever seen. Prior to the afternoon race the team gathers in prayer and then shakes hands before heading to the starting line. Photo by Brian Elliott.

After and 8 hour drive through the night we head back to the race shop were the team is in good spirits for the up coming GNCC. Photo by Brian Elliott.

Tony Stewart leads the pack for a short while before slamming into another driver, cutting the race short and ending the day at the race car track! Photo by Brian Elliott.