"It’s All About Me”
Cole Fite

 

                My name is Cole.  I am in the ninth grade.  I am from Bellingham, Washington and I am an ATV racer.  It all started when I was just a toddler.  Back then it was all about Tonka trucks and dirt.  By the time I was three, I was joyriding with my girlfriends in my battery powered, fire engine red, Jeep Power Wheels.  Those were the days.  The summer before my kindergarten year Mom and Dad bought me my first motorcycle, a Suzuki JR50.  After a few run-ins with a couple of trees Mom and Dad traded the JR in on a Suzuki LT80, because 4 wheels are safer than two, right?  Not.  Anyhow, I started racing my LT at the age of six down at the local track, Hannegan Speedway.  There were only three min-quads that year and we had to run with the non-conforming bikes.  Although I didn’t get any wins, I never took less than third place.  Not bad for a beginner.

 

                At the end of the summer I was diagnosed with a bone disease in my left hip called Perthese Disease.  The head of my femur bone had started to deteriorate.  It was very painful at times, but there wasn’t anything they could do to stop it.  We would just have to wait and see how far the deterioration was going to progress.  So life went on.

 

Still on my LT, at the start of my second year, I was ready to rock and roll.  This year there were about 7 or 8 mini quads racing.  Bone stock, my LT still wasn’t winning me any races but I got a lot of 3rd place finishes.  At least I am consistent.  About ¾ of the way through the season I had my first bad spill on the track.  Those stock balloon tires aren’t really made for BIG air.  We took our first trip to the Oregon Sand Dunes that summer and my LT wouldn’t make it up the hill at South Jetty.  That was the deciding factor for Mom and Dad.  It was out with the LT and in with the 90 Blast (twin of the Kasea).  Dad quickly figured out that stock was not going to cut it, and the modifications began.  I ran with a new pipe and wider wheels and tires and by the last race had a ported and polished head kit.  We went back to the dunes for a try at the hill. This time I made it. 

 

By November 2003 the doctors decided that it was time for me to have hip surgery.  My disease had progressed to the point where I had lost 90% of my femoral head.  They had to re-configure my pelvic bone in order to contain what was left of my femoral head.  When we asked about racing the upcoming season, the surgeon said I should take a year off.  The surgery took place in January 2004 at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA.  My total rehabilitation would be 3 months.  My mom stayed home from work the whole time to care for me and home school me.  I love my mom.  After being in a body cast for seven weeks, I was going stir crazy.  Within a week, I was back on my quad and pain free.  I couldn’t walk very well, but I could ride!   Not very fast at first, but at least I could do it.  My first test was a spring trip to the dunes.  Mom and Dad bought me a 200 Blaster for my dunes bike.  It was great.  I learned how to shift and I didn’t have to muck up my race quad with sand.  Oh, and did I mention, it is pretty fast too.  This trip having been a success, I was determined to race, despite the surgeons recommendation. 

 

It was a rocky start the first 4 or 5 races.  I broke my axle in the first practice of the first race, got it welded before the first moto and had my first win!!  The second moto was not so great.  My chain fell off 3 times.  The chain continued to be an issue for several races.  My Dad made many calls to Hetrick Racing and finally got it figured out.  Suspension was the next hurdle and then gears.  About half way through the season Dad had it all worked out.  He was an expert chain fixin’, gear changin’, motor swapin’ dad.  My dad is the best.  Now he knows that you basically need a parts store in your trailer at all times.  Thanks Dad and thanks Hetrick for all of your support and good input. 

 

On June 4, 2004, my 9th birthday, I had my first BIG win.  I finally beat the kid that had been winning every race since the start of the last year.  By this time we had 14 – 17 mini-quads on the line every Thursday night.  My dad had been working with me on strategies and it finally paid off.  It was as if the light bulb just came on.  It was pretty much wins for me, except for a couple of technical problems, the rest of the Thursday Night Series.  By the last race I was tied for first place for Series points.  I won the last race and took the Series Championship. What an exciting year it was.

 

I am now in my 9th season of racing.  In that time I have won several championships, traveled to many places, had plenty of crashes and my fair share of good days and not so good days.  But, I would not trade any of the experiences I have had for anything.  Each day I have something new to learn.

 

  For the 2010 season I will be racing the Production and Open A in the hopes of qualifying for the Pro-Am class in the WORCS series.  I am already racing these classes in the 2009 NWQN Series.   We are constantly on the road.  We have traveled from Washington to Southern California, Utah , Arizona, Idaho, Montana ,Nevada and Oregon in the past several years.  We average 40 – 52 races a year between the National and local events.  I have been interviewed for TV shows and had small roles in 2 quad videos.  I have a website that is constantly updated and it gets onlookers from all over the world.  I get e-mails from many young riders wanting to know how to get started and what type of equipment to run.  The coolest thing about racing is that I have made so many friends.  I know people from all over the United States.  It’s pretty awesome.  I owe so much to my parents for making this a dream come true for me.  When I started I never imagined, and I am sure my parents didn’t either, the places we would go and the experiences we would have.   We are a perfect family team.  The possibilities are endless if, you work hard, follow your dreams and have awesome support from friends, family and sponsors.  I am shooting for the very top.

 

                Mom and Dad have taught me a few things that I live and race by (and we all know that Mom and Dad are always right):

 

1.        Never give up.  It’s never too late to make your move until the checkered flag flies.

2.        Ride hard and ride smart.

3.        Cheaters are not really winners.

4.        Never underestimate the competition.  Everyone is a competitor on the track.

5.        Keep the competition on the track.  Off the track we are all friends with a common interest.

6.        When things get tough, cowboy up.  This isn’t a sport for pansies.

7.        Don’t beat yourself up.  Learn from your mistakes.

8.        Even the best riders have off days.

 

My other interests include snowboarding, swimming, music and my dogs.  I get good grades at school and I train hard.   I love to race and I hope to ride pro in the near future. 


 


Cole Fite