Ferry on KROC

Posted by Steve Matthes on Friday, October 03, 2008

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I wanted to write a blog today about the MXDN but then realized that I wrote a 3500 word opus called “Observations” and that pretty much covered it. Then I was thinking that I could do something on some team and its 2009 plans, but that wasn’t coming easy to my tiny brain. So I took the easy route and called Tim Ferry or as I like to call him, The Man Who Saved America From Defeat (TMWSAFD for short.)

The Big One Five has an event this weekend in Englishtown, New Jersey, called the Kawasaki Race of Champions and it’s a staple for you if you sign a Factory Kawasaki contract, you have to go, no question about it. The guys don’t actually race anymore, they used to do the whole night out in NYC and then race on Sunday thing, but I think they stopped that when Canadian hero Jean Sebastian Roy put the beat down on 1997 250 MX champ Jeff Emig until JSR fell in the last turn and separated his shoulder. Jeff has told other industry people that he had “nothing” for the Canadian on that day. I like to think that proves JSR should’ve won the AMA title based on that race, but I’m getting off topic.

So here is a little mini interview with the TMWSAFD on the KROC this weekend…

When did you first start going to the Kawasaki Race of Champions? Was it the Jurassic period or after?
I think it was end of 1991 or maybe 1992. I know that when I first turned pro I got a ride with RRP (Rossini Racing Products) and pretty much right after that I started going. I went almost every year until like my second year of Factory Suzuki, and then now I’ve been coming back since I’ve been at Kawi. It’s kind of a weird track but I always liked it because it was rough. I usually did pretty good there because of that but there was always the local heroes that went really fast there. Guys like Mickey Kesseler, Barry Carsten and Carlo Coen.

Did you and Barr-Dog ever have some battles there?
I’m sure, I can’t remember man. I’m too old (laughs). I remember that those guys went really fast there. I don’t know if I ever won in those early days, I know I did well because the track was rough and I enjoyed  it.              

1

photo by: Matthes

Ferry's going to KROC!

 

Was there any one KROC that stands out?
I remember that when I first got the Factory Suzuki ride, I went there at like, the end of 1994 and I had a new RM125 in the back of my truck. I had never ridden it before and Mike (Rossini) did the suspension right there at the track. I did really good there, I think I might’ve won but I’m not sure. I don’t know how you can prove it either; is there a KROC.com with all the old results? I’d like to know how I did.

Did you have any memories from when the Factory Kawasaki guys actually raced it?
Nah, I don’t remember really battling anyone. I remember that I raced against Jeff Ward right when he was quitting. It was a big deal, I’m sure he beat me. I remember that the step-up jump they had there or whatever it was called was so much fun. You could just whip it and float across the top, it was so much fun. I have a picture of me like, half on and half off the track. They changed it now to two doubles or something like that.

God you’re old. You raced against Wardy, Bayle, RJ, MC, RC and Stewart! That has to be some kind of record.
Yeah, I’ve been around, remember that story about my first ever Supercross in Japan? (Timmy went there right from Loretta Lynn's and raced a SX against RJ and Wardy. He had never really ridden SX before and holeshot the main event! Then he over jumped the first triple and flew onto the concrete, RJ still bugs him about it now.) I bet Dowdy has me covered though!

Related Links

• 32nd Annual Race of Champions Info
• The KROC Show

When you raced KROC, do you remember Jason Weigandt there? He was a flagger and one year he got to work that giant step-up, it was quite a promotion for him flagger-wise.
(Laughs) really? He was a flagger there?

Yep, do you remember him? He was probably wind-milling Kessler or Carsten on to beat you.
No, I don’t actually. I’m going to have to bug him next time I see him.

So we’re five days after the day when you saved America. Thoughts on the MXDN?
Man, it’s crazy. People have still been talking about Budds Creek with me, I can imagine how long this one will last. I rode like crap, I really can’t believe how bad I rode. We have to meet with a bunch of dealers in New Jersey and I’m sure people will love to talk about it.

 

 

Posted by Steve Matthes on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm

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RECENT COMMENTS

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  mxkid506

  "James Stewart was the last one to ride the KROC for Kawasaki. He had a big get-off during practice and it caused the Kawi guys to pull the plug on his racing that day. I remember being up on the sta..." DeleteReported
• 
  

  TonyC693

  "i will never forget the mickey kessler and billy liles battle on the minis for intermission......pretty sick race......mickey was riding i think one of the 80's the crew use to use to get around the f..." DeleteReported
• 
  

  lukaitis9

  "There isn't a KROC.com but there is a www.njmotocross.com with flashbacks from the last couple of years. I'll look into some back results and see were Red Dog finished that year. " DeleteReported

 

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