Tuesday Toolbox: Chris Bach

Chris Bach has done it all, GNCC, WORCS, Motocross, Regionals, OMA's, you name it, he's raced it. Despite some hard knocks from the economy along the way, Bach is back again in GNCC. He suffered a few problems during the year, but he finally got the Top Amateur Award at Snowshoe, beating out his hardest competitor-Jordan Ashburn.  Check in to see how Bach made it back to the GNCC family and what it's like battling Ashburn in the Open A Class.

How are you doing today, Chris? Not too bad. Just getting my bike running, getting some graphics put on it. Not too bad.

You've  been around in the GNCC world for awhile, right? When did you first show up in the ranks? I think my first year was somewhere around 98-ish-99. That was on a little bike. I think the 12-13 80 class, I think is what it was.

You left after that year though, can you tell us why? Well, we did the GNCCs and then, I didn't really do any good. I won a race or two and then I wasn't feeling it. I didn't like the tracks. I think it was a bit more than I could chew as a little guy. I tried to race some regional stuff, like the Mid south winter season and that was really it until a couple years ago.

How long did you do regionals? We did the regional thing for awhile, and then my buddies were doing GNCCs, so I decided to give it a shot. I went in 2007 and did a full season in the 250 A Class. I didn't really do any good. I did ok, maybe top 10 on average and then that was about it. I think I won one race, Crawfordsville, but I think that's because no one showed up.

You weren't there after 2007 though, what happened? I didn't intend to leave. I thought I was going to ride 4-strokes. I was really excited about it. I did Florida and Georgia and it did not go well. I had speed but I couldn't put a race together to save my life. I may have finished one race. I was really bummed at how I was riding. And then, I was kind of over it. I just sat out for awhile and rode some motocross and then I had an offer to the WORCS series.

How did you get into the WORCS series? I got a deal to ride after filling in for a race in Washington, and in 2009 I was slated to make my debut in the WORCS Series out West.  It was new to me and I was excited so I moved from Indiana to California and started gearing up for the WORCS deal.  I got a trainer and the whole nine and really worked my butt off all winter and then the economy hosed me and...I no longer had a job as of December 1.

A lot of riders are dealing with that same kind of disappointment right now, how did you feel when it happened? At the time I was upset about it, obviously because I had put so much into it and spent quite a bit of money out of my own pocket. It was a big blow but it motivated me quite a bit. I don't need money behind me to beat the people that do. It motivated me to show people I could win on my riding ability. So I moved back home, spent a couple weeks there and then went to the local Kawi dealership and bought a bike off the showroom. Then I went to Alabama to work with my coach and then out to Arizona for the opening round of the WORCS series.

Were you able to do well that round? It went really well. I didn't really know what to expect. I had pretty much no time on my new bike. I got there a few days before the race and spent a whole day testing suspension with Travis from TBT Racing. And then we got my bike set up. I didn't know what to do but he got me set up there. I just went out and hammered it out and kind of sucked in the first race, I qualified for Pro 2 from the second qualifier and then in the Pro Main I came from almost last on the start to third and lost my rear brakes. So I just had to not push it. I got third in Pro 2 and on the podium though so I was excited.

Why did you return again to GNCC then this year? Basically, California is just ridiculously expensive. I basically went to the first race to prove everyone wrong-that I could do it whether I had sponsors at all. I had no intention of riding the GNCC series at all. As the off-season wore on, I decided to do Florida and Georgia.

How has the season fared for you so far? Uh, good, but bad. I was very surprised at my speed. I had no idea I had gained that kind of speed with my trainer. I was super excited about that. But my body was NOT ready to race for three hours. I tried to use an energy supplement when I pitted in Georgia and I had an allergic reaction to it. North Carolina went better but I got second. I was still outside of the top 20. I was like 25^th.

How did you know you were having an allergic reaction? That sounds terrifying. I have no idea! When I ate it, I had never taken a goo packet before. I ate it, and I felt good and then all of a sudden my body went into shutdown mode. I thought I was going to die at one point!

That sounds horrible, but at least you got Top Amateur at Snowshoe, how did that feel? After South Carolina I proved to myself I could do it for three hours, and after that, I started knocking out some top 20's and getting in the top 15s in overalls. Everything has been rolling and progressing since then. I either do really well, or I have some bike issues. But it's been good. I've been having a lot of fun and everything snowballed into Snowshoe where my preferred riding conditions actually met up with my ability to do well. I ended up winning and getting eighth overall. Jordan Ashburn and I have been going back and forth all year. Either something happens to him and I do well, or something happens to me, and he does well.

What's it like racing against Ashburn? It's actually a lot of fun. I've known him for quite some time. At the beginning of the year, if you had asked me if I was going to be on the same page as Jordan I would have told you I was insane. He's pushed me and forced me to be on top of the game. The racing is always clean. You never have to worry about someone doing something that shouldn't be done. There's mutual respect there.

What's up for next year? Actually, I've been tossing around the idea of staying in Open A again and see how that goes, or move up to the XC1 class. I was timid to do the XC1 class but I've been talking to Whibley quite a lot and as of right now, the plan is to get through the rest of the four races, hopefully get top Amateur. Hopefully top 15 in points and move to XC1 next year.

You've gone through a lot, it seems, just to race. It hasn't seemed to matter what series. Why is that? Well, I got burnt out a little bit. I felt it was more of a chore than anything, but after what happened out west my motivation has been through the rough. I don't mean to sound arrogant but I'm too good not to race. It's a far greater skill than anything else I can do. If I can do something I love for a career then that's what I'll do-even if means living in my van. I think the results speak for themselves and things are going pretty good.

You've done WORCS, Motocross, GNCC, why did you settle on GNCC? Well, I've grown up racing on the East coast. I'm from over here. I know how to race for three hours. I've gotten considerably better at motocross over the last few years which sparked interest in WORCS. I think If I went to WORCS instead I would be top 10 but I would rather do GNCC. I know more people here, more people know me. I want to stay and work with some kids I know. And I'm from here. This is home. I don't want to be stuck someplace where it's not quite as fun.

Seemed to do whatever you could to race---despite money---what's your advice to other people who are struggling? It pretty much comes down to how bad you want it. If you want it bad enough you'll find the money or you'll find a way. I've been fortunate enough to meet the right people, even though I travel by myself. If you want it bad enough you'll find a way. I didn't think I'd be able to race this year. I have my Kawi on a finance program but at least I made a point. I know there's a lot of people struggling, really, really bad. If you think you can do it and it's worth the effort, put 110 percent in and get that out. But if you're going to half-ass it, don't expect anything greater than that.

Alright, I think we've covered everything, is there anything else you would like to add? I would like to mention some people that have helped me. My trainer Troy Ross, my riding coach Tyler Thompson, Thompson Training Facility and then Fastway Pro Moto Billet, TBT Suspension, Spastic Designs, Shift Racing and my family obviously. And the Racer Productions crew that hooks me up with info and pictures and sweet web site plugs. Add me on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter!