Tuesday Toolbox: "Big" John Knox

Everyone sees him at the races. "Big" John Knox and his booming voice keeps everyone safe and in line at the GNCCs. But not many of you probably know much about the big guy, like the fact that he was a tennis coach or an NFL football player. Big John got back from the Motocross of Nations and a South African Safari just in time to tell us a little more about himself.

Ok, first off, What's your full name? I only ever call you Big John. It's John Knox. Just like the fort! Except without the money.

You just got back from your trip to Motocross of Nations. What was your role there? Well, I am in charge of the security of the Team USA compound. Basically we didn't have any superstars this year but the world still seems to really want to know what's going on with Team USA. I get the guys to where they need to be for interviews, press conferences, to the track. That's about it.

You're pretty intimidating so you do a great job. I think that might be the case, but it helps if someone doesn't know me! Generally I'm pretty jovial.

And then you took a trip to Africa for a Safari. How did you go from a trip to Italy to South Africa? Well, a friend of Hilton Beattie's was at the Motocross of Nations last year and he was infatuated with our team jackets and he owns a game hunting preserve in South Africa. At the after race party he asked for my jacket and offered me a hunting expedition in return. I thought it would be forgotten but then he emailed me in January and invited me and my son to go down and hunt different species of animals. Since we were halfway there in Italy we decided to do it and had a wonderful trip.

Did you get any big kills? Actually my son did most of the shooting. We hunted everything from Kudus to gemsbuck, to impalas. So we shot about 8 different animals.

What was the safari like? What did you see? Actually the gentleman's son was racing in the South African motocross championship so we spent a day at the local motocross track down there. It was unusual. It brought back old memories from when people worked from vans. There were no million dollar motor homes, just vans and trailers. There weren't quite as many riders as we have at a local race. It was kind of nice how we got to see how they did it there.

We did some sightseeing on the ranch. The owner raised lions and Bengal tigers and cheetahs. We had a unique experience because our professional hunter helped raise one Bengal tiger. It was very friendly. As my son and I were in the truck it climbed into the truck with us. I will show you video of that. We were sitting in the truck and the tiger wrapped its arms around him. And then he said we could pet him. He kind of stuck his head on the floor mat so I reached down and I was videotaping as I scratched his head. All of a sudden WHOMP and he's on the truck. I thought Oh God He's climbing on me. All you can see is orange and black hair. My son got out of truck and bolted! It was really cool. My son thought it was cute when the tiger had him by the foot and couldn't get in the truck. We were on edge but it was neat.

That sounds like a fantastic time! Italy was great. Team USA, to be a part of that was great. People didn't think we were going to do so well and then the vacation just topped everything off.

How did you get involved in going to the Motocross of Nations? It all started about 5 years ago because of all the chaos that surrounded Ricky Carmichael going to the nations. The crowd would go crazy over him and James Stewart. We made the announcement at Loretta Lynn's for the team, and Scott Taylor, Ricky Carmichael's manager at the time, said we'd love to have me come over. Since that time we've been undefeated and everything's been good.

So you must be the lucky charm. I mentioned that to Davey and we had a little chuckle over that. We have been 4-0 since I joined!

How long have you been working at GNCCs? Or rather for Racer Productions. Well I guess this is about my 13^th year. I started off at the High Point and Steel City motocross nationals, and just kind of grew within the organization. I was in a position where I was available to travel. I started 2-3 years after that with the GNCCs and going around with them. I've been doing it pretty much full time since then.

Everyone sees you running around at the GNCCs, what do you do at the races? It's kind of diversified. I'm more of just the fire-putter-outer. I kind of coordinate the security. I help with the parking. I'm a liaison between the pro riders and where they need to be. I'm one of those people, if you can't figure out who to ask to do what, call me and I'll do it.

And you seem to enjoy what you do. It's very gratifying. It gets tiring with long hours. The break is nice over the winter but I'm ready to get started again when the year starts.

How did you find out about Racer Productions? I really knew some guys who were doing the security at High Point and Steel city and they brought me into the fold. It's been a relationship for the past 13 years.

Let's got back before GNCC. Only Weege has seen photographic proof, but apparently you were a tennis instructor at one time? Well, I had a fairly non illustrious career playing football first.

NFL right?
Yes, I had some try outs. I dressed a few games in the Houston area for The Houston Oilers. I tried up in Canada. My dad told me I was either so good that everyone wanted me or no good and nobody wanted me. So he told me to find maybe something new. I knew a 9-5 job wasn't really my thing. I always played tennis secretly-not many football players played tennis - and then I went to Florida and got some lucky breaks with Nick Boletier who was training two young kids who grew up to be Andre Agassi and Monica Seles! I worked at a tennis resort on the west coast of Florida for the part of 15 years. If Weege ever shows those pictures of me in my tennis outfit, we'll be fighting.

You've done so much in your life, and gone so many places... what's next for Big John? That's a good question. I don't know. I'm pretty happy doing what I do. I really don't know. That's a tough question! I don't know if there's a position that's advancing beyond. I'd like to tighten up what I do and be better at what I do. Basically, whatever Racer Productions needs me to do is where I'll stay and be.

Well I'm happy you'll stay. Who else will look out for me?
(Laughs) Exactly.