Tuesday Toolbox: Dave Simmons

Senior A (40+) Class Champion Dave Simmons is determined. So determined that even though he lives in snowy Ohio, in the winter he will travel 12 hours just to ride for a day for practice, and return home in time for his full-time job. Simmons has brought home six GNCC championships and in this week's Tuesday Toolbox he talks about how he juggles his job, his racing and still has time to sneak in some cruises with his wife Evie.

Dave, you won every race this year that you competed in the Senior A (40+) Class, how many times have you taken that championship home? I believe it's five for that class. And I won a vet class back in '97.

So you've been racing for quite a few years. When did you start GNCCs? 1994 was my first one I believe.

What got you into riding GNCC? There was just a lack of riding areas where I live. It seems like that the farmers don't want you to ride on the farms anymore. Farms are depleting and now there are houses there.  There's just nowhere to have fun anymore.

Where do you live? I live in Painesville, Ohio. I moved up here about 26 years ago. I'm originally from about a half hour east of here where there is more farm country. Where I grew up there were a lot of farms.

When did you start racing? Even as a kid back in the 70s I raced motocross on dirt bikes. And then I got on 3-wheelers and started doing occasional hare scrambles and then I ventured off of motorcycles for about 20 years and I didn't get on anything at all. I was going to die if I continued at the pace I was going. I'm pretty reckless so I waited until I grew up a little.

Did you ever think about racing motocross professionally? No, I didn't but  I went and watched a lot of the pros like Roger Decoster and Brad Lackey.

Did you win any local motocross championships? No, I didn't pursue it that hard.

When you ventured back into riding, why did you get back on a four-wheeler instead of a dirt bikes? I think I ride a little more controlled on a 4 wheeler. I was pretty much fearless on two wheels. So I never got back on dirt bikes at all. I own a couple street bikes that I ride.

You said you had a full-time job doing Steel Roll Forming, how do you work in training with a busy work schedule? I do a lot of riding and jogging. I haven't been in the gym lately. Normally, I'm in the gym every day at lunch and I try run in the evening depending on the weather. Living here in the snow belt in Ohio really makes things hard to do.

You had your Senior 40+ Championship wrapped up early, didn't you? When did you wrap it up? It would have been the first one after that break, Unadilla.  I think my confidence level is there and that's how I knew I was going to win it. I don't think of not winning. Losing is not an option. Losing really bothers me.

Well then I guess it's a good thing you don't lose very often. After you tied up the championship you took on the 22+A Class and whooped up on the young guys. I bet that felt good. At St. Clairsville I raced the vet class and I won that so at Ironman I went younger yet and raced the junior. Each one of those classes is on the front row of the age class rotation. I wanted to prove my national number and see if I could beat the younger guys. For the most part my overalls have been ahead of most of the age classes except college A. So I've been beating most of

the classes anyways on corrected time. So I felt in my head I could do it.

You're pretty determined! Last year you had a big battle with Thomas Wright for the 40+ A title and you got hurt a missed out on the rest of the season. What happened and how did you come back from that?
I broke my collarbone last year after 9 races. I sort of handed him the title. We were having a good battle, too. I don't like them to be that tight but it was tight. For me to come back, I would say it had to do with that determination you were talking about, the no-lose attitude and trying to ride when I could. It's difficult to ride in the winter here, so there are a few trips south in warmer weather on the weekends where I would drive for 12 hours to get somewhere to ride for a day and drive back to go to work.

Speaking of going somewhere warmer, in 2004 you won a cruise for you and your wife at a GNCC because you won your class. Can you tell me a little about that?
That was a makeup race. They were trying to get more quad participants so they sponsored this cruise I think. I won my class and my name went in my hat. It was something never thought of doing because my wife, Evie,  is scared of water. We went on the cruise and we've been going every since. And this Thursday we are leaving for another cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.

Whoa! Apparently the first cruise went well then! How long are you going to be gone? We're going to be gone Thursday through Monday and back to work Tuesday. That's just about perfect. I don't have to miss much work.

Let's talk 2010. You'll be 50, what are your plans for which class you will race? I will be 50 in March. I'm pouring over the rules, trying to see what classes I can race. My plan is to go to Super Senior at the North Carolina race.

Are you feeling nervous about taking on Glen Pritchard? No, I think it's going to help us both. Last year we raced together and the previous year, too.  Glen is an awesome rider and I don't think everyone has seen his full potential because hasn't been pushed and this year he will be. It will be fun to watch. He has a lot of determination himself.

Are you going to bring home another championship? That's the plan but I don't want to sound cocky. I don't like rubbing people and giving anyone the extra kick. I don't want to fuel anyone's fire so I have a hard time saying things like that.  I also really want to race in the morning. I still went to the races after I was hurt and my wife and I went out on the woods to watch the racers and we both really liked that. I will be able to take her out in the woods to spectate again and let her have a little fun for change.

Does she pit for you too? Her and the GT Thunder Crew pit me.

Well it sounds like you a have a lot to look forward to, Dave. Have fun on the cruise and thanks for talking to us!

Thanks, Rachel! I would like to thank my sponsors too, if that's ok. GT Thunder,ITP,NorthridgeYamaha,HMF,ATVFourplay,Rekluse,Powermadd,HLS Shocks,Wiseco FLY, XCountry Photos and the biggest one my wife.