Tuesday Toolbox with ....
Richard Lima!
We’ve heard about this Richard Lima guy who helps out every once in awhile. A few years ago he called Jimmy Jarrett and asked if he could help him by offering a place to ride and train in North Carolina. One time he sponsored a hole at our ISDE Golf Tournament Fund Raiser at the Wisp. And then, out of the blue, he decided to put together a big day at Steele Creek for the Make A Wish Foundation, which gives sick kids a chance to live their dreams. Richard organized a big day for the kids at Steel Creek, and this weekend at Big Buck he’ll arrange an auction at his motorhome to raise money. Who is this guy? Let’s find out more.
Okay Richard, first of all, tell us about North Carolina. It’s quickly becoming a GNCC hot bed.
Well, it’s not there yet, but the guys seem to like it. I’m from Southern California, and believe it or not, you’ll never find a place in the world better than this for what we do. There are trails and terrain everywhere. And in the winter, we’re still able to ride. It’s also close to almost all of the GNCC tracks. We have Shane (Watts) living around here now, and Josh (Strang) and Glenn ( Kearney), Jesse Robinson lives right here, and Jimmy (Jarrett) is moving here. It’s NASCAR country, and people like racing and racers around here. It’s exciting for these guys. Now, me and Jimmy and Josh and Glenn and Shane and Jesse, we ride all the time. I’d love to be able to work with these guys and start training some riders.
 Shane Watts is one of many top GNCC pros to make the move to North Carolina--and hang out at the Lima Ranch. |
You’re family has been around athletes. You wife was an Olympic sprinter?
Yes, my wife was a sprinter, captain of the UCLA track team. She was training for the Olympics with Gail Devers and Jackie Joyner -Kersee, she was coached Bob Kersee, But she tore her Achilles. She started getting into training, and she worked with Monica Seles and other athletes for a long time. Then she got out of it, and we moved here to North Carolina. I started riding again there —I hadn’t ridden in 16 years.
Why GNCC?
Everyone here in North Carolina said there are two things to know about riding: race hare scrambles, and ride a KTM. I had been out of the loop for so long, I didn’t even know KTM was still in business! But I started riding and fell in love again. I’ve run marathons and love being in shape, and the riding was perfect for me. And for what I do for a living, I have plenty of time to go ride and train.
What do you do?
I’m a model.
A model!
I’ve been doing it for 13 years. I’ve worked with probably every super model, I’ve done Ralph Lauren, Versace. I was in People Magazine’s 25 most beautiful people, in the Latin edition.
 Yes, Richard is a model! Photo courtesy Lima |
Well you better not wrack yourself up riding!
Right now my arms are so scratched up you wouldn’t believe it! And that’s only what I do for a living. Where my heart is, it’s in GNCC. It’s my passion, and I love it because of the people and the atmosphere. We missed Florida because I was doing a photo shoot in Miami. When we were back in Georgia, I was telling my wife how much I missed it. I love the people, and I love riding for three hours. It’s grueling.
Well, you say you ran marathons. Where does this rank, physically?
I’ve run five marathons. Running a marathon is one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. I’ve broken the three hour mark in a marathon, and when I came across the finish, I was emotional, because it was so much work. In the last mile I was in so much pain, and I hated it and said I would never do another one. But as soon as I was finished, I was saying “when is the next one?” Same thing with GNCC! On the last lap, you’re tired and in pain and you can’t wait to get to the finish line. And when you get there, you immediately want to race next week again!
You’re in shape, but the racing isn’t a walk in the park.
It’s not a walk in the park, but I’ve done so much other training, it really helped prepare me. I trained and did boxing for a long time. Anyone, until they have tried boxing, they don’t know what hard is. It works you from head to toe, just like riding. Honestly, if I could get one of these guys, like Glenn or Jimmy, if I could work with them and do that, they could race like it was a walk in the park. They could go all out and sprint for the whole three hours.
Well how did you hook up with these guys? It started with an interview we did here for Tuesday Toolbox with Jimmy Jarrett?
Yeah, I read the interview about Jimmy on here, trying to get some money going to race the ISDE. I didn’t even know him, but I knew I could help the guy. Around here, there are two things: money and racing. So I went to a guy I know, Harry Ried, who does all the suspension for Michael Waltrip’s team, and we said we were going to raise some money. Me and my wife being athletes, we saw Jimmy working his butt off to race in New Zealand, and I had connections, so I wanted to help. Now Jimmy and I talk probably four times a week, and he and his wife are moving down here. He’s staying at my house right now.
 Jimmy Jarrett was the first rider to hook up with Lima to do some riding. Now Jimmy and his wife Barb are house shopping in North Carolina. Ware photo |
Now everyone is coming down there!
Yeah, the people that are here, when we go riding, we have so much fun and everyone gets along. We have such a good time, and we get our riding done. On Thursday everyone is coming over my house for a big barbeque. I’m living the best of both worlds right now, where I make a great living at my job, but I can ride and train a lot. I can walk into Kohl’s or Target and see pictures of me on the wall, but for me, the real thrill was when I rode my first GNCC at Yadkinville in 2005, and I saw my name in Cycle News. That was better than being in GQ!
You’re in the Vet A now. What’s the goal?
Of course I want to do the best I can, but I’m still learning. I’ve never raced the woods until Yadkinville 18 months ago. For me, finishing in the top five in the Vet A class last week in North Carolina was an accomplishment. Plus, it’s a family thing. We have a motorhome, and my daughter comes, and she brings a buddy and has friend. And my wife, she’s my gas man, my water person, my pit crew, everything. Now my wife is a real estate agent down here. AndreaLima.com for anyone who wants to move down here to the hotbed!
Okay, so how did this Make-A-Wish Foundation idea come about?
Ever since I’ve been in my business I wanted to do something for kids. I was involved with Athletes and Entertainers for Kids when I lived in LA. It was a good charity, but it wasn’t mine, I was just a part of it. I wanted to do something, and I read about the Make-A-Wish kids. I contacted the local chapter, and tried to get something together. Jimmy was the first person I called. Then I called Jesse Robinson and Rita Coombs with you folks to see what they could do. Jack Penton actually called me, and said between he and Antti (Kallonen), they would do whatever we wanted. Everyone was for it, but we only had two weeks. I just can’t thank Bob from Johnny signs enough, he is amazing. In the span of four days, he had graphics for our bikes, Jimmy’s helmet done, and he never asked for a dime. Everyone involved, like Barry Hawk, and Rodney Smith’s wife Lori, she was giving the kids a tour. Rodney looked at me and said, “She’s having more fun than the kids!” She grabbed me and said “Richard, this is awesome, how can I be involved when we do this next year?” We were at a mid-east race last weekend, and a woman came up to my wife and said she wants to help next year. The kids had a blast, of some of those parents were getting emotional I wanted to do this for a long time, and I contacted some people and it snowballed. Even if I had missed my race, it would have been worth it. If it works out, well, we have a children’s hospital in North Carolina, and a lot of kids who are bed ridden. Then we’ll get the local news there and everything. It’s all for the kids. We had one little girl who is surviving kidney cancer. A lot of these guys have kids themselves, so they understand. This community at the GNCCs, it’s amazing.
Rich, you have a pretty amazing story. Thanks for all the help.
No problem, Jason.
Check out our news page for the details on this weekend's auction for Make A Wish.
