True privateer

TKLEVEN wrote:

Clason, Marchbanks, Phil, Jmart, Yoder, Friese, Oldenberg, Mumford, Ferrandis, Drake, Poitelli, Varize, Cullen Park, Shock, ect

TKLEVEN wrote:

Clason, Marchbanks, Phil, Jmart, Yoder, Friese, Oldenberg, Mumford, Ferrandis, Drake, Poitelli, Varize, Cullen Park, Shock, ect

flyliketrains wrote:

What team is Politelli on? 

racingfortheson wrote:

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his...

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his own bikes. He buys his own bikes and parts. Was going to sleep in his van for the west rounds but got a deal on staying at Grindstone. Where he sleeps in a shared dorm room and pays rent for bed and shop space. He lives on the money Feld pays. That is as privateer as it comes. How long can he do it? I don’t know but he is giving his dream the best chance he can. I’m very proud of him making it happen on his own. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/docsmith464?igsh=MTZnYnJkYmE3anUxYw==

racingfortheson wrote:

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his...

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his own bikes. He buys his own bikes and parts. Was going to sleep in his van for the west rounds but got a deal on staying at Grindstone. Where he sleeps in a shared dorm room and pays rent for bed and shop space. He lives on the money Feld pays. That is as privateer as it comes. How long can he do it? I don’t know but he is giving his dream the best chance he can. I’m very proud of him making it happen on his own. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/docsmith464?igsh=MTZnYnJkYmE3anUxYw==

kennyc wrote:

How does one help support Doc?

KiwiBermRailer wrote:

No one is more privateer than Matty B! No one!

racingfortheson wrote:

He has a way to help him that you can even get something you would buy anyways. He designed his gear and if you order the...

He has a way to help him that you can even get something you would buy anyways. He designed his gear and if you order the design he made from Zero Limits, they give him a cut. Of course there are other things you can do. This does show companies that helping privateers help them. He can get you the info. Plus you have a set of gear that looks sweet and probably know one else will have. 

racingfortheson wrote:

He has a way to help him that you can even get something you would buy anyways. He designed his gear and if you order the...

He has a way to help him that you can even get something you would buy anyways. He designed his gear and if you order the design he made from Zero Limits, they give him a cut. Of course there are other things you can do. This does show companies that helping privateers help them. He can get you the info. Plus you have a set of gear that looks sweet and probably know one else will have. 

kennyc wrote:

Thanks.  I bought a set of gear and sent him a message on IG

538 wrote:

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years...

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years old, with a couple hundred thousand miles on it and a bed in the back.  I assure you he isn’t making the $100k a previous poster mentioned. He work’s construction in the off-season and saves every penny he earns. It is not easy, but at least he will never have to look back and regret not trying.

concave ruts wrote:

Unless you’re independently wealthy I don’t see how you could make it as a “true privateer”  Somebody is paying for these guys to get there and...

Unless you’re independently wealthy I don’t see how you could make it as a “true privateer” 

Somebody is paying for these guys to get there and I don’t think it’s possible to be at the top with a full time job outside of riding

racingfortheson wrote:

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his...

My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his own bikes. He buys his own bikes and parts. Was going to sleep in his van for the west rounds but got a deal on staying at Grindstone. Where he sleeps in a shared dorm room and pays rent for bed and shop space. He lives on the money Feld pays. That is as privateer as it comes. How long can he do it? I don’t know but he is giving his dream the best chance he can. I’m very proud of him making it happen on his own. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/docsmith464?igsh=MTZnYnJkYmE3anUxYw==

538 wrote:

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years...

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years old, with a couple hundred thousand miles on it and a bed in the back.  I assure you he isn’t making the $100k a previous poster mentioned. He work’s construction in the off-season and saves every penny he earns. It is not easy, but at least he will never have to look back and regret not trying.

racingfortheson wrote:

I can completely understand how you feel. Doc is doing the same thing. I had to step back and let him sink or swim. I was...

I can completely understand how you feel. Doc is doing the same thing. I had to step back and let him sink or swim. I was so proud of how he seemed to keep his head down and keep chasing his dreams. 

538 wrote:

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years...

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years old, with a couple hundred thousand miles on it and a bed in the back.  I assure you he isn’t making the $100k a previous poster mentioned. He work’s construction in the off-season and saves every penny he earns. It is not easy, but at least he will never have to look back and regret not trying.

racingfortheson wrote:

I can completely understand how you feel. Doc is doing the same thing. I had to step back and let him sink or swim. I was...

I can completely understand how you feel. Doc is doing the same thing. I had to step back and let him sink or swim. I was so proud of how he seemed to keep his head down and keep chasing his dreams. 

538 wrote:

I wish him the best.  If nothing else, they are making great memories 

538 wrote:

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years...

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years old, with a couple hundred thousand miles on it and a bed in the back.  I assure you he isn’t making the $100k a previous poster mentioned. He work’s construction in the off-season and saves every penny he earns. It is not easy, but at least he will never have to look back and regret not trying.

FWYT wrote:

Privateer: Matty B with loaded semi.

Privateer: Matty B with loaded semi.

538 wrote:

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years...

There are more of them than you think that are living in a van and doing it alone.  My son’s van is less than 5 years old, with a couple hundred thousand miles on it and a bed in the back.  I assure you he isn’t making the $100k a previous poster mentioned. He work’s construction in the off-season and saves every penny he earns. It is not easy, but at least he will never have to look back and regret not trying.

sumdood wrote:

I didn't see this post in here before but am glad I did. I like to walk around to the back of the pits and find...

I didn't see this post in here before but am glad I did. I like to walk around to the back of the pits and find a full on privateer looking rider in a van or old truck and hand him a couple bucks. It's not much and I'm sure a drop in the bucket but I appreciate the grass roots privateers out there for the love of it. So this afternoon I saw your son sitting in his chair next to the van and walked up and said hey hows it going ?  Just you ?  He said naah my Dads around here somewhere I'm just waiting, I can't wait to get out there. We talked briefly about the conditions and he was excited about it, he must like mud lol. We bs'ed for a little bit and he told about the tranny last week. So I handed him a couple bucks and said here man hope this helps a little. He was so funny he got a confused look and said "What's this for"? lol. "Whatever you want, 5 gallons of gas whatever, good luck tonight"  He said "oh yeah this is groceries for the week" lol. I hope not or you guys must be starving.. lol.  Anyway it was nice to meet him, he was super polite and willing to talk to some total random stranger (before I gave him the money lol) His enthusiasm for the sport was obvious. Best of luck in the rest of the season.       

racingfortheson wrote:

To all the people who stopped by and talked with Doc, thanks. He was in good spirits after the race. Even though he was in 5th...

To all the people who stopped by and talked with Doc, thanks. He was in good spirits after the race. Even though he was in 5th on the start in LCQ and then went down lol. I know a lot of the privateer kids and they love it when people talk with them about racing and the track. Sometimes just spending a few minutes hearing there store or how there day goes encourages them. Once again, thanks to everyone. On to A2.

racingfortheson wrote:

To all the people who stopped by and talked with Doc, thanks. He was in good spirits after the race. Even though he was in 5th...

To all the people who stopped by and talked with Doc, thanks. He was in good spirits after the race. Even though he was in 5th on the start in LCQ and then went down lol. I know a lot of the privateer kids and they love it when people talk with them about racing and the track. Sometimes just spending a few minutes hearing there store or how there day goes encourages them. Once again, thanks to everyone. On to A2.

538 wrote:

Such a bummer for Doc.  Addison was in 6th on lap 4 of the LCQ, until he went down in the whoops and fell back to...

Such a bummer for Doc.  Addison was in 6th on lap 4 of the LCQ, until he went down in the whoops and fell back to 9th.  Hopefully, Anaheim 2 they will get their opportunity 

racingfortheson wrote:

It will be a triple crown, so going to be tough to get in the mains this weekend. Doc hasn’t been the best at qualifying. 

racingfortheson wrote:

It will be a triple crown, so going to be tough to get in the mains this weekend. Doc hasn’t been the best at qualifying. 

538 wrote:

Definitely makes it tough on them.