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Vurb Offroad - Sit Down with Schaefer Tracks

Aug. 12, 2013


So why dirtbikes? Did you grow up racing or riding?
I grew up riding dirt bikes at a young age, but never got into racing until I was 16-years old. I raced on my own for a couple years and then decided to get my Pro license and try the 'big time.' I had a lot of good friends in the industry that helped out but after a few injuries, I decided that racing professionally wouldn't pay the bills as well as building tracks could. I quit racing full time after a nasty crash in Texas that left me in the hospital for a couple of days.

Motocross Track Builders

Understandable! In years past, you have built tracks for the Endurocross series here in the States. This year you were asked to go international and build the Enduro X tracks for X Games Global. What was that like?
It was a lot of work to say the least. We have been outside the States quite a few times between the Australian Supercross series, work in Paris, France, Guatemala, Hawaii, and many more. But X Games was a unique challenge this year because the non-stop weather we faced in each country. We knew going into Brazil that we would encounter rain and we were prepared for it. Going into Barcelona, we thought we had prepared enough by building the track early and covering with tarps. Once the rain there started, it did not stop! It rained for days straight with only a clearing the day before the event. We made the decision to remove the tarp and salvage what we could be scraping the mud off the racing surface. We did this in a matter of 4-hours and used a product called "Hot Lime" to dry the dirt out. After this was complete, we recovered the dirt and had it ready for the next days racing- until the rains came again. It rained the rest of the day and all night which flooded the stadium again. We had almost 200 volunteers the day of the event sweeping water off and using buckets to get all the standing water off the track. With all of this going on, you have to remember the dirt floor is only 8-inches thick so once you remove a few layers of dirt from the floor, you get close to the the plywood, plastic, and Olympic soccer field underneath. We managed to salvage the race and move on to the next. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, the final event in Munich proved the be the worst. It got so bad we had to haul out all the dirt we had in the stadium after the track was complete, and basically start over from ground zero and haul all new material in. This is no exaggeration of the workload we encountered and the manpower it took to make this event happen. As we always say, "the show must go on."

Were you required to build all tracks including the other Moto X events at the international rounds?
At the world rounds of the X Games, we helped Jesse Olson and his crew as a team effort. But for Los Angeles, our Schaefer Tracks crew built the Moto X track and Endurocross track which was basically 3-days of no sleep.


MX Track Builders

And the indoor setting must have been a huge relief! After all that hard work over the weekend, were you satisfied with each track given the very short amount of time you had?
You're exactly right. It was nice to look forward to the Staples Center because we didn't have to worry about it raining for days on end. The only thing we had to worry about was water pipes breaking and flooding the floor but the chances of that are slim to none. We were very pleased that the racing was so exciting. It is always difficult to build a track to suit so many different skill levels and needless to say in such a short time, but the racing proved to be best racing seen anywhere in a long time.

There are so many things that people don't see that go on behind the scenes that takes time away from moving machines and materials. We have to wait for the structures to be removed, the TV lines to be exposed, and all the signage be taken down even before we begin to build the next track for the next days event. With that said, once we get the track complete, there isn't enough time to test or make changes because we are immediately setting in the new transponder lines, TV cable, signage and so on. Everything has to perfectly fall into place to make the deadline for the LIVE television event.

Well I think it's safe to say that you and your crew did a great job. When your building Endurocross tracks for the AMA series, it's more than just water and dirt. What do you find to be your biggest challenge from concept to completion?
Thank you very much. The biggest challenge we face on a weekly basis is to build a track that is challenging enough for the Pros, and even rideable for the amateurs. Endurocross is unique and the skill levels range quite a bit for the day of competition. We have to keep all the riders in mind so that everyone is able to have fun and stay safe, all while putting on a great show for the fans. It is easier to build a more difficult track than it is to make an easier track. We spend a lot of time visualizing lines during the build process because we want as many lines as possible so it doesn't become a train race or follow the leader. It helps that the crew also rides and test the tracks out during the week as we build. That's just one of the perks of having the best job we could ask for.


Supercross Track Builders

For those at home attempting to build Endurocross-like tracks in their backyard...what advice would you have for them?
The greatest thing you can do is use your imagination. It's basically trial and error because you never know what you are going to encounter out in the elements of riding all terrain. Off-road riding is always changing, and so can a track as you build and ride it. As builders, we try to evolve with the sport and keep things new and interesting. We have come up with some key sections that have become the staples of an Endurocross track, but continue to look for new and exciting obstacles while not trying to recreate the sport.

Aside from building Endurocross courses, what other diverse track accomplishments do you have on your resume?
We have built for some of the best riders in the world. From Grant Langston to Josh Grant, KTM Factory Racing, Brett Metcalfe, and many more, along with a lot of the top amateur riders as well as the Motocross of Nations, Spring Creek MX at Millville, Thunder Valley MX in Colorado and a lot of the top private tracks across the country.


Endurocross

Impressive! And finally, what does your dream track look like?
It'd be a National Motocross track spanning over rolling green grass hills with natural jumps and rolling terrain, a full Supercross track hidden in the hills inside the motocross track and also an Endurocross track right next to the Supercross track. All of this will have push button remote control irrigation system.

Sounds dreamy! Anything else you want to mention?
I have to say thanks to the whole crew that has worked so hard all year, also to everyone that has given us the opportunity to showcase our talent and desire to build the best tracks now around the globe. We have been blessed with great people to work with that allow us to keep doing what we are truly passionate about and strive to be the best at. Motocross is the best sport in the world and we are grateful to be in the position of making people happy and helping to achieve their dreams, all while achieving ours.

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