The life of an AMA Pro ATV racer can be complicated to say the least. Chasing contracts and sponsors occupy a good part of the off season and really adds a lot of stress and pressure to an already pressure filled way of life. Some though have the oppurtunity and are blessed enough to escape the ferocity of the game and just keep it a simple fun way of life that keeps a family strong and on track. This week we revisit now soon to be Sophomore AMA ATV Pro racer Derek Swartfager.
Photo By: Mike Roth - Event Pix
Derek Swartfager just wrapped up his AMA Pro ATV Rookie season and now knows what to expect.
Derek Swartfager: You like that? (Laughs)
(Laughing) What's going on?
I'm just eating lunch at work.
Where are you working?
On the farm man. On a big ole farm. Taking care of all that. We have a bunch of beef cows and grow grains. Probably somewhere around 200 to 250 head of cattle and probably a couple thousand acres of grain out. Keeps us pretty busy like I don't have enough to do.
I hear you made a recent trip south to Florida, how was that?
I went down a little more than a week ago now and rode a couple of days and came home for Thanksgiving. I am at home right now for Deer Season because my family is really big into hunting deer. I am hunting right now but I am heading back down a little bit before Christmas then fly in for Christmas and go back down afterwards and then maybe come home for a few days in the middle of January head back down and stay till the season starts. I am trying to get a head start.
Did you that do last year?
No! I didn't put this much time into it.
That being said, what was that rookie season like for you?
It was something else. I had my ups and downs. I came on strong in the beginning of the year and in the middle of the season I had a slump. I had to snap out of that and there toward the end of the year I came out of that I feel. I wish I would have kept it up the whole year but I let up a little bit. I kind of got lazy, I admit it. That's definately not what you want to do I can tell you that.
Photo By: Swartfager Family Trail Cam
In the off season, Deer Hunting keeps the family together chasing trophies like this.
Who did you ride with last week?
I went down with my mechanic Scott and just did some riding and goofing around. I just went down for a couple of days and I didn't really do anything serious. I was trying to just knock some rust off and have some fun.
Who will you be running with when you head back down to get down to business?
I will be with Todd Swigert and we will probably ride some with Thomas (Brown) and Chad (Weinen) some. Todd asked to see how they felt about it and they said they didn't mind at all. Todd is going to help me out with my riding, he is very knowledgeable that's for sure. He helped me out a ton at the end of last year. I am also definitely going to be doing the GNCC series this season so you can look forward to that.
Photo By: Dereks Cell Phone
Looks like a quad, runs like a deer.
Challenge man. Just the challenge.
So you felt it more of a challenge than you thought it was going to be last year?
I don't know. I thought it was fun but it was hard as hell. I just want to do it for more riding time and raced the motocross for the atmosphere of it. I got a taste of GNCC now and I think I know what to do to come back at it with a bang.
What's your sponsorship deals looking like for next year?
ATV FourPlay was a big supporter last year and they will be back for next year. They are the ones that do my steering stims and A-arms and swing arms. Curtis Sparks also helped out a lot this year and I will be using him. But basically it is all about having fun.
I am trying to actually get a little better on my motorcycle because I want to try to qualify for Loretta Lynn's this year on my bike. I got my bike all ready to go riding and I am definitely going to be riding it a lot more too. I want to try to qualify in the B class.
That would be awesome!
I'm really trying to do it. I don't mean be sounding cocky but I am getting pretty fast on my bike. I mean for being a four wheel guy I am pretty good. I think I have a knack for riding the dirt bike. I think that's what I should have been on when I was little instead of a four wheeler to be honest with you. I feel good on them.
It sounds like you are expanding your horizons?
I'm trying. (Laughs) I would love to make it on a dirt bike. Would that be sick or what?
I remember your mother purchasing the podium backdrop at the 88 Live to Ride auction, What did you end up doing with that?
I put it in the garage for now where all the four wheelers are. When I get done building my house I am putting in my garage.
I've got two of them now. One from like three years ago and then the one from this year that I actually autographed. That's pretty cool and I will put them in my garage when I get my house built. It will be nice to have a memory like that to hang around.
Photo By: Dereks Cell Phone
This is the view from Dereks "other quad".
It does seem like the whole family enjoys the time together and I am sure it all worth it to her.
Oh yeah we have fun. This year one thing is take it serious but I am having fun. I have got to quit not having fun. I have been taking things way too serious and I just need to have fun. This year some races I did good, actually exceptionally well and then other races I just sucked. I will be the first to admit it.
I am just going to have fun and enjoy. Someday I am going to have to wake up and go to work you know.
I will let you go, but I do want to say thanks for the time today.
I just want to thank my family and friends for everything. And thank you for everything you do to try to help make the sport better. And thanks to everybody that has a saying in anything in racing like the ATVPG and the AMA and everybody helping keep it alive.
