How could this be? I stood slack-jawed watching Davis Fisher toss around an Indian FTR750 like a play bike in his backyard. This bumpy New Hampshire short track was not for the faint of heart, you had to steer with the rear as you hopped thru the ruts. Push too hard and get slammed to the ground – or worse, not enough and get left behind. It was a study in controlled aggression.Davis Fisher, a study in calm at speed. [Steve Koletar]People outside our sport don’t get it. You can’t force her, as ‘too much’ will get you hurt. It’s about finger tips and toes at this pace. A calm mind and a deft touch.Davis Fisher and his #1 (Makenna) with his Indian FT750 flat track racer. [Steve Koletar]Davis Fisher is a paradox. The male fans are surprised by his soft spoken humbleness. Female fans are smitten by his bashful, boyish charms. How could this gentle soul be such a charger on the track? The paradox in personality boggles the mind.Would this man stomp all over you in a race? Well, yes. [Steve Koletar]Sometimes, being media, I remember things others forget. At Daytona’s season kickoff, Fisher was looking fast until he crashed out of the semi, breaking his back. Without harping on bad luck or pain, and grateful not to be paralyzed, he quietly got himself together, methodically working his training program to get back in the game.The FT750 is the machine of choice in American flat track racing today, although racers need an edge, so install the engine in different chassis. [Steve Koletar]People outside the circle don’t know the sweat and tears it takes to be a professional motorcycle racer. While fans motivate you race day, they aren’t there with you in the gym. We are driven by the dream of racing. For the hardcore, it’s a thin line between joy and pain. Racing makes us feel alive again. It gives us purpose. We are not just another guy sitting in a cubicle.Not just another guy in a cubicle, but it’s still work. [Steve Koletar]And after dealing with all this rough stuff, Davis Fisher remain as racy as ever. Even after bittersweet fallout from the Rapid City incident. The struggles with sponsorship. Coming back from injury. His epic ride to 3rd at the Sacramento Mile. Davis stays focused on his dream. Regardless of the chatter bumps racing throws at him. He just flashes me ‘that smile’ and keeps rolling on.When something breaks, and you’re the mechanic, it sucks. [Steve Koletar]Changing rules in American Flat Track have limited the number of entries in Premier class, which could force Fisher out of racing. I know he’ll do whatever it takes to stay in the show. It would be a real shame if Davis Fisher drifted away.
The Michael Lawless article is brilliant in it’s concise story layout and very compelling with its sharp and poignant insights –
a gem of an article.
Privateers in motorsports have been struggling since the inception of big money and big corporations came into it with the sole goal of filling their own back pockets . And the fact is its only gotten worse ( and promisee to continue getting worse ) since
e.g. The glory days of the privateer are long dead and gone
So … with great regret and sadness I say … . either deal with it ( finding yourself buried under a mountain of debt with nothing to show for it ) … or find another vocation … cause baby … whether its motorsports … the arts .. or just day to day life … this is the era of anarcho – capitalism greed is god .. with Ayn Rand as its godhead
Sadly privateers are at a real disadvantage from the start unless you come from a family of money. Many privateers hope to be good enough to get noticed to receive a sponsored ride. However it is even more sad when the rules are written to eliminate them altogether. Corporate greed may good for the spreading the sport yet it kills the dreams of many who want to enter the sport. There must be a balance for the good of all. I for one am losing interest in this corporate race program that makes no room for the privateers.
I don’t know what it is like on that modern Indian, but I road race (AHRMA) a 1926 Scout with a fully modified ’36 motor, modern tires, and a smooth track that doesn’t upset my leaf spring front end too much at the end of the straight. Racing fulfills a passion that money can’t buy. Davis will find a way to stay in the game. I just hope he can show the factory teams how it’s done!
Come see us at Barber the first weekend of October. The Harley/Indian shoot out should be a race to remember.