ACE RACING STORY / interview with CARL MOORE: owner of ACE RACING

ACE Racing is a family run ATV team hailing from the LAS VEGAS area in Puhrump, Nevada. Business Owner, Carl Moore started out in the sport 4 years ago with his youngest son Shaun Moore(age 19) aboard a couple of Yamaha Banshees. At the end of 2001, Carl and Shaun purchased their first Cannondale Quad, a 2002 Cannibal. " After a weeks worth of riding, and a weekend MX race at Glen Helen, the Banshees were in the classifieds!" Carl told us. Carl, along with his four sons, and six 'Dale quads, race the BEST IN THE DESERT series (www.bitd.com) along with TT and MX events on the west coast. Quite a busy schedule!!

2003 marks their first year in the Pro class in the BITD racing series, going up against names like Doug Eichner, William Yokley, and Jimmy Stephenson, to name just a few. As Quad Experts in 2002, Carl and his riders won 2 desert races and earned half dozen second place finishes , always in the top five spots among ten series events.

Q: What attracted you to Cannondale and their Quad?
A: Well…Basically being unhappy with our Yamahas and wanting to make a switch, prompted me to start looking around. I read about Cannondale's Motorsports division and started looking everywhere I could get information on them and the quad.. We wanted to move from a 2-stroke to a 4-stroke and Cannonadales innovation, Fuel injection, high performance and light weight chassis, all packaged in a race-ready machine was very appealing.

Q: What were your first impressions of the Quad?
A: It was quite a change for us…In the beginning, Shaun struggled with making the change from a 2-stroke to the 4-stroke. The power was not at all what he was used to but after a few days, he loved it. After we ran our first desert race, we were completely sold. We basically went out there on a bone stock machine and finished 2nd. And ya know it's funny, we rolled up with our Cannondale Cannibal and heard people snickering and such, no one knew much about the machine… but after the race, we had people coming from everywhere to look at and ride it. We literally had 4 pro riders want to ride it!! And we let them!! That was the biggest selling point for me. I bought 2 more shortly after that!

Q: Tell us about your team, personnel and riders & how did you get hooked up with your current riders?
A: That is a story in itself. First, my youngest son, Shaun… We started out racing TT, and Shaun was winning from day one, having a blast. He and I started doing a lot of MX events as well. He had wanted to race desert for a long time and we also sponsor a Trophy Truck, the driver: Gary Vosburg also urged me to give desert racing a try. But, before that we were racing a lot of TT and MX events, and I was promoting a TT series in our hometown, at the local speedway. In doing that, I met Nick Grunland… Nick has raced pro quad and jetskis for years, he is the promoter of "QUAD WARS," which we participate in also, it is stadium racing that can only be compared to WWF!! And Nick also is a testrider for many big magazines and an engine builder by trade. So, he brings a lot to the team. Shaun and Nick are my primary riders of the BITD series. I also met and became friends with the other, now, team members: Tyson Leaver, an awesome MX and SX rider, Brian Butler, who is in the Armed Forces and currently overseas, but, is a great substitute, when I need him. And Josh Freidricks…this kid get on the bike and can ride for hours, all he does is ride! Josh is the latest addition to the team as an alternate and also an MX rider. Pike Reitz is a huge help to the team and a great rider also. Ah…The crew…My other two sons: Michael and Nicholas, Drew from Big-O Tires, Jeff Rybolt, and my oldest son CJ, he is my crew- chief and right-hand man! And my adopted son Stephen.

Q: What were your 2002 season "Highs & Lows?"
A: Winning the Baja-Mex 300. Being in another country, overcoming the language barrier and many other obstacles, winning this race was just huge for us. We got the overall Quad win and beating the entire PRO class as an expert team, that was an awesome day !! Lows… Getting that DNF that you totally have no control over, knowing that you covered all the bases but yet something goes wrong. Just plain bad luck.

Q: What will you different in 2003? And your goals?
A: 2002 was a learning year for us…and we learned a lot! The years end found us a point were we really had everything dialed in. The entire year was basically preparation for jumping up to the PRO class for '03. We found that we can compete with a basically stock engine, with minor modifications and be competitive, BUT with some new found horsepower, I know we can win. It's not just competing at the pro level, but winning at the pro level. Being an unknown with a little known bike, I don’t think that anyone took us completely serious, but now, we have turned a lot of heads and everyone has taken notice. We are, with each race getting better at what we do and building our name. Our ultimate Goal is to win the Pro class title, it may not happen this year…but it will happen. And for me, to give my riders and team the recognition they all deserve.

Q: Any Aftermarket hop-ups or performance tricks you have found that you care to share?
A: We have learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. We are currently developing a relatively inexpensive air-box modification that is good for a few horsepower, that teamed with some custom mapping and an aftermarket exhaust system. We have a lot going on right now, I would need my own website to get it all out there!!

Q: Who do you want to thank and/or welcome for the new season?
A: First and foremost, I want to thank Cannondale…for all their support, help and guidance. Special thanks to Bill Rudell, Mark Ray Steve Kuwait, Mark S. & Steve M. and especially "Sledge"…all from Cannondale. Big Thanks to ACE Hardware, our namesake!! Mike @ Custom Axis for setting us up with awesome suspension, Jim White @ KENDA Tires, Kyle @ R&S Performance, Also Mike @ AC, Drew from Big-O Tires, Skat Trac, Arizona West helped us immensely in the beginning of the year, a big thanks to them. And for this year I would like to welcome FMF Development, Floyd's Construction, and South Bay Motorsports, I am looking to a long working relationship with Dustin and all the guys at SouthBay. And also to Cannondaler.com, for taking the time to let me talk about ACE Racing!!

**Note… This past weekend Carl and his ACE riders competed in the KTM 200 in Parker, Arizona. This was their first desert race in the PRO class and they podiumed, pulling off a 3rd place finish! Congrats Guys !!

Thanks!

Carl Moore
ACE Racing, Puhrump, Nevada.

Questions? Contact Carl Moore at biznessowner02@yahoo.com.