MarylandMotocross.com: Hello Zach, this is Scooter from
MarylandMotocross.com, how ya doin’ bud?
Zach Harrington: Heyyy
good, what’s up?
MMX.com: I just wanted to see if you had time for an
interview
ZH: Oh yeah, sure.
MMX.com: Good, good. First and foremost, give us the story
on how you sustained your injury, how bad it was, and how long do you think
it will be before your next gate drop?
ZH: My crash… it was
pretty bad. I was at a race at ramblers. After the start; the first whoop
section I guess, I went over a double and a triple; it was my first day on a
250F Honda, I went over and cased with my front wheel and it flipped me
off. I don’t really remember much, but I know that it threw me into the
face of the next tabletop. After that, I just got knocked out completely
for like 2 minutes or so. I got up…and umm…like after a while. Everyone
was around me and I just stood up and started walking around. My dad took
my helmet off and they took me to the hospital a little bit later because
they thought I was acting funny. I was at the hospital and they found out
that I had 3 broken bones in my neck and one was shattered. It was pretty
bad. I’m in a Halo right now; I’ve been in it for a month; and I’ll be in
it for another 2 months at least.
MMX.com: So I couldn’t even start to imagine
what a pain in the butt it must be to have that thing on your head.
ZH: It…it
really sucks. I had to change… like everything that I do. I was home
schooled for a month. I just started going back to school.
MMX.com: I guess you’ve seen other people
wearing them at the track and now you can identify with the trouble they
had.
ZH: Well,
actually I’ve never seen anybody in one of these before. It was kinda new
when I first saw it. I was like “No Waaay.” I was a real big shock when I
found out that I broke my neck. When I was younger I always thought that
when you break your neck that you die right away. The doctor said that I
was really lucky to be alive and walking.
MMX.com: Okay. Now, how old are you and how
long have you been riding?
ZH: I’m 15. I got my first bike when I was 5; a
little PW 50. I started racing when I was about 7 or 8.
MMX.com: What kind of bike do you use?
ZH: I’ve been
riding my Yamaha 125s; I’ve been on those since the beginning of this year.
My bike broke in practice the day of the accident. My friend had an extra
250F Honda sitting around, so he let me use it that day. My dad wanted me
to because we were thinking about getting one of those. So I was on it. I
didn’t even get to practice with it. I rode my first Moto on it. I was
doing pretty good my first 3 races and then at one of the Motos
it
<the accident>
just happened.
MMX.com: I did hear that you were
doing pretty good until the accident
ZH: Yeah, it’s a lot different than
a 125. You can roll through the corners a lot smoother and stuff.
MMX.com: What kind of riding gear do you like
to use?
ZH: I like
No Fear.
MMX.com: Hmmmm… kinda like Zeke “2 Ns” Zieman.
Tell us the story behind butt-crack Zach.
ZH: (Hard laugh) Well, I was with
the Duffys. Big Duff gave the name to me. We were down at Budd’s Creek a
long time ago and we were swimming at one of his friend’s pools… (Laugh)
and my pants were too big and they fell off every time I got out of the
pool. (Laugh) Big Gregg just though it would be a good idea to call me
that. So I’ve been going by that for like… forever.
MMX.com: Niceeeeee! So when you’re not
riding, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
ZH: Ummm… playing MX Unleashed.
Skateboarding. Snowboarding when the winter comes and I guess Surfing
sometimes in the summer when I go on vacation.
MMX.com: Surfing’s tough. Ese’ surfs; he’s
not all that good but he told me it’s really hard. Speaking of friends, who
would you say are some of your closest friends in the MX community.
ZH: Mark Davis, I’ve known him since
I’ve started racing. All of the Davises. The Mudgetts have been there.
The Wagdes. The Duffys. I’ve known these people forever. They all pretty
much started the same time I started. Sean Hackley amd Nick Evennou are
also some people I’ve known. We used to ride together, all of us did.
MMX.com: I was told to ask
you about how you know Budweiser Bob…
ZH: (Laugh)
Well, that’s my dad.
MMX.com: Wait! Wait! Hold the presses! Your
name is Zach Harrington and his real name is Bob Bailey, did he buy you or
something?
ZH: (Hard laughing) Ummm… Noooo. He
is my dad. They call him that when he tries to give instructor-like advice
when people are practicing. The name Bailey is because I’m sponsored by
Gary Bailey who is an instructor; so they just call my dad Bob Bailey.
MMX.com: Ohhhhhh. I see. Sounds kinda Soap
Operaish if you ask me.
(Zach Laughs)
Well, Zach, if you
were given the power to change anything in MX, what would it be?
ZH: I would make every track have
the same kind of dirt as Field of Dreams. I love that track’s dirt. I
lovvvee that track.
MMX.com: Uh-huh. And if you could give any
advice to new riders out there about starting up or advice on how to make it
to Loretta’s, what would you tell them?
ZH: I’d tell them to start out
training before they start riding. Running and stuff; eating right and then
I’d tell them to ride just about every day. Also to work on lap times,
their style and work on turning corners, because that’s basically what you
need to do to go fast. Everything else just ties into that.
MMX.com: Would you classify your current
injury as your worst MX moment?
ZH: Awww… definitely. It all
happened so fast. It was a shock. It didn’t even seem like a bad crash and
then all of a sudden I’m in the hospital and like… it’s over.
MMX.com: Got it. What, then, would you say
is your best MX moment?
ZH: I’ve had a lot. Just going out
riding and being at the track is so much fun. I like riding at Field of
Dreams and doing really good. Starts. The adrenalin: it’s so great. I
think my best would probably be making it to Loretta’s and just being down
there this past year.
MMX.com: Who is your favorite Pro rider and
why?
ZH: Jeremy McGrath. He’s been… the
best… for so many years and he’s just… perfect. The way he rides and
everything.
MMX.com: Since our guestbook has been turning
into “Loveline” lately I guess I should do the ladies a favor and ask
“Boxers or Briefs”?
ZH: Aww boxers, but when I ride it’s
gotta be briefs. Ladies dig those wedgies.
MMX.com: So how do you feel about the fact
that you’re one of the stars on our trailer for “Maryland
Motocross: The Movie”
ZH: Am I on
it?
MMX.com: Yeah, it had a good showing at The
M.A.M.A. and Del Marva series banquets. Got a shot of you hanging with
Chad and then Big Duff got you doing just a perfect heel clicker.
ZH: Awesome. I didn’t even go to
the Del Marva banquet.
MMX.com: You didn’t miss nothing but Plank
and Ese’ acting the fool.
ZH: Did
Steve dress up in the Elvis costume?
MMX.com: No, but he wore cheerleader shorts.
ZH: Whhhaaaattttt!!?? Man I wish I
could have gone.
MMX.com: Long story. Would you consider
yourself a Motocross Hooligan?
ZH: A hooligan, yeah sure.
MMX.com: Umm, the reason I ask is that I heard that you were
at the mall when a Motocross Hooligan attacked a Ronald McDonald statue,
care you give an eyewitness testimony as to what happened?
ZH: (Laugh)
Well, Ummm, that’d be me. I was with Chad
<“The Ricky Martin of Motocross” Wadges>
and Steve <“Sir Shuck and
Groove” Plank>
and I went
up to Ronald McDonald and started giving him a Big Ol’ kiss.
MMX.com: I heard you gave him a lap dance. That’s
what I heard.
ZH: (Hard Laughing) I probably did
that too. I probably did. I sat on his lap… cause… he’s cute. (Laugh)
He’s a lovely guy.
MMX.com: Well. I guess you should consider not riding
anymore at all.
ZH: I don’t know about now. It’s
kinda weird. The doctor said I really shouldn’t ride. It’s
weird to
think that if I crash again I could get paralyzed if I have another neck
injury. Or I could even, you know, I don’t even want to say it, but like
die. That’s almost what happened this time. It’s really strange to think
about. I want to do something in Motocross. It’s my life: I can’t just
get out of it. It’s something you just can’t get rid of.
MMX.com: So I guess you got a big decision ahead of you.
ZH: Yeah. Whether to ride again.
MMX.com: I’ve talked to many people about it. At the track
and at the banquets. They say that they will support whatever decision you
make. No one would think any less of you for not riding and they realize
that you’ll risk your life if you do. All in all, they just want to see
you, not necessarily riding, but at the track.
ZH: I probably will ride. I feel
like I can’t give it up but we’ll see. It will be a long time before you
see me riding. But I’d like to attend a race event or something.
MMX.com: Well, we’d like to invite you to come out with us.
We’d like to do another day of tricks and riding at either Blue Diamond or
The Landing MX. It would be nice to see you then or before. Just keep us
updated on what you’re doing.
ZH: That would be cool. I’ll be
going to the races just to hang out with my friends. My dad is talking about
having some support from Shelton Hinez, so I’ll be on a 250 F next time you
see me. I’d like to thank everyone for coming to visit me at the hospital
and for calling and stuff. For trying to cheer me up, it really means a
lot. I get kind of down sometimes. Mark Davis has been coming over and
visiting a lot. The Davises have been a real big help to me. And my
parents and stuff. All I can do is play video games.
Ese’ (Peeks
head in though office door): Did someone say video games?
MMX.com: Yeah Zach Harrington’s been stuck a home playing
video games.
Ese’ (Grabs
phone): You Zach could of used you down OC, I needed some competition
Whooped up on
Joel
<”The Sweeper”>
Adams
pretty bad. Then he had to go cheat in Putt-Putt.
ZH: I’ll play ya sometime. You’re
going down.
Ese’:
Whhhatttt! Better talk to Joel there Son-son. When I play there’s only two
things A**whuupins and repercussions buddy. I beat him so bad he can only
play in Video Game D class from now on.
ZH: (Laughing) Ohhhh. it’s on.
MMX.com: (Taking back phone) All right you two. Well
thanks a lot for talking with us Zach and we hope to see you soon. Take it
easy man and speedy recovery.
ZH: Awesome. All right.
I'll keep you guys updated. See ya later.
The Harringtons would like to thank
everybody for their cards, calls, thoughts, prayers, and visits
during Zach’s Accident. They were touched by the consideration
and concern that was shown and they truly appreciate it.
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