NOVEMBER 14, 2007
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Lee Coutts |
By Danny Brault
Photos by James Lissimore
For this edition of My Take, we caught up with Abbotsford, BC’s Lee Coutts who was busy counting the money he won in a Dash for Cash at the Chilliwack AX. Actually, Coutts was busy installing new cabinets at his house with his girlfriend. Fortunately, the Honda rider managed to set down the hammer and nails, and chat with us for a few minutes …
RXC: Winning the Dash for Cash Friday night at the first round of the Canadian Arenacross Championships.
Lee Coutts: What do you want me to tell you about it [laughs]? I guess that’s just my style: beat the hell out of everyone else! It’s like head to head racing, and each time you win, you move on. I think there were about nine or 10 guys lined up the first night. The one with [Kris] Foster, I got the holeshot, and then pulled away from him. Then I raced against [Brock] Hoyer; he tried brake checking me in a corner, but I snuck underneath him and he was on the gas and I hammered him out of the way. With [Kyle] Beaton in the final, he had a wicked start; I mis-shifted. I set him up, rolled right into the side of him and knocked him off balance and nudged him a few more times until he spun out. I think they run faster scared than I can mad! [Laughs]
The Chilliwack AX track.
That’s funny you ask; we were just talking about this last night. I don’t know how many people in total were hurt, but it claimed nine pros. It was brutal. The first night, Lockhart got hurt and both of the Allison boys—one left with two broken arms and I’m not sure what happened to the other one; Justin Patjas broke his collarbone the second night. It was pretty technical, but—it would have been fine if it were just pros. It was probably the wrong setup for everybody, but at the same time, it was the first race of the year and they’re trying to make a good show. I can’t knock John [Verdonk] because the guy makes a wicked track, but it did chew up a lot of people this year.
Working and racing.
It’s tough, dude! Friday I was up at 5:30 a.m. to go to work. I worked until one o’clock and then bolted to the track [laughs]. It was hard to find motivation that night, until the Dash for Cash and then I was fired up. Even in the mains, I was sucking the hind tit because I was so tired.
Craziest Canadian.
I always have good stories of Boo Green when he was a kid; I don’t know the guy too well now. Oh, and Jeff Banks. Maybe he isn’t the craziest, but certainly one of the funniest.
Most underrated Canadian racer.
There are a few of them out there. I know last year Andrew Belin finally got some recognition, so I’m not going to say him. Around here, there are lots of kids that don’t have the money to be at all of the rounds. Right now, I’m going to go with Justin Patjas because the kid has a lot of talent, but hasn’t had his time to shine yet.
Most overrated Canadian racer.
This could get me in trouble! [Laughs] I don’t mind though; I have big shoulders. Brady Sheren? That will get me in trouble.
The next big thing in Canada.
Shane Wiebe. I think so. The kid just turned 16; he’s full of piss and vinegar; his dad is 100 percent behind him; he’s a great kid and he has lots to learn, but once he learns how to throw down some aggressive passes and calm his nerves, that kid is going to be on fire.
The abundance of fast guys produced on the island.
I definitely think it’s because we’re our own entity over there. It’s a pod of close knit people, and we have so much riding over there and opportunity to ride. A lot of the faster kids aren’t involved with the politics of the bigger areas. Everyone just goes out, rides, and has a good time. I think it’s that atmosphere that produces fast kids.
2008 Canadian National champ: Dusty Klatt or Colton Facciotti.
I think Dusty. He’s a little beat up and battered from riding in the U.S., confidence wise, I think. But once he gets back here, he knows he can do it, and I think he has more heart than Colton.
Our sport needs …
We don’t have the population in Canada; it’s a tight group that is spread out so far and it makes it tough for guys like me to race. Like next year, I won’t do the full series because I can’t afford it. I will do whatever ones are close. I think they need something like NASCAR, where they boost up the guys who aren’t in first. In Canada, we have 10 guys who get all the publicity. If we had only 10 guys racing, you would have nothing. These guys footing the bills themselves aren’t getting enough recognition and that means they’ll have less sponsors.
