Dirt Track Champ Harold Goodman Talks About the Season

   Harold Goodman of Brownstown, Michigan, is the 2008 Duro Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals champion, earning the title for the second year in a row. We caught up with him after he won the championship to talk about the highlights and lowlights of the season.


   ATVAonline: How does it feel to win the title for the second year in a row? How does the feeling compare to the feeling after winning it last season?
   Harold Goodman: The first is the best, but to be able to defend the title feels really good.  There is always a little more pressure to do well once you have proven yourself but the season was fun and everything worked well for me.
   ATVAonline: Who were your toughest competitors and why?
   Goodman: The whole class was fast this season, which made the starts really important.  Michael Coburn and Brad Riley were the two who were right there all season.  Michael was really quick and also got great starts which lead to a tough season.  I’m looking forward to racing these guys again next year.
   ATVAonline: Tell us about your sponsorship from Honda.
   Goodman: American Honda was really good to me.  The support that they provide for the season really helps out.
   ATVAonline: All the top 10 riders in the Extreme Dirt Track Pro class were riding Hondas. How do you explain that?
    Goodman: Honda builds a very reliable bike that is also easy to get power out of.  It seems that through the years they have consistently provided an ATV that is capable of winning championships.  Because of this, many of the racers have chosen Honda to take them to the top of their classes, not just in the Pro classes, but in many of the classes. 
   ATVAonline: We hear you are getting married in December. Congratulations. What is your fiancee’s name and is she supportive of your racing efforts?
   Goodman: Her name is Jessica.  She is very supportive of my racing.  Her family is into watching NASCAR, and usually attends a few of those events a year.  So she has grown up around motor sports and loves coming and helping out at the races.
   ATVAonline: How have your parents been instrumental in your racing career?
   Goodman: My dad and mom have been very important to my racing.  My dad got me started riding in 1983 and racing in 1986.  They have always supported me.  They are my biggest sponsor.  My dad and mom do so much of the work needed to get us too the races.  I can’t say how much I appreciate that.
    ATVAonline: How old are you? What do you do for a living besides racing?
    Goodman:  I’m 30 and invest in real estate.
   ATVAonline: Besides Extreme Dirt Track, what other disciplines did you race?
   Goodman: I race the AMA ATV Motocross series and finished eighth. I also am racing in the desert on Wayne Matlock’s team and we are currently leading SCORE with one race to go and have a shot at a championship in Best in the Desert.
   ATVAonline: Tell us about your school. What's involved, what do students learn, how much does it cost and how can people sign up? Do you have age limits?
   Goodman: I spend time on both riding skills and bike setup.  Both are important for Extreme Dirt Track racing.  The cost depends on the class.  I do group and private lessons with both either being a one- or two-day class.  There are no age limits.  I believe my youngest was five5 and the oldest was over 50.  Unfortunately, this season I was so busy I only managed to have a few classes.  Hopefully, for next season I will be able to schedule some more.  I can be contacted at tbhg708708@yahoo.com.
   ATVAonline: How did you prepare for the racing season? Describe your typical training day?
   Goodman: I spent a few months down in Texas at Rage ATV.  I got up, did an hour workout, ate breakfast and then rode.  I also worked in different types of cardio into my day.  Besides that, there was a ton of bike maintenance that had to be done and I had to build my race bikes for this season.
   ATVAonline: Who are your sponsors? Who would you like to thank for your 2008 success?
   Goodman: I would like to thank all my sponsors, family, and friends, since without them none of this would be possible: American Honda. Houser Racing, Rage ATV, PEP, HMF, Hinson Clutch Components, Douglas Wheel, JPMX, Rath Racing, Pro Honda Oils and Chemicals, FLY, Pro Design, Edge Tyres, Hoosier, Precision Racing Products, Generation X, Web Cams, Dark Synergy, Nicholson's, Updog, ATVriders.com, Stroud Designs, and Division Four.
    ATVAonline: Tell me about your racing machine. What trick parts does it have?
   Goodman: I ride a 2008 Honda TRX 450R.  Everything about it is pretty trick from the Houser Tric Trac to the Rage ATV engine.  I had a great machine this season and all my sponsors made that possible.
   ATVAonline: What was the funniest thing to happen to you this season?
   Goodman: At what ended up being the last round, I got spun out going into the second turn at about 50 mph.  Somehow I saved it even after going down the track backwards at that speed. 
   ATVAonline: What was the most heart-breaking thing to happen to you this season?
   Goodman: Nothing seemed too bad.  I have been racing for so long that I’ve been in every situation.  If I had to pick anything I guess it would be that in the last two rounds of the EDT series I got into other riders causing me to have to come from the back.  That’s racing though.
    ATVAonline: What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time unrelated to ATVs?
   Goodman: I enjoy RC cars and planes, and working on houses.
   ATVAonline: What advice would you give amateurs who want to become Pros?
   Goodman: Always work hard, don’t try to move up too fast, and don’t get discouraged, everyone has a bad day.
   ATVAonline: Anything else you would like to add?
   Goodman: I am just looking forward to next season and I would like to thank all my competitors for a great year.