Team Trick Tank 2007 - 2008

As I pulled up to the Trick Tank main offices/ manufacturing plant in South Carolina the workshop was buzzing. Justin Hopson was battling with the rear wheel of one of the many pit bikes in the garage trying to install a new rear tube. As he was doing this, Jake and Lucas were tossing rings while Josh was milling around trying to get a pit bike of his own going. It seemed to me rather chaotic and disorganized but all this activity was the norm for these guys. They practice, practice, practice, going from riding laps on the practice bikes on the full size supercross or the full size arenacross track to the pit bikes for a battle on the mini track just outside the door of the workshop. The entire grounds is a rolling expanse of deep whoop sections that seem to go on forever, high berms, double rhythm sections and huge gap jumps. There are three full size practice tracks, plus the mini track. It's quite a playground.

There's a beauty to the way these guys train, they make it play time. If you spend all day riding 5 days a week it gets old. If boredom sets in, there will be no way to improve. From trying to shove each other around while riding to throwing dirt clods at each other while riding through a section of whoops. It's all fun and games. Jake Gilbertson, Justin Hopson, Josh Harris and Lucas Helms are like brothers, ragging on one another, constantly fighting, ready to bring it at the drop of a hat. But don't try to get in between them. These guys are at each others' back. As quickly as they are at one another, they'll join hands as a team against an adversary.

Trick Tank got its start in 2003 competing in the Eastern region Amateur Arenacross Championship. It got its start as a means for Bob Gilbertson of Funny Car fame, to support his son Jake in his quest to reach the top of the heap of amateur racers. This month they have added a new track to the facility, a replica of the US Open track that will be used in Vegas, built by Lonnie Taylor. And they have Jim Chester providing some focused training. On the following pages we'll introduce you to each of them.