R450: Since you mentioned Glen Helen, what did you think of it other than the drive?
Heather: The track itself was okay, but I don’t think that they were ready for the number of riders that were there. I know that they have the dirt bikes out there, but track prep and maintenance is different for quads. I don’t think that they had what they needed to do that out there.

R450: Is there anything that you really like or dislike about the ATVA series?
Heather: You could be opening a can of worms with that. The ATVA is a good thing and they are trying, but they need to have more control over things. They also need to take more things into consideration than what they actually do. Sometimes they try to make changes to rules and some rules aren’t enforced. They need some changes to be made.

R450: What kind of changes are you talking about? Anything in particular?
Heather: Well, we go to the same tracks and same places every year. I think that it is just easier for them that way. I think that we need to go to some different places and let some other people have a chance to get involved. With 814 riders here at Loretta’s we probably needed to be here qualifying on Friday. That is what the riders were saying last year too. They talked about it and didn’t do anything about it.
Joe comes back over to where we are.

R450: I’ll ask you the questions that I just asked her. If you had to pick a least favorite track, which would it be?
Joe: Least favorite I don’t know. That’s a loaded question. It’s a long way to Southwick, Massachusetts. I like sand tracks, but that place has never been good to me. If I had to pick one, I’d have to say Southwick because of the twenty-hour drive and I have no luck there. Nothing against the promoters or the track.

R450: What did you think of the track at Glen Helen?
Joe: It needed some work. I raced out there with a broken rib and it was rough. There were dust spots in some corners and mud holes in others. I don’t think that they knew what they were getting into when the nationals came out there. The layout was good and the sponsors were there. We needed to go there, but they needed better maintenance.

R450: What are your likes or dislikes about the ATVA series?
Joe: There are some things I don’t like about it. The thing that I like about it is that it is One Big Family.

R450: Anything that needs to be changed?
Joe: They need to make it mandatory twenty-five to thirty feet wide. Most of the tracks aren’t even fifteen feet wide. Also, we need better promotion. Some of the promoters do really good and some of them don’t put out much effort.

R450: What advice can you give to someone who is new or just wants to improve?
Joe: Go to the Joe Byrd Quad Riding School.
Heather: Definitely, most people think that they are ready to go race. They have raced some local races and done good, but Nationals are totally different.
Joe: Don’t get too fast too quick. Get all of the safety equipment and learn the fundamentals.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. And congratulations on winning to both of you. Good luck and we’ll see you next season.