Pike family racing/bob's big boy racing intro

[bajabum]

i was told to do an introduction of my families racing history being part of the class 3 clan for quite a while, so here goes.

my name is nick pike and i am currently a college student and i absolutely love off road racing, it's all i've known since i was a toddler. my grandfather is gale pike, he's been in the off road racing community for about 35 years dating back to around 1972 when he entered his first off road race in a saab.( yes, a saab!) which lasted less than a year from which he then invested in a stroppe built early bronco and then really became an off road addict. he raced throughout the 70's winning the 74 baja 1000 and others here and there. as time progressed his racing career dwindled during the early eighties as he had a wife and five kids. my dad, matt pike began racing in 1983 with his first race in another stroppe built early bronco. racing consistently and competitively throughout the eighties many miles were put on the bronco and it was set aside and rod halls famous class 4 dodge pickup was purchased and was raced between my dad and grandfather in class 4,8 and stock full in the later years, and now sits retired in our garage as an occasional prerunner kept in pristine condition. the pickup took them to a baja 1000 victory in 1986 in class 4 and then put on the back burner, as my grandpa craved to be back in class 3 where he acquired an old dodge ramcharger which earned a win in class 3 victory in the1987 baja 1000. shortly thereafter i was born and my dads racing career went to a screeching halt for a few years and thus the ramcharger ended up going to waste and the occasional race every year or so in the dodge pickup was a treat for him. anyway time went by and my dad and my uncle noah pike decided it was time to go racing again. a couple close friends of theirs raced an 85 chevy blazer in the prior years and had no use for it anymore , so a deal was made and the truck was raced through the 90's and the recent years getting many finishes and decent placings including a second place at the baja 2000.we competed with it quite a bit in the best in the desert series until the axe was put on class 3. it raced its last race at last years terribles town 250. i was fortunate enough to race it for my first race last year in the mdr don griffith 250 and it was the most fun i've ever had, i got it around just under the time limit and managed a 3rd place out of the deal.cant wait to do it again! in thier most recent racing efforts my dad, grandpa, and uncle decided it was time to revive the old dodge ramcharger that had gone to waste years earlier as it was thier pride and joy when they raced it. after a long build the truck debuted at last years baja 1000 and as most of you probably know didnt make it incredibly far due to some difficulties staying on course. so as of now we are gettin ready for the mint which will probably be one of the last races my grandpa will drive in at the age of 78.

anyway theirs our family intro for anyone who's interested. sorry for all the reading it was the shortest i could possibly cover 35 years of racing history, there's tons more tales and stories that could've been told but i figure it be better told by the guys in person. thanks for reading, looking forward to meeting some of you guys, and i love the site.
-nick

[Blanco]

http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/awesome_dude.gif Please make sure to say hi to me & the rest of us Class 3 racers out there.
I'll probably be wearing a Class3Cup t-shirt & taking lots of pictures..
As long as your hanging around your team during contingency I will find you. :)

But me, I'll be hard to catch because I wont be able to stay put being all the Pics I can take.. http://bestsmileys.com/camera/1.gif

[toddz69]

i was told to do an introduction of my families racing history being part of the class 3 clan for quite a while, so here goes.

my name is nick pike and i am currently a college student and i absolutely love off road racing, it's all i've known since i was a toddler. my grandfather is gale pike, he's been in the off road racing community for about 35 years dating back to around 1972 when he entered his first off road race in a saab.( yes, a saab!) which lasted less than a year from which he then invested in a stroppe built early bronco and then really became an off road addict. he raced throughout the 70's winning the 74 baja 1000 and others here and there. as time progressed his racing career dwindled during the early eighties as he had a wife and five kids. my dad, matt pike began racing in 1983 with his first race in another stroppe built early bronco. racing consistently and competitively throughout the eighties many miles were put on the bronco and it was set aside and rod halls famous class 4 dodge pickup was purchased and was raced between my dad and grandfather in class 4,8 and stock full in the later years, and now sits retired in our garage as an occasional prerunner kept in pristine condition. the pickup took them to a baja 1000 victory in 1986 in class 4 and then put on the back burner, as my grandpa craved to be back in class 3 where he acquired an old dodge ramcharger which earned a win in class 3 victory in the1987 baja 1000. shortly thereafter i was born and my dads racing career went to a screeching halt for a few years and thus the ramcharger ended up going to waste and the occasional race every year or so in the dodge pickup was a treat for him. anyway time went by and my dad and my uncle noah pike decided it was time to go racing again. a couple close friends of theirs raced an 85 chevy blazer in the prior years and had no use for it anymore , so a deal was made and the truck was raced through the 90's and the recent years getting many finishes and decent placings including a second place at the baja 2000.we competed with it quite a bit in the best in the desert series until the axe was put on class 3. it raced its last race at last years terribles town 250. i was fortunate enough to race it for my first race last year in the mdr don griffith 250 and it was the most fun i've ever had, i got it around just under the time limit and managed a 3rd place out of the deal.cant wait to do it again! in thier most recent racing efforts my dad, grandpa, and uncle decided it was time to revive the old dodge ramcharger that had gone to waste years earlier as it was thier pride and joy when they raced it. after a long build the truck debuted at last years baja 1000 and as most of you probably know didnt make it incredibly far due to some difficulties staying on course. so as of now we are gettin ready for the mint which will probably be one of the last races my grandpa will drive in at the age of 78.

anyway theirs our family intro for anyone who's interested. sorry for all the reading it was the shortest i could possibly cover 35 years of racing history, there's tons more tales and stories that could've been told but i figure it be better told by the guys in person. thanks for reading, looking forward to meeting some of you guys, and i love the site.
-nick

Nick:

Welcome aboard! Thanks for sharing some of your family's racing history with us. Your grandpa was one of my heros when I was growing up and I was able to attend my first off road race the year you were born. We were honored to have your grandpa as one of our featured guests for our "Evening with the Legends" at the 40th Anniversary of the Ford Bronco two years ago in Victorville. He was a true gentleman. I'll be paying homage to your family's Stroppe Bronco racer at the Denny's next month when I pass through on a Death Valley trip.

Todd Z.

[wiley-moeracing]

Welcome Nick, can't wait to see the old mopar in vegas! I would love to see some pics of the class 4 ram as I have an old j-10 class 4 out back that needs to be put to use someday. Thanks tim

[bajabum]

i'll be coming in thursday night, and hanging around the truck all day friday. if i see any c3r shirts or familiar faces i wont be a stranger.

[BajaBronco13]

Hey Nick,

Welcome to the C3R.com crew. I have some pics of your Ram Charger at the starting line at B1K. Very nice machine. Good luck at the Mint.

Chris

[Blanco]

i'll be coming in thursday night, and hanging around the truck all day friday. if i see any c3r shirts or familiar faces i wont be a stranger.

I Hope to catch you thursday evening then, because I'll be heading down to Primm that night, so I'm ready to Pre-Run friday morning.

are any of your team gonna pre-run?

[bajabum]

Nick:

Welcome aboard! Thanks for sharing some of your family's racing history with us. Your grandpa was one of my heros when I was growing up and I was able to attend my first off road race the year you were born. We were honored to have your grandpa as one of our featured guests for our "Evening with the Legends" at the 40th Anniversary of the Ford Bronco two years ago in Victorville. He was a true gentleman. I'll be paying homage to your family's Stroppe Bronco racer at the Denny's next month when I pass through on a Death Valley trip.

Todd Z.

wow, nice to know theres a couple fans out there that remember the old time racers. the evening with the legends was a pretty incredible event to watch, we appreciate the support

[bajabum]

I Hope to catch you thursday evening then, because I'll be heading down to Primm that night, so I'm ready to Pre-Run friday morning.

are any of your team gonna pre-run?

yes, were prerunning two matching pickups, one is an older ford stepside pickup and the other is the old rod hall dodge stepside. their painted with stroppe orange, blue and white.

[bajabum]

Hey Nick,

Welcome to the C3R.com crew. I have some pics of your Ram Charger at the starting line at B1K. Very nice machine. Good luck at the Mint.

Chris

thanks, it was quite an effort getting the truck to that point

[bajabum]

Welcome Nick, can't wait to see the old mopar in vegas! I would love to see some pics of the class 4 ram as I have an old j-10 class 4 out back that needs to be put to use someday. Thanks tim

i'll try to get some of the old pictures of it up, if your going to be at the mint the truck is going to be there.

[BajaBronco13]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/616631/fullsize/p1090713.jpg

[Yikes]

That was a great read! It's just awesome to see racing families and their history. Took the obligatory picture of the old Stroppe rig passing through a couple of weeks ago. Ha! Can't wait to hear your stories from Primm!

[bajabum]

That was a great read! It's just awesome to see racing families and their history. Took the obligatory picture of the old Stroppe rig passing through a couple of weeks ago. Ha! Can't wait to hear your stories from Primm!

thanks, you'll definitely hear about it good or bad

[AngerIssues]

Thanks Nick!

I guess you are the internet junkie of the family! You dad doesn't seem to be it! ha ha.
Tell Matt the "picks" I saw on race dezert are close - only they have the order reversed:
should have been

leavitt:
pike: :o)

seriously though, I have underwear older than you, but I have been watching and following your family for way too long. I HOPE LIKE HELL we draw side-by-side starting positions with you guys. That would be great. For me to start next to Gale (will he start?) would be just.... "most excellent". I might even LET him "pull me" in the dodge. he he.

[BajaBronco13]

Nick,

Sorry to hear you won't be making the Baja 1000. Any chance we can get some up close pics of your class 3 racer?

Chris

[bajabum]

im up at school in northern cal. and the racer is down south and the only pics i have are from previous races so when i go home for thanksgiving i'll take some up close pics and post them for you guys

[BajaBronco13]

Thanks Nick.

If you're going to Chico State I remember back in the late 80s they earned the number 1 party school in the nation. Gotta love college.

Chris

[Blanco]

Here's some pics I took at last years Baja 1000. :cool:

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584310/fullsize/img_0681.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584311/fullsize/img_0682.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584312/fullsize/img_0683.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584313/fullsize/img_0684.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584314/fullsize/img_0685.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/584315/fullsize/img_0686.jpg

[BajaBronco13]

Thanks Cam.

That truck deserves a magazine spread.

[Blanco]

Thanks Cam.

That truck deserves a magazine spread.

I must agree & now that you said that I'm gonna send an e-mail to Jerrod. :cool:

[bajabum]

Thanks Nick.

If you're going to Chico State I remember back in the late 80s they earned the number 1 party school in the nation. Gotta love college.

Chris

yep chico state it is, not quite number 1 but still up there on the list and still fun. and that would be pretty cool to get a write up on the truck, couldnt hurt for more class 3 exposure

[BobBower]

yep chico state it is, not quite number 1 but still up there on the list and still fun. and that would be pretty cool to get a write up on the truck, couldnt hurt for more class 3 exposure

Hi Nick,
Matt got the word to me about the Baja 1000 on Monday. While I'm bummed that I won't be running that Ram with Gale this year, I'm also feeling quite honored that Gale invited me to be his right seat.

Chico rocks as far as I'm concerned. My son graduated a few years back. In fact, he runs the Pita Pit on Broadway. Stop by and say hi. His name is Bobby. He went to Chico as a freshman, and has stayed there ever since.

[flyinbronco]

Thanks Nick.

If you're going to Chico State I remember back in the late 80s they earned the number 1 party school in the nation. Gotta love college.

Chris

I was born and raised in Chico. In fact 3rd generation. I remember the glory days well before the Playboy publicity. Once we hit the big time so to speak that was the end of the good times. Out of town kids coming north to start trouble ruined the party. Its still a great little town though.

[BajaBronco13]

I was born and raised in Chico. In fact 3rd generation. I remember the glory days well before the Playboy publicity. Once we hit the big time so to speak that was the end of the good times. Out of town kids coming north to start trouble ruined the party. Its still a great little town though.

Is that when they have the riot on the campus Rick? I remember that.

[bajabum]

Hi Nick,
Matt got the word to me about the Baja 1000 on Monday. While I'm bummed that I won't be running that Ram with Gale this year, I'm also feeling quite honored that Gale invited me to be his right seat.

Chico rocks as far as I'm concerned. My son graduated a few years back. In fact, he runs the Pita Pit on Broadway. Stop by and say hi. His name is Bobby. He went to Chico as a freshman, and has stayed there ever since.

wow i had no idea you were gonna co ride with him, that's pretty cool he's a handful to co drive for but still awesome.

i've been to the pita pit quite a few times, i'll definitely drop by and say hey to him. as far as chico goes these days way more low key than when you guys were partying, and way too many cops keep the craziness to a minimum. those pioneer day riots must've been pretty wild to experience

[BobBower]

wow i had no idea you were gonna co ride with him, that's pretty cool he's a handful to co drive for but still awesome.

i've been to the pita pit quite a few times, i'll definitely drop by and say hey to him. as far as chico goes these days way more low key than when you guys were partying, and way too many cops keep the craziness to a minimum. those pioneer day riots must've been pretty wild to experience

Yes, I am aware of the "handful" aspect. For some reason it seems I have had good luck with drivers that were a "handful". Jaime Martinez and I would chat about that very thing... But, the old rule still applies. Whatever happens in the race car stays there. Besides, he is the same way when he's flinging bugs at trout. All it means is he's having a great time and he has focus. He's a good man.

Good to hear you know the Pita Pit. My guess is that your visits have probably been after midnight. HHmmmm. Low key or not, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Hope you're having your share.

[bajabum]

you couldnt have said any better. i was fortunate enough to make it up to montana for a week over summer and fling bugs at trout with him, and he outfished me on about 3 to 1 ratio and i fished twice as long usually!

and yes there hav been a couple occasions where a group of us would stumble in to the pita pit for thier late night specials

[4x4dudester]

How many races have you entered that rig in so far? It sure looks like it is LOADED with winning capabilities.

[bajabum]

3 so far, last years baja 1000 was it's debut. it was an unfortunate DNF where the truck slid off the course in a sketchy mountain section at RM 230 and by the time we got there to help there was no chance we would make time limit, then the mint 400 where the entire spindle/ left front end fell off at speed once again leaving the truck stuck and unfixable in a tight canyon wedged in the sand. and then the terribles town 250 which it got a 2nd place against darren skilton's old trick class 6 2wd jeep. we were hoping to prove it's real potential at this baja, but i guess we'll have to wait

[JaimesKid]

Hi Nick,
My dad was your grandfather's co driver for some years in that Ford Bronco that sits out front of the Dennys in Baker CA. His name was Jaime Martinez. Like you I have many memories of off road racing when I was growing up. I enjoyed reading your post as it brought back some great memories and stories. Unfortunaly my dad passed away 8 years ago but his years in the dirt with your grandpa was very enjoyable!!
If you need some help in the pits or chasing during an event Im game.
Regards,
Patrick Martinez

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