Dirt riding for the joy of it

Making a living out of racing dirt bikes is a dream for many, but one that only a select few really achieve. Even if you’re the next Ricky Carmichael or Jeremy McGrath, it takes more than talent these days to get noticed—and let’s face it, if you haven’t landed a major sponsorship by 20, then you should probably start looking for a real job.

As much as I love writing about the riders who make it to the big leagues, backed by factory support and all, it is refreshing to chat with the average Joes—the guys (and gals) who work all week just to squeeze a few hours of ride time in on Sunday afternoons. They are the real heroes of our sport because they do it not for the cash or fame, but for the pure and simple fact that twisted throttles and spinning tires never get old. 

Meet Mike Benz—a volunteer firefighter, forklift operator and well, an average Joe. Growing up in Vernon, B.C., Benz was introduced to motorbikes when he was eight years old.

“My parents bought me my first Honda 50, which I still have,” said Benz. “I had a little track in the backyard and I remember riding it around and telling myself, ‘I’m going to race one day.’ ”

Benz didn’t own another bike until he was 22, but when he did, it was off to the races. Competing with the Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association (PNWMA), he was able to reach the expert class. Hare scrambles and cross-country races were more of his forte, but he gave enduro a try as well.

“In 2012, I made a good go of it and followed most of the races,” he said. “And then I ended up third overall for senior expert in the 2012 season.”

That same year, Benz went to Saxony, Germany, to support Team Canada racers at the International Six Days Enduro. It was a great experience but not one he wants to pursue.

“I like the cross-country type racing where you do 120 kilometres of one track (and) you never see the same thing again,” said Benz.

The dirt rider’s paradise

Living in Lavington (a small community just outside of Vernon), Benz has access to some of the best off-road trails in B.C.

“We are really spoiled in the Okanagan for dirt biking,” said Benz. “We have some of the best riding around of, well, anywhere.”

Becker Lake is one of his usual haunts.

“For dirt biking, it’s the place to go,” he said. “There are two dirt bike clubs in Vernon, and they throw three races every year up in that area.”

Benz has other hobbies as well. He owns a Can-Am Commander—a UTV that is usually loaded to the hilt with coolers, camping gear and other backcountry essentials. Again, the Becker Lake area is his favourite place to ride.

“It’s a very popular area for off-roading,” he said.

Before the Commander, Benz owned a Can-Am Outlander, but like many, he made the switch from ATV to side-by-side for the extra seating capacity. He has discovered pros and cons of each.

“I still miss my quad because it does things the side-by-side can’t, and it gives you a different experience than the side-by-side,” said Benz. “When you four-by with it, you don’t feel as in tune with it.”

These days, however, a working man has to pick and choose his hobbies wisely. And for Benz, if it came right down to it, it would be dirt biking first.

“I love blasting through trails on single-track,” said Benz. “It’s the most thrilling. It definitely hurts the most but it’s the only (sport) I really like doing.”

Benz still competes with the PNWMA, but it’s just for fun.

“I pursue it as much as I want,” he said.

And when he’s not racing, Benz enjoys testing his limits away from the confines of a set track—out in the backcountry, where a sunny day and a full tank of gas are the best he can ask for.

“I’m an outdoor guy,” said Benz. “I find a lot of peace being out there; shut the bike off and sit in the middle of the bush and all you hear is nothing.”