Quad racing success: it runs in the family

By Carrie Moritz, Gazette

Sometimes, a legacy runs in the family. Whether it’s car mechanics, farming, or racing, the legacy is passed down parent to child, generation after generation. For Michelle, Brent, Payton, Linkin, and Hudson Kuik, it’s track racing.

“Racing has been in our family forever,” said Michelle Kuik. “I used to race motocross and [my husband] Brent used to race also all around the country doing TT.  Their grandpa used to race dirt bikes and quad, aunts have all raced, uncle races, and cousins.”

And now, that legacy has been passed down to the next generation. Brent and Michelle’s children Payton, Linkin, and Hudson all race four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, also known as Quad racing. They have a couple practice tracks at their home north of Garretson, and are members of the Sioux Valley Cycle Club (SVCC), a dirt track located near Renner. This means they can get several hours in per week of practice, and this has served the family well.

On September 13, 9-year old Linkin took home his second Nationals Championship trophy from the Midwest Extreme Dirt Track (MWEDT) competition held in Indianapolis, IN.

“Linkin has won several different championships ranging from ice, short track and motocross,” said Michelle. “He races the 90 shifter class at the MWEDT (this is the class he won the United States National title in) and the 90 liquid cooled TT at SVCC.  Linkin also started on a bigger quad this season at SVCC.  He's riding a 300cc quad in the schoolboy JR. class and is doing very well.”

His siblings have been excelling, as well.

Payton, age 15 and a sophomore at Garretson High School, also races track and cross country. She competes in the women’s TT at SVCC when it doesn’t conflict with her sports schedule.

“Our local track usually has about 15-20 women at a race so she’s got a lot of competition here and has gotten quite a bit of experience,” said Michelle. “She’s gotten a couple podiums this season which is a huge accomplishment in that class!” Payton is hoping to get more racing in next year on tracks out of state.

Hudson, age 7 and a second grader at Garretson Elementary, just started on the racing circuit, but he snagged a 2^nd place on Saturday, September 10 and 5^th place on Sunday at the MWEDT Nationals competition in the yard stock class and the mini stock class. This was his first year traveling for the MWEDT Nationals competition.

“The rule in our house is you can’t start racing until you are 5 years old so they all started when they were 5,” said Michelle. This means Hudson only has two years of practice under his belt, making this a big accomplishment, especially as this is a competition that matches up competitors from all around the United States.

Indianapolis is a season championship race, pitting east coast versus west coast racers against each other. This double header competition consists of both elite and amateur racers who are working hard to earn a title belt, which must be defended each year. Linkin defended his belt “against some tough competition,” Michelle wrote on Facebook. A Page dedicated to the family’s racing was created, and those interested in following are encouraged to search for Kuik Family Racing.

The family has also traveled to Illinois and Missouri this season for races, and last year, found themselves as far away as Ashtabula, OH for competition. Luckily, they don’t have to travel alone.

“Everyone at the track is like one big family,” said Michelle. “When you are traveling that far we try to carpool the best we can. We have been able to travel with the Stegenga family from Valley Springs, SD and the Ockenga family from Hartford, SD.  We have been very lucky to have them as they have helped out a lot!”

Sponsors have made their love for racing easier, as quad racing is not cheap. Besides the ATV, there’s also safety equipment.

“Some of the gear they wear are helmets, goggles, gloves, pants, jerseys, riding boots to protect their legs and ankles if they crash and we have invested in a good neck brace/chest protector this year,” said Michelle.

Both Linkin and Hudson hate crashing.

“My least favorite part of racing is crashing because it's frustrating and you feel like you failed,” Linkin said.

Hudson agreed. He hates it “because it hurts,” he said.

Along with the safety equipment, to protect riders from injury, all quads are equipped with kill switches for the engines and nets near their feet to ensure they don’t catch a foot or leg in a tire.

Despite the potential danger, racing is a popular sport. TT racing, which means Tourist Trophy, was coined in the 60’s or 70’s according to Michelle.

She explained, “In short track racing there are two terms, short track/oval and TT. The TT has different turns and corners and has jumps in it versus just a flat oval.  It’s comparable to a road course on dirt with jumps. Their tires are also different to accommodate the harder surface (like a sprint car tire) as they don’t have big knobs on them like an off-road type tire would.”

All three children compete in TT quad, just as their father did.

Fun is a big part of why they compete. Both Linkin and Hudson have several competitors in their classes, and Michelle notes that has turned them both into great riders.

Linkin loves all the friends he’s made from different parts of the country, an experience he wouldn’t have had otherwise. When he’s racing, he gets to hang out with them. He also loves knowing when he’s had a good race and has done his best.

Hudson loves getting on the podium, because “it is a huge accomplishment,” he said.      Michelle always tells her kids to do their best and to have fun, “because that’s what it’s all about,” she said.

And it’s obvious they do. Which means the legacy has been passed on to the next generation of Kuik’s, with a love for racing and competition that encourages all three kids to pursue their dreams.