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It was a rainy mid-week day when I
got the call from Cara Harmon with
Holeshot, she wanted to tell us
about the class Sean Hackley and his
dad were doing. We told her sure,
count us in and with storms looming
in the forecast we headed out to
North 40 MX Park. After the class we
had a chance to hang out and talk
with the former Cobra racer and this
is what came of that meeting.
Nice guys finish last
“Hog Wash”
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| Last week we got a call from Cara Harmon a local rep
from Holeshot Magazine telling us that Sean Hackley Jr.
and Sr. were going to be putting on a training class at
North Forty MX Park. Needless to say when we ask Hunter
if he’d like to go he jumped at the chance.
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The
weatherman was a little less egger to play nice, but it
worked out great and aside from a couple hours of rain
the day turned out to be super. The training went well
and the mud gave the Hackleys just one more tool to use
on the riders.
When the class was over I had a golden opportunity to
sit down with fellow Texans Sean and Sean and just bench
race about their days on Cobra and just how they got to
where they are now. Both Sean and his dad were very laid
back and down to earth, I’d quickly add them to the list
of riders I’ve meet that are very approachable and
extremely nice. I spied Sean Jr. While waiting for the
start of the racing afterwards helping to jump someone’s
truck off, talk about nice!
So let’s get to the meat and potatoes here, Sean Jr., to
look at Sean you could pick him out of just about any
local high school, big smile and pleasant demeanor, but
this kid takes it to the track. Like several other
racers, from the day he went Cobra his racing life has
changed. It was during his time with Cobra that his dad
realized there was something special in Sean’s racing.
Sean Sr. was no stranger to racing himself and as the
interview will tell, he’s been there done that and had
much to draw from when raising little Sean to be the
next big thing. Like many parents of Cobra kids he’s
worked day and night to provide Sean Jr. with what it
takes to win.
I could go on about these two guys, but let’s get to the
interviews. |
Sean Hackley, 1997 PA |
King Cobra of Texas – So Sean, back when you rode for
Cobra what would you say is the most memorable race you
had.
Sean – Well that’s an easy one, 98 Mini-O’s “I beat
everyone real bad” the last moto I hung the gate and
came from last to 3rd
KCoT – You’ve got a few years under you belt and have
matured in your racing, looking back what would you say
“It Takes” to make it.
Sean – In a word “Family” it takes a real great family
support base. “My family did everything for me”
KCoT – What rider do you feel has really inspired you to
take it to the next level?
Sean – That would have to be James Stewart, the guy is
amazing. His riding ability and work ethics on and off
track should inspire any rider.
KCoT – Everyone has that one guy that just gets us, the
one guy that can beat you any given day, every time you
line up with them you think oh boy here it goes again.
Well who was that for you Sean?
Sean – There were really 2 guys Chad Wages and Phil
Nicolette those guys always battled good and you never
knew who was going to take it.
KCoT – Lastly Sean, since your off with an injury and
you had some time to think about your path, once you
recover and get back in the saddle, where do you see
yourself in 2 years?
Sean – “I really want to WIN” , I want to be there! Once
you’ve got a taste of the top shelf podium, second is
not where I want to be. I want to win!
A few questions with Dad, Sean Sr.
King Cobra of Texas – Looking back at how Sean started
when would you say you thought Sean had the right stuff?
Sean Sr. – Maybe a little premature, but when Sean was
turning 7, we were at a night race and Sean was just
different, he went from mid-pack to winning just like
that. “I was thinking man where did that come from”.
KCoT – With all the distractions in life, how did you
keep Sean focused on racing?
Sean Sr. – “we never really practiced, because I was
always racing” but I always promised him we’d race every
weekend, and for the most part we did.
KCoT – Anything you would suggest to other dad’s in
developing their little racer.
Sean Sr. – Well I see it all the time and its
frustrating, Dads that yell at their son. “No yelling”
it serves no purpose; kids just want to make you happy.
It’s your job to make it light and fun, go play riding
to let off the pressure, tell them they did this or that
great before citing what was wrong. And remember it all
changes when they because a front runner, the pressure
to win is expected. Work with them and make
opportunities both fun and challenging.
KCoT – You guys have lived a fairly nomadic mx life, in
all this time what do you recall that even now makes you
guys laugh?
Sean Sr. – Wow, that’s a tough one, there have been so
many things, traveling with Sean around this country has
really stacked up some funny stuff, but I guess I’d have
to say the time we shoveled the snow out of the driveway
and headed to Florida, we still had snow on the top when
we got there, we got out and saw that and just laughed.
It was good times for sure.
KCoT – Sean, we hear you did a little racing back in the
day, tell us a little about your last race.
Sean Sr. – Well I had tried a few LL qualifiers back in
2001 and wasn’t really sure if I had made it. We had
left Ponca and were pulling into Loretta’s when I got a
call telling me I had made it. I didn’t have a bike or
gear or anything else. I managed to borrow a bike from
Stewart, a race ready KX125, got some gear from here and
there and made it to the line. It was crazy, but I made
it. That was the same year Jr. won so it was a special
year for us.
King Cobra of Texas would like to thank the Hackleys for
their time, these guys are top notch and we were proud
to attend the class and spend time with them. If you’re
around and hear they are having a class, give it a try
I’m sure you’ll be as please as we were.
In closing, I’d like to thank the
sponsors that help support Sean and crew, because they
have an excellent spokesman for our sport.
MotoWorldracing.com , PPG Yamaha , Toyota , Spy , Troy
Lee Designs , Michelin, FMF , Ogio , and Bell Helmets
(All great companies supporting a super rider)
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