Mike Hacker #67 "The Hackman"

After season ending crash at I-96 Speedway in Michigan late August 2007 Grand National Flat track racer Mike Hacker, has had a tough road to recovery. Realizing the situation Hacker and Supertrapp switched their attention to seek out an up and coming rider to carry the torch. After weeks of communications it was obvious that the best choice would be 2007 Pro Expert Twins Champion Matt Weidman #73b, and made their debut at Daytona. The goals of the team for 2008 are to continue to represent Supertrapp as well as other sponsor on and off the track, and to allow Hacker time to heal and take new team management responsibilities and coach Matt in his goals and dream of a GNC rider.

From the Other Side….by: Mike Hacker

All the getting ready preparations for Daytona was still there, the nerves were still there, but the only difference was, I wasn’t going to be throwing a leg over and competing on the track. I got over the what if’s early and my focus was on Matthew and the SuperTrapp racing team.

We spent two days testing at Savannah. This would be the first time I would witness Matthew’s riding style. We tried several set ups and we communicated very well. At the time for the night race, the track looked really good and I felt confident in Matthews capabilities. He qualified for both the 450 and 750 events. Matthew went out for the 750 Heat race and qualified but I heard a knocking noise when he returned back to the pit, Ms Jackson needed some help. So we had to use the back up bike for the main. I briefed him on starting from the 3^rd row and to ride smart and smooth for a better result. I missed watching the 450 main to get the back up 750 working like a charm. I so have a new appreciation for all the mechanics out there. It is hard work but in the end very rewarding. I was happy with the first night of racing, and I see where we need to improve upon.

Day 1 at Volusia.. The track was rough and we struggle right out of the gate with the set up of the bike because of that. We qualified for the 450 main by placing second in the heat but it was a no go for the 750’s.

Day 2 at Volusia, a day race. We knew we would have some traction problems that would need to be sorted out quickly. The starts were not great and we struggled. He had the 450 heat squared away by placing a second and in the main came thru the pack in 9^th. He missed qualifying for the 750 by one transfer position.

Monday The following day, I gave him his orders to make both main events. I felt that pushing him in that competitive mode would swing momentum for Daytona when it really counted. I changed the bike once again and coached him on his skill set and throttle control. The track conditions were much better and hoped that would be to our advantage. He ran some effective lines and did fulfill his orders by having a really good finish in the 750 class by passing the most people and landing in 4^th and in the 450 class finish 8^th. Because of the numerous red flags at the 450 main, Matt overcame and his finish was impressive. I was happy with his progress thus far from Savannah.

Daytona Singles Event #1- At last the crap shoot is finally here. It was nervy to say the least, I have always had a love hate relationship on this track. The pressure to qualify for the program is enormous and draining at the same time. It’s any ones’ race and pretty much the luck of the draw. He qualified 19^th, but when the night came that would not matter much, as now it was a new track to get used to. We chatted a bit about how to handle the bike and the starts. Unfortunately the starts were just not there and it all went down hill from there. We would have to try again on day two. Struggling with the set up and seemed to mimic my Daytona’s in the pass we came up short.

Day two.. We set out with a plan, I wasn’t as nervous as I believe we learned quite a lot the night before. I changed the set up a bit and he the qualified 43^rd. UGH. The heat race finished 6^th and it was off to the semi’s. Matthew did well considering his inexperience at Daytona. He passed and rode hard but fell short by two for the program.

We do need to get some training in before the next venue. The set up will need to be dialed in and coaching methods expressed. However, I was pretty excited about Bike Week and how it all came together quickly and effectively. He has a lot of heart and drive to be successful. We clicked from the start, but have a lot of work to do. I am optimistic that the season will be successful.

Special thanks to Kevin Berger from SuperTrapp for celebrating our Bike Week successes and for being the strong force in our program.

The SuperTrapp/ Mike Hacker race team thanks the long time sponsors that also agree in our purpose. Without your support, the road to success wouldn’t happen.

Our next venue will be here soon, we have a lot of work to do between now and then.. So let me get back to that…

Hacker #67

Colonial Heights, VA ( January 20, 2008)--AMA Grand National Flat Tracker Mike Hacker will receive title sponsorship backing From SuperTrapp for the 2008 season. The long time partnership established in 2003 will remain strong for the twenty-one events of the championship series.

SuperTrapp’s proven performance on the track has made it a standard in the racing world for decades. SuperTrapp Industries, Inc. has grown to be a leading manufacturer of aftermarket performance exhaust systems for a variety of motor vehicle applications, including motorcycle, ATV and automotive. The SuperTrapp brand has long been recognized as the performance standard, combining added power with innovative styling, quality, and versatile sound.

Most of the riders (70 percent) competing in the AMA Flat Track Series, including Mike Hacker, 2001 National Champion Joe Kopp, 2003 FUSA Champion Bryan Smith, Bryan Bigelow and Willie McCoy use the stock SuperTrapp 750 Megaphone Series. Retired flat trackers Steve Morehead, Jay Springsteen and Scott Parker also used SuperTrapp products during their legendary racing careers.

Mike Hacker’s 2007 race season had prematurely ended due to a rather nasty crash at I-96 Raceway at Lake Odessa, Michigan. Several months were spent in extensive physical therapy and strength training to get back to this seasons schedule.

“ I am feeling good, still ache in some spots but all is healing the way it should. The schedule is packed this year and new venues are in place. It’s shaping up to be an outstanding series, and that is what I am excited about,” notes Hacker.

###

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (December 10, 2007) – AMA Racing has announced the tentative schedule for the 2008 AMA Flat Track Championship. 2008 season highlights include a return to the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ legendary Indy Mile on Sept. 13 for an event to be held in conjunction with the 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Additionally, visits to the mile track at Vernon Downs in Vernon, N.Y., on May 31 and Bedford Speedway’s half-mile oval in Bedford, Pa., on June 27 are also planned.

The schedule features 23 total events, 14 of which are GNC Twins races and seven GNC Singles events. Two events are classified as TBD at this time and will be announced later.

The 2008 season will kick off during Bike Week at Daytona Beach, Florida’s Municipal Stadium for a two-night GNC Singles double header on March 5 and 6. The series then moves out West to USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz., on Apr. 5 before crisscrossing the United States towards the season finale which will take place on an all-new purpose-built half-mile track at Topeka, Kansas’ Heartland Park Topeka on Oct. 4.

Last year Harley-Davidson factory rider Ken Coolbeth became the first to capture both the AMA Grand National Singles and Twins title in the same year. Coolbeth is expected to return to defend his dual championships and be joined by such series standouts as Jake Johnson, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Chris Carr, among others.