Interview:
"TPQ" Tim Shelman - WORCS Pro ATV
Racer
#8
Tim Shelman-- Ten Quick Facts
Birth
Date:
3/20/1970
Weight:
150lbs
Hometown:
Bonney Lake,
WA
ATV:
Honda TRX 450R
Occupation:
Construction
1st Race
ATV:
Banshee
Started
Racing:
30 Years Old
Nickname:
"Timmy Pro
Quad"
Favorite
Food:
Anything
Hobbies:
Traveling
Tim
“TPQ” Shelman didn’t start
racing till he was 30 years old, but in only
7 years of racing in his homestate of Washington
and the National recognized WORCS Racing series,
Timmy has become a name familiar to many ATV
racing enthusiast around the country not just
from his Podium finishes but also his upbeat
personality. Shelman’s racing career began
on a stock Yamaha Banshee, and he would earn
his first WORCS Pro Podium in 2005 on a Yamaha
YFZ450, which was the first over several Podium
finishes over the past couple of years.
Shelman wrapped up the 2007
WORCS season with a hard fault Podium finish,
and he kicked off the 2008 season with yet
another Podium finish, which allowed him to
maintain a top three point standing for several
rounds till a DNF sent dropped him back several
positions, but an impressive top 5 finish
at the Hollister has Shelman right back in
points chase heading into the summer break.
Moto X Nutrition, had the
opportunity to interview Tim Shelman about
his 2008 racing season, and was kind enough
to share the interview with ATVriders.com,
so here is TPQ’s story.
You've
developed pretty big fan base, what's that mean
to you at the races?
It’s almost a reverse; I am a fan of the
great people at the track, from the new little
50 riders to their parents and on to the factory
guys and girls. The dedication is the same and
still, or at one time, they have fun in this
sport. I want to show that we are all equal
and having fun is what it is all about. My main
goal is to try to help open doors for the kids
coming up and make more opportunities from sponsors
and locations to ride.
Timmy
"TPQ" Shelman is a mad man
when it comes to the mud, being a Washington
state native, Timmy gets to ride in
fair share of mud considering it seems
to rain in Washington on a nearly daily
basis, and his mud riding experience
have paid off a few times, and most
recently, Timmy kicked off the 2008
WORCS season at Speedworld in Arizona
with a 2nd Overall finish and he looked
like a troll when he crossed the finish
line, but he was happiest nearly blind
ATV racer in the pits
Many
racers run "TPQ" stickers
on their ATVs, including race veteran
Mike Cafro
Where
did "TPQ" come from?
A friend of mine Scott D. said I am always
introducing myself to every one no matter
where I am. So when the question is asked
“What’s your name?” my response
would be “Tim Shelman, Pro Quad rider.”
Hence the Timmy Pro Quad. My motto is “You
don’t know who you don’t know.”
There are way too many interesting people
in this world not to say “Hi”.
What
do you think of the factory presence at WORCS
these days?
The factories are finally getting the big
picture. The talent in the WORCS series is
tremendous and the exposure is growing at
an alarming rate. I am tickled that they are
here and I can’t wait to see who is
next.
In
2004, Timmy made the switch to the WORCS
Pro ATV Class at Round 8 in Longview,
WA, and he quickly made his presence
known on the newly released WTec Eraser
by finishing in the Top 5
Timmy
"TPQ" Shelman earned his 1st
WORCS Pro Podium finish at Washugal,
WA in 2006, which was none other than
a mud race with Shelman now on the Yamaha
YFZ 450
Any
chance we'll see you on a factory ride next
year?
I scare all the factories because no one can
build anything that can stay together for
more then 1 race. Just kidding! I am not going
after any factory rides because I am keeping
myself in check. The bikes and the money would
be great and would definitely change my program,
but I am afraid I would take myself too seriously
and not be the person I am now.
Tim
Shelman has no issues with styling his
Honda for camera, and he is always ready
to push it to the limits when he notices
a photographer on the track, and I really
think that if he could hire enough photographers
to stand track side on every turn, he
would probably either lap the entire
field or pass out before the checkered
flag from exhaustion
