JMK Racings
Jim Kostelic
Tells it from a Team Owners Perspective
FT.com:
Well, do you know why I am here?
JMK:
Yes I do, I won the lottery. Right???
FT.com
Not exactly! But you did get
chosen for a Flat Track. Com interview!!!!
JMK: I really like the format on the new
web site.. You guys did a great job with the new format. It’s always
changing and loaded with new info all the time.
FT.com
How did you become involved in Flat Track?
JMK:
It all started back in the 70’s after I bought my first Harley-Davidson
street bike. It was a fast transition into racing. Fred was the manager of
Warren Harley-Davidson and had several National riders racing out of the
shop. They were racing Harley-Davidson XR-750’s. Two of the riders I
remember best are Rodney Bailey and Scott Drake. Then I
got to meet some local racers from my area and started helping them.
FT.com
What kind of bikes were they running back then?
JMK:
Back then there were a lot of two strokes. Yamaha 80’s, 100’s, 125’s 250’s
and 360’s. The frame back then was a Champion Frame. My favorite bike was
the Bultaco Astros. They were the best looking bike back then with their
paint scheme.
FT.com
Tell a little about the guy from Tallmadge you
mention a lot.
JMK:
He had a Yamaha 360 in a Champion frame and a Triumph for the half miles. He
also rode my Yamaha SC500 in the open class. I still have that bike to this
day. ( It’s my next restoration project, but it will go back as a motocross
bike instead of a flat tracker.)
FT.com
Did you ever race?
JMK:
Yes, for a very short while. I started out doing some Scrambles and then
bought a Yamaha 360 in a Champion Frame to do short tracks. But at the age
of 25 I was too old and didn’t heal very well, plus with being an apprentice
steamfitter I could not afford to keep getting banged up and taking time off
to heal.
FT.com
Do you remember your first National race?
JMK:
First race National I ever saw was in Toledo, Ohio at some horse track where
the stands were all glass enclosed. The other thing I remember about it was
everyone in the pits involved with a team had to wear white pants and
shirts.
FT.com
How did you get to where you are today?
JMK:
It started out about 9 years ago when I bought Tommy Hayden’s Mile bike for
my basement family room. Six people heard I had bought the bike and asked me
if I need a rider for the bike. I had no intentions of ever racing the bike
or getting back into flat track after being away from it for over 15 years.
But that changed quick enough.
FT.com
Who was the lucky guy who got your first ride back
?
JMK:
Robert Miller #68 who is now the ARIA Helmet rep.
FT.com
Did you have just one bike?
Go to forum
JMK:
would like to get a tuner for the team. I know with a tuner my rider would
be in the top 10 without a doubt. All my equipment is new and just needs the
right touch. I can only do so much with my knowledge. I have had some great
support from sponsors who I would like to thank right now, Youngstown
Harley-Davidson, K&N Filters, Red Line Oil, Saddlemen, Casper Welding
Solutions, James Gaskets, Motion Pro, Barnett, Mikuni, Regina Chains, NGK,
AFAM, Mothers, Wood Racing, Wiseco, Oury Grips, Sprocket Specialist and
Supertrapp.