IN THE SPOTLIGHT #2

The "Voice of Road Racing" Kiki Rodriguez

Kiki Rodriguez flanked by two M1GP Girls (Jenn DuHaime (Kiki's right) and Kitty Franks (Kiki's Left)

Kiki on his RS80 and his plaques earned from CMRRA

RECENT RACE HIGHLIGHTS

• 2008 CMRRA (California Motorcycle Road Race Association)
  
  • 85 GP Novice Champion
  • Novice Overall 2nd Place
  • 150 Thunder 2nd Place

Kiki Rodriguez, former CMRRA (California Motorcycle Road Race Association) racer and now the "voice of racing" at M1GP and WERA West races spends a few moments out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions. 
Get to know the man behind the voice!

Age: 49
Residence: Anaheim Hills, CA
Years Riding: 15
Years Race Announcing: 1
Sponsors:
Race craft:

Other interests: Music Production, Expert Guitar Player, Outdoor Activities including Kayaking, Bicycling, Fishing, Recreational Shooting.

M1GP: Kiki, what's your real name?
KR: "Enrique Rodriguez"

M1GP: When did you start riding and how did you discover motorcycles?  
What type of bike(s)?
KR: "After high school I acquired a mid-70’s Honda CB500 from a friend. He taught me how to ride it and off I went. Shortly after that I replaced it with and ’80 Suzuki GS450 twin that was already “set up” for canyons. But my riding buddies, including Manuel Morales, kept upping the ante, buying the latest bikes out there at the time (Interceptors, GPZ’s, Katana’s) so I got a NEW ’83 Suzuki 4-cylinder GS550E, then a year later a NEW ’85 GS550EF, then a USED 85’ Honda Interceptor VFR750. That was the last street bike I owned, then in 1990 bought a couple dirt bikes and learned to ride in the desert with a different set of buddies."

"As a kid I ALWAYS wanted a dirt bike or mini bike or ANY motorcycle, but my Dad would NEVER let me or my brothers have one. As a consolation though, he kept buying us guitars, and when we were in high school we had accumulated 10-15 guitars."

M1GP: When did you start racing?  What level and organization was it?
KR: "2007 CMRRA Mini road racing. Willow Springs was my first race: May 3^rd, 2007. I’ll never forget it."
"Once again it was high school buddy Manuel Morales who invited me to an open practice day in late 2006 and he insisted I try out his RS80 in the Willow Springs parking lot. After 15 seconds of riding, I was hooked and KNEW this was for me. That day I met Simon Lampard and he was twisting my arm; Jim Matter was offering tech help… and thank goodness 2005 CMRRA Champ Michael Chou was nice enough to sell me one of his cherished museum-quality RS80 race bikes. When he sold it to me he made it clear: Don’t screw up this bike and keep it clean. Michael especially was a HUGE help in showing me the ropes in Mini road racing. 2008 CMRRA Champ Mookie Wilkerson was also generous to me and a HUGE help in making me a better rider."

M1GP: Why did you stop?  Will you ever return to racing (as a racer)?
KR: "When the 2009 season started I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it anymore… not in 2009 anyway. Of course I’d like to return to racing. Hopefully I can make it back… I have everything I need… just need a race bike now, ha ha!"


M1GP: When and how did you get involved with race announcing?  What do you like most about it?  What do you like least about it?
KR: "It was M1GP that first asked me to help out with announcements since Al Lyons retired, since I was getting ready to say “goodbye” to mini road racing… then the (M1GP) endurance race series started. I am not sure exactly when this all happened, but I DO know I started announcing for WERA in August 2009."

How we're used to seeing Kiki these days...calling the action and getting the rider's to the grid!
"Final call, I'm looking at the pre-grid area and I don't see YOU on it!"

"What I like the most is the element of drama that’s added to the event. Every racer, every race, every lap: there is a story to tell. The YSR guys have been a perfect example of this last year. Small class, but geez these guys were bumping elbows the entire race, race after race. The Vet NSR class too… sometimes those races cause me some anxiety… almost covering my eyes with my hands sometimes. Now that I think about it, the NSR class too. WERA races are much tougher. I start talking at 7:30AM and DO NOT STOP until 5:30PM, long after the racing has ended. No joke, sometimes I have been on the toilet at can hear the starter on my walkie-talkie “Starter to announce: Checkered flag! Checkered flag!” That means I have to make “immediate call” for the next race, and yes, from the toilet seat. I have learned since then when NOT to go to the bathroom. WERA races are VERY tiring and the grids are huge, and I do not get a break. You get em’ in, you get em’ out. 17 races and they don’t start until 12:00PM.  But still it is a lot of fun and I’m glad to be there!!!! The WERA staff and management… ALL of them have been very professional and nice to me."

M1GP: We've tried some new things since you and I raced with M1GP : 12-lap races in some events, Transponders, Same-day trophy presentations (on the podiums you built), and race announcing. What do you think about the changes?
KR: "Love the changes! 12 lap format gets everyone home quicker (working parents love this) and teaches the racer endure, and calculate. But also it allows the racer to correct any on-track miscues (running off track, taking bad lines, traffic, bad start, etc.)"

"Transponders tell the story; remove any discrepancies, and provides valuable archived data to racers accessing the Internet."

"Trophy ceremonies? You spend the money, take the time, make the trip, take the risk… and if you’re lucky to podium then you SHOULD be publicly celebrated for that. It’s a great photo op for family, friends, and sponsors… AND for your own racer websites."

"Race announcing keeps things moving, keeps people informed, and adds drama to the event."

M1GP: What are some of your favorite racing circuits to announce races at?
KR: "Grange (Grange Motor Circuit) and Willow are great because I can see everything in front of me."

"Auto Club Speedway (WERA) in Fontana has a GIANT and LOUD PA system, but poor visibility. I heard Miller Motorsports Park is the bomb, so we’ll see this May 22-23^rd."

M1GP: Can you talk a little bit about the FM antennae you built and how the system will work?
KR: "Yes. It is a 1-Watt Ramsey FM100B and a TM100 antenna. Young, please start asking for racers to bring boom-boxes with FM radios on them, or a portable FM radio, or be prepared to use their car stereo to listen in on the M1GP action. We will dial in the unused frequency before race day so everyone will know what FM band to tune in to. We’ll use the existing Willow and Grange PA speakers too."

M1GP: We have an eight-race championship series with 3 endurance races - a 2 HR,  8H3 and the M1GP24 Super Endurance Race.  Are you ready for the 2010 season? :)
What M1GP races will you be announcing?
KR: "I hope to do all of them!"

M1GP: We planning on regular film coverage at our events, hopefully with you interviewing some of the racers.  What value do you think it brings to the racers, their fans and their sponsors?
KR: "Not all racers like to talk, but some love it and seem to know just what to say. (Andre) Ochs, (Lex) Hartl, and the Roberts boy (Joe) LOVE being interviewed at WERA. It’s a chance for them to shine OFF track and tell a quick story, and give shout outs to their team and sponsors. The interviews are good confidence builders too. The WERA adult racers haven’t picked up on it… yet!"

M1GP: What are your goals for race announcing?  Would you like to be announcing at AMA races or professionally, maybe for Speed Chanel or some major media outlet?
KR: "No, I don’t think so. It would be too much work, joining unions, contracts, reading scripts, etc. I like the club stuff because I truly have a piece in the ownership of the day as it moves along. I am free to do what I see fit in the way of announcements, and now adding music at strategic times (like you hear on Speed Channel MotoGP and SBK broadcasts.) I am starting to do this at WERA races now. Also with the club level I KNOW many racers and therefore are more personable with them. Heck, I raced against many of them."

M1GP: You now see and interact with youth to adult racers at our race events and big racing circuits.  What are some of the major differences between the races and racers (Interviews, calling the races).
KR: "Calling the races at the mini tracks is very easy because I can see everything and recognize the bikes."

M1GP: Like other sports, racers are in the sport with their parent's support and sometimes direct involvement.  What, in your opinion, are parents doing right/wrong (or well and not so well).   For those new to the sport, what, if any, advice would you give from your perspective?
KR: "It’s difficult to say since I don’t have any of my kids racing. But I salute ANY parent helping their kid out there, technically or otherwise."

"I will say this though: I have heard of parents not letting their kid(s) race because of bad grades in school, which I support 100%. An education is so important and critical at that age, and can’t be compromised… even by road racing."

"Newcomers: Have fun, MEET people, and learn. Mini road racing is like a merry-go-round. Jump on and you’ll find “your spot.” Racing folks are eager to help. Personally that has been the single most POSITIVE experience I have had in racing: It’s not the achievement of winning a 2008 85GP Novice championship. It is the people I met, and continue to meet, and work with along the way. Because of this, the Mini road racing community has by far been the best kid-adult sport I have ever experienced."

Kiki chats with newly crowned 2008 Red Bull Rookies Champion and former CMRRA racer: Benny Solis Jr. at the Al Lyons / CMRRA appreciation day (M1GP Round 2 -2009)

M1GP: Now that you are involved with mini road racing and big motorcycle racing, has your view on mini road racing changed?  If so, how?
KR: "No it hasn’t. I continue to believe it’s the springboard to super speedway racing, but really it’s the fun factor. Watching these kids and adults battle all day in a lower risk setting… I am entertained completely."

M1GP: Will you play the National Anthem on your guitar for an M1GP event in 2010?
KR: "I guess so. Maybe I’ll do it for the 8-hour? (It’s sort of a hassle to set up the guitar rig, ha ha!"

"Al Lyons let me do it one time, and I played a very respectable version, but I don’t think he appreciated the Marshall JCM all-tube guitar amp. It was screaming pretty loud, and AL pointed his microphone at the speakers so it blasted over the Willow Springs Kart PA system too and they heard it at Streets of Willow."

M1GP: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Kiki.  The excitement and professionalism you deliver with your service to M1GP and WERA races is greatly appreciated by the organizations and the racers, I know.  Looking forward to the first race you call!

- M1GP