Gary Sutherlin – Offroad Champion Turned Industry Apparel Specialist

Dale Spangler:

Welcome to Pit Pass Moto, a show that brings you deep dive interviews with the motorcycle industry insiders and racers that make the sport move. I'm host Dale Spangler, and this week my guest is former WORCS and National Hare & Hound champion, turned Fly racing apparel specialist, Gary Sutherlin.

This episode is brought to you by MotoAmerica. See the fastest racing on two wheels. It's MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road America, June 2nd through the 4th, with seven classes of racing, including 190 mile per hour Superbikes and King of the baggers.

It's fun for the whole family with available VIP packages where you can treat yourself to the ultimate fan experience, and enjoy your very own climate-controlled suite with live race feed, timing, and scoring. It's MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road America, June 2nd through the fourth.

Reserve your tickets and camping spot today at motoamerica.com. Let's get started.

Gary Sutherlin, welcome to Pit Pass Moto. I think you've been on a few times in the past, hasn't been with me yet, but how are you today and what's happening in sunny southern California?

Gary Sutherlin:

Doing good, Dale. Good to chat with you guys. Yeah, it's been a little bit. I've definitely been away kind of off the limelight for a while, so yeah, it's good to be back.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, that was a big part of why I wanted to have you on is because you are a past, former champion, off-road champion, WORCS Hare & Hound champion, and you've now transitioned into a role in the power sports industry. So, I just kind of really wanted to talk about that a little bit, both actually.

As a former champion though, I mean, it seems like you've had a tough few years, since those 2017 titles, it's just been tough for you to put together a full season again. Tell us about that. How's it been?

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, at the end of 2017, we could have a full radio show on just the drama that kind of unfolded at the end of ‘17. But I think realistically, the end of ‘17 I got a little jaded towards the industry in a way just how that was handled and winning two championships and not having a ride. And I don't think mentally I ever got over it, like I just I struggled a little bit.

I got back on KTM after I rode Suzuki's for a year. I got back on KTM and just kind of struggled, was doing stuff all on my own. And I was there on the podium and I just was struggling to get that edge to win races back to back again.

And when I snapped my arm in 2020, it just kind of ended quick, wasn't what I was expecting. I kind of wanted to do a couple more years and just kind of see where it was and do some races that I had kind of put on the map. I wanted to do five nationals and do some stuff.

So, it was kind of a little bit of an abrupt ending and that all kind of just stopped quickly and it's never fun to end your career on an injury, you know what I mean? And then I picked an Iron Man last year to like just re-energize myself and do something totally different that I totally sucked at.

And I started doing that and I ended up snapping a tendon in my ankle and I've been dealing with a bone infection now for about six months. The same thing that kind of ended my racing career was a bone infection.

So, yeah, it's been a little bit of a rough go, but keeping my head up and staying positive and back pedaling and trying to get some weight back off and get back riding.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, definitely some bad luck there. So, I felt like you're coming off such a fantastic year in 2017, winning the WORCS and the Hare & Hound in the same year, and then you switched to — and I think everybody was excited. I was excited to see it in 2018. You signed with Suzuki.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah.

Dale Spangler:

And they had this intent to jump back in and kind of bring back the Suzuki off-road program of the past.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yep.

Dale Spangler:

Which we know had a lot of success, and it just never really seemed to kind of happen for you there. I remember going to the Adelanto race and seeing you there, and unfortunately, just couldn't seem to keep that bike together, could you?

Gary Sutherlin:

No, I signed after ‘17, unfortunately, when I lost my ride everybody already had their budgets full and I called up Wheeler and me and Chris Wheeler were chatting and I was like, “Hey man, like I don't have anything right now. Like what do you think?” He's was all on board, let's get Suzuki back on the map and off-road.

And I was looking at it as a … even though I signed a one-year deal, we both had intentions of moving forward and just building Suzuki off-road back. Probably two months into that program, Wheeler got hurt and wasn't able … like I had no communication with anybody at Suzuki at that point, and was kind of just on my own.

I had one bike, I had two or three different motors, and I was just swapping motors in and out and it just fell apart from there. But I stuck with it and for the year and I think I was four points down with two rounds to go and I blew up the motor at Mesquite. And that basically took me from second in the championship to fifth or fourth, I think.

So, kind of a hard pill to swallow because then I lost out on championship bonuses, top three bonuses, and we were that close to a title on a Suzuki and hopefully, I was wanting to move to the 18 model and get off the RMX and actually start putting in some … like we had some good results. I came close to winning a couple races on that old bike and like no help.

So, it was it was a bummer to see that happen. I probably should have just swallowed a little pride at the end of 2017 and went and bought a couple KTMs or something like that, and just stuck it out that year, and we all make choices and we had bigger plans, it just didn't work out.

Dale Spangler:

So, then the next year, I think I felt like you were on track to really kind of come back and see if you could win that title back. And you sign with Hatch Racing, Steve Hatch, I think someone you've worked with quite a bit throughout your career.

Gary Sutherlin:

It was actually Fred Hatch. It was Fred Hatch.

Dale Spangler:

Oh, Fred Hatch.

Gary Sutherlin:

I thought it was Steve Hatch for some reason.

Gary Sutherlin:

No, everybody gets that mixed up. So, Fred Hatch is a, he's a local guy here in Southern California, raced Big 6 for years and years and years, super into the sport. He still actually to this day, helps out the Three Brothers Racing team and a lot of the support Husky and GasGas teams as well.

Dale Spangler:

That's funny. I never knew that. I just-

Gary Sutherlin:

Everybody thought it was Steve.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah.

Gary Sutherlin:

Steve got a lot of press off that.

Dale Spangler:

I bet.

Gary Sutherlin:

Hey, I love Steve. I've worked with Steve in the past and he's a great guy. And training with Steve, I learned a lot from Steve when he was in Arizona.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, that's what I remember, is kind of the Arizona connection. We were down there and so yeah. So, you come back on KTM’s, but then you had this ankle injury, and you end up with an infection on that. And so, it's just, wow. It just seemed like it was tough, like I said. After that 2017 series, there seemed like there was just something that always seemed to take you out of it.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, broke my foot in ‘18, broke my other foot in 19, and it was just like once I started getting momentum going and you know how it is, like just as you got the momentum going, it was just like defeated.

You're like, “Ah, man, another …” Take you out for two, three rounds. And they weren't big injuries. I mean, I snapped my foot, it's six weeks in a walking boot. Like it wasn't anything horrible. But it still takes you out of racing, so that was a bummer.

Dale Spangler:

Well, yeah. So, then fast forward again to the following year, February 2020, broke your arm, got another infection, and then of course, COVID hits and it just throws a wrench in everyone's lives.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yep.

Dale Spangler:

So, what was it like during that period? I mean, were you like thinking, this is the end of my career right now, or were you looking for jobs or what were you doing?

Gary Sutherlin:

So, I snapped my arm in February and I snapped it at the race. I didn't even go to the hospital, I just left it in the little cardboard sling and drove back, texted my doctor and said, “Hey, I broke my arm. Can I come see you in the morning?” He's like, “Yeah.” Took an X-ray. I'm like, “Cool.”

They're going to put a plate in it. Like we're six to eight weeks. I'm thinking, okay, perfect. I'm going to use this time to catch up on some training. Like let's just keep working, let's do our thing. And then like 10 days after surgery, that's when I found out I had an infection.

And then COVID hit, and it was then I had sponsors. Like everybody of course didn't know what was going to happen with COVID. So, most of my sponsors were all like … they pulled. They just pulled out and I understand, there's no hard feelings. I get it.

At that moment, it was kind of like, well, alright, I guess that's kind of like the end. And I didn't really realize it was the end until probably after like my … I had eight surgeries on my arm that year, and probably after like the third or fourth-

Dale Spangler:

Holy cow.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, third or fourth surgery PICC lines. It just was like, alright, this is going to take a lot longer than I expected. And I was like, it's just … it was time. But it's very hard. I think one thing not a lot of people really dig into is like if you go live … like I only dreamed of racing dirt bikes my whole life.

You go live your dream and then when you're done doing that, people are like, “Oh, what are you going to do now?” And you're like, “Huh.” Unfortunately, I know this sounds really small minded, but I wasn't thinking far enough ahead and I don't think a lot of people get stuck in that because you're so focused on winning races and racing, and it's hard to fill that void once it's gone.

And you don't realize it till it's gone and you're like, “Wow, I lived my dream.” And people are like, “Oh, well what are you going to do?” And you're like, I can go do construction, I can work in the industry, but there's still just that little bit missing. That fulfillment is just not there.

And so, I think that's probably the biggest struggle that I've dealt with moving past my racing career, is just picking something to be that passionate about. Because when you're racing, the passion and the drive you have towards your sport is unparalleled across the board.

And I'm like, I haven't found anything outside of dirt bikes that I'm like, “Man, I really am that passionate and have that much fun doing.” So, I think that's one of the hardest things.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, it's all consuming in my mind because it's like that's what you identify as a racer. And so, to not be able to identify as that is a hard transition, I feel like for a lot of racers when they get to the end of their career.

Gary Sutherlin:

Well, and off-road guys, like if it's not like you're ending your career and you got money in the bank and you're like, I'm going to sit back and invest some money and try some. It's like, alright, my racing career's done, I need a job on Monday. What am I going to do?

Dale Spangler:

So, were you kind of in discussions? I know you've been a long time on and off Fly Athlete-

Gary Sutherlin:

Yep.

Dale Spangler:

WPS and Fly athlete. And so, how did that come about? Was it something you were kind of just looking into and inquiring and just kept communications open?

Gary Sutherlin:

Well, it's funny actually. When I got done, I was like, mentally I was pretty over dirt bikes in a way. Like I said I was pretty jaded after 17 and that didn't really stop. Even at 2020, I kind of still was like, “You know what? I want a break.”

So, I started a glass company, and I was doing glass and I still have the companies, I do some on the weekend here and there. And then I did closets and garage cabinets as well. It was another little company I have.

And then randomly, I’m just talking to Kris Keefer one day and he's like, “Oh yeah, Fly’s hiring this job down here in California.” And I was like, “Really?” I was like, “What's it about?” And he's like, “I don't know.” He is like, “You want to talk to JT?”

I was like, “Sure.” So, I called JT up and was like, “Hey, what's going on?” And one thing led to another, had a call with JT and Cole and bam, next thing you know, I'm working at WPS. So, it just kind of happened quick.

I wasn't really looking for a job in the industry and that wasn't really my direction. The opportunity fell in my lap, and I was like, “Well, let's get back in the industry and do something.” Like you said, I've been off and on with Fly and love the brand and the people there. So, I was like, “Let's go work there.”

Dale Spangler:

Like you said, you never really officially retired, but you did transition. It wasn't until what? I think 2021 when you finally actually took the job with Fly and WPS, but what's your day-to-day look like in this new position?

Gary Sutherlin:

The cool thing is when I took the job, I talked to Cole and Jeff Northrop, Nor Cal, he was the guy in Southern California for Fly. And the big thing is Southern California is everybody's down here.

You have TLD and Fox and Fast House and you have Canvas and all these gear companies. And Fly for many years, we can be honest, our design is not the coolest. It's not like, “Oh, they're the cool brand.”

So, part of my job is honestly like go to the track once a week, ride your dirt bike, help out with media launches, and just be at local events and local races. And then when you're not doing that, mainly going to the dealerships with our sales reps at WPS, filling in the voids, if they're missing something, chest protectors, helmets, whatever — teaching patch guys about the Fly product, working on POP on the walls and window wraps and stuff like that.

So, basically just I guess you could say almost like a brand ambassador/sales/marketing in a way. Like kind of just the whole brand itself in this southern California area because we know how crucial it is to be present in Southern California with all the dirt bikes and motocross and everything that's just going on down here.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah. It's always made sense. Even when I had spent time there, my 11 years at WPS, we always talked about having that person that's the person in the van and going to the races and having lunch with media people. And I mean, it just goes such a long ways in our industry.

Gary Sutherlin:

That's the cool thing about our industry, is it's fun. Like that's why we all do it. We're not doing it to get rich and retire early. Like we all enjoy doing it and enjoy dirt bikes. So, that's one of those perks that I've been able to enjoy.

Unfortunately, I've been hurt for the last six months, so I haven't been able to go to the track and ride as much, but it's been nice to transition and see just Fly racing on a consumer side and what's actually selling in the dealerships and it was a big mental change for me to see what's actually selling at a dealership versus what as a racer, you would buy, right?

Dale Spangler:

Yeah.

Gary Sutherlin:

I couldn't believe it. When I see what's actually selling price point stuff, I'm like, “What do you mean you're buying? Like we have entry level helmets.” But people are like, “Oh, I'm going to put my kid in an entry level helmet.”

And I'm like, “No, no, no, no.” Like spend the extra money on a better helmet and buy a cheaper gear bag. Don't buy the Jett Lawrence $500 gear bag and $100 helmet. Like let's swap those real quick. Let's buy a $500 helmet and $100 gear bag.

Dale Spangler:

So, has there been some adjustments along the way? Like I'd imagine some of the desk skills, if you want to call it that, there might've been some things to throw in there to learn a little bit. But you've always had mechanical skills, so I feel like dropping you into a role like that would be pretty easy as far as technical speak. So, yeah, is there any kind of weird things that you didn't expect?

Gary Sutherlin:

I really do think the biggest thing is the biggest kind of eye-opener and hardest part was like understanding that most of these dealerships, the stuff that we're wearing or racers are wearing, $199 pant.

Like most consumers going into these dealerships are buying the $100 pant and the $29 jersey. Like they're understanding their dollar. And they're not just dumping it on the high-end stuff all the time. You definitely see the high-end stuff sell, but the volume of the lower level stuff is where kids are first getting into it on quads or side by side. So, it was really eye-opening to not be so just focused on the best, best stuff.

Like having to learn like maybe a little, I wouldn't say lesser quality, but just a price point set of boots, and trying to understand where the consumer sees it, and trying to relate and get that person to understand that this helmet is better and you want to put your kid in that.

So, that's probably been the biggest adjustment for me. And learning, map and all these little sales. The sales side of it's been a little like, oh, okay, tricky. Like I didn't understand all that at first, but it's all good.

Dale Spangler:

Margins and all this other stuff.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah.

Dale Spangler:

You end up doing a lot of math, don't you?

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

Dale Spangler:

We'll get back to the conversation in one moment but first, here's a word from our sponsor.

Well, you mentioned Kris Keefer, mutual friend of both of ours, great guy. You have been doing some test riding here and there for him.

And I would assume with Keefer's technical background with gear that you guys probably talk about gear stuff all the time to where I would assume that even helps you in your day-to-day job.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, it's funny, Kris, it's really funny because I've always done stuff with Kris, done media events with Kris. Whether it's for him and Racer X or just he's going for a Racer X one or he is going for Keefer, Inc or whatever it is.

And it's kind of funny because when I took this role with Fly, like I'm kind of Switzerland, I'm like, “Hey, I'm going with Tilly to Dirt Bike Magazine and we're doing a 450 shootout.” And then I'm like, “Hey, I'm going to Cycle News and doing this and then I'm coming over to him and then I'm going to Swap.” And he's like, “Dude, you can't do that.”

And I was like, “Hey, I'm not Gary Sutherlin in this role, I'm Fly. I'm here to accommodate all the media.” And so, there's always this like I show up and do stuff for Tilly or something and he is like, “I see how it is, man, that's cool. You're out, no more Keefer, Inc.” So, of course, we have that banter going back and forth with each other on that.

But yeah, he's really good with gear. I know his contract with FXR and all his stuff, he does. Like he is very technical, whether it's dirt bike or gear-related. And it's always good. I like try to get him, “Hey, want to wear this?” And he's always open to wear stuff and give feedback.

So, it's nice to hear. It's kind of funny too because I've learned at a consumer level, you go in and teach people about gear, a lot of times, it doesn't matter. Oh, I have triple stitched this, I have this 87 perforated holes in this set.

It's like people are like, “Okay, I don't need to know.” Like it looks cool, does it fit good? Does it feel good? Like sometimes I think in our industry, we get so caught up on such of the little stuff that we forget like people just want to ride their dirt bike. And if it looks good and feels good, most of the time they just wear it.

So, I've learned to kind of like tone down the technical side of it and just look at it as like, hey, this design's cool, fabric's good, fits great, like little things, bullet points. People don't want to read as much anymore. Like it's pretty funny.

Dale Spangler:

Well, let's talk a little bit more about something that's a big part of your life and that's dad life, and something I've always had a huge amount of respect for you, just the way from the moment you brought your daughter to the races Emery, and now you got married in 2019, and you have three kids. So, talk about dad life and what that means to you. You just seem like you're such a family man.

Gary Sutherlin:

It's pretty amazing. I mean from rolling to the races with Em and just that whole situation was crazy in that Em's absolutely amazing. She's 11 now, man, it's crazy. It goes by so fast. She's unreal in middle school and I'm just like, “Oh my goodness.”

And I think you could ask any dad and go, wow, it goes by fast. And then now, me and Kristie have a four-year-old daughter, Cheyenne. And then our son's 18-months-old, so-

Dale Spangler:

Randy.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, Randy he's the baby boy. Oh my gosh, my wife babies him so much. I'm like, “Babe, you got to let him fall a couple times. You got to let him … but I get it's mama's last child and it's a little boy so he's going to be a mama's boy for a while, but it's a lot of fun.

My Emery’s getting into like mountain bike racing a little bit. She's been enjoying that. So, it's fun. I mean, three kids I feel like two is like, oh hey, this is pretty … it's not bad. Two's good and three is just chaotic.

Not like because one kid's bad or not, there's just so much going on. Luckily Emery, being 11 really can step in and help out a lot. So, it's been really, really awesome to have her. She's an amazing big sister and just helps out so much. It's awesome.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, every time I see your social posts, I'm just like your kids just seem like they're so great. You have so much fun together. Have you found it being a little bit of an adjustment to the dad life with your professional life now?

Gary Sutherlin:

I think I learned a lot from when I was racing for a living I had to go get my work done. I had to go ride, I had to train, I had to work on bikes, but I didn't have help with Em. So, it was like at three o'clock when she was out of school, like I was focused on her.

Now moving into a more professional career as far as like I'm very conscious about like my time with my family. It's like hey, like I want to make sure I'm home as many nights as I possibly can. I want to be there as many mornings as I can. Because if you really think about it, my daughter Em is 11. In four years, like she doesn't want to hang out with me and my wife.

She's going to want to hang out with her friends and go do stuff. So, that amount of time you get to really spend with your kids, like I really want to make sure whatever I'm doing at this stage in my life, it allows me to spend time at home on the weekends as much as possible.

I know we have to make money to live, but having that time with your family as I think anybody can tell you, it means more than the paycheck sometimes.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, I'm sure it's been a transition because I mean, let's face it, like when you're a professional racer to race at the level that you have, I mean, you have to be selfish in some ways. Like you have to do, like you said, put the work in, work on the bikes, drive to the races.

But I think it's interesting for Emery, just she literally like grew up in that environment and it just seemed like she enjoyed it. There was lots of people that always seemed to want to jump in and like watch her during the races, and so what a unique way to grow up.

And I would imagine, who knows if she'll end up doing something in the industry or racing or whatever, but it seems likely, that tends to happen when you're around it your entire life.

Gary Sutherlin:

She still rides. She rides and we're doing some Moto for kids races. She's really into baking right now. That's her like, “I want to be a baker, dad.” I said, “Okay, whatever.” I'm like, I always tell everybody, people like, “Oh is Em going to race? Is Randy going to race?”

And I say, “Hey, I want to teach all my kids how to ride a motorcycle and how to be safe.” And I'm like, “If they choose to race, like I'm going to support them in it. But if they don't want to race, that's fine. Go do something else.”

I always want them to have the opportunity to know how to ride a motorcycle in case when they get older somebody's like, “Hey, let's go to the desert or whatever.” Or if we want to go ride, we can go trail ride.

I'm not like, “Oh I want my son to race and be the next Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac or Ricky Carmichael.” I'm not one of those guys at all. I could care less. I will just want them to have fun on dirt bikes and be happy. So, hopefully, they enjoy riding dirt bikes that's part of our whole family is all about two wheels, so we'll see.

Dale Spangler:

Well, regardless if you ever do another pro race again, I mean you've had so many good memories through the years. Are there a couple that stand out as just those moments that you're always going to cherish from your career like Six Days or something like that – what stands out?

Gary Sutherlin:

I think the one race that stands out the most for me was 2017 Hare & Hound, there's two rounds to go and if I won the race, I won the championship. And I remember talking to Taylor was standing there, Ricky was standing there, and at that point, Taylor had missed a few rounds and I was Ryan Dungeying it. I'd won two rounds. I'd Ryan Dungeying it. I was like, “Hey, if I get second, I'm cool. I just need to be smart.”

Dale Spangler:

In it to win it.

Gary Sutherlin:

Yep. And I remember Brabec going, “Jeez, you don't even have to win races anymore to win a championship.” And it fired me up so bad that I literally left that night and Kristie was in the van and I said, “I'm going to destroy these guys tomorrow. I'm going to win. I'm going to kill it. I'm going to kill it.” I said, “Let's go.” I ended up winning by like three and a half minutes the next day and won the championship.

And it was so funny because after that race, my wife was like, “What in the world got in? Like do that every race.” And I'm like, “I would love to, but I don't know what got into me, what actually made that push.”

But yeah man, that was probably one of the coolest things because everybody just thought I was going to like lay up, get second and just take it into Barstow at the last round and just win it with the top three.

And like Keefer, nobody showed up. Like nobody showed up to Lucerne because nobody really thought I was going to win and win the championship that round. So, it was kind of funny to just go out and do it the way I wanted to do it to win the championship.

Dale Spangler:

I mean, just stamped your authority on it and that just had to be just so rewarding like you're saying because it's just like there was no … you erased the questions at that moment.

Gary Sutherlin:

Exactly. And I mean that's just one small. I mean Six Days was huge, X Games like getting to go to Brazil, Spain, Germany, all these places, and I mean all the West Coast stuff, and I mean there's so many cool memories and cool places I got to race the dirt bike.

I definitely will see myself probably doing Mammoth again. If I ever got to a point where I was back in speeding shape, I'd love to do Washougal National one more time, but the years keep ticking by. I keep saying it, the years just keep ticking by and I'm like … so you never know.

Dale Spangler:

Well, I always like to ask this question of my guests because power sports just draws you in so much to where it's hard to get away from it. But if you weren't, now that you have an industry job, I feel like that's probably filling some of that two-wheel racing void.

But if you weren't, is there something else, like another sector? Is there something that you think you'd be doing that would potentially fill that void?

Gary Sutherlin:

Man, the only other thing I could think of, drive a monster truck.

Dale Spangler:

Really?

Gary Sutherlin:

Yeah, it's funny because I actually hit up a couple. I was like, man, I always wanted to drive a monster truck. I know it sounds so crazy hillbilly, whatever. But I was like, I think that'd be fun. Like we went to Monster Jam and I was like “Ah, that'd be so cool to drive a monster truck.” And that would be the probably the only like the next best thing to fill a void in racing.

That or even I told my wife, man, I would love to just get a piece of junk stock car and go to Paris on Friday nights and bash and bang around a track in something four wheels.

Dale Spangler:

Sounds like you need to talk to the Fly people because the more I think about that, I just go, you would be the perfect person for Monster Truck because there's no one out there that will send it as hard as you will.

Gary Sutherlin:

No, they got to keep those monster trucks together, though. I haven't had a good track record of keeping things together, so maybe that might be my only downfall.

Dale Spangler:

That's true. So, what's snacks for Gary Sutherlin? Are you going to get back on the bike and doing just some local races here and there or anything like that? I saw you kind of mentioned that you're starting to do some triathlon training.

I know that's kind of a … I did that myself when I quit racing for a while. I did running races and road cycling to kind of distract myself. But of course, it's never the same as riding a dirt bike.

Gary Sutherlin:

No, actually tomorrow, I think is going to be the first day back. I'm going to ride Glen Helen, I think tomorrow take the Fly van out. I think it's been probably seven months since I rode a dirt bike. So, I think I'm going to get on the bike tomorrow, go for a ride. Just go enjoy, have a little fun.

And then, I technically am signed up for a full Iron Man in October, but that all kind of depends on my ankle. That's why when I got injured initially a year ago, was I was just jogging, training for an Iron Man and snapped a tendon. So, I'm still on heavy oral antibiotics. I literally just had a PICC line in two weeks ago.

So, yeah, it's been pretty rough. So, I'm still on heavy oral antibiotics. I'm just finally … I got up early this morning and went for a pedal, so I'm finally starting to get back being active. So, we'll just kind of see where it ends up.

I got a bicycling trip from Montana to Wyoming this summer, so that'll be fun. And for me, the next step is just being active, getting back out and being active with my family and doing the things that I used to love a year ago. So, this injury, it's just been holding me back. So, that's probably my next real step is just getting back.

Dale Spangler:

So, which of the three are you best at? Run, bike or swim?

Gary Sutherlin:

I'm not good at any of them. Come on Dale. I'm not good. Definitely, bicycle, that's my strongest. I'm not a good swimmer and right now, I don't even think I can run. So, it's going to be pretty ugly if I end up trying to do it in October.

They were nice enough last year, I was supposed to do Arizona Iron Man last year and I didn't, because I was actually literally laying in the hospital the morning of the Iron Man after a surgery, and so they gave me another entry for this year.

So, I picked Sacramento because it's a downriver swim, it's a flat bike and a flat run. So, I was like, it’s the easiest one on there. And I'm like, “Hey, it might be ugly, it might be 15, 16 hours, but I'm like I think I could get it done.” It's more just getting the body in enough shape to get it done.

Dale Spangler:

Well Gary, really appreciate your time today. Always enjoy talking with you and you're one of my favorite characters in the sport. And any last words before we close out this episode?

Gary Sutherlin:

I appreciate you guys thinking about me and having me on. It's always nice to get the call, saying, “Hey, you want to chat a little.” It's always fun chatting dirt bikes. So, I do enjoy the opportunity to chat with you guys and look forward to doing it down in the future sometime.

Dale Spangler:

You're welcome on anytime. So, thanks so much Gary. Appreciate your time today.

[Music Playing]

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Pit Pass Moto on your favorite podcast listening app so you never miss an episode.

And if you have a moment, please rate and review our show, we'd appreciate it. You can also follow us on social media or visit pitpassmoto.com where you can listen to past episodes and purchase your very own Pit Pass Moto swag.

This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thank you to Tommy Boy Halverson and the production team at Wessler Media. I'm Dale Spangler. I hope you'll join us next week for another episode of Pit Pass Moto. Thanks for listening.