Meet “The Busiest guy around” Jared Mees

Daytona Update

Hey Jim,
Here is the update your going to have to make some spelling grammar. HaHa

Daytona! Daytona! Daytona!

Man I was looking forward to Daytona since the cold weather came around.  I was really wanting to go back racing again since we didn’t do a hole lot on the ice this year.  We actually had a bad winter for the ice, we didn’t really get ice until the middle of January and some of the days we rode were really crappy so with a little ice riding this year I was ready to go to Daytona.  Savannah is always a great race and racetrack.  It is what I like to call a GET IT ON race track.  Everyone goes fast there. I got a 2nd that night on the Harley and didn’t finish that strong on the little bike had some problems.  The next night at Volusia was a flip flop 2nd on the little bike and tranny problem on the Harley.  Sunday at Volusia again was feeling good until the little bike heat race were I had the hardest crash of my career.  I went back out on the Harley to win my heat race but for the main event I started feeling really sick to my stomach and all.  So I thought that is wouldn’t be a good idea to race.  Wednesday and Thursday were both Nationals at the Stadium so we decided to go up to South Carolina on Monday to test.  We got some good laps in and ready for Daytona.  I always had bad luck at Daytona but i was ready to turn this around.  I qualified like 17 and was in the 5th heat race.  I had Joe Kopp and Kenny Coolbeth.  I knew it was going to be a good one.  I got the holeshot and put it in the main event.  IT FELT GOOD.  In the main event on lap 3 my bike had a few problems that put me out for the rest of the night.  I had to switch motors for the 2nd night and it was al set up for the halfmile stuff.  The track the 2nd night was way different then the first.  I missed the main event by one to Sam Halbert who really rode his heart out on both nights.  I felt my Daytona was as successful as the rest of the field, but not as good as last years on the half miles and not were I wanted to be on the Short tracks.  I just recently signed the deal with Harley Davidson as a support rider out of Lancaster H-D.  Johnny Goad is going to be the guy turning the wrenches and Saddlemen with Tom Seymour is still behind us all the way.  I'm really excited for this year.  I think with added Screaming Eagle parts my mile program should go to the next level.  I'm really confident.  I also bought a house before Daytona and when i got back from Daytona I went home to PA and picked up most of my things.  So I’m living in the house.  I actually just got done painting the whole thing.  Painting is the most boring thing that I ever did.  It's like going fishing and not catching anything!  So yeah I itching to go racing again I hate breaks, but I think this break was for the good on our Teams end.  Alrighty I got to go put the finishing touch on the trim so I got to go. Hope to see everyone soon. 

Later Jammin Jared Mees #21

FT.com
Hey Jared, since Daytona is right around the corner lets talk a little about the Hotshoes you dominated down there last year. You where on fire Jammer. 

[Jared]
Johnny Goad know's his setups on those kind of tracks.  It really felt good to win all the races but we seem to have some bad luck on the short tracks. That’s  racing  and this is a Brand New Year. 

FT.com
You’ve been spending a lot of time up in the great white north, how's that been going? 

[Jared]
Good... I have been staying with the Cheza’s for the most part and I really like the people and the atmosphere up here for sure.  I'm actually looking at buying a house.

FT.com
Is it safe to talk about the proposal Harley Davidson offered to you and a few other guys?

[Jared]
Can't really talk to much about that Yet.

FT.com
How's your parents and have they missed you since being adopted by the Chezas ? 

[Jared]
Yeah parents are great and there behind me 100% so what ever makes me happy I guess they do understand.  My dad comes to a lot of races so it pans out.

FT.com
Personally, I have seen your website and discover you add new sponsors all the time, can you elaborate some so other guys can get a better understanding on how to go about finding such help? 

[Jared]
I have been getting a lot of good exposure thru Racer Services so that's been really helping a lot, and I just try to figure a way to help the sponsor first and then myself.  Instead of taking you have to give back.

[Jared]
Lancaster H-D and Saddlemen are the best out there right now.  There all Dirt Track Lovers and all are behind Johnny Goad and I 100%.  They're Sponsors but I like to look a  them as friends.

FT.com
Which racetracks do you find to be better than others and which track is your absolute favorite? 

[Jared]
I'm going to go with a Chris Carr answer: A NEW TRACK. That way everyone has to figure it out.  I like the Car Tracks and slippery stuff. My favorite is Hagerstown and Duquoin Mile.

FT.com
Any hobbies? and  how's the golf game? ready for some Hagerstown golf?

[Jared]
I like to Fish (with Springer) ha ha.  Golf once a year deal at Hagerstown.  Wish I could be better might have to get some lessons from Mr. Carr.  I should get into Golf. Thats a good Idea

FT.com
Tell us a little about Ice Racing, from what I seen at Flint Michigan your very good at it. I know the action is unreal. 

[Jared]
Ice racing is something that I really just got my feet wet with it last year. I came up and tried it out.  It is so awesome.  Just wide open.  The indoor stuff reminds me a lot of the indoors I do at home on concrete a lot of good starts, aggression, stuffing and banging.  That's what its all about.  And taking out Nichole's Dad is something I could do everyday. LOL

 FT.com
What age was Jared Mees when he ran his first race and did you win? Where was it?

[Jared]
I was 6 Yrs old Got a 2nd and it was at Pine Grove PA

FT.com
What's up for Jared Mees in 2006 you’d like everyone to know? 

[Jared]
I'm really going to concentrate on being consistent at every race.  Promote my sponsors and Fans 100%.  Also like to put everything I have together to Win the number 1 plate.

FT.com
We think your column in Flattrack Illustrated is awesome and very well written, I’m sure we all enjoy it. Keep up the good work.

[Jared]
Its great Phil Rispoli came to me and asked me to do it. I was really scared about doing it because I really wasn't a good writer in school.  And I'm not the best at spelling. ha ha   But it really really taught me a lot and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.  Thanks to everyone who reads it as well.

 FT.com
Thanks for granting www.flattrack.com this interview and we’ll see you at the track.