From Modeling to Race Team Manager - By Eva Marina Mitchell

It was Thursday of race qualification week 1999 and the day was sunny and warm. As co-manager of Team USA, I was given the statistics on qualifications so far. We were trying to qualify for the Senior race on this day at the famous Isle, and had finally gotten the Penske suspension working correctly. Only 80 of the fastest riders would qualify. Of course, my husband was determined to be one of them as he put his leg across his Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle.

After setting a blistering pace for the first lap, he was on his second lap, or the flying lap. This is where you make time because you are doing over 150 mph when you cross the start/finish line and pass the lap timer with no pit stop. We were timing my husband when we noticed he was overdue. I began to worry, for the Isle of Man is no ordinary race course. I immediately went to the race office for any information and discovered my husband had crashed halfway around the course. Fortunately, he was up and okay. Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycle road racing.

I watch my husband with a mixture of fear and excitement each time he's out on the track. I love to watch him race and, although I know he's an excellent racer, I never truly relax until he's back in the pits, safe and sound. It's a love/hate sort of thing. Watching a race and having someone you love in a race are two entirely different things.

So how did I get here, you ask? It seems only yesterday that I met my husband while he was vacationing in Madrid. It was the winter of 1997. He had just completed his first year of racing and had won the AMA Amateur National Championship, but had never mentioned it. In fact, I had no idea my husband raced motorcycles or was turning pro the following year until a few weeks later. I remember him telling me that if I had any reservations about him racing motorcycles I should stop dating him before our relationship got too serious. He advised me that he thoroughly enjoyed racing and had no intentions of stopping. I also remember him making some off-handed joke about motorcycles not getting headaches, too. I promptly laughed and hit him.

Like most Spaniards, I love motorcycle racing, and I ride myself. I would travel to Jerez in the south of Spain in the spring to watch the Spanish round of the World Grand Prix championships. You know how people always say, "When you meet the right person, you'll know it"? Well, it happened to us. I had been to the United States many times, but had never met anyone that interested me. I never imagined I would fall in love with an American in my own country.

We had everything in common. It was so scary because we were moving very fast, just like he races. After what some would consider a short courtship, we were married, and these have been the best times of my life.

We were timing my husband when we noticed he was overdue.

When I first moved to the US to be with my husband, I was undecided on the continuation of my modeling career. Since I was very good with computers and liked motorcycles, my husband suggested that I help him run and manage the new race team. I agreed, and he taught me what I needed to know and set me in motion.

So what does my job entail? Meeting with perspective sponsors, proposal preparation, press releases, preparing sales literature, public relations, trade shows, website maintenance (www.dm8.com), producing the team newsletter, spare parts procurement and inventory, arranging team photoshoots, scheduling interviews, and tracking expenses, as well as crew interviews, acquiring accommodations, licensing, insurance, videographer, and umbrella girl for my husband when he's on the starting line. [Smile]

Like the majority of non-factory sponsored racers (called privateer's racers), my husband has a regular job. His company, Mitchell & Associates, is an IBM AS/400 and JD Edwards consulting firm. This supports us and allows him to race with the aid of product sponsors, but it's still very expensive. The work is hard but fun, and without the seeming limitless resources/money of factory backed teams we rely on volunteers like Wayne, Clark, Garett, Ted, Ben, Rita, Danielle, Troy and Steve who help us get the job done. They do it for the love of the sport and because they enjoy getting involved. We can't thank them enough for all their tireless efforts. We also formed the Team USA TT Supporters Club. It's a 400-member club whose membership fees and donations help defray the cost of racing in Europe. We also give out a yearly free trip to Europe and gifts with the various levels of membership.

For ‘99 Kawasaki Team Green supplied the motorcycles and we raced a ZX-6R and ZX-9R on Dunlop tires for the season. Hindle Exhaust, Motorex Lubricants, and Factory Tuning helped get the most out of the motors. Sharkskinz bodywork and Dietlemier Motorgraphics make the bikes light and beautiful, along with Race Tech and EBC for suspension and braking.

Not that long ago I was modeling for an agency in Spain and going to the University. Now I"m a mother and co-managing a professional race team! See you all at the race track.

Eva and Dwight after winning the team award.

To receive an Isle of Man Newsletter contact Keith Handley at keith@isle-of-man.com or Dwight Mitchell at tusa@dm8.com.

The Manx hosted their global friends and relatives to ring in the Millennium on Man in 2000.

Practice Week was Monday May 31- Friday June 4. Race Week: Saturday, June 3 - Friday June 9.

As Mary would say, Lhiats ("See you later").