The Champion: One Man’S Race to the Finish

By Carey Flores

When #121 crashed during a motocross race on an upstate New York dirt track, no one questioned his ability and determination to get back on his bike and reclaim his position in what would be the last race of his life.

Through the words of a family friend, and eye witness of the events on that fateful day, The Champion is the true story of one mans race to the Finish, and how he managed to overcome the trials and obstacles threatening him on his quest for the 2014 championship.

The account of Thomas Walts life and tragic death offers insight to the difficult questions we face in the struggle of loss and grief. We can be encouraged as we find that there is hope and comfort in times of utter despair. Be inspired by Toms life, as his example shows us how we, too, can overcome lifes challenges and leave a legacy that is impossible to forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512757392

Carey Flores

A military veteran herself, Carey Flores is a proud Army wife. She and her husband, Valentin Flores, have two energetic children: Noah Alexander and Zoey Nicole. Her three “happy places” in life are: hiking, biking and kayaking. She is an avid reader and journals almost every day. One of her real life experiences is published in the book, “It’s a God Thing: Volume 2” by Don Jacobson. Home is where the Army sends them and she chooses to bloom wherever they are planted. Their family will always treasure the time they had in Northern New York and would willingly return should Val receive the orders. Carey not only accepts his assignments, but believes God orchestrates their relocations for His purposes. Noah placed 3rd and 5th overall in his two classes for the 2015 race season with the great USMX. He could not have done it without his early training from TomCat. In early 2016, the family transferred to Colorado where they became involved with BMX and currently look forward to what God is planning for the future.

Book preview

The Champion

One Man’s Race to the Finish

By

Carey Flores

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Copyright © 2016 Carey Flores.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design contributor: Tami Cocuzzi, Grace Racing Ministries.

Photos by Monica Woolworth, Motomoments by Monica.

Edited by Sierra Walts and Nicole Hartje.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5737-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5738-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5739-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016915329

WestBow Press rev. date: 9/27/2016

CONTENTS

1 The Call

2 Life Behind Bars

3 Thornwood

4 Airport MX

5 Old Guys Rule

6 Taterfest

7 Kingdom Bound

8 Flying High

9 BRRAAAP!

10 Grip It & Rip It

11 MotoCROSS

12 Drop a Gear & Disappear

13 The Checkered Flag

14 The Rescue

15 Freedom

16 A Piece to the Puzzle

17 Just Be Held

18 Anchored

19 Need to Breathe

20 All Things Possible

21 Glory Meets Suffering

22 Ride in Peace

23 Memory Lane

24 The Champion

25 Moving Forward

26 One Year Later

27 Overcomer

Epilogue

Special Note

Acknowledgements

For Cat, Sierra, and Jeff.

Anne: It has been fulfilled.

I love you all

Dear Reader,

Regardless of how you got your hands on this book, I am thankful you are holding it. The journey you are about to join was born out of an abundance of love, faithfulness, and hope. It also carries with it the deepest pain and sorrow a person could ever know. Although my hand wrote this book, it is not my story. This book was being written even before I was born. The people are real, the story is true, and I hope someday to meet you as a result of this work.

Gratefully,

Carey Flores

Motocross is something that most people will never understand. It’s not just a sport or something you do on a Sunday—it’s a way of life! Once you’re in, it’s in your blood. Once you make that first run, you can’t stop. The race track is your home away from home. When you smell the race fuel, the fresh turned dirt, and hear those engines roar, its music to your ears.

Author Unknown

2014 UpState Motocross Schedule

CHAPTER 1

The Call

I have been on edge. Not in a fearful, anxious way. But anticipating something. Like something is going to "go down" soon. Don’t know what. Don’t know when. But I feel very strongly that something is going to happen… I’m watchful; something is coming, just do not know what.

Excerpt from my journal entry on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 2:05pm

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Thornwood MX

12:59 pm

"What do you mean, Carey? What happened? I need to know what happened!"

After three unsuccessful calls to her cell, I remembered I also had the house number in my contacts list. "Please answer your phone, Cat…God, please have her be home…" I begged as I fumbled to hit the button to place the call.

Before dialing the home number, I texted her, At Thornwood. Tom is down. Not sure how bad but ambulance is on way. Call me. No response.

I had stopped running, slowing down to a brisk walk so I could speak clearly to Cat Walts when she finally picked up the phone at her home in Dexter, New York. I was heading up the hill to the spot on the motocross track where her husband, Tom, had been thrown off his Honda CR 250 dirt bike while racing in the Plus 50 Amateur/Novice class. I could hear the siren of the ambulance turning onto Stone Hill Road, approaching the entrance of Thornwood MX.

I’m not sure. Tom went down in the race. The ambulance is coming. I’m heading up there right now, I replied.

"Ambulance? Carey, what happened? How bad is it?" She was desperate for answers, for the information I had not yet received.

I finally made it up to the area on the track that every eye was straining to see. As I got closer, I saw my husband, Val. I called out to anyone who would give me some answer, I’m on the phone with his wife! Is he going to the hospital?

Is he okay? Where are they taking him? Cat pleaded.

Because of all the people surrounding him, I could only see Tom’s race boot and part of his right leg. I could tell he was lying on his back and realized I did not see his leg moving. Considering the commotion and the presence of EMTs, I was suspecting he perhaps had a broken bone or two and would be writhing in pain. As I walked up to the crowd near his feet, however, and made my way to where I could see what was happening, my adrenaline began to surge and I quickly turned away. With my voice trembling, and tears beginning to sting my eyes, I told Tom’s wife, Cat, they’re doing chest compressions. I heard her breath escape as she began to hyperventilate.

I turned around again, asking where they were planning to take Tom.

Who is going with him? She begged, I need the phone number of the person going with him. Again I did not have an answer to give her, but promised that as soon as I knew I would let her know. With that, Cat and I ended the phone call that would mark the moment her life would be forever changed.

CHAPTER 2

Life Behind Bars

You’re never too old to have a great childhood.

Tom Walts #121

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Dexter, New York

Around 6–6:30 am

Love you, be safe, Cat muttered as she woke to her husband, Tom, preparing for another day of twisting the throttle. It was still dark out and he had an hour’s drive south to Williamstown, New York where he would race at Thornwood MX. He had to be on the road early so he could sign in and get ready for a full day of racing. His fifty-third birthday would be on Thursday, making him one of the oldest members of the UpState Motocross Association (USMX). Despite being one of the older guys, he left riders more than half his age in the dust. He had become a member of the district in 2006 and was striving to claim the 2014 championship.

After kissing his wife goodbye for the day, Tom walked across the green living room carpet and made his way to his daughter Sierra’s bedroom. He peeked in and found her nestled among pillows and a comforter. See ya, Splinky, he said as he shook her shoulder. At fifteen, she was relishing in her freedom to sleep in. She had chosen to not go to today’s race, and instead planned to join her mother at church that morning.

In the kitchen, Tom sipped the remainder of his tea, set his mug on the counter and walked out the door.

Watertown, NY

That morning was no different from that of any other Sunday race day. As always, my husband, Val, was in a hurry to get on the road. Noah was already dressed in his race gear and anxious to ride. At age six, it was all he could think about. The weather forecasted a cooler day, with a twenty-percent chance of rain. Our four-year-old daughter, Zoey, was pitching a fit, refusing to wear the clothes I handed her. I was exasperated. Val had to remind me that we had neighbors as I yelled that I was not going to deal with her all day. I threatened that I would keep her home with me while Noah went with Daddy. I could not explain, however, the feeling urging me to go. Perhaps I felt compelled because it was the last race of the season at Thornwood MX, our home track.

Earlier in the week Val had decided he would not race that day, his plan was to focus on helping Noah. Opting out of racing was not unusual, however, his decision to not even bring his bike (missing out on the last opportunity to ride at Thornwood) was. Because of this, we had no need to hook up the trailer. We could fit everything we needed for a day of racing in his truck. Val loaded Noah’s dirt bike, our pit bike, and Zoey’s bicycle in the bed of the truck and strategically placed our other necessities such as folding chairs, fuel, tools, and race boots so they would not fly out. Unbeknownst to us in that moment, his decision to not use the trailer would prove very helpful later that day.

CHAPTER 3

Thornwood

Live to Ride, Ride to Live

Williamstown, New York

At the age of nineteen, competing in local motocross races halted for Jeff Hopkinson. He chose, instead, to join his father in farming. The next year, 1974, he left his hometown in northern Maine and moved the family operation to Williamstown, New York.

The Hopkinson Potato Farm spans four generations of farmers and is now one of Central New York’s largest potato farms with more than two hundred acres of land.

To share his childhood interests with his son, Adam, Jeff allowed him to get a dirt bike around the age of twelve. Adam rode around the farm on his KX 80 for a while but never got too involved in racing. A few years later, he bought a bigger bike. He and his friends would ride in sand pits and around a very small track they had behind the farm shop. Back in the early nineties, Adam’s grandfather affectionately named the track Thornwood after the large thorn tree growing inside the track’s boundary lines.

When he was seventeen years old, Adam began racing in the Central New York Motocross Riders Association (CNYMRA) series with friends. Jeff could not resist joining in and after buying