MARK OBERPARLEITER # 38 RACE STORIES

Mark O. That’s what we called him. Seems like everyone had a problem pronouncing his last name. The real reason for us was there were three Marks that raced out of Ben's Cycle Works (BCW) in Mesa, AZ. If you mentioned "Mark" in the pits you were bound to get a response from someone. BCW sponsors several riders who included two pros and one senior pro. Ben and his wife Michelle are great people and "Dirt Riding is their Thang".

Changes occurred in our little racing circle at the end of the 2000 season. BCW also sponsored Dayton # 2 and David # 7 as pro riders. As most of you know Dayton got a well-deserved semi-factory ride with Al Bakers XR's Only along with David who is recovering from several hand surgeries. This left the BCW pits a little more empty at the Lake Pleasant race on New Years Eve 2000. The "Three Amigos" were there, Mark O., Mark S., and Mark F. We put up the BCW race tarp and enjoyed the weekend. Mark O. decided to ride his wife Tiffany's Kawasaki 250 in that race instead of his KX500. He knew it would be technical and never had a chance to pre-run the course and thought the lighter bike would have the advantage. Tiffany and his son David were assigned pit duties and Mark made sure everyone knew their assignment. (Pit duties are cool, I will discuss later) Mark rode that 250 harder than it's ever been ridden that day and I know he wished he had the 500 on that last high-speed section back into the pits. Mark had a rear flat tire as he pitted after two laps and rode the entire last lap on a flat, as only the most dedicated racers would do! After the race we discussed the next race in Parker a little bit and how different it was not to have the 2000 race team together. Well the commitment was made for 2001 to attend and complete the entire season so we said adios, Happy New Year and everyone headed for the house. Numerous photographs of that particular race will be submitted to the Whiplash website.

PARKER 2001 / SATURDAY

Mark S. #717 and myself arrived at the track on Saturday morning. #717 staked out one of the only places he could find @ 10:00AM, which was three rows deep away from the track. All those buggies and trucks draw quite a crowd! We hung out most of the day waiting to see when the practice session may start and wondering where in the heck is Mark O? The Mark O. gang showed up late in the afternoon and it was great to see Marks Dad Wayne and his wife Carolyn with them. I met Wayne @ the Parker Grand Prix and he was just a great guy just like his son. The first thing Mark O. says to me is "do you ever check your voice mail, it's full and I tried to call you for the last two weeks. When can we ride?

Practice session finally starts and I helped Mark O. make some last minute adjustments on his exhaust pipe. #717 is on the track already who I usually pre-run with. Mark O. and I are talking while were working on the pipe and I try to convince him that (KIDDING) my 600XR will run with the KX500 off the line. We go to the start line and Mark gives me a five-bike head start and blows by me like I'm standing still around 200 yards out. I really did have fun chasing him for 1/2 lap and he finally got so far ahead into the dust I gave up. Well I rode and practiced hard for 5 laps and pulled off just past the big jump waiting for either #38 or #717 to come by. Mark O. saw me there and almost dumped his bike trying to stop where I was sitting. Look at my gas tank, it's empty he says. What’s up? Lost the quick fuel cap, it's somewhere on the track. He started out with a full tank and I can see it's almost empty. So what are we going to do I ask? Let's look for it, I think it's in the whoops or on that back straight away. OK, I'm thinking the needle in the haystack theory BUT lets look for it. Well Mark also told his wife Tiffany and his Dad the situation and they are out looking for it on foot. I saw Tiffany and Wayne several minutes later walking toward our pit and at the same time we see Mark riding up. Found it he says. Where? Back straight away in along the bank. HUH? It's getting dark and I can't believe he found it. Good deal, lets go to town now.

OK, it’s time to eat dinner. I left my wife at the Kofa Inn at around 2:00PM and said I would be right back. It's now 6:00PM. We all made dinner. Decided to meet at the little Mexican restaurant on the main drag just north of the Kofa Inn with Mark & Tiffany, Wayne and Carolyn.

Mark and I camped together at races and had time to discuss things from his childhood in PA, raising children, flying aircraft, the love of Arizona, and even the geology and hydrology of the area where he was building his home. He told me about growing up in PA and I told him about growing up in AZ. We rarely talked about motorcycles and never talked about racing the night before a race. That was part of our friendship. Parker was no different. We talked about their new house, wives careers, photography and other cool things. Great dinner ended with where everyone would eat breakfast and see you all at the track.

RACE MORNING PREP

Another sponsored BCW racer Jack Gee #405 and his wife Rachel had shown up late Saturday and we had talked about getting a better place to pit than the original camping spot of Mark S #717 the following morning. The BCW tarp was already up at Mark S. camping spot. It was a nice Parker morning and we briefly discussed not using the BCW tarp because of the hassle of taking it down and relocating it, and the weather would not require a tarp anyway. The three amigos agreed that Ben would be upset with us if we did not make the effort to have our BCW tarp up during the race. We made some new friends that morning when we decided to carry the tarp to the new spot instead of folding it up. Jack's friends whom all race in the MC400 class volunteered to carry the tarp the 200 yards to its new location to pit under. Jack and his friend Frank, Tiffany and my wife Jan all grabbed a corner and started carrying the tarp. Mark O. was in the head (he had to pee fifteen times just prior to any race) and came out in time to see this scene happening. Mark pretended to help by putting one finger in the middle of the frame. Got the tarp set up and Mark begins explaining to his family the importance of the upcoming pit action. “I’m going to have to stop after every lap and every one needs to know what to do” he is telling his family. Mark then has everyone practice the pit stop in a dry run. The next part was the serious competitive side of Mark coming out when he tells them all, OK now let’s do it for real one time, Dad grab the gas can. It was really funny for us to watch, but he was explaining to everyone that he had lost 100-mile races before by only four seconds. I am most fortunate to have captured the #38 family pit action on videotape at Lake Pleasant race. Mark enjoyed and had fun racing motorcycles. He also was very serious about winning each race.

RIDERS MEETING / THE PIT

OK, the tarp is up and we all have collected under our race pit area waiting for staging. This can be a tense time or a fun time depending upon whom you are with and the attitude. Mark O. was one of the greatest people to be with before a race because he kept everything low key and cool until it was time to stage. I know I said to Mark at different races "We should stage, they called us five minutes ago". Mark always knew where the leaders were in the race ahead of us and he traditionally was one of the last to the staging line. Our pit in Parker was within 50 feet of the Whiplash staff that were scoring quads across the finish line. No offense Jay but Mark had you figured out in a way that prevented sitting on the line in all your gear sweating until the very last moment. I considered it an art form and he was brilliant at it. Kevin (Whiplash Staff) finally came up to the entire group and said we had to go to the starting line now. I remember saying to Mark O. and Mark S. at this point "Nobody gets hurt today, Gotta go to work tomorrow". Everyone agreed and Mark O. tells the group that he is scheduled for a flight the next day. He made it sound so simple, quick jaunt to San Diego, change aircraft and fly to Orlando Florida (his regular run). We all were making comments about how we would be to sore to move the next day, and would have a hard time being a passenger on that flight let alone be working it. Just at that moment one of the P-51 aircraft that had been buzzing the event all weekend took off from Parker airstrip. I saw a light in Marks eyes that I had never seen before. Tiffany was standing there also and you could just see the joy that P-51 gave them together. It was a cool sight and one I never will forget. Pro / Senior Pro are first out and Mark led the way for the group to the staging area. I lost track of Mark O. like I always due in the process of sorting out the different classes.

STARTING LINE

I always lost track of the pro riders from BCW as we staged. From the very first race I attended with these guys I would make the effort to find them all before the green flag. It was a way for me to relax and say good-luck to them, high fives and have fun. It was my tradition. Parker was different! It was only our second race without the regular BCW racers. Dayton was in Adelanto with David Grondlund. It was the three amigos, Jack, Rachel and some racer friends of theirs. Something very unique occurred on the line that day. In reflection I will cherish the moment forever and never forget the thoughtful consideration of my friend and fellow racer Mark O. I DID NOT find my pro racer friend #38 that day as I normally did. HE FOUND ME. It was the first time ever since racing with BCW racers that I didn't take the time to follow my pre race ritual. I was staged on the line and starting talking to my fellow racer in my class #739 (Tom) who was on my right and had a terrible weekend. Another racer #800 and #802 were on my left. My race partner #717 was two bikes to my right and we all were talking about the start and where the best lines were. Someone taps on my left shoulder and it's Mark O. "You never came to see me so I figured I should find you guys" Man O Man brother, your right, I'm sorry I tell him, started shooting the breeze with the guys here. Mark exchanged hellos with our little group and then leaned forward where nobody else could here him and tells me to be extra careful today, "I feel something, he says”! He then walks over to 717 for a quick handshake and heads back to his bike. I thought about what had just happened and felt bad about not finding Mark on the line because his KX500 did not have a kick stand and it was an effort for him to come and find us. His words were still bouncing around in my head about being careful and I was actually thinking about the July 4th party I wanted to have with the BCW gang when it was time to race.

THE RACE

One cool thing about being in the old guys class is we have the best seat to watch our fellow pro racers start a race. I never get tired of watching Dayton, Mark O., David or Toby ride. Mark O. as a Senior Pro was right there with the younger guys. This was his motivation. We talked about it. He was 38 years old and could ALWAYS run with the "Big Dogs". It truly is what made him happy racing. He had some tough competition in Senior Pro also, #32 was always there but Mark loved the competition of the twenty plus year old racers. Think about it, almost 40 years old and running with the young pros. It was all good.

Green flag drops and what a drag race through the gauntlet. You fellow racers that were on the line should share your stories. 700 class was near the middle and I was the only one that stalled the bike about 50 yards out. Raced as fast as I could to make up for the mistake and went out into the desert around fifth place. I'm still not sure exactly where Mark O. had the accident. I don't want to re-live the anguish of that moment. I only know he made a pro rider out of me from that point to the pits so I could tell his family that he was hurt badly. Whiplash staff had already notified Tiffany and she and Marks parents were en-route to the hospital before I arrived in the pits after the first lap. I remember being so angry that Mark was hurt. I did not know his condition when I entered our BCW pit. My wife Jan and Jacks wife Rachel were the only ones there. They could not answer my questions about his condition but told me that Tiffany Wayne and Carolyn were headed to the hospital in Phoenix. I was mad, I cursed the Lord and rode angry back into the desert. Something happened that I couldn’t describe as I went into that first nasty silt bed full of whoops. I did not hear voices but something or someone told me to calm down. Finish the task at hand (Race) and pray for my friend. I thought about him every moment in that desert. I almost stopped twice and gave up. I crashed once and ran out of fuel. Mark O. was riding with me that entire race. That’s how I finished the Parker 200.

THE HOSPITAL

I was physically beat at the finish of the race. Barely had the energy to load the bike up and take down the tarp. Jack agreed to get Mark O. bike and gear and take it back to Ben’s shop. At that point we hauled butt for St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix. My wife and I had no clue off Marks condition. We prayed for him and Tiffany while we drove to Phoenix. At the hospital it took awhile to find where Mark was. Once there we stepped off the elevator just in time to see a patient being wheeled by that we had to step back to let by. That’s not Mark I said to myself, did not look him him at all. Right then we saw Tiffany walking behind the bed and realized it was Mark. Tiffany told my wife and I that the Doctors prognosis was not good and to expect the worse. Tiffany Oberparleiter is one of the strongest women I have ever known. She was strong for her family that night and since that night. She truly is a beautiful person and Mark was very lucky to have her as his wife.

MONDAY / FEBRUARY 5, 2001

I'm one of the most fortunate racers that knew Mark. He had tons of friends from the airlines and lot's of racers that never got a chance to see him again after Sunday. I was able to hold his hand and kiss him good-bye in ICU. I cried one last time with Tiffany. She told me as I held his hand that she was at peace with everything that had happened. I cried off and on all week. I could not mention his name without becoming emotional. I had other racers who were having problems with Marks death call or write me to talk or for advice. I was able to give some advice to fellow racers that were seeking answers about there racing futures. Mark O. guided my pen as I wrote what was from a racers heart. I can't duplicate the emotion of one rider’s question on how to continue enjoying his dirt bike. Many wives and husbands of racers and racers themselves have asked the question "Is it worth it?" I have made my decision and my family understands.

QUESTIONS FROM THE HEART

I must share one short e-mail I received from a fellow racer during this week. He wrote the following:

Mark,

I know this is a personal choice, but this has shaken me up to the point of not racing anymore. Being in the 700 class I believe you are a little older and wiser, thus the question, how does a 33 year old racer like myself deal with this and continue to race? What advise might you give to me as I try to figure this out? I love racing, I liked Mark, I will miss him and am having a hard time even looking at my bike, something I have done since four years of age! Maybe I’m babbling, but I am not sorting this out as well as I had hoped.

Edited Response

You’re not babbling. It’s difficult for anyone that knew him. Mark, Tiffany, and David were very special people. Let me help you with one thing you said. You love racing and dirt bikes. So did Mark and his wife. Mark always rode for the win. As Senior Pro racer he got a huge thrill out of beating the younger Pro’s. He lived for that, and he also died for that. Mark did die doing what he truly loved to do. Most of us won’t have that choice. He had more going for him than lots of people and their future was so bright. That is what hurts so much, I hurt for Tiffany and his family. In the hospital Sunday night Tiffany was so strong for her family. She told my wife and I that they knew the risks, accepted them, and she would live with the result.

After lots of thought I told my wife and family that I have decided to continue to race. We have come to terms with my decision with the help of Mark O. It comes down to “Life is short - Live it”! I’m 48 years old and the Whiplash courses kick my butt physically. I know I’m addicted to a sport that is dangerous, injures people and sometimes kills. Were no different than other thrill seekers. The only time you should stop is when the thrill is gone. When that happens sell your bike. Bunch of my friends are going riding tomorrow. I’m going day hiking in the Superstition Mountains. Be diverse, be strong, and be happy.

MEMORIAL

Ben's Cycle Works race team will never forget Mark O. He will always be remembered when you enter the shop through photographs and other memorabilia. Ben and Michelle loved Mark and will place a permanent memorial on the BCW race tarp. I have made my decision about racing as well as my race partner Mark S. #717. Please don't be disappointed in me Tiffany. It is the opposite of what I said to you in the hospital Sunday night. I know you will understand just as my family did. You will find us under the BCW race tarp at Gila Bend in March 2001. Please stop by and talk about our friend Mark O., racing dirt bikes, getting old and still riding, or any other topic. Whiplash Desert Motorsports is our racing association in Arizona. I'm confident that they will also find a means that will allow Marks memory to never be forgotten. Writing this helps bring some closure for me.

GOD SPEED # 38 / LOVE YOU BROTHER

Mark Fisk / MC747