Jamie James racing his Suzuki GSXR in a WERA event at Grattan Raceway probably in 1987 or so. Jamie, one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet, traveled the country chasing Suzuki contingency money. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Jamie James was one of the riders in the mid-to-late 1980s who traveled the country racing tons of club contingency races, trying to make a living on the road going from track to track al summer. The prize money was good, but by the time you figured in travel expenses, bike maintenance, crashes, etc. it was a tough proposition.

Jamie, Ramona (his ex) and their Shar-Pei dog stayed at my house three or four days between races. I remember Jamie spent all day, everyday he was at my house working on his bikes. The best I could do to help was hand him tools. It showed me what life for a total privateer was really like.

His Shar-Pei was temperamental – at times he’d let me pet and play with him and other times he’d growl at me anytime I got close. One day a group of little kids (a lady in the neighborhood had a daycare) came walking down the street and the dog knocked open the front screen door and went ripping out to the kids. I’m running like a madman after the dog thinking it’s going to attack, but when he got to the kids he just started licking them as they crowded around and started petting him. Turns out the dog really loved kids.

I was happy to see Jamie’s hard work pay off and within a few years he would be a factory rider and AMA Superbike Champion. In Jamie’s case there’s no doubt he made it to the top the hard way.