SX: Stewart And Regal Visit Tulalip Boys & Girls Club
James Stewart and Kyle Regal visited the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club in Tulalip on Friday as part of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Outreach Program.
Kyle Regal and James Stewart at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club (Photo: San Manuel Yamaha)
Team San Manuel’s James Stewart and Kyle Regal visited the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club in Tulalip on Friday as part of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Outreach Program. Over 150 kids were surprised by Stewart and Regal as they heard the roar of race bikes riding into their gym. Several kids in attendance ride dirt bikes and were excited for the visit.
The riders talked with the kids about how they got started. For Stewart, his dad was a major influencer, given his father’s passion for racing. And while riding has been a very important part of Stewart’s life, since he was just four years old, he never put his homework, chores, and responsibilities on the back burner. “For me, it was always homework first and then I got to play later on,” Stewart said. “I had to be pretty strict with myself and stick to doing the right things to stay on track.”
Regal’s inspiration to start riding came from his older sister, after getting her hand-me-down bike. Regal started at a young age, like Stewart, but didn’t take it too seriously until he got older. At the beginning of the Supercross series, Regal’s goal was get top ten finishes, now that he’s done that his next goal, he says, is to win a race. When asked what Regal does to stay in shape, he replied, “I play a lot of sports, whether it’s playing basketball, football, golf, running, or bicycling, it all helps. Eating right and staying active is an important part of being a successful athlete and staying healthy.”
To further show their support for the Club, both riders donated autographed gear, number plates and team merchandise to their upcoming “For the KIDS” auction to be held in May. “We really appreciate you taking the time to come out and do this for our kids and support our Club in this way,” Boys & Girls Club Director Chuck Thacker said.
The Tulalip Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to promote the health, social, educational, vocational and character development of boys & girls. It aims to help young people improve their lives by building self-esteem, developing values and teaching skills during critical periods of growth. Team San Manuel’s outreach program shares that mission and with the help of Stewart and Regal they’re able to provide real life examples and discuss the importance of living healthier lifestyles to inspire healthy changes for generations to come. “San Manuel is a great sponsor to partner with,” Stewart said. “I enjoy reaching out to kids to inspire them to be something more.”
About Team San Manuel
Formed in 2006, Team San Manuel is a unique partnership between the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and L&M Racing, LLC, with the sole purpose of reaching out to Native and non-Native communities and sharing with them the value of perseverance and dedication. Building a winning team comprised of top-notch talent and community service, Team San Manuel honors the Serrano belief of caring for our community. (www.sanmanuelracing.com)
About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, California. The Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture. The San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as a sovereign nation with the right of self -government. Despite challenges and hardships, the San Manuel tribal community has continued to progressively maintain and enhance its unique form of government — focusing all efforts on providing a better quality of life for its citizens. Through economic diversification, both on and off the reservation, the tribe has been forward thinking in its efforts to build infrastructure, maintain civil services and promote social, economic, educational and governmental units including the departments of fire, public safety, education and environment and continues to pursue opportunities for future generations.
About L & M Racing
L&M Racing was formed in 2006 by Owner/Team Manager Larry Brooks and partner Mike Kranyak. Operating as Team San Manuel Yamaha, the team has garnered two Supercross Championship titles in the last three race seasons. For the 2011 race season, two-time Supercross Champion James Stewart anchors Team San Manuel as he seeks his next Championship and is joined by 2009 AMA MX National 450 Class Rookie of the Year Kyle Regal. In 2009, Team San Manuel’s James Stewart won his second Supercross Championship, his first coming in 2007, and second for L&M Racing’s independent effort. In 2008, Team San Manuel Yamaha, consisted of 2004 Supercross Champion Chad Reed and former West Coast Lites Champion Nathan Ramsey -- the newly-formed endeavor garnered its first championship title that season. Led by Larry Brooks, the driving force behind the Jeremy McGrath / Chaparral Racing team’s three-year championship reign in Supercross, Brooks’ then race effort yielded the first and only indie team to ever win an AMA Supercross Series Championship. L&M Racing is headquartered within an 8,000 square foot, state-of-the-art race facility in Southern California and is one of the most successful independently owned and operated teams in professional Supercross racing today.
