f you’re reading this article, chances are that you’re a hardcore moto fan, as most folks in this industry are. Most of us have a passion for riding and racing anything on two wheels, and idolize and look up to our favorite race heroes–the guys that are out there week in and week out, fighting epic battles for championships and glory…guys like James Stewart. James Stewart, Jr. is one heck of a Supercross/Motocross racer. It’s been that way since he was a kid. Starting at Loretta Lynn’s and progressing through the ranks with his father, “Big James,” with him all the way, James, Jr. is an internationally known superstar. At just 20-years-old he’s a factory rider at the top of the game.
     Can you imagine how cool it would be to spend a day with this guy and his family–at his Florida home, riding on his personal practice tracks on a full-on/works-prepped bike similar to the ones James, Jr. himself competes with? To be able to hang out with this racing phenom and have James himself give you some riding tips? Chance of a lifetime, right? That’s exactly what happened for Parts Unlimited dealer Don Schmelyun of Cycle Design Inc., in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it all happened because of Pro Circuit. Here’s how it went down…
     “We came up with this promotional idea,” says Boo Suber (Parts Unlimited’s Pro Circuit/Renthal Brand Manager), “to have some fun and show the dealers and Parts Unlimited reps just how much we appreciate them. We revolved it around our Super Showcases at the Supercross races. For every $2,500 order a dealership placed with Pro Circuit at a Showcase, his name went into a raffle. At the last Supercross of the season, Las Vegas, we pulled one name out of the hat and the winner got a day with James Stewart, Jr. We made a point of including the Regional Sales Managers and the Sales Representatives themselves in all this, too, so Don Schmelyun’s reps, Dan Benik and John Coleman, got to come along, as well. They were winners, too.” Only Boo Suber could put something like this together. Prior to joining the Parts Unlimited team just one year ago, now managing the Pro Circuit and Renthal accounts, Boo worked with Ricky Carmichael for seven years before that. Needless to say he’s plugged into the pro race scene and has a healthy relationship with everyone involved, including the entire Stewart family, Big James, his wife Sonya and James, Jr. And then working with Mitch Payton at Pro Circuit, Boo made sure that a full-on works replica Pro Circuit race bike set up to the winning dealer’s specifications (height, weight, riding ability and style) went together. Icing on the cake–Boo hooked the winning dealer up head to toe with Pro Circuit race gear! “Everything from helmet to boots, excluding the underwear!” And everyone came through. The guys out at Pro Circuit set up a Kawasaki 250F and shipped it to the Stewart compound in Florida. “Big James” uncrated it himself, did the final assembly, gassed it up, oiled it up and made sure everything was ready to go. He even went so far as to change the front brake rotor because he didn’t like the look of it after shipment. He took one out of his own private inventory for James, Jr.’s race bikes and installed it just to be sure everyone had a fun, safe day.
     “And it was all just unbelievable,” says the lucky winner. Don Schmelyun called it “…the chance of a lifetime. The entire Stewart family and their private race compound is mind boggling.” Set on 92 acres of rural horse country in Central Florida, the Stewart’s have it all. There’s a pair of full-on race shops, one for James, Jr. and another for his up-and-coming younger brother Malcolm, there’s a spot-on Supercross practice track–complete with lights, there’s a full-length outdoor MX practice track and scattered among all this are more toys, tricks and gadgets than should be legal for any one person to own. Besides more motorcycles than you can count or comprehend there’s everything from giant Donzi off-shore fishing boats to the most exotic Lamborghini sports cars–all the trappings of success. And all of this was graciously opened up for the day and shared by James Stewart, Jr. and his family.
     “When I heard of this promo,” Don Schmelyun says, “I knew I had to get in.” Don actually ordered up $5,000 worth of Pro Circuit gear at the Orlando Supercross, getting himself two chances in the raffle. He stocked up on Pro Circuit exhaust systems, a lot of the bolt-on parts like the anodized engine covers and anodized triple clamps, the lever assemblies and plenty of the T-shirts, hats and other apparel. “Basically,” Don says, “I was just ordering up all the parts I’d normally order anyway, only I did it in a lump sum.” None of it stayed around very long back in Don’s Fort Pierce shop, either. Everything ordered was sold inside a month.
     “I’m a Vet Rider,” Don goes on. “Normally I ride an RM250 or a CR450 so the works 250F I got to ride at the Stewart’s felt just a little underpowered. But that pro-suspension setup, wow! I’ve never experienced anything like that. Re-valved and assembled just like a factory racer with all the internal modifications Pro Circuit does, this was the kind of suspension John Q. Public never gets to experience. It was quite a thrill.” Don says hitting obstacles that would throw him on the ground with his stock suspension just disappeared. With this setup the bike simply soaked it up and kept on going. “And the way this thing worked in the deep sand was unbelievable.” Unfortunately, James, Jr. was recovering from a nasty spill just the week before and couldn’t suit-up and offer side-by-side racing tips, but from the sidelines his eagle eye and tutelage was unerring. Don got lots of racing tips from one of the best in the business. All thanks to Parts Unlimited and Pro Circuit.
     “We’re definitely planning more promotional events like this in the future,” Boo Suber says. “Maybe do it all again with James, Jr. and his family, or maybe with some of the other riders Pro Circuit supports, guys like Ricky [Carmichael]. We might even spice things up a little more, next time actually give that replica race bike away to the winner. Who knows?” Best advice here? Keep your eyes peeled at those Supercross Super Showcases, and when the chance comes up, don’t hesitate placing your order and getting your name in the hat. Don Schmelyun didn’t and look what it got him…the absolute chance of a lifetime, a dream day with one of the best riders in the world! Look for more awesome promos coming from Pro Circuit soon…who knows what kind of great idea they’ll come up with next, but we guarantee that you won’t want to miss it!