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Sport Bike

Man's passion for sport bike racing brings rewards

The Aiken area has produced its fair share of championship athletes in all endeavors of pursuit, from football to archery and more. Recently, an unassuming Aiken resident joined their ranks.

Howard "Howie" Bryce recently won the Western-Eastern Racing Association (WERA) Expert V7 MW national championship. For those who don't know, that's a title in sport bike racing - a hobby of Bryce's that has grown more serious in the past few years.

"I always watched (motorcycle racing) growing up," said the 39-year-old Bryce, who is originally from Sumter but now resides in Aiken with his wife Amy, daughter Audrey and sons Gordon and Jamey. "I always wanted to race."

Bryce started riding street bikes when he was 21, or more aptly, when his father allowed him to get one. Through the years, he remained a fan of racing and the machines in particular. His interest grew as he became friends with racers and with their encouragement, Bryce joined their ranks about three years ago.

While he hasn't been an overnight success story, Bryce hasn't taken long to make his mark on sprint racing, a form of racing that typically takes place on a large track and consists of eight laps or 18 to 24 miles.

"It's a fun sport, and anybody who has a passion for motorcycles or is interested in racing can get into it," said Bryce, who rides for Christian Sport Bike Racing.

There are many circuits for sport bike racers, but the one Bryce and the Christian Sport Bike Racing team of about nine members primarily compete in is WERA. It has events throughout the country, but Bryce primarily focuses on races in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

During this past season, which ran from March to October, Bryce was so successful aboard his 1994 Honda CBR 600 that he entered the year-ending Grand National Finals in Atlanta tied for first place in his division. After competing in races from Florida to Virginia, he had the title within his grasp.

In Atlanta, Bryce finished second in his race. But he was ahead of both of his top competitors and won the title. It's been a special year for him, adding the national championship to three regional championships, six first-place finishes, three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes.

For all of the success, Bryce hasn't become a rich man from his racing. He said the level he competes at is primarily amateur, and the prizes he wins help keep his bike and gear in top order. He also gets support from sponsors like Bridgestone (tires), Scorpion (helmet) and RM Racing (motor/engine) to help cover those costs.

"You do it for the love of the sport, for fun," Bryce said of the pastime where he usually spends more money to participate than he wins. "It's not for glory or money, although it is nice to win."

Bryce said that drive is most racers' primary focus. It's not how you get to the finish or how fast you get there that matters most.

"Road racing doesn't look at speed. The biggest thing is the competition between racers," he said, adding that while speeds vary from one track to another, most riders at his level average between 80 to 100 mph in a race.

Bryce estimated the fastest he's ever gone in a race is around 175 mph. As exhilarating as that sensation is, it does come with dangerous consequences.

While most racers will experience one form or another of crashes, there are major ones - ones that have been fatal. Bryce said he hasn't been involved in any bad crashes and is fortunate not to have been hurt racing.

"It's something that happens, unfortunately," he said of deadly accidents. "I try not to think about it. I see it as a dangerous sport and accept that risk."

Bryce has two primary reasons for keeping his focus and remaining positive - one is the support of his family, which he said is the only reason he's able to race, and the other is his spirituality. Christian Sport Bike Racing is a faith-based team that's active in spreading its beliefs. Bryce is a devout member.

"I do it to witness and present Jesus," he said of his racing.

Bryce's racing schedule isn't as busy in the off-season, but he does have plans to log some track time at Carolina MotorSports Park in Kershaw, the closest track to Aiken. The next nearest are the tracks in Atlanta and Savannah. He plans to defend his title next season and doesn't know how long he'll continue to be active in the form of racing that has divisions in which riders older than 70 still compete.

"I want to have fun and enjoy what I'm doing," Bryce said of the activity he plans to do as long as he feels that way.

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