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5 Minutes with… Chuck Cheek from CMI Precision
By: Andrea Pathiakis
Many racers can remember their first off-road vehicle. The bruises that came with them, the lessons learned, but mostly they remember all of the fun. A 70cc dirt bike was my off-road debut but nothing can be compared to the newer generations and their karts. The karts are quick, nimble, and even defy the basic laws of crashing; something former off-road kids would have drooled over. The Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series brings the upcoming kings and queens of off-road racing to duke it out in the Junior 2 class among other Kart classes, on the same courses as their favorite professional drivers.
CMI Precision is a machine shop based out of Placentia, California making it a central location for two of the tracks in the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series year. Both owner and racer, Chuck Cheek is veteran motocross and off-road racer who won the 2009 LOORRS Pro Buggy championship. He is not the only champion in his family. Son Myles Cheek, who is just thirteen years old, won the 2011 Junior 2 Kart championship making it a complete father-son pastime. Cheek feels CMI is very fortunate to be able to be involved in the series and make products that allow the karts to be reliable along with easing the prep work for the parents of other kid racers. The Junior 2 Kart class is one of the premiere kart classes that adds a great family atmosphere to the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series. A key component to the class, CMI Precision has committed to sponsor the Junior 2 class throughout the 2012 Southern California series.
LORORS: What is CMI Precision?
CC: We are a machine shop. Most of the parts we produce are geared towards the motorsports industry. It is natural for us to participate in off-road both as a company and as racers. We are fortunate enough to be involved and make products that help the karts stay out on the track while also becoming a little more maintenance friendly.
LORORS: Can you tell me a little bit about your racing history?
CC: I started racing motocross back in the 70s along with racing ATVs. Both my son Myles and I started racing short course in 2007; he raced in the premiere kart class while I raced in Pro Buggy. It was a father-son involvement and a ton of fun. I won the 2009 Pro Buggy championship and Myles won the championship last year in the karts. Needless to say we are blessed to have won not one, but two championships.
LORORS: You also sponsor Myles Cheek in the Modified Kart class. How did he do at the first round?
CC: The first race was a great race. We ran a couple new setup changes on the kart and he had a great battle with Sheldon Creed. Myles and Sheldon kept battling back and forth having a ton of fun, and Myles ended up on the podium in second. They had a great race. We have some surprises for the next round as we are debuting a new kart that has a little more power. CMI racing is really looking forward to it.
LORORS: With your involvement in Lucas Oil Regional series, what is your outlook for sponsoring the Junior 2 class?
CC: CMI Precision is very privileged to be involved with the series and Junior 2 class. The kart class took a dip a couple years ago but seems to be getting bigger and we want to be involved in that progression. The class keeps getting bigger and all the pieces are coming together with Lucas Oil. Whatever we can do to help support the class and grow it is beneficial to us and the regional series. It is fun to participate and also be close enough to see the people who make this series a success.
LORORS: That is what is so great about the regional series, it is more of a family.
CC: Yes, It is great time. It has very little pressure and is low key. A team can relax in a lighter atmosphere that is still competitive. Everyone can barbeque, hang out; it is like going camping once a month with your best friends. It is the greatest series and we love it.
LORORS: Anything else you would like to add about CMI and its involvement with the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series?
CC: The biggest thing for us is to be able to add to the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series and be a sponsor of the Junior 2 class. Hopefully CMI is making the lives of the mechanics a little easier with some of the products that we provide and manufacture. We are very fortunate to be in this industry. There isn’t anything we would be rather doing than spending time with our friends and racing.
The Junior 2 class promises to be one of the most exciting classes at the Southern California Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series. With fourteen entries at the February round, more karts will only be added to the class, making it one of the most loaded fields in the series. The kart classes will spark the off-road kid inside of any fan and inspire future racing stars sitting in the stands. If you have any questions about the class, please feel free to stop by the CMI Precision pit, talk to Chuck, and check out his lineup of karts. For more information about CMI Precision, view their website at:
CMI Precision Machining
By: Andrea Pathiakis
Many racers can remember their first off-road vehicle. The bruises that came with them, the lessons learned, but mostly they remember all of the fun. A 70cc dirt bike was my off-road debut but nothing can be compared to the newer generations and their karts. The karts are quick, nimble, and even defy the basic laws of crashing; something former off-road kids would have drooled over. The Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series brings the upcoming kings and queens of off-road racing to duke it out in the Junior 2 class among other Kart classes, on the same courses as their favorite professional drivers.
CMI Precision is a machine shop based out of Placentia, California making it a central location for two of the tracks in the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series year. Both owner and racer, Chuck Cheek is veteran motocross and off-road racer who won the 2009 LOORRS Pro Buggy championship. He is not the only champion in his family. Son Myles Cheek, who is just thirteen years old, won the 2011 Junior 2 Kart championship making it a complete father-son pastime. Cheek feels CMI is very fortunate to be able to be involved in the series and make products that allow the karts to be reliable along with easing the prep work for the parents of other kid racers. The Junior 2 Kart class is one of the premiere kart classes that adds a great family atmosphere to the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series. A key component to the class, CMI Precision has committed to sponsor the Junior 2 class throughout the 2012 Southern California series.
LORORS: What is CMI Precision?
CC: We are a machine shop. Most of the parts we produce are geared towards the motorsports industry. It is natural for us to participate in off-road both as a company and as racers. We are fortunate enough to be involved and make products that help the karts stay out on the track while also becoming a little more maintenance friendly.
LORORS: Can you tell me a little bit about your racing history?
CC: I started racing motocross back in the 70s along with racing ATVs. Both my son Myles and I started racing short course in 2007; he raced in the premiere kart class while I raced in Pro Buggy. It was a father-son involvement and a ton of fun. I won the 2009 Pro Buggy championship and Myles won the championship last year in the karts. Needless to say we are blessed to have won not one, but two championships.
LORORS: You also sponsor Myles Cheek in the Modified Kart class. How did he do at the first round?
CC: The first race was a great race. We ran a couple new setup changes on the kart and he had a great battle with Sheldon Creed. Myles and Sheldon kept battling back and forth having a ton of fun, and Myles ended up on the podium in second. They had a great race. We have some surprises for the next round as we are debuting a new kart that has a little more power. CMI racing is really looking forward to it.
LORORS: With your involvement in Lucas Oil Regional series, what is your outlook for sponsoring the Junior 2 class?
CC: CMI Precision is very privileged to be involved with the series and Junior 2 class. The kart class took a dip a couple years ago but seems to be getting bigger and we want to be involved in that progression. The class keeps getting bigger and all the pieces are coming together with Lucas Oil. Whatever we can do to help support the class and grow it is beneficial to us and the regional series. It is fun to participate and also be close enough to see the people who make this series a success.
LORORS: That is what is so great about the regional series, it is more of a family.
CC: Yes, It is great time. It has very little pressure and is low key. A team can relax in a lighter atmosphere that is still competitive. Everyone can barbeque, hang out; it is like going camping once a month with your best friends. It is the greatest series and we love it.
LORORS: Anything else you would like to add about CMI and its involvement with the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series?
CC: The biggest thing for us is to be able to add to the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series and be a sponsor of the Junior 2 class. Hopefully CMI is making the lives of the mechanics a little easier with some of the products that we provide and manufacture. We are very fortunate to be in this industry. There isn’t anything we would be rather doing than spending time with our friends and racing.
The Junior 2 class promises to be one of the most exciting classes at the Southern California Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series. With fourteen entries at the February round, more karts will only be added to the class, making it one of the most loaded fields in the series. The kart classes will spark the off-road kid inside of any fan and inspire future racing stars sitting in the stands. If you have any questions about the class, please feel free to stop by the CMI Precision pit, talk to Chuck, and check out his lineup of karts. For more information about CMI Precision, view their website at:
CMI Precision Machining
