Carly-Jo Brigantino isn’t the type to go around spinning her
wheels unless there’s a good reason.
Carly-Jo Brigantino isn’t the type to go around spinning her wheels unless there’s a good reason.
Brigantino, a 13-year-old who attends Sacred Heart School, spun her way to No. 1 in the 2002 American Motorcycle Association’s District 36 Youth Cross Country Championships for girls class series.
She received a plaque for accumulating the most points in “eight or nine races” last year, placing first in five of them. District 36 encompasses Northern California and Northern Nevada.
And she’s off to a good start in 2003, having placed second last weekend at a race in Prairie City near Sacramento .
This Saturday, Brigantino, who races a Honda CR80, will take part in the National Hare Scramble at Hollister Hills.
Brigantino was introduced to the sport of cross country racing a year ago by her mother’s boyfriend, Eric Von Urff.
“It’s fun,” said Brigantino, who has lived in Paicines all her life. “We have acres to practice on out here. I love living out in the country. When I was young I was a tomboy. I’m not as much now, but I still love to race.”
Von Urff had an inkling Brigantino would be a natural.
“She has the personality for it,” said Von Urff, who has raced a 250 cubic-centimeter dirt bike for years. “She has the skill level, the ability. One, she has good balance. Two, she’s aggressive to a certain amount. Three, she has the desire to push herself. Four, she knows how to make it fun. All of those qualities work together.”
Brigantino has never been seriously hurt in any of her races, but she admits to spinning out a few times. She wears a chest protector much like a baseball catcher’s, a helmet, of course, and boots that run about $100. Part of her gear is sponsored by a racing company.
Her races usually last an hour and a half and the track is three to four miles long. Her top speed is 30 to 35 m.p.h. Jumps of five to eight feet are involved.
“I always worry about her,” said Von Urff. “Just like I worry about my son.”
Tim Von Urff, 11, races as well.
“The two are pretty competitive,” said Eric. “They have a good rivalry going.”
Brigantino is having so much success that she is considering not pursuing an acting career, which was her first love.
“No matter what I do, I’ll keep racing,” said Brigantino.
