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 Cliff Campbell keeps Nate Adam's bike
worthy of a champion |
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 Minor adjustments can have a major impact
on the course |
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 The Pro Circuit pits at the championships
were the envy of the competition |
The Man Behind the Champ
by Todd Seligman
Cliff Campbell is a key ingredient to Nate Adams's success. Cliff is Nate’s mechanic. According to Nate, having Cliff to take care of his bike is huge because it allows him to focus on his riding and never have any question about his equipment. We spoke to Cliff about what it is like working on the bike of a Champion.
So what does your job entail?
Cliff: “It’s my job to keep Nate’s bike tight and running well so he can concentrate on his riding without having to worry about his equipment.”
How did you wind up as Nate‘s mechanic?
Cliff: “I used to race and compete so I knew a lot of these guys. I loved the life, and riders just started asking me to work on their bikes for them.”
What do you do with Nate’s bike when it comes in stock?
Cliff: “Well, first we tear it down and personalize the suspension for the rider. Then we’ll take the motor off and send it to Pro Circuit Yamaha to get worked over and gain some power.”
Are there any FMX-specific things that you do?
Cliff: “Well, ‘cause Nate rides for Yamaha we have to cut the frame below the seat and re weld that where the grab slots are cut in the sideplates, trim the numberplate, new bars, some stuff is cosmetic like making sure all of the sponsors’ logos are in the right places.
What kinds of adjustments do you need to make from event to event?
Cliff: “The main thing is just keeping everything tight so Nate’s bike always feels solid and he doesn’t have to worry when he’s doing a ninety-foot backflip about the bars falling off or something.”
(!!!)
Cliff: “We might have to change the gearing if there’s a really short approach to the jumps or if we’re at elevation we’ll need to do some carb adjustments.”
Does Nate consult you about what the setup should be for various jumps?
Cliff: “Sometimes he’ll ask me if I think the suspension is right for a certain trick. He knows what he needs to do though. I am here to make him feel more comfortable so he can focus on the competition.”
Do most of the riders have their own mechanic?
Cliff: “No, really just the top-top guys, but if riders are competing at this level, they really should, because they have enough to worry about without having to think about tightening their wheels. Things can fall through the cracks that way and go wrong when they don’t have to.”
What do you think of your job?
Cliff: “I have the best job in the world.”
