Mixing Business and Pleasure

Ed Teixeira's involvement with ATVs is both for business and pleasure. To many he is known as the president and founder of Teixeira Technologies, a company that manufactures suspension parts for ATVs. To many others he is known as an ATV racer.

Now 35, Teixeira resides with his wife Tina and three children--Codi, Jordan, and Caitlan--on a 7.5 acre farm, complete with animals, in Tracy, California. He plans to add a practice track soon. Codi and Caitlan have both raced, but have not decided if it is something they want to pursue. Tina is involved in both the business and racing. She writes the press releases that promote the Teixeira racing team.

Teixeira first started riding ATVs in 1986, and his first experience with racing was in 1993. "I did no physical training before my first race as I thought I didn't need any, and that was a mistake," he said. "I bought a used quad and it already had some aftermarket handlebars, nerfbars, and a pipe on it. I put some motocross tires on it and that was about it."

He first started racing on a 1989 Honda TRX 250R quad, and he concentrated on motocross racing first. "I raced the TRX because I thought it was the best quad for motocross racing," he said. His first racing ATV was a Honda 200X ATC. For 2007 he will be racing a Honda TRX 450R. The machine will include Teixeira Tech suspension components and CT Racing engine components. He also plans to add a Precision stabilizer and expects that he will receive other components to add from his sponsors after contracts are signed for the 2007 racing season.

He started racing pro motocross in 1994 and now does most of his runs in the Nevada desert in races produced by the Best in the Desert Series.

He has raced as part of his Teixeira Technologies' racing team in such contests as the Nevada 1000 in McMillin, Nevada, Terrible's Town 250 in Pahrump, Nevada, the Baja Mex 300, and the Parker 250. He also participates in local races. In The Best of the Desert events, Teixeira runs in the Expert Quad category. In the local events he competes in the Pro Quad class.

Attracting sponsors isn't that much of a problem for Teixeira because of his reputation in both the business and racing ends of ATV. He is able to obtain a lot of publicity and that's just what sponsors want. Of course, he is sponsored by his own business. Other sponsors include CT Racing, C.L. Bryant Petroleum/Sunoco Racing Fuels, Maxxis Tires, DH Cycles, Galfer USA, HardKor Engineering, Dirt Tricks (Ironman Sprockets), Douglas Wheel Technology, Moose Racing, Pro Armor, PC Products, Skat-Trak, Terry Cable, Trail Tech, Wiseco, Carmichael Honda, Hinson, IMS, Maier, Outerwears, Regina USA, Scott Goggles, Uni Filter, Universal, SCR Graphics, Klotz Lubricants, Oury Grip, Performance Cryogenics, Tire Balls, West Coast Chrome, and Cardio Stack.

His wife Tina sends out his resumes to potential sponsors at the beginning of each year.

His favorite race is the Las Vegas to Reno race. "The track has everything in it from tight technical stuff to wide open 'haulin' butt' sections," he said. He also likes it because the pit crew has to get more involved. "In this race the pit crew is also in a race, and they seem to like it more because if they're not fast, they won't make it to the next pit," he added.

His favorite obstacles are the tight sections of a course like the river beds with a lot of dicing between trees and mountains. "I think I like that because it takes more of a motocross type riding style, which is where my racing roots started. I feel like I excel in this type of terrain."

For Teixeira, the best part of racing is the people you meet. The worst part of racing is the cost.

Commenting on the future of ATV racing Teixeira said, "I think the future of ATV racing is growing tremendously. I see new sports quads coming in the future and I see more factory involvement."

And what about his future? "I hope to have a few good years left in me in racing. But I also plan to become one of the better known suspension builders in the industry. In 2007 the future for me is the business where I plan on putting more products on the shelf and then experiencing a business explosion in 2008," he concluded.