History/Bio
MATT CARTER BIO/HISTORY
Matt was born in Pacific Beach, Ca. Started traveling into remote destinations throughout Baja since he was 4, his mom took him and his brother camping all over Baja when ever she had a chance. Matt's first time driving was at age 5, she threw him into the driver seat of her 66' Int. Scout on the road between El Condor and Laguna Hansen going through Parke National. His Mom, Leah had no idea what she had done! That day, it changed his life for ever!
He started riding motorcycles at 11, started racing at 12 and was working at Yamaha of Pacific Beach. Racing in both 250 and 500cc classes, he won High School National Motocross 500cc Champ and Amateur National Motocross 500cc Champ by age 15 and 16.,at one point, he had a 38 moto win streak going on at Speedway 117 Night Motocross, Talk about some fun days of racing!! Matt also raced in the Baja 1000 and the 500 in '77 and 78', then returned to the CMC and Golden State series racing at Carlsbad ,Saddleback and the night tracks around So.Cal,generally kicking butt but always having a great time!
At age 19 Matt had a horrific motorcycle accident, coded a couple times, broke everything, 7 months in the hospital and ultimately lost his foot at the ankle. His mom, family and friends never let him know how badly he was injured and they gave him tons support in the following years. He never let his injuries limit anything in his life or slow him down in any way, it all just made Matt, much, much stronger!
He worked for a man named Kevin Calvo at his Prosthetic, Orthotic Manufacturing Office called BIONICS ,from just after his accident and through the '80s. Working in the medical field turned out to be an incredible experience, helping others that had been in same or similar traumatic situations and helping people who had endured amputations or similar traumatic injuries. He learned a lot about “life” working in the medical field, it was a very different, but a great chapter in his life.
Matt got Married in '86 had his first daughter Jennafer in late '87 and his youngest Torre in '91. He had been graced with two of the most incredible kids. Matt ended up raising them himself but with the constant help from his mom..Matt was it, Mr. Mom, Dad, soccer dad, karate, softball. He was a single dad raising his two little girls and working with the Chart House/Islands Burger Corp. First as handyman then moved into project development and running the Maintenance crews.
Mid '80s he was helping teams like the Herzog/Douglas, Simon and Simon racing and helped produce the Off Road film “Rock Busters”.
Matt bought a class 7 truck in La Paz BCS. Started racing in the Southern Baja Camp Series around Loreto,La Paz and Cabo and immediately got sponsorship and support from Tom Bradley, Goodyear Tires, Tecate Beer, Quaker State, Justice Bros. Auto fab, and more.
Tom Bradley saw Matt go by at the Todos Santos to La Paz race , called him the next day to see if he could ride co-pilot and that quick they had a team. Tom has always been a great friend a brother, to Matt and a great partner in racing from that day on.
He started racing the Extreme Int. Short Course Series in 2001, he went undefeated that whole year and for the following two years as well. Between Estero Beach, Lake Havasu and Cow Town in Pheonix he won every race, no DNF's, nothing but Gold. He has one person to thank for that incredible winning streak, Johnny Hartwell his dear friend and the best “Crew Chief” Ever ! He won the 2001, 2002, 2003 Extreme Int Sort Course Series and the SORR Short Course Championship as well in 2003, Matt and Carter Mountain Racing Team was on a roll!
His daughters Jennafer and Torre were very instrumental in his winning as well , they were always there putting up with him, his crazy racing friends and mechanics etc.. Jenn created a fashion design business selling her “Pit Tootsy Race Gear” line at the races and Torre just wrapped up in the racing. She became the Carter Mountain Racing Team Manager, mechanic, logistics expert and Crew chief when they were on the road especially in Southern Baja. It was great watching Torre holding her pre race pit meetings giving instructions, directions and pit packages to all the support team, It was very difficult for the “Men”and “Boys” to take direction from this 13 year old little blond gringa until they realized how knowledgeable and experienced she was. Torre has been her Dad's co pilot in many races and has started racing herself as well, she is a great smooth and fast driver and will be a threat on the track soon.
In late 2003 he was invited back to La Paz to race in the Ivan Stewert Pro Truck race at the Lopez Cinco Short Course, he won that race and two more before heading back to San Diego. Then In early 2004 he was invited back to La Paz for the first ever Off Road Stadium race in the La Paz Baseball Stadium,he won that race as well and ended up leaving his class 7 truck and and all his racing“stuff” in La Paz to race the Southern Baja Off Road Championship Series, the team got runner up in that series but Matt ended winning The Mexican National Championship Series that year instead. He ended up runner up in the Mexican National Champ series the following year as well but did come home with a bunch of Short course victories. Matt Overalled the Mazatlan 300, beat they trophy trucks, the class 1 cars, class 10's,class 8's. There is something about racing in the mountains and jungles around Mazatlan, crossing the meter deep rivers, an experience he vows he will never forget!
In 2004 he was employed with Strategic Operations involved in pre deployment training missions for our military. As the unrest increased in the Middle East, our training efforts became more in demand so racing took a back seat for a bit, but his heart was still deep in racing!
I 2006 his racing efforts were cut short, his dear friend Steve Howe,the owner of Dark Dog Energy Drink and Matt were in the middle of buying a Trophy truck from the Great Jimmy Wietsel and they were working on deal to buy Scott Douglas's Pro 2/4 to make a major assault on the off road World in 2007 and 2008. Steve was in an accident that tragically took his life, a huge loss for his family friends, business associates and certainly collapsed any of the sponsorship dreams and goals for the “Dark Dog/Carter Mountain Racing's” Team. Matt raced and won several more races in San Jose Del Cabo, La Paz, Culican, Mazatlan then brought the whole racing effort back home to San Diego. His Daughters, work with the military and taking a minute to smell the flowers seemed to be priority.
The time away from racing, the time with his daughters and the the connection they have rekindled has been priceless!
There are some people in Matt's life that have made this all possible, first and foremost his Mom, Leah Carter was always there for him while he was growing up racing, and through so many trying injuries and has made everything possible with always being able to stand in as a (parent) to her Grand daughters. She is the strongest, most dedicated person Matt has ever known. He believe a good deal of his strength and abilities to overcome adversity comes directly from his mom!
John Ehmke at Auto Fab has always been his great friend and has come through with his fabrication ideas to build the toughest most reliable , best handling class 7 truck possible, He has come through with sponsorship for Matt over the years, again another hand in making it all happen! Thanks Johnny!
Tom Bradley's constant support and friendship over the years and the infinite great memories they share racing down in “paradise”, La Paz, Cabo Mazatlan, etc. Matt feel very fortunate to be involved with such a great man! He is still racing and hopefully we will be together in the 1000.
Carter Mountain Racings immediate plans are running the Famous “AutoFab El Camino” in the NORRA Mexican 1000 starting in Mexicali, BC. On April 28th finishing in La Paz on May 1st. Future plans for Carter Mountain Racing include running some local fun races , such as the Jacume Amistad Grand Prix, and some of his favorites in Southern Baja. There are some good possibilities for the 2010,Score Baja 1000.....Matt's main goals are getting his daughter Torre some good seat time so thay can race together in some of the bigger events....
Since his accident in 1981, Matt has had an urgency in transcending his beliefs to less fortunate people that any disability, no matter how extreme should ever limit ones dreams, goals or abilities to accomplish anything that one sets their mind to. Matt believes in living and embracing life to the fullest each and every day, he feels this gives people more ability to accomplish all they set out to, and much, much more !!!.....
Matt has been blessed with success, In his twelve plus years of off road racing, he has won five separate championships and one Overall points championship, and dozens of first place finishes, When people ask Matt how he's doing, all Matt say's is ”I just cant imagine how life could be any better !" Lets Go Racing!!!
