Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast

Heather Wilson Schiltz of High Gear Success

Stories and strategies that keep the world of motorsports moving forward with host Heather Wilson Schiltz of High Gear Success | Interviews with riders/drivers, motorsports event organizers, industry professionals and beyond. | Episodes drop every Thursday. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. If you're into a variety of motorsports disciplines -- motocross, enduro, off-road, GNCC, flat track, roadracing, short course, streetbike and adventure riding, Supercross, Snocross and more -- this is for you. Plus, get insight into and best practices for motorsports marketing, sponsorship, event promotion, rider branding, the business side of the sport and more.

  1. 5D AGO

    EP31: Two Weeks & Nearly 5,000 Miles at Dakar - Preston Campbell, Honda HRC Team Racer

    Send a text Preston Campbell grew up in the back of a box van traveling to races with his dad, Johnny Campbell. Today, he’s built a racing career of his own -- contesting in National Hare and Hound races for JCR Honda and international rally competitions for Honda HRC. In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz sits down with Preston to talk about his progression from NHHA to finishing runner-up in the Rally2 class at the legendary Dakar Rally. Preston shares what it’s really like to race nearly 5,000 miles over two weeks in Saudi Arabia, what road book navigation is like, and why slowing down to regroup was his strategy when mistakes happened. From 4 a.m. starts and 12-hour days on the bike to sleeping in desert bivouacs to riding at average speeds of 60+ mph, this conversation gives an honest look at what Dakar demands physically and mentally. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How National Hare and Hound racing prepared him for high-speed rally competitionWhat Dakar actually looks like — 13 stages, almost 5,000 miles, one rest day and nonstop navigationHow road book navigation works and why it feels like “texting and driving” at race paceThe physical and mental grind of 12-hour daysManaging mistakes without turning one error into twoWhat marathon bivouacs are like (including sleeping in motorhomes or even tents in the dunes)The behind-the-scenes support system of the Monster Energy Honda HRC teamHow he decompressed after returning home — and what’s next in rally racing📲 Connect with Preston on Instagram SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    31 min
  2. FEB 5

    EP30: Building Partnerships That Fund Your Race Program - Amanda Van Den Elzen, Racer On Demand Founder

    Send us a text Amanda Van Den Elzen didn’t enter motorsports through racing herself. She got pulled in when her husband decided to trade drifting and rally racing for short course off-road. Since then, they’ve built VDE Racing from the ground up, learned sponsorship through trial and error, and developed a “partner-first” mindset that’s helped fund their program beyond race results. In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz chats with Amanda about what a brand really is (hint: it’s not just your logo), why “winning” isn’t the main value you bring to partners, and how racers can stand out from others in the lineup through story, consistency, and real data.  Amanda also shares how Racer On Demand’s print-on-demand merch model helps racers generate income without the headache of inventory. Plus, they share a simple homework assignment that racers can use this week to start clarifying their brand. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: The moment VDE Racing had to shift from a “sportsman mindset” to a pro partnership strategyWhat a brand actually isWhy partners don’t always care if you win... and what they do care about insteadThe “bigger pie” analogy: how racers, series and tracks can grow motorsports funding togetherThe value of the fan demographic data that VDE Racing collectedRacer On Demand’s merch program: print-on-demand storefronts + monthly payouts with no inventoryWhat keeps partners coming back year after year: meaningful relationships, not transactionsOne small step racers can take this week to define and show up with a stronger brand📲 Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn 📲 Connect with VDE Racing on Instagram or Facebook 📲 Connect with Racer on Demand on Instagram or Facebook 🌐 Get more info about Racer on Demand: RacerOnDemand.us SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    41 min
  3. JAN 29

    EP29: Big Dreams Start on Small Bikes - Mike Correa, SFLminiGP Founder & Operator

    Send us a text Big dreams don’t start under bright lights. They start in the paddock, surrounded by family, mentors, and opportunity. And behind every rising racer is a grassroots program building skills, confidence and community long before the spotlight. In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz chats with Mike Correa, founder and operator of South Florida MiniGP (SFLminiGP), a youth road racing series that’s now heading into its 11th season. Mike shares how the organization grew from a simple goal — getting his son into the sport — into one of the largest mini organizations in the United States, with dozens of alumni racing in MotoAmerica and competing overseas. They also talk about how SFLminiGP removes barriers for new families with rental bikes and gear, what the paddock culture looks like on a typical weekend, and why insurance is the toughest challenge event organizers face in today’s motorsports world. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How Mike launched SFLminiGP in 2015How rentals and gear make it easier for families to try road racingWhat makes SFLminiGP’s paddock feel like a big familyHow teen coaches help younger riders learn in a way that actually clicksThe 2026 season structureThe basics of the bike progression for kidsWhat it took to earn FIM MotoMini Cup approvalWhy Florida venue options have shrunk post-COVID and how insurance impacts where they can raceMike’s advice for new familiesWhat’s next: growing the nonprofit MiniSBK USA to support riders financially📲 Connect with SFLminiGP on Instagram or Facebook 🌐 Get more info about the series: sflminigp.com SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    34 min
  4. JAN 22

    EP28: Raising the Standard for Motorcycle Coaches - Lindsey Scheltema, USMCA Executive Director

    Send us a text Motorcycle coaching is about so much more than speed. It’s about safety, confidence, mentorship, and keeping riders in the sport for life. In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz sits down with Lindsey Scheltema, Executive Director of the United States Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA), to talk about how her career has come “full circle” from racing and live event operations to leading a national organization focused on professional standards for coaching motorcyclists. Lindsey shares how USMCA was born out of a surprising gap discovered during an effort to bring back high school motocross, what the certification process includes, and why coaching is becoming a key part of sustaining motorcycling across disciplines -- from motocross to adventure riding to track days.  They also discuss what truly makes a coach impactful and how USMCA’s next chapter is expanding through coach calls, an in-person summit, and its acquisition by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC). 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why AIMExpo was a networking goldmine—and how relationships drive business in motorsportsLindsey’s “full circle” journey from racer to Arenacross/Supercross operations to connector and leader at USMCAThe surprising moment that sparked USMCA’s creationWhat USMCA certification includes: background screening, CPR/first aid, concussion/heat/cardiac training, reference checks, and moreHow coaching supports lifelong riding across multiple disciplines and at every experience levelThe role of follow-up and mentorship in building rider confidence and long-term successOnline coaching growth: why it helps, and why it can’t fully replace in-person instructionThe biggest misconception Lindsey wants to clear up: great rider ≠ great coachWhat’s next for USMCA: coach calls, an in-person Coach Summit, and expanded opportunities through MIC🌐 Get info about USMCA and becoming a coach: USMCA.org 🌐 Find a coach: MotorcycleCoaching.org SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    33 min
  5. JAN 15

    EP27: Stadium Magic (What It Takes to Produce SMX) - Kat Voiles, Feld Entertainment Sr. Live Event Manager

    Send us a text From pyro booms you can feel in the stands to the cinematic opening ceremonies that set the tone for the night, Kat Voiles is part of the team responsible for turning Monster Energy SMX World Championship race weekends into a full-scale live experience.  In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz chats with Kat about her eight-season journey with Feld Entertainment -- from coordinating interviews in media operations to overseeing what fans watch and hear inside the stadium. Kat shares what goes into pre-season content capture, how storylines evolve week to week, why the touring schedule demands constant adaptability, and what it’s like calling the show in her headset. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: What a Senior Live Event Manager oversees on race weekendHow pre-season media sessions capture hours of athlete content that fuels storytelling across all 31 SMX roundsThe behind-the-scenes work that brings opening ceremonies to life, including video, timing and pyroTouring series realities: how planning for upcoming rounds happens while you’re still executing the current oneHow stadium tech changes from venue to venueWeather contingency planning: building Plan B, C, and D and making real-time calls when conditions aren’t safeWhy Kat thrives in show control, what “a good day” sounds like in her headset, and how she’s learned to roll with chaos🌐 Learn more & get event tickets: SuperMotocross.com SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    34 min
  6. JAN 8

    EP26: Keep On Keeping On - Kade Johnson, Kawasaki Team Green Motocross Racer & SMX Next Competitor

    Send us a text At just 18 years old, Kade Johnson has already built a résumé that most racers only dream of. With more than 70 career championships, an AMA Supercross SMX Next win and his first Pro Motocross start under his belt, Kade joins host Heather Wilson Schiltz to share the mindset, sacrifices and support system that have shaped his journey so far. Kade reflects on his family’s decision to move across the country to support his motocross goals and what it’s really like stepping into the spotlight of SMX Next. He opens up about racing under the lights, adjusting to a last-minute bike switch, training at the Dog Pound alongside top professionals, and why “Keep On Keeping On” has become both his life philosophy and personal brand. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: What makes SMX Next different from amateur racing — and why it’s such a valuable stepping stoneKade's first Pro Motocross start and what surprised him mostTraining at the Dog Pound and the culture that sets it apartMaking the switch from a Yamaha to joining Kawasaki Team GreenThe technical skills he’s focused on to reach the next levelThe story behind “KOKO – Keep On Keeping On” and how it became his personal brandWhy giving back and staying humble matters as his platform grows📲 Connect with Kade Johnson on Instagram SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    32 min
  7. 12/18/2025

    EP25: Inside the Legacy & Technology of DP Brakes - Larry Mills, DP Brakes North America President

    Send us a text Larry Mills and his family have spent more than three decades building DP Brakes into a performance-driven, rider-first brand. Host Heather Wilson Schiltz sits down with Larry to explore the family history behind DP Brakes, the aviation roots that shaped its technology, and why being present at the track still matters in today’s digital world. Larry shares what actually goes into producing a high-quality brake pad, why sintered metal technology remains the gold standard, and how DP Brakes balances performance, durability and rider feel across motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs.  The conversation also dives into sponsorship from a brand perspective, long-standing racer relationships, and what Larry looks for when deciding who to support. It’s an honest, technical, and relationship-driven look at how one company has earned decades of trust in motorsports. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How Larry’s father’s work with Dunlop Tires led to the founding of DP Brakes in North AmericaThe aviation roots behind DP’s sintered metal brake pad technologyWhat actually goes into designing and manufacturing a brake padWhy ceramic backing plates matter for heat management and brake feelHow DP Brakes balances performance, longevity and real-world conditionsWhy Larry prioritizes being at racesHow racer feedback directly influences R&D and product improvementWhat brands really look for when sponsoring racersWhy loyalty and long-term relationships still matter in motorsportsWhere DP Brakes is focusing its growth heading into 2026📲 Connect with Larry Mills on Instagram 🌐 Learn more about DP Brakes: Website: https://www.dp-brakes.comInstagramFacebookSPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.  Support the show ------------------------------------- Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success 👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies 📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook

    33 min

About

Stories and strategies that keep the world of motorsports moving forward with host Heather Wilson Schiltz of High Gear Success | Interviews with riders/drivers, motorsports event organizers, industry professionals and beyond. | Episodes drop every Thursday. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. If you're into a variety of motorsports disciplines -- motocross, enduro, off-road, GNCC, flat track, roadracing, short course, streetbike and adventure riding, Supercross, Snocross and more -- this is for you. Plus, get insight into and best practices for motorsports marketing, sponsorship, event promotion, rider branding, the business side of the sport and more.