Enjoy this inspirational tale of Mexican motorcycle drag racing legend Jorge Mendoza as told by his good friend Bruce Mabrito. The story explains hoe Mendoza overcame hardship and adversity in his life to live his dream.
Jorge Mendoza was born in Mexico City. His older brother Pancho Mendoza was his hero. Pancho made history in the VW (Volkswagen) legends by winning his 1st event he ever entered at the Bug In Nationals in Riverside, California in 1974 with a VW drag race car made in Mexico. Jorge 11 at the time, never thought he had the skills and braveness to race cars. He was passionate about racing, but he was a wimpy kid, like the same character shown in the Charles Atlas booklet.
When Jorge was 11, most of his friends from the block know how to ride minibikes. Jorge could not do it. When he let the clutch go the engine stalled.
Javier was also an older brother who taught Jorge how to drive a regular car at age 18. At 21, Javier let Jorge ride on his own a Kawaski GPZ 500 around the block. Jorge was amazed by that.
Jorge moved to Texas in order to help his older brother Pancho on his motoring accessories business in 1982. Jorge began was not happy with his physique and he began with Charles Atlas method, who changed Jorge for life. Jorge gained more muscle tone, his skin was clear of pimples, and he felt more confident with himself.
Then he began his martial arts training at Omega Karate Studio in San Antonio in 1985 with Master Benny Vera who was a key element for Jorge’s future achievements. Master Vera told Jorge that after his 1st ever kumite performance at the school everybody laughed at him. Jorge was a fan of Bruce Lee, and he spent a lot of hours training and a year later Jorge decided to go competition in Texas winning trophies for the school. This boosted even more Jorge’s confidence.
Jorge was Karate Champion in 1986 and 1987. Jorge began his university studies in 1986 in San Antonio at St Mary’s University. While attending the school Jorge was busy training Karate three times a week. He joined the varsity soccer team. Jorge quit playing soccer at age 14. Jorge was an outstanding soccer player. Jorge at 24, with his mind and body transformed he decided to go Karting at the same time. Jorge had a Friday soccer game, Saturday Karate tournament and on Sunday go kart racing. Jorge got 3rd on his 1st race on karting in San Antonio.
With more confidence Jorge bought a 500cc Honda Interceptor that also boosted Jorge’s power mind and confidence in general. Jorge was achieving things he never thought of doing.
In 1987, the IMSA Grand Prix of San Antonio was at his doorstep. Jorge with his confidence at the top he took action and 30 days prior the race Jorge was able to get a ride and found some sponsors, obtaining a 3rd place finish on his IMSA Pro Stock Sedan debut in a street circuit!
In 1988, Jorge raced again in San Antonio in a completely different race car: IMSA Formula Barber Saab with 250 HP. It was the 1st formula race he ever entered. In the summer, he had to go to formula racing schools in the USA and Europe in order to prepare himself for a special test in order to run in San Antonio, since it was a street circuit with concrete walls. He was in the F3 School in France at age 26, while most of the students were around 18 years old and with 10 years of karting experience. Due to his performance at the F3 school and his determination to find sponsors while in France, knocking doors to pay for his schooling, Jorge was granted a F1 test in 1988, before his IMSA Formula race debut.in San Antonio.
It presented a great challenge for Jorge since the year before at the San Antonio Grand Prix, 12 Barber Saab cars were involved in accidents. Jorge with no experience was able to finish the race in 10th place. In 1989, Jorge could not compete in the same class, and he had to race in a faster category, named IMSA GTP lights where he made his debut in Topeka, Kansas with no prior testing. Jorge was able to race in 1990 in another class named IMSA Luk challenge since was the most affordable class to race, Jorge qualified 10th on his 1st qualifying but due to rain further sessions were cancelled and Jorge could not improve and get more comfortable on the car. He had some brakes issues in the middle of the raced after he passed 4 cars.
Since the GP ended in San Antonio in 1990, Jorge did not have more opportunities to race in other tracks in the USA, Jorge was invited by the owner of Alamo Dragway at the end of the race in San Antonio, since Jorge arrived at the track of the SA GP on his Suzuki GSXR 750 motorcycle. Jorge was delighted and happy to know he could race every weekend on his own bike. He accepted the invitation and in 1990 Jorge began his motorcycle racing career!
In 1991, Jorge and his friends raced in a Pro Star event at the Houston Raceway Park, where John Myers, was doing some exhibition runs.
Jorge met John and became friends. Jorge promised John to race against him in PSB in the future. Jorge did not say how long!
But, Jorge put that idea to work on that weekend. That was Jorge’s motivation: To compete in NHRA PSB against John.
In 1991. Jorge sold his station wagon to buy his 1st drag racing motorcycle from RLM in San Antonio. Robbie McMahan was the engine and chassis builder who offered Jorge the bike. It was a Pro Street bike with 1150 GS stock engine capable of running in the 10’s. When Jorge tested for the 1st time this 1150cc drag bike, Jorge got immediately hooked and he decided to purchase the bike from Robbie. In 1991, Jorge began searching for local sponsors and found a Chinese restaurant where Jorge ate every single day for one year! Arai helmets began sponsoring Jorge in 1990, sending an auto racing helmet from Japan. Jorge developed great marketing program to provide sponsors a great return. In 1991, Jorge was invited to perform a motorcycle drag race exhibition in Monterrey, Mexico, Monterrey, was a NHRA division 4 in the 90’s.
Jorge did not expect the great response of the fans when they saw his 10 second bike and the 9 second bike from Todd Faedi.
Todd, was the true inspiration for Jorge, since Todd, had only one leg running 9.50’s. Jorge did not have the skill, neither the early practice on motorcycle as most of riders do. But Jorge told to himself. “If Todd can race with one leg, I have to make it happen” Jorge learned from martial arts his confidence to do any sport. In that in mind Jorge, raced every weekend getting better every day. Jorge was in love with the fans and he was invited to promote the motorcycle drag racing class b the promoters, but Jorge needed to find his own sponsors.
In 1992, Jorge performed some motorcycle drag racing exhibitions at the Marlboro Cup which it was the big platform of auto racing at the time. Jorge met some important people who were interested in his motorcycle drag racing ventures for 1993. Jorge obtained the 1st drag racing sponsorship of Quaker State, since QS has always been involved in auto racing for decades. Jorge did his work and provided sponsors with great exposure and returns. Bates Leathers, Simpson, some of the US brands who join forces with Jorge.
In 1993 at the NHRA Divisional race, Jorge was name “Who’s hot in the world of drag racing” by Red Wing shoes. Jorge as interviewed by on the most iconic commentators in NHRA drag racing: Bob Frey. When Jorge saw that on TV, he got so emotional, and it boosted his mind to achieve the 1st NHRA Pro License for a Latino racer. Jorge went 3 different times to Gainsville, Florida in 1994 to get his license runs. Jorge never expected to run low 8’s in 1994, but Thanks to Frank Hawley’s and George Bryce instruction, Jorge got the confidence to achieve that milestone. George Bryce told Jorge, everything he has learned prior to the school, was not any good. Jorge had to learn all from scratch again and it worked!
Jorge made history by becoming the 1st Latino to obtain a NHRA pro license.
With the confidence on his shoulders and getting national headlines as a drag racer, Jorge had an outstanding year getting $100,000 on sponsorships. Jorge was not as popular as Adrian Fernandez, since Adrian had a huge backing from Tecate, Quaker State and others.
Jorge, wanted to make his NHRA debut in 1994, but the bike he was going to race suffered an engine problem prior to Denver. In 1995, devaluation hit the Mexican peso and Jorge’s dreams to race in the USA, were set aside. He got a sponsor from a cigarette company. Sponsorship that ended in 1997.
Jorge raced most of the times without delay box, because he wanted to get ready for his NHRA debut someday. In December of 1997, Javier’s his older brother passed away due to a brain issue. Javier’s who taught Jorge how to ride a motorcycle for the 1st time, was his teammate from 1993 to 1997. Jorge suffered to major losses that brought him down alcohol to relieve his pain. He drank and cried for 4 months, until one day he said to himself: “That is enough”. Javier always asked Jorge about his debut in NHRA, so Jorge used that as a motivation to race in NHRA honoring his brother. “On your memory brother” is what the T/shirts display on the back.
Early January of 1998, Cigarette company announced its withdrawal from the drag racing series and teams, so it made things even worst.
Jorge, then took action, He began selling all his bracket race bikes. With some of the fund he got a Trac Dynamic Chassis to begin with. The idea was to rent an engine for his debut at the Denver High Mile Nationals. Jorge got sponsorship from Mickey Thompson, Dyna electronics, Bates Leathers, Arai Helmets, Royal Purple oil, Howel Racing Fuel and others. Jorge contacted Steve Johnson, and he rented the most economical engine to race.
Jorge, sent his team by truck to Denver few days before the event. The engine was placed on the bike on Friday, but it was not ready to race. On Saturday, the bike fired up, it was late for the 1st qualifying. On Saturday the bike needed more work to be done, and Jorge missed the 1st qualifying. The bike was finally 10 minutes before the 2nd and last qualifying session of the weekend. Jorge was not happy, and he was regretting coming to Denver. The final moment came, and Jorge was ready for action.
Jorge made his debut on the most adverse conditions: He had never driven the bike before, and it was his 1st NHRA event. But Jorge was ready and jumped on the light and he was ahead of his opponent Craig Treble, who caught up Jorge at the end of the quarter mile, since Jorge did not have enough power under him.
It has to take in consideration that Jorge was one of the tallest and heaviest drivers in the field. Jorge was happy with his reaction time and happy to fulfill a long time dream. John Myers was very happy to see that happening. John, used to call Jorge every year asking Jorge for his NHRA debut. It finally happened at the right moment, since John Myers, died few months later that year. Jorge realized how blessed was him by having the chance to fulfill his dream next to John.
In 1999, Jorge received a phone call from Steve Johnson and he said the most of the NHRA PSB racers agreed to invite Jorge to ride John’s Bike for the Denver race. Jorge finally was going to ride a 100% fully NHRA PSB competitive enough qualify, since it was designed for John’s physique. Jorge, at 6’2′ had a lot of disadvantages. Jorge was confident on his reaction time and riding skills, he accepted the opportunity.
For the 1st time he felt like a racer, only worried about his own driving. The tough situations continued to test Jorge’s determination since that weekend the weather did not allow Jorge to have two runs on Friday and two runs on Saturday. Jorge ran once on Friday, having some issues with launching rpms. Jorge’s data logger was not functioning that weekend on the bike. Jorge was able to identify what the problem was off the bogging issue of the starting line.
Jorge told Greg, that he wanted more rpm off for launching, but Greg responded: “Let me ask Byron Hines, what he thinks” Greg came back minutes later and said Jorge you were right. Jorge was even happier knowing that his preparation for this race was right. Jorge ran on his 8 second in Monterrey on Wednesday when the track was dirty in order to learn to control de bike better with not data logger. Jorge developed great sensitive skills to read his bike while riding it.
Jorge could not run on Saturday morning due to the weather, leaving Jorge again with only one run to make the show for Sunday.
Since Jorge had his confidence all the way up due to what he just heard from Greg, Jorge could not control his emotions, and he was pumped up before the light. Jorge wanted to win so bad that lost his coolness and double shifted. He got a great light but with doing the double shifting lots is chance to qualify for Sunday.
Jorge’s was very satisfied knowing he needed more seat time on the bike. Jorge wanted to race in other events, but the bike was sold and weight changes on the PSB class, made very difficult for tall drivers to be competitive for the following years. Jorge was devastated because he can no longer continue pursue his longtime dream.
In 2000, Jorge’s decided to have his own pro mod chassis and ran with a 300hp engine bracket racing. Jorge made his debut at the Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, when the F1 race is held. Jorge broke the national record, and he equal the Mexican 800hp fuel powered Funny cars in Mexico City.
At the end of 2000, Jorge’s father passed away and Jorge could not recover easy. His engine blew up in a race in Monterrey that made things even worst. Lack of sponsorships on the series also contributed on Jorge’s stepping away from the sport and from the class he created.
Jorge has always been very appreciative of the people who played an important role on his exciting motorcycle drag racing career. Jorge became the quickest man in two wheels. His record in Mexico still unbroken! Jorge wants to say thanks to: Bates Leathers, Vanson Leathers, Dynatek, Track Dynamics, George Bryce, Steve Johnson, Dave Schultz, Chuck Simpson from HPC coatings, Simpson Race Products, Mickey Thompson, Goodyear USA, Cometic Gasket, Pingel, Larry Mcbride, Wynn’s USA, Royal Purple, Air Born Coatings, NOS, Tony Lang and more.
Jorge wishing the best to Cycle drag, an awesome company devoted to the promotion of the sport.
Jorge had a blessed career since he was able to race against his personal heroes and racers, that he admired in the golden era of NHRA PSB.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Please join us in congratulating Jorge Mendoza on a magnificent career in motorsports. Felicidades!
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