When Christian Faria isn’t working his day job, he’s suiting up in armor, adjusting tire pressure and hurtling sideways into tight dirt-track turns on a brakeless bike going 60 miles per hour.
Welcome to the world of speedway racing, where Christian, a Parks Maintenance Worker, has found a second home, and second family, off the clock.
Family tradition on two wheels
For Christian, speedway isn’t just a hobby, it’s a legacy. “I’ve been around it my whole life,” he says. His grandfather, a four-time national champion, raced and competed overseas. His uncle, still active in the sport, has served as both inspiration and mentor. “There’s a picture of me and him with a trophy when I was maybe two years old,” Christian recalls.
Christian and his cousin who is just 10 years old and already racing, continue that tradition, frequently competing at Fast Fridays in Auburn and other
Southern California tracks.
No brakes, no fear
Speedway bikes don’t look like your average dirt bike. Built for speed and simplicity, they have a lightweight frame, a big engine…and no brakes. “It’s scary, honestly,” Christian admits. “No brakes and going 40 to 60 miles an hour. But it’s fun. It’s super competitive. That’s what got me into it.”
The race format is fast and furious: a handful of riders, four laps, flat dirt track. “When you go into a turn, you give a lot of throttle and the bike kicks sideways,” Christian explains. “It’s drifting, really, sideways at full speed.”
He’s already racked up a couple of wins in his first season and dreams of climbing the ranks from Division 3 to Division 1, where top riders can earn up to $1,000 per race.
The real work, Christian says, happens long before you hit the track. “People see you out there racing, but they don’t know how much work goes into it,” he says.
Every Wednesday and Thursday, he’s in the garage with his uncle, tuning the bike, cleaning parts and checking tire pressure. “Rear tire pressure means a lot,” he says. “You want a little traction, but not too much. There’s no transmission, one gear, so setup matters a lot.”
Come Friday, it’s a long day: a full shift at work, then loading up and heading out for an 8:00pm race. “It’s tiring, but it’s worth it.”
For Christian, Speedway is as much about camaraderie as it is competition. “Everyone helps each other. It’s one big family,” he says. “After the race, kids come over for high fives or ask me to pop a wheelie. I try to make it a great experience for them.”
Racing into the future
For now, Christian is focused on improvement. “The goal is to get better every race, take one more step forward,” he says. “Eventually, I’d love to be racing all over California.”
And yes, his coworkers know about his high-speed hobby. “Some of them think I’m crazy,” he laughs. “They’re like, ‘That’s awesome, just don’t hurt yourself.’”
Despite the risks, Christian has no plans to slow down. “I love the adrenaline rush. It makes me feel good. It’s relaxing, in a weird way. You’re one with the bike, and you’re just out there, having fun.”
For Christian, speedway isn’t just a weekend thrill, it’s part of who he is. Off the clock, he’s a racer, a risk-taker and a role model on two wheels. Watch video of Christian in action or read the article in the Experience PRL Magazine (pg. 33)