GRASS ROOTS... RRMD
Author: Jeb Smith	Grass Roots | Friday, 03 October 2008 03:54

With the evolution of something new, there is always the inevitable beginning. In the case of amateur motocross and team efforts I can assure that countless hours have been spent in garages across the nation as visions of the teams of tomorrow unfold. The ever growing presence of professionalism in the sport is nothing less than attractive. Success is raised and housed amongst the top amateur teams and anybody with the desire to succeed without a doubt wants to roll like that someday. Each and every one of these teams started from scratch and has endured growing pains. Some have succeeded more than others and some have yet to rise to full potential.

There are team efforts that have a presence that mirrors the spotless, uniformed, private, and absolutely luxurious operations that are put forth by teams contesting the AMA Outdoor National and Supercross calendars. Then there are teams that have proven to grow with success, but still struggle when it comes to funding and the pit row dominance that ensues. Last but not least, there are teams that are barely stepping outside the shadows of conception and will have to earn their support and step into that struggling growth curve.

The industry is spread thin and so is today's economy. This simple fact is the backbone behind the vision at Team RRMD. Team Owner, Zach Staggs, has struggled over the years along with a tight nit group of riders from Georgia in effort to realize their dreams in motocross. Zach began to offset his own race cost by taking on graphic design jobs and by helping fellow riders to better market themselves through hand crafted portfolios and online efforts through the likes of Myspace.

Following our introduction of Grass Roots Heroes, our Editor Brent Stallo approached me and shed light on his meeting with Zach Staggs while at Ponca earlier in the year. He described Zach as an aspiring student at Georgia Perimeter College who has been devoting everything he can to grow a grass roots amateur team out of passion for the sport and the desire to help riders stay competitive and obtain the resources they need to fight their way into the amateur limelight.

These are the ingredients that not only warrant a Grass Roots Heroes feature, they are also the ingredients that make our sport what it is. Motocross is far deeper than burning laps and chasing wins, it is infectious and has a bonding power that brings together beings and etches memory after memory into the broad and lively history we all can't live without.

In my interview with Zach, I learned that the team has encountered some rather harsh set backs early into the game. The 40ft Finish Line hauler that was set to make its journey to the Mini O's failed to make a windy mountainside corner in North Georgia and is now a complete loss. His morale was not down when I asked what they are going to do in regards to transportation as November quickly approaches. Instead, I got a rather upbeat response stating that they are going to throw it all in trucks and trailers and make due with what they got.

There are a total of six team riders and another six support riders who fill the programs roster. Rhett Smith, Keegan Byrd, Zach Lurie, Steven Davis, and Zach Staggs are five of the team riders that will contest the intermediate class for the remainder of '08 and into '09. Matt Turner is the only team rider contesting A currently and according to Zach, Matt has stepped up his game considerably as of late and should have a good shot of some solid top 10 finishes in Florida.

The team has set a goal of heading north to the Canadian Nationals next summer and they expect that Rhett and Keegan will graduate to A and join Matt as a three man Canadian National team.

The team currently trains and rides together at Zach's private track and onsite training facility in Dawsonville, GA. A lot of time is spent in Alabama racing and the team is planning on calling the new training facility at Monster Mountain home away from home as it prepares to open this winter. They take great pride in the uniformity that defines their effort and have plans to grow into a nationally recognized team. A long list of sponsors has stepped up to support the program and as Zach continues to pursue his degree in business and marketing he will apply that learned knowledge to the future success of the program.

RRMD is short for Rattle Snake Marketing Department. The name grew from Zach's efforts to market his friends while he lived on Rattlesnake Road. It's been nearly two years since the inception of this program and judging by the enthusiasm and passion for success, I believe we will be seeing a lot more of Team RRMD as the years unfold.

Team RRMD will be at Metalicross, the Mini O's, Oak Hill, 4 Stroke Nationals, Ponca, Loretta's, and the Canadian Nationals throughout '09. A team website is currently in the works and in the meantime you can visit them online at the Myspace address;
http://www.myspace.com/teamrrmd

In closing, I want to say that in today's world it is not easy and the efforts of Zach Staggs to help create this program for struggling riders is too be admired. I'm grateful to know that this sport continues to produce quality people and wish to one day see a RRMD semi pulling into the foggy gates of Loretta's.

Team RRMD would like to thank the following sponsors for their support;
Rattle Snake Racing Marketing Department - FMF Racing - Pirelli - Fusion Graphixx - Fly Racing - Von Zipper - Medina Photography - Fresh Clothing - Trak Control Suspension - Liquid Performance