Riding an obsession

Tiffiny Flaim didn't know what she would ignite when she bought her husband a motorbike four fateful years ago.Now Anthony Flaim this weekend is heading to Daytona, Fla., looking to win a racing championship.The Flaims had a renewed outlook on life after Tiffiny's bout with ovarian cancer. The illness and her survival gave the Barrington couple new perspective on life.Flaim would tell his wife how he wanted to ride motorbikes, but wouldn't follow up on his thoughts. "When I kept on talking about motorcycles, I never thought racing," he said. "I thought those days were long gone."Tiffiny wanted to change that, to show that there's no point in waiting to do what you wanted in life.But when buying the gift, Tiffiny envisioned relaxing Sunday rides, not her husband clad in leather taking laps at 80 mph. She bought a bike that was all electronic. Her thinking is that an electronic bike would mean Anthony would take the bike to the shop instead of wasting long hours working on the bike at home.The logic wasn't flawed, but it didn't work. A casual hobby two years ago turned competitive. The former mechanical engineer has taken home three regional championships in the Championship Cup Series."It turned to an obsession," Anthony said.This weekend, Flaim will compete in the 24th annual Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway. Flaim will be racing on a 70-horsepower bike, which actually belonged to his wife. After Tiffiny became pregnant with now 2-year-old Luca, she couldn't ride."He basically stole the bike," Tiffiny says.Anthony will be with other amateurs across the country. He's not vying for money, only a really big trophy and bragging rights. He said he enjoys the camaraderie."I enjoy the track environment," he said. "I haven't met a person at the track that I didn't like."Anthony, a construction contractor by day, said it's just not the speed that draws him to the sport. He enjoys the technical aspects and said a successful rider needs to be in shape with a solid core muscle group. He rides mostly in the lightweight division, which has bikes in the slowest rider group.Laps are 2#189; miles, and a sprint race involves eight to 10 laps.Flaim further learned to ride attending courses in Las Vegas at the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School.It's not a cheap hobby. Even though he's been lucky enough to secure a sponsorship through Pirelli tires, it's not unusual to spend $1,000 per week. The race season lasts from April to October, and Flaim races every other weekend at courses in St. Louis, Wisconsin and Iowa. It was in Wisconsin where he got his gear, decorated with -- of course -- flames.The couple's 9-year-old daughter, Emma, also has taken to the sport, and even mom supports her girl's desire to follow in her dad's footsteps. The Flaims say racing is safer than riding on regular streets."I'm fine with it," mom says.Racing has come naturally for Anthony, who has advice for anyone interested in riding."Be careful; it's addicting." 512321Anthony Flaim, shown riding at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet in August, will be competing in the Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer 512289Anthony Flaim, shown preparing to race at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, says a successful rider needs a solid core muscle group to compete.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer 512295Flaim, preparing to race at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Ill., says the technical aspects of the sport are just as addicting as the speed.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer