Bio

Name:  TJ Van Matre

Birth date:  November 12, 1986

Date started racing quads:  Early 2004ish

Current classes raced:  Pro Am, Expert, Open A

Hometown:  College Station, Texas

GCQRA.com nickname:  TJ Van Matre

Racing Achievements

Hand-picked to participate in 2007 USHRA Monster Jam "Quad Wars" in Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Hand-picked to participate in 2007 USHRA Monster Jam "Quad Wars" in Laredo Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas

Active board member and racer in the Gulf Coast Quad Racing Association (GCQRA)

Traveled 4 hours away for a non-points race to represent the GCQRA in a North vs. South grudge race

Hand-picked to participate in 2008 USHRA Monster Jam "Quad Wars" in Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Who Is TJ?

TJ, or, Thomas Junior, is an Aggie residing in College Station, Texas.  His family hales out of The Woodlands, Texas where TJ frequently visits on weekends and holidays.  TJ is studying animal science as he also prepares to enlist in the Marines, proving that his apparent lack of fears has a hold of him both on and off the track.  His dreams are to become a helicopter pilot, and it looks like his hang time on his quad while flying over 125 foot camel backs might looks good on his helicopter pilot job resume'.

TJ and Andy used to travel the country on sponsor's dimes racing radio controlled cars.  TJ also has a background in racing motocross dirt bikes, so suspending himself in mid air on a non-flying machine is simply old hat to TJ.  A serious accident on a dirt bike left TJ in a wheelchair and time to pursue a safer racing venue, hence the radio controlled car racing scene began.  Then one day TJ and Andy decided to buy a couple 4-wheelers, which just HAVE to be safe since there's 4 wheels instead of just 2, and it wasn't before too long that they found themselves racing around the same motocross tracks he frequented on his dirt bike.

And so the story continues.

You want overkill?  Then just ask TJ how many vehicles he's owned.  To make a long story short, he currently drives a silver Dodge extended cab 4x4 diesel.  If you do happen by this vehicle steer clear of road rage because I hear he's packin'.  And in his spare time, TJ enjoys working on a family friend's farm, where he takes care of the land and the horses.  And if there's a beer pong tournament large enough to make any kind of news headlines, chances are it happened at TJ's house.  Don't let his innocent looks fool you.

Want to contact TJ?  Click on one of the options below to do so.