PINNED:  What's up Gary? It's been a while since we've seen you racing. It's awesome! You've been doing pretty well racing here in Fontana, haven't ya?

GARY:  Yup, stoked to be back out here in Fontana riding, checking it all out again... having a good time!

PINNED:  It's been several years since you've raced... What made you decide to come back?

GARY:  Honestly, what brought be back was Rich [Houseman, Gary's older brother]. I've been on & off the bike a bunch over the years, but Rich has really been egging me to come back. With him being on the Yeti program, and bringing on a couple of new kids to the team, it's an awesome atmosphere! Plus the THR [Team Houseman Racing] thing we've had going on since I can remember. Rich handled it since I ended racing in 2003, but we've really had the Team Houseman thing going for a while. It'd be awesome to really bring it back!

I honesty have had a "real" job for a long time now, & I just think I can race again. Rich has been motivating me! He's been saying I can race again & that's what brought me back. Flat out... I think racing is a healthy thing & makes you a stronger person... & that's why I'm back!

I really like being able to race in Fontana against what I think is some of the fastest pros still on the circuit. Knowing that I can still be behind those guys, but know that I can really race them & compare my time... to see where I'm at & work on getting better all the time!

PINNED:  Real job?!?! What the hell is that? Haha. So, what's this so called "real" job that you speak of?

GARY:  I'm a full time commercial plumber, working for "Temecula Mechanical." We work on schools everyday & that's my full career right now. And that's really what I wanna do as a career. It was an apprenticeship that lasted 4 years & you come out of that making good money.

PINNED:  That's awesome! Glad you found something that suits you & makes you happy... not to mention good money!

GARY:  Thanks man. Yah, definitely, huh!

PINNED:  Without a sponsored 'ride,' what bike have you been racing in Fontana?

GARY:  My brother's Yeti! With basically... well, I don't think it's a stock yeti, but it's Rich's stock Yeti! Haha. It's been the best bike that I've had! Ya know? Better than any bike that I'd get from any bike shop. So it's got factory settings & everything. So it's been better than the average bike!

PINNED:  So you DO have a sponsor!! Factory ride from Rich! haha.

GARY:  Factory sponsorship from THR!

PINNED:  So, now that the racing bug has sucked you back in, any plans yet for this season? Are you sticking with the local series or going to try & hit up any bigger races?

GARY:  You know what, a couple weeks ago I had an offer put out to me from a bike company that wants me to do two World Cup events & test their bikes. Honestly from that day on, it's motivated me to come back & be a racer.

I think for years from now I'll still be coming out to this (Fontana) series & still be a racer.

I'll hopefully know soon what the deal consists of. I know it'll be a complete sponsorship - top to bottom, no salary or anything obviously, but full deal. So if I get that deal, there's no hesitation I'm going to do it... & I'm gonna come back as the best pro I can be, like when I left the sport.

PINNED:  I hate to bring it up, but what about the fine you were issued from your last World Cup?

GARY:  That's the whole thing right now. A week ago I called USA Cycling & contacted them. I was fined 2000 Swiss francs, roughly, from them & I never paid it. I got contacted from the UCI about ten times about paying that fine & neglected to respond, or anything. Because I thought I was wrongfully punished... I knew I was wrong, but I never wanted to pay that fine. But the company that's interested in me is going to support me & we'll work out that fine. I should know back soon if USA Cycling had to pay that fine to the UCI. Basically, what has happened is that the UCI fined me. But, if I didn't pay that fine, it goes to USA Cycling. And if they had to pay it, then I'd have to reimburse them to get my UCI license. So if that's the case, then ya, I'm gonna take the opportunity to take the sponsorship I'm getting & go for it man!

PINNED:  Sweet! It'll be awesome to see you back at the bigger races as well! Will you be hitting up any of the Nationals or Mountain States Cups?

GARY:  Just local stuff, because like I said, I'm still going to be a plumber Monday through Friday & the sponsor that I just talked about said that's what they want me to be. They want me to be a test rider & to commit to those 2 world cup races, which are like a 2-week break in a normal job, which I can feasibly do. So that's what I'm gonna try & do.  So, I'm not saying that I'm gonna come back & do a full scene. But I will take the opportunity to come back to Fontana & do the whole local series. I won't be going to sea otter & stuff, but yah, I'll do the local races here.

PINNED:  I know you've race both disciplines (DH & MTX) in the past, but you've only been racing DH at Fontana. What do you plan to do if you pick up this ride?

GARY:  Just be downhill. Just downhill for them... Ya know what, after getting the downhill program started with them, I will try & go into 4X too... cause that's what I've always done. I've already asked them what bikes do i get, & this & that, and a 4x bike is one of them too. So we'll see.

PINNED:  So is this the return of Team Houseman Racing?

GARY:  Always!

PINNED:  Bringing the website back (www.teamhouseman.com)?

RICH HOUSEMAN:  Oh it's back!!!

GARY:  Especially If I come back, it's on!

PINNED:  Thanks for the interview man, I'm excited to see you back! Best of luck this season!

GARY:  Thanks man!