Travis Pastrana Interview

By Crissy Van Meter Photos by Brendan Lutes

Travis Pastrana sat down with Motocross.com to discuss his new film, 199 Lives: The Travis Pastrana Story. Travis talks about his bright future in Rally car racing and talks about his inspirations. You can check out 199 Lives: The Travis Pastrana Story in theaters this week only. For more information CLICK HERE.

(Above Photo): Pastrana finished fourth in the Moto-X race at the Navy Moto-X World Championships.

How involved were you with the film?

Basically, about two years ago, we looked at all the films we were making and they were action based—just really all about entertainment value. We just really wanted to get into something that had a little more meaning, and get our foot in the door with movies. It started out as, “Ok this will be a fun project.” But the more we got into it, the more I realized I kind of had to take a step back. Well, not necessarily back, but from the editing and stuff. It’s difficult to edit yourself, because the view is very bias. Where a lot of my friends are very honest. Like my Dad, or any of my family really as any good friend is: they tell the truth. Some of the stuff they were coming out with I didn’t necessarily agree with but I thought, “Well, if this is the view, I totally understand.” So I just basically told them the direction I wanted the film and I worked on a few of the sections. Obviously, what I was thinking at certain sections or philosophies on life or that kind of stuff is all me, because that is something that’s very personal. But a lot of the film was done by people very close to me that know me and know what I’m about. At the same time, though, they aren’t me and I think that was key.

(Above Photo): TP says that more Rally Car racing is in his future.

What is the significance of the title: 199 Lives?

It was really funny because we were kind of going through all the crash footage of myself—I was kind of curious to see all the footage together. We were watching it and just concussion after concussion after broken bone after bone sticking through skin and broken backs. After fifteen really good hits, one of the guys in the back goes, “Man that 199 is significant, you got 199 lives.” And it clicked. We thought that was pretty fitting. With the title, we were kind of going back and forth with a couple different things, but the second the editor in the back said it, we knew.

(Above Photo): Tricks like this are what have made Pastrana the icon he is.

What do you think about freestyle now? How is Rally Car going? 

After the double flip, not that it was the pinnacle by any means, but there’s a guy doing a double flip this weekend and it will probably get beat by the “Electric Death” I think they’re calling it. The sport is going to continue to evolve. I got to a point where I said, “You know what, I’ve won every major competition, I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to—not to say that there aren’t amazing competitors and more to accomplish—but I’m going to do it for me.” I mean, I still ride everyday for fun. But there’s a big difference between, “Hey, I have to do this because I want to do it and I have to do this in the next two weeks because there’s a competition.” My parents were really supportive, and Subaru especially, with [Rally Car]. We were like, “Lets try this sport, lets try a sport that’s huge everywhere else in the world and that’s the most fun you can have on four wheels. And I was able to win two North American championships and now we’re working towards the world championships. I have a long way to go, but it’s something I can do. My biggest competitors are late thirties, early forties, while my biggest freestyle competitors are younger than I am. They’re in their early twenties—late teens to early twenties. It’s a young guy’s sport. Rally car racing takes a lot of experience, but one of our team managers (the greatest Chad Buffum) is in his mid-fifties and we are damn close to the same speed. I figure if I can be bald, old, and fat and still do a sport at a top level where there’s still adrenaline and it’s scary and so technical, then why not. Car racing is something you can do competively for a very long time and still have that adrenaline rush.

So you’re in it for the long haul?

If I can make it in the WRC, well I believe I can. I got a lot of support. Rally takes a lot of different attributes than strictly athleticism. Like motocross, it obviously takes a lot, but more than anything moto takes being fit and being able to fall and not break. Rally takes durability. You know, if you’re really smart and you think things through and you figure out the balance of the car. Its all about balance, every sport is about balance. With Rally, you can think it through. I mean, eventually it becomes second nature if you want to do your best.

What inspires you?

What inspires me and motivates me is someone saying that something can’t be done. Or someone saying that you’re not good enough. Someone saying, “You’re too hurt” or “That trick can’t be done.” Or, “You can’t jump out of plane without a parachute” …watch this! Even though I just had the court hearing and I lost my skydive license, but people that inspire me are guys like Doug Henry. People who understand—like in racing or in sport—so many people get mad so often. People I look up to are guys like Doug Henry and Guy Cooper. They said, “You know what, I am so blessed and fortunate to be living the life I’m living.”