What Sound does a Motorcycle Make?
We recently visited Samantha Sharbono, the Business Office Manager for Two Tone Powersports, a local Spanaway business. Two Tone Powersports was brought to our attention for a story by Amanda, one of our Customer Service Representatives, whose 4‐1/2‐year‐old son, Liam, participates in flat track racing. Founder Thomas Sharbono and the Sharbonos’ son Kaydan compete in flat track racing.
Who is Two Tone Powersports and what is flat track racing? These are questions Samantha kindly answered for us.
Two Tone Powersports sells and services racing bikes, ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and dirt bikes of all major makes and models of any year. If they can still get parts, they will work on any bike. Tom Sharbono’s preparation laid the foundation for the company, as he completed every certification available through the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) in Arizona. He has certifications in Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Harley Davidson. Tom started working on motorcycles out of his parents’ home in 2017, while also working as an advisor to service dealerships.
Samantha worked in a call center for service departments and served as an advisor for Dodge, Crysler, Ram, Jeep, and Fiat dealerships. Tom and Samantha met while working for the same dealership in 2018. Sharing a passion for all things motorcycles and with their son in tow, the Sharbonos turned Two Tone Powersports into a family-owned and operated business. They are hoping soon to secure licensing as a Polaris Kawasaki dealership.
It is fortunate when work and leisure harmonize when you can build a business you love, and it becomes a family activity. Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The Sharbonos seem to have found this magic melding of work and play. They are happy to be at work and excited about motorcycles and the community of flat-track racing.
Tom is teaching Kaydan both to race and to repair and maintain his own bike, a KTM 50. Samantha (who rides a Yamaha TTR125) appreciates the community that surrounds flat track racing and describes it as a wholesome environment for kids to participate in a sport where everyone looks out for each other. The sport helps kids gain confidence, strengthen motor skills, and learn the mechanics and science of motion and acceleration. It is an activity in which the whole family can participate.
Our newest line worker, Corbin, can relate and enjoys flat track racing because it is a fun activity to do with friends. Corbin is the 4th generation flat track racer in his family. His grandfather taught him to race motorcycles and his father still races. Corbin started racing at 3 years old and prefers off-road racing to flat-track racing. He likes to work with anything with motors and enjoys spending time with friends. He likes to push himself to do better and prefers a custom-built chassis. Corbin has no interest in “going pro” because he rides better when he is having fun and especially enjoys sliding around the corners wearing a left steel “slipper” that fits over his left boot to help stabilize the turn.
As a sport, flat track racing originated in the United States. According to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), flat track racing grew from the age when riders competed on county fair horse tracks. Riders compete in 4 different kinds of events: oval short‐track, half‐mile, mile tracks, and TT courses (which include a turn and a jump). Bikes include both custom-built frames and production bikes (converted motocross or off‐road motorcycles). Motorcycles can have either 2‐stroke or 4‐stroke engines. They have front and rear suspension, but the rear brakes make flat track tracing distinct from other racing, as the brakes allow for a different cornering technique.
Samantha shares that adult riders are somewhat protected in the event of a crash through safety advances, such as inflatable gear and high-grade helmets. There is leather gear (jackets, gloves, boots, vests) which helps to protect both kids and adults from road rash when crashing and helps in some cases give additional protection. Some of “the leathers” are made to accommodate airbag inserts.
Races are held locally at the Puyallup Fairgrounds and Riverdale Raceway in Toutle. Competitors advance over time through different circuits through Hooligan (the Grand National Hooligan Championship) or the Progressive American Flat Track (AFT). AFT races are broadcast by NASCAR. The France family, founders of NASCAR, own AFT.
The enthusiasm in Samantha’s face when talking about Two Tone Powersports and the flat track racing community seems to embody this quote from Valentino Rossi, “Riding a race bike is an art – a thing that you do because you feel something inside.” Perhaps this also sums up why Corbin and his family ride. People like the Sharbonos will welcome you to the motorcycle community; and whatever your reason is for riding, Two Tone Powersports will work to ensure any bike you ride is built for the adventure.