Racing was 'passion' for young Tomball man who died in ATV accident

A few weeks ago, A.J. Gilbert sat astride his muddy four-wheeler with a huge grin as he held up two awards. One was for being the first to take the lead in a motocross race in Splendora. The other was for crossing the finish line first.

The 22-year-old from Tomball was hoping for a repeat performance this coming weekend, so he took off work early on Monday to make some practice runs at a large motocross park off Interstate 45 in Conroe, his friends said. But it turned out to be his last ride.

Despite wearing every possible kind of protective gear, from a chest guard to a helmet, he was killed when his Yamaha ATV flipped on top of him after he made a jump on that dirt track, Conroe police said. The autopsy showed he died from a massive head injury.

After flying over the jump, Gilbert's body landed on the front of his ATV, forcing it to nosedive into the ground and flip, explained police Sgt. Dorcy Riddle.

Justice of the Peace Eddie Connelly said Gilbert's was at least the third fatality that she's investigated at the popular raceway, 3 Palms Action Sports Park.

Darwin Huckabee, 60, of Cypress, whom Racer X Online called a "motocross legend," died when his vintage dirt bike overshot a jump on Oct. 2, 2011. Another racer, Shannon White, was killed on a dirt bike there on Sept. 20, 2010.

Another individual died from a heart attack while racing there.

"Motocross racers are riding powerful, high-speed machines from dirt bikes to ATVs that always carry a certain amount of danger," Connelly said. "I think that's why they like to do it."

In fact, memorial websites list racers who die each year taking part in the sport. The 3 Palms park is one of at least a half-dozen that encircle the Houston area.

"Everybody knows what they're getting into when they go out there to race," said Kevin Byrd, the owner of Power Toys of Texas in Conroe, who had employed Gilbert as a mechanic there. "They make you wear protection and sign a release. There's nothing the track can do to make it safer. Every time you go out, a rider knows he's taking a chance."

Developed special tire

Byrd said he was grooming Gilbert to take over his business. He added that they had developed a special mud tire together that they had planned to sell for ATVs.

"He lived for riding. That's what he did. It was his passion," Byrd said. "He would come to work early and stay late. He was a good kid who didn't drink, smoke or chase women. He was laid back, always joking and could make me laugh no matter how bad I felt."

Allan Jeffrey "A.J." Gilbert initially left Hartsel, Colo., where his mother lives about 100 miles southwest of Denver, to come to the Houston area for a job working on mud pumps in the oil fields. He landed the job with Byrd a year ago.

"The customers loved him. I've probably had 200 calls since people started hearing what happened," Byrd said.

Gilbert's sister, JoAnn Purcell, said her brother had a passion for ATVs and motorcycles since he was a boy. After graduating from high school in Colorado, Gilbert went to Arizona, where he honed his skills as a mechanic at the Motorcycle Mechanic Institute, she said.

He had a "high respect" for the inherent danger in this sport and was a strong advocate of wearing protective gear, she said.

Nonetheless, she said he had broken his arm and shattered his wrist in a motocross incident last year.

"I warned him to be more careful," Purcell said in a strained voice.

Byrd has started a fund to raise money to help Gilbert's family with funeral expenses.

The owners and staff at 3 Palms Action Sports Park declined comment. But the motocross organization did post a note on its website that stated: "Our hearts go out to the family and friends" after Gilbert's untimely death.

Park reopened Tuesday

After the incident at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, the park closed for the rest of that day. The park began reopening tracks on Tuesday. The 255-acre park not only has multiple dirt tracks but also has facilities for camping, fishing and swimming.

Gilbert's body was being flown to his family's home in Colorado for a funeral service on Saturday, his sister said.

Byrd said he is trying to organize a memorial ride at the park in his honor.