Latest News

Nov, 23 2007 Robert goes to Duluth for the Amsiol WPSA National
with his teammates from South Side Sales. Robert ran his first
National Race after being away for a year.
Friday night he was in his first ever X Games qualifier. He was 18th
fastest out of 72 entries and made it to the Main Event. He finished in 7th place just 2 places out of going to the X Games. He Will have 2 more attempts to qualify for X Games over at the RMR Racing Circuit.

Saturday Robert raced in the Semi Pro Open class and had a 3rd place finish in heat #1 and 2nd Place finish in heat #2. In the 3rd heat he had some engine problems while in 2nd place and ended up in 8th place so he didn't make the Main event.

Sunday Robert raced in the Semi Pro Stock class and took a 3rd, 2nd & 2nd in his heat races which put him on the front row as the 10th qualifier. When the flag dropped Robert worked his way up to 6th place and was battling with Ebert for 5th place when he hit a kicker on the back straight that sent him flying over the bars. He got back up to finish in 14th place.

Overall it was a great weekend for Robert after being away from the Nationals for 1 year and qualifing for to 2 main events is a great accomplishment.

Dec 1, 2007 Robert raced his first Rock Maple Regional Race at Enfield, NH.
In the Semi Pro Open Class Robert ran 2nd, 1st , 1st in his heat races. In the Final Robert
came home with his first win of the season.

In the Semi Pro Stock Class Robert ran 2nd, 1st, 1st in his heat races. In the Final Robert
was in Second place behind Omalley when he had a get off in a corner when he tangled with a lapper. Robert got back on his sled to finish in 3rd place.

With his first Rock Maple Race under his belt and first win in the book Robert looks forward to next weekends race at Windham Mtn, NY.

Robert would like to thank everyone on his team SouthSide Sales for all of their support.

Dec 8, 2007 Robert raced at Windham Mtn Ny in his second Rock Maple Regional Race.
In the Semi Pro Open class things didn't start off very well. In his first heat of the day the stator came unplugged
so he finished last in heat #1. After figuring out that it was just unplugged wires he went out and finished 2nd in Heat 2 and and in Heat 3. This was still enough to put him on the front row after qualifying.
In the Final on Sunday Robert got the Holeshot and won the Semi Pro Open Class. That is Roberts second win in that class.

In the Semi Pro Stock class things started off very well in Qualifying he went 1,1,1 in his heats making him the #1 qualifier. But on Sunday morning in Practice he locked up the brakes. The brake pads literally stuck to the brake disc and wouldn't allow the sled to move. He kept his race team South Side Sales very busy in making the repairs. The team got him ready for the Semi Stock Final. When the green flagged dropped he was back in 5th place and then on lap 1or 2 Robert fell off the sled in the whoop section putting him back to last. Robert got back on the sled and finished in 10th Place.

It was a tough weekend for Robert but that’s why they call it racing. Robert and his team Southside Sales will be ready to go for the next Race at Black Mtn in Rumford Maine.

Thanks to Bruce Gaspardi Jr we have some new photos on the Photos page. Check them out.....

Dec 15, 2007 What a Kick **s weekend. At the age of 17 Robert qualified for the Winter XGames. Rock Maple Regional ran its last Xgames qualifying race this weekend and Robert took home the win. So now he has the opportunity to race in the Winter XGames at Aspen Co. Jan 24th- 26th. We are very proud of Robert and his race accomplishments. This has been a life long goal of his since he was 10yrs old.

Robert was on a roll all weekend. Team Southside had Roberts sleds dialed. In qualifying for the Semi Pro Open Class on Sat Robert went undefeated in his heat races 1,1,1. On Sunday the snow started coming down 6-8" fell during the day. In the Semi Pro Open final Robert got pinched at the line and had to lift. This put him in the middle of the pack. Robert worked his way up to a 3rd place podium finish in the race shortened 5-lap final. Robert said it was difficult to see in the all of the snow duff.

In the qualifying for the Semi Pro Stock class Robert went undefeated in his heats 1,1,1. With the final being ran on Sunday in all of the snow duff. Robert got the holeshot and never looked back. He won the Semi Pro Stock Final going undefeated on the weekend in his class.

Robert will be coming home for Christmas break on Weds the 19th for a much needed break. But I'm sure he will just want to go riding with his friends.

Thanks again to Team Southside for all of their hard work. Roberts next race is Jan 5th at Malone Ny.

Jan 6, 2008 Happy New Year. After a 2 week vacation back home for the Holidays Robert got back to racing at the 4th round of the Rock Maple Racing Circut in Malone NY. Robert said it was tough track for him to find any rythum. He said he just didn't feel right all weekend. Maybe it was all the trail riding that he was doing with his best friends the Boylans over the holiday break. He just couldn't stay on the snocross sled.

In the Semi Pro Open class he went 1,1,3 in his qualifying heats. Then in the final he was in 2nd place with one lap to go and hit a step on step off roller the wrong way and fell off his sled. Maybe we need to put some velcro on his feet. :) He got up and finished the race in 5th place.

In the Semi Pro Stock class he went 2,3,1 in his qualifying heats. Then in the final he was in 2nd place when the race leader St Onge had a problem and handed Robert his second Win in the Stock Class.

Robert is the current points leader in both of the Semi Pro Stock & Open class and would like to thank all of his sponsors and teammate at SouthSide sales.

Robert will have next weekend off and will be getting his XGames race sled ready for Aspen Co.

Jan 20, 2008 Robert continues his winning ways. Robert raced at Verona Ny the 5th Rnd of Rock Maple Circut. Robert said that in Saturdays qualifying the track at PitX had a difficult section at the end of the whoops. The last three whoops had a steep face to them. Alot of racers crashed in this section and Robert was no exception.

In round 1 of the Pro Stock class while in the lead Robert came off of his sled in the whoops and had trouble getting his tether plugged in. After remounting his Polaris IQ Robert would end up finishing in 9th place. In Rnd 2 & 3 of Pro Stock he finished 1,1. When the final came he got a great start in 3rd place but couldn't get his rythum on the track and ended the day in 2nd Place. Robert is still in the points lead in the Semi Pro Stock Championship run but gave some points up to J. Stone. Congrats to Stone for winning the final.

Things were different in the Semi Pro Open class. Robert went undefeated for the weekend. He went 1,1,1 in qualifying rounds. Then in the final got a bad start back in 8th at the first corner. Robert said he felt really good and just started picking racers off until he took the lead. He never looked back and came home with the win. Robert is still in the points lead in the Semi Pro Open Championship and gained some points on Chico & Stone.

Robert will take his winning momentum to Aspen Co. for the Winter X-Games. He will be getting on a plane Monday morning headed to Aspen. He will be testing and Practicing for his first X-Games Snocross which starts Friday Jan 25,2008. Thanks to everyone at Southside Sales and to Bruce Sr. for all of his help in getting Robert to the X-Games!

Feb 24,2008 After 2 cancelled races Robert gets back on the Snocross Track. Robert went Ossipee NH with his team South Side Sales to race Round # 7 of the Rock Maple Regional. It had been since X-Games In January since Robert had raced.

After 4 weeks off Robert started out right where he left off. In the Semi Pro Open class Robert was the number 1 Qualifier with a 2,1,1 in his heats. In the Final Robert got the line he wanted and the first Lap around was In the lead and never looked back. He went on to win by 2.54 sec. or Jason Stone in second place. Robert gained some more points and after the dropped race is still in the Points Lead.

The Semi Pro Stock class was definitely a different story. In Roberts first heat he got a bad holeshot and was working his way through the pack but on lap 3 after making it to 2nd place he lock up his brakes again and fell back to a 8th place. After the team worked to get new brakes in his sled Robert went out the the next heat and won. In the final round of qualifing he again got a bad start but worked his way upto 2nd.
In the Final Robert took the lead on the 3rd lap and was stretching the lead out going throught the rythum section a big ROCK appeared on the landing of one of the jumps and ripped his front A-Arm & Shock off of his sled he had to settle for 13th place.

Robert had the chance to redeem himself. Rock Maple had a dash for cash for all PRO rider and the top SEMI Pro riders. Robert qualified for the Dash. On the start C.W. Sirgane took the lead then on the second lap Robert got around C.W. and never looked back. He went on to win the 12 lap Dash and $ 750.00.
Robert was happy to finish the weekend with a win and looks forward to next weekend race in Skowhegan Maine.

Robert as always would like to thank his Team South Side Sales and all of his sponsors.

Bruce Gaspardi Jr. made some backgrounds of Robert and I have attached them over on the left. Check them out.

Mar 2, 2008 Robert keeps his winning streak alive! Robert raced the 8th Round of the Rock Maple Regional over the weekend. He got a cold over the week so he wasn't a 100% but was determined to get another win for team SouthSide Sales.

In the Semi Pro Open class Saturdays qualifing didn't go as planned. In round one Robert got a win. In round two he got knocked off of his sled and got back on for a fifth place. In round 3 he just wasn't feeling it and got a fourth place. So his qualifing for the main went 1,5,4. On Sunday for the Main Event Robert got a great start and went on to win over teammate Derek Graham. Robert is still in the points lead in this class after all of the racers drop one race.

In the Semi Pro Stock class qualifing on Saturday was very good with a 1,2,2, in all of his rounds. On Sunday Robert went out for morning practice and came off a of a jump sideways and couldn't land it. He crashed hard enough to bend a lower a arm and the tunnel. Team South Side went to work to fix the Stocker and get it ready for the main. In the main Robert got the holeshot and was leading when his sled began to bog. He gave the lead up to Jason Stone but held on for second place when the checkers flew. With just 2 rounds of racing left the points battle in this class is heating up. Robert still has the lead but by a very slim margin over Jason Stone. Robert wants these championships so he will need to put head down and focus on the last 2 races. We know he can do it.

To All, 3-12-08

I just talked to Jim Graeber and he said that Robert is awake!!!! YEA He wants his snowmachine, he says he needs to go race!!!! He moved his left knee is all I know so far. Chris is trying to rest right now she is pretty exhausted.

Robert is off the respirator and breathing on his own, talking up a storm. He has 2 plates in his neck, vertebrae have been fused in his lower back with pins for support, the stint in his aorta is working great and he should see no adverse effects from it. He will have surgery in the next couple of days to change the “sponge” on his back, he will have to go through this process 2-3 times before they can begin doing skin grafts. Time is still needed to know for sure the extent of the injuries to his spinal cord, it was NOT severed but did get damaged.

The Robert Graeber Recovery Fund has been set up with Wells Fargo, PLEASE GO TO THE BRANCH CLOSEST TO YOU AND MAKE A DONATION! the account number #5282538577 and the routing number is 125200057. Please spread the word on this so we can get some $$$ raised to help Chris, Jim and Robert. John Woodbury, Coast Magazine, is going to put the bank account # for Wells Fargo in the April issue. And Tom Whitstine is working on getting a Pay Pal Account set up so people will be able to contribute via the internet world wide. Please pass this number on until we get it on the website, Thank You.

Anchorage Racing Lions are trying to get a spaghetti feed and silent auction together soon. I will post the info as soon as I have it. If any other organizations would like to help with this just let me know. Roxann 345-2336 or 242-7830

For those of you who know Patti Balzarini ,FreeStyle Photo, she is donating all proceeds from picture sales in the month of March to the Graeber family.

Keep sending lots of prayers for the family.

Thank You

Roxann Boylan & Kent Harrington

Robert injury Report 3-11-08
RMR Central Semi Pro racer Robert Graeber was injured in the Pro Open final at McCauley Mtn. on Sunday. He received severe trauma to his back and neck and also damage to the aorta. Robert went through 12 hours of surgery on Monday and is stable at ICU at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York. I will up date every body tomorrow by 6pm.

Please send Cards & Letters to: Or Email: racerx84@mtaonline.net
Robert Graeber
PO Box 45
Willow AK 99688

From Mom in Syracuse, New York 3-13-08

Robert is doing well today, he was a little nausea this morning from taking a road trip down to the 5th floor for a CT Scan. So they gave him some drug that knocked him out. He is out of the ICU and we are on the 8th floor now in the Pedeatric Ward in his own room. They let us use our cell phones and we are online now. I read alot of his e-mails this afternoon to him and he really likes hearing them. He's also happy because they have Mac & Cheese and a slurpee Machine on this floor.

He went into the O.R. at 5pm to change out his wound vac (sponge) on his back. He just got done around 7:30 pm( New York time) and the Plastic Surgeon was shocked to find it in such great shape. So he was able to stitch up the muscle layer and thinks that he will be able to remove the new sponge on Monday and stitch up the skin. So maybe no skin graphs. That was really great news.

Anyway keep up the e-mails he really loves hearing from all of you.

Thanks everyone,
Chris Graeber