5 to 9

What does it take to achieve motocross excellence?  Our guest today can certainly tell you. Ulf Viney, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Precisely and a dedicated father, has turned his sons’ interest in motocross into a full-on family adventure complete with feats of track engineering. With the type of earth-moving machines you’d expect around a construction site, Ulf builds professional-grade motocross tracks in his own backyard.

Hear how Ulf got started in the motocross game, the parallels between his professional and race track-building life, and the challenges and triumphs that define his family’s motocross journey. From the meticulous process of sourcing and shaping dirt to the high-speed thrills of the race itself, this is an episode every bit as exhilarating as the world of motocross.

Highlights:
  • Family First, Always: Ulf Viney's journey into motocross began because his son showed an interest in riding. Fast forward to today, and it's a full-fledged family affair with both of his sons rising up the ranks in motocross. 
  • Building Dreams (And Tracks): Ever wondered what it takes to build a supercross track in your backyard? Ulf gives us a peek behind the curtain, sharing the nitty-gritty of dirt composition, machinery, and the precise art of track building.
  • Overcoming Challenges: Whether it's handling challenging terrain or solving complex engineering problems, Ulf emphasizes the value of facing and overcoming obstacles.
 
Jump Into the Conversation:
(00:00) Introduction to Ulf Viney and his views on growth through challenges
(01:14) How Ulf’s son’s interest sparked the family’s motocross journey
(04:45) Ulf’s involvement in designing custom motocross tracks
(09:58) Motocross vs. Supercross: Ulf explains the differences
(12:54) How to build a supercross track
(26:44) Applying engineering skills to track construction
(37:42) Testing tracks with top riders for quality assurance

What is 5 to 9?

By day, engineering leaders craft innovative solutions with elegant strings of code. But when the work day ends, who do these keyboard warriors and the people who manage them become? Five to Nine - gives an exclusive glimpse into the lives of software engineers and the minds who guide them, brought to you by Jellyfish CEO Andrew Lau. Peer behind the scenes as we delve into the diverse realms these tech virtuosos inhabit after the clock strikes five. From vinyl DJs who keep it old school to virtuoso cellists and from connoisseurs of meticulously brewed coffee to daring cultivators of forbidden tomatoes – each guest unveils a hidden facet of themselves. But what's more intriguing is the connection between these avocations and their roles as product and engineering leaders. The question remains: Who are you when the laptop closes? Discover the captivating obsessions that shape these remarkable individuals and illuminate a different dimension of leadership.