Weekend Racing News

The biggest news is actually a non racing as the final race of the Mid South Series was rained out for the second time. The series was declared over after 11 rounds by Dirtbikemike and awards were issued at the Hooks MX track Sunday morning in the rain. Rain has plagued the series as well as much of racing in the ArkLaTex area. Tyler was also rained out but it seems that Donaldson MX did race. At this time it is unknown if all motos were completed as the rains also came to the area Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to all those that competed in the series and especially Blake Keeton and John Adam the 1st and 2nd place riders in both the 125 & 250 Pro classes both ride for Cycle & Marine Supercenter. Blake on Yamaha and John on Suzuki. 

Mid South Final at Hooks

The weekend looked good. The track was in great shape during Saturdays practice session. It did get a little dusty and someone mentioned a little rain would help the track for Sunday+IBk-s race. Well we did get a little rain, and a little more, in fact it poured all night. There were rivers and lakes all over. The race was postponed and the date is yet to be announced. With the regional qualifiers for Loretta Lynn+IBk-s the next two weeks, the earliest it could be would be the 27th of June.

Memorial Day Awards

There are actually lots of awards for the weekend+IBk-s racing but I will just post a few of them.

Championship Gold Belt Award goes to Ryan St Cyr. This is his second time to win the award at the same track. Last year he participated in the first Championship bout to be held at Thacker MX. Unlike most WWF bouts, this one had no winners, only losers. I guess someone decided this should be an annual event as Ryan was egged on until he visited someone elses pits and did a double dip jump onto a non WWF licensed racer who was not interested in a bout. What will next year bring?

Hard Luck Award goes to Charlie Bogard. He is back racing and going very fast but had several incidents of bike trouble but managing to win one moto on his 250.

Missing Dog Award goes to Smithville. What happened to all the dogs that were there last year? Rumor has it that the local residents were tired of not getting to kill their share of deer and blamed it on the dogs. Someone with a banjo said that dog meat tasted quite good if it was BBQ+IBk-d. 

The Broken Bone award goes to Ross Kendrick. What a shame. He managed to break two bones in his leg with out even trying. Get well soon Ross.

The slowest results availability Award has to go to Sherwood.

There were many more but the major award for Memorial Day, or any other day for that matter, has to go to the men and women who have served in our armed forces, keeping us safe and free. God Bless The USA and all of her people.

I-40 MX Russellville May 2, 2004 Race Report

The situation was tentative at best. Rain, Rain, and more rain and a motocross track that had never been raced on. We arrived Saturday evening only to be greeted by Dirtbikemike with a caution, don+IBk-t go down to the track. You will probably get stuck. No longer than they pulled out and came Patrick Java with the same caution. We attempted to back out and park and no less then 3  more people warned us. Thanks friends! We took the advice and parked on the church lot until 6 AM and saw dirtbikemike headed in. The rain had stopped sometime during the night. We made it in and parked as best we could and did not get stuck. 

Mike & Pam had their hands full. The track having never been raced on needed plenty of work. The dirt was mostly unpacked. The road needed plenty of help. What else could happen? Rain! Yep, a new track, a beginner track owner and mud.

What to do now? Well they could have cancelled the race since it looked like a very small turn out was likely, they could have left forMexico, well, you get the picture. After what I am sure was much concern, deliberation, worry, and thoughts of how much is this going to cost me, Mike said we are running, practice at 10 and races at Noon.

The Sun came out, the wind blew lightly and Mike ran the dozer to scrape off the mud. The racers even came and the track got better and better. The start never got good, but after having 4 or 5 inches of water on it Saturday, I guess it could say it was better. I sure was interesting to watch the start. Everyone dumped the clutch with the throttle wide open only to +IBw-spin their wheels+IB0 with the bikes slowing taking off as the tires searched for traction. After what must have seemed like forever to the riders, they actually started moving.

The races went quite well, with lots of competition and a few crashes. The worst was Patrick Java on the finish line triple as some how the bike got him and managed to break his wrist. The other involved Brad Calhoun as he endoed and went over the bars. The track certainly challenged the riders as it developed multiple deep ruts in almost every corner and the whoop section reached up to grasp more then one rider as he tried to negotiate the track.

 Ok. All that is good but you say where are Mike+IBk-s Awards? Well there is only one award for this week and it has to go to the team of Dirtbikemike and Dirtbikepam for pulling this one off. From what I saw, they had little or no help from the track owner, the weather certainly didn+IBk-t help either and yet they persevered and put on a good race. Congratulations Mike & Pam, you have earned the Gut Wrench Award. You have certainly earned it and I hope by now, your stomachs have settled and you can enjoy your award.