2012 Loretta Lynn Motocross: Monday Practice
There was a whole lot of family fun at the Dude Ranch on Monday, July 30… the day before fierce race battles start off the 2012 Loretta Lynn Motocross Championship. With racing starting on Tuesday, all of the riders got their first chance to ride the infamous track during Monday’s practice. The morning started with a light rain, followed by nothing else but summer sunshine beating down for the rest of the day. The track was in good condition, a combination of loam berms and sandy whoops. After several runs, one by one riders headed back into the pits to make slight adjustments and further dial in their dirt bikes for tomorrow’s big day…the 31st annual running of the Loretta Lynn Amateur Motocross Nationals.
While riders spent most of the day testing out the track, the ranch emitted a powerful ‘family vibe’ all day long. It truly seemed more like a giant family reunion, than a prestigious race event. It was all smiles from the ranch entrance to the bustling pits to the refreshing creek. Days like today remind us of why so many motocross racers, and their families, have such a great time here at ‘The Ranch’. Some families have been coming to this event since it first began back in 1982. “It’s like an epic motocross camp…a real mx vacation, with the best motocross racing on earth” said Jay Wagner, who’s entire family has been coming here for almost 30 years. Golf carts of all shapes and sizes whizzed by, with everything from inner tubes and floats, to spare tires and air compressors strapped along for the ride. Almost everyone seemed drawn to the beautiful creek running behind the entire venue. The crowd at the creek’s rope swing was as large as the crowd at the starting gate.
Don’t let the ‘laid back’ atmosphere of today fool you though. Busy behind the scenes, and somewhat out of the spotlight, were mechanics and event staff getting ready for the big day tomorrow. Legendary motocross racer, Ricky Carmichael, buzzed by, aboard his RMZ “supermoto pit bike”, preparing for his own controversial return to the amateur races in 2012. Meanwhile, some of the fastest motocross amateurs in the world practiced, prepped, and listened to coaching from their peers. The entire Loretta Lynn Ranch was filled with rows upon rows of massive RV’s and professional big rigs, somewhat proving the resilience of motocross racing in America during hard economic times. A recession was tough to notice amongst the millions of dollars of gorgeous machinery at every glance. Hundreds of bikini clad females, sporting mud boots, seemed a perfect addition to the beautiful country scenery, awesome motocross track, and high end race bikes. Check out a quick glimpse of some “off the track” sights Chronic MX caught today, the day before the big races start:
Stay tuned to Chronic MX as we report from the ranch all week at the 2012 Loretta Amateur Motocross nationals. Cheers, Chronic MX.
