This sports story covered a day of Motocross races at Knobby Hill Motocross track in Sheridan, IN near Indianapolis. This story was published in a natinal motocross magazine.
A Dust to Remember
SHERIDAN, IN, AUGUST 12, 2001
By Leslie Valiant
Sunday at the track became Sunday at the Dust Derby as Knobby Hill hosted
a State points race for over 400 riders.
Don Baker showed why he’s the 25+A state points leader as he drove his Honda to first place in three of his four motos finishing the day with a first place overall in 25+A and 30+A. The most exciting of his wins came early in the day in the first 30+A moto. Baker’s frequent competitor, Shawn Wilson, broke to an early lead grabbing the hole shot and containing the lead throughout most of the race. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as Baker had Wilson’s tail and finally went in for the pass deep in the woods during the white flag lap. Baker went on to steel Wilson’s thunder and take the checkered flag for the first of his three victories.
Kevin Lampe returned the favor in the second 25+A moto, edging the win from Baker after struggling neck and neck for the first two laps. Lampe finished third for the day in the 25+A class and hammered out two VERY convincing rides to take an easy first in the 250A class. Lampe’s clinic-like day will most likely land him higher spots on the state points chart. He is currently hovering at fourth place in the 250A class with 111 points and holds an impressive sixth place in the 25+A class.
Michael Bender, current state points leader for 80 12-15, was the story once again in the 80 open class but found a tough break in 80Sr as he battled with Broc Sims in the first moto. Sims trailed Bender the first lap but pushed just enough to edge by him at the finish line to nail first place and leave Bender in the dust. The second 80Sr moto found Bender left in third behind Brock Cross taking second and Broc Sims claiming another checkered flag.
Despite the excitement of a day plagued by accidents, injuries and an hour long intermission, the second race of the year for Knobby Hill was just as you might imagine a hot, sticky day in August. It was bright, sunny and long. Very, very long. The highlight of the day from my perspective was a phony telegram announced over the loud speaker from the AMA. The telegram pleaded with parents of 50 class riders to set aside their pride and acknowledge the amateur nature of the sport. Yes, folks the gloves were out Sunday and quite frankly, the small host of mature adults present at the race felt it was time for the 50 class parents to take a long ride on the dirt bike to reality.
What do you get when you have thirty-nine 4-8 year olds on 50 oilers? You get one mean mess of mud, a lot of engine stalls, 10,000 screaming parents (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, Uncle Ernie, Aunt Marg…), four inch numbers on two foot bikes in one big pack and three disgruntled scorers. Parents, perhaps you should lighten up!
Controversy aside, the day was full of great races. Albeit, some overcrowded motos looked like a cloud of ants in a dirt storm; but a good day nonetheless.
