Presented by : JP Speed, a motorsport shop located in Holly Michigan. Their main priority is providing a full spectrum of suspension service for motocross riders across the country. JP Speed Bumpworks is the custom suspension revalving division which will work with you to develop a suspension setup you will be confident to race hard with. They also offer repair and setup services for motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles and watercraft. click HERE to visit JP SPEED
(Editors Note: We usually do interviews for Trackside Talk, but this is an interesting new video with local MI riders, thanks to Patricia for all her hard work)
They are usually off the beaten path, surrounded by cornfields, and wildflowers growing alongside irrigation ditches. You can hear the din of their motors from a distance, first a puttering sound crescendoing into a deafening roar, and finally tapering off into a high whine like the swarm of bees. They are hand crafted motocross tracks, often owned and operated by local families. They are deeply committed to the sport of racing for children as young as four years of age, to seniors who have participated for decades. On any given weekend from the spring until fall (in southern and western states year round) their gates are open. Some come in large RV trailers transporting multiple bikes, trainers, and the family dog. Others have their single bike in the back of a pickup truck, where they will also sleep for a three-day weekend event. In the evening, families will huddle around small campfires in front of their trailers, and large bonfires will burn by the track as advanced riders lay their bikes sideways and compete in whip contests. On race day, a rider with a broken part is helped by a stranger who he will battle on the track later that day There is a common denominator that seems to run through their veins, a passion for the exhilaration that comes with flying through the air, and a respect for the potential danger that lurks around every curve.
In the year ahead, I hope to catalog some of their stories, creating mini documentaries that focus on individual stories of determination
Kennedy, is a woman competing in a man’s sport. She took up racing after years of watching her younger brother ride. Sometimes there are not enough women to have their own motos, so they must be paired with younger riders, or men who don’t always appreciate their presence getting in the way on the track. They are sisters, girlfriends, and wives, who no longer want to be spectators, but prefer the opportunity to obtain a pro license and compete on a national stage.
Tyler, has been racing since the age of four and wants to honor the memory of his father, who got him into the sport, but passed away when Tyler was just 18. He doesn’t have the resources to hire a trainer, ride at an instructional facility, or purchase multiple bikes, but he has enough perseverance to be first in his District in 2016. In the summer, his life consists of working construction jobs Monday through Friday, and then on the weekends packing his bike & his dog Endo into his pickup truck, and driving to tracks around the state of Michigan to chase points in all kinds of weather.
Mike, also started riding at the age of four, but after experiencing several injuries, he decided to set the pro dream aside, and to just ride for fun. He has worked at local motocross tracks but also spends his free time rebuilding muscle cars. At a summer fair in his hometown he pushes them to the limit, speeding around a figure eight track while young female admirers cheer him on. Racing is in his blood and he cannot imagine living in a big city, but loves the opportunities that rural landscapes provide.
Jagger, attributes his success in motocross racing to the example of his older brother who rode for years and got him into the sport. His family has their own business and could build their own motocross track in their backyard. Like so many other racers, Jagger maintains friendships with riders like Kennedy, Tyler, and Mike. At local tracks they practice together, give each other fist pumps after a race, or just hang out under a pop up awning in the August heat. Jagger also has aspirations to go into acting. There is a sense of performance that for him seems to translate from the track into the very drama of life itself.
There are more stories, including those of parents who sacrifice their time and money to help their children be successful. They can be found at the mini track, offering their advice and staying nearby in the event of a mishap. Their dreams include seeing their children progress to an amateur national level, like the races at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee. But it is more about family, spending time together, and developing the kind of character that comes from competition.
Although motocross is a sport that is enjoyed worldwide, it has a special place in the American landscape. There is a deep respect for country that is felt in the way the race day begins, with the singing of the National Anthem, and a prayer for those who are serving in the military. This unique world combines the ethic of hard work with the American pursuit of success. It accepts the dangers that come with striving for excellence, and it believes, with every drop of the gate, the potential that each individual possesses to succeed in life. I have never met more friendly people. I hope, in my endeavor to capture their stories, to be reminded of the common good and the common ground we all share as human beings.
You can follow Patricia McLaughlin and the Chasing Points project at chasingpoints.org.