Rocketing into ‘23

WORDS BY JOSHUA SCHUCKER

PHOTOS BY LORENA WALKER

Success breeds success, or so it’s said. Certainly, AHRMA’s Mid-Atlantic (MA) region hopes this to be true in 2023 as it conjures yet another improvement to the race program to build upon recent season’s successes. Building on the introduction of a three-race crosscountry (CC) format a few years ago, the MA team brought two new approaches to the schedule last season; the addition of several two-day events to optimize the travel-to-fun ratio, and the incorporation of a motocross (MX) series intertwined in the typical ten-round CC series. Each of these iterative innovations were a gamble, and sure to encounter an occasional struggle at the outset but have proven to be wildly successful as the series once again experienced growth through the ’22 season. Changes formulated for the coming season look to build on recent momentum by expanding the full-weekend format and the breadth of both the MX and CC series. If you factor in cooperative events with the neighboring Northeast region, every round of the 2023 schedule can be enjoyed for an entire weekend. The vast majority of the events will be formatted with MX one day and CC the next, while the event count increases to ten and twelve respectively.

All the preamble leads us to round one, where the opening statement gets put to the test. As per tradition, Rocket MX in Three Springs, Pennsylvania gets the call to host the opening round. But, with the new format this is the first time that the vintage racing crowd would settle into the facility for an extended stay and the first time they would get a chance to rip around the gorgeous MX circuit housed on the property. As the pit area began to fill with trucks, RVs, trailers, a rainbow of two-wheeled eye candy, and friends reunited after the offseason, the excitement was building toward the first gate drop Saturday morning.

As riders headed to sign up Saturday morning, descending the hill from the main pit area toward the office building, the scene of the track crew working hard to prep the course for the day’s action was a beautiful sight. The track lies in a shallow valley, with the foreground and most distant part of the circuit at the highest elevation with a continuous rise parallel to the valley throughout the center. The facility uses this elevation change to great effect with the route snaking back and forth in wide sweeping turns over the mound where impressive tabletop jumps live on each ridge. In fact, while a fully modern MX course, Rocket MX incorporates a majority of vintage friendly tabletop obstacles rather than larger gaps. Of course, a few double and triple jumps do exist, with several riders able to execute an uphill double heading toward the finish line, while the steepest triple jump was bypassed in the name of safety.

Sadly, another sight that couldn’t be missed on the stroll to sign up was the looming dark clouds which ultimately would not be denied as they unleashed a brief but intense downpour right before the scheduled rider’s meeting. Practice was delayed for approximately an hour to wait out the rain, but there would be no avoiding the mud once bikes hit the track. Practice and early motos encountered very slick conditions with several inches of slop coating the entire surface and ruts migrating continuously as each bike carved its own path; often times making a straightaway into a series of random, meandering esses. Trackowner Corey Noll and his track crew had assured the crowd that he preemptively groomed the course in anticipation of the rain and was certain the track would improve as the day progressed. As dominant lines formed in the turns, a few spots started to show dry ground beneath the upper layer. Toward the end of moto one races, the entire track began to tack up quite well. The composition of the ground was quite extraordinary as it dried and began clinging to boots and tires like freshly chewed Juicy Fruit to the carpet of your new car. I can imagine the moisture retention properties of this mixture are a huge benefit in controlling dust on drier days than this. As moto one came to an end, Corey and team worked some wizardlevel magic with the heavy equipment, because as moto two commenced, that track was near prime. Watching the second half action, it was obvious that the smile quotient per rider increased dramatically redeeming the day and making the event as successful as can be hoped given the conditions.

While Saturday was impacted by the rain, with recent dry conditions in the region, Sunday’s CC course was in dire need of that moisture, and by the time the morning’s vintage race took the green flag, the earth had absorbed the rain to create conditions so heavenly a top fuel dragster could hook up in the loam. Considering Rocket has been the longest tenured event on the MA schedule, the trails here are often familiar, fun, and well established, with a juggling of direction and connection each year to keep it interesting. MA regional coordinator Dave Kutskel and volunteers added a few fresh cut sections of singletrack this year for variety and to bypass some beat up areas from prior action.

From the start area adjacent to the pits, the riders enter a relatively rock-strewn portion of woods which quickly transitions to flowier singletrack headed toward lower elevation and a twisting grass track section where some fun passing opportunities are presented while testing the flexibility of your throttle hand. Shooting back into the woods after a rumble of small whoops exiting the grasstrack, the course settles into a groove of great twisting trails with plenty of elevation changes, off-cambers, roots, and a particularly sweet section of undulating trail with multiple lane choices on the edge of the property shadowing Starr Road. Toward the end of the nearly five-mile trek, the course navigates two “better hope your (drum) brakes are working” downhills before approaching the spectator-lined infamous Rocket hillclimb. While there is a fun bailout path to the right, the climb is equally fun and far quicker if executed properly. With the great traction on this day, plenty of riders were able to tackle the hill’s various lines with gusto. A cool up/down corkscrew followed and led the riders into the last bit of trail prior to the scoring tent.

On this weekend, success breeds success appears to be true, as the participant count was solid on the MX gate and in the rows of all three CC races. Despite the poor weather to kick off the first day’s action, the overall vibe of the weekend experience was exceedingly positive. With a solid ’23 schedule packed with action and cool venues; the anticipation is the success will continue! However, one negative to the weekend that everyone hopes will not continue is an unusual glut of injuries that struck several riders. Thankfully the MA family has plenty of quick reacting and selfless racers and medical teams that jumped into motion to help those in need. Best wishes on a speedy return to health and action for Carol Bailey, Sarah Huth, Jim Reitz, and Keith Folmar. Recent news suggests all will be just fine with a variety of recovery plans and duration. Obvious thanks to those folks that helped these riders, and thanks to the tireless army of volunteers that push the MA series to new heights each year. Undoubtedly, much appreciation is also directed toward the sponsors of the series Potomac Vintage Riders,

Preston Petty Products, Stainless Cycle, Grove Printing, KMI Printing, Horizon Homes, and new to the MX sponsorship side, M3One. Please visit www.ahrma.org/ahrmamid-atlantic-region to see the results for the entire weekend and the upcoming schedule to make plans to join us!