(648) Stephen Newell
(92R) Steve Gard
WASHINGTON’S
WARD CREEK
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY KATE JORGENSON
NATIONAL MOTOCROSS
The inaugural Ward Creek National AHRMA motocross event in Raymond, Washington, happened on Sunday August 1, 2021, following the Pacific Northwest utilizing the track on the Saturday beforehand. Some riders used Saturday as a practice day and entered the Pacific Northwest Motocross group’s event and got to know the track. After Saturday’s event, the owner of the track, Bob, as many called him, went out on the bulldozer and smoothed out and graded the dirt for several hours (he was on the bulldozer until midnight). The dirt was watered Saturday evening as it was being bulldozed so there was hardly any dust as well. Many of the riders compared Ward Creek to Hollister because of the elevator shaft hills; riders had to go up and down eight steep hills to be exact and the 17 jumps counted by Tim Jackson (99V) in practice! Sunday was a great day for racing with ocean air and mist as well as overcast weather! It was a nice change of pace from the 90- to 100-degree weather at home for many Northwesterners. There were 31 pre-entries, 86 entries and one 38
WWW.AHRMA.ORG
new member, welcome Chris Bentley! There were 13 races and one Legends Challenge race. Bentley, who entered the Post Vintage on a 1984 RM Suzuki 250 with drum brakes said that “the event was well run and even though his competition and class size was small it was super fun riding with other racers on their 500s.” After the event he posted photos to his social media account and now his friend has purchased a vintage motorcycle. In the first race of the day with Vintage 100 Experts, ESS (Early Sportsman Stock) 500 Intermediates, Vintage Open Age Intermediates, Vintage Open Age Experts, and Vintage 50+ Intermediates Curt Snider (221) got the hole shot. In the ESS 500 Intermediate, Jackson (99V) earned first place. Mark Percy (8s) took first place in Vintage Open Age Intermediate. The largest class of the day was the 60+ Expert and 60+ Intermediate and they were in two separate races. In the 60+ Expert class, Chet Malito (38) took first place overall
AMERICAN HISTORIC RACING MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
