Premiere Issue
Back 2 School Riding tips
from the pros
Keeping the Faith with
Ride Free
Ministries
New Jersey Motorsports Park The new
Field of d e Dreams v ro
p p A
Motocross Park gets the Stamp of Approval April 2013
EPIDEMIC MOTO MAGAZINE
April ‘13 Volume 1 - Issue 11
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CONTENTS
APRIL ‘13
PG 10 Ride Free Ministries
ON THE COVER
PG 6
Rider Profile
PG 14
Product Spotlight
Jason Krwawecz, founder of Ride Free Ministries, poses for a recent photoshoot at a hare scramble race.
Above: Jason and the older
members of RFM strike a pose during the photoshoot. ** RFM is a new Christian
PG 18
Back 2 School
PG 24
New Jersey Motorsports Park
based ministry who is devoted to spreading the word of God to all who “ride”. All members of RFM either ride, skate, surf or BMX. **
Contact Us Epidemic Moto Magazine
@EpidemicMoto
(856) 294-7307
emily@renegademx.com
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RIDER PROFILE
evan
IUZZOLINO
Age // 17
From //
Millstone Township NJ, I lived there all my life.
Bike //
Honda CRF250, the best bike out there of course!
Class //
250 and Open C
sponsors //
Renegade, Leatt, AXO, and Acerbis, and the Lord of course for always keeping me safe.
Hobbies other than moto //
I like to do art and play the guitar in my spare time.
How did you get into racing //
I always liked the idea of a dirt bike and my dad told their 5 year old to wait until he was 10 hoping he’d forget, well he never forgot. I fell in love with the sport on my tenth birthday when I first got my pw80.
Going to any nationals this year // Loretta Lynn’s.
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RIDER PROFILE Career highlights/achievements //
I think the highlight of my motocross experience was taking the week off and practicing a different track every day down in Florida with my friends. That was definitely the most fun I’ve ever jammed into just one week.
Do you ride for/on a team // Nope! I’m a lone wolf.
Favorite part about racing //
I love the family aspect of racing and how many awesome people you meet. It’s really is amazing how close you become with other families through racing.
Least favorite part about racing //
It kills me to see people get hurt and hear of deaths in the sport. It’s so sad how quickly your life can flip and how dangerous the sport is.
Do you have any riding rituals you do before you ride or race //
What are your plans for the 2013 season //
I plan to qualify for Loretta’s and just ride as much as possible to improve my speed for the B class next year!
What other races do you plan on attending this year //
I plan on doing the North East and Mid East Regionals. For North East I’ll be at Elizabeth City and Englishtown for the area qualifiers and then at Budd’s Creek for the regional. For Mid East I will be at Fast Traxx in Ohio and then Baja in Michigan for regionals; then hopefully Loretta’s from there. Besides that, probably just the district races in the tristate area.
Any advice you would like to give younger or new riders wanting to get into the sport //
I would tell them to always wear their gear! Also to never let anyone’s words or actions stand in the way of their goals. You can do whatever you set your mind to; there are no limits in motocross. **
Before I go out and ride, I always have to say a little prayer just to make sure god has my back out there.
Your favorite place to race/ride //
Out of all the tracks I’ve ever ridden, I think the most fun I had was at Jimmy Weinert’s place. I really had a blast riding there.
Why do you race //
I race for the thrill and the competitiveness, not to mention I just have such a passion for it that if I don’t race I will start to lose my mind!
Who do you look up to //
I look up to Trey Canard as a racer because he has such a respectable attitude towards the sport and is so real. Not to mention he has a sense of humor which is awesome!
How to you train and prep for a race //
I find the most effective way to train for riding is to do exactly that, but off the bike I spend time on my pit bike or BMX bike.
Interview By Emily Heggan
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Keeping the Faith with Ride Free Ministries
W
hen looking at some of the riders from Ride Free Ministries, it would be hard to think of these guys as anything other than your average motocross rider or your action sports enthusiast. With many of their arms covered in tattoos, they certainly do not fit the “stereotypical religious type”.
By Emily Heggan Jersey where he lives with “I woke up in a New his wife, Kelly and daughter, Kloe. hospital with life “I started riding when I support down my was seven and got my first from Deptford Honda throat with six people Honda Yamaha in 1986. I got my first bike in 1987. I then got trying to hold me bmx into skateboarding with my first down.” Santa Cruz skateboard in 1988.
Ride Free Ministries (RFM) is a new Christian based ministry who is devoted to spreading the word of God to all who “ride”. Everyone involved with RFM has grown up riding dirt bikes, surfing, skating or hitting the snow. The people in this group are nothing like your average “Holy Roller”. These are your average everyday people
looking to spread the word of Jesus Christ in extreme sports.
“Our goals are to spread the gospel and that anyone can have a relationship with God through Jesus, no life is a mistake.” said Jason Krwawecz, 34, founder and creator of RFM. “We want to smash the box people put God in and just go big and have fun doing what we love to do. RFM isn’t a religion thing, it’s about a real relationship with a living God.” Jason grew up in New Jersey, living and moving all over southern NJ and now resides in Dennisville,
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Then my love of surfing began in 1996.”
Jason was like any other teenager, just trying to find his way in life. He started to party really hard after graduating from High School. Although it had some fun times, his life had some dark days that were attached to drug use and alcohol abuse. Just like any other kid out of high school, the world seemed to open up for Jason and he wasn’t quite sure but there was something missing from his life. “I couldn’t see myself surviving a lifestyle like this for long, and although I may have been the life of the party at times, I was struggling mentally when I was alone.” Jason was 19 years old when he stepped into a Bible teaching church for the first time. A friend of his family’s had invited him to the
Gloucester County Community Church a few times before he finally decided to go. It was the first time Jason had ever been to a church like that where the people where singing worship, reading from the Bible and were actually excited about him being there.
Jason’s answer to his prayers came in a way no one had expected. Jason was in Wildwood, New Jersey with his friends on a Wednesday night in the summer of 2000. Jason wasn’t planning on doing anything crazy because he had work early the following morning. But how Jason’s parties usually went, things started to get out of control.
“I remember this one lady hugged me that was sitting next to me,” and she said ‘I’m so glad you are here today.’ No joke, it blew my mind. I was thinking, what is this place?” Jason’s only knowledge of God at the time was that ‘Jesus was just an important character somehow attached to God.’ That day the pastor had spoke about how people are trying to fill a void in their lives with relationships, sex, drugs, alcohol, money and other material things and how the void wasn’t going to be filled no matter how much someone got of it. The pastor had said that only God could fill the void that was missing from their lives by asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus as Savior
the fight. I tried doing it on my own and changing but without support from people it was hard to stay on track when everyone you knew at that age was living a party life and were out of control. So I started falling back into my old ways but it only got worse.”
“According to the doctor I should have been brain dead...”
What the pastor spoke about that day blew Jason’s mind. Jason decided to receive Jesus as his Savior, knowing little about what the whole situation meant. The day Jason walked out of the church he felt like a changed man; that he felt that God was speaking right to him that day. “The day I walked out of that church I was changed, it was like night and day but I didn’t know one person my age that was a Christian. I didn’t know anything about the Bible and I didn’t know that going to Church was a must. I also had no one encouraging me to walk with the Lord and stay in
When Jason was 21, his life took a turn for the worst. He began getting heavily involved in more drugs and alcohol abuse. The relationship he once had with God faded away and he was only praying when he was alone in his bed, high and asking God to take his life away. Jason was never really a drug addict, but was more addicted to the party scene. The parties that once ended at 2 a.m. were now ending at 2 p.m. the next day. His life soon was spiraling out of control and Jason was waiting for the next big thing to come along and make him stop living this way.
“I remember vividly getting into the back seat of this girls car and something telling me, ‘don’t go, just walk away.’ I thought to myself, that was kind of crazy but I kept on going.” When Jason arrived at their house, they began drinking more alcohol and pushing the limits by passing the bottle of the drug, GHB, around. “The last thing I remember from that night, I was standing out on the second floor deck staring below thinking, ‘man I am messed up, something isn’t right.’ I then woke up in a hospital with life support down my throat with six people trying to hold me down.”
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Someone had found Jason lying on his back out on the deck passed out, not breathing and throwing up. Three people were arguing over whether to call 911 because of the amount of drugs in the house. A friend of Jason’s heard them arguing and called 911 on his cell phone without anyone else knowing. It took 15 minutes for the ambulance to arrive; all while Jason was still unconscious. Once the EMTs showed up, they started CPR and put Jason on life support right away. When the police arrived, they found seven other people struggling to breathe and unconscious inside the home, both guys and girls. Out of everyone who the police found in the home, Jason was in the worst shape out of all of them. “According to the doctor I should have been brain dead because of the length I was on life support. The doctor came in my room and told me, he didn’t think I was going to live and if I did live I was going to have major brain issues. But despite of all that, God had another plan for my life.” Jason was in the hospital for a week and during his time there, it gave him a while to think about his relationship with God and how it changed at the age of 19. Jason knew he needed to make change and prayed for that in his life. While he was in the hospital he received a call from a good friend of his, inviting him to a Bible study. Jason went that Friday night, and his life was changed forever. Not only did he have a group of people surrounding him and supporting him in his faith, he also met his now wife, Kelly, at the Bible study.
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“We have been tagged as a cult to a bunch of thugs with guns.” “I had never felt freedom like that before. I always thought being a Christian was a bunch of rules but when I put my trust in the Lord and started following his ways it freed me from my sin that was destroying me. I was a slave to my sin and Jesus set me free of that lifestyle.” After everything that has lead Jason to where he is today, he said God really put it on his heart to try and reach out and help the lost, just like God had helped him. Jason started RFM in his kitchen in 2010 to disciple those who have made a decision to follow Christ and to ‘keep on fighting and walking with the Lord and to reach out to those who have never heard of the Jesus in the Bible.’ “God really put it on my heart to reach as many people as I can with his message of salvation through Jesus Christ to all who are involved with or a fan of motocross, surf, skate and bmx, all the things
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that I grew up doing in New Jersey. I love the motocross, surfing, skating and bmx scenes and if we can in anyway help young Christian athletes get recognized and keep them accountable while they travel etc., we want to do that. We want them to remember no matter where they are or what they are doing, they are a Christian first.” Since then, Jason has been teaching his own Bible study to help his group spread the word of Jesus Christ and reach out to all those who are seeking God’s help. The general purpose of the team is to not only have fun by being involved in motocross and other sports, but to help unite likeminded people to further God’s Kingdom not only in motocross but in surfing, skateboarding, bmx and snowboarding as well. “We want to bring hope to the hopeless, the same way others have done for us by standing firm in their faith and not being ashamed of the Gospel.” RFM has 11 riders who are going to be racing the NEOC series this year, ranging in age from 5 to 23. RFM also has another group, called the RFM Troops. The RFM Troops are kids under the age of 12 who ride. They also have a bunch of members who skate, surf and ride bmx as well. “I say we are a team, but it’s more like a huge family. All of them are great and loyal people.” RFM will be at all of the North East Off-road Championship (NEOC) hare scrambles, a few East Coast Undo Association (ECEA) races, along with a few Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) hare scrambles and a few other motocross races. RFM is also planning on competing in
a few surfing competitions on the east coast this year. Jason and his team are really looking forward to all that they have planned this current year. Riders can get involved with the RFM team by just being down with what they are all about. All the riders on RFM have a relationship that just clicks. They are your average everyday people with normal lives, with stories that have brought them to this group one way or another. Jason and the RFM crew have also had a few instances with members of the community not agreeing or liking what the team is trying to do, as well as people trying to get NJ motocross riders in trouble with the local towns. Jason and the RFM team have been ‘tagged as a cult or a bunch of thugs with guns.’ “I want to stay core to our first love by being real with people. We aren’t selling people the Gospel, but actually living it out in front of them. We aren’t perfect people; we are just sinners forgiven by God’s grace. “ No big ministries or anybody else backs RFM. They were founded right here in New Jersey and are your normal people you
come in contact with every day. They get support from people who believe in the movement of what RFM is trying to do. RFM are very thankful for all the help and support that they receive from their supporters. “I’d like to say thanks to my family, Renegade MX, Wild Ocean Surf Shop, Proformance Cycle, Chick-fil-a, 90.5 WXGN Truth that Rocks, Truth Soul Armor, Fly Racing, Dragon Alliance, JS Design, Parks Family, Ryan’s Barber Shop, Rebel Image Tattoo Sop, Calvary Chapel Vineland, and The Lighthouse Church, and of course all of you praying for us and walking unashamed!”
“See you guys by the ocean, on the streets and in the dirt. Keep riding and having fun.” - Jason, John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” If you are interested in RFM and what the group is trying to do, check them out on Facebook You can also check out some of their videos on You Tube or double tap some of their pictures on Instagram **
SOCIAL MEDIA \RideFreeMinistries \RideFreeMinistires @ridefree146
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Product Spotlight Braking Race Sintered Compound CM46 Brake Pads
PROS
OVERALL
These brakes hold up under any type of riding condition. They held up the most to wet, dry, hot and cold temperatures compared to several other brakes.
The Braking CM46 brake pads are designed with racing in mind and can withstand all types of riding conditions. These brakes seemed to hold up the best with less wear and had a good amount of meat to the pads.
◊
◊
The CM46 brakes are very durable in wet and dry weather.
Options // Atv or Dirt Bike, Make, Year and Model Price // $38.99 ◊
These pads reach their top performance in higher temperatures, which means they can withstand some aggressive riding.
WHAT IS IT? The Braking Compound CM46 brake pads provide a powerful and consistent brake performance that is fade-free even under some hardcore racing conditions. The CM46 brake pads are designed for almost any type of riding in and under any conditions. These brakes are best used for when racing.
Alpinestars Tech 10 Boots Colors // Black, Black/Green, White/ Black, Blue/Black/White, Red/Black/White Sizes // 7 – 14 Price // $579.95
www.braking.com
◊
These brakes also have a very aggressive initial bite and have a good pad life.
CONS These brakes are pricier than others, but if you are doing a lot of aggressive riding, these might be the right choice.
WHAT IS IT? The Alpinestars Tech 10s are a top-shelf boot in the footwear world. Many of the top riders wear Tech 10s because of support and added features. The Tech 10s have new design factors to help maximize productivity as well as help to give more support to the rider’s ankles and feet with added comfort. These boots were also designed to contour the calf, ankle and foot allowing less resistance, along with balance and protection compared to of any other MX boot out there.
◊ These boots come with interchangeable torsion bars for natural flexibility. This helps to minimize sprains, twists and stress on your ankles, legs and knees. ◊ These boots are made of polyurethane, which is a very flexible and resilient material, and leather. The upper boot is more lightweight and scratch resistant. These materials protect you while making your boots look good and last longer.
PROS
CONS
◊ These were some of the most comfortable boots we have ever worn; they feel more like a sneaker than a boot.
We haven’t heard or seemed to find anything about these boots that would make us not want to use them, other than their price tag, but remember, you get what you pay for.
◊ They have more flexibility than other boots we have tried, making it much easier for the rider to move with less restriction.
OVERALL
◊ The Tech 10s have a new ankle brace system for added support.
The Alpinestars Tech 10 boots are very durable, comfortable and almost require no breaking in because of their sneaker-like feel and flexibility. Not to mention the colors they are available in look sick and stand out amongst the crowd. www.alpinestars.com
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Product Spotlight Scott Diamond Grips ◊
Colors // White/Black, White/ Blue, White/Red, Black/Grey, Black/Green Price // $14.99
◊
These grips claimed to have to hand cramps and with the design and padding, they did their job. Inexpensive and in our price range and well worth the money.
CONS
WHAT IS IT?
We have no complaints about the Scott Diamond Grip.
The Scott Diamond Grip had a special diamond pattern that helps to deliver maximum comfort, support and durability for the rider. These grips also have an integrated safety wire to help reduce arm pump, vibrations and fatigue.
The Scott Diamond Grip definitely held up to its description and was comfortable to use with and without gloves. Not to mention that there grips come in some cool colors and designs.
OVERALL
PROS
www.scott-sports.com
◊
These grips have a firm density and a more durable end cap. The Neoprene grip donuts help to reduce scratches and thumb blisters. ◊
These grips were fairly comfortable and held up pretty well. The grips didn’t wear down as easily and we loved them.
Dragon MDX Goggles Colors // 18 Different Color Options Sizes // Youth, Medium, Large Price // $35 - $60 WHAT IS IT? The Dragon MDX Goggle is where this company emerged. This goggle is the root to all of their other MX goggle products. We found this goggle to be so comfortable it’s like holding a pillow to your face. We also really liked the anti-fog lens, making it easier to see when your face is all heated. These goggles are also made out of polyurethane for more durability and longevity.
PROS
◊ These goggles offer quad foam around the lens – 4 layers of foam! The MDX is one of the most comfortable ones we’ve ever used. ◊ The frame of the goggle hold true to its curve even when stretched out around the helmet, making it harder for dirt to get into the goggles. ◊ The lenses come in either clear or mirrored for riding in any type of light. The lenses also come in several different tints – clear, polarized, blue and several other color options. ◊ The goggles sit inside the helmet rather than outside for a more comfortable fit and form to your face without pushing on your nose. The lens can hold up to 28 tear-offs.
CONS We couldn’t really find anything wrong with these goggles.
OVERALL The Dragon MDX goggles are affordable, reliable and comfortable. They are well worth the money.
www.dragonalliance.com www.dragonalliance.com
By Emily Heggan
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Behind the lense SUPERCROSS Atlanta, Georgia - Atlanta Dome February 23, 2013
What the hell are you looking at...Fans pack the pits
Barcia blows kisses to Villopoto during a practice session
A bird’s eye view of the track
Barcia, Whip it, Whip it real good
Fireworks from the Opening Ceremonies...Oooh Aaahh 16
Epidemic Moto Magazine | www.epidemicmoto.com
Photos By Emily Heggan
behind the lense
John Davis at the NEOC Opening Harescramble
Seth Thompson during a training session
Chris Spinelli during a training session
This Page Brought to you by
Matt Beckett at the NEOC Opening Harescramble 17
Back 2 School with Pro Riders
Stephen Stella
&
Dan Callahan By Emily Heggan
If you have ever watched someone race a dirt bike, you can probably tell that it’s not all that easy. Yes the pros make it look effortless, but in reality, they have been doing it just about every day for their entire lives. But no matter how fast you think you are, it all comes back to the basics. Most articles you may come across will fill you in on advanced riding tips, but here at Epidemic, we want to take you back to the basics to help you improve your riding technique. These are just a few tips to help you improve your riding wether you are a veteran rider or racer, so don’t just flip these pages - reading just might help.
Looking Ahead
ght not want to mes to riding. You mi co it en wh al nti se es of you. You Looking ahead is an at is coming up in front wh e se n’t do u yo t you. “A general look so far ahead tha e what’s just ahead of se to gh ou en far t jus in; so if you want to look ahead whatever gear you are for d ea ah s gth len e you.” Definitely rule is to look two bik g four bikes ahead of kin loo be ld ou sh u yo . are in second gear t look at your front tire ; you don’t want to jus ing go e u’r yo ere wh k loo
Braking The back brake is the most commonly used brake , usually by riders that are just starting out. The front brake, however, is the strongest out of the two. “There are three brakes on a dirt bike: engine braking, rear brake, and front brake. The most important of the three is the front brake because its about 70% of your breaking power. Try to remember to always apply all three while braking to maximize your entry speed into corne rs.” It might also be wise to use both the front and rear brake as a combination, rather than individually.
Elbows The position of your elbows depends on your riding style. If you watch a lot of pro riders, their elbows are usually up. As for the beginners, keeping your elbows up could help to turn the bike. Along with your elbows being out, putting your weight on the outside foot peg, will help to improve your turning abilities. “Your elbows should be up and out to control the front end from tucking or pushing out in corners. Your elbows should be slightly below the rake of your forks.”
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The Clutch “Always keep on e finger on the clutch at all times case you need in to use it to build up or to back down power.” If your bike starts to bo the bble, pulling in could save you. your clutch It’s always impo rtant to keep at one finger on th least e clutch at all tim es . If you are racing you happen to fa ll, having a finge and r on the clutch co keep your bike uld running by pullin g in the clutch. important reason The most to have your fin gers on the clut be able to pull it ch is to in if your bike st arts bogging do bring the RPMs wn to back up.
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Back 2 School Learning the Track you will want to learn the track If you are at a race, you go ers rid u can watch a few are going to be riding. Yo u will how they are riding it. Yo around the track and see few a use ctice laps wisely also want to use your pra d figure out the track. If you an r laps to go a little slowe go ng a few practice laps to are unsure of the track, usi en op you e for re things out be slower will help you to figu you e giv o als l wil few slower laps up the throttle. Taking a up. time to size some things
Jumps
t how to to size up and know jus ky tric be n ca ps jum the track, Sometimes re is a huge jump on the if e, tim the of st w to jump hit them. Mo it. If you aren’t sure ho g tin hit is e on me so help you to guaranteed atching someone can W it. hit e on me so are hitting it in. it, first watch d out what gear they fin or d ee sp ht rig the figure out
Gripping too Hard You want to have a grip that is not too tight and not too loose. If you have a death grip on the bars, the more tired you are going to get along with increasing your chances of getting arm pump faster. The pro riders just barely have a grip on their handlebars. Having the perfect grip will also help to save your energy. “You want to use your legs to grip and control the bike. If you are getting arm pump chances are you are gripping too tight.”
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Do you have what it takes to be a better competitor? Want to feel more confident on your dirt bike? Do you want to become a better rider? Then come to the
CALLAHAN MX SCHOOL
Learn all About...
• Proper Body Positioning • Starting/Holeshots • Technique • Jumping • Braking • Turning • How to Adapt to all Situations • And More!
** Training Available for all ages and Levels **
Lessons Given at our Private Training Facility Located in Southern New Jersey
Give us a Call Today!
Visit us at www.callahanmx.com
Dan Callahan 856.373.2843
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Back 2 School s
g Your Le h t i w g in
Gripp
slightly nd knees keep a a k c a b s you leg gs, but bike t to keep ck your le “You wan ot pegs. Don’t lo y want to grip the ys, e fo aightawa .” You ma behind th your legs re going down str p soft dirt h it w p ri firm g gh dee n you a legs whe when going throu lp to r with your gs will he o le h d tc n a a p s h e e ug tter over a ro pping with your kn ell as having be w Gri as or sand. ping out om swap fr u o y p kee . f the bike control o
& When to Sit
nd
When to Sta
t cases too much. “In mos n w do t si to nd h s te coming into roug t of beginner rider hen jumping and w t It seems that a lo to try t bu , an w gy ill er w en u conserve sition’. Yo to po t si ck to ta t at an g w in u nd yo e ‘sta ell ready t to be stand in th n’, so you are w an tio w si u po yo ck s ta er at rn g co ‘sittin going down possible into the s when you are lp he up ng di an to sit as early as ts .” St and standing ge re you get to them epeatedly sitting R for corners befo ergy. p. en m ju ur a yo g in ve when land lp to conser he ill w e tim e straightaways of th of ension to up for a majority legs and the susp s, m ar ur yo tiring, so standing ve ha on a certain u stand, you also itiating a turn or in n he w is t, si Not only when yo ould only time you sh hold you up. The ay. type of straightaw
Foot Po
sition on
the P
egs “You want the balls o f your feet make sure on the foot you pegs to add pressu r knees stay back w hile standin re to foot p g and to eg around This also k corners wh eeps your en needed feet from h shifting.” T . itting brake his also allo or miss ws you to b move arou e more lim nd the trac ber and k qu the pegs m akes it hard icker. Having your he els on er to move your heels . If yo on toes will m the pegs and are goin u are riding with ost g through a rut, your snagged o likely be sticking out n the rut, ri and you co pping your uld get foot off of th e peg.
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A Track is Born The NJMP Field of Dreams is in the Works
By Emily Heggan
J
ust three years ago, in 2010, it seemed like it was all a dream for Clayton Keeler, a construction engineer from Princeton. New Jersey, who originally wanted to open an indoor motocross facility in Trenton. Once his building plans were starting to fall through due to the economy taking a dive, he decided to take his dream further south. Keeler got in contact with the New Jersey Motorsports Park Owner, Joe Savaro, to talk about making his dream come true. Keeler’s new dream is now becoming the new motocross facility across Buckshutem Road directly across from the Thunderbolt Raceway at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey. When Keeler set up a meeting with park owner, Joe Savaro, he stated that the park did have plans to build their own motocross facility across from the now exiting park, but Keeler’s plans were a way to bring motocross to the park
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right away. Brad Scott, General Manager of the New Jersey Motorsports Park seemed to think that this new track would make the park the total package. “It’s a separate enterprise, but it creates a lot of synergies with our entertainment district,” said Scott. “It would complete out the entertainment package.” Once Keeler met with Savaro, he then went to the Millville Planning Board to start drawing up ideas and making his dream into a reality. They originally proposed a plan to meet with the board and set up a meeting on February 11, 2013 so the planning board could make their decision. The park, however, failed to put out notice of the decision in the local newspaper. It was also said that there was an issue with the attorney working on the project. Because of the filing issues, the approval for the park was then pushed back to February 18th.
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On Monday the 18th, over 100 motocross enthusiasts filled City Hall. There was a lot of social media and other support that drew all the riders out there. They had events and shared pages all over Facebook trying to bring this to the attention of local riders. The hall was filled with almost every age group who were looking to support their new local track in which they could ride. “I have been waiting for this since they first had the ideas for the park,” said Tyler Ravior, 16 of Vineland, New Jersey. “I think it’s going to be good for the local riding community. It’s exciting to know we are going to have a full sized motocross track in South Jersey.” Once City Hall was packed with people wanting a closer and safer place to ride, the city’s Planning Board unanimously approved the motocross facility to be built across from the current racetrack. With the news that the
track was finally approved, all the people there at the meeting were delighted to hear that their hopes were finally coming true of having a track much closer to home. Rich Van Horn, 24, of Williamstown, New Jersey is looking forward to having a closer and safer place to ride. “I feel the new park will give us a safe and legal place to ride,” said Van Horn, “that way we wont get our bikes impounded if we are caught riding in the woods.”
Woodbine Track. The Field of Dreams does not plan on having the same restrictions as the Woodbine track, such as age, vehicle type and the vehicle size. The Woodbine facility’s tracks are also much smaller than the proposed tracks of the Field of Dreams. Field of Dreams is also hoping to have more operating hours than Woodbine. Their proposed hours are Tuesday 10 am to dusk and Thursday to Sunday 10 am to dusk, but they plan on opening earlier for events.
the area - not that the track isn’t noisy already from the sound of the race cars and air planes at the air shows they hold at the Motorsports Park. Clay Keeler said that unlike the racecars, the motocross vehicles use mufflers. They did a study in 2010 and found out that the noise would barely make an impact on the area. According to the NJ state laws, these types of parks are exempt from noise laws. The city however, does have an ordinance that restricts noise from being at 80 decibels for 20 continuous minutes.
“It’s exciting to know we are going to have a full sized motocross track in South Jersey.”
Many of the people who came to support the cause were from the local tristate area, mainly New Jersey. It was good that there was such a turnout for the cause, considering there aren’t many tracks around southern New Jersey. Atco’s motocross track was torn down several years ago, and is now a parking lot. Englishtown has a track, but can be a distance for some riders to travel. There is also the Woodbine track, but it is almost impossible to ride there unless you have a registered dirt bike with the State of New Jersey. One concern many people had was their fear that the Field of Dreams would be like the
Keeler has expressed that the track is mainly going to be used for practice and recreational riding with no more than 100 riders on the tracks at all times. They are planning to hold around eight events in the future. The American Motocross Association (AMA) has already shown some interest in holding some events at the park. Noise was another issue that was brought up at the meeting. Residents were worried that the noise from the dirt bikes and other ATV vehicles would bring to
“Now the noise they don’t have too much say,” said Ravior, “Our bikes are loud, but they aren’t like the cars. I remember riding at Atco and I could hear the cars over my bike even while I was racing, so there is no way our bikes are going to make a noise difference than the cars.” Members of the Planning Board say that the advantages of the park will highly outweigh the noise that will be coming from the dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles cruising around the park. Residents should already understand that there is going to be noise coming from the racetrack.
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The noise issue is one that you will never get 100 percent of the people convinced about. The New Jersey Motorsports Park is buying the land across Buckshutem Road from the city of Millville, NJ and will run separate from the motorsports park. The construction of the park should
and construction permits and adhere to any and al conditions of agreements during the construction of the park. “We are looking forward to the NJMP carrying out another piece of the overall project,” said Samantha Fisher, the planning and zoning board secretary for the city of Millville, “one that South Jersey and neighboring states showed their support for at the meeting.” It will be a great thing to hear the sounds of dirt bikes braaping around the tracks and the other offroad vehicles. This will soon be a reality once the new park is built this year. The park is hopefully going to open before the fall of 2013. **
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begin within the next few months, once the project goes through a few more final approvals with the county and city officials. The Field of Dreams is going to be run separate from the motor sports park. The new Field of Dreams will be located on 100-acres and comprised of three tracks a beginners 1700ft track, a 2130ft track for intermediate riders and a 1.2 mile track for those balls to the wall advanced riders. There will also be 50 acres of trails for not only dirt bikes, but also quads and other off-road vehicles. The track is going to be built by MX Track Builders of Long Island, New York. The Field of Dreams Park is also going to offer the riders and spectators different admission options from an annual membership to a daily fee. There were several other meetings with the City Staff before the final meeting for the Field of Dreams to make sure all agreements that could affect the future development of the site. Once the park receives the final approval, everyone is hoping they are able to move forward smoothly. The NJMP must carry out the purchase of the land, obtain zoning
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Projected Track Overview: AMA style track - 1.5 miles long
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MX tracks built by John Steiner of MX Track Builders from Long Island, NY
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MX Track, MX/ATV Track, Pee Wee Track, Trails
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3 Story tower for viewing opportunities by staff, spectators and VIPs
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Touch screen monitors with card swipes to put in AMA info for easy registration
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POS system for history reports of riders (name, location, bikes, age, total entries and more)
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April 2013
EPIDEMIC MOTO MAGAZINE