This summer has gone by even faster that last summer. The kids started school today, so the house is pretty quiet. Since I am able to hear myself think again, I thought I would update my blog. This is the first summer in three years that we have not spent the first week of August at Loretta Lynn's ranch for the Amateur National Motocross Championships. I must say that I definitely DID NOT miss the searing heat and humidity, crazy kids parading around on a multitude of mules, golf carts, etc, nearly overwhelming stress and the associated stomach distress, and the long lines for a cold, yet very refreshing shower. The summer was not completely without racing, though. During the second weekend in August, we attended the AMA Racing Hillclimb Grand Championships in Oregonia, Ohio.
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| Devil's Staircase |
Hillclimb is a completely different beast than motocross or arenacross, with different challenges involved. Each rider only gets two runs per class, with no practice on the hill allowed. The rider with the fastest time or best distance wins. Pretty simple, right?
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| Rope swing into the creek |
This was my son's first time racing at a Hillclimb Championship. He really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, not to mention all the boys his age to play with. He quickly settled into a comfortable routine - make his two runs on the hill in the morning, play motorcycles with the boys all afternoon, go to the creek for fun on the rope swing, then play football with the boys in the evening. Throw in a day at a nearby water park and you have a perfect vacation for a seven year old boy.
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| Water Park! |
We were happy to have a much shorter drive this summer and we were happy with our little racer's results. He finished 10th in the nation in the Micro Mini class (50cc) and 3rd in the nation in the 65 class. Not bad for a beginning hillclimber. Much thanks to Grandpa for building Cael's hillclimb bike and to David, my favorite pit dad for all your hard work this summer! Congratulations Cael!
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| 3rd in the Nation! |
