by Andy Bowyer
Rev Up: Loretta Lynn's
Friday, July 27, 2012 | 10:00 AM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. As we enter the dog days of summer, we once again find ourselves facing the onset of Loretta Lynn’s. The 2012 AMA Red Bull AMA Amateur National Championship, presented by Amsoil, begins this weekend.
I raced Loretta Lynn’s from 1987 thru 1996, and once again in 2003. I’ll always carry my 1989 championship trophy with me and brag about it.
Typing those words sends my brain into a database of some of the greatest moments ever. There are just so many ways to spin off a column about this event, but simply put, it is the biggest motocross race in the world. The climax of everything you do as as amateur motocross racer is about the coming week in Tennessee. Only after you have qualified from area, to regional, to the national and completed three, 20-minute motos can you officially claim your name as a true national champion.
The 31st Annual Loretta Lynn race kicks off Monday.
Fran Kuhn photo
The fun memories of Loretta Lynn’s always jump into my mind first, then come the nights listening to the rain pelting the top of my parent’s motorhome. The lump in my throat as I pulled out spoon #39, or the last laps of the third moto doing math in my head to see if I had a top ten. It’s just so much pressure. Most 6th grade kids are feeling the heat of making it on to their summer traveling team for baseball, or if they have the cool clothes when school starts back up in August. Not these kids. They are racing for free motorcycles, riding gear, and, yes, even salaried contracts.
The race isn’t what it began as, or even how I knew it during my tenure. Times have changed exponentially, but the format and the soul of Loretta Lynn remains original. Greener pastures await the champions today, but the feeling of walking onto that stage during trophy presentation is the same as it was in 1982. Riding off the track and into the arms of your Mom or Dad in victory will be something none of them will ever forget. If they have won one time or 10 times, that song remains the same.
The GOAT makes his return to the Ranch next week.
Fran Kuhn photo
A lot of focus on the 2012 event will be centered around the return of Ricky Carmichael as a competitor. Was he the most winning, or hyped graduate? No, he wasn’t. A few riders have won there more than he did, and when Pro Circuit gave him that cut down KX125 at trophy presentation in 1994 did they fathom what would become? I remember him having a trailer full of brand new gear, but insisting on his old riding boots that were literally duct taped together, had collected dirt from the first lap of practice until the final flag dropped. That was “good luck dirt.” Hell, a couple of those championships barely happened because he stacked it up huge on a BMX dirt jump and raced all week hiding a knee that looked like a grapefruit. Our families parked beside each other a lot of years and I can only shake my head and laugh at those times. And be amazed.
Thousands of families have experienced and will experience similar times. It isn’t a cliche in saying, “simply making it there makes you a winner.” It is true! It's very hard to qualify for a chance to race the best in the country. But, most of the racers aren’t there to qualify. They are there because motocross is their dream and they want to be the next Ryan Villopoto. It is very serious. As a racer, industry sponsor, or event staffer it is the most grueling week of the year, but simultaneously the most fun. To a certain point, the week is a huge celebration. I don’t know how it works that way, but it does. Even though it is hot. It is so, so hot. It’s the hottest place in the world that week, I don’t care what anyone says.
Like I said, it is really hard to gather it all up in Rev Up for Loretta Lynn’s. I can say that at 35 years of age I’ve had the fortune (and misfortune) of a great many things. I can tell you that the program is one of the most pure things I can think of. From the organization of the championship, to the way it shapes young people into adults, to the way it bonds families from all over the world, Loretta Lynn’s has no rival. She is all about competition and family. It’s one of the very good things in the world, and in my opinion one of the greatest achievements in motor racing.
I hope reading this has sparked some of your Loretta Lynn’s memories. I’m going to cut this one off and go stare at my trophy that sits in the corner of my bedroom, just like she has for 25 years. In closing I want to wish all of the families a good safe week of racing. Make the most out of the week both on and off the track. And if you see a member of the staff or a track worker tell them thank you. They will appreciate it.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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Never been there, but would like to check it out as a specator some day. Are there sandbaggers?
I will be 55 next month, I plan on racing the over 50 class again in the state championship series...I have never tried to qualify for LL, but it may be time to change that..Who thinks I should give it go...can you be to old for LL
The pw picture is awesome. I am the kid farthest to the right. I didn't really get in the picture, but that is the only picture i have ever seen of me from LL's. Wish i was in it more. Just to add James Stewart, Ryan Sipes, Kyle Partridge, and Willy Browning are also on that gate!
Give it a go. I can't aford for all of my children to race but I know once my kids are grown and gone I will be heading back to the Ranch.
Good Stuff Andy. I was in Nashville this week working and drove to the Ranch
Tuesday. It was the first time I had been there since winning there in 2002. Man the goosebumps came up just like I was racing there. I remember announcing
the Allessi / Villopoto battles. Mike always took it to Ryan back then. And that same year in '02 I was parked beside Gary Bailey and the Allessi crew. Terry Varner was Allessi wrench. The bike wasn't running right so Tony turned the CR 85
upside down in frustrations. And some young kid on a KX 85 on the other side. He
finished inside the top five but didn't win it...felt bad for him...his name Blake Baggett. His Mom and I would chat as Dad would fly in later in the week and help.
Good memories for the years going down there. Oh, yea...Red Bud held the last
Amateur Championship in 1981 before the big swing to LL in '82. Thanks Big Dave
and for your vision in this top class operation.
BD25 go for it I’ll be 58 and plan on it next year have qualified a couple times but work and life said no. 2013 will make it. Qualified for the very first one held in Kansas only three classes then, was riding with complete blown out knee through the qualifying. Develop some blood clots in the leg and was told no racing for you.
So loaded up my van with friends that did not have a way to get there and became the pit crew. Great time and memories now after 30 + years coming back to it. O one of the highlights of the program was when Butch Lee filed a protest of Mark Barnett’s bike just so he could get a picture of the port job that was done on his bike. Good luck to all competing this year.
I get to go watch this next week cant wait. Martin, Bell, Savatgy, Epstein, Summers, Oldenburg, Swanson,Pierce and Tokarski are gonna be out there throwin down a show in 250A. Cant wait ive wanted to see this for years and now I finally can. WOOHOOO
larry it reidsville nc back in 81
awesome read Mr. Bowyer. I'll always remember running around that place when Jason was racing against Ricky and all those guys. I used to look at his 1st place trophies from the '80s in amazement just thinking about who he had to beat to get those things.
Look for Chase Sexton to do some major dominating next week in the 85 Sr Stock and Modified classes.
And oh yeah - he's only 12 yrs old...youngest in class.
@ clayman
1982 first year at LL's
1981 AMA National Red Bud Track and Trail
1980 AMA National Spring Creek Minn.
1979 AMA National Hangtown (old Plymouth location)
Maybe Reidsville held the qualifier or reg. event. Larry Maiers was the announcer
at Red Bud and still got the Cycle News article from this event. There was a whopping four classes. 100, 125, 250, and Open instead of 33 classes...
@ LarryWitmer
Congrats ! I saw you take first in 1997 40 plus 2-1-1- I used to ride with a guy that took 5th that day Big Ken Frankenberry used to live in my town when I got out of triathlon then moved up by my day in Hinkley,Oh Rode KAW THAT DAY TOOK 5TH
larry iraced reidville in 81 lechine was there on a foctory yz 100 tiechner on 60 randy jones on 80s (broke his thunb ) davey was there scott brown jimmy johnson (nascar) and a bunch more gary,david baily and i have my t shirt and pictures best memories ever grew up racing mama
Ran good against K. Bowen Schmidt,Storbeck, Bigelow, Semar both 125 and 250 A STOCK in 1983 but crash and mechanical dnf..........
I think Frankenstien went 2-2-2 in 1998 to your 1-1-1- ZOOK
your pissing me off romanticising racing. i was a former local pro even raced some pro sx and nationals. i am 50 now still ride mx every weekend with my son. at 30 -45 i won many vet expert races from ca to fl. point is the four strokes have killed local racing. the cost to buy and race these things is crazy. i would love to race LL with my son.(i know for sure i could do ok) . sorry to be a buzz kill,i just dont know how these blue collar folks justify spending the dough it takes to do it all! i know waaaaah. fu$%k off!
@ LarryWitmer
Here was an article I did back at Loretta Lyns 84-85 on Damon Bradshaw
http://www.pulpmx.com/stories/tell-us-another-story-damon-bradshaw
@TBonemx47 ... You actually saw "blue collar folks" at the races?
@BD The famous saying applies here. It is better to be a racer for a moment than to be a spectator for a lifetime. You go to LL's. And clean up the place. You only live once, don't miss out on something this important to you. And good luck, once you get there.
Bucky thanks for the good wishes!!! I don't know about cleaning up ..lol..I will set my goals at being in the top 5 of the state series and qualifying of LL...and go from there...
Being a racer and then focusing on my son being a racer, we had the dream of going to LLs. One year everything went right and we made it! It was one of the greatest things we ever did together, finding the right words are hard to explain the emotion of what it all takes to make it there and be on that starting line. As a faithful reader of all the articles and forum boards on this site, I have to say I almost fell out my chair when I pulled up this article and yes ... my son is in that picture!! He is the one on the right with the red Bell helmet, in fact my Grandson now wears that helmet riding his MX bike. James Stewart was in that race as well, he won but his bike was protested and unfortunately Big James was guilty of tinkering with his clutch springs and he was DQed. It was too bad because he would have won anyways.
@FHFRacing
Raced at the 2nd event in 1982 and had been there for years supporting local Ohio Amateurs till 1990’s. I have a couple locals where I live know one being a girl I help with some gear and wheels, I understand you feelings completely. Kind of reminds me of a nascar race were everyone knows the rules but sees what they can get away with until caught. And as far as pros go, they have been there since the inception of the event, why they are so slow on changing that part is beyond me………..