Time For RedBud’s Annual Fall Grass Race

October 11, 2007, 8:36am

The Throttle Jockey Last Blast Grass Weekend at famed southwestern Michigan motocross track wraps up the 2007 competition season

BUCHANAN, Mich., (Oct. 11, 2007) – With Halloween just around the corner, what could be more fun than trick or treating on your dirt bike? That said, Michigan’s premier motocross facility is getting ready to host its highly popular annual Throttle Jockey Last Blast Grass Weekend, aka the “Grass Race” @ RedBud, this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13-14.

“We’ll have kids hot-wired on candy and dads on hot set-up mini bikes, dirt bike racing for everybody and all kinds of fun things for the entire family all weekend long,” said RedBud’s Amy Ritchie. “It’s the best of both worlds – open riding on the pro track and racing on the always popular grass track.“

Besides local legends, you can usually find a national legend or two at the grass race. Sure, he may have some AMA National titles, but this weekend Michigan’s own Jeff Stanton will be known as the defending champion of both XR75 Grass Race titles! His custom vintage Honda XR75 mini bike is the stuff of legend, as are the Grass Race battles between he and RedBud neighbor Mike LaRocco when the Rock’s in town.

Said Stanton: “My son, Toren, wants to race this weekend so I might not have time for the big bike classes. But I definitely have to defend my XR titles!”

The District 14 & 15 points-paying Grass Race is open to everyone. Incorporated into this year’s track will be the pro National starting line and the awe-inspiring RedBud Ski Jump. The track then runs through the hills surrounding the valley section of the pro track, through the apple trees and toward the grape vineyards and finally wraps back around toward the pro pits.

“The Throttle Jockey Grass Race track is always a vet racer favorite since it’s primarily run on natural terrain,” said track designer Tim Ritchie of RedBud. “It’s super wide which makes for some creative line opportunities. And nobody finds those lines better than Connie Feist!”

Giving the legendary ageless motocrosser (Feist) fits this year should be a host of other top-notch midwest vet racers, including former Loretta Lynn’s champs John Grewe, RedBud track announcer Larry Witmer and many more.

Hey, free stuff! Make sure you stop by the Throttle Jockey display for a custom Grass Race event sticker! The Davis brothers, Rob & Matt, will also have a Throttle Jockey beanie for every class winner on Sunday.

Here’s some quick facts on the race. All the important info is available on www.redbudmx.com

·Gates open Friday at 6 p.m.

·Saturday is Open Riding on the pro track (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

·Saturday night Trick-or-Treating in the pits

·Sunday Grass Race, featuring the XR 75/80 Championships, Single shock & Twin shock

·Sunday’s program includes classes for modern bikes, ATVs and vintage bikes.

·Practice starts at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

RedBud supports the sport of motocross and has since 1972! The region's most prestigious amateur events and Round Five of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship are held in the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Michigan. A state with an affinity for off-road recreational vehicle use, RedBud owns the bragging rights to the highest attended U.S. motocross race year after year. Just the right soil mix, lots of passing and the BIGGEST jump on the circuit (LaRocco’s Leap), the track provides for some terribly exciting motocross racing. Definitely a top motocross destination in a region that loves its motorsports.