Gary Bailey Headlines Diamond Don’s Vintage National Motocross

March 9, 2011, 2:35pm

Diamond Don’s 9th Annual AHRMA Vintage National Motocross will be held April 15-17, 2011 at Cypress Bayou RV Park located one mile from Jefferson, Texas. Over 800 entries are expected for the three day race event which includes Cross Country and Trials on Friday, Vintage Motocross on Saturday with Post-Vintage on Sunday. The event will include AHRMA’s national award presentations on Friday evening, Diamond Don’s world famous BBQ and crawfish cookout on Saturday evening and finishes with the Wine-Down Party and a fantastic fireworks show on Sunday. The Chris LeBlanc Band from Baton Rouge will be on hand to shake it up Saturday evening at the party.

The weekend will be full of motocross legends. Come out and see Gary Bailey, Marty Tripes, Brad Lackey, Danny LaPorte, Chuck Sun, Tommy Croft, Marty Smith, Steve Wise, Trampas Parker, Billy Liles, Trey Jorski, Bill Silverthorn and John Desoto.
Gary Bailey will headline this year’s event as Diamond Don’s Legend for the weekend. Bailey, who was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, is one of the pioneers of the sport of motocross racing. Bailey’s first motocross bike was a 90cc Hodaka. The sight of 6’5’ Bailey racing a little motocross bike earned him the nickname of “Spiderman”. In 1969, he was the first American to beat the Europeans in motocross.

Marty Tripes will bring his 100cc Works Revenge race to Diamond Don’s with motos on Saturday and Sunday. This is a race class that reminds us of the old days of racing in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Back in the day, the 100cc class was the toughest competition of the race day. Tripes won the Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1972, just a few weeks after turning 16. He also won the first FIM 250cc motocross United States Grand Prix in Unadilla in 1978. In his career, he won 11 National Championships and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.

The wide, flat grassy pit area offers great viewing of the racetrack that runs through the grass pasture and the piney woods. Diamond Don has created a natural terrain grass track reminiscent of the early 70’s. The track runs through the 1880’s ruins of an old sawmill and along the Big Cypress Bayou River. As you’re racing, watch for the live steam locomotive and don’t let that whistle shake you off your bike.

If you plan to fly to the event, Jefferson is located just 50 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana. If you don’t mind driving, Dallas is 170 miles, about three hours. Transportation into downtown Jefferson will be available on the Historic Jefferson Railway, owned by Diamond Don and his wife Francene. Take a step back in time aboard their narrow gauge, live steam locomotive. Ladies, grab the kids and leave the guys at the track -- catch the train into town for shopping and sight-seeing and enter our “Shop ‘til you Drop” contest for cash prizes.
Jefferson is nestled deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas and seems frozen in time. It is a charming town and an elegant reminder of a bygone era. There are over a hundred buildings in the city with historical markers.

Many historic homes offer bed and breakfast accommodations. Dozens of other historic buildings house museums, craft and antique shops and restaurants.