With exactly seven days to go before the first starting gate drops at Loretta Lynn's Ranch for the 34th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, we took a quick track track-walk on Tuesday afternoon to see how the ranch was shaping up. Incredibly, there are already quite a few families and industry friends set up and camping, cooking out, and enjoying their summer before the big race. Here's how the place looks—the proverbial "before" shots—with one week to go.
Welcome to Tennessee, home of country music and Loretta Lynn herself. photo: DC The starting gate just got painted, but the track won't be ripped until this weekend. photo: DC View of the start from atop the tunnel jump. photo: DC This is where Kawasaki Team Green has set up since day one back in 1982. "Greenville" will look like a city by Sunday! photo: DC View of vendor row from right in front of the Red Bull area. photo: DC The infield sweeper, before you head back toward the finish line. photo: DC Yamaha's big tents and new bikes will be on display here. photo: Dc The Thor tower is already built and ready for company. photo: DC The jump after the finish line. photo: DC The roller section as it looks from the scoring tower. photo: DC Last turn is a left-hand 180 after you pass under the Amsoil banner. photo: DC View from the bleachers next to the road, right before the finish line. photo: DC Hurricane Creek will be filled with kids and their families for the next two weeks. photo: Dc The sand-covered sweeper that goes around Red Bull Beach. photo: Dc View from Factory Connection Honda area, across from Greenville, the busiest intersection in all of motocross! photo: DC Infield split lanes, before it gets some beach sand. photo: DC The rollers after the infield S turns, which takes you back to what we call Story Land, since the Story family has been flagging back in that area since the very first Loretta Lynn's. photo: DC The creek is a great place to hang out and people-watch, not to mention the perfect place to cool down after a moto. photo: DC Rocky Mountain ATV/MC hospitality area, with that big long sweeper in front of it, which will be covered with sand soon. photo: DC If you're looking for the FMF rig for some karaoke when you get here, it will be set up on this corner, just like always! photo: DC Hedie is already here with the Oakley rig, though he's flying out to Washougal on Friday and back on Sunday. photo: DC The grass will be gone before any bikes get on the track, but it sure looks cool now. No one is allowed to ride or practice here during any other time of the year in order to keep the playing field as even as possible for everyone. photo: DC The swimming pool won't be this empty again; it opens today. photo: DC