WCMC 'Fun Day' minibike races coming this Saturday, July 31
Niagara's Welland County Motorcycle Club has come up with a cool event this coming weekend, Saturday July 31. The aptly named, “Fun Day” is aimed at mini and pit bikes, with the intention of simply having a good time. “The whole idea is to have fun,” explained WCMC's Willy Mikkelsaar. “Basically there are enough of the department-store ‘Baja' style minibikes that they will have a class by themselves. Above that there will be a special “Pull Start” class, because some guys have been modifying those things and they go really fast! Eight horsepower, running on alcohol…some of those souped-up pull-start bikes can fly, so it wouldn't be fair to have those modified bikes racing against the stock 2 ½ horsepower ones you get from Canadian Tire.”
There are classes for other little bikes as well. “We'll also have 10-inch front wheel and 12-inch front wheel classes,” says Mikkelsaar. “We want to keep all the pit-bikes about the same. Anything that's highly modified will go into the ‘Modified Pull-Start' class. We'll set that as standard, but play it by ear to decide if we need further class breakdowns depending on who shows up. If six particular bikes show up we'll make a class for them. Or if there are little guys who want to race we'll make a separate class for them. Safety is the priority. Normal riding gear is required, no shorts or t-shirts and a proper helmet. There will be guys tech inspecting bikes. There are no age limits, just come out and have fun! We aren't encouraging people to bring out ‘real' motocross bikes like 65s or 85s, but if they show up we can run something separate for them at halftime. Over the past few weeks I've heard so many older guys saying, “I've got an old Rupp or Honda 50 or whatever leaning against the wall of the garage, I'm going to bring it out! We want to encourage guys to bring out all those department store minibikes, the little auto-clutched minibikes, the lawnmower engine stuff. Nothing too serious, just fun little bikes!”
The track itself will be a unique mix of motocross and flat track. “We've been working on the motocross track all week, improving drainage and changing the track a little, like fine-tuning the tabletop jumps to be a little more fun. It should be interesting with the motocross track and the ¼ mile dirt track incorporated. Each lap will incorporate both tracks, so it will be a cool opportunity for riders to experience both types of riding.”
Perhaps the coolest thing about the WCMC “Fun Day” is the 100% payback. “Entry fee is $30, which goes into the purse,” explained Mikkelsaar. If we get a hundred riders, well there's three grand…you can buy a lot of little Baja minibikes for three grand!” A CMRC license is required, with day-licenses available for $30 or you can buy a $40 license good for one year at the Welland track. The food booth will be open, and it's hoped the racing will wrap up by 6pm so racers can enjoy the festivities at nearby Port Colborne's annual ‘Canal Days' celebration and street party. http://www.canaldays.ca/index.php
“If this event brings in more than 50 riders I'll consider it a success, and we'll set up a minibike series that can run from September right through the winter,” Mikkelsaar adds. “The volunteers are eager to do it, because there is nothing to do in the winter, at least until the Canal freezes and we start ice racing. So we'll use the quads to plow off the oval and motocross tracks for the minis and cook some chilli and stuff once the snow flies.”
Gates open at 11AM, Practice at 12 Noon and races at 1PM. Spectator admission is $5 for adults, with kids, seniors and students free. Even more fun, for only 10 bucks you can bring in a carload, van or even a bus full of spectators.
Offroadmotorcycles.ca will be there, taking photos of you looking silly when we aren't attempting to go fast (with special permission, of course…) on the Motomunchkin's little Yamaha PW80
(Article courtesy of Offroadmotorcycles.ca) |
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