DESERT RACERS EAGER TO START SEASON

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By Duane Swainston

 

February 2, 2011 (Ocotillo)- The Over The Belt (OTB)-promoted Jeff Cady 100 Motorcycle/ATV race kicked off the District 38 season on Sunday.  A crowd estimated at 500-800 turned out, including 140 racers and their families, making this one of the highest attended season openers in years.

 

OTB club president Steve Orton said, "This kind of turn out just shows that local racers are eager to start the season and willing to support racing in the local desert."

 

Number one veteran plate holder Craig Smith finished first overall, taking the checked flag a minute ahead of open class racer Justin Morgan (#403). Morgan took the early lead, followed by Wesley Deen (the #1 open class plate holder). Smith was in third place after the first lap.

 

By the final lap Smith had passed Deen and caught Morgan. The two racers entered the second check point side by side. In the end, the experience and conditioning of Smith proved to be to much for the younger Morgan.

 

This season has been met with mixed emotions, as the California Bureau of Land Management is enforcing new rules as a result of a bad accident at a truck race in Lucerne Valley, California. Eight spectators were killed when the truck veered off the course and into the crowd. The BLM has imposed new guidelines for spectators and workers and is in the process of implementing a cost recovery program for the race promoters.

 

Steve Orton said, "The clubs cannot absorb the added costs cost and it will have to be flowed down to the riders." Some clubs are moving their races to private land to save on the added expenses, as is the case with the next D38 race. It is presented by full throttle racing club and will be held at the lazy J MX Park on February 12th and 13th.
 


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