Area 51

On Sunday, June 1st, we experienced the dirt bike racing at the Area 51 motocross track. In a word, it was *awesome*.
Races happen continuously throughout the day. As soon as one race ends, the next race immediately begins. There is no down time, which really keeps the level of excitement high. The races ranged from little kids on 50cc bikes, to a 40+ age group.
The little guys are fun to watch. We were surprised at how skillful and determined some of these little racers were. Many of them were getting air on the jumps! One tyke stalled his bike, and spent a very frustrating 45-60 seconds trying to get it kick-started again. But for the spectators, it was an amusing mishap.
There was a race just for schoolgirls, which was very encouraging to see. We were especially heartened to see that there was a solid group of adult female riders. I think it is important to encourage female participation and include them whenever possible. This is a sport where size and strength are less important than skill. A male can't goose a throttle any harder than a female, making skill what separates one rider from another.
The amateur male races were exciting. Many of the racers were able to crest the top of the largest hill on the track with nothing but air, not landing until the down side. As soon as they touched down, they were on the gas hard again, accelerating downhill at breakneck speeds. Some were so aggressive that their front wheel didn't touch down until the very bottom of the hill!
There are some minor complaints about the track. There is only one small set of bleachers from which to observe the track. This left many people standing, and several areas of the track out of sight.
Overall, it was an interesting and exciting day that we really enjoyed.

(BTW, the track can be rented for use…hint, hint, wink, wink.)