Alright here we go...
First thing i have to say. I have held nothing back when it comes to beating up on MX Sports and everything that i see them doing that is blowing up the sport on a local level. BUT when it comes to LL, they have got it down. There has to be 300 or more on the staff. Trained flagers every 100 feet, crash crews all over the track, yellow flashing lights in several areas, huge track crew for prep. An army of people working the pits from trash pickers roaming the stands to a couple crews driving around picking up full trash bags from the campers. Poop suckers crew cleaning pot=o=johns non stop, announcers, gate.... well you get it. A LOT of people.
Of course it is easier to do that when you have a couple million dollars coming in, but still, they really do a good job on the details. So, I cant believe i am going to say this... Good job MX Sports.
I just through up in my mouth..
Rinse my mouth out...
Oh, i need to eat something besides this crow...
OK, The good the bad and the ugly
Good: 1. the track is 1,000,000 times better then back in the stone wheels days on the 80's i guess 36 years of saw dust and sand can indeed create nice race soil. Stuff looks a whole lot like Red Bud dirt.
2. 2018 Suzuki 450... I may have to get one of those sweeties.
3. The Creek. Still amazing way to cool off.
4. Forgot who it was but some crazy dude was racing a 1981 Maico in the 45+ class. And he did pretty good. Air cool, drum brakes and all. Way cool.
5. TM. I thing Johnny said the breakdown shows only 5 but i am sure there was more. They look, sound and are fast. Masterpool kid won on one in the Supermini class. Like to see them grow.
6. Speaking of Johnny... Having old Pro's in the Vet classes is a real draw. Shoulder to shoulder on the fence for 25+ and 40+ to watch Brownie, Ramsey, BudMan, Palmart, Carsten, Grewe and the others wax the youngers guys. Last 40+ moto was a clinic by Brown. Dude was 35 seconds up in second and lapping up to 15 with 2 laps to go. Want to learn to ride rough, rutty tracs at high speed? Watch him.
7. The feel. dont know how to say it, but the Loretta's atmosphere is unlike any other motocross race. Even when your just there to watch.
8. yes, there are alot more. but all this positivity is really upsetting me. Lets get to the bad.
The bad (my happy place)
1. The facility. Now i am not going against the list above but the place is just not set up for an event that size. I had to take 2 trains, a mule (4 legged kind) and a cruise ship back to the pits. It was a LOOOOOONG way back. Alot of the pits are a swamp and impossible to find someone or something without a guide.
2. You know this is coming... Way, and i mean WAY too many classes. Several just dont make since. 9-12? what the heck is that? 4, 50 classes is nuts. and 5 C classes... yeah. THAT is what is killing the B class.
3. Can we please go back to Stock and Modified classes? what the heck is limited?
4. This is really linked to the first but has to have its own line item... trying to watch a moto is terrible. You cant see crap unless you are up by the finish. Even there you can only see half since Suzuki has to build an aRMy stage in the middle and blocks everyone view.
Ugly
only 1 needed here. but it is a big ONE.
PIT RIDING is beyond ridiculous. no idea how 30 people are not killed everyday. And it is not just the number of pit vehicles. Which is a s**t-TON , but it is now the size of them. You are a pee on unless you have a 4 door side by side with a long bed and lifted 12 inches with custom billet wheels. They are everywhere and there is no where to park them so that makes it even worse for us biped nose pickers. They block everything and everyone thinks THEY have the right away when it comes to an intersection..
Really, this can not be downplayed. The pit riding is just stupid. Nothing will be done about it until people die. And it WILL happen.
The Super good.
It 100% moto-vated me (see what i did there?) to get is good shape and give it a try. Heck, ran with Palmart, Carsten and Grewe back in the day, No reason i cant do it again. Only live once
Did i mention the Suzuki 450 looks pretty darn nice....