The Diamond Don National AHRMA Vintage Motocross race was the biggest in the U.S. with more than 700 racers and 1100 people visiting our small town of Jefferson over the weekend.
Who’s who was here – legends everywhere you looked. Trampas Parker, Steve Wise, Brad Lackey, Brandon Glenn, Blake Wharton, John Short and our event legend, Kevin Windham.
In the intermission specialty race, Windham powered out of the gate on his new #14 XR 200 Windham Rocket built especially for him. Everyone was lined up along the track to see him race. While international legend, Trampas Parker, took the overall win, both put on quite a show.
Kevin Windham has been described as “arguably the best rider to have never won a National Championship”.
Regarded as one of the most naturally talented riders competing in motocross and supercross, Windham has finished second in the overall points standings five times, without once winning.
Though one of the oldest riders on the track in 2011, his acknowledged class, grace, and riding ability make him a favorite with the fans. He sure was a fan favorite in Diamond Don’s racing pits, stopping to talk and autograph memorabilia.
As versatile as he was consistent, Trampas Parker made history as the first American to win two World Motocross Championships.
He was an unknown American rider living in Italy when he burst onto the world motocross scene by winning the 125cc championship in 1989 with KTM. Two years later, he repeated the feat for a 250cc championship, this time with Honda. Parker was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was raised in Bridge City, Texas.
There were five separate opportunities to support local charities and all were successful. The event started with a Golf Scramble on Wednesday to benefit Mission 22 Foundation, which provides support to Veterans and their families through a comprehensive approach of outreach, events, and programs promoting long-term wellness.
Golfing raised $300 and Mission 22 sold $325 in merchandise and had additional donations of $325. On Friday, spectators had great viewing of the cross-country race from the Diamond Don Event Center that also provided a Rhumbar with tips to support Women Rock, Inc.: Giving Hope, Making a Difference, Defeating Breast Cancer. $420 in tips were raised for this great charity and they sold $1200 in merchandise and has another $200 in donations at their vendor site.
“Battle on the Bayou” 100cc race sponsored by BA Motorsports and Northwest Maico CZ and “Texas Thumper Throwdown” XR200 Challenge, sponsored by BA Motorsports were the races of the day, during intermission on Saturday and Sunday. The registration fees of $2,440 benefitted Jefferson Railway and Wetlands Foundation, to support youth activities in Jefferson.
There were three fundraisers for Jefferson Adopt-A-Cop that raised a total of $5,397. The funds are used to help law enforcement officers in Marion County pay for required equipment that is not paid for by their employer.
The event rounded out with a wonderful church service on Sunday morning, featuring our local Gospel Girls, along with two world racing champions, Trampsas Parker and Steve Wise. It was the highest attended service in the history of AHRMA.
Racers started coming to Jefferson a week before the event, so had plenty of time to take in all that Jefferson has to offer. After a rainy weather forecast during weeks preceding the race, the sun shown through to provide the perfect race weekend.