If this race is on your bucket list, start making plans now for Diamond Don’s 21st Annual AHRMA National Vintage Motocross this weekend, at Diamond Don RV Park & Event Center located one mile from Jefferson. Diamond Don Rainey reaches his milestone 80th birthday and will be retiring in 2024, so this will be the last Diamond Don Extravaganza.
The weekend will be full of motocross legends racing, including several inductees to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. More than 1000 people attend this annual event from all over the world. It is the largest vintage motocross race in the country.
Gerrit Wolsink is traveling from his home in Netherlands to be the event legend. Wolsink was five-time United States 500 Grand Prix winner in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1979. Gerrit joined the Suzuki Grand prix team in 1973, as Roger DeCoster’s teammate. He also raced against Heikki Mikkola, four-time World Champion, and Brad Lackey. While he never won a World Championship, he came very close many times. The Flying Dutchman retired in 1979.
Here is your chance to visit with and race against some of your idols: Kevin Windham, Blake Wharton, John Short, Barry Higgins, Steve Wise, Brad Lackey, Trampas Parker (local Louisiana boy), Trey Jorski, Guy Cooper. Legend Gerrit Wolsink will be on hand for some “bench racing”.
Diamond Don Rainey, event promoter, started racing in 1968. By 1973, Rainey was competing in AMA national events and raced in the first night race at the Houston Astrodome. He retired in his 30’s, but re-started the second round of his racing career in 1996 and races his motorcycles at vintage events around the country. Today, he still builds his own bikes and races in the AHRMA 70+ class on his 1974 Honda Elsinore or a Brad Lackey look-alike 400cc CZ.
The event starts off on Wednesday with a charity golf outing to Cypress Hills in Waskom. It’s a four-some scramble and all are welcome. Proceeds will 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.
On Thursday morning, riders can participate in 3rd Annual Dual Sport Adventure Ride through the back roads of Piney Woods. All street legal modern dual sport bikes are welcome. The 2nd Annual Jack Thompson Memorial Tiddler Ride will take off Thursday afternoon, for 100cc and 125cc Tiddler Bikes. Proceeds from these t1wo events will benefit Jefferson Adopt-A-Cop to help law enforcement officers in Marion County pay for required equipment that is not paid for by their employer.
Vintage cross country and trials are on Friday and include the Huffman Memorial Modern Trials Support Class. Saturday features vintage racing with post-vintage on Sunday. You will want to race or watch the 100cc/200cc Revenge Races on Saturday and Sunday during intermission sponsored by BA Motorsports and Northwest Maico CZ.
The XR200 race will be the coolest to watch. Come see international champ, Trampas Parker, race against his son Ricky, and brother Heith. They usually end up placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd for a Parker family trifecta. But with Kevin Windham, Brandon Glenn, Blake Wharton, and John Short on the line, anything can happen. Trampas made history as the first American to win two World Motocross Championships, in 1989 and 1991.