My First Race

By Stephani McIntyre

Sept. 3, 2004 – Loretta Lynn's, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

My first Grand National Championship amateur motocross race.

It's a completely different feeling, going to registration, signing one of those credit card slip thingies, taking my ATV through tech, getting a gate pick.

What's a gate pick and just where was position number one?

I'd been watching, photographing and writing about ATV racers all season, but lining up next to them was a different story. I just wanted to stay out of their way.

It had been awhile since I was on a quad and here I was on a bored out 250R, courtesy of Donnie Allgood. I was afraid of what it could do to me or, more importantly, what I might do to it.

I was in the second wave of riders. It was nice to see what the first wave did so I could duplicate that and not look completely clueless.

The first wave was about to leave. I had to duck since I was about to be roosted.

I kicked the bike to life and moved forward. At this point, I was telling myself it wasn't too late to back out. The exit gate was just to my left, no one will notice, will they?

I needed to do this though, for myself and for them. Plus, it was a box to check off my list.

I hoped the first wave would lap me. I saw the little guy at the end of the straight, holding a card. What the heck was that? It turned sideways and I guess it was too late to turn back. I'm guessing I didn't get the holeshot as the other quads gone.

I carefully maneuvered the bike, completed my first lap and here came rider number one from the first wave flying past me as though I had pulled over to ask for directions.

I think I choked that poor Honda as I maybe got out of second once or twice. I hit the checkered flag, second to dead last. Another rider DNFed.

Although drained from my three laps (ha ha, I know) it was an experience I will always relish.

My brief but exciting attempt at racing a GNC motocross.

Besides working for the American Motorcyclist Association and the ATVA, Stephani (right) is a contributing writer for ATVA News and www.ATVAonline.com.