After reading Chase Stallo's blog a few days ago, I couldn't help but recall my first ever trip to Loretta Lynn's. It was the year 2000. I had recently purchased a 1996 CR80, after graduating from a Honda XR100. I knew nothing about the amateur motocross world. What I did know and what was important to me was the fact that I was the fastest kid in the neighborhood. I could ride our trails faster, hit our singles farther, and I felt like I was the quickest kid alive on my beat little 2 stroke 80cc powerhouse. That was until my neighbor Tom and riding buddy Brandon decided to take a one-day trek to this race they had heard about at the Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Tennessee. Apparently, the fastest kids in the world were there, and somehow I wasn't invited and wasn't racing it?!

 

We recruited all of my riding buddies and 7 of us piled into my mom's Honda CRV for the 6-hour drive. We left at 7pm on a Wednesday afternoon (because my mom wouldn't let me miss high school registration), drove all the way there, crashed in a nasty hotel, and got to the track bright and early the next morning to catch as much racing as possible in that one day. I remember pulling into the ranch and being totally mesmerized; the entrance, the banners, the early morning fog and smell, and then this guy.

 

James Stewart(#32) was the very first rider I ever saw at, what I now is, an amateur national event. I can't even describe the sensation that went through my head. We quickly pulled into day parking, and I ran as fast as I could back to the finish line area. Lap after lap I watched James. I could not believe how fast this kid was. That particular year, no 80 was jumping the finish line double; but James Stewart was. I remember him taking the outside line around the corner, completely tapped out on his rocketship, hitting the first double and touching his face to his fender to get as much distance as possible. He was landing so hard I thought his bike was going to break in half, but he just kept it pinned and eventually won the first moto I ever witnessed at The Dude.

 

Soon after, Mike Alessi's class took to the track with him taking the win, and I ran down to the podium to catch a glimpse of the new wonders of my life. I sat and daydreamed how cool it would be to be able to meet and hang out with him, or heck any of those guys for that matter.

 

Everything else from that epic day is quite a blur to me, however, from that day on my life was never the same. I dreamt of motocross day in and day out, and my life became completely consumed with this new passion. To this very day, it still hasn't worn off. The greatest part is that I am living my dream, a dream that started the budding process that day at Loretta Lynn's.

Until next time,

Wes

p.s. Thanks to Andy Bowyer for posting this picture(shot by James Pillow) yesterday on Number Cruncher.  I got goosebumps when I saw this photo, and gave me even more inspiration to add to my rather dead list of blogs lately.  As soon as nationals get wrapped up, I'll have all kinds of blogs coming at ya!

p.s.s.  Have a really cool first time Loretta's story you'd like to share with us, or the world?  Send it over to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  If you have a really cool story I'll hook you up with a t-shirt.