The Crusaders Motorcycle Club  welcomed Mike Hacker's Ride Academy, on September 17 & 18, 2011.   

The Ride Academy  Instructors included... Mike Hacker, Jared Mees, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Jake Johnson, Tim Eades, and Johnny Lewis.

After observing Sunday's , 'Ride your own bike on the big track' class, I can say two things...

1..There is a reason these instructors are professional racers

and

2. You will see some Medina regulars going faster in 2012.

A great time was had by all. The food was good too !

A Big Thank You  to Mike Hacker, and his team of Talented Professionals, for bringing the Ride Academy to Medina, NY !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two of our Five races are in the History Books, and the racing (and weather) has been  Awesome !

Chad Cose is the early season Dominator. He has won two Open Expert Main events, and two Grand Prix. The riders chasing him are also gaining speed, as many of them are on new equipment for 2011. With more set up and track time, we could see some Major Battles for Victory at the remaining three races..

It appears that All the riders are going faster this year. Even our little 50cc speed demons, are twisting their throttles to the stops, and running some very quick laps. The AM Classes, and the Seniors, are putting on a Great Show !!

Speaking of Am's and Seniors..And a Great Show.. THE UPSTATE DIRT TRACK CLASSIC  Will take place  July 3rd, and along with a Giant Payout for the 450 Expert class...There will be cash on the line for the top 4 in the following classes

125cc, 250cc Am, Open Am, and Senior

1st..$100   2nd..$75  3rd..$50  4th..$25

This adds ANOTHER $1,000.00 to the already Record Purse for this event. What a day of racing it will be !   Rumored Invaders from the Professional ranks include names like Baker, and Halbert...Possibly some Seniors and Amateurs switching classes, and some retired riders making 1 day come-backs....All in hopes of taking the $1,000 Winners Prize !

 We have 3 races remianing this year..Come to Medina, and join the Crusaders Motorcycle Club, for some Exciting TT Racing  !!!

 

 

I recently asked a relative, if she would be coming to one of our races this summer. She said sure, but, could we go somewhere else too ?? What's the big deal with Medina ? WOW, What's the big deal ? Where do I start? Besides the fact that the racing has been going on here since 1957, and that 40 years ago I learned how to ride a motorcycle here, 'RACING' about a million laps while my father mowed all the grass at the track. Let's think about this..It's five races a year, Five ! You had better have your program together if you want to be the Champ. Many top riders,from around North America, have come here only to leave wondering..how do these locals go so fast ? We have Open Expert Mains that look like AMA National events... Amateur National Winners...former Pro's and Experts in our Senior class..and tiny, fearless, little riders on their 50's that will amaze you with their talent. Careers have begun here, Dreams have come true here, Fans have been thrilled here, and Families have enjoyed the atmosphere and competition for, oh, about 54 years now..So, when someone asks you 'What's the big deal about Medina' you can tell them. But it would be better to Show them, by bringing them to the races with you ! There are only 5 Sunday's to choose from..See You There !! 

 

Go to any Motorcycle race, and you will hear the phrase 'National Number' used, by an Announcer, Racer, or Fan. To the participants in this great sport, the national number(or the pursuit of one) can be the entire reason for your racing efforts.  And make no mistake..it takes tremendous effort to get one. There are only 99 of them available. Think about the thousands of racers in the country.The talent,the experience ,the absolute passion for their sport. The journey these riders take, from 50cc bikes,to Amateur classes,to District Expert ranking(if they are lucky and good enough) To Maybe, Hopefully, if all the pieces come together, racing at the National Level. The commitment this takes is huge. The money, the training, the practice laps. It can strain your mind, body, finances, relationships, and almost everything else in a racers life. Things that  'normal' people don't even think about.

  Having Expert rider status, with a District letter on your plate, is not a guarantee of success at the National level. Many a Professional rider has retired from the sport without ever achieving National Number status. For the riders that Do achieve this, the next step in the dream is to be National Number 1. The number 1 plate is given to the Grand National Dirt Track Champion. The other single digit numbers you see at a National race, are Champions from previous years. These guys are the elite of the sport. The double digit riders all want to be the single digit riders. The District Letter riders all want to qualify for a main , at a National event ('cuz that's the Only way you get one !) The local racers all want to race at the national level...and so the cycle continues...

And that brings us to................Daytona Bike Week 2011.......Daytona Short Track....Racers from around the Country came to Daytona for the first two national races of the season. The fans were treated to two nights of awesome, short track racing. Many riders from New York, including some Crusaders members, and Medina regulars, made the journey south to try to make their racing dreams come true. And on Friday night...it happened !!

Brad Hazel. #41B, Who started his racing career right here in Medina, had only one thought on his mind..Main event = National Number...Now, for those of you that don't know... Brad's Grandfather, #14B Leon Standish, raced here, and ran some national and district races, for about a hundred years. The entire HAS Racing team (Hazel,Allen,Standish) have worked long and hard to reach the professional level. Traveling the country, upgrading equipment,gaining knowledge and experience. Everything that a Pro team must do to be competitive, yet nothing that had brought them the elusive national number.

 Brad Hazel knew, he said he could feel, that Friday would be his time. A front row start in his Semi-Final. A perfectly set up bike. Total focus by team and rider. His family watching...and then it happened...Brad Hazel, on a night that saw even past Champions not qualify for the event... Took the green, never looked back, and held off some of the  best motorcycle racers in the country. And... He won it ! Brad Hazel won his Semi ! He not only made his first National, but, he was first under the Checkered flag in the race that put him there... Brad will no longer be a 'B', And That is a really big deal !!

Congratulations to Brad, and the entire HAS Racing team, from all of us in the Crusaders Motorcycle Club. It's great to see another racer, who started his career at Medina, achieve success in his professional career !!

Now, do you still want to know what's the big deal about Medina ??

 

 

  A big crowd of enthusiastic racers, and family members joined us last night, for the annual Crusaders Motorcycle Club Awards Banquet. New club Officers were announced. New Class Champions were crowned.

Two special awards are presented each year. The Pure Attitude Award, and The Chris Miller Memorial Trophy.

The Chris Miller Memorial Trophy.  Presented annualy in memory of a young racer who left us too soon, while doing what he loved. This prestigious award goes to the outstanding 250 am class rider, as voted by club members. The votes this year were Extremely close, between four very talented riders. The 2010 winner is Austin Luczak.

Austin will be moving up to the Expert class for 2011. We all wish you continued success, and we know you will continue to be a great representative of this sport.

Pure Attitude Award..This annual award is sponsored by Dean Standish, owner of Pure Attitude Clothing. The winner this year is Canada's John Parker. John and family visit us at all five of our races each season. Always helpful to his competitors, positive toward the Crusaders club, and professional on the track. John is a very deserving winner of this year's Pure Attitude Award. Congratulations, John !

Our Class Champions Are

Evan Vanameron..50cc chain

Christian Silversmith..50cc shaft

Derek Uschold...65cc

Tim Wells...80cc

Kolby Carlile...125cc

Justin Jones...250 AM

Ryan Wells...250 EX.

Austin Luczak..Open AM.

Jeremy Higgins..Open EX.

John Parker...Senior

Paul Tuttle...125cc 4 stroke

The Overall Track Champion for 2010 is Jeremy Higgins

Jeremy also achieved another goal last season. He qualified his Water's Auto Body, KTM Twin, for his first AMA Pro Flattrack National ! He will be wearing National #82 for the 2011 season..Great job Jeremy, Family, and Team !

This shows you,all my Medina racing friends, that you can reach your racing dreams by starting your career on Culvert Road, with the Crusaders Motorcycle Club !

Thank You All for a Great 2010 season. Let's work to make 2011 the best year ever !!