Chehalis #2 The sequel.....
Story by Robin Hannah # 960
Mark Benedetti and I have this running
joke. One of us will ask. How was the
track? The other will answer. It was
great!  At which the other replies with a
mixture of disgust and pride. Okay, you
Won. Smiles all around cause you know
you're busted.
Whenever a Vintage Motocross Racer
goes to a new track and has an "On" day
and it all clicks together, when asked
about the track,  "the track was great"
even if it sucked for everyone else.
Chehalis is one exception. I could go
there and short of getting hurt, I would
have a great time. Even if I'm completely
"off" and run dead last. Just chasing
everyone around on this picturesque
grass MX course, is worth the  697 mile
drive from my home in Napa California.
This year the gas alone $425
Czech out the loam under
the tires. Ooooh,aaaaaah
Chehalis is to Vintage Mx     
What Woodstock is to          
Vintage Rock&Roll music.
How can I say that?            
People went to Woodstock  
for good music,party,pretty
surroundings and fun.
Racers go to Chehalis for
some of the same reasons
but they get Top notch
competition,awesome dirt
and a track that is so
beautiful, with streams and
lush meadows to boot.
The people that own the property really
make you feel like family. You camp and pit
on this beautiful mowed meadow. Looking
all around you see a Steam Train, stately
old trees,rolling hills,creeks Old barns and
out buildings. There is water there. Last
year they had breakfast at a reasonable
price. Everyone gets in a Chehalis frame of
mind. Oh don't think everyone's mellow and
you're going to "cakewalk" to the podium.
When you get to Chehalis you're in
"Hammer and Tongs" territory. These
racers compete year round in two feet of
mud and an August race on a loamy track
is what they've trained for all year.
Northern racers are committed to their racing.
At a recent Open Call race in Washougal
Wash. put on by Racer X and others. There
were 21 Gates of Post Vintage races. Not 21
Riders, 21 Gates full of riders. People WANT
to race up north. They have races not
excuses. "My dog ate my entry" is not in their
vocabulary. When I went up last year there
were racers there from all over the world.
Australia, Hawaii, Europe, Every corner of the
US of A . The Gates were full and the
competition was stiff. The mood wasn't lost on
the little lady either. Chris my wife last year
said as we left" the farm" and I quote " if we
only race one time next year I want it to be
here". I almost went to the Washougal race
6/28 but I couldn't and make Chehalis.
Next year my goal is to save up and make both. Racing with people who race no matter
what is an honor. It means something to me . Like when you come out of a tight corner on
to a wide straight, right behind someone you trust, you both grab a hand full of throttle
and you shadow their slide with yours, matching arcs out of the corner perfectly. There is
a comradory there that is beyond words. When I get with people that really want to race I
get some of that feeling. It's good to go up north once or twice a year and drink from that
well. So I'll be going up Thursday before the race. You can fly into Portland rent a car and
drive 90 Miles north to Chehalis I've got room for 2 more bikes. Pay for some of my gas
and a plane ticket for yourself and next year you too can do a Chehalis #2  sequel.
On the way back, Chris and I found
this cool old brige near  the
Columbia River. If you Have never
seen this river you should, it is awe
inspiring with it's size and beauty.
Ahrma National   8/10/08
Getting  There