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Ride On, BAJA!
Jumpin' Off 30 years of Michigan Motocross Tradition Another MX Joint by: D~ I recently had the distinct pleasure, and privilege, of covering the awesome 4th Annual "BAJA BRAWL", held at the # 1, most attended, Motocross track in all of Michigan.
Baja MX in Millington,
just east of Birch Run a few minutes, hosts this HUGE
annual Amateur Motocross <MX> race, (held during the Labor Day
weekend) consisting of over 1,200 racers of all ages <from 4
on up> and draws around 2000 spectators to take in the activities
and have some good ole' REAL family fun while they're at it.
<check out
www.bajamx.com>
Now, I like to think that I know about
everything going on, especially when it comes to MX, but this event
has been one of the biggest, sorta-private, and best-kept, 'dirty
secrets' <get it?!?> in Mid-Michigan...right here in our own
backyard! <well actually, it's right there, in their
backyard! > I had heard about it, but
had no clue that the Brawl was such a big event, and a
bomb-azz PARTY!
Baja has been hosting Motocross practice
and racing at their top-notch facility, with it's lush, natural hilly 80
acres, for over 30 years. Just 5 or 6 miles east of
Birch Run, right off I-75 at Birch Run Road <exit 136>,
you can't miss the professional caliber track <on the right
side>. This is the 'home track' for
Michigan-based, Professional MX Riders like: Josh Woods, Nick
Wey, Kelly Smith, Sarah Whitmore, and the hottest
up-and-comin' teenage pro-prospects like Nico Izzi, Josh
Lichtle, and many more.
Even when it's a crappy day, the place just
looks awesome...intimidating, impeccably manicured, and challenging you
like "Come on and try it, big dog!"
When I first spoke to the approachable &
friendly track owners, Patrick and Rosanna Grzebinski, some 3 or
4 years ago now, I had immediately wanted to do 'my thing' to try
to help promote the exciting <and growing> sport of Motocross, as well
as try to help them attract even more Michigan fans and families
to come out and have the time of their lives at their gorgeous
property.
"Keepin it real", I must share with you
that Patrick, Rosanna, and the entire staff at Baja are some of
the most down to earth, and genuinely 'cool' people you
could wish to call friends...and it just so happens that they're
straight outta "the D" (meaning Detroit), just like yours truly.
After getting to know them, we were eager to work together in the near future...it just turns out that with ME, the 'near future' ended up being September 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2005. Better late then never, though, right?
This amazing couple, as well as their
staff, takes a very personal pride in every comprehensible detail
involved with any, and ALL, things that go down at their spot. I rode
shotgun with Patrick during the races in his extreme 'golf cart'
and believe this...he books around from point A, to point B, eyes & ears
everywhere at once, simultaneously communicating and instructing his
crew over the radio, all while zig-zaggin' & dodging in-and-out of both
motorized, and foot traffic...this cat literally took care of
about 50 things, ALL over the 80 acres, in a 20 minute,
action-packed, thrill ride.
After my white-knucklin' X Games
ride-along <and holding on for dear life!>, I was abruptly dropped off
back to my HQ, and was left stunned and simply amazed. I felt like I
just got off a ride at Cedar Point because it left my head spinnin'
<*even more than usual>. And as I was quick to find out, this is just
'how he does it', day in & day out at Baja.
For these people, this sport, and this
track, are their passions. There isn't any room for cuttin'
corners or half-azzing on anything. It's done right, or they correct it
right now, if it's not.
You've got to respect people that are not
only living their dreams, but take such personal integrity
with every little thing to be sure that you, the spectator OR the
racer, have just about every technical, and personal, detail accounted
for.
In Review, The Baja Brawl was a 4
day, exciting, fun-filled, Woodstock-like Racing/Party/Family
Experience. Besides the racers, I don't know HOW these Moto Moms
and Dads do it! My MX mentors, Bruce Shew (his super-quick
son, Brandon, races - # 963 on the
Team
199.com/Cernic's Suzuki
Rocket) <www.brandonshew.com>
& Bob Ross families, as examples...you all have got my respect
and admiration - bigtime.
Do you know where your kids are all
weekend? Moto Moms & Dads do! Camping, Racing, and havin' a RIP
with the 'Fam, at Baja MX!
Trust me...come on out to BAJA, and
you will come to realize, just like I did, that motocross is the
ultimate, FAMILY oriented, sport.
As usual, I invite all interested readers
<and even the DIS-interested! > to go to
www.miniXcam.com/baja to
check out my 'story in photos', covering the track, the people
behind the track, the people AT the track, and all of the
exciting & thoroughly entertaining festivities. We have over
400 pictures in a slick thumbnail gallery for you to browse...<and
it's not just the racing action, so check it out!>
Thanks to miniXcam for the hosting
space! <miniXcam is a tiny, sweet-azz shock & vibration proof
helmet cam system - hundreds of uses!> Thanks Bob @ miniXcam
for your support!
Also, check out
www.MxReplay.com for some
awesome video coverage <great job Mark! >, and
www.Photos-Of-You.com
for tons of sweet, professional action shots! <talk to Scott &
Mary of Photos of YOU at the tracks, to get some pro-style 'money
shots' of YOUR kids! >
Thanks again to Patrick, Rosanna, and the
entire Baja Staff, for their gracious hospitality, and congratulations
on hosting another spectacular event. You folks should be proud
- you represent the BEST of Michigan!
We can't wait until next year!
L8tR RaceFanz!
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