Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch, Tennessee

This week was for the AMA National motorcross championship. The best riders in the nation are at this event, plus some aliens (foreigners) from five other countries including NZ.

On Sunday morning Josiah Hempen knocked on the door of our RV. We had met the Hempens at Lake Whitney Texas back in March and we have been in contact ever since. It was great to catch up with the Hempens and also to meet Kenny senior’s dad, Roger. They had travelled from Iowa and were a support to us. Kenny and Tracy also had their wedding anniversary during the week. A big congratulations.

Monday was practice day and Tuesday to Saturday was racing.

The track at Loretta Lynn’s is technical. It has lots of variation from jumps (doubles, triples, tabletops) to whoops and rollers, ruts (with bumps), sand and a long straight. There are also large braking bumps and acceleration bumps.

On Tuesday we watched the racing (Josiah’s first race was on Wednesday). When walking through vendor row we spotted Cody Cooper and got our photo with him and the kids. We briefly got to see Ben Townley at his autograph signing. Janine got to meet Chad Reed and James Stewart who were both very pleasant. On Tuesday night we caught up with an old friend of Janine’s (Aldon Baker) who she worked with in London around 16 years ago. He is the personal trainer for James Stewart and it was a real pleasure to reconnect with him.

Tuesday was an interesting day at Loretta Lynn’s. First, there was monumental rain and lightning in the afternoon. It was an absolute mud bath for those that got caught racing in it. Second, a rider in the vet class died in a race after crashing. He got up on his bike, rode a short distance before stopping, walking a few paces and then collapsing on the ground. We understand he died from chest trauma. Very sad news.

Also on Tuesday the Fullwoods (Kyle, Michelle, Meadow and Sydney) arrived from Myrtle Beach, SC. It was great to have them as support at Loretta Lynn’s and also for Sarah to spend some time with Meadow and Sydney away from the track back at a clean camping ground.

Josiah’s first race on Wednesday was in the afternoon. It was hot and humid. Sweat was pouring down Chris’ face whilst waiting on Josiah in the pits. In his first race Josiah got the holeshot (first rider around the first corner) before crashing about a third of the way around. He was in 13th position as he came past the scoring tower. On the second lap Josiah crashed again and was 31st as he came past the scoring tower. Josiah eventually clawed his way back to 16th. Josiah was exhausted at the end of the race. Each moto is 20 minutes whereas every other race he has done has been 10 minutes.

Josiah’s second race was on Thursday late afternoon. Josiah got second to the first corner. Josiah ended up finishing 16th and believes he didn’t ride to his full potential. However, Josiah was able to put this race behind him and learn from the experience.

Josiah’s last race was on Saturday afternoon. Josiah just missed out on the holeshot we think by the smallest of margins. He ended 7th which was fantastic. Josiah worked hard in this race and says he “found out where I belong”, if you know what that means as a rider. Mum and dad think Josiah learnt a lot from this race too. Overall Josiah finished 11th. Mum and dad think this is a great result considering the level of riding he does and what he has learnt at what is considered the world’s best amateur motocross racing event.

On the Saturday morning before the race Janine and Sarah went up to Loretta Lynn’s place. They toured the replica house she grew up in (Butcher Holler) which was a shack. They also toured the house she lived in with her husband (Doo) which was built in the 1800s and occupied during the civil war.

After the race we left Loretta Lynn’s and travelled north into Kentucky to stay at the Energy Lake campground which is in the Land Between the Lakes (www.lbl.org). We were going to catch up with some people from NZ who are traveling around parts of the USA in a RV like ours. We then plan to travel up to St Louis (Missouri), then go north to stay with the Hempens in Iowa and then next week go to a pro national motocross track (Spring Creek) at Milville, Minnesota.