Motocross – Only For The Fittest

Dads keep riding, leaving sons in the dust…

On a clear day with blue skies and sunshine, there is no place John Smith, a professor at Florida State University, would rather be than at 2516 County Line Road in Fountain, FL. He travels almost one hour from his home in Panama City Beach to meet up with his friends who share his passion for a sport that has a reputation for producing broken bones: Motocross. Every Saturday that it is not raining, John Smith will load up his bike and his safety gear and unloads it at the track in Fountain almost an hour later – a job in itself. At first, John Smith rode with his son, Adam, about 16 years ago. The two enjoyed their father-son time on the track but Adam’s friends turned him on to skateboarding. He didn’t have time for both hobbies so he gave up motocross. Smith, however, was hooked and has been riding ever since. On Saturdays, John Smith joins friends Ernie Thomas, Trey Kneece, Darcy Binder and Roy Dean who have been riding together for years. Binder and Thomas also brought their children out to ride when they were young but, like Adam, as they grew older, other interests took over their free time, and they left motocross to their dads who are now in their 50s. The average age for motocross competitors is 18-21. Motocross is exhilarating, it provides a huge adrenaline rush, and it is all about speed and stunts. Only 45 minutes away from Panama City and the beach, County Line Action Sports Park is one of the premier track offerings in the Southeastern United States. It attracts beginners and pros alike who come to Fountain for practice runs. The track can be navigated safely by beginners and cleared expertly by professional riders who zoom around the track, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. Around the bend, riders gain speed as they hit a downhill slope and soar into a jump over the next hill. The view from the edge of the track and the grandstands is exciting as the motorcycles roar past but, along with the excitement of the sport, come many hazards. Smith, Thomas and Kneece all talked of several injuries they have experienced over the years including broken ribs, wrists, elbows, and various bones, a smashed foot and an extended knee. The most time Trey Kneece has taken off from riding since he was 11 years old has been when he was recovering from a surgery. At 44, Trey Kneece, is the youngest of the group. He shares his love of riding with his wife, Karla, who he met at County Line Action Sports Park. His first glimpse of the sport was through ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Just watching it on television gave him such a rush of adrenaline that he told his parents he had to try it. He started out riding his neighbor’s dirt bike every chance he got. “I took the long way through the woods to the bus stop, and then rode after school,” he said. Professionally, Kneece is a welder for the military. Thomas is a retired car dealer. Dean works for an auto parts company. Binder is an anesthetist at Bay Medical Center, and Smith is an entomologist and teaches biology at Florida State University. Although they travel varied career paths, their lives intersect most every weekend at Bay County’s only dirt track. Thomas, 55, was 16 when he started racing all over the Southeastern United States. He raced for about 10 years in the pro circuit. His son, Sam, also rode in his teen years. But riding is in Ernie’s blood. After 35 years of racing, he gave it up in 2008 and now rides for pleasure. Safety is first with the riders, who all are equipped with helmets, boots, shoulder pads, wrist braces, knee braces and chest protectors. Smith says in the heat, he comes off his bike with his suit sticking to his body he is so soaked with sweat, but he knows the consequences of not wearing his gear. “In the summer you might not want to wear your chest protector, but then you go down, and you wish you had it,” he said. “We’ve all taken our dirt samples from time to time. I got to the point where I stopped being so worried and fearful, and it got to be a lot of fun.”

All the riders agree that riding beyond your capability also can get you into trouble on the track. Jumps are exciting when you know what you’re doing, but if you are an overzealous novice and make a mistake, it can be costly. That’s why Thomas recommends taking the training in baby steps and learning from other riders who are more advanced. Newer riders need to learn how to ride right. “You crawl, walk, jog, run, and then you fly,” he said. Dean, 58, has been riding for 44 years. He said the older he gets, the more he rides. He enjoys the sport and even enjoys working on his bike to keep it running right. He affectionately calls his riding buddies the “Old Fart Club.” When he tells people about his hobby, they look at him like he is crazy. “There’s camaraderie out here. You’re with friends. And it’s better than sitting at home getting fat,” he said. Binder, 54, started riding dirt bikes when he was six and raced motocross at fourteen. When his children were old enough, he bought them bikes and took them riding on weekends. Even though they outgrew it when other interests took over, Binder just can’t give it up. He doesn’t want to. “It’s a release away from all the stresses and tension I’ve got. It gives me a sense of freedom,” Binder said. The men say that this kind of activity also helps them to stay fit, which they say is important because you have to have the strength to maneuver your bike, and the stamina to go the distance. They ride a few laps at a time and then take a break to hydrate. Although they may have plans to retire from their professional lives one day, none of them have plans to retire from motocross. “You don’t stop riding because you get old. You get old because you stop riding,” Thomas said.

By Patti Smith