Lake whitney mx 6 years after closure!

Graybeard 8/9/2019 2:02pm
8/9/2019 2:02pm
MarkF wrote:
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall...
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall. It was incredibly hot and humid. After the second moto I went down to the river to cool off and then hurried to my hotel and before I could make it into the room I puked all over the lobby from heat exaustion. Great day though!

Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch - 125MX
June 19, 1983
Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch
Lake Whitney, TX

Overall Rider
1 Ron Lechien
2 Jeff Ward
3 Mark Barnett
4 Johnny O'Mara
5 George Holland
6 Brian Myerscough
7 Mark Flesia
8 A.J. Whiting
9 Doug Jackson
10 Karl Jordan
11 Clay Hoenshell
12 Aaron Pitts
13 Rick Ryan
14 David Weak
15 Erik Kehoe
16 Rodney Smith
17 Steve Gauthier
18 Ted Brady
19 Steven Burdette
20 Steve Pete
Good Lord, Mark! Now I know why I couldn't keep up with you at Freestone! I knew you were fast, but that's one mean class you battled in! Congrats, my friend, and it's an honor to share the racetrack with you! When's your next trip out here to race?
2
Dave_Alsobrook 8/9/2019 2:07pm
8/9/2019 2:07pm
GrapeApe wrote:
I've thrown away most of my trophies, but can't bring myself to get rid of the sweet satin jacket. 1991 250 Int Top Texan. Yep, I'm...
I've thrown away most of my trophies, but can't bring myself to get rid of the sweet satin jacket. 1991 250 Int Top Texan. Yep, I'm a pretty big deal.


ktm300hater wrote:
Crazy how times change. Top Texan was a big deal for quite a while
I remember these. lol, I wanted one so bad, but the story of my entire racing career and that does extend into roadracing and Jetskiis (for am-Kaw), was 2nd place. I was cursed..My legacy I guess..lol
1
MarkF
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MarkF 8/9/2019 4:38pm
8/9/2019 4:38pm
mb60 wrote:
Loved this place racing in the 80's and 90's. Still the best 125 race was 83 National with Ward, Lechien ,Omara and Barnett. The place could...
Loved this place racing in the 80's and 90's. Still the best 125 race was 83 National with Ward, Lechien ,Omara and Barnett. The place could still be racing today if Bruce Whitehead had not shut it down. Sad for all the memories we had that the track still sits idle.
MarkF wrote:
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall...
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall. It was incredibly hot and humid. After the second moto I went down to the river to cool off and then hurried to my hotel and before I could make it into the room I puked all over the lobby from heat exaustion. Great day though!

Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch - 125MX
June 19, 1983
Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch
Lake Whitney, TX

Overall Rider
1 Ron Lechien
2 Jeff Ward
3 Mark Barnett
4 Johnny O'Mara
5 George Holland
6 Brian Myerscough
7 Mark Flesia
8 A.J. Whiting
9 Doug Jackson
10 Karl Jordan
11 Clay Hoenshell
12 Aaron Pitts
13 Rick Ryan
14 David Weak
15 Erik Kehoe
16 Rodney Smith
17 Steve Gauthier
18 Ted Brady
19 Steven Burdette
20 Steve Pete
Lowbidder wrote:
That is mighty impressive, congrats.
Thanks!
MarkF
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MarkF 8/9/2019 4:42pm
8/9/2019 4:42pm
mb60 wrote:
Loved this place racing in the 80's and 90's. Still the best 125 race was 83 National with Ward, Lechien ,Omara and Barnett. The place could...
Loved this place racing in the 80's and 90's. Still the best 125 race was 83 National with Ward, Lechien ,Omara and Barnett. The place could still be racing today if Bruce Whitehead had not shut it down. Sad for all the memories we had that the track still sits idle.
MarkF wrote:
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall...
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall. It was incredibly hot and humid. After the second moto I went down to the river to cool off and then hurried to my hotel and before I could make it into the room I puked all over the lobby from heat exaustion. Great day though!

Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch - 125MX
June 19, 1983
Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch
Lake Whitney, TX

Overall Rider
1 Ron Lechien
2 Jeff Ward
3 Mark Barnett
4 Johnny O'Mara
5 George Holland
6 Brian Myerscough
7 Mark Flesia
8 A.J. Whiting
9 Doug Jackson
10 Karl Jordan
11 Clay Hoenshell
12 Aaron Pitts
13 Rick Ryan
14 David Weak
15 Erik Kehoe
16 Rodney Smith
17 Steve Gauthier
18 Ted Brady
19 Steven Burdette
20 Steve Pete
Langhammx wrote:
Good job my friend, pretty impressive company
Thank you! If you followed the 125 class back then you would know many of those names in the top 20. Of course the first 6 were full blown factory guys, but names like A.J. Whiting, Karl Jordan, Ricky Ryan, Erik Kehoe, and Rodney Smith should also be pretty well known.

The Shop

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MarkF
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MarkF 8/9/2019 4:46pm
8/9/2019 4:46pm
MarkF wrote:
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall...
That was my favorite race, only for a different reason. I had my best moto finishes and overall that day. I went 6-8 for 7th overall. It was incredibly hot and humid. After the second moto I went down to the river to cool off and then hurried to my hotel and before I could make it into the room I puked all over the lobby from heat exaustion. Great day though!

Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch - 125MX
June 19, 1983
Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch
Lake Whitney, TX

Overall Rider
1 Ron Lechien
2 Jeff Ward
3 Mark Barnett
4 Johnny O'Mara
5 George Holland
6 Brian Myerscough
7 Mark Flesia
8 A.J. Whiting
9 Doug Jackson
10 Karl Jordan
11 Clay Hoenshell
12 Aaron Pitts
13 Rick Ryan
14 David Weak
15 Erik Kehoe
16 Rodney Smith
17 Steve Gauthier
18 Ted Brady
19 Steven Burdette
20 Steve Pete
Graybeard wrote:
Good Lord, Mark! Now I know why I couldn't keep up with you at Freestone! I knew you were fast, but that's one mean class you...
Good Lord, Mark! Now I know why I couldn't keep up with you at Freestone! I knew you were fast, but that's one mean class you battled in! Congrats, my friend, and it's an honor to share the racetrack with you! When's your next trip out here to race?
Thanks, it was fun meeting you and racing with you down in TX. We didn't make it down last winter due to injury, but we should be down for the Johnstown Pro Am and the Freestone winter series. Maybe I will see you then.
VetMX.com
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VetMX.com 8/9/2019 7:52pm
8/9/2019 7:52pm
Man, that is solid.
davistld01
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davistld01 8/10/2019 8:28am
8/10/2019 8:28am
Wow...just saw this. I cut my teeth on tracks like Rio Bravo, Cloverfield, Mosier Valley and Whitney. It's been a long time since then, but just seeing the overhead view of the track in the OP's post brought back tons of good memories. Sad to see it grown over and all but hidden from view now, but that's the way it goes. It was so much fun back in Texas when the sport was huge and everybody had a dirt bike.

Thanks for this thread. Us Texas guys...or ex-Texas guys like me appreciate it!

1
mb60
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mb60 8/12/2019 1:50pm
8/12/2019 1:50pm
You would not even believe Mosier Valley if you drove out there today. The landfill has been filled in and it looks about 50 feet high. Good ole Jerry Surber can be thanked for that closure.
TexasVet
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TexasVet 8/12/2019 5:55pm
8/12/2019 5:55pm
mb60 wrote:
You would not even believe Mosier Valley if you drove out there today. The landfill has been filled in and it looks about 50 feet high...
You would not even believe Mosier Valley if you drove out there today. The landfill has been filled in and it looks about 50 feet high. Good ole Jerry Surber can be thanked for that closure.
Most people outside the Texas racing scene have no idea about Jerry Surber.
EMARacing
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EMARacing 8/13/2019 2:30pm
8/13/2019 2:30pm
TexasVet wrote:
Most people outside the Texas racing scene have no idea about Jerry Surber.
I always thought GNC stood for (G)erry Needs Cash.
3
Sierra Ranger
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Sierra Ranger 8/13/2019 2:45pm
8/13/2019 2:45pm
Cygnus wrote:
This always kills me that permits for surveys and such have to be done when opened by a track bank t when left alone in 2...
This always kills me that permits for surveys and such have to be done when opened by a track bank t when left alone in 2 years you would never know a race was held.
Yep, and we can cover the planet with empty Wal-Mart parking lots, but a few acres of dirt bike track is the end of the world.
Zoom
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Zoom 8/13/2019 2:45pm
8/13/2019 2:45pm
Denn700 wrote:
https://youtu.be/A8JMbWrab0s &feature=share
Alessi and Josh Grant were both penalized for jumping the gate that moto.

BTW, those Parts Unlimited banners were hung by me that year. This was the first year that PU sponsored the Spring Classic, which is now at Freestone. Honda of Houston was managing Lake Whitney then and I was the District Manger for PU in Houston. Dave Martin the owner of HOH gave me the proposal to hand to our motorsports manager. When I handed it to him, he didn't event look at it. He just asked me how much they were asking for the title sponsor. I told him and he said, "Done". When I went back to Dave and told him that he was like, "Dang, I knew we should have asked for more!"
3
BobbyM
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BobbyM 8/13/2019 8:25pm
8/13/2019 8:25pm
Ehopson wrote:
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it...
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it was closed. Did it still exist, but abandoned? Was a nieghborhood built their now? I decided to google earth the place, and im quite sad what this place looks like now. Its all grass now but with decades of racing here, the visible trenches are still visible were the track once was! Whats really haunting is the start gate/canopy are still their, were thousands of races were started, also the old trophy area! ! Even the legendary hill is so green now, unless you raced this place before, you would never know this existed! Just curious, has anyone drove out their to see and take pictures in person? I am thinking of making the trip out their soon, think it would be fun to walk around were the old track was. It looks like the road is open to drive through 2 different ways, dont see any gates, looks like anyone could drive in. What do you guys think? [/img][/img]
Very first 500 national I ever raced. 16 years old on a 440 maico. Damn near died at that race, 115 and high to the sky humidity. 1st and 2nd place were Texans respectively, Stack and the cowboy.
4
eddieselnos 2/3/2025 5:33pm
2/3/2025 5:33pm
Ehopson wrote:
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it...
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it was closed. Did it still exist, but abandoned? Was a nieghborhood built their now? I decided to google earth the place, and im quite sad what this place looks like now. Its all grass now but with decades of racing here, the visible trenches are still visible were the track once was! Whats really haunting is the start gate/canopy are still their, were thousands of races were started, also the old trophy area! ! Even the legendary hill is so green now, unless you raced this place before, you would never know this existed! Just curious, has anyone drove out their to see and take pictures in person? I am thinking of making the trip out their soon, think it would be fun to walk around were the old track was. It looks like the road is open to drive through 2 different ways, dont see any gates, looks like anyone could drive in. What do you guys think? [/img][/img]

THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while back after it was a hunting reserve and now I get to race on it, pretty cool 

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3
NSP139
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NSP139 2/3/2025 5:45pm
2/3/2025 5:45pm
Ehopson wrote:
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it...
Well as curiosity started to build 6 years later, i have started to wonder exactly what was done to the historical lake whitney track after it was closed. Did it still exist, but abandoned? Was a nieghborhood built their now? I decided to google earth the place, and im quite sad what this place looks like now. Its all grass now but with decades of racing here, the visible trenches are still visible were the track once was! Whats really haunting is the start gate/canopy are still their, were thousands of races were started, also the old trophy area! ! Even the legendary hill is so green now, unless you raced this place before, you would never know this existed! Just curious, has anyone drove out their to see and take pictures in person? I am thinking of making the trip out their soon, think it would be fun to walk around were the old track was. It looks like the road is open to drive through 2 different ways, dont see any gates, looks like anyone could drive in. What do you guys think? [/img][/img]
eddieselnos wrote:
THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while...

THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while back after it was a hunting reserve and now I get to race on it, pretty cool 

Huh?

2
dkurtd
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dkurtd 2/3/2025 6:48pm
2/3/2025 6:48pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2025 9:48pm

SK12 Frisco LTD has owned it since 2012.  SK12 Frisco is an LLC that was created by Edward Lennox who was the owner/CEO of Service King Bodyshop fame with well over 50 Texas body shops.  Service King was sold to the Carlyle Group but Mr. Lennox remained a partial owner.

Pit Row

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FanSXFan
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FanSXFan 2/3/2025 6:53pm
2/3/2025 6:53pm

Lake Whitney was something special.  Never forget meeting and hanging with Ryan Morais (125 amateur) and family, and Ncal racers, and James Stewart (80 mini & super mini).  James was jaw dropping (i mean other world). All the top 125/250 amateur's could not believe what we saw on the track.  There was no mystery of who was going to be the next big thing.  The track and landscape around lake whitney is amazing.  I think Whitney was only raced a couple of times a year.  It represented Texas at it's absolute finest!!

2
braaap
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braaap 2/3/2025 7:54pm
2/3/2025 7:54pm

Last time we were there in 2006. Sure is a beautiful sight!

Whitney06

 

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mb60
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mb60 2/3/2025 7:55pm
2/3/2025 7:55pm
eddieselnos wrote:
THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while...

THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while back after it was a hunting reserve and now I get to race on it, pretty cool 

Not sure what track in the town of Whitney you are talking about.

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Mossy940 2/3/2025 8:40pm
2/3/2025 8:40pm
eddieselnos wrote:
THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while...

THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while back after it was a hunting reserve and now I get to race on it, pretty cool 

mb60 wrote:

Not sure what track in the town of Whitney you are talking about.

My guess he is eluding to the fact his family bought the land lake Whitney was on AFTER it got turned into a hunting preserve.

And he is very excited to tell us he rides on what layout is left of the track.


 

2
dkurtd
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dkurtd 2/3/2025 8:46pm
2/3/2025 8:46pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2025 8:47pm
eddieselnos wrote:
THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while...

THIS IS CRAZY!!! MY FAMILY OWNS THIS RANCH AND I RACE ON IT MYSELF WITH MY BIKE LOL. Yea so my family bought it a while back after it was a hunting reserve and now I get to race on it, pretty cool 

mb60 wrote:

Not sure what track in the town of Whitney you are talking about.

Mossy940 wrote:
My guess he is eluding to the fact his family bought the land lake Whitney was on AFTER it got turned into a hunting preserve.And he...

My guess he is eluding to the fact his family bought the land lake Whitney was on AFTER it got turned into a hunting preserve.

And he is very excited to tell us he rides on what layout is left of the track.


 

Unless his family is SK12 Frisco LTD and they bought it in 2012 then he isn't riding at the Lake Whitney track in this thread.

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mb60
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mb60 2/3/2025 9:31pm
2/3/2025 9:31pm
Mossy940 wrote:
My guess he is eluding to the fact his family bought the land lake Whitney was on AFTER it got turned into a hunting preserve.And he...

My guess he is eluding to the fact his family bought the land lake Whitney was on AFTER it got turned into a hunting preserve.

And he is very excited to tell us he rides on what layout is left of the track.


 

There is nothing left of the track but a concrete slab that was the starting line.

GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 2/4/2025 5:41am
2/4/2025 5:41am
braaap wrote:
Last time we were there in 2006. Sure is a beautiful sight! 

Last time we were there in 2006. Sure is a beautiful sight!

Whitney06

 

Depressing image of the day:

Screenshot %2858%29
7eleven
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7eleven 2/4/2025 6:17am
2/4/2025 6:17am

The fact that there are no houses on it, we still have a chance! 

3
burn1986
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burn1986 2/4/2025 9:04am
2/4/2025 9:04am Edited Date/Time 2/4/2025 9:05am
dkurtd wrote:

Unless his family is SK12 Frisco LTD and they bought it in 2012 then he isn't riding at the Lake Whitney track in this thread.

Spam account possibly. 

2
Fox88
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Fox88 2/4/2025 9:25am
2/4/2025 9:25am

Battling my buddy on the last lap (don't ask what place we were in.. ha)

20240914 182219 1.jpg?VersionId=5TCprG
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Village Idiot
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Village Idiot 2/4/2025 9:53am
2/4/2025 9:53am
Fox88 wrote:
Battling my buddy on the last lap (don't ask what place we were in.. ha)

Battling my buddy on the last lap (don't ask what place we were in.. ha)

20240914 182219 1.jpg?VersionId=5TCprG

👍

Is that an '82 YZ in the pic?

burn1986
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burn1986 2/4/2025 10:16am
2/4/2025 10:16am
Village Idiot wrote:

👍

Is that an '82 YZ in the pic?

Radiator behond the number plate 😎

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