Posts
40
Joined
3/24/2019
Location
Williams, AZ
US
bymcchancey
7/18/2019 12:45pm
7/18/2019 12:45pm
OK, Where to start?
So I moved to Northern AZ from southern California. I will not go into the abundance of moto there. I am more concerned with the lack of motocross here.
I grew up racing MX in Phoenix in the 80's and early 90's so I have a lot of love for helping grow AZ moto today.
The point of my post is. If someone were to open a Northern Arizona Motocross Facility, where would be the best possible location? After some researching. I found Verde Valley MX Facility was the only place that was around for some time before it closed. It seems that area would be the best place to start. Any information, thoughts or ideas will be helpful.
Thank you....-R
So I moved to Northern AZ from southern California. I will not go into the abundance of moto there. I am more concerned with the lack of motocross here.
I grew up racing MX in Phoenix in the 80's and early 90's so I have a lot of love for helping grow AZ moto today.
The point of my post is. If someone were to open a Northern Arizona Motocross Facility, where would be the best possible location? After some researching. I found Verde Valley MX Facility was the only place that was around for some time before it closed. It seems that area would be the best place to start. Any information, thoughts or ideas will be helpful.
Thank you....-R
Thank you for your input....-R
The Shop
Back when AZ some badass motocross tracks
Verde valley
Motogrande
Grinding stone
Firebird
ET & Eloy questionable
-all are AZ tracks that have disappeared since the 2008 recession. AZ definitely needs a boost in options to its MX scene.
They have slowly strangled the life out of AZ Moto over the last 15 years. Verde was a cool track bacuase of the weather, location and elevation change on the track but they didnt change shit for about 10 years and they do the same shit with Canyon. Same layout since 2010 with very, VERY minor changes to obstacles here and there.
Canyon also has a complete monopoly on weekday practice in the phoenix area and still wont put the money necessary into the facility to advance riders and the sport in the state.
If you have the money and time available to literally make them and their influence go away or buy them out, I would say go for it. Lots have tried to bring positive influence to the AZ moto scene over the last 10 years, none have been successful.
They didn't lose the lease, they're subletting because someone pays them more than the track ever brought in. Plenty of their own drilling equipment still sits on that land.
I admire your aspirations and hope it all pans out but besides ACP and motoland, I pretty much just ride desert now instead of being involved with the drama that became the race scene here post 2010.
As much as speedy sucked for prep, that place was convenient and it closing, and zack(former owner of canyon) selling firebird to the Lucas series really put some major nails in the coffin for our sport here.
I miss the 02-08 scene with 10 tracks all packed 5 days a week, everyone on new bikes every year, life was good.
Verde Valley was a cool track (layout and Temp) was sorry to see it go same with speedworld.
AZ tracks are not supportive of the sport. They all seem to be in competition with each other rather than joining together and giving the state a really nice couple of race series each year.
Then there is the track layouts which now seem all to be flat with some piles of dirt for elevation change woo hoo!!
pretty boring to say the least. I guess Canyon is the last natural terrain track left. It's like AZ is trying to be mediocre.
Glad i have an awesome place to go..
I was told the scene was great here 2002-2008, but currently its a big bummer, especially with Canyon being $40, and the track leaves a lot to be desired, makes Barona MX seem stellar.
I too mainly ride desert, it's close and free, and seat time is seat time. I agree that Prescott isnt too far and the weather is great, I think you'd get a lot of guys from the valley.
MX is even slowing down a little in SoCal, the sport as a whole. I bet in AZ there are more 25 year olds that owns RZR's than ride dirt bikes, its too easy and amazing for the SxS riding in Arizona.
I wonder how much of that is the generation, or the MX track scene really dissolving and UTV's exploding in the last 5 years....
UTV's are hard to beat for families.
MY 2 CENTS- TRACKS NEED TO HAVE A LEGIT VET TRACK & KIDS TRACK! There is NO way you will take share from the UTV crowd if your track doesn't have options for the whole family to get bikes and ride. I got my wife into riding in 2010 because Pala has many tracks for a newby to learn on. As a track owner I know this is even harder and more expensive, but Canyon not even trying to make the "Vet" track decent is a complete joke.
Pit Row
White Hills AZ 30 mins from the Dam.
They have Insta and FB with their open days/schedule.
The track is Legit.
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