How do you measure a clubs success? By the number of entries to there events or maybe the number of events they host, or perhaps how well they host these events? “The Alberta Mini Roadracing Associations measures their success in the number of smiling faces staring back at them in the riders meeting along with a little dash of all the above”, states AMRA President of 8 years Jay Fox.
Jan 2009 marked the 5th year the AMRA hosted there National Indoor Race series which was held over two weekends in Alberta: entertaining tens of thousands of spectators at both the Calgary and Edmonton International Bikes shows.
“The AMRA sets out to host a different type of race series for this unique indoor series and after a half a decade we have perfected it. The Concept: supply matching dyno-tuned bikes supported by the big four manufactures, with three Honda CRF100s, Suzuki DRZ125Ls, Yamaha TTR125Ls and Kawasaki KLX140B, sponsored through Blackfoot Motosports Calgary AB, AMRA's biggest supporters,” shares Fox. With the bikes leveling the playing field, the AMRA searches out the best racers from 10 different racing disciplines from around the province, country and the world. The 2009 series attracted 140 of the top competitors from field such as flat tracking, motocross, ice racing and roadracing. Organizers determine racers qualifying grid positions mathematically over the entire weekend so the racer will never race the same brand of bike or be in the same qualifying position throughout the weekends four 4 qualifying rounds. Where you finish in each of these qualifiers throughout the weekend determines where you grid in the 4 semi finals, all working towards your position in the Final event Sunday afternoon. The final race points earned Sunday in Calgary and Edmonton going towards the National CMA Indoor title.
There are also an additional two National Title classes to be determined along with a demo Novice class.
The Youth 7 to 10 Junior racers; with lap times matching that of the Open Class competitors, thrilling the crowds with their innate talent, sliding the little 50cc bikes from Yamaha, Honda and Konker all the way around the track. The bikes for this class are sponsored by Walt Healy Motorsports Calgary, the AMRA and Parents of the competitors.
The Ladies National Title Class and Demo Novice class compete on Konker KPX 125's supported by Konker Canada and Bow Cycle Calgary. Both classes’s entertained the crowds with some of the best racing of the weekend.
Three generations competed in the AMRA Race Hall, at times direct head to head competition between Uncles and Nephews, Fathers and Sons and Mothers and Daughters. An interesting fact about our competitors: In the Open Class the age difference between 1st and second place equaled 42 years and in the Ladies class the age difference between oldest competitor and the 2009 11 year old title holder was 37 years.
The crowd favorite this year was the new Champions Race which featured some of Canada's best and most celebrated racers from both the Canadian Superbike Series and Canada's top Motocross Racers. Dusty Klatt, Aaron Harvey, Steve Crevier, Jordan Szoke, Brett McCormick, Don Munroe, Darren James, Dave Estok, and Clint McBain, competed for bragging rights and entertained Calgary and Edmonton Motorcycle Show spectators like only champions can do! The ‘don’t this at home’ theme was rampant as the celebrities started backwards on the start line, reached out and grabbed at fenders to hold back competitors, or played a hard core version of capture the flag with whomever was unfortunate enough to cross the finish line first!
An event this size can not be run without a great team and the AMRA is lucky to have put together the best volunteers and supporters in Mini Racing. Thank you to the mechanics that bent the bikes back into shape as the racers twisted them up on the track, the track workers that worked tirelessly to keep the racers safe and going in the right direction at the right time and place and the ladies that take on all the chaos and somehow make sense of it on paper. This all ran like a fine tuned clocked over the six days, A big thanks go out to all racers and officials.
Mini roadracing provides an opportunity for riders at all ability levels and ages to compete together, to stretch their abilities on and off the track. This unique series brings people together like no other, turning into a huge family affair, an AMRA Family! Ask anyone that has ever had a chance to compete in an AMRA event and then sit back to hear the stories of camaraderie sportsmanship and fun that is truly one of a kind.
Congratulations to our 2009 National Indoor Title winners:
