Family Vacation, Motocross Style

Aug. 6 - Thousands of people fill the campgrounds at the Loretta Lynn Ranch during the AMA Amateur Motocross Nationals. Some of them are the best young amateur racers in the country. Some of them are kid brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers of those racers, and while motocross takes center stage, the championships, in many ways, are one big family vacation.

From older kids swimming in the creek to younger ones attending Camp Loretta activities, there's plenty going on even after the race bikes are shut down.

James "Bubba" Stewart talks to a fan (above) as Ricky Carmichael (below) poses for a picture before the Gatorade Celebrity Basketball Challenge.

The highlight Tuesday night was the Gatorade Celebrity Basketball Challenge, a game featuring industry insiders (supplemented by a few ringers recruited from the local high school team), with two special guest coaches: Ricky Carmichael and James "Bubba" Stewart, two of the most successful racers ever to pass through Loretta Lynn's in their amateur days and the two most dominant pro motocross racers in the United States today.

"This is the first time I've been here that I wasn't racing," Stewart said in an interview broadcast over the public address system. "I wish I was out there racing."

During opening ceremonies Monday night, AMA President Robert Rasor welcomed the racers to the 21st annual AMA Amateur Motocross Championships and reminded them of a bit of the history built up over the past two decades.

AMA President Robert Rasor watches the motocross action at Loretta Lynn's.

"Now you get to pull off the same starting line as James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, and guys of that caliber have done," AMA President Robert Rasor told the racers at the riders meeting Monday night. "Now it's your turn."

A total of 1,344 racers are now taking their turn, their shot at a share of fame at the Loretta Lynn Ranch.