Posted September 6, 2005   Email |  Print

Motocross auction raises $49,000 for hurricane relief

The AMA Motocross Championships community of racers and fans raised an incredible $49,000 for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, including a $5,000 donation by the AMA, in an auction held after the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Pro Motocross National round of the series Sunday at Steel City Raceway in Pennsylvania.

The auction was organized by the National Promoters Group and Racer X magazine, and the AMA matched the first $5,000 in bids.

The outpouring of generosity from the 15,900 motocross fans in attendance was amazing, as was the amount of auction items donated by all the top riders. Makita/Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael stepped up big, donating his hyper-custom BBR/Suzuki 110cc mini bike, which started a bidding war between industry heavies Jeff Cernic (Cernic's Suzuki) and Ken Block of DC Shoes. When the smoke cleared on that one, Block plunked down almost $17,000 for the replica RC mini bike.

Other highlights from Sunday's post-race auction included:

• Scott USA donating five $1,000 gift certificates, followed by Scott front man Bevo Forti purchasing a signed Moto Des Nations helmet (RC, Kevin Windham and Ivan Tedesco) for $1,200. Forti then gave the helmet to his friend, Jeff Cernic, as a gift for his shop.

• An RC-signed blown up Racer X magazine cover and signed jersey brought in $3,300.

• Hats passed through the crowd during the race by Racer Productions staff members brought in $2,300.

• 125 class winner Broc Hepler donated two signed jerseys which fetched $2,000.

• Officials at Twin Air Filters, who couldn't attend, sent in a check for $2,000.

• James Stewart overnighted a jersey and pants that somebody paid $1,000 for.

Beginning on Saturday, FMX legend Mad Mike Jones fired up the early-arriving crowd of amateur racers with a revved-up freestyle display, followed by a heartfelt call to donate to the cause. The 500 fans in attendance flocked to the fence to meet Jones, who walked along patiently, taking dollar after dollar until more than $1,000 - in mostly dollar bills - was crammed into his helmet.

Kevin Windham, who makes his home an hour away from New Orleans, in Centreville, Mississippi, was moved by the support from the fans and his fellow competitors.

"This tragic event really hit home with me," Windham said. "So to see our industry and fans step up the way they did here at Steel City really says a lot about the sport of motocross and the people involved at all levels. I'm proud of our sport."

"It was something else to see how the great fans of motocross responded in to our national emergency in this time of need," said Nationals announcer Tim Cotter of Racer Productions. "With the attendance down due to the gas prices and our amateur races being cut back, we were amazed with the amount of money we were able to raise."

© 2005, American Motorcyclist Association