BUDD'S CREEK '06 PHOTOS:

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Round #4 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championships

Budds Creek, MD - June 17-18, 2006

by Arlene Lantzer

Our second trip back to Budds Creek was full of many different emotions. We where looking forward to watching our own Brian Shuckhart and Ashley Woskob mix it up as well as seeing the Burris family again. Ashley was coming off his Southwick run in the Lites and Brian was coming off his first Pro National race at High Point. Matt Burris was looking forward to finally getting back into a main. Matt did not make High Point because of a concussion he got in his Sunday morning qualifier and spent the afternoon at Ruby Memorial in Morgantown. Matt’s trip to Hangtown and Southwick presented some bike problems that again took his main event away. So Matt was looking forward to getting into Sundays program.

The drive to Waldorf is not a favorite one of mine. I think that the saying that Maryland is for Lovers well as far as I am concerned they can pretty much have that part of their state. I have sat in traffic before many times when I lived out in the San Francisco Bay Area. To think that DC commuters go 4 miles in one hour everyday is totally crazy. Let alone going from one of four lanes of traffic on a whim to another one just to get one more position would even make the craziest of MX rider think twice. I guess since I am on this subject I will have to vent on the getting into Budds Creek and then trying to get away from it would fit well here. The best thing to do is camp out the whole weekend and one would not have to put ones self in to that situation. We have sat many a time getting out of Steel City and High Point but the traffic generally always moves along. Getting into Budds on Saturday was no problem and even leaving was with out much problem, but on Sunday what a nightmare. We got to the park around 8:30 and the traffic was backed up about a mile which was no problem. That seemed normal so it moved along right up to the gate where we were told to follow the men with the “T-Shirts” on to our parking place. Okay that didn’t sound to bad so off we went following the other dumb sheep and found ourselves on the back side of the park near the Drag strip parking area. You couldn’t even hear the bikes back in this far away area. (very nice drag strip though) Now we were going to have to walk a long way with chairs and other necessities quite a distance. As we started to walk away from our truck with many other very unhappy people we saw that they were providing a shuttle. Awesome, for $2.00 per person you were taken to the front gate and left off. Now that wasn’t bad at all. Even on our trip I was so pleased that they were taking care of the people with coolers, small children and old folks like my self. Of course one would think that this shuttle was going to do the same thing as needed right up to the end of the event. Well think again…. We and I mean many where on our own at the end of the day. The long trip back to the parking area was one that I will not make again. Parents trying to make it back with their kids crying and older people sitting on the side to get a breathe. One must remember also that the temperature and humidity was very high Sunday. It just totally blew my mind that the park was that irresponsible. Well we made it back to the truck and got the AC on and started out the wide road to the main highway. We then sat there for nearly an hour just to get out on the main road that runs in front of Budds. In this line of traffic was some very unhappy Maryland drivers that should be accustom to sitting in lines but not the case here. They would try and go up the side and press in where ever they wanted to. So that made for some already impatient people doing what was right and just taking their turns at moving very irritable. So at this time the 2nd 250 moto was over and all hell broke loose but it too didn’t get too far. So total grid lock for about another 30 minutes and we made it almost to the main gate which we took aside road which at least was moving away from the park. Now that was great, beautiful farm country to look at and the feeling that we just may be in the clear. Well that didn’t last too long. Ahead of us was again the red lights of brake lights and we again was sitting, BUT the line was moving. In this line all seemed to be patient and enjoying the scenery. We passed many Amish homes were most of the families were out watching the parade of cars go by. Lots of children waving as we moved along slowly. That wasn’t as long as the sitting before but still took up much time. We finally made it back to Waldorf and heading north which only took us a little over 2 hours. I’m sure that your are tired of hearing me complain but honestly at this time I’m not sure if I ever want to go back to Budds Creek. The track is awesome, totally beautiful a MXERS dream of riding on. But something has to be done with the comings in and the goings out of that park. What a nightmare for the Maryland State Patrol, track promoter and visitors. Well the rest of the trip was pretty much okay, and we got home around 1:00 AM Monday morning.

Okay enough of that subject, and on to some great racing. BROC HEPLER RETURNS! (and he hasn’t skipped a beat) Broc Hepler, Brian Shuckhart, Ashley Woskob, Logan Martin, Greg Hudak and our Matt Burris was all in attendance and fighting to get into the main on Sunday. Lots of great racing was seen on Saturday for Sundays qualifiers. Broc, Brian ,Ashley and Logan made it into their respective mains on Sunday. Great riding and some fast heart beating moments was had but the riders were awesome.

Brian had a bad qualifier Saturday and went to the LCQ. But that only made him more aggressive. He went out and got a pretty good start off the gate and found his self in the position that was needed to move onto Sundays qualifier. But Brian wanted more so he pursued anyone that was in front of him. We are talking only four laps but that track is along one. He moved up and was taking on the rider in second place where he rode him pretty good and then over took him as well. Brian was out in front of this rider nearly 4 bike lengths where he went into a slippery corner and slid out which took him back to fourth position where he finished. What a heart stopper when I saw the 2nd place rider come over Henry’s hill and no Brian near him I know I wasn’t breathing until that Kawie cleared the hill.

Ashley added his own suspense on Saturday. We were looking for him in the Lites practice secessions (he rode in the Lites class at Southwick) but couldn’t find him. The Motocross group came out and there he was, Ashley was entered in the Motocross division this weekend. Ashley didn’t have any trouble in getting into the Sundays qualifiers great ride Ashley.

Matt Burris did not have a good Sunday. He looked awesome at his Saturday qualifier and finished 6th. But in the Sunday morning practice Matt’s foot which he has been having troubles with since spring pretty much blew up. Matt injured his left foot at Glen Helen while practicing. X-rays were taken but nothing showed up as a problem. But Matt knew that something was not right. Sunday morning practice he tweaked his foot and knew that he was done. A trip to Asterisk mobile center and found out that his tendons and ligaments where totally shot. Surgery would have to be done and soon for a full recovery. The Burris family is an amazing thing to watch. No matter the difficult situation that arises with them they keep the positive attitude that makes their unite even stronger. Matt is an incredible rider who’s dedication is truly a strong one. With his full 6ft 4 in frame he is so graceful going around the track with great speed. He put in some great lap times on Saturdays practice in the non-seeded group with a good 6th place fast lap times. Our best wishes go out the Matt and his wonderful pit crew. May your recovery and healing be at the pace that you set for your self out on the track.

Broc Hepler, what can I say but he was totally awesome. He was as smooth as silk out there. It seemed that his bike didn’t even touch the ground. He is like the silence before the storm, still water runs deep, the watch that keeps on ticking, he is awesome. He comes back and sweeps around the track as if he had been riding on it for the past months. In his qualifier on Saturday he popped up over the hill and was gone. Then on Sunday in the 1st Lites moto he got a great start and juggled with Villipoto for a few laps before Villipoto took a line around Broc. Broc seemed to fall back just a little as to get his focus and then he was on the hunt. He kept moving up and taking rider after rider till he was right behind Villipoto who was in 1st place. Broc finished with a 2nd/6th motos with an overall of 2nd which of course put him on the podium. This has to be a great return for Broc and his family.. It will so very good seeing the whole family again at the Nationals. WELCOME BACK BROC!

The weekend was so full of many good things. We had Fathers Day supper at Red Lobster and over ate. Our breakfasts where at IHOP, oh I love that Butter Pecan Syrup. Went to the worst Wal Mart that I have ever been in and while standing in line (more time) saw Nick Wey come in and disappear back into the throngs of people. If you are a car freak you have to go to the DC area. I have never seen so many expensive cars all at once in my life. Route #301 is a major artery for super sweet cars. Oh yes at IHOP one morning Robbie Reynard took a look around the restaurant but must have seen that it was going to take too long to eat so off he went. All in all it was a good weekend.

It’s always good to get home and I always end up appreciating my out in the country setting even more. I would much rather have a dear eating my sweet-peas than some over priced car cutting me off on the belt way. Home Sweet Home.

* Just a note to keep in mind when viewing the Budds Creek album. My pictures are some what the same for each rider. I did not move around much but still hope that you enjoy getting an idea of what our riders did at Budds. Also some of the pictures maybe somewhat blurry but I wanted to put them up anyway to show the race that the rider was having with the closest riders to them...

Always In Memory of Aaron #98, Arlene

Last Updated: June 21, 2006