"In the blink of an eye that...
"In the blink of an eye that swift flick of the green flag sent racers exploding-like a stick of dynamite."
With his "practice run" out of the way and the quads restaged, the riders anxiously started to rev the engines in anticipation of the flag being thrown. In the blink of an eye that swift flick of the green flag sent racers exploding-like a stick of dynamite-into the soupy mix of mud and water, which created a wave tall enough to leave them invisible from the spectators' view for a quick second. The motors were revving as the tiny ATVs pushed their way through the pit, and tires clawed into the soft bottom in search of the needed traction. As they climbed out of the pit, the lessons of life's realities would be learned as one would experience the emotions of victory while the others suffered the agonizing feeling of defeat. But even for the tykes who experienced defeat, they still saw it as a win because they were lucky enough to spend the day living out their passion.
As this went on through various classes, I was surprised to see that most of the races ended with all three riders within a half-bike difference at the finish. This meant the field was relatively even in performance and skill. There was even a bit of tire bumping while the racers battled for the best line to the opposite end. By the time it all ended, I felt that these guys and girls were getting great experience for when they are big enough to race the full-sized machines in their near future.
The next time you head out to watch or race at a mud competition, please take this one piece of advice. Take some time and watch the youth events when promoters have them, because this is the future of the sport and are some of the most entertaining events you'll witness. These are the future Pates, Crowders, Ladners, LaFontanes, Wises and other top racers who currently lead the sport. So give them your support; they appreciate and gain confidence when hearing crowds of people cheering them on. I guarantee that while you won't hear the roaring engines of the full-sized ATV races, you will definitely be treated to some good competition and racing.