Heels To Wheels With Leticia Cline

Dirty Birds Have All The Fun!

Today is Thanksgiving in the USA, and while most people take this time and spend it with family to reflect on what they are grateful for, there is one family that celebrates this weekend in a different way. It’s not your typical family so it’s not a typical holiday gathering. No one comes to the table with clean hands, no suits are worn, and there isn’t any overeating and passing out into a food coma in front of a television. There are, however, children running around, thankfulness passed along to each other, formal attire consisting of jerseys and boots, and plenty of grace said at the starting line.

The Thanksgiving I’m talking about is Red Bull’s “A Day in the Dirt,” and the family I’m talking about is the motocross community. What started as a one-day event in 1998 has now turned into the “Woodstock of Motocross,” and in its 17th year has become a tradition just like any other holiday. Three days of camping, over a dozen races and a hell of a lot of fun take place on Glen Helen’s challenging scramble-styled raceway, one of the most exciting in California and a must to not only ride but to see. The world’s fastest racers, heroes and legends, MX fanatics young and old, movie stuntmen and action sports celebrity daredevils all gather for a chance to ride together.

The best part is that it happens when the race season takes a break, allowing the pros to come out and actually ride for fun. Sure, it’s their DNA makeup to win but what keeps them coming back every year is that the pressure to win is gone. There’s no big purses or sponsorship deals, instead it’s bragging rights, and you walk away with a sense of doing something for the greater good. Greater good being that the proceeds gathered benefit the Steve McQueen Memorial Fund.

Motorcycles, dirt and turkey, it doesn’t get any better. This is the place I want to be!

Quick little history info on this event: A Day in the Dirt was created by Kenny Alexander and fellow stuntman Jimmy Roberts, and was inspired by actor and racer Steve McQueen. Roberts’ and Alexander’s fathers were actually members of the Viewfinders, an off-road motorcycle club formed in the early days of Desert Racing by stuntmen in the motion picture industry. And well, I just think that’s pretty freaking awesome. I picture them being the off-road version of Sons of Anarchy, raising hell in the vastness of the desert terrain.

In case you’re wondering, some of the races are the FMF two-stroke revival, Vintage GP along with a little ladies action with a Women’s GP. There’s a Stunt Grand Prix, which is also a perfect time to take a break and watch the pros show you how it’s done. If that’s not enough, there’s the two hour Moto-a-GoGo Team race, The Ironman and the Coup De Grace GP Survival Race, which begins at 12:30pm and goes until the checkered flag flies.

My favourite one of all though is the Hell on Wheels Scrambles. It’s a run what you’ve brung crap shoot that’s just as fun to watch as it is to be a part of. It’s the only event where there’s a class for every bike.

So this Thanksgiving I’m unfortunately not at Glen Helen Raceway, instead I’m sitting around the table listening to my uncle tell the story about how he got his first car for the 27th time. While I’m waiting for the stuffing with the “family secret recipe” to make its rounds across the table, I’ll probably be checking my Instagram feed for play by play photos of what’s going on in the Dirt in CA. Instead of bowing my head in prayer at the table I’ll be bowing my head and looking at my phone, praying to the Gods of Speed, secretly wishing I was there. Don’t judge! My uncle listens to football updates during church service and he’s the youth minister!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for these moments too because without my family I wouldn’t have been able to do what I love. And while we’re on the topic, I’m thankful for all of you too. Not just for reading my column but for loving and being a part of a sport that can do greater things behind the realms of a track.

Happy Thanksgiving!!