Even though it’s the off-season and snow is falling in most parts of this great Country, people are undoubtedly already looking forward to the 2025 riding season. One of the races that we all look forward to each year is the Walton TransCan and being a part of all the festivities at Walton Raceway. However, for 2025 there will be a few scheduling changes, and for the first time in a long time, the Walton TransCan will be the first race of the year at Walton Raceway. We caught up with Melody Hodgson to talk about these changes and how the Walton Raceway crew is dealing with the arrival of winter.
MXP: Hey Melody! How are you and the Walton Raceway crew doing?
Hey Palms! We are doing well. We are trying to stay warm this week, which is always an interesting adventure in an old farmhouse. I actually prefer it when we have a lot of snow, as it acts like insulation around the base of the house.
Last year, we barely had any winter in Ontario. However, this year it seems like it’s coming in like a lion. How much snow does your area currently have?
Honestly, the snow is past my knees when I walk to the barn twice a day to make sure the goats and feral cats have food and water. The Ontario wind was also blowing this morning, and my tracks were completely blown over when I walked back to the house. However, it’s supposed to rain on Monday, so this winter wonderland we’re enjoying will be short-lived.
Too much snow is obviously a hassle for driving and shoveling, but it’s better than no snow and everything being brown and grey.
I couldn’t agree more; I prefer a snowy winter to a rainy winter.
When we do have snow, what is your favourite winter activity?
I’m Canadian, so obviously, I can do all the wintery things, but staying inside and warm is my preferred activity haha. I really love being cozy by the fireplace and reading. I can’t do that in the summer!
Before we get into the Walton Raceway 2025 news, let’s look back at this past summer and the Walton TransCan. Overall, it was another amazing event with great weather and solid track conditions. Behind the scenes, though, and from your perspective, how did it go?
Every Sunday after the final moto, I feel like it was the best TransCan ever, and I don’t expect that trend to change. Entries were higher, the diversity of riders from all regions, including the US, was awesome, and the entire week flowed. It’s always my favourite week of the summer.
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t any adversity. But our team is so well-versed in all aspects of the event and great at communication that any challenges were quickly mitigated.
In my opinion, one big change that perhaps went unnoticed was moving the bouncy castle structure to the side of the track near the amateur paddock. This really seemed to improve spectator viewing in the infield area. Was this your idea?
It was, but I took inspiration from Dig’s (Derek Schuster) placement of his bouncy castle at the Gopher Dunes National. Because of his layout, I loved how packed the podium was; every aspect, from the bouncy castles to the food trucks and the stage, was easily accessible and close. It was the best Gopher podium in years because of it!
I know we’ve spoken about this many times over the years. But what amazes me most about the Walton TransCan is how you and your crew are able to take all the moving parts that go into an event of this size and then bring them all together to run like a well-oiled machine.
We’re so lucky to be surrounded by incredibly smart and competent people who love the TransCan as much as we do. There is zero chance that Brett and I could deliver that event on our own. It’s so big now that it’s simply impossible. I think what we’ve done well since 2018 is give our staff the ability to manage their own “department.” It’s not to say we aren’t involved, but I guarantee you I am not watering the track while Bingo is going on, refereeing during the motos, or managing the Gatehouse from 6 am to 10 pm. I don’t need to. I know our staff have it covered. I do not look forward to the day they move on; they’re such integral parts of the event, and I greatly rely on them.
So, while the snow falls and the moto season seems like an eternity away, the planning stages for the 2025 Walton TransCan, as well as the Walton Raceway event schedule are well underway. One big change for next year is that the Walton TransCan will be the first race of the year at Walton Raceway. We know this has been talked about for a couple of years, but can you explain the reason for this change in 2025?
As you said, Brett and I have considered the idea for a few years. I honestly believe holding races in June, as we have done for the past decade or more, detracts from TransCan’s specialness. We want the TransCan to be the first time anyone races on the property yearly; it levels the playing field for all riders competing for amateur national championships. Our business has also changed a lot since 2018 and this is the best way to evolve with it. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we’re confident it’s the right one.
We agree that Walton Raceway is a special place and has been for a long time. Riders and families love making multiple trips to Walton because they know they’re going to a trusted track and facility. However, with the amount of work that goes into the Walton TransCan, it’s impossible to replicate that for multiple events, correct?
The closest we’ve come to replicating it was during COVID-19, when we had Walton ONE and the TransCan. But those were also our only two events that year! Preparing the track and executing races at the level we do TransCan for June would be financially, physically, and mentally draining. I also don’t think our equipment could handle it; the dirt here isn’t the softest, and it’s hard on everything we use.
What is the plan for the facility outside of the TransCan?
The spring and fall are filled with schools coming to the facility for year-end trips to the Challenge Course; last year, we had around 1,500 youth visit during June alone. 2025 will be more, as we can book them five days a week now that we don’t have races on the weekend. We used to have to close bookings on Mondays and Fridays to accommodate move-in and clean-up days.
Select practice days and training opportunities with the race team will be held in May, June, and July, along with a Mud Hero race and five weeks of summer day camps. While most of August is dedicated to TransCan, we do have races scheduled for the fall! Our full 2025 schedule will come out early in the new year.
You know, just talking about Walton Raceway and the TransCan is getting me excited for the 2025 riding season (laughs). Heading into the new year, what things do you have planned to keep you busy?
I hope to see sunshine around February/March; by then, I’ll be sick of looking at snow. Harper also does a winter barrel racing series in Clinton (about 25 minutes from Walton), so I’m there with her every other weekend. Otherwise, I usually spend this time with friends that I don’t get to see from May to October, and I plan on doing that again.
As crazy as it sounds, sometimes the off-season is just as busy as the race season. I usually like to work only part-time in the winter, but I have yet to achieve that this year. This business has many moving parts, and it keeps me busy year-round.
Before we let you go, let’s talk about another member of the Lee Family who has recently been travelling around the Globe. Caden [Lee] has been Vince Friese’s mechanic at the WSX Championship rounds in Vancouver, Perth, and then this week in Abu Dhabi. How exciting is it for you and Brett to see Caden living out his dream on the world stage?
We are so incredibly proud of Caden.
Caden lost a lot of his confidence in himself with school. I don’t want to blame anyone, but when he graduated, he did so believing he wasn’t smart and had few employment options. He struggled, and we did, too. You know what it’s like: You want the best for your kids but don’t always know how to make that happen.
Fast forward to spring 2023, we had just acquired the race team, and Caden needed a job. He started helping with the team and the track, filling in gaps that needed to be filled. He was doing well and enjoying himself, and Jadon took him under his wing and started teaching him some basic bike mechanics. At Gopher Dunes, he changed his first clutch for Gibby, and long story short, he became his mechanic for the rest of the series.
When Steve Simms joined the team a year ago, he saw Caden’s potential. They spent the spring together at GPF, and Steve taught him everything he could. Caden absorbed the information like a sponge. He spent the summer as Tanner’s mechanic and has been fortunate enough to join MCR as Vince’s mechanic for WSX. He would be down there full-time but can’t return to the US without a Visa, so we’re going through that process now.
Caden’s transformation in the past two years has been so special to be a part of. He’s a confident, intelligent, and funny 23-year-old, and we could not be prouder of everything he has accomplished.
