MXP Q and A

This week’s MXP Q and A is brought to you by the fine people at Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd.

Currently in Ontario we’re in the midst of back to back weekends at Moto Park. With the ANQ last weekend and the Moto Park Cup this coming weekend, there will be no shortage of laps ridden at the famous track this month. To commemorate these races I chose a question from Jim for this week’s MXP Q and A.

Jim wants to know with all the years that I’ve been going to Moto Park to ride and race, what is my favourite memory from there?

Well Jim, thanks for emailing me this question as it certainly is fitting for this time of year. It also is a very tough question for me to answer as in the 35 or so years that I’ve been going to Moto Park I have many great memories. Since the facility isn’t too far from where I live, it was actually the track my Dad and I chose for my very first race back in 1981. In some ways that day seems like a long time ago but in others it seems like just yesterday. To properly answer your question Jim I’ve picked a few of my favourite Moto Park moments. Here they are:

Even before my first race there, my Dad used to take me to Moto Park to watch my cousin race in the late 1970s. I still remember driving into the track on the same driveway that is still used today, parking and jumping out of the car and having my senses bombarded with the sights, sounds and of course the smells of a motocross race. I was blown away and obviously I couldn’t wait until the day when I could race myself. Even to this day when I get the smell of a certain type of pre-mix, it takes me back to those early days.

I don’t know who did this painting but I never get bored of looking at it.

Another great memory I have is from the very first year that Moto Park held a 500 Grand Prix. My family and I camped there overnight and I remember it being a huge party in the back field. There were a lot of people there and as an eleven year-old it seemed quite overwhelming. While I don’t remember much about the actual racing that weekend, the one thing that still stands out in my mind was sitting by the fence (that is still there) near the starting line when the first 500 moto began. The sound of those factory 500 two-strokes was amazing; when the gate dropped the ground literally started shaking. It was pretty amazing.

My final favourite moment from Moto Park is pretty much every time I go there now with my son. He loves going there to ride and hang out with his “race track” friends. To be able to see him ride there and enjoy the facility the same way I did when I was young is pretty cool. Although the place has changed a lot over the years, it still has the same vibe that seems to foster great family memories. I hope this answers your question Jim. Moto Park is a special place and I’m sure a lot of people have some terrific memories themselves from over the years.

This is the Greig Family from Orangeville, Ontario and their kids competed in their first race this past Sunday at Moto Park. As you can tell, they all had a great day. Over the years Moto Park has been a great place to create these type of memories.