Motocross offers family fun, competition

When the Southwest Nebraska Motocross track opened 10 years ago, Steve and Renee Fritz of rural McCook had a singular purpose. "We wanted to give the boys something to do," Steve said. At the time, the Fritz family couldn't have dreamed how extensive the project would become, and how many people the track would attract each year to the McCook area.

A good example is this past weekend when 360 motocross riders gathered at the Fritz track, located 2 1/2 miles southeast of McCook. Joined by family, friends and fans, the crowd grew to between 500 and 600 people for the nine hours of racing on Sunday. In addition, 145 riders were on hand Saturday for the practice laps which helped with the grooming of the track for the Sunday racing.

Taking advantage of the natural terrain, the Fritz track is recognized for being a diverse and challenging test of racing skill. A mile and three-fourths in distance, the track features 75-foot jumps, whoop-ti-dos, rhythm sections, step-up jumps and table top runs.

Motocross has grown in popularity because it is a good family sport, Fritz said. Showing this is the Southwest Motocross track, which has events for participants ranging in age from 4 to 50-and-over. "We had 35 classes and 42 races Sunday," Fritz said. The wide range is necessary to include all the age groups, and the many sizes of motorcycles, starting at the 55-cc level, and going all the way up to the 500-cc models in the Open Class.

The Fritz's Southwest Motocross track has already hosted two events this year. These include the races Sunday, as well as another event two week earlier. But the big event of the year is still to come. That's the Memorial Weekend Motocross, which starts Saturday, May 28, and lasts through Monday, May 30. For those looking for an action-packed weekend, the motocross races will fill the bill. To get to the track, go south of McCook 1 1/2 miles on U.S. Highway 83; turn east for 1/2 mile; then back south for another 3/4's for a mile.

Even though Steve no longer competes, the Fritzs' sons -- Carl, 19, and Craig, 16, do, along with hundreds of other riders from throughout the midwestern states of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. The fact that motocross participants from all these states have come to McCook is a credit to the Fritz family, and the challenging and competitive course they have crafted southeast of McCook. While achieving their goal of something for the family to do together, the Fritzs have provided action and competitive thrills for hundreds of other midwestern motocross enthusiasts.