Racers get off the line in the second annual Hare and Hound race in Lincoln County on Saturday. (Courtesy photo)
Local racers were out in full force last weekend for the second annual Hare and Hound National event hosted by the Silver State Trailblazers. Younger racers started at the beginning of the day, when it was still dry. However, Zack Livreri, President of the Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada (MRAN) and the Silver State Trailblazers club, reported around 11 a.m., “a huge, dark cloud rolled in over the valley and started letting loose.”
Starting with just a few drops, thunder and lightning, it transformed into a torrent, followed by hail. By the middle stages of the race, it had dried up again, only to start getting wet again.
Dirt bike racer Dave Pearson of Caliente finished second overall in the national Pro/AMA FMF/GPR Hare and Hound Championship series race Aug. 24. The race is just one on the 10-race circuit the riders compete in during the season. The final race in the series will be Oct. 12-13 in Johnson Valley and Lucerne Valley, Calif.
Livreri said, “In the racing community David is one of the most respected active off-road racers in the entire country. The Silver State Trailblazers would like to wish David the best of luck in the Baja 1000 and we will be rooting for you and your THR Factory Kawasaki team to win the overall this year.”
This was Pearson’s only race of the series this year, but he earned enough points to grab second place in the 10-man overall standings. Kurt Caselli of Palmdale, Calif., won the race and has an insurmountable point lead for the 2013 Hare and Hound Championship. Pearson was the national champion in 2007.
Keith Pearson, Dave’s father, said his son had not raced in the other eight races this season because of lack of sponsorship and did not want to “just do it on his own.” However, he was able to pick up a sponsor out of Los Angeles and rode a 450cc KTM bike by an Austrian manufacturer.
Pearson finished the Panaca race 40 seconds behind Caselli, and 40 seconds ahead of the third place finisher.
Axel Pearson of Pioche, finished sixth in the race, keeping the family tradition of being “lightning fast,” Livreri said. Axel rides a Purvines Racing factory Beta sponsored motorcycle. Livreri said, “Axel is definitely one of the up-and-coming riders on the circuit and is fast becoming a fan favorite with youngsters on the mini bikes.”
The 105-mile course began in Panaca, went into the mountains surrounding the town, crossed the U.S. Highway 93 on the way to Pioche, swung down by the Lincoln County Airport, back into the mountains, and finished in Caliente. Taking lessons learned from last year’s race, Livreri said they made the course different, longer and point-to-point.
In the women’s A/B division, Maggie Pearson of Pioche, is the national leader with 205 points. She dominated last weekend’s race as well, and has won all the races to date, except when she finished second in January. She was 86th overall, out of the 198 riders. Livreri said, “I believe Maggie could be the first national champion women off-road racer ever from Lincoln County, Nev. The Silver State Trailblazers congratulate Maggie on her accomplishment.”
Local racer Hagen Boyce, Pioche, dominated the micro-65cc class coming in first and finishing 9th overall against the big boys on 85s, 105s and 150s. There were 43 entries in the mini race. His brother Karson Boyce had a great day in the 50cc race finishing a respectable second place in his race.
Local racer Hunter Ray took home the Pee Wee victory lapping all but one other racer on his way to first overall after a short battle with Karson Boyce.
Other local riders included Daniel Bradley 131 overall, Eric Curtis 156 overall, Nathan Adams second place ATV B, Aaron Cheeney third place ATV C, Curtis Bradley 27th overall, Colton Gubler 32nd overall, Jaden Settles third place Super Mini, Kendrick Cole second place 65cc Novice. Riders Joe Settles and Tammi Gubbler started but did not finish.
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycles lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes. As the world’s largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclist’s interests in local, state and federal government, as well as committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion.
Silver State Trailblazers would like to thank Victoria Barr, Lisa Domina, Bill Hartman and Cameron Boyce of the Caliente BLM Field office for all their help and guidance from the beginning of the permitting process through the end of race day. Livreri said, “Our local BLM has a very difficult job managing public lands for the multiple use and making sure all recognized uses, from hiking to ranching to mining to OHV, have quality and safe areas to perform their respective activities. I personally feel that the Caliente field office is the best in the country at managing public lands because of the time they take with each proponent to make sure we fully understand the stipulations. I work with a few different BLM districts and other racing organizations, Caliente Field office and the Ely district by far have the best mapping and documentation of existing trails hands down and their management techniques are second to none.”
Silver State Trailblazers also thanks the City of Caliente, town of Panaca and Lincoln County leaders for all their support and help through the planning and permit process. They thank the people of Lincoln County for their hospitality and welcoming them to the county. Last, but not least, they thank the local businesses that supported the event: Jerry’s Sinclair, Tillies, Knotty Pine Casino, Shady Motel, McCrosky’s Y Service, Agua Caliente, John Houston, Midway Motel, Panaca Grocery Store, Christian Enterprises, Lincoln County Search and Rescue, Meadow Valley Ambulance and the Caliente Pharmacy.
“Without our sponsors’ support, the support of the community leaders and the support of the community as a whole, this event would not be possible,” Livreri said.
Livreri reported that the event brought more than 1,200 people into the county last weekend. He greeted each rider as they crossed the line. Livreri said, “All those people that came from California, they all love Lincoln County. They think the people are nice and hospitable. Most of them said they’d come next year, and maybe even for vacation.”
He said many riders called it and “epic” race, and that it was their, “best fun of the year.”
“We will see you again on August 23, 2014,” he said.
