Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128391
AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships he top Amateur Dirt Track racers from all around the United States and a few from foreign countries invaded the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the 29th annual AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships. At the end of a long week of short track, TT, half-mile and mile racing, overall champions were decided in 21 classes. No less than five riders were able to come away with multiple titles. Upholding the Owensboro, Kentucky, tradition of fast racers, 8-year-old Nick McFadden came away with wins in the 50cc Stock (4-8) and 50cc Stock (7-8) classes. Proving to be a chip off the old block, I 1year-old Patrick jacobsen, son of former AMA Pro Racing National Number Keith jacobsen, traveled in from Montgomery, New York, and swept the 85cc DTX and the 85cc Modified (7-11) classes. Another former National Number, Randy Texter, had both his son, Cory, and his daughter, Shayna, in action, with 17year-old Cory of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, topping the 400cc Modified and 600cc Modified classes. jeffrey Carver, 14, made the short trip up from Alton, Illinois, to win both the I25cc Modified and the 250cc DTX classes, while 15-year-old Stevie Bonsey made the trip from sunny Salinas, Calfornia, worthwhile, as he won the 250cc Modified (four-stroke) and the 450cc Modified classes. In order to keep the length of the days a little shorter, AMA Sports divided the classes into two groups, the first being the 10 Youth classes, from 50cc to I25cc. The second group consisted of the 250cc classes through the big twins and agedefined Senior classes. The week kicked off with a short track for group one on Sunday to be followed by a doubleheader short track on Monday for both groups. The youngsters were scheduled twice for the short track, as they did not get to ride the mile at the end of the week. Unfortunately, just as the heats were getting under way for the evening group-two show, heavy rains moved across the Illinois State Fairgrounds Arena. The event had to be pushed back to Thursday and run as a doubleheader with the TT. It would prove to be the only blemish on the long week. Morton, Illinois' Molly Terry, 8, used her two short track wins to defend her 50cc Shaft-class championship. Nick McFadden won all four of the 50cc Stock (4-8) races and two of the 50cc Senior (7-8) races to secure his two titles. The 50cc junior (4-6) class featured four different winners, but Bowling T 48 Stevie Bonsey won the 250cc IIIM"IO. tllflfllecledf(';;;:;.iiiii;i:;ii .d (four-stroke) class championships cIurinj Championships at the .lIlnois State AUGUST 17, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS on