CNIIARCHIVES
P134
BY KIT PALMER
T
wenty years ago, almost to
the day, one of the Mid-
West's most well-known
venues on the AMA Pro Moto
-
cross Championship circuit held
its final National event. On July
25, 2004, amidst the screaming
of 125cc and 250cc two-stroke
engines and the crowd cheers,
Kenworthy's GP Club Motocross
track (later just called Kenwor
-
thy's MX Park) officially waved
the checkered flag on a National
MX for the last time. This marked
the end of an era, as the park's
owner had, before the race,
received the disappointing news
from the AMA that his track
would not be on the 2005 AMA
National Motocross calendar.
Kenworthy's rather successful
run of hosting a National had
come to an unceremonious end.
However, the run wasn't
exceptionally long. The track's
co-founder and promoter, the
late Don Kenworthy Sr., had been
given the green light to host its
first National in 1987, won by Rick
Johnson (500cc) and Guy Cooper
(125cc), so the Troy, Ohio, stop on
the AMA Pro Motocross Cham
-
pion circuit lasted only 17 years,
and I might have covered all 17 of
them for this publication. I know
Rick Johnson was
one of the first
National winners
at the Kenworthy's
facility in 1987.
Johnson won the
500cc class and Guy
Cooper the 125cc
class.
PHOTOS:
KIT PALMER
Kenworthy's was known for its
flat layout, which made viewing
difficult after the infield had
filled up with fans.
END OF AN ERA
THE KENWORTHY'S GP CLUB MX NATIONAL
