OAKLEY, IL

Money raised: $1,500.

Number of toys: two carloads full.

Having fun with your friends racing and riding dirt bikes: PRICELESS!

Perfect weather welcomed the riders to the 17th annual Oakley Dirt Riders charity event. What with the motocrossers, hare scramblers, enduro racers, and the riders who only race this one event, the rider count was up to 130, ranging in age from 4 to sixtysomething years old. Off-road motorcycling is a family sport, and no matter what form of off-roading these riders choose during the race season, on this day they are as one - out to have fun and help others, showing that dirt-bike riders and racers of all ages and skill levels have great hearts and are true heroes!

The first riders to take to the woods were the 50cc and 65cc classes. The standout among these two classes was 65cc rider Jason Gepford (50, right). Fresh off a year of racing motocross, Gepford was on the gas, attacking the course and having fun!.

"I like racing this race and raising the money and toys for the kids," Gepford said. "It's exciting to help other kids get a Christmas present."

Dalton Garecht took the win in the 50cc class. Taylor Clark took the overall in the Women's class, and Jared Hall scored the overall Mini win.

If this race is just for fun, someone forgot to tell the leaders in each class, because they were flying. The A team of Daniel Janus & Jeffrey Kaylor took the overall in the team classes, but the overall for the event went to Ironman Lee Lankutis, who charged for three hours straight and put in the fastest times of the day.

One of the biggest classes of the day was the Father/Son race. This class is great fun, and this year the combo of John Rhodes & Kendall Keele outpaced the others, taking the win. Look out for the Devlin team, because Raymond & Justin looked great and are sure to be a threat for the win next year.

So dust off the bike, bring some money and a toy for charity, and come out next year and have some fun while you help others. That is a win-win situation!

Results

50: 1. Dalton Garecht; 2. Jake Oelfke; 3. Ella Oelfke.

65: 1. Jason Gepford; 2. Dalton Garecht; 3. Michael Burtle.

MINI: 1. Jared Hall; 2. Jeff Gourley; 3. Ty Kinkelaar; 4. Braydon Pickerill.

A TEAM: 1. Janus/Kaylor; 2. Reid/Wargo; 3. Toberman/Hebenstriet; 4. Southard/Stunkel; 5. Hall Perigo.

A IRONMAN: 1. Lee Lankutis; 2. Josh Decker; 3. Pat McClure; 4. Tom Burtle; 5. Rick Anschutz.

B TEAM: 1. Fehring/Marfell; 2. Stinebaker/Gourley; 3. Vieregge/Holmes; 4. Schaal/Daugherty; 5. Dozier/Schnirring.

B IRONMAN: 1. Tyson Roth; 2. Abe Cyr; 3. Todd Huston; 4. Randy Peek; 5. Joe Robinson.

C TEAM: 1. Bickerton/Bickerton; 2. Garecht/Marfell; 3. Christensen/Britz; 4. Drake/Thompson; 5. Good/Koons.

C IRONMAN: 1. David Oelfke; 2. Dave Forbes; 3. Ronald Sillings; 4. Joe Henington; 5. Jeff Chanely.

WMN: 1. Taylor Clark; 2. Lean Oelfke; 3. Garecht/Garecht; 4. Marfell/Marfell.

40+ TEAM: 1. Pickerill/Marfell; 2. Garecht/Garecht; 3. Donaldson/Weaver.

50+ TEAM: 1. Smith/Barger; 2. Janus/Brunner; 3. Catlin Gallop.

FATHER/SON: 1. Rhodes/Keele; 2. Ty-Rick Kinkelaar; 3. Raymond-Justin Devlin; 4. Mark-Trevor Anschutz; 5. Si-Corey Keith.