The crew from the Day In The Dirt (DITD) and Troy Lee Designs, long-time backer of the DITD, got things started a little early this year recently with a pre-race, mid-week get-together ride-day at Glen Helen Raceway. For the first time in 15 years, this year’s Red Bull Day In The Dirt, which is traditionally held over the Thanksgiving Holiday, this year on November 23-25, will be held at the notorious facility, where the media and a few other select industry people got a chance to sample a good chunk of the DITD course.
Day In The Dirt producer Kenny Alexander says the Glen Helen track will be all about having fun but will still be challenging.
Troy Lee himself was on hand, as was a few members of the Hollywood Stunt and Film community, who host the event that is open to the public. Many stars of the sport of motocross and Supercross and the movie industry have made DITD a Thanksgiving tradition. Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward, Gary Jones, Jeremy McGrath, you name them, have all attended the DITD and do so year after year. Although the racing can be intense at times, everyone who attends DITD says it’s more about the atmosphere, family and friends than it is about the racing.
Also making the rounds at the DITD ride day was event co-founder Kenny Alexander. He’s says he’s excited to bring the race to Glen Helen Raceway for the first time.
“The track is going to be great,” he said. “It’s going to have about a four-and-a-half-minute lap time and 80 percent of it is going to be motocross, which is a little bit of grand-prix style.”
Even the old bikes had no problems getting around the Glen Helen track.
Alexander added that he’s concerned that many of the past DITD attendees will feel that the Glen Helen track will be too tough and rough to have fun on, but Alexander said they should not be concerned at all. The track – mainly the jumps – will be toned down and made to be fun. And this year’s DITD layout will be designed by former Supercross and National Motocross Champions Rick Johnson and Gary Jones, with plenty of input from Troy Lee and Alexander.
“We’re going to take some of the edge out and keep it prepped the best we can, even in between motos, because this place is notorious for getting rough,” Alexander said. “It’s definitely a ‘man’s’ track and when you leave the race we want everyone to think that they’ve done something and you definitely will. But, no one should be intimidated by the track, it’s going to be groovy.”
Former National Motocross Champion Gary Jones will help design the DITD race course.
The DITD ride-day track utilized many of the facility’s large uphills and downhills, which were described by many of the riders on this day as being “awesome.”
Again, this year’s race will be held on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday over the Thanksgiving Weekend, and will conclude with the always-popular Coup De Grace Survival Race.
A few new classes have been added this year – the FMF 2-Stroke Revival race (Friday), and the Intermediate/Expert-Pro Grand Prix (Sunday).
For more information, visit www.adayinthedirt.com.