Scroll through to catch all the action from this year’s Kurt Caselli Ride Day at Fox Raceway.
“Kurt would love that—getting people together and talking and finding out you have things in common. That’s what the world needs more of,” Nancy Caselli mused as she and the rest of the Kurt Caselli Foundation (KCF) staff finished packing up at the end of the 10th Annual Kurt Caselli Ride Day, Presented by Rocky Mountain ATV-MC, FMF and KTM. The 10th edition of the popular tribute to the legendary off-road champion brought together the most diverse crowd of attendees yet, each of them enjoying their pick from a smorgasbord of activities.
Another packed house for this year’s Kurt Caselli Ride Day. Photo: Mark Kariya
Beginners could take introductory riding lessons from certified United States Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA) instructors. Kids had a choice of their own track or the Stacyc demo area. For bigger kids (a.k.a. adults), the Vet track, main MX track and a new off-road loop awaited. New this year was a session on the Vet track exclusively for disabled riders on specially prepared adaptive bikes thanks to the High Fives Foundation and MotoDemption. And, of course, GasGas, Husqvarna and KTM brought out their factory stars for fans to meet and share track time with.
The KCF awarded seven Spring 2023 scholarships with Lexy Baker on hand to receive hers. Photo: Mark Kariya
In fact, 22 attendees could enter the Caselli Team Challenge and partner with one of the stars in an entertaining 20-minute-plus-a-lap race, with the partners alternating taking laps after exchanging Ethika boxer shorts at the end of each lap. Besides having fun, the day serves as one of the biggest fundraising engines for the Foundation thanks to numerous companies who donate product or services for the raffles and silent auction or sign up to be vendors on the large vendor row.
A chaotic boot grab prefaced the LeMans start to the Caselli Team Challenge fun race. Photo: Mark Kariya
While the day’s total monies raised won’t be tallied for a few days, the drawing for the factory-prepped 2022 KTM 500 XC-FW Baja race bike alone raised over $66,000! (Coincidentally, Caselli’s race number was 66.) KCF President Donny Emler, Jr., phoned winner Michael Reed of Fruita, Colorado, from the awards platform to give him the news.
Nancy Caselli (center) is the glue of this event. Photo: Mark Kariya
Among the uses for fundraising monies are off-road and motocross safety initiatives plus the scholarships that the Foundation provides in both spring and fall semesters. Nancy Caselli read off the names of seven recipients of the Spring 2023 scholarships—Travis Azure, Lexy Baker, Tristen Bell, Lacey Kerr, Luke Millet, Olivia Pugh and Carter Rayburn—with Baker in attendance to receive hers. It’s all part of the Foundation’s reach, and Nancy Caselli reflected how she personally enjoys that reach: “It’s awesome how many more lives are being touched by the event to bring new stories [about Kurt]. I do [hear new stories about him] all the time. I ask people, ‘Well how did you know of Kurt or know Kurt? Tell me your Kurt story.’ It’s quite amazing.”
Kurt’s first race bike was on display under the KTM tent. Photo: Ryan NitzenWorcs race bike. Can you name the year. Photo: Ryan NitzenCockpit view. Photo: Ryan NitzenTake a look at Kurt’s Dakar racer. Photo: Ryan NitzenSo much going on at the front end of the rally bike. Photo: Ryan NitzenRoad books seem like a foreign language. Photo: Ryan NitzenA huge display to remember Kurt’s life. Photo: Ryan NitzenSo many great photos and memories captured here. Photo: Ryan NitzenThe High Fives Foundation and MotoDemption came out to assist adaptive riders with these custom fitted bikes. Photo: Ryan NitzenStrapped in and ready to go. Photo: Ryan NitzenVolunteers rode along with the adaptive athletes. Photo: Ryan NitzenProof that there’s nothing quite like riding. Photo: Mark KariyaLet’s take a spin through vendor row. Here’s the KC66 booth where you can find loads of Caselli merch. Photo: Ryan NitzenThe foundation raffled off this custom-built KTM 500. Photo: Ryan NitzenHinson Racing was on hand. Photo: Ryan NitzenThey’ve got you covered for anything clutch related. Photo: Ryan NitzenTechnical Touch USA brought a host of products. Photo: Ryan NitzenMoto Master brakes, X Trig, etc. Photo: Ryan NitzenPCI Race Radios. Photo: Ryan NitzenGasGas put their new MC 250F Factory Edition on display. Photo: Ryan NitzenFans were eager to see this thing up close. Photo: Ryan NitzenFMF is one of the title sponsors of the event. Photo: Ryan NitzenThor showed off some new gear. Photo: Ryan NitzenWe’re suckers for the Hallman retro line. Photo: Ryan NitzenNew offerings from USWE. Photo: Ryan NitzenCorner Coach came out to show their adjustable seat bumps. Photo: Ryan NitzenA closer look at The Corner Coach seat bump. Photo: Ryan NitzenIntense brought out their regular and pedal-assist mountain bikes. Photo: Ryan NitzenHere’s the Intense Tazer. Photo: Ryan NitzenTroy Lee Designs. Photo: Ryan NitzenEven the mannequin’s look fast. Photo: Ryan NitzenMaxima showed off some of their must-haves. Photo: Ryan NitzenSeat Concepts. Photo: Ryan NitzenDual sport, motocross, adventure, you name it. Seat Concepts has you covered. Photo: Ryan NitzenGary Sutherlin with Fly Racing. Photo: Ryan NitzenThe Veteran MX Foundation came out to talk about “throttle therapy”. Be sure to check these guys out. Photo: Ryan NitzenMoto 4 Kids is a break-out series for young racers. Photo: Ryan NitzenSome of the many raffle and silent auction prizes. Photo: Ryan NitzenDonny Emler announces the team race participants. Photo: Ryan NitzenSkyler Howes meets his team mate. Photo: Ryan NitzenAshley Mosiman subs in for her husband Josh to meet their veteran partner. Photo: Ryan NitzenHenry Roten and Noah Kepple. These two won the team race a few years back. Photo: Ryan NitzenThad Duvall (left) came out with his new Coastal Racing GasGas team. Photo: Ryan NitzenFlat tracker Kody Kopp and Keys 177. Photo: Ryan NitzenCycle News tester, Matt Cerami, got paired with Toby Price. Photo: Ryan NitzenMason Klein and team mate. Photo: Ryan NitzenDavid Kamo and Brandon Krause. Photo: Ryan NitzenKris Keefer joined in after assisting the adaptive athletes. Photo: Ryan NitzenRyder Lafferty and Ava Silvestri. Photo: Ryan NitzenCraig Delong and Luc Santos. Photo: Ryan NitzenDalton Shirey and Justin Schultz. Photo: Ryan NitzenGNCC powerhouse of Kailub Russell and technically-amateur, Cole Whitmer. Photo: Ryan NitzenTeam racers. Photo: Ryan NitzenLe Mans start to grab the other boot. Photo: Ryan NitzenSkyler Howes raced his Husqvarna rally bike. Photo: Ryan NitzenNothing weird here. Racers exchanged a pair of underwear each lap. Photo: Ryan NitzenJohnny Girroir displays a different technique. Photo: Ryan NitzenWhitmer and Russell opted for the over-the-head. Photo: Ryan NitzenThe Whitmer/Russell team took the win after 20 minutes plus one lap. Photo: Ryan NitzenTeam race podium: Russell/Whitmer (center), Delong/Santos, Price/Cerami. Photo: Ryan NitzenWe couldn’t fit everyone in the photo for the honorary memorial lap. See you next year! Photo: Ryan Nitzen
