MXA MINI-VIEW: A Day In The Dirt Founder

On Sep 10, 2008

Talking shop with Kenny Alexander ??ÿ ??ÿ
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This sounds like a bold statement, but A Day In The Dirt (DITD) is one of the best southern California races of the year. Why? First, it’s a 45-minute grand prix against 120 of your closest competitors. Second, it falls on Thanksgiving weekend, making the DITD race a perfect backdrop for fun and celebration. Finally, riders get the opportunity to race against some of the best racers in the world, both past and present.

The MXA wrecking crew sat down with DITD promoter Kenny Alexander to discuss the 11th annual race, how it came to be, and why you should enter to race the event on November 29th and 30th at Los Angeles County Raceway.

MXA: Kenny, please talk about the Day In The Dirt race.
KA: Originally it started off as an invite-only type of race. We thought initially that we would get a couple hundred friends to ride together, but when we got to the gate in the morning there were a thousand people lined up at the gate. The next year we opened it up to the public. Then Troy Lee came aboard and gave the event a boost. We have been working with him ever since.

MXA: Where did you get the idea for A Day In The Dirt?
KA: My family was in the film industry, and when I was little there was this film industry motorcycle club called The Viewfinders. It was an exclusive club and I kind of wanted to bring back the soul of the old days. I grew up going to Hopetown to watch the Europeans race, and there was such a good vibe there. That Is what I wanted to bring to A Day In The Dirt.

MXA: Perhaps the most anticipated races of the weekend are the team events. It is pretty cool how riders pair up, creating a team atmosphere.
KA: We specialize in the team races. Each day there is a team race, but there are also 45-minute grand prix races for different classes. The weekend end with a two hour coup de gras, which is more of a survival race than anything.

MXA: What big names have raced the event in the past and who do you expect this year?
KA: Over the years we have had Jeremy McGrath and some of the other retired pro racers. This year Ryan Hughes is racing, as well as Jeff Ward. Last year Donnie Hansen came out to race, and he hasn’t lined up on the gate in probably 20 years! This race is more of a gathering of history. A lot of these guys have been racing for 40 years, and that’s one of the things that makes this race unique.

MXA: Having raced this event before, we take DIDT seriously. However, we’ve seen several riders who dress up in costumes and really get into the spirit of it all.
KA: A lot of guys do take this race seriously, but we try to promote going out and having a good time. Usually there are about 120 guys in each class, and for most people it is not about winning the race, but instead battling with your buddies. You could be in 80th place, but if you beat your buddy to the finish then it creates bragging rights for the year. That is pretty cool to me.

MXA: How many entries do you accept?
KA: We max out at about 800 entries. Most of the classes are completely full, but we didn’t want to go overboard by having too many people racing at once.

MXA: What’s the deal with the crutches?
KA: This year I’m laid up! I always focus on racing this event as well as Mammoth. To me, Mammoth is the best motocross race that there is. It’s cool that the two races are six months apart, so I try to train for those races. I’m just bummed out that I broke my leg and can’t ride this year.

MXA: Finally, where can interested riders go to find out more information on the event?
KA: They can go to www.adayinthedirt.com and fill out the entry form or call (661) 263-8722. If a race is sold out then we’ll call and tell you. I guarantee that you will enjoy yourself. It?Ÿ.?.?ª?.?.s just after Thanksgiving, so the weather is always questionable. Some years we’ve lucked out, but we?Ÿ.?.?ª?.?.ve also had tremendous winds and storms, but it?Ÿ.?.?ª?.?.s definitely an experience.?Ÿ???ÿ