OK VDR Racers- Monty & Ann Price They, and indeed everyone on the team- deserve a very special thanks. Write it & email it to me.
The
Classic Pose- Monty at the end of the Race Day handing out trophies- this
for the last time.
The end of a decade, but the legacy continues......Yes, after ten years of growth, Monty and Ann Price retire from the promotion of VDR (Vintage Dirt Racing NW) at Woodland MX park in Washington State. Monty Price took over VDR in 1993, after the resurgence of Vintage and Evolution motocross racing had started in California, and in it's infancy, moved into the Northwest, in the late 80's and early 90's. I had called Christopher James the other night, and as he pored over the some of the old records of VDR, we soon realized that Monty Price had fledged VDR and Vintage racing in the Northwest into the powerhouse it is today. Many people were and are involved, including a loyal contingent of assistants, but there can be little argument that Monty Price's hard work and vision was truly the guiding light that brought this form of motorcycle racing into the mainstream, with regional and national recognition.
Monty Price is a man of few words and big actions....and led his work by example and leadership skills that garnered the respect of his peers and fellow racers. Quiet and unassuming, yet a powerful presence on and off the track, he backed up all his skills with results. He brought a series that considered itself lucky to bring in 50 riders in a weekend, to one that today often brings in over 200 to 300 riders on a cold, rainy, winter day. Christopher James told me that his records show that sometimes there would be only 10 classes or less, and often only 2 riders or less in the class. Now, we can see over 20 riders in a class, and over 30 distinct races, with many of those combined, just to get the day's racing done in a timely manner.
The other distinct advantage of VDR and it's guidance by Monty Price was the lack of politics and attitudes. I've only been racing there since 2000, but time after time, new riders would come up to me and say they felt they belonged, felt welcome, and part of something, and felt they were an important, unique individual in the world of vintage MX. Monty left alot of the Technical issues and bike legality issues up of to the riders and there peers. If a rider ran a bike, that was clearly not correct for the class, the owner would soon be notified gently by his fellow racers, that changes should be taken. This honor system of bike legality and correct class to the rider left out alot of the issues and bad feelings by a tech inspection, and when a rider won on a bike he knew was legal, the win was twice as sweet. This relaxation of the rules has proved to be one of the attractions at VDR that keeps riders happy. If a tech inspector forces a participant to trailer his equipment over a paltry technical issue, instead of working a compromise or issuing a warning, the rider often leaves and never comes back, and goes away bitter. Simply said, Monty set the rules, and the riders obey. This combination of personal diplomacy, and style of running a series has proved very successful, as evidenced by what VDR has become today, and yes, it's still growing. Monty never meant to become the Bill Gates of the motorcycling world, he always kept the entrance fees extremely low to attract new riders and keep old ones coming back for more fun!
It's
been said before, that we are probably in the "golden age" of vintage
motorcycle racing, and In the end, when the book of Vintage racing is
written, the name of Monty and Ann Price will be in the first chapter.
And so I guess it is sad to see them go, but the good news is that Monty
and Ann will continue to race and aid in track design and execution of
events. It is there time now to enjoy the hard work of others, and Ann
told me she just wants to ride. They will be a tough act to follow,
but they have set an example for others, and his successor, Blake Landon
and wife, are a chip off the ol' block. The VDR series and Woodland is
GnG's home track, and we feel confident there will be many years of great
racing to come. When we all get to be old men and women, and reflect
back on our lives and the years we had at VDR under Monty and Ann Price,
We will all smile, and say 'yes, life was good' , and so it was.
• BILL GRUBIN
-----------------------------------thank yous below-------------------------------------------
JOHN&
VALERIE ULVER
We've been involved with VDR from the beginning
when there were less than 20 riders total for race day. Monty & Ann along
with their family and friends who helped them have exceeded an unobtainable
benchmark in vintage motocross. Without a doubt there is no club, organization,
or person(s) who could have done a more exemplary job of putting together
such a memorable experience in motorcycling history. Without Monty & Ann
Price VDR wouldn't have grown to what it is today. We feel guilty for
not being able to attend more events in the last two years but our personal
lives have overwhelmed us to the point we've found little time to play
and have fun. We fully plan to drop back into the vintage scene and support
Blake and Karen Landon for the new season. Nobody could have picked a
better replacement for filling Monty & Ann's shoes although it will be
a hard act to follow. Best regards, John & Valerie Ulver
SCOTT
McALLISTER
Monty and Ann, I can't begin to thank you enough
for all the hard work and long hours you two put in at the races. My first
race at Woodland was in 1996. Prior to that, the only vintage race I had
been to was Dino Daze that same summer. I wasn't too impressed with the
whole experience and thought I'd just put my Bultaco back in the garage.
Then Gary Boman told me about Woodland. What a difference! The whole vibe at Woodland was like a big family get-together with everyone you knew who owned a motorcycle. Friendly competition and, better yet, new friends to race with. The best thing of all was the track! Perfect dirt, no rocks and always a GREAT layout. The way the races were organized was always like a well-oiled machine. No screwing around. You always knew when the rider's meeting was, when practice was and when the races would start. And there was never a question about scoring, even in the nastiest of conditions when you could barely make out the bikes, not to mention the number plates.
I have lots of great memories from Woodland that I will carry with me for a long time...many great races with CJ, watching Trais race for the first time, a separated left shoulder and a rebuilt left knee, and proposing to my wife on the finish line. I'm looking forward to many more years of racing at Woodland and looking forward to seeing you both there. Thanks for EVERYTHING you've both done for VDR and for vintage racing in general, it wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for you. Scott McAllister
DAN
CUHNA
Monty & Ann Price and Crew I picked up a couple
of Honda Elsinores and wanted to give it a try as a friend of mine Brian
Wry kept telling me how much fun VDR is. I showed up at the track and
I looked around and gaawwd, I felt like I was transported back in time,
with all the CZ, Maico's Husky's Elsinore's ripping around I could not
believe it. As practiced approached I was getting nervous, wow that tunnel
jump, the table top oh wow... I entered amatuer class and raced. After
my first moto I was sucking air so bad, I barley recovered for the 2nd
moto, I raced and finished. I loved it...but my body hated it, it was
protesting by telling me every step, twist, movement, that it hurt...
my body spoke, no it SCREAMED at me for two weeks after my first race.
Monty and Crew Thank you so much for providing a safe, fun, organized event to race these old bikes. Thank You for providing me some incentive to get my bones into the gym to work out, get and stay in shape! Thank you for creating memories of all the great races I have had and duels with my pals especially Bill Grubin, Brian Wry and Dirk Williams. Thank you for all the friends I have met at VDR, with out this venue I never would of met so many great people.
I will see you at the races • Dan Cunha
ED
RUSSELL
About seven years ago I had heard about vintage
motorcycles races in Woodland. On a whim, I packed up the family and an
old Can-Am I had just recently purchased for 400 bucks. Driving from Everett
not only did not where I was going, but not knowing a single person once
I got there. As I drove in the gate and parked the truck, This quiet and
seemingly humble guy came over and introduced himself to my family and
I. He explained how things worked at the track and where and what I should
be doing and when. Throughout the day, Monty would stop be just to see
how thing were going. He made us feel quite comfortable. The next full
year my son Matt also wanted race. What great surroundings to start a
young kid racing! Once again Monty would touch bases with us on making
his rounds. My family and I would like to personally thank Monty and Ann
for all the great things they've done through out the years we've been
coming to Woodland. They truly made the event very enjoyable.
Thanks again Monty and Ann • The Russell's
PS. He can lay out a pretty nice track as well.
RICK
FALTERSACK • Vintage Dirt Racing -- Fountain
of Youth ---
I discovered VDR-NW in fall of '99. I don't remember how. My two boys
and myself went to an event and I was silly with joy at what I saw. I
still have the 1973 Maico 250 that I bought in 1974. It took a couple
months to make it operational after 20+ years of sitting in the back of
one garage after another. But all it took was rubber and foam parts and
a new chain, and she worked. I had finished putting the bike together
too late to start it in the neighborhood. At the track that morning, at
practice, that was the first time in over 20 years the bike had been started,
and the first time in the same 20 that this racer rode a bike. I felt
out of place, big time out of place. But on the track, it came back to
me, the brain still knew what to do. The body was a bit reluctant, but
with some coaxing, each lap came a little faster. I did better than I
thought I would that day. I wasn't last. On the way home that night, it
must have been endorphins I suppose, but I felt good. I felt REALLY GOOD!
I felt young again. That 73 250 lasted about 6 races before losing a ring.
I'll get it fixed, but in the meantime I found a 77 AW 400 at a good price,
and I've been running it since. The desire to do better prompted me to
work out regularly, something the doctors have been telling me to do for
years, but was just too boring to deal with. But now, I close my eyes
and envision the race, and I can do an hour on "the trainer" easy. The
simple fact is, for me, the VDR-NW events have not only been great fun,
they have been good for my health. VDR-NW is my Fountain Of Youth! Thank
You , Monty and Ann, for putting these events together and running such
a smooth show time after time. Your efforts are well appreciated. Rick
Faltersack Zachary and Cameron (pit crew)
!
KERRY
BROECKLING
You
know, I've been thinking a lot about Monty and Ann lately. VDR has meant
so much to me and has reshaped my life in many ways, and Monty and Ann
have always worked so HARD at it! I knew deep down that the day would
come when they couldn't see doing it any longer, and to tell you the truth
I've been dreading that day. I'm just glad that someone (Blake) had the
fortitude to step up and take over. What a relief! Anyway, the thing that
I remember most, and this isn't very exciting and is going to sound kind
of weird, is one day it was dry (it's true!) and the track was full of
monster braking bumps and holes. I was my usual mid-back pack self, riding
along all alone, and hammering through some rough stuff. In my peripheral
vision I noticed Monty standing at the side of the track leaning on his
ubiquitous shovel (taking a well deserved break from hole-filling) and
watching me with a slight smile. "Oh my God!" I thought to myself. "I
can't let Monty see me going this slow!" So I gassed it over the bumps
with nary a thought of danger to life and limb.
Do you know what? It was smoother that way! So I guess Monty taught me a quick lesson without even trying. Lord knows I could never stay with him long enough during practice to learn by following. What I'll always remember about Ann is that whenever I'd complain about drawing motos 1 and 20 AGAIN, she would always make me feel better with a smile and a kind word but would never do anything about it.
See ya on the 26th. • Kerry Broeckling
JAY
LAEL
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My
first VDR race was in '97 after I had been invited by Monte, for two years
running, to show up and check out the racing scene. Being new at vintage
MX, I arrived late and the riders meeting was over. Quickly I signed up,
and got ready to ride. The lovely sign up gal asked me if wanted to go
in the grand prix, so I said sure, and coughed up the extra 3 bucks. During
the races I was so impressed with the professional way Monte ran the races
so smoothly without a hitch, and before you knew it I had smoked the ametuer
class and was being moved up to intermediate on the spot. What was remarkable
about this day was when I had won the second moto, a guy I remember as
"Ken: who rode a '79 YZ 400" was slapping me on the back, and handing
me a Budweiser. Not to be rude I thanked him and cracked open the Bud,
taking a couple of sips before being grossed out by it. So as not to be
rude I had been carrying it around, mostly full while talking with Ken
and his friend. About that time Monte came walkin' up and asked me if
I was going in the Grand Prix. (What a loaded question!)
Like a lamb to the slaughter I said, "Yeah!" and that's when he dropped the proverbial bomb.
"No you're not." he said matter of factly. "You're done." Hurt, I looked at him with my head tilted like a curious dog. "Why?" said I. "Because we have a standing policy, no drinkin' and ridin' so load 'er up. " Heartbroken, I moped around, sat in the van, considered talking to him, but it was clear that the handwriting was on the wall and I was "done". For awhile I considered leaving on the spot, never EVER coming back and just generally nursing a grudge over it for the rest of my life. Then I looked around at the vintage motocross scene that surrounded me. The new friends I'd made just that day. J.R. Newman, Siege, Brian Swisher, Joe Casey, Monte and Ann Price and since then countless new friends I've made at VDR. Sitting in the van that day, I saw what I would be taking away from myself, so had to just shut up and take it. I have never regretted swallowing my pride and sticking around. Thanks Monte, Ann, Sue, Stevie and the rest of the VDR crew! You guys will never know what a difference you've made in this persons life. Thank you! Jay Lael
BILL
ROW
Monty & Ann You both should be very proud of what
you have accomplished at Woodland. Al & Netti Padur got the ball rolling
and you have taken it the top. You might have the biggest and most non
AHRMA successful vintage racing program in the country, and you have proven
without a doubt that vintage & post vintage can co-exist. I was there
when Al started at Woodland. He was lucky to get 30 riders, now look at
it. It's as big as the modern races. Credit should also be given to the
Blasdells for giving AL a chance to get it started. Bill Row
RICK RADMACHER
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Thoughts
on Monty & Ann Ann: Her always cheerful and helpful reply when I wanted
to know who was in what class before it was posted. Never ever, ever getting
upset with me for changing classes at the last possible second. Her NEVER
getting mad at me when she doing race results with me looking over her
shoulder dripping rain and mud all over her tally sheets so I could see
three seconds before any else if I finished 5th or 6th or dead last. Her
always having an encouraging word for Mary and a nice comment on her hair,
whether it was spiked, bright red, purple, green or blue.
Monty: For not laughing at two very scared nervous EXTREMELY Novice racers in October 2001 on a little toy dirt bike. Thanks for showing us the ropes (along with CJ)! And encouraging us. For always having a kind word for Mary. And thank you Monty for the push into +50 intermediate! Of course though you roost me every time you lap me now... It has been an honor this year to race against you Monty. Rick (and Mary) Radmacher Team-Rad #747
BOB
WALBERG
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I
first read about Woodland in a bike magazine.It told of a full gate of
XR75s. My kids were young and we had some XRs so we drove down and checked
it out. After one visit we were hooked. I had two boys in the XR75 class.
I think that was 98'. After a while I couldn't stand it any longer so
I had to get involved. My friend Rob had raced in his younger days but
I had not. We thought we would give it a whirl. It was great. It was a
4 hour drive one way for us but it was such a good time with my boys and
Rob.Totally worth the drive. It seemed like such a great event month after
month ran by a quiet guy that could ride like I wanted to.(still would
like to ).I can remember always telling the kids to take it easy on the
practice laps and learn the track Well, on one of my first times racing
,it was the practice and I thought I was going pretty good when all of
a sudden this yellow TT500 flies by me a roosts the crap out of me.
Well I knew it was Monty but for some reason forgot it was practice and for some other stupid reason thought I could keep up with him. Well, after over riding for a few corners I finally went over the bars and suction cupped myself into the mud. I got back to the truck and Rob says " did you fall"?. Uh,yea just a little. It only hurts when I breath I told him. Then he asks me what happened. I had to explain to him what happened but of course I threw in that I almost had him. Yea right! Anyway it's been a fun five years. We've made so awesome friends and got know Monty and Ann a little better. And oh yea, now the kids are both on adult bikes ,in fact my older boys beats me occasionally,,,,,only because I let him,,,yea right. Anyway, Thanks Monty and Ann for doing such a great job of holding it all together and making it so much fun for everyone. I know there's allot more to it then just showing up and racing. You guys are really a class act. I'm sure Blake will take over where you guys leave off. You guys have an open invitation to come up to the Peninsula for any kind of riding now that a little extra time. We'll still see you at all the usual events. Thanks again for all your time and effort, Sincerely, Bob Walberg, Alex Walberg, Eric Walberg
JON
MCLEAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monty and Ann: You can't see the expression on my
face under the helmet in this shot from the Oct. '01 race but it's one
of awe and sheer disbelief. I talked Brian Wry into shooting a few with
my camera, and he caught this first corner shot of me getting my first-ever-in-my-life
holeshot that lead to my first ever VDR moto win and my first ever VDR
1-1 overall. Even though it was just a small amateur class, the idea that
I would ever get a holeshot and a 1-1 win in any racing event ever, to
that point, was almost beyond my imagination. I discovered VDR and stopped
by to see the races the first time in March '01, found a vintage bike
by April and raced my first ever motocross event in May '01. After 30
off-and-on years of marginal play riding on marginal bikes and dreaming
of the real deal some day, this holeshot marks the first time I considered
myself a real racer of sorts. Thanks for turning me back into a giddy
16 year old. Jon McLean
SIEGE
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When I think back over the years- 1996 was
my first year- I remember the highs- - I remember Jonathan my brother
saying " I think you won" and me going what? get out!
That first Race Win- I felt like a million dollars- I couldn't believe
it- .... and the Port Angeles Race! That was awesome-something Monty used
to do for us-
PA was swoopy and had a drastic up & downhill- it somehow was more romantic-maybe because it was a different Race Track- and we only got to go once a summer- we went until 1999 ...it was so cool- the Sun was setting late in the day - a summer evening- it looked like a poster from the 60s- you know with the sunburst filter- we did the starts with the hands on the helmet, and the bike off. That was cool-
I think of Monty's style- it wasn't few words - it was no words often- if he thought you were sandbagging you'd get the knowing half smile and the thumb over the shoulder "you're outta the Amateur class!!!!" • And Monty's style of riding- a few times I got by him- when he'd thrown it away or been run into (I certainly never passed him for real) and I could hear his thumper, and I'd move over enough to let him through.
I'm not ignoring Ann and Susan and everyone that did the scoring either- you tend not to think of all that- I have pages and pages of triplicate pink sheets in 3-ring binders going way back to 96.... with handwritten entries each one written out- mine written just as "CJ" - I may have to make a graphic of it in whever's handwriting it is- see? I don't even know whose writing it is! It's as familiar as my own because I've been reading it as we all have on the board on the side of the sign up box... someone had to write each of those lines-
each time I can remember that I battled with someone- my various adversaries on the track- Jonathan Stuart, Dale Hodson, Randy Brown, Brian Swisher, Marvin Newton, Jay Lael, Kary Krahel, Bill Grubin- Scott McAllister-
for every memory I have there was one thread running through all of it: Monty, Ann & the Crew GAVE ME THOSE EXPERIENCES, and without them, there's no way I'd have been there, met those riders, seen that sun, or even taken the shot you see above here. thankyou so much. - cj