By By Matthew Nascone
The Second Annual Big Chill Weekend hits Atmore Jan. 13-14 at the Atmore Motocross Park off Hwy. 21. Track owner Bobby Hadley said this weekend should be a good one.
"We are expecting a good turnout," track Hadley said. "We can usually tell how many riders we will have from the amount of riders out the weekend before a race at our practice sessions."
The weekend will be split up with the pit bikes racing Saturday afternoon and the rest of the many varied classes racing Sunday. The Atmore track boasts the first race of the motocross season in the South Alabama, Florida panhandle area.
Track promoter Steve Hicks said the calls have been coming in from North Alabama and all around the Southeast about registration. This is also a tune-up race for the 2007 Gulf Coast Championship Series, which kicks off on the track Feb. 10-11.
"We figure we will have many riders who will come to race the track as a preview to the series," Hicks said.
Last year the inaugural Big Chill Race garnered around 175 registered riders and about 800 spectators through the gates. But Hadley said there will be some new aspects to the park this year.
"We have all our buildings up and we have to set up the septic systems before we can have functioning bathrooms and showers, but we will have our own concession stand open for the public," Hadley said. "We will have the normal, hot dogs, hamburgers, coffee, hot chocolate, candy and sodas."
Ever since opening in November of 2005 Hadley and his son Shane have been improving the park every month and Bobby said this will be a good weekend.
"It is going to be a fun weekend and everyone should come out and enjoy it," he said.