By By Matthew Nascone
The hickory aroma of barbeque was noticeable to anyone living around the Atmore Motocross Park Saturday night. The park hosted its Second Annual Rider/Sponsor Appreciation Weekend this past weekend and the festivities were topped off with a barbeque dinner for all the riders and sponsors involved with the park.
Track owner Bobby Hadley said about 225 people enjoyed the barbeque Saturday night and the rest of the weekend went great.
"Everyone seemed to have a good time this weekend and we had a lot of our normal campers staying over from Friday until Sunday," Hadley said. "It was a great weekend."
The track had a special rider in town for the weekend. Mercedes Santana, a 14-year-old female rider from Hawaii, was the featured rider Sunday.
"Mercedes schooled all the boys in every class she participated in," track promoter Steve Hicks said. "And the best part is, she will be staying in the Southeast as she trains for the Nationals that will take place this summer and fall."
Hadley said the crowds also enjoyed the special rider.
"It was such a thrill to watch her ride and beat all the competition," he said.
Preceding the Saturday picnic was a day of practice since the quad racers in the area were at another track participating in another race series. But Hicks and Hadley said the turnout for the picnic was great and they were happy to show their appreciation to those who ride and sponsor the riders at the Atmore Motocross Park.
Riders at this weekend's race were from all across the South. There were riders from Louisiana, Mississippi, the Florida panhandle and Alabama.
Hicks and Hadley are anticipating the arrival of round seven of the Gulf Coast Motocross Championship Series to Atmore on May 26-27. The park hosted the opening round of the series Feb. 10-11 and the series has traveled around the Southeast and will be back in Atmore in May.
"Atmore will be jam packed with riders, trainers, sponsors, race teams and spectators May 26-27 as we kick off the summertime with round seven of the series," Hicks said.
Hadley is ready for the excitement.
"I wish it was next week," he said. "I can't wait for it to come back to Atmore."
Round seven of the series will be the next race in Atmore as the park will not host a race weekend in April.