Local dirt bike racers spent many weekends over the summer racing season on the course at Echo Valley Moto Park in Brookston, MN.
A number of local residents were among the top finishers in dirt bike racing in District 23, which includes the entire state of Minnesota. Cook County riders and their families spent many weekends at Echo Valley Moto Park in Brookston, MN.
End of the year results showed that Lance “Boomer” Wilson took part in two races for the year in the 40+C class, earning him a first and second place and putting him in 39th place in the state (out of 71 racers).
Devin Smith, 17, raced in the 14-24 C Class earning 7th, 13th and 14th placements. He was riding a 2003 Honda CR250R two-stroke against 450 four-strokes. Devin finished in 62nd place in the state (out of 174 racers). He also raced one time in the 250C class, placing eighth, and once in the Open C class, earning a seventh position.
Devin’s brother, Connor Smith, 15, raced in the 14-24C Class, earning a fifth and ninth place. He was riding a 2002 Honda CR250R two-stroke against 450 four-strokes. He also raced in the 250C Class earning second, fourth and fifth placements and is in 54th place in the state (out of 241 racers).
In a very exciting first race of the season, Connor was in the lead. However, he took a spill on the last corner to the finish line, being pasted up by another rider, resulting in a second place finish.
He was unable to compete in the next event because during the race day morning practice, he was T-boned while in the air, which damaged his brakes, throttle tube, radiators and silencer.
And in the final race, Connor forgot to turn on his gas so the motor quit just as the gates dropped, giving older brother Devin the win over Connor for the very first time while in the 250C class. Devin and Connor are the sons of Tony and Missy Smith of Grand Marais.
Jason McDonnell raced in the 14-24 C Class, earning a third and fourth place, putting him in 63rd place in the state (out of 174 racers), and in the Open C Class second and fourth, placing him in 59th place overall (out of 185 racers).
A number of other dirt bike riders with ties to Cook County have traveled to Brookston for races—Barry, Alex and Corey Buckman, whose grandparents live in Schroeder.
Devin and Connor Smith extend a very special thanks to JJ Liljestrand of Liljestrand Drywall & Painting for his support, as well as Alan Bender of Spirit Lake Polaris in Grand Lake, CO for parts.
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