By By Matthew Nascone
The Atmore MX Park is revving back into gear this weekend with the opening of the 2008 Gulf Coast Championship Series Feb. 9-10.
"Owners Bobby and Shane Hadley and crew are busy gearing up for a huge co-sanctioned event that will involve the 2008 Gulf Coast MX &Quad Championship, the Dominos MX &Quad Winter/Spring Classic and the Gulf Pit Bike Racing Series," track promoter Steve Hicks said.
There will be many riders, race teams, families and spectators from across the Southeast in attendance Saturday and Sunday. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and all parts of Alabama are expected to begin arriving Friday for the weekend event.
Hicks said the MX and quad testing, tuning and practice is scheduled for Feb. 9. Quad racing will also take place Saturday afternoon.
The MX races will kick into high gear Sunday. The race schedule will involve Youth, Amateur and Pro MX and quad racing.
This year will also feature a new race division. The Pit Bikes Series will be introduced this weekend, Hicks said. These bikes are high-octane mini bikes made with a suspension fit for an adult racer.
"This is a part of the sport that has grown in popularity over the past year or so," Hicks said.
Hicks said the usual free admittance would be provided to church youth groups on Sunday.
"Anyone interested should contact Bobby Hadley in advance to make reservations at 251-295-0057," Hicks said.
The weekend should provide some high-fueled fun activities for the Atmore area. The gates will open on Friday at 1 p.m. for early arrivals and close at 11 p.m. They will open back up Saturday at 7 a.m.
Practice sign up will be from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. Organized practice will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Early MX and quad sign up will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the racing will begin after a quad meeting at 2:30 p.m. and hot laps at 3 p.m.
The gates open early at 6 a.m. Sunday with sign up from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. The MX church service will be a 8 a.m., followed by a racer's meeting at 8:45 a.m., hot laps at 9 a.m. and racing immediately after hot laps.
Gate fee is $10 for adults and free for children 4 years old and younger. Church youth groups receive free admission with advanced reservation.