BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal
About 500 inquisitive motorcycle race fans showed up Saturday for the inaugural show at Carson City Raceway at Fuji Park.
Many of them came from Northern California, but all endured bitter cold weather to see AMA racing for the first time in Carson City, slowed only by a temperamental starting gate.
Twenty-five racing entries - including four pee-wees - gave race fans a great show. Two of the top-seeded riders in Northern California, Bart Bast and Tommy Hedden, along with J.T. Mabry and Bobby Hedden, displayed the fine art of speedway racing.
Heat races were held for each division, Division I and Division III. The top-three finishers transferred to semi-main events, the bottom three raced in consolations, giving them one last chance to make the final.
Division I riders raced both handicap and scratch main events. Handicap races put the less experienced rider at the starting line and the more experienced the rider, behind in 10-yard increments.
The big race of the night was the Scratch Main. Five laps of all-out sliding motorcycles and speed showcasing the top-four riders of the night - Bast, Tommy Hedden, Bryan Yarrow and Bobby Hedden.
In less than two minutes, Tommy Hedden took the initial start from the line over the other three riders and held on to win the race. Bobby Hedden passed Bast to take the second spot, Bast finished third with Yarrow following for fourth.
"It was a good race," Tommy Hedden said of his win. "The track was a little rough, but it's new. It's going to be like that.
"It was fun for me and there was a pretty good crowd. I'm looking forward to coming back."
The four pee-wee riders were Tyler (6) and Nathan (4) Wright of Minden, Sierra Keema (8) of Colfax, Calif. and Kyle Hitchcock (4) of Lincoln, Calif.
The pee-wees held four races. Sierra took an early lead in each race, but by the end of the first lap, Tyler would make a strong challenge only to be out ridden by the young lady. At the last race, it appeared as if Sierra would make a clean sweep of the night when Tyler made an outside move on her coming out of turn 2. Sierra pulled even with Tyler in turn 4, but Tyler outshifted her and took the checkered flag.
"I shifted from first, to second, to third and I passed her," Tyler said of his victory.
Tyler and Nathan are the sons of Matt and Dena Wright of Minden.
Official results of all races will be in The Skinny of the Nevada Appeal Tuesday.
Carson City Raceway at Fuji Park's next race will be May 21.
Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.