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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-08-11, Page 121 2 -THS HURON EXPOSITOR, Aug. 11, 2004 Sports P Three members of Walton family revved up to compete in Walton TransCan Nationals By Hilary Long itudent reporter After only a combined four years of motocross racing, with a combined age of only 12, Mitchell and Lucas Godkin, of RR 4 Walton, are the proud owners of 60 trophies. Mitchell, 7, is in his third year of motocross racing. To date, he has won 43 trophies and recently won the provincial championship for his class in Walton on June 13. "I didn't get my first one until half way through the first year,." said Mitchell. His brother, Lucas, 5, has won 17 trophies in his first year of racing, and the season is not over yet. Bruce, the father and a mechanical engineer, has also been racing for three years. He said each of them will compete in the TransCan National Motocross Championship in Walton starting Aug. 11. Bruce said the TransCan is the biggest competition in Canada. This will be his and Mitchell's third TransCan, while Lucas will be competing in his first. "Mitchell is doing really well," said his mother, Katrin, adding, "It was a big accomplishment for Mitchell this year" winning the provincial for the 50cc 4-6 class. "It was easy because I am way faster than other people," said Mitchell. Lucas said he is doing well. He placed third in the provincial competition in the 50cc 4-6 class. Provincial competition is a seven round series at seven different tracks from Ottawa to Windsor and Barrie to Tillsonburg, said Katrin. The seven different races are at seven different tracks. Both of the boys practise twice a week, with coach Brett Lee on their home track. "I try to practise twice a week, but I get out usually once a week," said Bruce. Chris Lee, Brett's father, owns the Walton Track and will host the Transcan. Bruce said he is in "the middle of the pack; I ride just for fun." Both boys said they like racing because it is fun. Mitchell said, "it is the only thing that is fun." Bruce said they also like the races because they have a lot of friends at the track and they camp out the night before the races. He said most races are on Sunday and the family travels on Saturday afternoon. "We camp out and have a bonfire," said Bruce adding they have to get up early to go racing. "We get up around 6:30 - 7 a.m. and the boys are on the track by 8:30 a.m. to practise," said Katrin. Mitchell say the best part about racing is winning and Lucas likes getting the trophies. "I enjoy the riding and racing and just being able to get out and ride," said Bruce who is the mechanic for the team. The team consists of Bruce, Mitchell, Lucas and nephews Scott and Brentwho compete in the 65cc, 85cc and 125cc classes. "I like watching the kids race. The whole family goes. Instead of going to the cottage, we pack up the trailer and go to the track. For most people it is a family event," said Bruce. "There is a lot of father and son bonding. There are many father -son teams and complete families," that go to the races said Katrin. Bruce said the worst part about racing for the boys is "when there is a problem with their bikes, that is the worst part." Mitchell added that riding in the rain is pretty tough as well. Katrin said they race pretty much every weekend froth April to October. "We only get about three weekends off all season," she said. In addition to racing, the boys like to swim and play soccer and in the off season the boys like to skate and \ Looking Glass 4 Main St., Seaford) 527-1783 +Reflexology +Deep Muscle Therapy +Ear Candling *Rollo in Horne Services Provided Gift Certificates Available Jennifer McClinchey LAWN QUESTIONS? Organic Programs lip Available ACCREDITED Wecniical, 524-2424 -Trust the Professionals - VGrayInsurance Brokers Inc Welcomes Penny Overboe Penny brings 20 years of insurance experience to Gray Insurance Seaforth. Drop in and welcome Penny back to the community from Sault Ste. Marie "Welcome Penny!" Gray Insurance Brokers Inc. '5 Main St. South Seaforth 519-527-2500 d vt The Godkin family of RR4 Walton, Lucas, 5, Mitchell, 7, Bruce and motocross bikes. snow tube. Bruce said that even that the boys compete against each other. "The boys are pretty good looking out for each other on the track especially at the home track," said Katrin. She said at the races there are certain people each boy is in competition with. Both boys are becoming faster riders and Lucas hopes to beat his older brother. "But you have never beat me," said Mitchell Bruce said the motocross life started at age 12. He has always had a bikes, "I had always wanted to compete but never could," he said. He said he waited patiently for his children to turn five so they could start racing. He said they started with Mitchell and Lucas started racing two years later. Bruce said he watched the Transcan for many years but never could compete. "Now we can." He and Katrin do a hunch of programs for kids with corporate sponsors like Panasonic Canada and KTM Canada. "We create programs that help sponsor thc sport," he said. He said these programs help the kids learn how to race. They run a three event series in the spring and the fall for the kids. "We arc trying to get more kids and more families involved and make it easier for them to get involved," he said. Bruce said thc danger of the sport is not a lot diffet'ent than hockey. The key is the right equipment, proper training and the right place to race. All family members wear 15 pieces of protective equipment. We wear all the things we ale supposed to wear," he said. Bruce said the equipment is coupled with proper riding lessons to start them off so they learn how to accelerate, stop and corner. The family likes doing this because it is something Bruce always wanted to do. "I always just liked riding and 1 always wanted to compete." "It is something we can do as a family, and I think growing up close to the Walton track influenced that." Bruce has participated for a long time as a spectator and helped out with food booths when he was younger. Both boys aspire to he pro racers some day. Mitchell doesn't have a favourite pro while Lucas. likes JSR (Jean Sebastien Roy). Bruce said the boys have to he 14 to he able to start in the pro classes. The TransCan event is fairly significant. said Katrin. The hest riders from each province and some of the United States come to the event. To enter riders must thc TransCan, compete in fo( Hilary long photo Katrin pose with their qualifying races and from their placing get ranked into the TransCan. "It is national recognition," Katrin said. There is an estimated 900 riders for the Walton TransCan event which starts Tuesday with registration and racing take place from Wednesday to Saturday with the pros racing Saturday and Sunday. "It is a week-long event for us." said Katrin. At Our Current Location 61 Hamilton St., Goderich (located beside Creative Cuts) �ar�e up to All Summer Clothing Sizes 14 Plus! EORp- UMMER SALES EVENT Or Coal rrtn aboo• 19, Alki $ISN thew CNA M bodge • ICING it s • l 5 • Sp and Meal up Abtli ares • P235/75R151 Terrain HOT SAVINGS ON COOL VEHICLES JUST IN TIME FOR CAREFREE SUMMER CRUISING. 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