I just got back from covering my first Loretta’s Lynn’s AMA Amateur Motocross Championship and I have to say it was a great experience. The size of this event was amazing to me. Every nook and cranny of the campgrounds was packed. I’ve never seen so many golf carts and utility vehicles in my life.

The kids are amazing. For those not familiar with Loretta Lynn’s, you have to qualify to make it to the championship, which means there are no slow kids at this event. You’d watch the last-place rider ripping around the track at warp speed and wonder how in the world that kid was in last place!

The other thing I was surprised by was how good the parents were. I didn’t see any yelling or berating, just a lot of hugs and high fives. These were some really impressive parents.

MX Sports does an amazing job of giving the families plenty to do, even for brothers and sisters who aren’t racing. It’s a festival atmosphere with concerts, movies, talent shows, remote-control races and on and on.

I was majorly impressed by this event and I’m glad I finally had the chance to go. It’s been on my wish list for a long time.

It’s good to see even with the down economy that motocross is thriving. With an event like Loretta Lynn’s (a beautiful setting for a race) it’s easy to see why kids want to earn an invitation.

Now that I’ve finally been I can truly recommend it. If you happen to be anywhere close to the area (an hour or so west of Nashville) next year you should make a point of trying to stop by and check it out one day. The racing is great, it’s a great setting for a motocross event and you’ll get to watch the stars of the future.

You can read my coverage in this week’s Cycle News.

Loretta Lynn's is one of the premier motorcycle racing events in America. (Larry Lawrence photo)