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| ATV drag races make county fair debut |
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| Written by Marc Aceves / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Friday, 01 August 2008 | |
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“There is a lot more at stake in an event like this, simply because of all of the attention that you get if you ... come away with a win.” — Christie Partsafas, ATV racer TURLOCK — They used the same track as the previous night’s destruction derby drivers, but the all-terrain vehicles brought in by some of the most daring riders in Northern California faced a tougher ride and a more aggressive race to win. Wednesday night’s quad race kicked off the inaugural Quad Drags and Motorcycle Jumpers showcase at the Stanislaus County Fair. Riders age 9 to 60, girls and boys, men and women alike, took the course at the Food Maxx Arena, clad in helmets and riding gear in hopes of showing off their talent and experience on the track. Eleven-year-old Cameron Shipman, who raced in the 11-and-under event, said he enjoys the thrill of riding his quad because “It’s fun.” “It’s my first race here at the fair,” Shipman said. “My family rides in Pismo (Beach) often, and we enjoy riding there.” Shipman, who placed third in his event, said he likes the way the track was put together and plans to come back next year. Christie Partsafas said she’s been racing for three years on her quad, but it was also her first year racing at a fair. “It’s a whole lot of fun,” Partsafas said. “There is a lot more at stake in an event like this, simply because of all of the attention that you get if you are able to come away with a win.”  Patterson's Kyle Buehner races down the lane. He was eliminated in the first round. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator Partsafas raced in the modified quad event, and while most of the races she competes in are against men, she said it’s still fun for her. “I just want to beat them,” she said. “They can be aggressive out there” — but, she said, she doesn’t mind the challenge. Partsafas said she plans to continue racing her quads for a long time and enjoys that her family joins her in her hobby on and off the track. Patterson’s Keith Yamamoto finished in second place in the unlimited open class quad race. Dylan Meneses said this is also his first time in a fair-sized venue, but it’s his ninth race since he first started riding more than a year ago. Meneses was able to pull off a first-place finish in the four-stroke stock race. “It’s a lot of fun here, but it’s wearing me out,” said Meneses, one of the older riders competing. Meneses said he usually runs his quad in Ukiah races and events in other series. It’s a competitive hobby for him. “I run a mile at a time here in town a few times a week, and I condition here to get ready for the races,” he said. “It’s a great way to lose weight.” Between rounds, spectators were treated to a freestyle air stunt exhibition featuring some of the Central Valley’s best motorcycle stunt jumpers. These aerial performers are trained and experienced enough to take on some of the biggest stunts in the sport. Motorcyclists performed crazy stunts — with even crazier names — like the Kiss of Death, where the rider holds the bike vertically and kicks his legs above his head, or the “Lazy Boy, where the rider puts his legs under the handlebars and lies back on the seat with his hands behind his head. Andy Jolson stoked up the crowds with classic stunts like the heel clicker, rock solids, Indian airs, Superman, the Hart attack, and — that gold standard of air stunt excitement — the back flip. “People are usually totally awestruck when they see the back flip in real life,” Jolson said. “When people come to the show, they are going to see high-flying action like they’ve never seen before.” To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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