This was the first time the AMA Grand National tour has come to Hartford MI, I believe, for any kind of Dirt Track Motorcycle Racing. It was not too far from my home, so I stopped here a few weeks ago on my way to Springfield to check it out.

It was very nice to be able to sleep in my own bed the night before since we are only 2.5 hours away from this track. When we got there the weather was looking bad but the track was very smooth although very, very dry. Qualifying wasn’t the greatest for me, but then, it seldom is. I was 9th overall, placing me in the 3rd Heat with, among others, Chris Carr, Steve Murray, and Jethro Halbert. In the previous Heats, the riders closest to the groove got the hole shot very easily as the starting line was so dry and dusty it was difficult to make anything happen. Off the start I quickly got by Jethro, making a move on Murray for the lead, then putting in some hard laps. I felt very loose and the bike was doing everything perfectly. I won the Heat with the fastest time and was starting the Main on the pole—a good place to be.

I was also on the pole in the Dash for Cash, but got a lousy launch. Since I was right next to the groove, as soon as I got on it the bike took off and I was in the lead. I ran my own race for 4 laps, winning my first Dash of the year!! It was a good way to make up some points as neither Sammy nor Jake nor Kenny made the Dash. John Lewis and Jimmy Wood came in 2nd and 3rd.

For the Main Event, the track was watered a lot, making the starting better. I still decided to start up there by the groove, and got off the line second behind Lewis who got a great jump. I rode behind Johnny for 4 or 5 laps trying everything I could to pass him. Every time I would get a run, he would pull hard down the straight Finally I set up a good pass and went by, riding as hard as I could. The harder I rode the better the bike worked. I picked up on a few things that worked awesome for the Main Event. I never looked back until the last lap, making sure I could go across the finish line with my hand in the air. I had almost a straight away lead on 2nd. It was a great win for the team and me. It was especially cool winning in front of my adopted home town. Kenny Coolbeth and Bryan Smith, two of my best friends, came in 2nd and 3rd. Reminiscent of the days, not so long ago, when all three of us were part of "The Wrecking Crew".

My special thanks to my entire team for all the hard work they put in. I am most grateful for their dedication.

This coming weekend we have off from Nationals, but I am racing Friday night in Peoria, IL at a Short Track All Star Race and then on Sunday again for another All Star Race, a TT this time. So if you are around there, come on over.


Jammin’ Jared Mees #9

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