Let’s bring some Loretta Lynn’s flare to Daytime Program shall we? This year Loretta’s was a hot one and I mean HOT! I have been there the last five years and it has not been this humid/hot. From speaking with some of the staff there, they also mentioned they haven’t seen it this hot in abut 15 years so that is saying something. We did a do a full Loretta Lynn’s podcast recap over on my website (keeferinctesting.com) so if you want to listen to some more ranch talk, go there, but in the meantime here are some things that I think are worth mentioning from Hurricane Mills.
Drew Adams: This kid is the real deal. This was the first time I got a chance to really watch him ride and to me, he has ALL the entagebles of being a champion in this sport. He’s strong. I witnessed Drew coming from the back of the pack to chase down Davies in a 112 degree heat index. He has a blend of finesse and bulldog technique. Drew can hop his way through some braking bumps or he has this smash through the bumps ability as well. It’s kinda Tomac-like, I am not going to lie. Yes, he’s a bigger kid but not so big where he can’t get starts. He has this baby fat look to him and to me, I think that helped him at the ranch this year because it was so damn hot. Kids that were a little “meatier” (on big bikes) did better last week from what I saw. He has red hair so that right there means you’re going to win! The dude didn’t fade. Coming from a guy that faded like a son of a bitch, I thought what he did was super impressive. I haven’t been this impressed at the ranch since watching Justin Cooper.
Parker Ross: Even though this kid told me I had love handles, I got to give it up to him. The results on paper weren’t great, but Parker Ross is a scrappy little SOB. He looked to be in shape as he hunted down several riders late in motos to get on the podium. His starts hindered his results and I think if he could have started with Cole Davies and Avery Long he could have been in that mix. His style has more of a tough look to it rather than a finesse type, but it is efficient. Mistakes cost him a little bit this year at the ranch. Is it Pro time? I think so!
Aidan Zingg: From never getting a podium to winning SuperMini 2 in 2024 is damn impressive! Aidan is one of those kids that you just instantly like cause he speaks like an adult and is a very humble yet a funny kid. Vincent Wey and Zingg battled it out for the title on the last Moto but Vincent had some bike issues that allowed Zingg to walk away with the title. Three motos over the course of a week is very difficult so being a young 13-16 year old and holding all of those emotions in for a week is not easy. Congrats to Aidan and his family. Hell of a job in both SuperMini 1 and 2 classes!
C Class Hate? I hope some of you watched the C classes from the ranch because they are some of the best ones of the week. Drew Roberts wins the 250 C Jr. class with a 9-5-3 and Austin Ellis wins the 250C Limited with a 3-6-2! None of these guys won a moto! CRAZY! Oh and there was a kid that pulled a holeshot, couldn’t walk a year ago, had stem cell treatment and told Weege on the mic that he did it for his haters! This is gold, people!
Less People? My wife and I were saying that it seemed to us that there were less golf carts and people in general at LL’s this year. Did anyone else notice that? Email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com.
Start Prep: I have one gripe. It’s about this start prep/grading/watering before each Moto. Can we NOT water the start that is already hardpack? The water truck driver just douses the start line when it’s baked so now it’s like starting on snot. We pick our gate then the water truck driver waters the start and now it’s too late to switch gates. Sometimes you pick a great gate then that becomes crappy because it’s slick as shit. Orrrrr, maybe we disc up to the gate every Moto? I mean it’s literally one more pass across! That could take care of a lot!
Over Heated: When running third Tuesday in my Senior 40 Moto, I cooked myself. With one lap to go, I got passed and turned into a fried piece of chicken the rest of the week. I had a big durability test leading up to us leaving for the ranch and little did I know that I would get cooked on the very first moto of the week. I have never had heat stroke in my life and this was a crazy feeling. I saw black spots every moto after Tuesday so trying to pick a line was difficult. Oh and strength in general was just not there. I was a popped piece of kettle corn. Apologies to my family and friends.
Jacob Hayes: This guy was on it the last moto of the Junior 25 class. Hayes, Harrison and Martinez were all tied up going into moto three. Jacob pulled holeshot and never looked back. I was worried because it was the first moto of the day so I thought Martinez would of relished in these conditions but Hayes kept a gap and fought Martinez off all moto long. Jacob says his bike wasn’t one of the “good” HRC bikes, but I think there was some “good” parts on this sucker! I should of claimed this thing! I saved you, Lars!
Brownie/Shorty: WOW! If you haven’t seen the last Senior 40 moto then you’re living under a rock. The cliff note version is that Brownie was leading, got arm pump, made a wrong last corner decision and Shorty slingshotted his ass to win the moto by a sliver. At the end of the moto Brownie wasn’t pumped so he stormed off to his pit. Some people thought that wasn’t a good look and maybe it isn’t but I doubt anyone is looking at Mike for role model coaching. Mike is a great human. He is kind as they come, but he is a RACER! He wants to win! Doesn’t matter if you’re playing football out in the front yard with him, practicing at the Triumph facility or in this case, LL’s 40 plus class. He lost. He was pissed. He left. That is not horrible. It could have been worse. He could of stayed and been a dick to everyone. He didn’t do that. However, congrats to Shorty as he was quoted saying he was surprised how hard the track is as well as Mike Brown. Looks like we may see 29 on a 350 next year. Guess I will have to join him!
Cost: It cost us $10,285 from the time the Area qualifiers started until I sat on the couch after LL’s was over. It’s not cheap! However, you can be like this gentlemen above (Rodney Carrier) and do it on a Maico! Dude could ride too! It wasn’t just show, he jumped A LOT of the jumps.
Moto Mom’s Mud Wrestling: We had the signs. We had the attire. We didn’t have permission and I was scared to get in trouble. No hate comms. Thank you. Hey DC! If you read this, can we have Moto Moms mud wrestling in for 2025?
Randy Richardson: FMIP gets an 8th overall in the 50 plus class! Holy crap! He rode great and had his whole production out in full force all week. TP199, Windham, Matthes, Hubert, BF Robbie, among others were there so he could get the best possible content he can. Oh and did he ever! Not only got some good content but Randall killed it in his class! He says he’s not coming back but that big number 8 would look sweet on a Keefer Inc. Testing TC250 two stroke next year. Just sayin..
Caden Dudney: If Dudney races Pro Sport, he gets top three. He held the fastest lap of the week and looked good doing it. Coming into LL’s I knew this guy would be the guy to beat in the B class. Landon Gordon was also another title threat, but I saw something in Dudney that looked a little more polished than others in the B class. Look for this kid to start winning Pro Sport classes ASAP!
Fireman Dave: Just a dude that is 50 years old going to the ranch for the first time. My buddy David Martinez attempeted Loretta’s for the first time and made it! He never got a chance to go when he was younger as his late father didn’t have the funds to take him to Tennessee. David is now older with a family of his own, but he wanted to go to LL’s for himself and his late father. We packed up the Sprinter van and took him to the ranch without a lot of expectations. He was looking for top 20 in his 45 and 50 plus classes but fell short of his goal. However, on the drive home, I saw a look in his eyes that I haven’t seen before. It was the look that only LL’s can give you. He was bitten by “The Ranch Bug” and he wants to get back here in 2025 to accomplish his goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re a SuperMini racer or a 50 year old, Loretta Lynn’s means a lot to everyone that lines up! He got beat by a Maico, but my guy followed through with what he started back in February at the Area qualifier and finished the whole damn thing. Not a lot of people can say that! Next year, can we jump the finish more consistently though? Thank you! Congrats to you Fireman Dave. Or as Shorty likes to call him… Super Dave..
