Mustang Commendations
by Robert Beaupre

I felt especially bad when the first round of MX West Spring Series became a practice session after a patchy snowstorm blanketed Mustang early Sunday morning.

I say “especially” because while it is always a downer to have a race cancelled for weather, the new Mustang track had received tremendous improvements for the race that were rendered inconsequential by the stormy weather and the resulting low turnout. New promoter Jerry Masterpool deserved better luck for his first event, but as we have seen before, the weather seems to have no conscience in allowing bad things to happen to good race organizers.

Masterpool and his crew made a very commendable decision by deciding to turn the race into a practice. When the call was made, the track had already been ridden by the riders who had braved the weather, and it is unlikely that many would have complained had the race gone on. But Masterpool, realizing that many of the jump faces remained frozen and that turning riders loose to race on them would be unsafe, wisely decided to call off the motos. Of course, that meant refunding money to every rider and spectator present, but Masterpool made the call anyway for the safety of the riders. It was a principled decision that I felt should not go unnoticed.

So when the next Mustang event comes around, I recommend that you to go to it. Not only do I think you’ll be pleased with the new soil and layout, you’ll also be supporting a guy who made a stand-up decision when he didn’t really have to. And I say this even though he made fun of me a little for skipping the snow-laden morning practice session.

It was cold and I had on my best gear. OK, Jerry?

Send the author a comment on this column