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| Volume XXIII Number 14 | October 17, 2003 |
By Ernie Tiger
BIG CYPRESS — The Big Cypress Motocross track made its debut for Motocross enthusiasts on Oct. 4, at the Big Cypress Reservation. There was plenty of food and refreshments for visitors, live music supplied by the Cow Bone Band, and seven champion wrestling matches, including a Coffin Match featuring Vicious Vinnie. Guided swamp buggy rides provided by Billie Swamp Safari took visitors through the future Big Cypress Motocross grounds.
The 85-acre motocross facility, which will house the largest outdoor illuminated track in the world, will offer a 5,000-seat stadium throughout the 1.5-mile track for spectators. The outdoor track will be constructed and designed by one of South Florida’s Top Motocross Track Designers, Greg Barker.
Barker, who is well known in the Motocross community for his challenging and exciting tracks, also designed the Super Motocross Track, Pepsi Air Dania, in South Florida.
“I’m designing a pure outdoor motocross track that will be both a very competitive and safe track. Once we get the green light from everyone, it will only take me around six to eight weeks to complete the track,” said track designer Barker.
The Big Cypress Outdoor Motocross track is a true "Outdoor Track" rather than other tracks found throughout the U. S. because of its unique fast-paced makeup and larger variety of challenging obstacles. Indoor tracks, which have jumps closer together and lower speeds, are far from what will be constructed here.
The 1.5-mile track will be a larger, faster track that enables riders to actually reach third and fourth gear speeds, whereas other tracks never give riders many opportunities to break second or third gear. The facilities will also come complete with a campground, large grass area parking, a quad sand drag strip, a pee wee track for youths, vendor huts, outdoor TV screens, and a gator pit for reptile enthusiasts.
"The practice track is fast and is a TRUE motocross track. If the final track is anything like the temporary one that I tested today, it will likely be the top track in the Southeast,” said 1995 Pepsi Air Dania Track Champion, Jason Metz after his trial run.
"The temporary motocross track was constructed when we saw that there was a need for something immediately. The only southern track (Air Dania) will be closing. We saw this as a great opportunity to introduce the practice Motocross track to enthusiasts. We are working diligently throughout the 85-acre land that the Seminole Tribe dedicated for this project. I want to leave the environment undisturbed as little as possible. I believe in doing things efficiently and environmentally friendly as possible. The less asphalt the better," said Brian Penick, owner of the Pepsi Air Dania track and now Consultant and Park Manager of the Seminole Big Motocross.
“One of my main concerns on this project is I want people to recognize and respect the Seminole land while they visit the park. A 25 mile per hour speed limit means 20 to 25. Another concern includes people’s safety while they are on the track. Full body gear will be enforced with youth safety courses provided by the park before they ride. I’m also glad to see that the tribe has showed much interest in the park. One hundred helmets custom painted by artist Jessie Vega were given to Seminole Ahfachkee School students who designed the helmets themselves. The kids were very excited to get on the practice track. Overall, I feel the turnout today for the walk through went very well. We had a large crowd of 100 to 150 people that showed up. It wasn’t that we had a lot of people that made the turnout good, but we had the right kind of people from the Motocross industry attend the event, which is always good for publicity,” said Big Cypress Motocross Park Director Jack Gorton.
The target date for completion of the track is Feb. 2004. The temporary practice track will be open to the public by early Nov. 2003.
For information on park membership, or weekend park fees, contact: Seminole Tribe Motocross (863) 983-1894 Address Hc61 Box 46 Clewiston, Fl. 33440.
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