The riding season is well underway for the Saskatoon Track ’N’ Trail Club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In addition to weekly motocross races on Wednesday nights, the club is hosting a Canadian Motosport Racing Corporation (CMRC) provincial series race this season. To be held on June 10, 2012, this event attracts top riders from all over Saskatchewan, and Curtis Hermanson, who is the club’s president, said that it is a good one to watch.
In September, the club will stage its annual two-hour endurance race. Started in 1974, this race is a team event and Hermanson said approximately 28 teams competed in it last year. On race day, registration usually takes place at noon and the race starts at 1 p.m.
Top-notch riding
The Saskatoon Track ’N’ Trail Club is open to dirt bike enthusiasts as well as ATVers. The club’s riding facility is called Otopasso Trails and it is located on 150 acres of land approximately 20 kilometres south of Saskatoon. There are three separate motocross tracks at Otopasso and one of them is designed for smaller bikes. In addition, there are numerous trails and natural hills at Otopasso for recreational riders to explore.
Growing the sport
Hermanson has been a member of the Saskatoon Track ’N’ Trail Club for several years; this year, he became president of the club. Hermanson started riding dirt bikes when he was 11 years old and he got into racing motocross when he was 35.
“A friend dragged me out and got me started and showed me it’s the greatest thing ever,” said Hermanson.
Motocross is a family-friendly sport, Hermanson said, and club members are very supportive of new riders. Hermanson spends much of his spare time at Otopasso Trails—each year, he converts as many people to dirt bikers as he can. Hermanson has bought bikes for members of his family, including his two sons, and he owns several “friend” bikes.
“It’s kind of my motto to convert the world to dirt bikers,” he said. “I have multiple 'friend' bikes that I will take anyone riding and let them try it out. It’s kind of addicting so it’s pretty easy to convert them over to the sport. I used to buy a little die-cast model for every person that I got to buy a bike but I’ve converted too many and it got too expensive.”