WA Still Waiting for MX Track Decision

How long can the council continue to drag their feet on this decision?

Council delays decision on construction of motocross tracks

By Noah Haglund
Herald Writer

Published: Thursday, February 19, 2015, 12:01 a.m.

EVERETT — A long-awaited decision about building a complex of motocross racetracks northeast of Granite Falls will have to wait a little longer.

Dozens of people from the off-road motorcycle community filled Snohomish County Council chambers Wednesday urging lawmakers to rule in their favor. Some held signs with messages such as “Vote Yes for MXGP” — the Kirkland company seeking permission to build the track along the Mountain Loop Highway.

Council members, however, made it clear they intend to set emotions and opinions aside when making their decision on whether to allow the complex to get built. Their job is to determine whether the county hearing examiner's Dec. 23 decision was correct in approving plans for the track, subject to a long list of conditions.

“I know the community supports it. It's in the record and I understand why — I have motorcycles myself,” County Council Chairman Dave Somers told the audience. “But our job here today, as I view it, is to first decide if county code has been followed — upheld — and second if the hearing examiner has made any errors. I think those are the tests in front of us.”

In that sense, their role is more akin to a judge's than a lawmaker's. Wednesday's proceeding, known as a closed-record appeal hearing, was continued from a week earlier. Council members agreed to take more time to understand the legal nuances at play. They're scheduled to reconvene at 10:30 a.m. March 2.

“I was expecting to get a favorable decision today, but that's better than a ‘no,' ” MXGP co-owner Gary Strode said. Strode's company has been pursuing the current proposal since 2007. Plans call for building multiple tracks in five phases. Construction could take 15 years to complete. Camping facilities are a major aspect of the design. Portland, Oregon, company Bascom Pacific owns the 437-acre property, located between two quarries about six miles from Granite Falls. About 80 percent of the site would remain forest. Three legal issues are under review: a request to rezone MXGP's property to forestry and recreation from just forestry; issuing a conditional use permit; and denying a land-use appeal.

Hearings on the project took place a year ago. Appeals have been filed by Martin Robinette, Ginger Amundson and the nonprofit Mountain Loop Conservancy. “The issue before the Snohomish County Council is whether or not the project complies with county code and not about the merits of motocross,” Amundson said Wednesday. There's recent precedent for the council nullifying a hearing examiner decision. It involved a request from the Green Mountain Mine, one of the quarries adjacent to the proposed motocross track. The company that operates the mine wanted temporary permission for trucking and loading outside of normal operating hours. In November, the council reversed the examiner's approval of that request.

The Mountain Loop Conservancy also appealed in that case.

“The County Council has already ruled a few months ago on the Green Mountain Mine, that when rules aren't followed, the hearing examiner is overturned,” said Sharron Sheppard, a board member with the conservancy. Councilman Ken Klein, whose district includes Granite Falls, said he's prepared to give the motorcycle track the go-ahead. The examiner's 93-page decision, he noted, includes 14 pages of special conditions.

“It would be difficult to find a project in Snohomish County's history with more conditions,” Klein said. The examiner's restrictions aim to limit noise, water runoff, light pollution, fire dangers, traffic and more. The track operator must keep a log of various complaints. Recreational motorcycle or ATV riding is prohibited at the track after dusk or before 9 a.m. Races could only be held Saturdays and Sundays, with exceptions for some holidays. No more than 40 motorcycles or ATVs could race on at any track at the same time. One-day attendance cannot exceed 800 people for riders, spectators and facility staff. And the motocross park can be used no more than 150 days per year. Appellants question whether the track has made adequate provisions for medical emergencies in a sport where the risk of injury is great. Jim Boltz, who owns Smokey Point Cycle Barn, said he closed shop Wednesday morning so his employees could attend the hearing. Boltz highlighted a common complaint among local motocross racers: long travel distances to place such as Bellingham, Olympia or the Tri-Cities to ride the type of tracks that MXGP wants to provide here.

“This is a huge opportunity for our county and I'd hate to see it go by the wayside,” he said.

The council's decision can be appealed to Snohomish County Superior Court.  The county also must issue permits before construction can start.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

2015 YZ250FX Part 4

The New Bike Journey Continues

 

After changing the oil and checking all the nuts bolts etc., I called Rekluse and at their recommendation I changed the settings (spring colors) to the lower idle engagement point which is supposed to help with engine braking. In my driveway anyway I also had to raise the idle in order for any sort of engine braking in the first three gears, I set the RPM at 2300. (Yamaha recommends a normal range of 1900/2100 RPM for this bike) Everything else seemed ok, I did notice inside the exhaust tip was very sooty which indicates to me it’s running rich, not sure what that’s all about yet. After scaring myself on the long down hills on my first ride I’ve ordered a Tusk Oversized front brake rotor kit, for me the stock Yamaha front brake doesn’t measure up to a stock KTM front brake.  I want at least the same stopping power as a KTM.

I went back and road the ground I did on my first ride and wow, holy mackerel and good grief, the simple but in creditably effective suspension changes Bucky at SBB suggested made a huge difference. The front and rear felt more balanced and handled the small stuff much, much better. By the time I finished my ride and another 1. 1 hrs I felt much more at home on the bike. I found I was able to ride the bike in a higher gear and use the clutch a little more to keep the motor pulling and in a sweeter spot power wise. Speaking of the motor it seems to me the FX has more low end than the F and maybe as much as the F on top. (With six gears it actually feels faster) The bike is surprisingly fast. To me suspension works better when you can find that sweet spot and not have to over rev the motor. The Rekluse worked better engine braking wise with the new settings, but not as well I would like on the long, long down hills. I haven’t ridden a two stroke in years but I think they’re probably very similar engine braking wise. I miss my engine braking, but I guess it’s just something I’ll have to adjust to. I can’t wait to get my Tusk oversized front brake rotor.  I’m sure that will help me feel more comfortable. With the changes made to the stock suspension the bike was more balanced but didn’t feel as good as I know it can on the steep fast rock strewn up hills and down hills. Bucky at SBB wants to rework the fork valving and change the oil in the shock. There are going to be a lot of these bikes sold so he wants to be ready for those who want have the suspension work better than stock. (I guess I get be his sort of old guy test rider)  Again the bike didn’t do anything chassis wise to make me feel uncomfortable and the ability to carry more speed into and out of a corner makes me feel that much closer to being like a real hero rider.

I was back at the sand track in Marysville for our Sierra Old Timers MC Ride day with my oversized front brake rotor installed. I took the hand guards and spark arrestor off the bike it looked like a real motocorsser, it acted like one as well. Dialing in a bike at some point for me becomes about making the small changes. (Remember I’m a tinkerer) You never know, some small change may make a huge difference or it might not. I think for the most part based on our past experiences we all know how we want things set up.

After a few laps I changed the bars to Pro Tapers Windham mid bend which I’ve used in the past and for me it made for another positive improvement. Bucky rode the bike and agreed with me that it felt like the front end wanted to push through some corners and was probably the stock tire it came with. However when I told him I had a lot of air pressure in it he suggested I drop it two and a half pounds and again that made a big difference. I’ve been amazed by what the seemingly small changes to the suspension have made. It was a fun ride day and the rider turn out for a Super Bowl Sunday was amazing the track was very good and with ninety plus riders on it became a typical rough sand track. And the more I ride the bike the more I like it especially my cornering speeds.

A few days later I met Bucky at Mammoth Bar the scene of rides #1 and #3 only this time with the newly revalved forks and shock done by Bucky of SBB. (Interesting side note, Bucky found the stock front fork valving was stiffer than on his stock 2015 YZ450F. Apparently Yamaha puts in a softer fork spring in the FX but then stiffens up the compression dampening. He also ended up revalving the shock because of its lack of adjustment for compression dampening) Remember I’ve had the compression backed all the way out on the forks and shock since my first ride and haven’t bottomed it out once. This is such a crappy place to ride but it gives you a great idea where you’re at suspension wise. It has a small sand MX track, long hard packed rocky up and down hills with a couple of side hill trails thrown in. The trails are the place you go when you want to beat the crap out of yourself not to have fun. The MX track is short and good for practicing cornering. Check out a couple of pictures from this place.

It’s been amazing to feel the transformation of the suspension on this bike from ride one day  to today. This also transforms how the bike works overall. To go from the stock settings to the very simple but very effective changes suggested by Bucky, to riding the bike with the suspension revalved and working so well. The suspension is so well balanced now, the front and back now work together. The bike lost most all of that twitchy feel it had initially and feels much more planted like a four stroke should. I even ended up dialing back the steering damper. And oh yeah that oversized brake rotor really helped on the down hills. Until the last ride on the MX course and up in the hills I had the Air Cells completely closed off and the bike worked amazingly well. Virtually no one uses any sort of air chamber technology anymore and quite frankly Bucky is the only suspension guy I’ve ever met who thinks they have any value or help add to any reworked suspension even his. By opening the cells up half way they made the bike better in the initial part of the travel and work even better over the small stuff on the trails. Even the front tire which I don’t like felt more planted.

I’m making notes of the changes I need to make when riding on an MX course vs. the trails. (Like closing off the Air Cells) Next up will be a CC race, a trail ride on some decent trails and more MX track practice. I’ll report on that in a future part 5, but for now I couldn’t be happier and so far the bike is exceeding all my expectations.

I would highly recommend SBB suspension. And I did pay for the suspension mod’s, so if it hadn’t worked I wouldn’t be recommending him. Actually I have no doubt Bucky would have done whatever it took to make it work for me, no worries though because it was spot on the first time out.

I’d also like to thank Roseville Yamaha for all their help and support without it this wouldn’t be as much fun and a bit more expensive.

Doug 21J

New Zealand Championship Wide Open

The form book has been thrown out the window after the first of four rounds of the New Zealand Motocross Championship.

The riders head to Pleasant point, near Timaru, for round two of the series this weekend with anything still possible, particularly following the upsets and surprises that punctuated the day at round one near New Plymouth.

None of the riders who had been widely tipped as title favourites ended up on the top steps of their respective podiums at round one, though there is no doubt that highly-fancied defending champions Cody Cooper, the MX1 class No 1 from Mount Maunganui, and Josiah Natzke (KTM), the 125cc class No 1 from Hamilton, will be seeking to redress that.

Queenstown's Scott Columb (Yamaha) ended up on top of the MX1 class at New Plymouth, closely followed by Australian Kirk Gibbs (KTM) and Rotorua's John Phillips (Honda).

Cooper (Honda) finished the day an unaccustomed fourth overall in Taranaki and will be looking to attack in Timaru on Sunday.

Meanwhile, with Mangakino's national MX2 (250cc) champion Kayne Lamont (Yamaha) sidelined with injury before New Plymouth's event and Rotorua's Mike Phillips (Honda) sent to the sideline after crashing during it, it helped Australian visitor Jay Wilson (Yamaha) to top the podium in the MX2 class.

Amberley's Micah McGoldrick (Honda), Takaka's Hamish Harwood and Otorohanga's Hayden Kanters (Yamaha) were next best in the class at New Plymouth and should also feature during racing at Timaru this weekend.

Taupo's Cohen Chase (Yamaha) won the 125cc division in New Plymouth, though there was an element of good fortune about that with Natzke obviously the fastest rider in the class.

Natzke convincingly won the first two 125cc races at New Plymouth, but a massive crash at the start of the day's third and final race drove him head-first into the ground.

He took some time to shake off fuzziness and rejoined the race a long way behind the fast-disappearing pack, but still managed to claw his way back to finish eighth and salvage overall runner-up spot for the day.

Natzke will be hoping that's the only dose of bad luck he has to deal with in this campaign and, if that is the case, the smart money will possibly still be on Natzke to successfully defend his crown. He is just four points behind Chase and there are still a maximum 225 points available.

Third best on the day at New Plymouth was Ngatea's Ben Broad (KTM) and, just one point behind Natzke, he must also fancy his chances.

Round three is set for Rotorua on March 8, with the fourth and final round at Pukekohe on March 15.

The Southland Time

Stuff.co.nz

Burley Motocross Track Nears Completion

Twin Falls Times - News

LAURIE WELCH lwelch@magicvalley.com

Get ready to ride

WARP Racing will hold motocross, UTV, Quad and Outlaw Kart races, and the tracks will be open to the public Monday through Friday, with race practice held on Fridays and races on Saturdays. For information on costs visit the park’s website at www.WARPRacing.net.

BURLEY • Motocross riders flew past Burley race track developer Steve Noriyuki on Monday as he held up a meter that measured the noise level at 72 – 79 decibels.

“And that was butted right up against the track,” said Noriyuki, who was given a special-use permit by the city of Burley last year to build a paved sprint track, dirt oval track and paintball course on 50 acres owned by the city.

Noriyuki, a Minidoka County construction contractor, intends to invest $250,000 in River View Sports Complex, a new track that will host WARP Racing events.

The city permit restricts the noise level at the park to 94 decibels at the property’s edge.

Twelve-foot dirt berms were built around the tracks to absorb the noise, and Noriyuki intends to plant 5,500 trees to enhance the look of the park and further muffle any sound. He will begin by planting 1,500 poplar trees in March and another 1,500 this fall. Next spring, he will plant the remaining 2,500.

The closest residence is more than 1,500 feet away.

“I’m running sound tests every day,” he said. “The people who live around here are important. They are my neighbors.”

The track, which will include spectator bleachers, will open to the public on April 1.

“The fences will all be up and we’ll be rolling heavy by then,” Noriyuki said.

The paved kart track will come later as it has to be raised substantially above the water table.

The opening of the facility marks the fruition of a 12-year dream for Noriyuki, who tried to open a similar facility in Minidoka County but was denied the special-use permit.

“It’s going to be a good setup,” said Nick Hirsch, 17, of Burley.

Hirsch, along with about a dozen other riders on dirt bikes and quads tested out the curves and jumps at the track during the Presidents Day holiday on Monday.

“All you have to do is come out here and see how much these kids are enjoying this to know it’s a good thing,” Noriyuki said.

Just as many adults as youth will use the track, he said.

Hirsch previously traveled to Rock Creek Race Track in Kimberly to ride.

“There are no other tracks with jumps like this around here,” said Regen Povlsen, 15, of Burley. “A lot of us have been coming out here and it is fun.”

The site is between the city’s municipal and industrial wastewater plants. The land is leased to the Boyer Co., which handles the city’s industrial leases and it is now subleased to Noriyuki.

Several series of races will be brought to the complex, and each could draw hundreds of participants regularly to Burley.

“The racers show up and leave money in the community, and they leave with big smiles on their faces,” he said.

Gus Southern, 17, of Declo said having a local track means he can ride more.

“It’s not even about having to travel to where they can ride. It’s also about safety. Here they are riding on groomed tracks free of rocks and debris,” Noriyuki said. “If you ride on a maintained track it is a lot safer.

Regardless of the increased safety, all riders are required to sign a waiver releasing the park of any liability, he said.

Although the park has not officially opened there were 62 bikes using the facility on Saturday.

New from Matrix Racing Products

ARMOR SKID PLATE

SLIK CHAIN SLIDER

REV CHAIN GUIDE

DEFENDER HAND GUARDS

www.matrixracingproducts.com

The YZ250FX Story Part 3

2015 YZ250FX

First ride first impressions. Most everybody probably starts their first ride on a new bike with the stock suspension settings, me too. But after hammering myself for a few miles in the rocks I changed the settings. First I backed the compression all the way out on the fork and shock. My theory is brand new suspension is going to be stiff for sometime so why not back it off to at least make it as comfortable as possible and as it breaks in turn the compression back in. I also slowed down the rebound a few clicks. At this juncture with only an hour on the suspension it feels like the shock and fork aren’t working together, specifically the shock. I’m not sure why yet.

Since I sold my KTM 350/390 I’ve been riding (And racing) my KTM 500EXC so getting on this new bike is a bit of an adjustment. The 500 is a 500, the weight difference and feel of the motor makes it feel and handle a whole lot different than the 250. My first feeling on the 250 was it felt light, flickable and danced around a lot. That’s not a bad thing just different than riding a 500. It made for hanging on to tight, because I’m not comfortable with what it’s going to do, or not do, but seat time will cure that.

The motor works amazingly well when you consider I’ve been riding a 350/390 for four years and a 450 and 500 for a year or so. There are big differences in power characteristics between all these bikes. But I like the power of this bike and it was surprisingly easy to keep it in the power output range. There’s a lot more RPM going on, use of the clutch and more shifting for sure. But the motor works and has enough power for me right now. Low gear is pretty useless except for crawling over something really slow, but second, third and fourth and fifth is fairly close ratios and work well. By the time you use sixth the RPM’s are up and the motor pulls well. The stock gearing 13/51 seems to be perfect for everything so far. I like hearing the exhaust but the sound of the air box is loud and annoying but hopefully I’ll get use to it and won’t hear it anymore at some point.

During the first ride (1.2 Hrs) the Rekluse worked perfect and didn’t need any adjustment. Well almost perfect engine braking was sketchy at best especially on long down hills. I turned up the idle but I’ll need to take it apart to see how it’s been setup. I’ve gotten use to engine braking and when it’s not there it makes for a tight sphincter muscle. I did crank in a little dampening on the steering damper, again not sure if it really needed it or if it just made me feel more secure because it moves around a lot more. All the other goodies I put on the bike stayed on and worked as I expected. I did notice the plastics seem very thin and scratched easily, especially when you fall over. The first was in my drive way during the first test ride after putting it all together. I was standing alongside it and forgot it was in gear and gassed it. It flopped to the ground, as I picked it up I gassed it again this time it spun around then flopped. I had to take one of the brand new hand guards off and straighten it out. At least the second fall was in the dirt, but was again my fault.

Next up was a motocross course which I did two days later. I went to MMX which is a sand track in Marysville. My hope is it will work well in that environment and I can eventually sell my KTM 450 Factory Replica and cut down on the number of bikes I own.

In between the rides I did make some changes to the bike. I raised the handle bars and  lowered the brake pedal, small but meaningful things like that. I did do some things to the suspension, based on the recommendation of Bucky of SBB (Suspension by Buck). I took 20cc’s of oil out of each fork.  I sped up the rebound by two clicks over the stock setting on the shock and also opened up the high speed dampening on the shock as well. Speeding up rebound is quite frankly something I wouldn’t normally think of doing. But Bucky’s familiarity with a stock 250F certainly helped. Bucky not only does every brand of suspension, last year he rode a 2014 Yamaha YZ250F in motocross competition and CC events. So he is very familiar with Yamaha suspension. 

On my first lap I could tell I was going to like this bike. It seemed easy to keep it in the right RPM range, kind of mind boggling when you consider I’ve been riding a 450 and 500. It feels very light, easy to turn in fact that’s one of the first things I noticed, I was carrying more speed into and out of corners. With the 450 I’m definitely more of an outside line point and shoot kind of rider. This thing works inside or outside.

Even though I’ve backed the compression all the way out on the fork and shock it’s still stiff feeling and I never did bottom it. Admittedly I do not clear all the jumps which could actually mean in some ways I’m landing harder than if I was clearing them all. (Falling out of the sky on some of those jumps can be terrorizing)  The suspension will be the thing that will take the longest to get use to and dial in. So far the bike hasn’t done anything chassis wise to scare the hell out of me. It moves around a lot, the 450 and 500 feel much more planted. But I like the feeling that I can flick it around and it will take some time to figure that all out. And by the way everything Bucky had me do did help the suspension (We actually opened the rebound on the shock a few more clicks) and when it’s finally broken in It may turn out to be ok as is or I might want to have it revalved.

I put 1.3 hours on it at the MX course for a total of 2.5 hours. It’s now time to check nuts, bolts, spokes, change the oil and recheck the Rekluse. (I still need some engine braking)

I’ll ride it for a while, keep tweaking it and report back on my experiences.

Doug 21J

New Atlas Defender Chest Protector

The New 2015 YZ250FX Story Part 2

The 2015 YZ250FX

As you can see by the picture I’ve started nesting with my new bike. Doesn’t everyone take their brand new bike apart when they get it? The answer is of course not.  I’ve known plenty of guys who don’t do anything to their new bike other than maybe adjust the levers and such. I’m one of those guys who do take a brand new bike apart, to a certain extent that is. Makes me feel much more familiar with it when I finally do swing a leg over it, besides that I have a lot of stuff I’m going to put on it.

First change was to install a Yamaha GYTR (FMF) muffler/ spark arrestor. (I could have installed a Pro Moto billet spark arrestor) The new muffler has a much longer center section about four inches worth (Not sure what that does) but the muffler its self is the same length as the stock unit. Then a Works Connection RPM/Hr meter, (The RPM feature helps set me the appropriate idle when using a Rekluse) I wanted a Speed/Odo unit so I installed a Trail Tech Voyager unit. That required installing a magnet on the brake caliper and on the brake rotor. Next came the Air Cells, I’ve used Air Cells on all my bikes for years. For those who may not be familiar with them they allow metered air to flow back and forth between the forks and the air chambers. They can be adjusted from zero to ten, zero is fully closed or stock. Air Cells affect the first few inches of travel and can take that initial harshness out of most stock forks; they also help with deflection and are a fairly inexpensive fix to a stock fork, or a complement to forks that have been re-valved.

Next up was a set of Cycra hand guards and Pro Taper pillow grips. I’ve used a Boysen grip on the clutch side for a long time, it allows some movement (Supposed to help with arm pump) but what I like most is it’s the same diameter as the throttle grip and I’ve gotten used to that feel. I also installed a Scotts steering stabilizer bracket for a top mount application, I’ve also gotten used to having  the feel of a stabilizer, I’m not sure this bike really needs one it’s just an old habit I developed from having KTM’s over the years.

A set of Fast Way Evolution III pegs were installed in the back and down position, remember I’m old, tall and have size thirteen feet. These pegs make it easier for me to stand up and stay up, plus put me more over the center of the bike and give my foot more room to shift.

A new 2015 Yamaha WR250F skid plate was installed and then the one item I can’t/don’t want to live without anymore, a Rekluse Core EXP. Riding any bike in tight terrain just wouldn’t be fun anymore period without one.

Two items not here yet as I write this are Works Connections radiator guards and a Acerbis 2.9 gal fuel tank. But that won’t keep me from the best part I get to go ride it, so let the tinkering begin.

Doug 21J

Hurricane Warning For D36 Banquet

District 36’s annual banquet is Saturday night Jan. 31. This year there will be special guests in attendance.  Eddie Cole from Matrix/1.7/Next will be there along with his good friend Bob Hannah. Bob will be signing any Hannah stuff you might want autographed. Should be a fun time.

Banquet details at the D36 website.

Don't Try This In Your Garage!