Fifth Annual Diamond Don's Riverport National
"Vintage MX Event"
March 30, 31 & April 1, 2007

Wow, Diamond Don’s 5^th anniversary race – are we having fun yet???  Great racers of days gone by will be trekking to Jefferson for AHRMA’s Annual Diamond Don Riverport National Vintage Motocross.   Come race with Brad Lackey, Danny LaPorte, Jeff Smith, Tom Benolkin, Rik Smits and the infamous “Diamond” Don Rainey. 

This annual event will take place on March 30, 31 & April 1, 2007 on property located one mile from Jefferson, Texas adjacent to the Jefferson & Cypress Bayou Railway. The event will include Diamond Don’s world famous BBQ and crawfish cookout on Friday evening.  Music will be provided by that wild bunch from Missouri, Richie Vanlandingham and crew.  Over 600 entries are expected for the three day event which includes Cross Country and Trials on Friday, Vintage Motocross Race on Saturday with the Post-Vintage and Sidecar Races on Sunday.

Brad Lackey hasn’t missed this event yet.  Come watch him race a replica of the RN82 500cc Suzuki that he rode to the world championship in 1982.  Many thanks to Alex Moroz, Ohlins, Gary Hazel, Bad Brush, HMI Billet and the other sponsors that helped Diamond Don put this bike together.   When Brad isn’t racing, the bike will be on display at the track. Bad Brad will provide the event T-Shirts and is always available to sign autographs and share “bench-racing” stories. 

Danny LaPorte was the recipient of AMA’s 1981 Professional Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.  Danny was the 1979 AMA 500cc National Motocross Champion prior to becoming the first American to win the FIM 250cc World Motocross Championship in 1982.  Four-time world champ Heikki Mikkola said of the race “Today I saw a motocrosser.  Danny rode a perfect race, not one mistake.  I have not seen a better race.”  LaPorte started racing when he was 11 and turned professional at 16.  He will put on quite a show at the vintage races in Jefferson.

MX Photography will join us again this year to provide professional event photos.  Tami Rice will conduct her beginners’ dirt-riding school on Friday.  Kawasaki and Ohlins are event sponsors in addition to the AHRMA program sponsors.  There will be cool green stuff floating around the party and trophy presentations.  We will also have a fundraiser benefiting the Jamie Lee Pomeroy fund and Friends of the Carnegie Jefferson Library.  Last year, we raised over $3200 for Toys for Tots. 

Sidecars, live steam locomotive, party by the river, antiques, museums and more.  Jefferson, the Bed and Breakfast “Capital of Texas”, is nestled deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas and seems frozen in time.  It is a charming town and an elegant reminder of a bygone era.  The property will open Saturday, March 24, for early camping so come to Jefferson for a vacation before the races.

If you plan to fly to the event, Jefferson is located just 50 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana.  If you don’t mind driving, Dallas is 170 miles, about three hours.  Transportation into downtown Jefferson will be available on the Jefferson & Cypress Bayou Railway, owned by Diamond Don, Moto Mama and her son, Destry Brown.  Take a step back in time aboard their narrow gauge, live steam locomotive.  Ladies, grab the kids and leave the guys at the track -- catch the train into town for shopping and sight-seeing. 

The wide, flat grassy pit area offers great viewing of the racetrack that runs through the cool woods.  Diamond Don has created a natural terrain track reminiscent of the early 70’s.  He has added lots of new dirt and the track will use a lot of the grassy field to give great spectator viewing.  The track runs through the 1880’s ruins of an old sawmill and along the Cypress Bayou River. As you’re racing, watch for the live steam locomotive and don’t let that whistle shake you off your bike.  Walk through the tunnel to cross-under the track.

Gary Hazel of Thumper Racing laid out the cross-country track through the Piney Woods and wetlands of the property with lots of racing along the river.  This course will be technically challenging so riders will have to rely on skill and stamina.  One mistake and you’ll get wet!  

The trials event will be one of the best ever, with the help of the Poole family and Trials Master Don Kelley.  Those of you that participated last year know what a great course these guys laid out.  The challenging course will give you a close up view of the historic ruins on the property.

For more information, please call us @ 903-445-9796