Press Release | May 13, 2022
Loretta Lynn’s “Operation Ranch Rebuild” Brings Hope to Tennessee Flood Victims
MX Sports has released a video that takes a closer look at the efforts of Operation Ranch Rebuild, which is the project to rebuild the legendary Loretta Lynn’s motocross track.
This is a press release from MX Sports…
Morgantown, WV (May 13, 2022) – Several weeks ago, MX Sports, organizers of the world famous Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, welcomed members of the Tennessee media to famed Loretta Lynn Ranch, home of the legendary racing event, to be a part of the commencement of “Operation Ranch Rebuild,” a recovery project made possible by the support of selfless volunteers from the motocross industry to rebuild the legendary motocross track located at the ranch, which was destroyed following the flooding that devastated parts of Middle Tennessee last August. The 41st running of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is scheduled to take place this August 1-6 at Loretta Lynn Ranch and “Operation Ranch Rebuild,” with the help of more than 60 individuals, will serve as the conduit to facilitate the rebirth of the venue, allowing for the continuation of the storied legacy of the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and American motocross.
Rebuilding efforts at the ranch would not have been possible without the incredible commitment from David Eller, owner of Phoenix Racing, and his Makson Construction organization, with a talented crew of workers to spearhead the building process. The same could also be said for Yamaha, which has been heavily involved in the recovery efforts since the tragedy occurred last summer. The legendary manufacturer purchased all the lumber needed for the project. These two entities, in addition to dozens of volunteers, worked in unison with MX Sports to make “Operation Ranch Rebuild” a success.
Additionally, dignitaries from Humphreys County, where the ranch is located, joined MX Sports as part of the project and were presented with relief checks raised through the efforts of the “Racers 4 Waverly” fundraiser introduced by MX Sports and implemented by the Road 2 Recovery Foundation. A total of $300,000 in financial relief was donated to members of the neighboring community of Waverly, which was significantly destroyed during the floods. A check for $85,000 was provided to Daryl Mosley, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Humphreys County, to help small business, in addition to a check for $15,000 to Brian Bohannon on behalf of the Food Pantry. Bohannon and his brother, Mark, rescued 15 people during the floods by using jet skis to navigate the currents. More checks were provided for direct community impact, with $100,000 provided to Nioka Curtis, Executive Director of the United Way of Humphreys County, along with another $100,000 to the Waverly Church of Christ Flood Relief effort.
The effort to raise more money for the community of Waverly through the “Racers 4 Waverly” initiative is ongoing, as the town continues its challenging recovery from the tragic disaster.
A special video, produced by MX Sports, takes a closer look at the efforts of “Operation Ranch Rebuild” and the impact this project has had on the community.
VIDEO | 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Rebuilding After Waverly Flooding
The following press release is from April 13, 2022…
MX Sports Announces “Operation Ranch Rebuild” for Tennessee’s Famed Loretta Lynn’s Ranch Following Tragic Floods from 2021
More than $350,000 to be allocated to neighboring Waverly thanks to fundraising efforts from the motocross community and the “Racers 4 Waverly” initiative.
This is a press release from MX Sports…
Morgantown, WV (April 13, 2022) – With the invaluable support of the motocross industry, MX Sports has announced “Operation Ranch Rebuild” in continuation of its spearheaded efforts to restore the racetrack and campground at Tennessee’s famed Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. As part of this organized effort, MX Sports and the Road 2 Recovery Foundation will also provide crucial funds to the community of Waverly as Humphreys County continues its recovery efforts from the tragic flooding that overwhelmed the region last August.
“It’s hard to believe eight months have passed since this incredibly tragic disaster hit Humphreys County and left tremendous loss in its wake, but from the moment it happened it has been our mission to be a leader in the recovery efforts for Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and the community of Waverly,” said Tim Cotter, Event Director, MX Sports. “Since then, we’ve rallied the motocross community to come together in benefit of those who need our help the most and have raised more than $350,000 through our ‘Racers 4 Waverly’ fundraising initiative with the Road 2 Recovery Foundation.
“Now, the time has come to put all this goodwill into action, bringing forth ‘Operation Ranch Rebuild’ as the next step of this process. Not only will we bring a team in excess of 60 selfless individuals to help us bring the Ranch back to life, but we’ll also begin the process of donating the money raised to individuals, families, and small businesses within Waverly.”
MX Sports’ team will be joined by North Carolina-based Makson Construction, owned by Phoenix Racing’s David Eller, in addition to members of Georgia-based Yamaha Motor Corporation. Makson will provide all the necessary labor and heavy equipment for the rebuild, while Yamaha, which has been heavily involved in the recovery efforts from the outset, has already purchased all the lumber for the project.
The group comprising “Operation Ranch Rebuild” will also be accompanied by government officials from Humphreys County and community leaders from Waverly, Hurricane Mills, and beyond. While considerable work is already underway at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, including the rebuild of the iconic motocross track used for August’s annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross National Championship, the world’s single-largest motocross event, the recovery project will officially get underway on Tuesday, April 19, with work continuing until completion.
Volunteers from the motocross community, Humphreys County, and all of Middle Tennessee are encouraged to join the effort to bring both Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and Waverly back to prominence. Any individuals willing to volunteer their time and participate in the rebuild will receive complimentary camping at the Ranch for the week.
Interested parties can email MX Sports at operationranchrebuild@mxsports.com
For more information on MX Sports Inc., visit the company’s official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101.
The following news was posted on August 25, 2021
Fundraising Efforts Coordinated Through Road 2 Recovery
This is a press release from MX Sports…
Morgantown, WV (August 24, 2021) – Two weeks ago the sport of motocross was celebrating its 40th anniversary at the home of country legend Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, located a mere seven miles from the small town of Waverly, Tennessee, and welcoming Loretta Lynn herself as an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Hall of Fame Inductee to the Class of 2021. This annual event, the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, is the premiere amateur motorsports competition in the world.
This past Saturday, August 21st, the small community of Waverly awakened to severe weather, which before day’s end would result in more than 17 inches of rainfall. This unprecedented event led to a tragic day for the citizens of Waverly, marked by severe flooding that left a path of death, injury and destruction, unwitnessed before in the history of central Tennessee. In a matter of hours, the lives of every resident of the community of Waverly would be adversely impacted, with more than 20 deaths and an equal number of residents still missing.
Each summer over the past forty years, Waverly has been a welcoming host to the sport of motocross, and hundreds of its local residents have worked at the event in nearly every capacity possible, from track crew, to caution flaggers, waste management, security, parking and welcome center, and many, many more positions. For three generations of racers and their families, for a couple of weeks each summer, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch became something of a second home, a special place where childhood dreams came to life.
Now, as the citizens of Waverly face the greatest challenges of their lives and seek to find the formula for the recovery of their community, our community of motocross and off-road racers has the opportunity to repay the kindness and support that the Waverly community has shown to us for nearly half a century.
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, located seven miles from Waverly, was one of many areas in Humphries County tragically affected by flooding. Photo: Align Media
MX Sports, organizer of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Ranch, has placed a Call to Action to our sport, our athletes and the motorcycle industry as a whole, to join us in a charitable fundraising program to support the community of Waverly. It is our goal to develop a meaningful outreach plan to provide financial and operational assistance to the community of Waverly and its citizens and to those who have suffered life-changing losses as a result of this tragedy.
This program, Racers 4 Waverly, will benefit members of the Waverly community as a whole, including local residents who have been actively engaged with the event. The program will be collectively coordinated through our sport’s official charity, The Road 2 Recovery Foundation.
Here’s how you can help:
Donate MONEY to Racers 4 Waverly online at https://road2recovery.com/cause-view/racers-4-waverly/
Donate product to be auctioned by Road 2 Recovery for the benefit of Waverly by contacting them at lori@road2recovery.com or calling (619) 339-5671.
To apply for assistance, contact Road 2 Recovery at lori@road2recovery.com or call (619) 339-5671.
Each summer, when the sport of motocross descends upon the small town of Waverly, we’re welcomed as valued guests. This summer, the Racers 4 Waverly motocross community outreach effort gives us all a chance to say ‘thank you!’ to these wonderful folks at a time when meaningful help is most critically needed. Your generous contributions will not only ease the pain and burden on this community but will testify that the motorcycle racing community is organized, grateful and compassionate.
In the days and weeks to come there will be additional support needed as the town continues to rebuild. We will continue to provide information on ways in which you can help. As you can imagine, a natural disaster of this magnitude will take many months and maybe years to recover from, and our continued support will be necessary as the townspeople of Waverly work to rebuild their lives and town.”
More information regarding the Racers 4 Waverly fundraiser, and how you can help, will be available through the Road 2 Recovery and MX Sports websites and social media resources.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, visit the series official website at www.MXSports.com
Update on August 24, 2021 with a statement from the AMA:
The AMA and the entire motorcycle community saddened by loss of life and property at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and surrounding community
By Joy Burgess
The Loretta Lynn Ranch, located in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., was devastated this past Saturday by flash flooding, as was much of the surrounding community. Receiving a reported 17 inches of rain in just 24 hours, the community was caught off guard by the massive rainstorm and its aftermath.
Home to the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships for 40 years—the 2021 championship took place just a couple of weeks ago — the ranch experienced significant damage, although Loretta Lynn and her immediate family have, thankfully, been reported safe.
Tragically, longtime ranch foreman Wayne Spears was swept up in floodwaters and did not survive. Many others also lost their lives as a result of the flooding. Loretta Lynn posted about the tragic loss on her official Facebook page, commenting that the entire Lynn family is heartbroken at the loss.
“After 40 years of holding the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, “we were deeply saddened to see the devastation at the ranch, but even more heartbroken to hear of the loss of the ranch’s foreman, Wayne Spears, and many others in the area as a result of flash flooding. Our thoughts are with the Lynn family and the entire community during this distressing time.”
“The local community surrounding the Lorretta Lynn Ranch has been helpful and supportive to the motocross racing efforts there in Hurricane Mills, and the motorcycle community will be there for them as they work to rebuild after this tragedy,” Dingman said.
To learn more about how you can help, visit www.road2recovery.com/cause-view/racers-4-waverly/
The AMA will continue to provide updates on the motocross community’s efforts to help the Loretta Lynn Ranch recover.
