Kit Palmer | July 16, 2023
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From The Beginning
Photos by Charles Morey
The Southwick National Motocross is one of the longest-running on the AMA circuit. A National MX was first held at the sandy Moto-X 338 circuit in 1976 and has hosted 42 Nationals since, including last weekend’s race, that’s the fourth most in the sport’s history. It was a 250cc National, and you’ll never guess who won—why, of course, it was a sand specialist, Dutchman Pierre Karsmakers. The visiting 500cc GP rider won both motos that June 6 day while at the controls of his factory RC250 Honda.
Pierre Karsmakers leads the way at the first-ever Southwick National Motocross in 1976.
Not surprisingly, Karsmakers gelled with the track as soon as he set his wheels in the sand; everyone knew that the rider from Holland was going to be the guy to beat, despite Bob Hannah, defending champion Tony DiStefano, Brad Lackey, Kent Howerton, Danny LaPorte, Rick Burgett and many other elite riders among those in the 43-rider field.
Karsmakers, however, had his hands full during the first National moto ever held on the Southwick track. Lackey, Hannah, DiStefano and Howerton all gave Karsmakers a run for his money in the 40-minute-plus-two-lap moto. But, in the end, Karsmakers outran them all, taking the win over Lackey and Hannah.
Moto two was much simpler for Karsmakers, who passed early leader Rich Eierstedt and then rode off into the sunset, going down on record as the first person to win the Southwick National. It was also Karsmakers’ last AMA motocross win of his career.
DiStefano successfully defended his number-one plate that day. As it turned out, it was a stress-free day for the factory Suzuki rider from Pennsylvania because the only rider going into the Southwick National, which was the final round of the series, who was mathematically within reach of DiStefano was Jimmy Weinert, but he was watching from the sidelines with a busted kneecap. The Southwick race was just a formality for Tony D in winning the second of his three consecutive 250cc AMA MX Championships.
The very first motocross race ever held at Southwick happened four years earlier, according to the track’s website. The race was a local NESC (New England Sports Committee) event to benefit some of the town’s charities. After seeing the success of that first race, Bernie Yelin, who for many years later on promoted the Southwick National, rounded up a group of dads from the American Legion Post 338 and, armed with chainsaws, shovels and pickaxes, cleared out the woods behind the Legion Hall to create the layout that is still used today.
Over the years, the track has donated thousands of dollars to local causes and schools in the area.
Karsmakers went on to win both motos at Southwick in 1976, while Tony DiStefano wrapped up the second of his three consecutive AMA 250cc Motocross Championships.
The Southwick track, now called “The Wick 338” is regarded as the only true sand track on the AMA MX circuit, has been the site of many memorable moments in AMA motocross history. Future MX and Supercross Champion Jeff Emig captured his first career 250cc-class win at Southwick, and local legend John Dowd became the oldest rider to stand on an AMA National podium at 44. He accomplished that feat in 2009.
Chad Reed won his first 250cc AMA National MX moto at Southwick in 2005, and Brett Metcalfe also collected his first 250cc MX overall win here.
And it was an emotional day at Southwick in 2002 when Danny Smith, on the factory Blimpie Suzuki RM125, captured his first career win in the 125cc class just a few days after the unexpected passing of his brother, Kip. “I think I have a broken heart,” Smith said that day.
During the race, Smith benefited from James Stewart’s broken bike.
“James Stewart earned my respect today,” Smith said after his emotional victory. “He came over before the race and said how sorry he was about my brother, and when his bike broke [in the second moto for the second National in a row], there he was on the side of the track waving me on! It was really cool.”
In 2011 at Southwick, the same year Metcalfe won his first and only National, Ryan Dungey had a moment he’ll never forget when, after winning the first moto, he showed up to the start line for the second moto without his motorcycle, which was nothing out of the ordinary. Little did he know, however, that after having walked to the start line to mark his spot, his bike was refusing to fire back in the Suzuki pits. While wondering where his bike was, the Suzuki’s techs were frantically trying to fix the problem. By the time that happened, the race had already started, and Dungey had spotted the field nearly three-quarters of a lap. Remarkably, Dungey remained calm throughout the ordeal and finished the moto in seventh for third overall. And all this occurred while Hurricane Irene was rapidly closing in and drenching the track with water. It was one of the sport’s most memorable moments, without a doubt.
Many classic clashes have taken place on the Southwick battleground over the years, too many to list here, but how can you forget the one between Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart in 2006? Unfortunately for Stewart, his day ended when his bike seized at the worst possible moment—while approaching the top of a downhill jump at speed—causing a scary crash that he remarkably walked away from, albeit slowly.
Southwick is also known for producing several of the sport’s best local motocross talents, like JoJo Keller, Keith Johnson, Mike Treadwell, Tony Lorusso, and, of course, eventual superstars Doug Henry and John Dowd.
Ricky Carmichael is the most successful racer the Southwick track has ever seen. In the 2000s, Carmichael won eight straight races at the sandbox, which makes sense, having cut his racing teeth in Florida. He has a grand total 10 wins at Southwick, which is six more than anyone else.
The Southwick National should be on every motocross fan’s bucket list. It’s well worth the trip however far it might be from you. CN
