We stayed til Saturday evening, trying to make the most of our Loretta Lynn's experience.  It was hard to leave.  As we packed up from the creek for the final time, Dylan came out with a memorable quote, (especially from a 7 year old), "Although I may be leaving, my spirit will stay here forever."  Really... that's what he said.  It's an awesome place to go to, I hope you all get the chance. 
   Dylan had a hard start to the week when he crashed in Moto 1 on the second lap and couldn't finish the race.  He had taken the bars to the belly and ended up with a bruised left kidney.  Moto 2 was the next evening, he got last gate pick, which did not help his start, but he stayed up the entire race and finished 28th.  We had Thurs. off, then Moto 3 Fri. AM.  He got a good start and stayed up to finish up in 13th place.  Much better riding.
   Some of Dylan's favorite memories will be making new friends, meeting Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Tim Ferry, Ryan Villopoto, Robbie Madison, Jeff Emig and Ryan Morris, rafting down the creek as a family, (Dad even let him jump off the grass ledge behind the snow cone vendors), and catching minnows and crawdads in the creek.  I don't think he gets how cool it is to have raced at Loretta Lynn's.  I'll be posting photos on his website tonight.

This week is exciting leading up to Nationals.  The local paper and TV are giving us some press.  Have any of you seen the Press Release that MX Sports sends out?  It's nice and seems to get the community excited for you.  Here's ours...

 
Pensacola, FL   Dylan Oestricher just made his dream come true for the second year in a row. This motocross racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 28th annual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Over 20,000 entries spend four months through area and regional qualifiers trying to qualify for this event.  Racers from all over the world come to the states to participate in this process.  Only the top finishers, less than five percent of the area qualifier entries, earn the privilege of racing in the national championship race at Loretta Lynn’s.  Dylan has earned one of those prized 42 positions in his class of hopefuls from across America.

    Dylan, who just completed 1st grade, has been racing since he was 4 1/2 years old.  This season, he has won 13 races competing in the Gulf Coast Championship Series and other area and regional qualifiers.  He also won the Gulf Coast Series Point Championship on his Yamaha PW50 in 2 different classes.  He has raced on 18 different tracks in 7 states, you can see the track list along with numerous photos on his website: www.loopd.com/members/DaredevilDylan where all of his fans, friends, family and sponsors have kept up with his progress.    Dylan is sponsored by SixSixOne, LocoMX, MGX Unlimited, Langston Racing and Beach Sport Yamaha.
   
    “The Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in,” says Event Director Tim Cotter. “A win at the Amateur Nationals can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.”
   
    Most of America’s top professional motocross racers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Jeremy McGrath have won AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s. The race is so prestigious that last year teenaged stars such as New York’s Justin Barcia, South Carolina’s PJ Larsen, Pennsylvania’s Darryn Durhman and Texas’ Blake Wharton were awarded pro contracts after the race.

    The Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships are held annually at Loretta Lynn's ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN.  The track is built on a section of her ranch and campground.  The course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers. 

    Dylan is so thrilled to be going.  He qualified last year in his first attempt and then again this year, but he knows that each season will be just as hard to qualify.  So Dylan will treasure this moment and make the long journey to Tennessee along with his parents and sister in just a few weeks.  "It is so exciting to race with a lot of kids" says Dylan, who competed against 32 racers at regionals to claim his spot at Loretta Lynn's with a 5th place finish.  One of his favorite memories from the Southeast Regional at Lazy River MX in Chatworth, GA is when he got off the gate 4th.  This will be handy experience when the 7 year-old takes on 42 of the top riders from across the United States on the gate at the national championship race.

Most riders attend the event with the help of their families. In fact, many people consider the event their family’s summer vacation. Usually there are several stars that show up at the National event to watch, have photo sessions and give autographs.  Dylan met Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley last year, watched Tim Ferry and Ryan Villopoto ride the track on their Kawasaki's, passed James (Bubba) Stewart on the golf cart several times, (as he was there all week watching his brother compete).  Even a Disney actor (Collin Blue), Nascar driver (Scott Speed) and Country Singer (Craig Morgan) were there.  Besides races, the ranch provides family-friendly facilities all week that include a game room, swimming pools,  a creek, arts and crafts activities, and a fashion and talent show featuring the racers, their friends and families.  It's truly a great time for a motocross family.

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About the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships
Produced by MX Sports, Inc., the Air Nautiques/AMA National Motocross Championships is the world’s largest amateur motocross race. Hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., the event is the premier amateur motocross race in the world.  Approximately 25,000 racers attempt to qualify in 33 classes for the 1,386 available gates at the finals.  The National event, christened “The World’s Greatest Motocross Vacation”, is held the first week of August annually.  As proof of the significance of winning an AMA Amateur National Championship title, most of today’s top motocross and Supercross stars, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto, won championships at Loretta Lynn’s. For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com.
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About MX Sports
MX Sports, Inc. is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based motocross production company. The group coordinates the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 52 Area Qualifying races held annually from February through May and 12 Regional Championship races conducted in June at select motocross facilities across the country. Less than five percent of the Area Qualifier entries actually qualify for the national championship event, held during the first week of August at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com.
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Dylan has just raced the last round of the 2008 Gulf Coast Championship Series at Monster Mountain.  He has won the Points Championship in 2 classes on his Yamaha PW50, the 50cc Shaft class and the 4-6 50cc Stock class.  Congratulations Dylan!  In his last  6 events he won 10 races and finished 2nd twice.  Go boy!

Good Job Dylan!

Dylan's first season is behind him.  He finished 2nd in the Gulf Coast Series Championship.  He also made some great friends and won his first race.  His room is already full of trophies and plaques.  Our lives have changed a lot this year.  Dylan is growing up and Dad gave up his Dirt Late Model racing to support Dylan.  We are in the process of putting in our own practice track at home, so look out next season.  We are so proud of Dylan's drive to be the best Dylan he can be.  We love you buddy!  Congratulations!

Dylan wins his first race!

The first race back after the Gulf Coast MX Series' summer break was amazing as Dylan Oestricher won his first race!  It  was at SMXA in Baker, FL where the 5 year old drove his heart out and beat the competition to the checkered flag.  Good job Dylan!

An Early Birthday Present Arrives!

Just a couple of weeks before Dylan's 5th birthday, Dad arrived home with a brand new 2007 Yamaha PW50.  Dylan has been riding a 2003 model since December of 2006 and is thrilled to get the new equipment after being plagued by throttle problems at Monster Mountain.