Pine Lake is located in the Northeastern Corner of Ohio, and less than 10 miles south of Lake Erie’s shoreline. Pine Lake is considered to be the “Oldest ATV Track” in the United States. It is run by the Fischer Family, and the track is well known for its beautiful scenery. Compared to many MX tracks I’ve been to, this place is more like a golf course than a dirt track.
Pine Lake "Open Class Winners" (left to right) Jackie Meadows, Nick LaLanne, Erik Dubb
I was very surprised to see the pits as full as they were when I arrived around 10AM on Friday morning, 2 days before the actual races. The caliber of machines sitting around the pits was enough to stop most enthusiasts dead in their tracks. Between the most tricked out lowered quads to the most amazing array of machines from yesteryear to modern quad to trike conversions, this place was like an ATV show. And some of the haulers and rigs sitting around makes me wonder just what it is like to be a professional TT racer. How hard can life on the road be with a Freightliner motor home with a 30 foot trailer in tow? Still I suppose the racers and support crew long for life at home, but I have to say, these guys do it in style!
Vintage Class Holeshot
All machines had to pass tech inspection prior to practice. 3 wheelers had no width restriction like the quads did of 50” wide. Tech Inspectors checked for cotter keys in hubs, tight lug nuts, working brakes, tether switches, and I’m sure a list of other technical details I am unaware of. The tech inspection was right up next to the sign up line, so it made the long wait somewhat bearable. Jackie Meadows #111
While walking around the pits to kill some time, a few of us stumbled upon a very nice 1985 ATC250R sitting alongside an equally nice 1988 TRX250R. Both seemed so era correct and both were set up nicely for TT.
There were 8 classes of quads, 3 classes of trikes and a Side by Side UTV class. Once practice was over it was time to start running heat races. Although there were only 12 total classes, there were actually 52 heat races, as many classes had multiple gates.
Sunday morning, a few more quad heat races took place as well as the Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ) for quads. Almost immediately following the LCQs the main race lists were posted. Vintage 3 Wheeler – Race 4. 70 Class 3 Wheeler – Race 11. Open 3 Wheeler Class – Race 25. Our day was set in stone.
Vintage Results:
Vintage Vid:
Open Results:
Open Vid:
70 Class Results:
70 Class Vid:
With Pine Lake in the books, the excitement and stigma are still there. From one of the coolest tracks were 3 wheelers used to reign king, and thunder around the track, to 30 years later as a vintage race, everyone was excited to see the trikes in action. By the sounds of things, we are very much welcomed back next year. Get that old trike out of the shed, and slam it. Pine Lake will be awaiting your arrival!
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