GetOut Magazine

Queen Creek's ET Motopark is the only man-made motocross park in the East Valley
By ERIC PHILLIPS
Get Out
March 20, 2003

If youre an East Valley motocross enthusiast, you've probably spent a weekend or two driving to an illegal track and cutting through a fence line to access worn- down mounds of earth surrounded by cactuses and snakes. The thrill of gunning, twisting and launching your 250cc bike through the desert is certainly there, but so is the constant struggle to breathe and see through a solid wall of dust kicked up by 20 other riders youre praying you dont slam into.

Mesa real estate agents Eric Alexander and Thomas Kokaliares discovered a better option: man-made motocross parks. The only problem was, the closest tracks were almost two hours away in the West Valley.

Commuting to the far end of the West Valley got old, says Kokaliares, who took his four boys riding on most weekends. It made for a whole-day ordeal, and you spent most of it in the car.

So Alexander and Kokaliares, motocross fans since childhood, did what any sensible real estate agents would do: They leased 60 acres of barren desert in Queen Creek and built ET Motopark, the East Valleys first man-made motocross park.

Alexander knew the track was needed.

The sales of all-terrain personal recreation vehicles have been increasing in the Valley for years, but parks like this have been decreasing, the 39-year- old says. The East Valley was definitely overdue for this track.

The park features four different tracks designed for all skill levels. From beginner to pro, quads to dirt bikes, our tracks can accommodate them all, Alexander says. We have something for everyone.

The shortest track, aptly named the Pee-Wee Track, is a quarter-mile long and caters to small children learning motocross basics. Parents and friends can walk onto the track to encourage and coach the children. An ET Motopark administrator watches the young drivers to determine when their skill level exceeds the tracks limits and approves them for the more advanced Intermediate Track.

Adults can also walk onto the more difficult Intermediate Track, often called the 80 Track because most bikes on it are 80cc or less. The 0.8-mile-long track is a series of tabletops, jumps and high- bermed corners designed for children.

After mastering the Intermediate Track, riders brave their way to the mile-long Quad/Vet Track, which caters to advanced motocross riders as well as riders of quads (four-wheelers). The jumps are higher and the corners sharper, and for those itching to open their bikes up, theres a flat area called the fast section.

ET Motopark staff cruise around on four-wheelers, making sure riders stay on the tracks appropriate to their skill level. Other staff members, armed with shovels and backhoes, manicure and smooth ruts and bumps. Queen Creek resident Jerry Johnson, who brings his 11-year-old grandson Dwayne Rozell to ET once a week, says the first-rate condition of the tracks sets ET apart from the chaos of free riding in the desert.

They take really good care of their tracks, Johnson says. They keep them watered down and make sure there arent huge ruts. It makes it so much easier to learn than in the desert.

Tim McBrien of Gilbert, who takes his family to the park once a week, says ET is a dream come true for him and his family. He applauds the parks emphasis on safety.

You have two EMTs on hand all the time, one-way tracks and attendants making sure all riders on the track are doing fine. Free riding in the desert is too unsafe, especially for little kids.

Even with the course monitors and EMTs, Alexander and Kokaliares know that motocross poses safety risks, no matter what. As a result, they require everyone who enters the park, including spectators, to sign a waiver, and all riders must wear a helmet, goggles and closed-toe shoes.

Some people find tons of equipment to be restricting and expensive, Kokaliares says. If we required people to wear full gear, wed scare away a lot of safe riders. Not wanting to wear three layers of padding and equipment in July is certainly understandable.

Tim McBriens wife, Jan, says her children are well-equipped, so she doesnt worry.

People at work think Im crazy for allowing my kids to do this sport. But they have so much gear on that Im not concerned at all. Theyd get more hurt sledding or playing football.

ET Motopark also provides a fully stocked snack bar, portable bathrooms and grandstands from which spectators can see the entire main track. In case of problems with bikes, Steves Cycle has a mobile repair shop on site Friday through Sunday.

If your wheel goes flat, you dont have to drive 30 minutes into town to get it fixed, Alexander says. We basically took all the hassles we encountered in our years of riding and offered solutions to those problems on site.

Though the park is open only Thursday through Sunday, Alexander estimates 500 to 900 riders come out each week. ET Motopark passed a huge test late last year when professional racers swarmed in from motocrosss hub in California to try the new tracks.

They were skeptical that the tracks were going to be substandard, Alexander says. But they came up to me after the race and told me they loved it. They were going back and recommending it to their friends. They said the park was right up there with the best.

ET Motopark
Where: 47460 N. Ironwood Drive (4.8 miles south of U.S. 60), Queen Creek
When: 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
How much: $15 for all bikes more than 90cc, $10 for bikes 90cc and less. Free for spectators on practice days. On race days, gate fee is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, free for children younger than 6.
Info: or www.etmotopark.
com

Non-membership race
ET Motopark is sponsoring a non-membership race on Sunday featuring a new track layout. Gates will open at 6 a.m., sign-ups are at 7 and practice is at 9. Racing should begin by 9:30 a.m.
The race entry fee for the amateur class is $25 for the first class and $15 for any additional classes. The entry fee for peewees is $15 for the first class and $10 for any additional classes. Overnight camping will be allowed (no hookups). The snack bar will feature breakfast and lunch on Saturday.