I drove over to Saturday evening to photograph motorcycles and Quad Ice racing at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, IL. The main attractions for this event was 5-time I.C.E. Outlaw Quad World Cup Champion Mandy “Wild Child” Brodil from Grandy, NC and 2012 AMA – Pro Grand National Flat Track Champion Jared Mees of Clio, MI. Jared led from the start to win the motorcycle main event, while Mandy led the Unlimited Pro Quad main event for the first six laps, until she crashed into a barrier and she had to settle for second place as Dusty Crouch from Topeka, KS passed her to capture a hard fought victory.
-Bob
Traveled over to U.S. Cellular Coliseum to photograph the Ice Racing event in Bloomington, IL. Jammin’ Jared Mees dominated the professional motorcycle racing program winning easily. Kevin Anderson placed second and Jake Mataya finished third. Current tour points leader and defending ICE champion “Wild Child” Mandy Brodil won both of her heat races, but was DQ’ed after she was wrecked and was unable to get her ATV up and running in time and finished 8th in the main event for Unlimited Outlaw Quads. Ryan Jensen of Neola, IA won the event with Drew Bergquist finishing second and Justin Ebbing placing third.
-Bob
It was like a well written Hollywood movie script as Chris Carr won the main event at Peoria Speedway on his Farewell to Flat Track Tour. The 44-year old seven-time AMA Flat Track champion battled Sammy Halbert and edged him at the finish line. Carr, nicknamed the “Prince of Peoria” for his 13 wins at the Peoria Motorcycle Club. Finishing in third placewas Jared Mees from Clio, MI. Chris had not won a race in Peoria since 2001. This is his final season and Sunday at the Grand Nationals will be his Peoria TT race. His wife Pam rode on the back of his bike as he took his victory lap saluting all of the fans who gave him a standing ovation. The two met in Peoria in 1994 and our the proud parents of two young sons.
-Bob
