Schaefer Tracks - Las Vegas Endurocross Video Recap
November 29, 2011
As part of the fastest growing sport in the world, Schaefer Tracks and the Endurocross series has teamed up to build some of the most technically advanced, entertaining, demanding tracks in the world. Catch all the action in our newest video showing you the track build process from start to finish.
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The Ingredients of an Enduro X Course (via ESPN)
Jully 28, 2011
All X Games courses feature at least one of the following: dirt, wood, concrete or metal. Enduro X will include not one, but all of these, in addition to rock, water and rubber. The event will require 12 to 15 semitruck loads of materials to be brought into downtown Los Angeles for delivery into Staples Center.
If the riders in the inaugural Enduro X field are nervous about competing in the X Games for the first time -- all but one are rookies -- they should spend a day with track builder Shane Schaefer before the event. Schaefer, who has been building the courses for the Endurocross series for five years, has less than 24 hours to load in and build the track for the first Enduro X event July 31. Schaefer said he normally gets four to five days to load and build a course. "It's never been done before but we're going to do it," he says.
Despite the time constraints, the course will still feature the regular lineup of water crossings, boulder piles, tractor tires and plenty of wet, slippery logs. Desert racing champion Destry Abbott, who is accustomed to three-hour-plus races, said eight to 10 laps on an endurocross course feels like three hours. "When the logs are wet, you have to hit them square, but sometimes they're placed at an angle so you almost have to bunny hop a 220-pound motorcycle over a log. That gets tiring," Abbott says.
Even 2008 Endurocross champion Ricky Dietrich still gets impressed by the courses. "It seems like there is always one or two obstacles that just look completely foreign, like, 'Am I really going to be able to ride my dirt bike over this?'" he says.
One perk for Schaefer is that the dirt will already be in place because of the Super X and Speed & Style events that will have taken place earlier in the weekend. His biggest challenge will be bringing in the additional materials (read: obstacles) required in a professional endurocross course. Grab an extra shopping cart, because this is about to get heavy:
-- 100 tons of rip-rap (rocks ranging from bowling ball sized to 4 feet in diameter)
-- 1,500 feet of telephone poles (1 foot in diameter)
-- 100 sequoia redwood logs (3-plus feet in diameter)
-- Two cords of firewood (split or 4 to 6 inches in diameter)
-- 20 cubic yards of sand
-- 10 wheel-loader tires or similar (6 to 8 feet tall)
-- 6 to 8 yards of concrete for the pond (water obstacle)
Two interesting features of the X17 track are the downhill start and the rock pile. The starting gate will be located at the top of the ramp where riders drop in for Moto X Freestyle and Best Trick. The first corner will be a sharp right-hander at the bottom of the ramp. Schaefer says the most challenging part of the course will be a monster rock pile on the back of a 20-foot mound of dirt previously used as a freestyle landing.
Following the water crossing, the boulders will become wet and slippery, and many riders will get stuck here. "We've learned not to make it impossible, but during the course of the night, it gets more difficult because everything gets a little more wet, cupped out, chewed up and torn up," he says.
Irvine, CA (June 1, 2011) – The GEICO EnduroCross team is thrilled about the opportunity to showcase this very exciting sport during X Games 17 at the Staples Center. Schaefer Tracks, the official EnduroCross track builders, will construct a very technical track that will challenge the best Off Road motorcycle riders in the world. As is common for an EnduroCross track, it will feature rocks, logs, sand, a pool, tractor tires and loose logs that all contribute to nonstop action and unpredictable racing.
“The X Games fans will be in for a real treat just watching the riders negotiate the obstacles and seeing them race head to head over those obstacles is often mind blowing” stated Eric Peronnard, the creator of EnduroCross. “As the water starts to get spread out onto the logs and rocks, it becomes almost impossible to maintain any consistency” he continued. All of this action will be captured by ESPN cameras for the first time ever as part of the X Games, which will only add to the desire to win for the riders. Make sure you get your tickets or plan to watch the event live on ESPN on Sunday, July 31, 2011.
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Shane Schaefer Featured in Racer X Magazine!
April 21, 2011
Be sure to check out the June 2011 issue of Racer X Illustrated to read "Five Minutes with Shane Schaefer: Building the Dream." Shane talks about his history of motocross and his involvement with the Abbott Sports Complex. Check out Racer X Online for more info.
Government Funded Motocross Facility Nears Completion
April 21, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska – A Government funded project is nearing completion at the Abbott Sports Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska. Schaefer Tracks has been chosen to design and construct the tracks at the premier facility, which will include a full motocross track as well as a mini-track.
Located in the middle of America, the crew at Schaefer Tracks has finally completed what will be a national caliber Motocross track at a facility that is already established and has opened arms to the motorsport community.
This project's overall $3.5 million dollar price tag includes bleachers, scoring tower, irrigation system, restrooms, concessions, as well as needed parking to accommodate for the national level events. "We are delighted to be part of such an outstanding facility and the group of people that have made this possibility a reality," states Shane Schaefer of Schaefer Tracks.
