The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

"A race on the place" is how Austin Genereux describes the Montana Cross Country Race that will be held on their ranch July 15 and 16.

The "Race on the Place" is a dream come true for the Genereux family who has been heavy into cross country racing for the last few years.

Even though the race is officially on July 15 and 16, there will be a kids event on the evening of July 14.

This race on the Genereux place should be a dream come true for people watching the race as well. Spectators will be seated on a large flat and be able to look down on most of all the racing most of the time. Especially interesting should be bikers trying to get through large rocks that if not an obstacle course, are a challenge. Of the seating, Austin said, "Sitting where you will be, you can see, and even smell the bikes as they travel the various tracks.

So why now and why on the Genereux ranch?

"We want to give people a place to ride Montana cross country, said Austin Genereux. "The series is made up of a bunch of families. They are all such good people and we had the ability to bring this race to Big Sandy and so we did."

Comparing the Montana people to others from far away, spectators will soon see what Austin Genereux means when he says, "Montana people do more with less."

There will be a hundred acre site for a campground that will be filled with everything from tents to the most expensive of motor homes. Semis filled with bikes will show up at the site which is 6 ½ miles up the Coal Mine Coulee road. Watch for signs to guide people where to go for what.

Cow Patti's Cook Shack will be providing two big meals a day. Bikers love a big breakfast and serving that will start around 7am. Lunch will be served and light snacks. Austin Genereux said that he is encouraging people to have at least one dinner in Big Sandy as they have so much to offer in restaurant fare.

Pre registration is the best buy to enter the various races. It is held from June 1 to July 1 and includes a free shirt. Regular registration is a little more expensive and goes from July 2 to July 14 and registration July 15 is a little more expensive yet.

Austin Genereux wrote some notes on what to expect from this first time Coal Mine Coulee cross country race.

"The Montana Cross Country Off Road Motorcycle series is a seven race series held in various communities across Montana to promote a competitive race environment for off road motorcycle riders. The races are held on rangeland or in forest and consist of technical single track trails, cow trails, hill climbs, creek crossings, log jumps, rock slides and mud pits. The races require riders to have a broad background in riding to be successful. The race organizers chose an area and designed a series of trails for various skill levels, age groups and bike sizes.

The classes are 50cc, 65cc, 85 cc (7 to 11 years old), 85cc Senior (12 to 15 years old). Girls (12 to 15 year old), Super mini, 80cc-150 cc (12 to 15 years old), Vintage (30 year old bikes and older), women's B and C level, mens C, B and A. Within the mens A and B class there are two motor sizes. The open class and the 250 class. The open class allows bikes from 125cc and above. The 250 class allows bikes 125 and above. The 250 class allows bikes 125 to 250 only. The mens classes are also broken into four age groups, veterans (30 to 39), Senior (40 to 49) and Masters from 60 and up.

Race series members come from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada. The races are held in Melstone, Billings, Belfry, Wolf Point, St. Regis, Whitehall and now in Big Sandy. Austin and Raelynn Genereux are promoting an AMA sanctioned race for the Montana Cross Country off road series on their ranch on the Coal Mine road.

Courtesy Photo

At the Coyote Run in Billings, MT Bayley placed 2nd in the super mini class and Austin placed 3rd in the B Senior class

Three separate tracks have been mapped and riders from different parts of the state will be visiting Big Sandy starting in late June to "burn" the track and make visible lines for the racers to see. The courses will also be well marked with flags, course tape, mile markers and caution or wrong way signs. The women's B track will be marked with red flags and tape. Check points will also be set up on the tracks in various areas to assist riders and mark helmets to make sure riders have run the entire course each lap. The kids track for the 50cc class is a half mile and those kids ride for 30 minutes. The 65cc, 85cc junior and girls class is 6.5 miles long and those kids ride for one hours. The 85 senior, super mini, womens C and vintage track is 9 miles long and they will run for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The men's C track is 15 miles long and they race for 2 hours. The Men's A race will be held Sunday morning on a 20 mile course over a three hour period. The mens B, womens B and school boy classes will ride the 18 mile track for 2 hours and 30 minutes.

We encourage local riders and anyone interested in watching the races to come on out and have some great family fun. The campground and the track have been designed to spectators will get a bird's eye view of the racing. Spectators pay five dollars a person or ten dollars per car for the day. The top finishing local rider from Big Sandy in the A, B and C classes including the school boy class will win a hundred dollars in cash. Concessions will be provided by Cow Patti's Cook Shack.

For registration information go to the website at coalminecouleeexc. com or contact Austin Genereux at 378-2642."