Rupert X Ruport: Columbus, Ohio "Arenacross" 5

I'm no historian, more a storyteller and a solid BS artist, so I can't truly tell you with reliable facts where the first "real" Arenacross even took place, but I'm pretty sure it was either in Texas, Pennsylvania or Ohio. I do know Mike Kidd had a lot to do with things, as the former racer and Texas-based promoter, he built up quite a  Nationwide series before being bought out. Quite similarly, Ohio-based promoter Drew Wolfe and his "Arenacross" series with races all over Ohio and neighboring states, was eventually absorbed by the big boys, too. Some will tell you it was Armin Hostetter and his boys that brought racing inside at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, back in 1978 – which became the now famous "MOTORAMA" – an event that still is held, rather successfully, to present day, with their next BIG-ASS show in February.

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/12/23/39778/s1200_Columbus_Indoor_Dec72013_236.jpg[/img]

The "National" Arenacross series, 27 years young now, sponsored by AMSOIL, and officially touted as Ricky Carmichael's Road-To-Supercross, launches January 3-5 in Worcester, Mass, the same weekend that little race in Anaheim erupts.  Anyway, as I've stated, I'm not sure who, what, where, when or why Arenacross took off, but I do know it has always been big in Ohio, especially Central Ohio, specifically Columbus, where I've been witnessing moto mayhem since sometime in the 1980's…

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/12/23/39782/s1200_Columbus_Indoor_Dec72013_006.jpg[/img]

With years of various Arenacross style events taking place all over Ohio over the past thirty-plus years, the only constant Is that we always have one in Columbus, generally the first weekend in December and often brutally cold – or eerily balmy. The most recent event being held under generally tolerable conditions; chilly outside, cozy and smoky inside, with the giddy excitement level registering a nine-niner on the Mikkola moto-scale.

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/12/23/39779/s1200_Columbus_Indoor_Dec72013_185.jpg[/img]

This particular event, like every Columbus race ever, always offers some great talent and, assists in a practice session for the after-Christmas kickoff of the National series, in Worcester. This year would see the 2nd place (Jeff Gibson), 4th place (Mike McDade), 6th place (Willy Browning) and 8th place (Nathan Skaggs) finishers from the 2013 Amsoil Arenacross series -  all competing along with a gaggles of fast Midwest riders, including young rising –star Aaron Plessinger, of Cincinnati, joining the festivities, as well.

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/12/23/39781/s1200_Columbus_Indoor_Dec72013_067.jpg[/img]

Open $ Pro Results
1.  Michael McDade (Kawasaki) McDonald, OH
2.  Jeff Gibson (Honda) Blacklick, OH
3.  Willy Browning (KTM) Rushville, Oh
4.  Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha) Hamilton, OH
5.  Sunny Drake (Kawasaki) Fulton, NY
6.  Lane Staley (Suzuki) Chllicothe, OH
7.  Nathan Skaggs (KTM) Chllicothe, OH
8.  Logan Pfleiderer (Kawasaki)  Galion, OH
9.  Dylan Walkter (Yamaha)  Lancaster, OH
10.  Charles Beamer (Kawasaki) Louisville, OH

250 Pro Results     
1.  Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha) Hamilton, OH
2.  Nathan Skaggs (KTM) Chllicothe, OH
3.  Jeff Gibson (Honda) Blacklick, OH
4.  James Justice (Kawasaki) Columbus, OH
5.  Charles Beamer (Kawasaki) Louisville, OH
6.  Tanner Sisson (KTM) Lemoore, CA
7.  Lane Staley (Suzuki) Chllicothe, OH
8.  Justin Hushon (Suzuki) Bradford, PA
9.  Logan Pfleiderer (Kawasaki)  Galion, OH
10.  Jesse Walters, (Honda) Dayton, OH
11.  Michael McDade (Kawasaki) McDonald, OH

2014 Arenacross Schedule
•  01/03 - 01/05/14 - Worcester, Massachusetts
•  01/10 - 01/12/14 - Baltimore, Maryland
•  01/18 - 01/19/14 - Louisville, Kentucky
•  01/25 - 01/26/14 - Greensboro, North Carolina
•  01/31 - 02/02/14 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
•  02/08 - 02/09/14 - Sacramento, California
•  02/14 - 02/16/14 - Nampa, Idaho
•  02/21 - 02/23/14 - Reno, Nevada
•  03/01 - 03/02/14 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
•  03/07 - 03/09/14 - Albuquerque, New Mexico
•  03/14 - 03/16/14 - Hidalgo, Texas
•  03/29 - 03/30/14 - Salt Lake City, Utah
•  05/03 - 05/04/14 - Las Vegas, Nevada

[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/12/23/39780/s1200_Columbus_Indoor_Dec72013_085.jpg[/img]