A Day in the Dirt
Kenny Alexander has been racing dirt-bikes since he was seven years old and has made a name for himself in the world of Motocross.
Being born and raised in Newhall, California in 1961 into a family of Hollywood stuntman made it easy for him to choose the daredevil lifestyle. He has a long resume of movie credits from the stunts he has done including Matrix, Wanted, Terminator 3, Fast and Furious and many more.
He says one of his most memorable moments was when he was nominated for a Taurus Award in 2004 along with Kristi Li for the “Best Specialty Stunt” for the movie Charlies Angels: Full Throttle.
Hollywood has been very good to Alexander. He says he has done a lot of traveling and has never had to want for anything.
Living this life has put him in a position to help charities and other organizations with fund raisers. For the last 12 years, he has been holding a race called, “A Day in the Dirt” in Palmdale, California during Thanksgiving Day weekend for charity. This year the money will go to, “The Steve McQueen Memorial Fund for Boys Republic”. He says that every year the race just keeps getting bigger and bigger and this year they expect to see 1000 racers and approximately 5000 spectators and family members.
Alexander explains how he and a friend came up with the idea and what they were hoping to achieve in an interview here. The race was originally intended for Hollywood stuntman and people that worked with the studios so they could stay in touch. The first race was actually done by invitation only, but so many people wanted to include their friends that now it is open to the general public. It seems the racers there all have similar feelings about the Thanksgiving Day weekend races. Scott McDonald says he has not been to one of these events yet, but that he is going to go this year and that he is pretty excited. He says he will be doing team races with his friends.
Alexander says that the Los Angeles County Raceway (L.A.C.R.) is his home away from home and that everyone there is like one big family. He says it’s full of generations of families that bring their sons and daughters to the track and then they watch their families grow up there.
Getting hurt in Motocross just comes with the territory. Alexander says he was injured last year and it took him several months to heal, but he couldn’t wait to get back out there and race. Many riders have experienced broken bones and ambulance rides, but all of them are in agreement with Alexander and say they just want to get back out there and ride some more.
Dennis Tuman and Brian Farmer are two vets (riders over 50-years old) who talked about some of their injuries here. Dennis says he has four broken bones and a crooked spine and Brian made sure to tell us that “as your layen there injured, your just planning your comeback”. They have over 50-years experience between the two of them and come down to the track every week or least every chance they get. They seem to enjoy what they do and say they would not miss day in the dirt for anything. They will be here for all three days. What a life! Don’t take my word for it, listen here for yourself. Well, they have made a believer out of me. See you Thanksgiving Day weekend!
Portfolio of Laura McCallum 