It’s been called the Great Escape, MX Woodstock or just simply The Race. What started over a decade ago has become a classic, a Southern California must attend event. It all began back in November, 1998 – the day after Thanksgiving. It was the dream of stuntmen, Kenny Alexander and Jimmy Roberts, to bring back the spirit and soul of the great races from long ago.

Hopetown, Westlake, Catalina, Barstow to Vegas, Big Bear Run, and on and on – what a treasure to draw from! These were events that people looked forward to all year long. They were more than just races, there was some intangible something that drew competitors and race fans alike, to come and experience. And so, with lofty aspirations A Day in the Dirt was launched.

There were no points to be gained and no championships to be won, just bragging rights and an opportunity to hook up with old friends and perhaps past rivals. Hoping for at least a couple hundred to show up on that first day, it was a shock when over a thousand came through the gates of Los Angeles County Raceway (LACR). The competitors ranged from stuntmen and film makers to legends, Eddie Mulder, Broc Glover, Ricky Johnson, and J.N. Roberts just to name a few. And as in the past, something happened that day that was more than just racing.

Word spread and caught the attention of artist/designer Troy Lee. He came on board as presenter in ’99 and one day turned into three. Every year the A Day in the Dirt family has gotten larger and for some three days have turned into five. They roll in on Big Wednesday in motor homes and toy haulers and within few hours a virtual city springs to life. And the next day, Thanksgiving dinners serve from 2 to 200, depending on who you came with.

After the feast and catching up on what’s been going on it’s time to get ready for Friday’s Troy Lee Happy Hour practice session. Actually is about six hours of the wildest, fastest, funnest practice you’d ever hope to see. And the cool thing about it is the proceeds from the practice session go to the Steve McQueen Memorial Fund for Boys Republic. It’s the perfect way to get it all started. Then Saturday and Sunday comes the competition, whether your 5 or 65, beginner or pro there’s a race for you. But it’s the Moto-A-Gogo, the Vintage race, the Stunt Team GP, the North vs. South and, the mother of them all, the two hour Coup de Grace that make this event unique. But its the atmosphere, it’s different from most other events, there’s a vibe, an indefinable energy, that you can’t put your finger on. That’s what everyone looks forward to all year.

The event is produced by Dirty Racing Inc. and presented by Troy Lee Designs and Elrod Racing, and Hosted by the Hollywood Stunt and Film Community.