Racing for those who serve
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — What’s the only local sport where you can race scooters off-road against some of the most competitive (and possibly craziest) racers out there? Scooter Ball Run.
Scooter Ball Run was born when one of the “founding fathers” traded an old, beat-up quad for an old, beat-up scooter and the conversation quickly evolved into talk of racing scooters off-road.
Since 2016, the group has raced at least twice per year in places like The Morgan County Fair, Hazelwood Fire Department Fish Fry and private property venues by the White River in Morgan County. They race on hard-packed earth with the dust flying so high they can’t see the scooter in front of them. They race in mud so thick and slimy that the racers aren’t recognizable afterwards. Not for the faint hearted, the Scooter Ball Run is an all-out, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-with-your-hair-on-fire kind of race.
A tremendous amount of time, muscle and sweat go into setting up the track for each event. It’s the sort of obstacle course that includes manmade hills, ditches and hairpin turns that get the racers’ adrenaline pumping in an onrush to the finish line, striving against time and rivals. When the day is through and the winners have received their trophies, the group puts everything back in order and the earth awaits their next appearance.
“Why do they do this?”, you may ask. In that inaugural meeting of the minds, they thought, “If we’re going to put on a race, we might as well raise money for something we’re deeply passionate about, The Purple Heart Foundation (PHF).” The PHF is a congressionally chartered veterans’ organization with programs and services for veterans such as an academic scholarship programs, PTSD awareness programs, financial assistance, homeless veterans’ programs, suicide awareness and many others.
The Scooter Ball Run has raised $8300 for the Purple Heart Foundation since their inception. One hundred percent of their profits go to the Foundation.
Even if you’re not the racing type, these events are great for spectators and full of family-centered fun. Racing classes include kids’ Strider bikes, pit bikes and scooters 250 CC and under. Their next race will be summer 2021. Come and join the fun. Be a contestant, be a spectator, support the Purple Heart Foundation.
You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram @scooterballrun for news, race updates and general scooter fun.
See you in the pits!
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