Race fans happily view live action while keeping safe distancing
Thousands arrive in Beaver County to watch MotoAmerica motorcycle races
There are sports leagues across the country playing in front of no fans and piped-in crowd noise. MotoAmerica is not one of them, at least not in Western Pennsylvania. The nation’s premier road racing series for motorcycles was in Beaver County this weekend, and spectators were welcome and happy to oblige.
Of course, the big scare these days is COVID-19, and it has affected all areas of life, including sporting events.
“We weren’t worried,” said Jean Severe, 29, of Whitehall, who was at Pittsburgh International Race Complex on Sunday with his fiancee, Karisa Mauthe, 28, also of Whitehall. “The organizers were pretty clear about the precautions they would take.”
At PittRace, located about 40 miles from Downtown, fans were required to enter wearing masks and had their temperatures taken at the main gate.
Three hundred acres of space around the racetrack more or less ensure social distancing, but in areas where vendors and bathrooms bring people together, masks also were required to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Despite the concerns, thousands were on hand during the event, which is held from Friday through Sunday.
“I think folks are so tired of being penned up,” said Larry McLaren, 63, of Hermitage, who was enjoying the action from under a canopy atop Spectator Hill with his wife, Joni. “Here, you’re not sitting in a seat right up next to someone you don’t know. You can be socially distant. It seems that people here, they’re all here for the same reason. Everyone has a favorite rider … but we’re all here to have fun.”
As for the safety measures, which have prompted tantrums in grocery stores and retail outlets around the country, the McLarens said they never felt inconvenienced.
“It’s a good thing,” Mr. McLaren said. “If something that little bothers you … ”
Joni McLaren finished her husband’s sentence. “… You shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
Despite the uncertainty that COVID-19 has created, MotoAmerica’s organizers said they didn’t lower expectations before returning to the track in Beaver County, which is just south of Wampum in Lawrence County.
“I’m not sure expectations were different than any other event,” said Chuck Aksland, a MotoAmerica partner. “This round at Pittsburgh International Race Complex is one of our favorites of the year. The ownership and staff here are great to work with and the fans are passionate. We look forward to returning each year.”
The Championship of Pittsburgh, which consists of several races in several classes, is the fourth round on MotoAmerica’s nineround calendar. The next round, scheduled for a track in Washington state, will be raced without a crowd in attendance.
Mr. Aksland said the series has grown with each event this year, and organizers are being mindful of that in the planning.
“We’ve presented very comprehensive plans to deal with the current climate, which have included temperature checks, the wearing of masks, etc.,” he said. “The fans and teams have done a great job with compliance of the plan, fans are social distancing and respectful of one another and they’ve all had good times at our prior events.”
Dave Lewis, 82, of Eriesville, N.Y., who is camping in a tent at the racetrack — “It’s getting a little rough for me. I’m getting a little old for it” — said he wanted to be at the track despite being in a high-risk category.
“It’s not just my age. I also have diabetes and asthma, so I’m really highrisk,” he said. “I haven’t been worried since the beginning.
“We’ve basically been scared to death. We don’t want to go anywhere, or go out of the house. But [at the track], you can space yourself as opposed to being indoors.”