2003 Year in Review

Adam Bonneur Winning in Off-Road Races

Adam and Arlyn Bonneur

Bonneur getting muddy at an Off-Road race.

Bonneur going through a creek in an Off-Road race.

A lot of little boys dream of having a motorcycle. Adam Bonneur of Morrison started that dream at 4-1/2 years of age when a neighbor had a motorcycle track near their rural home. Now at almost 15 years of age he is winning races and hoping for a career in motorcycle racing.

Bonneur is an off-road racer and competes in “Hare Scrambles”. It is a very exciting sport with riders racing up and down hills, through fields, forests, and creeks and even over logs. Each lap takes a rider 10-15 minutes and races can last 1-1/2 hours. If they are doing it right, riders get wet and muddy. The rider with the fastest laps wins. Points are given for each race in a series and at the end of the series high point winners are announced.

“It’s a rush,” according to Bonneur. “I love racing, the people, and everything about it.”

Bonneur participates in the OMA Series and the United Off-Road Racing Series (UOR). The OMA Series is a local series that runs in the Morrison area along with Prophetstown and Bellevue, Iowa. United Off-road Racing Series runs in the Midwest with tracks in Arkansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma and Missouri. “Moose Run” in June and “The Race” in October are two Morrison races on the United Series. Bill Gusse of The Bike Barn, Morrison, promotes both these series.

Last year there was Pro-Class, A-Class, B-Class and C-Class. Within each class bikes are divided into: up to 200cc and over 250 cc. Bonneur raced in the up to 200cc B-Class and won first in the UOR with highest overall points, with around 550. He also won 1st in his class in the local “Moose Run”, “Works Racing Series”, and most of the local races. He won 2nd place in the “National Hare Scramble” and the “Missouri Mule Kicker”. But his goal is always first place.

Most racers are older than Bonneur and are in their early 20’s, some even race in their 40’s. In fact Arlyn Bonneur, Adam’s dad, is not only his main mechanic, but also races when they go to weekend races. Adam races Sundays and Arlyn Saturdays. His mom, Sherrie is also a big supporter. Last year they bought her a video camera for Christmas so that she can videotape Adam’s racing. A camper trailer is one of the luxuries Bonneurs have for racing.

The season just ended with a banquet and awards at the Bike Barn but the next season starts shortly in February. In the winter Bonneur practices by putting screws in his tire for traction.

Bonneur will be riding a new 125 cc Suzuki in the combined Pro-A series in 2004. Moose Off-Road, Parts Unlimited, Smith Goggle, and Alpine Star Boots have already signed him up for sponsorship. “It’s a very expensive sport, I wear out a bike almost every year,” Bonneur explained. “We’re gone almost every weekend during season.”

Adam races #121 on a yellow Suzuki, for more photos or information on off-road racing visit these sites:
Coiinc Racing (Click on "Enter Here" Photos of Adam appear November 9 in Prophetstown, Ryan's Farm October 5, and The Race October 19)
United Off-road Racing

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
December 12, 2003