Almost 500 riders arrived at Hubert Lacroix’s soybean farm site near Casselman over the August 20 weekday for the the two-day FMSQ/Valley SuperSport EnduroCross rally. While the majority of riders hailed from Québec and other regions of Ontario, Lacroix estimates at least 100 or more of the participants are homegrown riders from around Prescott-Russell.

« It’s all a big family thing, » said Lacroix, who is a great fan of motocross.

« I used to race, » he said. « Now it’s my kids who race. »

Lacroix still does some dirt bike riding but now his involvement in racing is focused on organizing a regional rally that is part of the Fédération des motocyclistes de sentiers du Québec (FMSQ) circuit of motocross and endurocross events. His event was a regular part of the circuit for four years until 2020 when the pandemic put all organized sports on hold. This year marks the return of the Prescott-Russell entry on the FMSQ circuit.

Lacroix and his crew of volunteers prepared a 12-kilometre track in one area of his 200-acre soybean farm property. He sacrificed a small portion of his crop to provide a dirt lane access to and from the racing site for competitors and also a short pathway to a designated parking area for participants and spectators.

Lacroix is determined to see Prescott-Russell’s regional endurocross competition become an annual event.

« I’m sure going to try, » he said.

Confirmed results from the August 20 to 21 competition may be viewed later in August and September at the FMSQ website at www.fmsq.net.