I spent all yesterday watching the ATV riders pound the Florida terrain into a dusty, sandy, silty affair, and today was practice for the dirt bikes. Even with a brisk wind to clear the trail, it was impossible to avoid the dust, especially when trying to find a good spot for shooting photos. When it was all said and done, retreating to my hotel room and the waiting shower was definitely a comfort worth looking forward to, and I’m sure my Canon camera could have used a refreshing bath as well.

After cleaning up, my bloodshot eyes reminded me of times when I was forced to duck the brim of my hat, squeeze my eyes shut and wait for the wave of black, choking particles to sweep past. Like all the family, friends, pit crews and race fans who spent hours standing along the roughly 10-mile route, standing under a wall of hot water at day’s end will rinse away the layer of dust, but not the fresh memories of gritty, hard-nosed racing. This is the kind of interactivity that makes off-road racing one of the best forms of motorcycle competition. When was the last time you waited for a gap in riders to dart across the course at a MotoGP or World Superbike race? Ever bent palm fronds or snapped off branches that blocked your view? Even motocross and supercross don’t allow for this kind of viewing access.

Going to a GNCC race is totally different than some of the “mainstream” racing formats, and that makes it especially fun. Part of why off-road racing survives as a participant-based sport rather than spectator-based is due to the fact that a lengthy course which disappears into the woods is about as least spectator-friendly as possible. However, those that make the effort to move around a bit and take advantage of the mobility are rewarded with a completely different experience, which brings me back to the hotel bathroom.

What kind of race fan considers it a sign of a good day to shower and then stand in front a mirror for five minutes rinsing and re-rinsing black gunk out of their eyes? Off-road race fans, that’s who. Digging at my own made me realize that the hotel rooms on either side of me probably had sinks dotted with filthy ocular slime too. By the time I finished with the first eye it’s dawned on me that anybody who has participated in our sport can relate. It comes with the territory and strengthens the camaraderie - it’s practically a time-honored tradition. Dirt bikes might be a minority in the motorcycle kingdom, but where others have strength in numbers, we find ours in eye-boogers.