Thomas of Zero Hour may not be fast but he sure is patriotic!

In it's second year, the Born Free Stampede has gone crazy!

Now located at the Industry Hil ls Expo Center in So Cal, this went from a pretty standard Hooligan race to being absolutely overrun by motos of all kinds. Something like 60 minibikes hit the track, with countless hooligan racers.. seriously! I used to know pretty much all the hooligans by name, and now there are so many I can't keep track of who's who!

SMCO getting low

Bill from Biltwell's newest-old race bike 

Josh of Broken Homme's killer race bike

Some of my favorites were the vintage racers

Think they'd notice if this bike went missing for.. the amount of time it takes to do about 6 laps? I'd love to ride it..

Tiny Taco racer

Stephanie Pietz rode this Sporty Tracker in a couple classes

SM Co is fully S&S equipped 

Some of the best racing was the choppers.. I'd ride this thing on or off the track! 

A beauty of a Scout 

Jimi's Purple Rain inspired race bike sporting our Stealth 

And some classic Indian flavor

Anyway, on to the racing..

Classes ranged from Pull Start Mini, XR 75, Vintage Single & Open Twin, Tank Shift, Ladies, Hooligan and Chopper (my personal favorites being Ladies and the Chopper class, of course, but perhaps I am biased..)

Anya repping Atwyld in the women's class

Stephanie rode both Hooligan and Womens

Choppers on the racetrack! 

I've been watching these guys race the Speedway for years..

Street tires are not so good for dirt traction

The Gonz with the race face

Jimi improves his form every time he gets on the track! 

Buddy Suttle 

That's hooligan racing for ya..

All the goofballs you know and love to watch race were there - Noise Cycles, SM Co, who included Stephanie Pietz, a dirtbike racer turned flat tracker, Anya of Babes Ride Out, Meatball, of Hell On Wheels - who's been hosting races as long as I can remember! - Buddy Suttle of Unknown, Bill and Mike of Biltwell, the Beer Breed Racing guys, and so many more! And of course, some guy who looked suspiciously like Cheech Marin rolling around on a pull-start mini bike.. 

As always, the racing was bar-banging, sometimes crashing, dirt flying action. Seriously, I generally leave the trackside absolutely covered in dirt!

Check out the video and all the photos for the best of the action!