a.k.a. The Baldwin Moto-cross Park; The Butell Brothers International Moto-cross Racetrack (Larry & Leo Butell)
- Individual photos and full text of article is available below.
- First printed in Baldwin City Community News, June 16, 2022. Reprinted with permission.
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Photos:
Text of Article:
Treasures From The Kansas Room By Marta Jardon, Santa Fe Trail Historical Society – Baldwin City Community News, June 16, 2022.
An 1970s International Moto-cross Racetrack – In Baldwin?
Yes, indeed! All thanks to Larry and Leo Butell wanting a place to practice motorcycle racing in the late 1960’s. They asked a friend, Glenn Rockers, to smooth out a place in their father’s cattle and sheep pasture on the NW corner of E 1400 and N 100 Roads west of Baldwin. Leo rode an Ossa, a Spanish-made cycle, and Larry had a Hodaka Super Rat (Japanese cycle). It wasn’t long (about 1970) before a motorcycle dealer in Topeka talked to the two and suggested that they put on a couple races each year at their track as an easy way to earn money to buy new cycles.
The first races on the Butell Racetrack, were called Hare Scrambles. They involved 300+ riders per weekend race, in classes of 40 riders each. The track was narrow and rough, about 1.25 miles long. Riders rode laps around the track until time ran out. The rider completing the most laps was the winner.
Soon after they staged these first races, the Wheel Sport Motorcycle Club of Lawrence approached Leo and Larry about putting on motocross races. The Club would do the work on race day – providing flag men, taking money at the gate, etc. Larry and Leo would maintain the track. The brothers had Glenn back to remake the track in the pasture into a true motocross track, which the May 29, 1975, Baldwin Ledger explained was “run over natural terrain” and included fast curves, “bone-jarring holes, spectacular jumps, and breath-taking downhills.” The Butell Brothers International Moto-cross Racetrack (a.k.a. the Baldwin Moto-cross Park) was born!
Maintaining the track was no simple matter. The track had to be disced and bladed. Semi loads of saw dust and sand from Ottawa were dropped off at the pasture. These materials were spread on the track, worked into the dirt, then another layer of sawdust spread on top. Wood chips were then applied to the track. The track was watered using water from the pond until 3 a.m. the day before the “big” (professional) races. Not as much water was applied for the “little” (amateur) races.
Usually, one professional or “big race” and monthly amateur (“little”) races were held at the track each year. The “big races” included the Inter-AMA Series – the US vs. the Europeans. International riders came from Czechoslovakia (called the “Russians”), Finland, Holland, Switzerland, Venezuela, etc. American racers came from across the US – California, Washington, Utah, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, and more. These riders were sponsored by factories such as Husqavarna and Yamaha International, American Honda, Eastern Maico, CZM Strakoniae, and even local groups such as Waverly Construction of Oregon, Iola Motorcycles and Kaw Cycleworks of Kansas. All the professional races were sanctioned by the AMA (American Motorcycle Association). Leo and Larry raced in the amateur races and won lots of trophies. Leo was #4 and rode a Husqavarna. Larry was #6 and rode a Yamaha.
The Baldwin Moto-cross Park was part of the 5-city Inter-AMA competition. The other cities involved included: Salt Lake City, Utah; the Coliseum in LA, CA; Delta, Ohio; and Unadilla, NY. The total purse for the competition was $52,000 plus contingency awards. The 1974 winner of the 250cc International AMA event was crowned here at the Butell Racetrack! He was Czeck Jaroslav Falta. The 1973 winner, Pierre Karsmaker, from Mission Viejo, CA also raced here. Pictures of him on the Butell Racetrack were in many magazines. Baldwin Moto-cross Park was on the cover of the Nov 1973 issue of Motocross magazine. It was also featured in Motocross Action magazine in December 1974.
People came from miles around to watch the races. Leo and Larry estimate 12,000 paid attendances at the most. This does NOT include the many that would SNEAK IN to watch.
For the AMA races, the brothers had to put up the $10,000 purse up front. They report “interesting” conversations with Cousin Carl Butell, of Baldwin State Bank, when trying to obtain this money! Insurance ($1M worth), doctors, and ambulances had to be available for race day. If an ambulance was used on race day, the next race could not start until a new ambulance arrived at the track. Even though Larry and Leo put snow fence (which is thick fencing, very hard to get over, under or, through) on both sides of the track, they report many cases of people – even with little children (!) – running across the racetrack during the races!
The last races were held in 1975 or 1976. A 500cc Grand National Race ran on June 12, 1975. After the crowd was in, it rained and rained. The race went on. Many people were stuck trying to leave the grounds. Larry and Leo decided they did not want to risk a rain-out BEFORE a race and them being out all the purse and prep money, so they closed the Baldwin Moto-Cross Park a.k.a. Butell International Racetrack soon after. The Wheelsport/Can-Am/AMA National Moto-cross was held 10/12/1975. It is unknown if this was the last race at the track.
But the memories live on! Videos of races can be found on YouTube. Type in: “motorcross racing baldwin city Kansas”
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The Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County has been preserving and promoting the history of the Baldwin, Vinland, and Southern Douglas County area in addition to the Trail since 1967. Visit the website at www.santafetraildouglas.org.
–Updated 1/2025
