History

Thirty nine years and counting of motocross racing! As tracks come and go, the track and tradition of Walton Motocross is one of the oldest in Canada.

The land of the Walton motocross track was originally part of the acreage farmed by the Lee family. An early interest in motorcycles evolved into an interest in off-road riding. This led to the track becoming a local centre of activity for many casual riders and aspiring competitors.A club was formed called the Maitland Dirt Riders which organized its first event in August 1974. This was for Juniors and Schoolboys only (today beginners, juniors, 80 beginners & 80 Experts). Over 300 riders showed up and was so successful that another event was held in October. The sight of riders sliding down frozen clay slopes dictated earlier race dates in following years.

The Maitland Dirt Riders hosted a two day event every year with Juniors and schoolboys one day and seniors and experts the next. From 1976-1979 Molson Breweries sponsored a provincial championship series for experts and Walton was the favorite site of both fans and racers. Racers competing in the Molson series came from Sweden, Japan, England, Czechoslovakia, Finland, and of course across Canada and the USA. Qualifying heats for expert classes , 3,000-4,000 spectators were not unusual.

In 1981 the Ontario round of the Canadian National Series at Walton saw Ross Pederson begin his dominance which extended until his retirement after his sweep at the 1993 TransCan.

The track sat dormant until a new Lee generation were getting involved in the sport, so a two day event was organized in 1991.

While reflecting about the success of the 1991 event, we noted that there was a lack of a really major, prestigious event (such as Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals in the USA). Thus a concept was born. Walton would hold an annual event drawing on all the best things in the sport, an annual coming together for bragging rights, a celebration of Canadian motocross!

We developed a five year plan, building from a great natural track ridden on once a year, strong community support, accessability and support facilities. The emphasis was to be real outdoor style motocross, highly competitive with lots of extracurricular attractions and opportunity to socialize. The format was to be a four day schedule with open practice and four long motos per class.

1992 – It’s expensive, risky and a lot of work! Would sponsors participate? Would riders come? Could we get everything done? What did we forget? Craig Pratly and Ryan Hunt head up a contingent from England to show how to ride outdoor motocross. Is it over already? EVERYBODY LOVED IT!! Are we broke? Do we ever want to be this tired again?

1993 – Ross Pederson makes a farewell tour and spanks everyone one more time while he does it.

1994 – (the year of the beer bug) TSN gives the event a national profile with two half hour shows. A torrential downpour on Saturday provides a brief interlude for ‘belly racing’ on the finish line hill. The bridge goes up.

1995 – (the year of the fly)Carl Vaillancourt calls it quits after clinching the National pro title in titanic duel with Marty Burr while Marty sweeps all four motos.

1996 – 800 riders, full national coverage of the pro racing on TSN which includes Nicolas Wey’s pro debut, Jeff Mataisevich, Jean Sebastian Roy having his worst race of the year and Marco Dube proving he’s for real.

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2009 – Attendance nears 30,000 over the course of the 5 day event

2010 – Parts Canada comes on board as the Title Sponsors of the TransCan, A pre tailgate party is born to cope with over 450 vehicles lined up on the road in 2009 before opening day

The Walton TransCan is the result of the efforts of many individuals and their efforts over the years, too many to list, but all can take great personal pride in their contribution. When the fields of Huron County once again reverberate to the pulse quickening sounds of motocross, the pageantry and the spectacle of the ultimate motorized competition each one can take pride in being part of the tradition

Canada’s Biggest Outdoor Motocross Event

The Walton TransCan Grand National Championship is a week long festival of fun and excitement! For this annual “Celebration of Canadian Motocross,” over 1,000 motocross riders and their families cross borders and cross the country to compete for Canada’s most prestigious motocross awards.

Starting early in the race season every CMRC region in the country hosts amateur national qualifier events to establish who is invited to compete. They arrive early in the week for four days of amateur racing at Walton for the title of CMRC Amateur National Champion.

Walton has the honour of hosting the final round of the nine-race National Pro MX1 Championship, which follows the amateur event schedule. The Pro MX1 championship is highlighted by the presentation of the spectacular “King of Walton” sword to the overall winner during the final round.

Walton also stages the final clash between the top pro MX2 riders. The event has been coined the MX2 Shootout and every year the racing is filled with excitement and controversy as young-gun riders battle for recognition in the last outdoor national event of the year.

Amongst the racing there is also a full slate of social activities: scavenger hunts, bingo, nightly entertainment, paint ball, food court, and lots more. Plus special events like the Heritage race and the popular Canada Cup east/West Challenge.

Every year, over 30,000 visitors have full access to pro and amateur racing pits, where fans are welcomed to mingle with racers, get autographs and posters. Walton also hosts the biggest off-road motorcycle trade show in the country along with live entertainment, freestyle demos, riding demos (with supplied equipment and instructors), beer gardens, helicopter rides, hospitality tent and lots of contests, games and giveaways.

The #1 Motocross Race in Promotion, Presentation and Organization

Over 15 million impressions of combined pre-event promotion, event participation and international post-event coverage help to draw the largest motocross crowd in Canada to the small, quaint town of Walton.

Extensive mass media promotion include advertising on television, radio, billboards, Internet, direct mail, print, posters, etc. plus creative co-promotions with some of the region’s most successful marketers.

Media coverage includes Canadian and US motorcycle magazines, regional television and radio reporting plus national TV coverage is provided by SPI’s one hour broadcast production and internet sites too numerous to count.

Missing Vimeo API Consumer Key.