麻豆视频

Saturday, Sept. 20 will mark the 10th year for the Bowan Rekken Memorial Moto-X Race and Bowan's mother, Susan Rekken of Carlyle says that the event is "an honour to him."

"He never got the chance to ride professionally before he passed away," she says. "Only one race."

"I can see why he loved it so much because I have, on occasion, done flagging. The jumps, the bikes up in the air; it's a real rush."

Rekken, her husband Kelly, their sons Kaylan, Kelsey and Bjorn, along with friends and family, built the track near their business, Carlyle Rental Centre, as a tribute to Bowan, who passed away 10 years ago.

As part of the 麻豆视频east Corner Racing Circuit which includes races in Carlyle, Estevan, Oxbow and Weyburn, the Bowan Rekken Memorial usually hosts an average of over 150 entrants, depending on the weather. With racers competing in 11 different classes, the event begins with registration at 7 a.m., warm-ups at 9 a.m., and official race action commencing at 10 a.m. and ending at 3 or 4 p.m. There are also concessions on-site. Admission to the event is 45 and is free for those 12 and under.

"Racers range from kids as young as five years old to those in the 60-plus age range," says Rekken.

"It originally started when a friend of Bowan's suggested we build a track in his honour near Carlyle. The kids were racing all over and they wanted to honour Bowan and have that memorial closer to Carlyle."

The entire Rekken family has been involved in the event and although Bowan's brothers no longer compete, they still volunteer and attend the event, work schedules permitting.

"Our son Kelsey still rides," says Rekken. "He and his brother, Kaylan both rode Bowan's bike and Kelsey has that bike and Kyle Lees' bike. Kyle has passed on and his parents, Brian and Mary-Lee Lees help Kelly and I run the races."

"For us, it's all about the races and about paying tribute to our son," she says.

The event has been growing steadily in size and popularity and is held to coincide with Carlyle's Homespun weekend.

"It's worked well with Homespun," says Rekken. "At first, we weren't sure, but it lets entire families come to town and it means that there is something for everyone to enjoy in Carlyle that weekend."

Although the Rekkens and Brian and Marylee Lees are the driving forces behind the event, they welcome volunteers. To get involved, contact Susan Rekken at 453-4446.