EnduroCross hits Florence

FLORENCE — It didn’t take long for Wally Palmer to get hooked on EnduroCross racing.
“I wanted to do it more,” Palmer said. “It’s definitely a challenge and you don’t want to be denied.”
The 24-year-old will get another chance to showcase his skills tonight as the Geico AMA EnduroCross Series makes an appearance at the Florence Civic Center.
It’s the third stop in the six-race series and the only event held in the Southeast.
Palmer, who has raced in various motorcycle series, started racing in EnduroCross when the series began its first full season last year.
EnduroCross differes from Motocross in that it provides various obstacles such as logs, rocks, wood beams and water that the riders have to maneuver over and around.
Jim Chester, a Myrtle Beach native, has ridden professionally for 20 years, but said riding in an EnduroCross race, which he did for the first time last year, definitely provides its share of challenges.
“Last year was one of the toughest things I have ever done,” said Chester, who will miss tonight’s race because of a back injury. “It’s a lot tougher than people think. You are trying to maneuver between the rocks and logs. It is just crazy there is nowhere to rest out there.”
Palmer said riders typically go around 30 mph and their lap times increase with each lap.
“After the first lap, you could barely hold onto to the bike,” the New Jersey native said. “But you are just trying to get consistent each time and be aggressive so you don’t stall the bike.”
Palmer said he has tried to get in his practice, although it has been a challenge because the nearest EnduroCross track is about a two-hour drive.
Still, he is hoping for a strong showing tonight.
“Every event you get more used to being out there and just hope not to make any big mistakes,” Palmer said.
Tonight’s event will be shown Nov. 22 on Versus (Time Warner Channel 46).