Page 83 - MPG_JANUARY
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KILPATRICK
The age of 55, more than double of the young- est, veteran division. These guys have seen
it all, and then some, with many competing in the 1970’s. The evolution of motorsports has occurred right between their eyes, and they’ve been the ones to pass on not only riding skills, but keep the sport afloat with genuine care and appreciate for this great pastime. John Camelio Jr., a staple on the amateur racing circuit,
drove to Florida from his native Holbrook, Massachusetts to catch a little sun, and garner yet another title to the mantle. That’s the thing about these guys, as they have some of the most relaxed, and down to earth attitudes, yet provide such a blistering pace, and spectacular show to the fans around the track. The other thing is, many of these guys can go faster than their children! Look at Camelio Jr. and Samuel Allen in the first moto; when the track was absolutely disastrous, lines going every which way, and the course resembling an Everglades swamp, Allen and Camelio were out on the course brake checking each other. Never fol- lowing one another, for the lack of vision avail- able, the creativity they carried had them feeling like Picasso with an open canvas; they could do anything they wanted to, and gave the fans a true gem to watch. Allen, in second place in the early going, put Camelio on the back burner, and toasted his previous time by four seconds, to take the lead. That wasn’t all the fight this veteran had, however, as Camelio would creep right up to the rear sprocket of Allen by race end, and go on to match the time of 2:22. A thumb up was given by both competitors, as everyone anxiously awaited the rematch in the following hours. For the next lineup, the two found each other yet again, with Camelio this time sticking with the lead. Leading the field, the number 2 would continue to feel pressure from Allen, as the laps winded down. With the white flag coming out, the Florida native of Allen sur- mounted one final charge, dipping into the 2:09 range! But, acting as the true competitor he is, Camelio would up the ante as well, pushing
all of his chips to the middle of the table. They would match each other, with Camelio having the lead position in the beginning, therefore claiming victory. With the swapped moto scores, Camelio would go on to claim the overall win, and championship, a job well-deserved, with major kudos to Samuel Allen as well.
MASTERS 55+
JOHN CAMEILO JR / MOTOCROSS
WWW.GRITMOTO.COM
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