Motobowling for Dollars

Imagine walking into a bowling alley and bumping into Davi Millsaps. You bounce off of him and run into Ryan Villopoto. You run to tell your buddies but Josh Grant and Timmy Ferry are in your way, then you pass a dozen more top racers on your way to your lane, where you find your bowling partners are Andrew Short and Will Hahn. It's hard to imagine, but it's the reality of the annual MotoBowl put on each year by the Women's Motocross and Supercross Foundation (www.wmxf.org) to raise money that goes to helping injured racers and crew members. Bowlers can also take home some pretty amazing goodies through the organization's silent auction that puts up everything from Oakley glasses, to autographed sets of riding gear, to full factory bike plastics to Ogio golf bags.

The event went off this last Thursday May 22, just a few days before the opening outdoor national at Glen Helen. The turn out of top racers was impressive, and everyone had a good time. This function is open to the public for anyone who wants to buy a lane, and offers an amazing opportunity to interact with your heroes without the limitations in the pits at a supercross or motocross race. That's right, no autograph sessions with long, slow lines - this is the racers just hanging out.

The event takes place annually before the Glen Helen round, so if you didn't make it out this year, consider coming out next year. The event is held near Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, so there's plenty of vacation to squeeze into a trip out to Southern California. It's a chance to see the racers at play and without the stresses they are under on race day. Be sure to check out the Women's Motocross and Supercross Foundation website before the Glen Helen round next year, and you just might find yourself on a bowling team with a motocross champion.

But for now, enjoy these photos from MotoBowl 2008