Vanilla Ice Returns to Loretta Lynn's - News- Dirt Rider Magazine

Loretta Lynn herself will introduce hip hop superstar Vanilla Ice's return to motocross when he performs live at the 24th Annual Air Nautiques AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn's Ranch on August 1. Ice will perform cuts from his new album, Platinum Underground, and will actually be introduced on stage by the first lady of country music herself, Loretta Lynn. The next day, Ice will take to the track he once raced on alongside another Loretta Lynn's graduate, seven-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath."We're very excited to bring Vanilla Ice back to the ranch, this time as a performer," says Thor Motorsports Manager Hylton Beattie. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Loretta Lynn, Vanilla Ice and Jeremy McGrath, and we're glad Thor was able to make it happen. The only way to see this is to be at the ranch on Monday and Tuesday."Ice will perform at the conclusion of the rider's meeting on Monday night in the Amsoil Arena, and Loretta will make an appearance there as well to welcome the racers and introduce Ice."You won't find two people more different than Vanilla Ice and Loretta Lynn," says MX Sports Director Tim Cotter. "But this pairing fits perfectly with this event. Every summer, people from all walks of life, young and old, come together to compete and perform at Loretta's, and everyone has a good time. Seeing that as our guide, this really makes a perfect match."On Tuesday afternoon, Ice will take a few hot laps on the track alongside McGrath, who won an AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta's in the C class in 1987. Ice, racing under his real name, Robbie Van Winkle, qualified for and raced the national in 1985, so both riders are returning to their roots.McGrath, a special guest of Thor, will take time out of his busy schedule at ESPN's Summer X Games to come back to the ranch and take a lap with Ice, as well as sign autographs for fans.The AMA Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships presented by Amsoil is the world's largest amateur motocross race. In 2004, over 20,000 entries attempted to qualify in 33 classes for the event. The 2005 National will be held August 1 - 6, 2005 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Winning an AMA Amateur National Championship is considered the launch pad to a lucrative pro motocross career. Sponsors include Air Nautiques, Amsoil, Maxxis, Thor, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Cobra, FMF, Gatorade, Parts Unlimited, Ogio, Freestyle Watches, Scott, Alpinestars, Boyesen, CTi, DC Shoes, Kicker, Liquid Performance, Wiseco, AGV, Twin Air, Moto Tees and EK Chain.