E.B. Thompson
elizabeth.thompson@sapulpatimes.com
Bubb’s Creek Motocross Track between Kellyville and Bristow is a new, family-run dirt bike riding course for everyone from novice to competitive riders. The track sits on the back side of 120 acres owned by track owner Jack Brassfield’s in-laws. Brassfield says the land has been in the family for over 50 years and that they have been riding dirt bikes there for “well over 20 years.”
Last year Brassfield and his business partner Randy Pine decided to share the experience with other dirt bike enthusiasts by building a more established track and hosting monthly events. They began in May. “We have a lot invested,” says Brassfield. “That happens when you buy a tractor,” he jokes. “My son [Jackson] is a national champion. We initially built the track for him and intended it to be his private training facility, but it naturally progressed into us hoping to have a race out here sometime.”
The planned events involve a Saturday practice and Sunday race, and amenities will include restrooms, food trucks, and plenty of safety precautions, such as an ambulance and a Creek County Ambulance paramedic on site.
Unfortunately, a recent complaint to the Creek County Planner’s office is threatening to put an abrupt halt to the fun, at least for those new to the sport and for those who don’t currently practice there. Brassfield and Pine received a letter from Creek County Planner Wendy Murray telling them there had been complaints about the track and its future would be an upcoming agenda item at a Board of Adjustment meeting. “We literally stopped doing anything when we found out there was an issue. It’s not ready yet. We haven’t had one race,” says Brassfield. He says they have done everything they can to comply with local laws and to try to appease neighbors.
Brassfield tells Sapulpa Times that, as far as he understands, a neighbor is concerned about potential traffic on 273rd West Avenue during future events. His solution is an alternate entrance to the track that’s not quite as narrow, and says that if they ever evolve into having big events they will employ parking attendants to manage the traffic and parking.
Since the track is far from the road on over 100 acres, there is plenty of room and space to implement Brassfield’s plans. He says it’s zoned agricultural, and that “we’ve hunted out here, we have animals, we have goats and cows. And ‘outdoor events and activities’ is an allowed use for agricultural” properties.
The only event they were able to host before they received Murray’s letter was a practice ride day with over 200 people, 122 of whom were riders. It went exceptionally well. So much so that they have garnered a lot of interest from local dirt bike riders and their parents, looking for somewhere close to home to hone their skills. “What we’re trying to accomplish is to have one event per month. We won’t be open every day, every weekend, or at nighttime to the public.”
Furthermore, Brassfield says that the track is far enough back that “you can’t see or hear anything from the road,” or if you can, it’s minimal. And he says his father-in-law and brother-in-law, both of whom live between the track and the road, wouldn’t have agreed to having events there if it were too invasive or noisy.
“My hope is that the neighbors with complaints come to the BOA meeting on Monday to gain more information and see that this isn’t a public motorsports park, and that we will only have one event per month. My goal is that all the neighbors are on board and that we get approved,” explains Brassfield. “I just want to get along with everybody.”
He says if it doesn’t pass, “we own the land, we’ll still ride dirt bikes all the time. It’ll just stop everyone else’s fun. It’s not Hell’s Angels; these kids aren’t selling drugs. They’re out here with their parents and siblings.”
The only other motocross tracks in Oklahoma are near Okmulgee, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, so Brassfield feels like there “is great opportunity here” for novice dirt bike riders to learn from the best and to see examples set for them by world champions, 3 of whom regularly use Bubb’s Creek’s track.
One of the aforementioned world champions is Jack’s 16-year old son Jackson. Another is 6-year old Kade Nightingale, both of whom Sapulpa Times met on Saturday at the track, along with Pine’s 4-year old son Ryker.
Jackson was the 2019 Arena champion and has been riding since he was 2 and had training wheels on his dirtbike. Brassfield’s 22-year old daughter, wife, father-in-law, and brother-in-law raced for years, and Brassfield still does.
This is a “great family fun atmosphere,” says Brassfield. “To see these kids get off the video games and get out and ride their dirt bikes is great. It’s so fun.” He laments the possibility of having to discontinue their plans, saying, “wow, you would be taking away these kids’ place to play, train, and race.”
Kyle Nightingale, father of 6-year old World Champion Kade, agrees, and says that his son and friends “would stay out here all day if we let them.”
Bubb’s Creek Motocross Track is at 18326 S 273rd West Avenue, just 4 miles from Downtown Kellyville. You can show your support for them by attending the special Creek County Board of Adjustment meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 11 in the dining room of the Creek County Fairgrounds. You can also send an email to the Board via Wendy Murray at wmurray@creekcountyonline.com. Brassfield and Pine ask that you include them in the email at bubbscreek@yahoo.com. They encourage you to send an email even if you plan to attend the meeting.
