Gravity Park USA facts for kids
Location | Chilton, Wisconsin, United States |
---|---|
Time zone | UTC-6 (UTC-5 DST) |
Coordinates | 44°3′30.41″N 88°10′0.27″W / 44.0584472°N 88.1667417°W |
Owner | Bob Schneider |
Opened | 1999 |
Stock Car oval | |
Surface | dirt |
Length | 0.33 mi (0.54 km) |
Motocross | |
Surface | dirt |
Gravity Park USA is an exciting place near Chilton, Wisconsin, where you can watch or take part in different kinds of races! It's famous for both motocross (races with motorcycles and quads) and stock car races on a special dirt track. This park is where a world record was set for the longest distance traveled on a motocross track in 24 hours!
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History of Gravity Park
Gravity Park first opened its doors in 1999. Back then, it was a place mainly for kart racing, which is racing with small, open-wheel vehicles.
Motocross and Quad Tracks
The motocross track at Gravity Park USA started operating in 2000. For a while, it was just called "Gravity Park" until it got a big upgrade in 2005. When it first opened, during the winter months, they even held exciting snocross races, which are like motocross but on snow!
The track has been used for many special events. For example, it hosted the 2005 Kraft Amateur Stadiumcross Championship, where 250 drivers came to compete. It's also been a venue for other fun activities like SCCA RallyCross, which is off-road car racing, and "mud bogging," where vehicles drive through deep mud.
Stock Car Oval Track
Gravity Park also has a 1/3-mile oval dirt track, which is used for stock car racing. In 2012, a wall was built along the front of the track.
For some time, the stock car track wasn't used for races. But in 2017, the owner, Bob Schneider, decided to get it ready for action. New lights, concrete walls, safety fences, and grandstands (places for fans to sit) were built. The first stock car races were planned for October 2017, but unfortunately, they were rained out.
In 2018, a regular schedule of Friday night races began. This brought more exciting stock car action to Gravity Park USA!
World Record at Gravity Park
On September 11 and 12, 2010, something amazing happened at Gravity Park. A motorcycle racer named Perry Prichard tried to break a world record! He wanted to set the record for "the most continuous laps on a motocross bike on a motocross track by an individual in 24 hours."
This record attempt was also a way to help people in Haiti. Perry was allowed a short 5-minute break each hour to refuel his bike, get some rest, and make any needed repairs.
Guinness World Records officially recognized his achievement! Perry Prichard traveled an incredible 426.96 kilometers (about 265.3 miles) in 24 hours. This was certified as the "Greatest distance on a motocross in 24 hours (individual)."
When asked why he did it, Perry said he wanted to turn his love for riding motorcycles into a way to raise money for a good cause.
Park Amenities
Gravity Park USA has a sports bar and lounge called the Killsnake Clubhouse. It's open when there are races happening at the track. It's a great place to grab a bite to eat and watch the action!