March 29, 2010

Stephen Vanderkuur

Vanderkuur's Racing Adventures
In July of 2005 he participated in the AMA Grand Championship Dirt Track competition in Springfield, IL. He won his first AMA National Championship half-mile event and was interviewed on SPEED Channel for Two-Wheel Tuesday.

In 2006, he was invited to race Intermediate in Canada for the CMRC Dirt Track series. Raced in the 450cc and Open class finishing 1st or 2nd each race.

In 2007, Stephen and his Dad bought a 2003 CRF450. He competed in the AMA Grand Championship competition in DuQuoin, IL and won the mile and half-mile event. Also won the half-mile event on the 250cc and the overall 250cc 4-stroke AMA Grand Championship. Raced in Canada for the CMRC Dirt Track series. and won the Intermediate 450cc and Open Canadian Harley-Davidson National Championships.

In 2008, Stephen won the AMA Ice Race National Championship in the 450cc class. Then went back to finish runner-up to perennial champion Craig Pickett in the 505cc class. At the awards ceremony, Ken Saillant awarded him the 2008 Ice Racer of the Year award.

Also honored me as the Horizon award runner-up.

In 2009 Stephen Vanderkuur raced only selected events throughout the season. The team picked the races that were close to Michigan in order to minimize travel costs. Raced 6 races and won twice... one at Lima, Ohio Half-Mile and one at Grove City, Ohio Mile. Next I set fast qualifying time at Indy and Pomona.

Plans for 2010 season are to race at all the scheduled AMA Pro Singles races all across the U.S. with the best of my ability to finish at the top of every race.

The 2010 season opener at Daytona was very exciting. The Inaugural Race at the all-new Daytona Flat Track facility was a challenge to ride the slippery track as it changed every session out. In Race #1, I qualified 3rd of 72 riders and finished in 3rd place on the podium. In Race #2, I qualified 5th of 77 riders and finished in 4th place. The highlight was when I won the Race #2 Dash for Cash from the back row... Yeaaa

About Stephen VanderKuur
Stephen VanderKuur is 18 years old, and currently a Senior in High School. In 2005, he was selected by the Eisenhower Foundation to participate in a Student Leadership Forum to visit Washington, D.C. for seven days.

School is his #1 priority... He plans to graduate high school and go on to college to be in the Medical field.

Stephen started riding motorcycles when he was six and was taught the basics on how to be safe and have a blast at the same time.

March 29, 2010 4:28 PM | send page