The motocross family

PALMER -- An afternoon at Rival Motocross Park could bring a family together.

Some families may just go to watch the events. Some may go to watch another family member.

One Valley family goes to compete, together.

For the Sandersons, motocross is a family event.

Three generations of the Sanderson clan now race competitively.

Scott Sanderson, 43, is the elder statesman of the motocross family. He and son Josh, 25, each started racing when they were teen-agers.

Josh's son and Scott's grandson, Taylor, got a bit of a head start.

On June 21 the 5-year-old Taylor raced competitively for the first time and the three generations of Sandersons raced on the same day for the first time. Scott raced in the vet expert class, Josh ran in the 250 expert class and Taylor hit the track in the pee wee class.

Each generation has inherited the family's love for the sport.

The Sanderson's involvement in the sport started with Scott buying his first dirt bike in 1973.

"My parents weren't into it, but growing up I had friends that were," Scott said. " I got my bike and started riding the trails with them."

Scott said that the thrill of competition fueled his love for the sport.

"I have always been a competitor," Scott said. "I like to compete to win."

With a bike at age 14, Scott raced full-throttle into the sport.

"I got lectures about how dangerous the sport was, but it went in one ear and out the other," Scott said.

In 1980 Scott started racing competitively and he found quick success. In 1982, Scott won the state title in the 250 cc class.

Scott went on to race in the 250 expert class. Since he has hit that level, Scott has won a pair of state titles.

As Scott continued to compete and excel in the sport, his son Josh was growing up and gaining interest in the sport.

"Ever since I can remember, dad was taking me around for rides," Josh said.

Scott even built a race track on his property to practice on.

"We had about two acres and my dad built a track out there," Josh said. "I would practice after school."

The 1996 graduate of Palmer High School first got involved in 1988, racing four-wheelers. After immediate success, winning a city championship, Josh graduated to the trail bikes.

In 1992 he won the state title in the novice 80 cc class. He currently races the expert 250 cc class, where he ranks in the top three.

Like his father, Josh shares a love of competition.

"It's an adrenaline rush, a thrill," Josh said. "It is something you do yourself. In the state race it is you against 20 other people."

And now the youngest of the Sanderson motocross clan is gaining a love for the sport.

"All he talks about is winning a trophy and doing jumps," Scott said.

Taylor got his start at the early age of three, beginning with a PW50 with training wheels. A year later the training wheels were shed and he now competes in the pee wee class.

On June 21 he placed second and earned his first trophy.

"He loves it," Josh said. "He's asking to go race again so we are taking him to Fairbanks this weekend."

Scott and Josh agree that neither would ever shove their son into the sport.

"I have never pushed the kids into it," Scott said. "If they wanted to play football or baseball I would be 100-percent behind them."

"I wanted him involved, but I wasn't going to be a pushy parent," Josh said of Taylor.

In addition to racing, the Sandersons helped build and maintain Rival Park.

In 1997 Scott and Josh donated countless hours building the track.