The US Motocross series was over, but there was still the Trans-USA series that fall. All the Japanese factories pulled the plug in 1982, choosing to not participate in the series. The descendent of the legendary series had one last gasp; a three-race series that was missing nearly every rider in the top twenty from the previous year’s championship. Benolkin would race these events on a Kawasaki, but as a privateer on a production bike.

The first round was held at Millville, the first professional Motocross event ever held at the facility. Despite some DNFs in the three-moto format, Benolkin finished in the top ten overall at Millville and Red Bud. He skipped the last round at Unadilla.

Cresting the top of the original Millville uphill and doing something that resembles a scrub, but it was 20 years before another Kawasaki rider made it a (motocross) household word.

Tom started 1983 on a Honda Support ride racing the 250 class. At this point, he later reflected that "inside I knew I was beginning the transition to a normal life because (his wife) Roxanne and I had our first daughter on the way." He raced a few Supercross rounds and a GP double-header, US and Canadian. Other than a brief appearance in 1986 on a borrowed CR500, his pro career was over.

1983, Seattle - Benolkin lines up with the stars of the sport at his last Supercross race. His 10th place matched his career best.

2002 was the debut of Vintage Benolkin. With a silver Elsinore 250 as his primary weapon, he went to big Vintage events, winning many, and breaking the bike trying at others.

2002, Millville – Catching this much air with a 1975 chassis often resulted in considerable damage but was very entertaining to watch

One of the appeals of Vintage motorcycles is their simplicity and light weight

Tom borrowed a modern KX250 in 2009 and showed the kids the fast way around the Grantsburg sand

After a long time away from the track, he remerged in 2024 at the AMA Vintage Days. The Bultaco 125 “Funny Bike” was not quite ready but things are setting up nicely for 2025.

Helping break trail for pro riders from Minnesota wasn’t easy, nor was coping with mechanical DNFs, but Tom Benolkin faced the challenges without complaint, achieved a high level of success, and not surprisingly, used his strength of character to achieve success in business while helping others along the way.

Benolkin’s racing efforts in the early 80s helped pave the way for future pro riders from Minnesota such as Donny Schmit, Cory Keeney, Heath Voss, Ryan Dungey, Alex and Jeremy Martin, and many others. Long before any of them were riding nationals, the quiet man with the entertaining, keep-it-pinned style put Minnesota on the Motocross map.

Based on excerpts from Pioneers of Minnesota Motocross: Donny Schmit and Tom Benolkin

Page 1   Page 2   Page 3   Page 4