Watch them fly

A year ago, around this time, members of the Malta's Outlaw MX invited the PCN out to one of the spots where they ride and catch air on a plot of land north of town on Highway 191.

That day, Shane Carnahan – along with his cohorts -- zipped across the prairie on his motorcycle, hit a huge ramp and a breakneck speed and propelled himself 35-feet into the air before performing a tail-whip to the delight of the ground-dwellers.

"It's a great way to clear your mind from the daily grind," Carnahan said after about 15-trips off the ramp.

This June 4, during the 14th Annual First State Bank Car Show in Malta, Carnahan is going to provide the people of Phillips County (who are, more than likely, more comfortable with their feet on the ground) a free motorcycle show that will leave their heads in the clouds.

"The only reason I am doing this is that I am trying to bring something more to this community," said Carnahan. "As a car-guy, I love going to the Car Show, but to the general public, people have seen a lot of the same cars for 13-years in a row and I think something new would be cool."

Carnahan said that adults attend the Car Shows and meet up with friends they have made over the years at the event, which is great. But he hopes to help increase attendance at the show by bringing entertainment that will appeal to all demographics and especially teens and young adults.

"I have noticed a lack of kids downtown on that Saturday," he said. "They are home playing video games focused on dirt bikes, skateboards and the like, but why not come out and watch one of these exhibitions live?"

Carnahan is bringing four, professional freestyle motocross athletes to Malta to perform downtown at the car show, including two of the best riders in the world. Jimmy Fitzpatrick, a member of the Metal Mulisha family who was featured on America's Got Talent last season, has made a name for himself with some of the craziest Kiss of Death Flips (KOD) in the world – a KOD is when a rider, while in the air, positions the bike as close to vertical as possible and then kicks his legs above his head.

"Only a handful of people in Phillips County have seen someone backflip a motorcycle, let alone something like that," Carnahan said. "It's just amazing."

Another rider Carnahan is bringing to town is 50-year-old Paul Smith, hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada, who is also known around the world for his big-air tricks.

"He is, right now, at the top of his game doing this," said Carnahan.

The event will be free to the public and promises to be family-friendly. Carnahan, in conjunction with Psycho Sports Cartel founder Vince D'Ambrose, said he hopes to make the freestyle show a yearly event at the car show. This year's show is also tentatively scheduled to feature Ryan Hillfiger and Zach Bennett who are up and coming riders who will "blow everyone in the county's mind," according to Carnahan.

Because the event will be free to the public, Carnahan is footing the entire bill to bring the riders to the Car Show.

"I am trying to raise money because it is going to cost me $4,000 out of my own pocket because I want this to happen," he said. "If anyone wants to help fund it and help get more people to town for the Car Show, please do. It's going to be good, family fun. Anywhere else, you would have to pay anywhere from $20 to $100 for tickets to watch something like this. The only people making any money on this is the riders, there is no take-home for me. If there are funds left over, that will all go into an account to pay to bring these back next year."

To help fund the show, you can visit Carnahan's GoFund me site which can be found at http://www.gofundme.com/rxnfpghc to make donations.

As far as any local riders hitting the ramp during the show, Carnahan said it is not likely, but not out of the question either.

"I might," he laughed. "But that is about the time I crash in front of my hometown and really give everyone something to talk about for the next few years."