February 20, 2026 Benchmark Abrasives

James Lowery (Veteran MX Throttle Therapy)

Welcome to this month's #benchmarkspotlight Beyond the Bench series - we had the opportunity to sit down with James from @veteran_mx and talk a little about the event.

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Name: James Lowery

Event Name: Veteran MX Throttle Therapy

Location: CycleRanch MX in Floresville Texas

Socials: IG: @veteran_mx FB: VeteranMX

Website: www.veteranmx.com

YouTube: Veteran MX Foundation

Tell us about the event — what’s it called, how did it start, how long has it been around, and what community does it bring together?
This event is called Veteran MX Throttle Therapy. It is among different events across the country put together by members of Veteran MX and sponsored by Veteran MX Foundation. This is the second year this particular event has taken place. I became a member of Veteran MX in 2025, as and with the help of the Vice Pesident Jason Bennett we got the first event started here in South Texas. These events bring together military veterans, and current service members from across the U.S.

Tell us a little about yourself and your role in this event. How did you get involved?
I am 56 yrs old, married with 10 children ages from 18 to 44. I was medically retired from the U.S Army in 2010. I ride motocross when my body allows me to. I enjoy going to the shooting range, and hunting.

I had noticed Veteran MX online before I joined however I didn’t really look into it much. And then in 2025 at the Arlington Supercross there was a Veteran MX booth set up and I talked to them and found out what a great organization they are. After I got home I looked into the website more and joined in March 2025. And it has been great. It is so much more than just riding dirt bikes. It is a brotherhood like in the military.

For someone who’s never attended an event like this, how would you describe it in a few words?
The best way to describe a Veteran MX event would be, that feeling of camaraderie that you only experience from being in the military mixed with emotional support and motocross.

What inspired you to create or host this event, and what problem or need does it serve within your community?
What inspired me to create this event was mainly the need to bring the Veteran MX members in Texas together. Veteran MX bridges veterans giving them a platform to cultivate camaraderie and to create a support system within one another.

What makes this event different from others in the same space?
The difference between this event and other motocross events is that Veteran MX members have served in the military and have experienced life differently than civilians. For this reason veterans can relate to one another through a bond of brotherhood.

Events like this don’t happen overnight. What goes into preparing for it behind the scenes?
Organizing a Veteran MX event, takes quite a bit to put it all together. There are steps first finding a track owner willing to work with you. Coming to agreements for the event. Second is getting it all on a spreadsheet and submitting it to Veteran MX board for approval. Once the board approves it, the time begins sending emails to find companies willing to sponsor food and donate items for the raffle. Thank you, Benchmark Abrasives. Then there's promoting the event on social media. Writing all this down here does not give the full effect of the time it takes to orchestrate the event. I couldn’t even tell you how many emails I have sent out for this event. In the end it is all woth it for my veteran brothers and sisters.

You’re bringing together people from different backgrounds, states, or skill levels. What do you think draws them all together?
You have to think about the military, we all came from different backgrounds, states, and different skill sets. Yet we formed a brotherhood together that lasts a lifetime. Being a member of Veteran MX and attending the events takes you back to your time in the military. Every year there is a week long retreat in Kansas at Bar2Bar Mx. It ends with the Veteran MX Championship which coincides with the Kansas State Championship. This past year there were over 120 members that attended from all over the U.S. That’s the thing about veterans: you may not have ever met before however there is a bond of brotherhood no matter where your from or what your background is.

Many events also give back in some way. Can you share how this event supports a cause, organization, or future opportunity for others?
Veteran MX is a non-profit organization where no one is paid for what they do. Other than operational cost all the funds go back out to the veterans. Veteran MX empowers veterans struggling with the physical and mental scars of service using motocross as a platform to bring veterans together. At Veteran MX there are many opportunities, for current and future members. It all depends on you, you get out what you put into it.

Hands-on work usually comes with messes, long days, and real effort. Are there any tools, products, or routines that help keep things running smoothly?
Motocross is a very dirty sport, on and off the track. There are so many tools you need to keep a dirt bike running. I keep everything running with a routine; after I use tools I clean them. To me when your tools and my work area get all mucked up they do not work as well. I think of tools like I do my rifles they must be cleaned after every use to get optimal use from them.

What’s been one of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced at one of these events?
My most memorable moment at a Veteran MX event, would be at my 1st Veteran MX Campionship. From the moment I got there, I felt a feeling. I had not had that feeling since leaving the military. It was a feeling of belonging, you know how it feels to get home after being gone for awhile? That’s how I felt times ten. It felt as if the world was lifted off my shoulders. I could let my guard down and just be me.

Looking ahead, what’s the long-term vision for this event, and what do you hope people take away after attending?
I feel the long term vision for all Veteran MX events is for the members to heal emotionally and physically. I hope after attending a Veteran MX event veterans take away the feeling of a place they belong and have the feeling of brotherhood.