While most people would consider a trip to France a vacation, Van McCarren views it as a literal endurance test.

McCarren, 25, a 2011 Knoch High School graduate and the son of Mike and Nancy McCarren of Butler, has qualified to represent an American team at one of the oldest and most renowned off-road motorcycle races, the International Six Days Enduro, which will be run in Brive, France, in August.

McCarren said, “One of my passions in life is racing my dirt bike which I've been doing since I was 4 years old.

“Over the course of my racing career, I've competed all over this country in regional and national off-road events. This year, I have been blessed with an opportunity to take my racing abroad,” McCarren said.

“Over the course of four qualifying races all along the East Coast, I have qualified to represent Team USA at one of the most prestigious off-road races in the world, the International Six Days Enduro,” he said.

McCarren said, “The ISDE, considered the Olympics of motorcycling, is a six-day-long race that covers over 800 miles.”

McCarren said motorcycle racers from around the world will vie for the fastest time on a constantly changing course that winds through rocks, roots, hills and mud.

“A unique feature of this race is that the rider has limited time allotted to work on their bike over the course of the race and is not allowed to receive outside assistance from any pit crews,” McCarren said. “This is a true test of man, machine, and nature.”

McCarren said he is carrying on a family tradition with this race.

“It has been a longtime dream of mine to compete in this since I grew up hearing the stories my dad (a four-time ISDE medalist) would tell,” he said.

Mike McCarren rode in the ISDE in Oklahoma, Finland, the Czech Republic and Poland said his wife, Nancy McCarren. “His last race was in 2004.”

Van McCarren said, “I got to go to the one in Poland in 2004. He finished — that's the highest accomplishment; that's the goal. There were so many great riders from across the world.”

Nancy McCarren said the McCarrens plan to make the upcoming race a family affair.

Her son said, “You have to pay your own way. I've never been to France. The town is a smaller town. I'm hoping they are a little more friendly.

Nancy McCarren said, “We are all going to France. Mike is the mechanic.”

Because of the rules of the ISDE, she said, while the racer's mechanic can have tools and parts ready, only the motorcycle rider is allowed to make repairs or swap out equipment.

“He can help me, but he cannot work on the motorcycle,” Van McCarren said.

“He (Van) will have to change tires every day in 15 minutes,” his mom said.

The extra tires will certainly be needed, Van McCarren said.

“During the six days of the race, they will have different challenges every day of the event,” he said.

“Officials are in charge of the event and will use the topography and geology of the site in laying out the challenges,” he said.

“The race will be through rocks, trees and hills.”

McCarren said he will be racing as part of a three-member club team called Appalachian Dirt Riders.

“The three riders all start off at different times, and there's different time checks you have to make. And each racer, he said, “will have test sectors where they have to race against stop watches.”

“We are all trying to be the fastest one,” he said, about the times that are totaled for the six days of the race. McCarren said he will be riding eight hours a day on a Yamaha YZ250FX motorcycle.

“That's what I will be racing, although any dirt bike is legal,” he said.

“I am excited for these riders to get the chance to go to France and represent our country,” said American Motorcyclist Association Off Road/Track Assistant Manager Michael Jolly. “We have a great group of riders, and I hope we can come home with the titles of overall club rider and overall club team. I also want to thank the motorcycle clubs and organizations for supporting these athletes.”

The teams represent a cross section of racers from across the country. Each club team is supported by companies and individuals who support the overall effort of the U.S. ISDE team and individual riders, Jolly noted.

“The ISDE committee — composed of longtime ISDE racers and AMA staff members — organized the teams with the hope of earning every spot on the podium, along with providing the riders the best opportunity to work together, ride together and succeed together,” said AMA Off-Road Racing Manager Erek Kudla.

The ISDE began more than a century ago, in 1913, and has endured, Kudla said, and forms the most passionate and ancient history of the off-road racing, “a history that has lasted until today and that we all know as International Six Days of Enduro.

Nancy McCarren said for all the off-road racing father and son have put in there have been very few mishaps.

She said, “Van actually has been never been hurt. Mike has been racing for 40 years. He's had a few things, but we don't like to dwell on it.

“It is a dangerous sport, but it's what they like to do,” she said.

McCarren said his goals for the ISDE are modest.

He said, “Finish the event with my motorcycle and myself in one piece, while having the chance to prove myself against some of the best riders in the world.”

The International Six Days Enduro is the annual FIM Enduro World Championship for national teams.Each country participating in this event is authorized to have four riders representing the World Trophy Team, three riders under the age of 23 representing the Junior Trophy Team, three female riders representing the Women's World Cup Team, and three riders for each Club Team entered to represent their country.- The World Trophy winner is determined by totaling the team's four riders' scores each day for six days with the lowest team score after six days being the winner.- The Junior World Trophy is determined by totaling the team's three riders' scores each day for six days with the lowest team score after six days being the winner.- The Women's World Cup is determined by totaling the team's top two of three riders' scores each day for six days with the lowest team score after six days being the winner.- The Club Teams will score the team's top two of three riders' each day, and again, after six days the lowest combined score is the winner.<em>American Motorcyclist Association</em>