A motocross track that opened in rural western Warren County last year without first getting a conditional use permit was able to hold its second scheduled charity race of 2026 over the weekend after receiving official approval for its plans last week.
The MOVMX Missouri Vintage Motocross Series Round 9 was held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, at Tonyland Vintage MX Park, located at 29148 Red School House Rd. off of Route Y near Jonesburg. All proceeds will go toward pancreatic cancer research, according to a social media post for the event.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Warren County Planning & Zoning Commission approved a request from Anthony and Betsy Pupillo for a conditional use permit for the property to host a charity motocross event with camping twice a year.
Anthony Pupillo told county officials earlier this year that the Pupillos built their motocross track and held their first race last year before they realized they needed a conditional use permit, according to previous Record reporting.
The race in 2025 raised money for ALS research, and the Pupillos had another race scheduled in June of this year, but had to cancel the official event after concerns were raised about their plans. Instead, they invited friends over for an unofficial race day and donated $1,500 to the AGAPE food pantry.
Issues raised at previous meetings about the racetrack have included noise, as well as the RV camping planned for the property.
“I hope you aren’t seriously considering” approving plans for the motocross races, one nearby resident told commissioners in June, according to previous Record reporting.
More recently, however, the Warren County Commission approved changes Sept. 24 to the county’s zoning regulations regarding outdoor recreation venues. Two temporary camping periods were allowed per year at such venues, with the length of those periods limited to three consecutive nights.
For outdoor recreation venues located in the county’s agricultural zoning district, which is the zoning of the Tonyland racetrack, conditional use permits were required for occasional special events that occur no more than twice per year for a maximum of 10 days each.
No members of the public spoke in opposition to the motocross track prior to approval of the conditional use permit for the races Oct. 1, although the Pupillos faced a few more questions from planning and zoning commissioners.
Asked by Commissioner Alan Weber about setbacks, Anthony Pupillo said the nearest residence is probably 40 to 50 feet from the property line, and 100 feet from the track.
He said there were three designated pit areas, that the camping area was separated from the track with orange construction fencing, and spectators were sectioned off away from the track.
Asked about lighting, Pupillo said there is no lighting throughout most of the facility, as the track will only be used for daytime events.
Pupillo said there were plans to bring in and then remove porta-potties for this weekend’s event, as well as a pumper truck for the campers and a large rolloff dumpster.
“A lot of places have bring-in, bring-out, and that’s what a lot of people do, but we did get a big dumpster anyway,” he said.
“When we did do the thing last year, there was absolutely nothing on the ground the following morning, nothing,” he added.
The vote to approve the conditional use permit was 5-0, with Commissioners Brian Nothstine and Dawn Turpin absent.
Pupillo said that around 500 people attended the race last year. As of Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3, he estimated around 200 people had stopped by the racetrack for last weekend’s event.
The main issue of concern to county officials when they tabled the Pupillo’s conditional use permit request was the proposed RV camping, according to previous Record reporting, but this was resolved by recent changes to rules for outdoor recreation venues, Pupillo said.
There was previously one neighbor, in particular, who objected to the motocross track, Pupillo added, but that person is no longer living next door.
“They moved out and a professional Supercross racer moved in, so he’s out here racing today,” he said.
Concerns previously raised about Tonyland have included that Pupillo sometimes uses the track for private events with friends outside of official race events. Pupillo told the Record, though, that he has no plans to open the track commercially to the public on any regular basis.
“My wife would shoot me,” he said, adding that even hosting two races per year is a challenge. “She didn’t want to have two, she wants me to limit it to one,” he said.
Following their approval of the conditional use permit Oct. 1, Pupillo invited the commissioners to attend the weekend race. “I think you’ll really enjoy it,” he said.
