CYPRESS, Calif. ”“ Yamaha ATV racing champ Traci Cecco-Pickens was honored this week by the city of Shamokin, Pa., for her successful ATV racing career. At a ceremony Monday night including the city council and approximately 50 spectators including Traci’s family and friends, Mayor George S. Rozinskie, Jr., proclaimed December 10, 2012, as Traci Cecco-Pickens day in Shamokin and presented her with the key to the city honoring her as a historic competitor and role model for the city’s youth.

“I’ve enjoyed 14 years of racing professionally, fought for nine championships and a created lifetime of memories,” Traci said of her career. “I'm honored to receive this key and proud to say I'm from Shamokin ”“ the city that provided me all the tools and resources that I needed to make my dreams come true!”Â

Yamaha’s Regional Business Manager Kevin DeCew was also in attendance at the event: “On behalf of everyone at Yamaha, I’d like to thank Traci for all of her years of dedication and for her accomplishments in the sport of ATV racing. She is a tenacious competitor and represents Yamaha in a highly professional manner throughout the state of Pennsylvania and across the country.”Â

Traci capped a historic career in 2012 with her ninth Grand National Cross Country ATV Racing Women’s class championship. Traci announced her retirement from racing on October 20, 2012, at the famous Ironman GNCC event in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
The Shamokin area is also home to the Northumberland County's Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA), a new ATV riding area that is expected to open in 2013. Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative provided a $20,000 GRANT to help support the development of the new riding area.