Each year as we put together our annual Roadracing World Trackday Directory we gather photos of products that we use and recommend for those looking to go to the racetrack. One such product is the Sport Chock designed by NASA engineer-turned-racer William “Chip” Mayfield and built by his company Baxley by Providence in Alabama.

In case you don’t know, the Sport Chock (and its larger, original sibling the L.A. Chock) capture the front wheel of a sportbike, holding the motorcycle in place upright all by itself. It’s very helpful when getting off a racebike or trackday bike without a sidestand. And it’s even more useful when loading and securing a motorcycle into a truck, van, or trailer. The chocks are also often used to display bikes at events, dealerships, and in collections.

Going through photos, we came across a shot of a track day participant using a chock that closely resembled a Baxley Sport Chock. At a glance, it was easy to mistake the imitation chock with the real thing. So, in the interest of saving someone from potentially buying an imitation chock when they intended to purchase a Baxley Sport Chock, we asked Mayfield what people should look for to ensure they get the real thing.

• Because imitation chocks are shipped from overseas and shipping space is at a premium, imitation chocks are shipped in pieces and bolted together somewhere along the line. Baxley Sport Chocks, meanwhile, are welded together at the factory and shipped as a single, assembled piece.
• Imitation chocks use some small-diameter, round tubing and sometimes rectangular sections of painted metal pieces, but Baxley Sport Chocks are made entirely from 1.5-inch diameter steel tubing with a durable powdercoat finish.
• All Baxley Sport Chocks have four rubber footings to prevent them from sliding when a bike is loaded into it.
• And finally, all Baxley Sport Chocks have a plate riveted prominently to them that states “The Baxley Sport Chock, Made In The USA” among other things.

And if there’s still any doubt, potential buyers of Baxley Sport Chocks – or any of their other chock or trailer products – can contact the company directly at (888) 988-8833, www.baxleybyprovidence.com, and on social media.