Jason Weigandt
by: Jason Weigandt
Thursday October 22nd, 2009
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Welcome to Quick Fill. We're ready for the biggest race of the year.


Photo By: Jason Hooper
Big crowds expected this weekend.
The Ironman is not like any other GNCC. It's a festival, a carnival, a spectacle. There will be more spectators here than any other GNCC, there will be more stuff to do, and I'm sure at some point over the weekend we will all have one of those "what recession?" moments. It's a celebration, so no matter what your racing situation is this weekend, take a minute to just enjoy it for a moment. As my motocross television partner David Bailey told me after he finished the Ironman Triathlon last weekend, "I took a snapshot real quick." Do the same, because you won't be racing for months after this.

And as far as racing goes next year, we have our 2009 dates all set! We know you've all been waiting, so here goes:

2010 Grand National Cross Country Dates

Rd 1

Feb 27-March 2

Rd 2

March 6-7

Rd 3

March 20-21

Rd 4

April 10-11

Rd 5

April 24-25

Rd 6

May 8-9

Rd 7

May 22-23

Rd 8

June 5-6

Rd 9

June 26-27


Break

Rd 10

September 11-12

Rd 11

September 25-26

Rd 12

October 9-10

Rd 13

October 23-24

 

Lots of special stuff planned for this weekend, including Track Smack Live on Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. Announcer Rodney Tomblin and "Digital" Dave Smith will interview recently crowned GNCC ATV Champion Chris Borich on Friday, and on Saturday, ISDE team members, Shock Doctor KTM's Nate Kanney, Kurt Caselli and Cory Buttrick, as well as ISDE Women's Cup competitor Amanda Mastin will stop by. You can listen to the live interview by following the Track Smack Live link right here on www.gnccracing.com


Photo By: Jason Hooper
You don't get fans like this at most off-road races.
That's just the start. The Ironman will once again host demo rides on 2010 product from Can-Am, Polaris, Yamaha and KTM. We'll have UTV racing again, too, and William Yokley is bringing in fellow Mona Vie EMV driver Thomas Scheckter, from the Indy Racing League Series, as his co-pilot. Click here for that news. Better get those Mona Vie anti-oxidants, boys, because you'll be eating mud all day, too!

And it's the last race of the year, so feel free to clean out your garages and sell, sell, sell some of your old parts at the track.

Of course there is more to do this weekend than just celebrate. It's time to race, as well. Once again we have a great list of news and letters outlining championship scenarios. Here goes:

First, we have two riders aiming for perfect seasons, a pretty rare feat in GNCC circles. Warnert Can-Am's Michael Swift has won 12 of 12 in the 4x4 Limited class. Swift has come oh-so-close year after year to collecting a perfect score, this year he's avoided mistakes through every lap of every round and has a shot at 13. Same with Shawn Javens, undefeated in the ATV Senior B class. Good luck, fellas.

And Swift's buddy Cliff Beasley has won all but one race in 4x4 Lites class. One of these year's he is finally gonna' have the perfect season, too.


Photo By: Jason Hooper
Plenty of new product will be on hand for you to try. For free!
And one ATV Utility Title is still up for grabs, the Open 4x4 class. That's a knock down drag out duel between Scott Kilby and Bryan Buckhannon, and Rachel "the dog barked at my kayak" Fluharty chatted with them both in a special Tuesday Toolbox. CLICK HERE.

And if you already are a GNCC Class Champion, get your gear order in now! The good folks at Parts Unlimited are hooking our top riders up with THOR gear this year. Click here to order your sizes and styles

As for other titles, here are some more stories:

Hi Jason, the bike Super Vet C 35+ has first and second going at it for 1st overall, and third and fourth going at it for their overall. We have been back and forth battling each other all year and it is coming down to the last race. There are only a couple of points separating both first and second, and third and fourth. No matter what, this has been the most fun I ever had racing in my life. This is my first year in the woods but not my last. I will see you next year no matter what!

- Jason Cooper

We also have a battle in the ATV 36+ C class between Dave Barton and John Lupinsky. These two are tied in points! The Quad Zone gang has a nice interview going regarding that:

http://www.quadzoneforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33661


Last year's GNCC "Best Bod" award winner Garon Davis checked in with info on the Sport ATV class championship:

Things are working out just like they are supposed to in the Sport Class 15+ on the ATV side.  Will Cashion and I will battle it out in the final race of the season.  We have both made all 13 races and every race has been a blast racing with some really fast guys.  Cashion has more wins, but had some bad luck and has left me with a chance.  If I win and he gets 4th I will win, but if he does third or better it's his championship.  It's a long shot for me but anything can happen at the Ironman!!!  I am starting my own insurance agency so I have had very little time to ride or work on the bike.  Luckily my boy Todd Demaree at S.I.C.C. racing is taking my quad and getting it ready for battle.  I'm coming straight from classes to the race and then back to classes on Sunday night!

And since this race is co-sanctioned with the IXCR series I also have a bike class championship on the line in the C Class.  So let rain start falling like it always does for the Ironman and I'll be waiting for the Tennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Second call!

Garon Davis


Cool. Here's another letter:

I feel the need to say a little about Justin Sode, #189 KTM in the 4 Stroke C Lites class.

Justin came from the youth class last year on a 105, to a 250 4 stroke, he is in 3rd place right now, one point out of 2nd, and 2nd place Derrick Shaw is one point out of 1st place of Trevor Bollinger, So this will really be one to watch in Indiana!

Also I am sure you remembered that Justin took first overall at Yadkin Valley, with a five-minute lead. That is amazing!  Then at Power Line Park, Justin was .00984 out of third overall

Thanks!

Brenda Sode



Photo By: Jason Hooper
Ah yes, the famous Ironman Hill!
Looks like our buddy Joe "Dirt" Scherer is finally going to make it back to a GNCC this year-too bad he got hurt before the season started and basically missed the whole year. Here's a letter:

Jason just wanted you to know that Joe raced the last AWRCS over the weekend had a good race ended up 3rd overall. Barry Hawk won the race and Brett Zofchak was 2nd. Joe is going to be at the last GNCC so we will see everyone there.

- Joe Dirt Senior


And finally, the GNCC bike XC1 title is coming down to the wire. By my calculations, Paul Whibley needs only a 14th in the XC1 class to lock this thing down. Both Whibley and his rival Josh Strang are still working hard, Whibley won a race in Indiana last weekend (of course he had to race somewhere!) and Strang competed in the high-profile MX Top Gun Showdown at Muddy Creek raceway. He finished fifth in the 450 pro class, and looked so strong that amateur motocross super journalist Wes Williams texted me on Sunday morning "Your boy Josh Strang representing at Muddy Creek!"


Photo By: Jason Hooper
Nate Kanney gets to some sprayin' after last year's win. Can he do it again?
Both of these guys are motivated, and something tells me that even though Whibs has this year's crown nearly locked up, Strang is already thinking about sending messages for next year. And they're not the only ones-think guys like Jimmy Jarrett, Nate Kanney, Thad DuVall, Barry Hawk and Glenn Kearney have some frustrations to get out?

And now that the race is here, we can tell you about a big surprise that was supposed to happen and now won't. BMW was planning on bringing Simo Kirssi back on their works bike this weekend, but he hurt his hand at the ISDE last week and won't be able to go. Sharp-eyed readers may remember Simo brought the Beemer over to the Ironman in 2007, only to crash and break his collarbone on the very first lap of the race! But don't rule out BMW racing GNCC next year. Not sure who the rider will be, though (personally, I vote for Juha Salminen!)

Also, the XC2 bike class has a battle going for second between Cory Buttrick and Jason Thomas. And the whole darned shooting match is on the line in ATV XC2 between Josh Kirkland and Brian Wolf. Kirkland has a nice lead, but that class has been crazy this year so you never know what will happen.

We're done. Get to the Ironman. You won't want to miss this one.


Photo By: Tim Mulvihill
Reader Tim Mulvihill took this cool shot of Josh Strang at Power Line. He said he'll shoot more this weekend.

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