Jason Weigandt
by: Jason Weigandt
Thursday December 10th, 2009
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Welcome to Quick Fill. Hope you enjoyed round 14 of the series!


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Chris Borich is finally the GNCC Champion!
The GNCC banquet, perhaps better than any other round of the series, gives you an indication of how much this series grows from year to year. This is most obvious in the venue choices-we outgrow a building, it seems, every two years. This year we returned to Lakeview in Morgantown, in a much bigger room than the one we outgrew in 2006. Yes, it was in the gym, but our crew worked pretty hard to make it work. Things were a little smoother on Saturday than Friday, so, sorry ATV guys, we will have it right next year. On Monday morning here at Racer Productions HQ, we held a big meeting to make sure the 2010 event goes even better than this year. But I think most people had a good time.

Maybe a few of them had too good of a time. For those who had to witness the craziness of the bike "Best Bod" award show on Saturday night, we apologize. The Best Bod event always pushes the envelope, as our GNCC boys try to show who has the right assets needed to win the trophy. Bike boys took it even further this year, though, and for that, we may just have to put the event on hiatus for a few years until things calm down. Sorry!

Hey, and congrats to Pat Burch, who won Best Bod on Friday night for ATVs, and Jason "UK" Thomas, who won for bikes. Thomas came to the banquet sporting an authentic Bad Boy club tattoo on his, um, what do they say in the UK? Bum? Yeah, well, he wanted to win the Bad Ass award for it, but it did at least earn him Best Bod. Jason also said he doesn't have a ride next year so he will probably be heading back home. That's really a shame, the guy rode well in his time here. This is just a sign of the times.

Similarly, Suzuki announced their 2010 race teams this week. http://www.racerxonline.com/article/suzuki-announces-2010-racing-plans.aspx

"I'm also pleased to announce that Suzuki is going to continue our support in GNCC racing " said Senior Advertising Manager Steve Bortolamedi explained. "Returning in 2010 is Joshua Strang. Strang will give the new RMZ450 a good run as Suzuki looks to win another championship."

Unfortunately, there was no mention of Charlie Mullins or Chris Borich in the release, which leads us to think Suzuki's budget got cut just too darned much to bring them back. Ouch. This is reality in 2010, folks. Both riders have some '09 Suzukis still in their garage that they could race, but they may just go looking elsewhere now.

Rumors continued that Paul Whibley will join Am-Pro Yamaha next year, but those are just rumors. He could stay with JG Racing, also. Barry Hawk said at the banquet he's pretty much set to return to Am-Pro Yamaha next year, by the way.

We also found out about this addition to factory Husqvarna, via a report on racing in Australia: "Leaving us for 2010 will be Ben Kearney who is moving over to the USA to race with his brother Glenn Kearney in the GNCC. It's been awesome having Ben on our team, and we wish him all the best in his American journey."

So team Husky will be team Kearney!

KTM's team of Kanney, Russell, Buttrick and Baylor is set, too, and those guys were all in California doing their team photos shoots last week, and out testing this week. Russell flew in from California for the banquet and then flew back out on Sunday. Buttrick actually went to the AMA Racing banquet in Vegas on Friday, then our banquet on Saturday, and then back to California, too!


Photo By: Amy McConnell
KTM's new champs, Kirkland and Atwell.
Yes, the AMA held their banquets on Friday. Congrats to Chris Borich, who was named ATV Athlete of the Year, and Dave Simmons, who was named ATV Vet/Senior Rider of the Year. Well done, gang.

A few key moments to highlight from our banquet: At the top of the show each night, I read some comments from the 1989 GNCC Banquet. We actually found the script that GNCC founder Dave Coombs had written for that night, and amazingly, it was dead-on accurate for the 2009 series as well! Dave outlined five key reasons why the series was succeeding, including great racing, great help from our track and landowners, sponsors that get involved at the races, the great, family attitude of our racers, and the hard work of the GNCC staff. Is that not all still true today? Amazing, what that man has set up for us to enjoy.

We also announced the all-time GNCC win list. Scott Summers leads the way on bikes with 46 wins, Rodney Smith has 33 and Ed Lojak has 25. On ATVs, Bill Ballance has the most, with a whopping 68. But what about Barry Hawk, the only rider to ever win overalls on both machines? Barry has 48 ATV wins and 19 on a bike, adding up to, amazingly 67! That's one less than Ballance. On Friday night we named Ballance the all-time GNCC race winner, and he was pretty much speechless. That's one amazing accomplishment.

As for Hawk, he said on Saturday he's never been upset about Ballance taking his record for consecutive ATV Titles, but he was pretty fired up when he heard Ballance edged him in all-time wins. Sounds like Barry wants to go get some more next year! Congrats to both of them, and Summers. They're all legends, for sure.


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Good samaritan award winner Brent Studivant. He stopped to help an injured Brandon Sommers at the Ironman.
We also wanted to give a shout out to two families who landed awards over the weekend, and they really sum up the spirit of GNCC Racing. The Shadron family won the Rough and Ready Pit Crew Award on Friday, they are tireless supporters of GNCC Youth Racers, and all four of the family members race the series! Same for the Wright family on Bikes. All four of them race, and they collected the Bad Ass Award on Saturday.

To find out exactly who won what at the banquet, check out the press releases Rachel "Airport Taxi" Fluharty put together after the event. ATV story, Bike story.

Here's Rodney Tomblin's take on the event:

Well, I finally got to experience my first ever GNCC Awards Banquet this past weekend. And man what an experience. I actually was so excited about it that I showed up on Thursday! And like always, seems they found plenty for me to do. When I pulled through the gate of The Lakeview Resort, I was like wow!! Then when I was making my way to the banquet hall/tennis court, I was like, what? But there stood Tim Cotter our director of operations with a big smile on his face. Not sure if it was because he was happy to see me or happy to see someone, because we had a lot to do. Whichever, he was happy, and happy people make me happy. Anyway, along with Trail Boss Jeff Russell, Jeff Canfield the new technical man on staff, Mr. Cotter and I proceeded to transform this place into a magical looking dining hall. And believe it or not I think we may have pulled it off. The guests were lined up through the fitness center out into the hotel parking lot by the time the doors were ready to open. We put the final touches on the event and opened the floodgates and the party was on.

I was so happy to see Team Faith Ministries Chuck Lemaster there. He offered thanks and asked for blessings on the night and I thought back to when Joey Holloway was the GNCC Chaplin and how much passion he had for our GNCC racing family. It is pleasing to know that Chuck has as much passion for our racing family as Joey does. Chuck is also a racer and it was cool to see him receive his awards for his championship in the UTVs and 2nd place in the Vet C bike class. He got a late start racing the ATV this season to finish in the top of the ATV class he raced in, so no physical reward was given to him for that. But


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Here are your Quick Fill authors soaking up more accolades (and your award is in the mail, Dave Smith).
imagine the personal satisfaction he must have from racing all 3 disciplines of GNCC. Yes this dude did what I am sure a lot of people thought to be either really cool or really crazy: he raced ATVs, UTVs and bikes all in one weekend!  Plus he was at morning chapel service at 8:30 every race morning offering a word from the man upstairs. I would say, he deserves a special award, and GNCC Racing gave him one with the Sport Ambassador Award on Friday night. And I, from the GNCC Racing Nation would just like to say thanks to Chuck and Brian O'Rourke for showing up a couple years ago to race the UTV race in Indiana. That was Joey's last race as Chaplin and the door was opened for Team Faith in a way I don't think they or anyone expected. You owe it to yourself to stop and meet Chuck and Brian and everyone from Team Faith next year. Services will be again scheduled for 8:30 a.m. race mornings and I believe they will actually be on vendor row next season with their Team Faith transporter. So stop by and say hello!

I was amazed when Jason read the opening remarks and to find out that "Big Dave" actually wrote those words over 20 years ago and how true to his vision things remain. He spoke of competition, camaraderie and family. Those remarks have held true since the start of the series in 1975. And nothing seems to have changed, other than the tremendous growth and recognition that the GNCC has seen. I guess it turned out to be a good formula, Big Dave!!!


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Supermini riders Coen and Early.
Some other things that seem to stick out (other than UK JT's new tattoo) were when the announcement of the all-time race win leader, Bill Ballance with 68 total GNCC overall wins. Then to find out it was by only one race over Barry Hawk who has 67. Wow, will the rivalry between these two ever die? They have not raced each other head to head in like 10 years, but they are still neck and neck in the grand scheme of things. You know Hawk has to be fired up now to go out and get some wins this coming year. Bill may have more championships, but Barry looks like he may have a chance to actually best Bill with more wins if things work out (although you know Bill will be aiming for more wins next year, too). I for one will be keeping track. Also, when they announced that Ed Lojak was a 9 time GNCC bike champion, I was floored. I knew there was a reason I felt humbled in his presence. Ed is such a cool guy and you would never know he accomplished so much. But you can definitely see the passion still burns with the work he puts into things with his own kids. Imagine the pressure they must be under now. Talk about Dad setting the impossible goal for you, I guess Ed Jr and Ryan both have their hands full.

As I showed up Sunday morning at 8:00 am, to begin the clean up, I once again could say I was "impressed" with what had taken place there. We took a tennis court and turned it into a banquet hall that anyone would have been proud participated in. It reminded me of how we find ourselves in some pasture field in the middle of nowhere during race season and turn it into a world class race facility with all the bells, whistles and excitement we have come to expect from the greatest racing series in the world. So until next time, God Bless Your Heart and all Your Vital Organs!!!

Thanks, Rodney. Here's more from Fluharty:

Today I'm doubling as SX program contributor and GNCC gossip gal. While I have PLENTY of gossip to go around, I'll be good today and just tell you what I have in store for you next week in Tuesday Toolbox.
Jarrod McClure was a privateer in the XC1 ranks this year, and moved up a national number for 2010. Besides improving this year, he just scored a factory ride with William Yokley's National Guard Polaris team. We'll talk to Jarrod about switching to the new time and the new ride next Tuesday. If you have questions you'd liked answered, email me at RachelF@gnccracing.com.

P.s. I could go the rest of my life without ever seeing Jason Thomas' rear-end ever again. If I could re-do my entire life, even if that meant going through the awkward teenage years again to be somewhere outside of that party room at that moment, I would. Keep your pants on, boys.

Thanks, Rachel.


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Last year's Bad Ass Award Winner, Charlie Welch, congratulated Bill Ballance on winning the award this year.
Here's a press release we got today:

MOTO-XPERTS, Inc. Signs Ballance Race Team for 2010

Bill Ballance, Taylor Kiser, Walker Fowler

Lafayette, IN (12/9/2009) - MOTO-XPERTS, INC. is proud to announce the signing of the Ballance Race Team for the 2010 GNCC race season. MXP will take over the engine research and development program for the team, which will consist of Yamaha's Bill Ballance (XC1), Taylor Kiser (XC1), and Walker Fowler (XC2).

GNCC Racing's 9x Pro ATV Champion Bill Ballance is back for another year as he chases after his tenth championship while his teammate, the #2 Taylor Kiser, will also be chasing after the number 1 plate for 2010, which will make for some exciting racing.

Also, the 2009 top ATV amateur and College A (16-21) class champion, will make his move to the Pro-Am XC2 in hopes for another championship.

Moto-Xperts feels confident that this dynamic trio will continue to be a dominate force in the 2010 GNCC racing season. "With the combination of our state of the art service department and Ballance's proven experience, we feel we will have an amazing 2010 racing season," says MXP owner, Toby Reed. "We are very confident in our proven engine builds, but are constantly testing for something greater. The Ballance Racing Team will help us confirm our in house testing results on the track."

Someone find a camera?

I'm Amber Wolfe, mother of Westley Wolfe. We attended the banquet at WV on 12/4/09.  I lost my camera there.  I called the resort to see if they had found, but no luck.  I wasn't sure if you can put out a mention on your website about lost camera or not.  It may have been found by someone out in the parking lot.  Of course it had lots of pictures on the card that was in the camera.  If you can help me out by putting out the work on a website that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Amber Wolfe

Here's a funny "Cribs" video we found on our buddy Charkie Heugal!

http://vimeo.com/7424125


Photo By: Amy McConnell
Bill Ballance is the all-time career leader in GNCC wins.
The end of the banquet also means the beginning of our GNCC Rider's Meetings, which is where we discuss ideas for the next racing year. We're working on the rules and should have a proposed set ready for tomorrow (hopefully). On bikes, we really didn't have much to discuss, besides some potential re-doing of the Sportsman classes. Some riders feel that having all of those Sportsman riders up front may be causing bottlenecks. We're looking into it, and considering running a Sportsman-type class that is truly restricted to A and B riders, and making beginners ride First Year Racer, or maybe a new, Trail Rider-style class. At least this way they wouldn't all start on Row 1.

On the ATV side, we're planning on raising the Lites 4x4 cc limit to 550 (although now we hear we need to go to 560 to accommodate the 558cc Yamaha Grizzly 550). And some have suggested we move the U2 and 4x4 Open classes to the afternoon. Not sure on that one, as the tracks are way, way rougher in the afternoon race. Anyway, we're looking into it. We also had some suggestions on the Youth Series, such as running two Schoolboy classes, one for the fast kids coming from the Youth Series, and another for true beginning riders.

And we had some suggestions to return the banquet to Thanksgiving Weekend for 2010. This way people won't have to take time off on a non-holiday Friday. So we're working on that.

Questions? Comments? Email our (lucky) Technical Director, Jeff Canfield, jcanfield@gnccracing.com

We're already nearing 3000 words so it's time to go. Good times over the weekend, hope to see you there next year!





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