Quick Fill #41: The Ironman

by: Jason Weigandt
Thursday October 21st, 2010

Photo By: David Scearce
Barry Hawk at last year's Ironman GNCC

Also, the fact remains that our rulebook doesn't allow a rider to race the ATV race on Saturday and the bike race in the XC1 class on Sunday. Why? Well, the potential is there for a pro bike rider to go ride the ATV race on Saturday just to learn the track for Sunday-in fact, one time a pro bike rider rode on Saturday with a helmet cam on, just to get a full review of the track! Now, we know for sure that Barry wasn't racing on Saturday to gain an advantage, but if we relax the rulebook for him, what's stopping anyone else from doing it for the wrong reasons? And changing rules during the season just because it's fun or exciting is a bad precident, as well. Big Dave Coombs, our series founder, always used to say that you should live by the rulebook and die by the rulebook. We (and I) wanted to see Barry do this very badly, but it's strange to say we're doing the wrong thing by not breaking the rules.

Now, maybe we can put a clause in there for next year just to make sure this can happen if someone like Barry wanted to. But changing the rules during the season? Can't do it. Sets a bad precident. Makes it look like the rulebook only applies when we want it to. Doesn't matter how popular the decision is, or, for that matter, how many tickets we would sell to the race. We need to stand by our rules, even if it hurts us in a way.

Besides the Hawk situation, everything about the race will still be awesome and big and exciting (and Hawk's still racing on Sunday). The Ironman is like nothing else, and this year it's even cooler with our pink weekend theme.

Photo By: David Scearce
Knighter wanted to race an ATV at Ironman in 2008, but he had to skip the bike race.

We have plenty of other things planned for this fun weekend. For more, let's turn it over to our reporters, first, GNCC race and photo report guy, Shan Moore.

Thanks, Jason. Here's a little bit about a lot for this week. First off, congratulations to Paul Whibley for wrapping up his third-straight OMA title with a win at last weekend's Moose Run in Illinois. Paul has been on a roll since switching over to the new YZ and he now has seven-straight wins in OMA competition, in addition to his win at the Power Line GNCC two weeks ago. He mentioned on the podium at the Power Line that his goal was to win the Ironman, so look for the Axeman to be on his game this weekend.

Unfortunately, Scotty Watkins broke his collarbone at the Moose Run when he tangled with Jimmy Jarrett while racing for position, so we'll be short one rider in the XC2 class at the Ironman. Get well soon, Scotty. Jarrett went on to finish second ahead of enduro guy Nick Fahringer and our own Jordan Ashburn.

Speaking of Ashburn, it will be interesting to see where he lands for next year. He's had some pretty impressive performances this year, working up and beating some XC2 guys and even, at times, some XC1 guys. His dad told me Jordan is weighing his options and waiting to see what comes along. A lot of guys are still negotiating for deals for 2011, so it will be fun to see what comes out of this year's Silly Season.

It was also cool seeing eight-time national enduro champ Michael Lafferty at Power Line Park. It looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of "Junior" and Husaberg teammate Nick Fahringer in the GNCC series next year since both KTM and Husaberg are asking (insisting?) their riders to ride two championship series in 2011, and I get the impression that OMA is not an option. This makes good sense with the economy and budgets what they are. It allows sponsors to get more exposure for the money if their riders are going to twice as many races - although, it might be kind of tough on the riders.  I think Randy Hawkins has the same idea for next year, as well. Thad DuVall was pretty impressive at the Indiana enduro, and of course, Charlie Mullins totally dominated that series.

Photo By: Team Suzuki
Check out Josh Strang's graphics for the weekend. We'll auction off this set, with the plastic, on eBay.

There was not as much drama when Chris Borich wrapped up the XC1 title, just because of the big lead he had in the standings, but that doesn't take away from the incredible year the Suzuki rider had. Ten wins out of 12 rounds is simply amazing considering the talent that's on the starting line this year. And when you consider how easy it is to make a mistake in the kind of conditions these guys are competing in, then you have to realize how incredible back to back titles really is.

Cory Buttrick's dad, Dennis (D-Butt to his friends), was like a kid at Christmas after the final round of the enduro series in Indiana. Not so much because Cory won (which he did with an awesome performance), but because KTM retired the 250 two-stroke that Cory has been riding all year and D-Butt ended up with it! As some of you know, Dennis was a pretty fast GNCC racer himself and he was stoked to have a new personal bike to ride on the non-GNCC weekends. Go get 'em D-Butt.

I'm looking forward to my first Ironman this weekend; I've heard a lot of cool things about this race. I understand it brings one of the biggest crowds of the year. I can't wait to see the steep hills, especially if it rains.

Thanks, Shan. Now on to GNCC Announcer Rodney Tomblin.

Thanks Jason. Here we go again one final time in 2010 with this Amsoil Ironman GNCC this weekend in Crawfordsville Indiana. This year will celebrate our 16^th running in one of America's hot beds of off road. There are so many cool things about this race that is so hard to even begin. Unfortunately there will be no Barry Hawk doing the duo of ATV and Bikes, but there is still plenty of reason to be excited.

First is the fact that we still have one championship to wrap up in the XC2 Pro Am Class. Remember a year ago as we came down to the wire here in Indiana Brian Wolf was in a similar situation with the championship. However, he was the one that was trailing behind the 2009 points leader and XC2 Pro Am Champion Josh Kirkland. Wolf was on a roll heading into the final rounds of the season when similar events to this years DNF that occurred in St. Clarisville Ohio at the Power Line Park GNCC. The only difference was that Kirkland had been so consistent finishing worse than second place only once in the entire season. Brian needed Josh to have a bad race in order for him to take a championship he had worked so hard to earn. Kirkland did have his worst race of the year finishing 7^th place on the day. Only thing is, that is only as good as he needed to do. Wolf won the race, Kirkland won the title, and it all finished in dramatic fashion, and Kirland battled to make the passes he needed to make on the last lap.

Photo By: Ironman GNCC
The Ironman fan shuttle is getting a makeover for the weekend!

Second is the fact that GNCC has gone Pink! It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the GNCC Racing Nation is really answering the call. I have seen sneak peaks of team and individual graphics sporting the theme and this is going to be exciting to help bring awareness to such a great cause.

It was cool to get the email from Lori Shaver from out at the Shaver Family Farm where Tom's Marine and the Ironman GNCC is located. Lori sent pictures of the newly painted Ironman Shuttle Bus to keep in the spirit of raising awareness. The Shavers are a great family and what is even better is that they surround themselves with a great group of people. One guy in particular is "Indiana Rodney". He's a great guy, and he has a cool name too.

Last week I said I would look into the morning bike side of things for these weeks Quick Fill. The Power Line Park GNCC was exciting from the standpoint of the late season class changes and graduations we had a chance to watch. Included in these graduations were the 2010 GNCC over All Youth Bike Champ Layne Michael and Runner up Grant Baylor. To give you an idea just how much potential these boys have; Layne road the 4 Stroke A Lites class where he ran an early 3^rd and finished a respectable 5^th in class and 41^st over all his time racing a GNCC on a big bike. Grant Baylor rode the 250B Class finishing 1^st in class and 39^th over all. Amazing for their first race!

As far as Youth Bikes are concerned we have seen the emergence of new blood to the top of the ranks in Ohio. Congratulations to Dillon Shoemaker who took his first over all win and 3^rd podium for the season.

Second place went to Zack Hayes who not only finished on the podium for the fourth time this season, but also took his best finish of the season with the runner up spot. And congrats to Super Mini 12-13 rider Anthony Stone who took a season's best finish with his first class win and first podium over all.

In the 10:00 a.m. race, the Sportsman A class riders once again dominated the scene with Hubbard, Ohio's Chad Orr taking the win, East Palestine, Ohio's Chad Tallman taking the runner up spot and Logan Ohio's Aaron Miller rounding out the top 3. The notable moment of this race seems to have been the 8^th place over all finish by newly crowned Women Class Champ, FMF/KTM's Maria Forsberg. Maria has now finished in the top 10 a total of four times this season with her best finish at Loretta Lynn's. This was however her strongest finish since Loretta's in April.

UTV Racing returned to the GNCC schedule in Ohio as once again we saw an amazing battle throughout the entire field. 52 teams lined up in 5 different classes to tackle the driest UTV GNCC we have seen this season. William Yokely in the Dragonfire/National Guard/Factory Polaris held onto a now 22-point lead heading into the last round. The race winning team of Coastal/Kiger piloted by Scott Kiger finished 1^st with their first finish of the year. Not points contenders but surely going to be a lot of fun watching these teams battle it out to the finish here in Indiana.

Photo By: Ironman GNCC
Hitch a ride down to Ironman hill this weekend!

1 - Don't forget your pink. Pink hair, pink gear, pink graphics, pink whatever to help raise awareness for research.

2 - It has been extremely dry in Indiana and I caution you that there is a burn ban in Crawfordsville this year, so be prepared.

3 - Chapel services will take place each race morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Team Faith pits on vendor row.

4 - Register for the Can Am Outlander that Racer Productions will be giving away on Saturday following the ATV race. You can sign up at the Can Am Zone on vendor row. Last chance!!

5 - There WILL NOT be a Can Am Demo Ride this weekend. We apologize for any inconveniences but they had schedule changes that hampered them from making it to the last couple of events.

6 - There WILL be a Yamaha demo ride and display for you to check out while cruising the pits this weekend.

7 - Pick up your trash. Please bag all your trash and bring it back to the pits and place in a proper location. Some of the heavy spectator areas will have trash receptacle so please use them help us maintain a trash free environment. This request goes for the pits and the trails.

Looks like that will do it for me this week. God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs!

Thanks, Rodney. Before you head out to Indiana, don't forget to set your DVR or TiVo to record Racer TV's coverage of the ATV race from Power Line Park. Yup, we're just one week behind on the races at this time of year, so well done to Jason Hooper and the GNCC TV crew for turning these shows around so fast. Chris Borich wraps up the title at this one, and the racing is awesome. Show airs Sunday at 3 p.m. on Versus.

That's it for this week. Have fun at the Ironman!