Quick Fill #49: The GNCC Lifestyle

Welcome to Quick Fill. Amazing nights for GNCC Racing.

I've been with this tour for ten years, and during that time, we've been trying to get to the core of "what GNCC racin' is all about." It's very easy for someone on the outside to just assume this is just a woods race. But we all know there's something more here. There's a bond, there's a family atmosphere. There's a lifestyle.

Everyone at the races sees it, but it's so hard to explain to those that haven't ever looked. But it was there at the banquets this weekend. Emotion poured out, stories rolled forward, and the love of this series was obvious in the room.

The pinnacle of it all came during the ATV XC2 segment of the program, when Josh Kirkland made his improbable return to the racing scene. Josh has been in a hospital ever since a crash left him paralyzed over the summer. Few had seen him, and those that did had seen that he had a long, rough road ahead. To see Josh make it out of the hospital and to this show, for him to sit on stage with his competitors and accept his fifth-place trophy (fifth in an injury shortened year, no less) and even talk a little smack on his buddies, was about as heart wrenching as it will ever get.

And not just because Josh is paralyzed and made his way back. But also because of the way his competitors took to him-the way he was surrounded by well wishers all night. The way Eric Hoyland accepted the Good Samaritan award for not racing XC2 at the Ironman to ensure Josh stayed in the final top five. The way Bryan Wolf, the new XC2 champ, gave Josh the number-one plate on stage and said "here's your real champ right here."

Emotion was everywhere. From the ATV riders still stunned over the loss of Ryan Earley, Chris Cole, Marcus Gonzalez, Brad Jefferies and John Gallagher Sr. To Saturday night's show, where we mourned the loss of Jessica Lojak, Richard Clarke and motorcycle pioneer Eyvind Boyesen.

Then there was Barry Hawk's lifetime achievement award on Saturday, complete with an awesome slideshow and video. Barry announced he is retiring from full-time GNCC competition after 22 years in the game-and arguably the greatest career in the history of this tour.

Emotion was there because this series means so much to the people involved in it-this is where you choose to live your life, and we appreciate that more than any words or any awards could ever explain.

Here's a letter from our Award of Media Excellence winners, Offroadjunkies.com

Hey Weege,

I just wanted to give a big thank you to you guys for selecting us for the award this weekend. When I decided to step away from racing full time to focus on trying to make a name for myself on this side of the industry, winning this award seemed like an ultimate goal for me and now that we've accomplished that, it's going to be hard to top it.

I've won races (not many), I've finished in the top 5 more times than I can count (and worse even more times than that) but none of those compare to this award. I hate that none of us were able to make it to accept the award in person but I posted what I've dubbed an 'e-speech' on the site. So if anyone wants to check it out, you can view my semi-coherant rambling at http://www.offroadjunkies.com/2010/12/13/thank-you-an-online-acceptance-speech/

The real credit for the site goes to Rob Mitchell, without him it wouldn't exist, and of course I can't forget the other major player in the site, Charkie Huegel.

Anyway, thanks again to all the Offroad Junkies fans, the riders, the Racer Productions crew and everyone who enjoyed the site.

-Jared Bolton

offroadjunkies.com

jaredbolton.com

Now on to Shan.

Thanks, Jason. Unfortunately I had to miss the banquet this year but I am told it was great. Rodney more about it a little further down this post.

We're just over a week away from Christmas and I know more than a few riders out there are hoping Santa brings them a ride for 2011. For the most part, though, I think most of our XC1 guys have already struck some kind of deal. I spoke with Nate Kanney this week and he seems to putting together a pretty good ride for himself. He couldn't talk details yet, but he told me he has enough outside sponsors that he'll be able to have a full time mechanic, a hauler and he's put together a pretty good group of aftermarket suppliers for parts. Nate said he's still on the mend from his wrist injury but he expects to be riding in a few weeks. Nate also told me he'd be riding the first few national enduros to get a bit more saddle time in before we reach the meat of the GNCC schedule.

I also spoke to 8-time National Enduro Champ Michael Lafferty and he told me Husaberg has him contracted to ride the GNCC series in addition to the enduro series. It will be great to have Lafferty riding the series again and I know he is riding well after spending the first part of 2010 adjusting to his new ride. Mike also told me he just had surgery on both knees to repair damage meniscus and he says he has mobility that he hasn't had in years.

I believe the factories are trying to get more exposure for their sponsorship bucks and so they're having their riders contest more than one series in 2011. Antti Kallonen at KTM has told me all of his riders will be riding both GNCC and national enduro, and I just got the word that Nick Fahringer, another Husaberg rider, will be riding select GNCC rounds in addition to the enduro series.

Now here's Rodney.

Thanks guys. Right now the snow is falling at my house and school was canceled so looks like a sledding a day may be what's on tap from the looks of things. I can hear the snow pants and gloves being dug out now so it is pretty much a definite. This is really cool since Christmas is only a little more than a week away and I say let it snow, let it snow let snow.

A good number of us attended the banquet and I must say it was a rather enjoyable affair. Friday night with the ATV crowd was for sure not without its craziness. It was also not with out surprise. And talk about a Christmas Miracle. I have never felt such a blessing than when I was told that Josh Kirkland was in attendance and not only that, he wanted to come on stage and accept his award. What a blessing for so many people on so many levels. Hope, Joy and Peace all wrapped up in one.

It was so awesome to interview Josh and know he had reached such a milestone. The confidence and heart he showed proved exactly why he was defending champion of the Pro Am class and why he was title contender at the time of the accident this past summer. I think that the 2010 Pro Am Champion Brian Wolf said it best when he said that due to the points tie between him and Walker Fowler that Josh is still the defending champion until someone wins the championship outright. Then in a heartfelt show of respect and admiration "The Big Bad Wolf" handed the #1 plate over to Josh. There is no doubt that Josh is truly a two time champion. The last few weeks Josh Kirkland has passed many milestones. However we must remember to continue to pray for strength, heart, patience and faith for Josh, his family and friends as there are many more miles to go in his journey to recovery.

You can definitely tell there has been a changing of the guard in the ATV ranks over the last few years. It was good to see Chris Borich claim his second consecutive ATV GNCC Championship. Chris was flanked by Taylor Kiser and Adam McGill in the 2 and 3 spots for a second year as well, but two notable changes included the return of Chris Bithell to stage and the total absence of Bill Ballance. Ballance was there showing support of both his riders Taylor Kiser and Walker Fowler who both finished second in their classes.

Ballance was seriously injured during this season while practicing and in amazing feet not only returned to the racing at the final round, but was able to put together a remarkable 6^th place class finish at the Ironman GNCC in Indiana. In speaking with Bill he said that he did not have any real problems from the injuries during the race it was more a case of being completely out of shape and not having the time on the quad before pushing himself so hard for two hours. I asked him about his plans for next year and all he could say is that he knew that would be racing "some races for sure". Now as far as the question everyone is wondering will he be racing for a title? He said he could not honestly answer at that time. Regardless, Bill is on his way out and the young guns are moving in to take their place in line to try and be the next big contender. I know I am looking forward to seeing what Brian Wolf brings to the class when finally lines up side by side with Borich and the boys at the River Ranch GNCC in March. Remember Snowshoe the last two years? Does anyone hear the winds of change.....howling?

On Saturday night things were for the most part cut and dry. The hardest thing to see for me was the announcement of one of the World's Greatest Off Road Racers, Barry Hawk's retirement. It was a moment of mixed emotions for me. I was happy for Barry knowing that as much as he loves to race and ride that he has made a decision to start another chapter in his life. What is that chapter about? Like any good book it is a page turner and we are all patiently waiting to see what his life's author has in store for Barry and all his fans. I was sad because Barry was one of the last of the originals.

Outside the banquet I hear Chris Bach is once again focused on turning a few heads in the new season. Bach has done that two years in a row now winning the Top Amateur Award in 2009 and Most Improved in 2010. Chris is also one of few riders that signed a true factory contract for next season and he not only will have a lot to prove with backing up the his phenomenal rookie season, but now on a virtually unproven Beta motorcycle in GNCC racing. I know if heart and determination account for anything, Chris Bach is heading into 2011 with a bit of a points lead over a number XC1 Pros.

Thad Duvall was a notable no-show to this year's banquet. Thad has been spending a lot of time by himself lately hunting the mythical "Mossy Horns" big buck. I asked him how things were going with the deer hunting and he simply replied, "I hate'em!" Seems he has spent several weeks in a tree stand and has not seen anything. I guess I could relate....if I didn't know how to hunt.

I asked Thad why he and the family did not make it to the banquet and he said that they had decided to spend the weekend together at Snowshoe and do some snowboarding. "It was awesome! I actually taught dad how to snowboard after he fell about 100 times. With his old age he could only handle about 5 runs then he was pooped. (Laughs) It was good for us. We don't get to do much as a family besides racing and it's nice to just get away from everything and have fun." Amen brother Thad!

I talked with Off Road Junkies Rob Mitchell for this week's Tuesday Toolbox and got to know another "fanatic" of the sport. If you have not had a chance to read it yet, I suggest doing so then heading over and checking the site out. It amazes me how someone just goofing off and trying to do something different was able to do so much in such a short time. They are not the only one's out there each week trying to give you something no one else can and in the coming weeks I plan on showing some love to some of those that show GNCC so much. So be looking for talks with folks like the Off Road Viking, Quadzone, and Digital Off Road and be prepared to get to know the fans and media that help make the GNCC Racing Nation know just exactly what GNCC Racing is all about.

I would like to say congratulations to GNCC ATV pilot Garon Davis on catching the biggest Blue Gill of his life while ice fishing this week. After seeing his mobile uploads I can say I think that may be the biggest Blue Gill I have ever seen outside of Bass Pro Shops or Cabelo's. So when you see Garon next season and he starts talking about the "Whale of a Blue Gill" he caught, he aint lying.

Looks like the wife is ready to head out and get some more shopping in for Christmas so for now I must go. Till next time, Happy Holidays and God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.