The 2011 Can-Am GNCC Schedule has been set,(click here for a look) and we've lined up a chat with Trail Boss Jeff Russell to find out more about some exciting new tracks on the schedule.
GNCCRacing.com: Hey there Trail Boss what's happening in the world of GNCC crew today?
Jeff Russell: Just hanging out and trying to get some stuff done. We can't seem to find a job inside, it seems like everything we need to do right now is outside. It's just the way it is, it's all good.
I guess that's the nature of being an off road trail boss?
(Laughing)
I guess I should have studied a little more in school!
What kind of things do you guys do in the off season?
Actually a lot of the time lately we have been just trying to get equipment put back together and serviced. We have been looking at and designing some new things for the finish line area and some other areas of the pits to kind of give things a new and fresh feeling for the new season.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Fans in Indiana will be treatedt to two GNCCs in 2011.
We are looking at building a new aluminum finish line structure similar to the outdoor motocross nationals. We are trying to design and build that right now and it should give a new look to the finish line. We are looking at adding a few of the big type tents to the pro area, the front gate and things like that. We updated the podium trailer. We brought it inside and painted it and re-decked the floor. We have definitely been keeping busy.
It looks like you have been busy working on a new schedule as well, what can we expect for 2011?
Yeah, we have been busy doing that too. I have definitely been out checking some new locations. You know, just trying to add a little bit to the series. I know people always like to go to new places and it definitely adds a little twist to the series not having to ride all the same ole, same ole trails. We are just trying to find some areas that support GNCC, racing and good tracks.
I see on the schedule that the first of our three new venues will be in Indiana?
Yes we are looking for a good race there. After the success of the Ironman, good relationships with the I.X.C.R. and the Mid America Series it only seemed natural. There are a lot of quad riders that come from Indiana and quite a few bike guys as well, so we thought we would give Indiana a try in the spring and see what happens.
Where is the new track located?
The actual town name is Gosport, Indiana. It's probably about as far south and west of Indianapolis as Ironman is north and west. It's about 30 minutes out of Indianapolis. The town of Bloomington is not far away and it should make a really good venue for us.
Is the terrain a lot like we see at the Ironman?
It is going to be similar to the Ironman. It's going to be a lot woodsier I guess because you won't have all the field sections. They have a nice field for parking and the pits and everything but the most of it should be a woods race.
The race right after that is scheduled to be in Altoona, PA, can you fill us in a little on what that one is going to be like?
Altoona is a really nice place. It is a recreational area that is somewhat state funded and it is really unique place. There is about 5,000 acres so there is plenty of land there for sure. It has a nice blacktop drive into the facility and a very nice facility on top that. They are real excited about having us there and the support should just be phenomenal. It is kind of a lateral move from Mt. Ridge in Somerset, as it is located about 20 minutes north of Somerset. As far as the terrain is concerned, it will definitely be rocky there too, but it should make for another great track.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Snowshoe is now the only GNCC running in June.
We are still undecided on that one. The weather got bad on us this fall before we had a chance to check everything out. We are working on putting another event up near the W.Y.N.O.A. area, those folks do a great job at Unadilla every year. So we are looking at the Western Pennsylvania and New York border but we have just not gotten anything put together there. We have some really good connections there and the town of Bradford, PA really wants us to come and bring an event to that town. They are working very hard to help make things happen and I am pretty confident that is the area we are going to be in, but with Old Man Winter sneaking in on us a little early this year, we have not been able to get everything put together.
I also noticed that the schedule itself is a little different this year, is the summer break really not going to start till mid July?
Yes it is. We have to schedule around a number of different events like the AMA Motocross Nationals and Loretta Lynn's Amateur National, and we also try to work along with other off-road series like National Enduro. Things got kind of switched around this year with live TV scheduling for motocross so we decided to change things up and help make sure we have the best crew at every race. We only have one event now in June which is the Snowshoe and normally we have two to three events. We had to do something with the schedule and instead of some of the GNCC events running back to back, which I did not think was a good idea from the start, we decided to adjust things a little and spread it out and put the John Penton two weeks after the Snowshoe. That was the compromise with that and hopefully it doesn't mess anyone's vacation plans up, but I thought that would be best in the end for everyone involved.
Photo By: Shan Moore
We're moving down the road from Somerset.
Yeah, we have an AMA ATV Motocross National coming there the week before the John Penton. That event comes from Pleasure Valley Raceway in Johnstown Pennsylvania. It is an event that is hosted by Jeff Cernic and he has decided to move it there and we are really excited about that. Right after the GNCC this fall, the weather was really good for me and my dad to get a lot of work done there and it should really improve things for the John Penton. Hopefully we will get some decent weather there for a change.
Jeff it has been great talking to you today and I realize you have stuff you have got to go do, but thanks and I hope you have a Happy New Year!
Thank you. Christmas was really good and I am looking forward to the New Year. Hard to believe it won't be long and we will be headed south again. It's almost time to go racing! Happy New Year everyone!
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