Special Information
Directions
Weather
Where To Stay
Hospitals
Things to Do
Photo By: Shan Moore
Racers can catch a break from the rough palmettos and deep sand, as parts of the course are dark soil
Est: February 2009
About an hour south of Orlando, and two hours from the madness of Daytona Bike Week, the River Ranch GNCC promises first-class accommodations. The Ranch serves as a vacation, retreat and training spot for people year-round, but for GNCC racers, it will also serve as a rough-and-tumble 2010 GNCC season opener. The track is typical of Florida races, most closely resembling the Vero Beach, Florida, GNCC we ran back in 2007. The sandy conditions will whoop out, and with some palmetto roots thrown into the mix, this one will test who has and who hasn't been training during the off-season.
And off the track, this will be a race like no other. Here's info from the River Ranch website:
Westgate River Ranch Resort gives you the chance to experience Florida when it was home to cowboys and cattle ranchers. Indulge yourself in a wide range of activities that allow you to escape into nature's sanctuary at a dude horse ranch in Florida. Enjoy horseback riding, guided nature hikes, fishing, boating, trap and skeet, swimming, airboat or swamp buggy rides, hayrides and a petting zoo. Or go line dancing at the River Ranch Saloon. There's even a sanctioned rodeo every Saturday night in our very own rodeo stadium. Leave your "city worries" behind and enjoy a change in pace "western style."
To fit into the Daytona Bike Week schedule, this race runs a much different schedule than the other rounds, with ATVs racing on Sunday and bikes on Tuesday. Also, this is the only GNCC on the tour offering practice. ATVs get a practice day on Saturday before racing on Sunday, and bikes get to practice on Monday before their race on Tuesday. Practice will take place on a separate practice track, and a separate fee applies. This is an opportunity to make sure you and your equipment are ready for the new season, not an opportunity to learn the track.
Photo By: Shan Moore
River Ranch kicks off the GNCC season with the only sand terrain all year
ATV: Chris Borich
| Saturday | Youth ATV Registration | 10 a.m. - Noon |
| ATV Registration | Noon | |
| Youth ATV Practice | 12:30- 2 p.m. | |
| ATV Practice | 2-5 p.m. | |
| Rodeo | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sunday | Youth ATV Registration | 7a.m. |
|
Youth ATV Race - 1 hr
Amateur ATV Registration
|
8a.m. | |
|
Amateur ATV Race - 2 hr
Pro ATV Registration
|
10a.m. | |
| Pro ATV Race - 2 hr | 1p.m. | |
| Monday | Youth Bike Registration | 10 a.m.-Noon |
| Bike Registration | Noon | |
| Youth Bike Practice | 12:30-2 p.m. | |
| Bike Practice | 2-5 p.m. | |
| Tuesday | Youth Registration |
7a.m. |
| Youth Bike Race - 90 min Amateur Bike Registration |
8a.m. | |
| Amateur Bike Race - 2 hr Pro Bike Registration |
10a.m. | |
|
Pro Bike Race - 3 hr
|
1p.m. |
Take the 528 (Beeline) west to I-4 west. Exit at U.S. 27 and go south. At S.R. 60 (Lake Wales exit), make a left and head east. Travel east approximately 25 miles. Westgate River Ranch will be on the right.
From Tampa:
Take S.R. 60 east. Continue east approximately 25 miles past U.S. 27. Westgate River Ranch will be on the right.
From Tampa Airport:
If you take I-95 South- to S.R. 60 West (Lake Wales exit). Travel west approximately 60 miles. Westgate River Ranch will be on the left.
If you take I-75 South- Go to the Turnpike South. Get off at Yeehaw Junction. Take Hwy 60 West about 20 miles. River Ranch entrance is on the left
West Gate River Ranch- Nancy Guran
c/o riders name
3200 River Ranch Blvd.
River Ranch, FL 33867
The shipments can be picked up at Nancy Guran's office at the Lodge.
Rooms blocked under "GNCC Racing" Code 14-432
Inn Rooms - $89.00
Courtyard Rooms -$109.00
Efficiency's - $89.00 2
Bedroom Cottage - $249.00
2 Bedroom Cabin - $289.00
Prices quoted are per night and do not include tax
Reservations phone number - 863-692-1321 Option 1 for Reservations.
Lake Wales Medical Center
410 South 11th Street, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Main number: 863-676-1433
www.lakewalesmedicalcenter.com
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 mi/Turn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 E, 23.2 mi/Turn right at S 11th St.
Hospital will be on the left, 0.2 mi.
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 mi/Turn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 E, 25.3 mi/Take the ramp onto SR-25/US-27, 0.9 mi/Slight right to stay on SR-25/US-27, 5.1 mi/Turn left at Cypress Gardens Blvd/SR-540, 6.9 mi/Turn right at 1st St S.
Hospital will be on the left, 1.6 mi.
Main number: 863-687-1100
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 mi/Turn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 E/Continue to follow SR-60, 40.4 mi/Turn left at SR-60/SR-60A/SR-700/US-98/E Van Fleet Dr/Continue to follow SR-700/US-98, 11.8 mi/Turn right at S Lake Parker Ave/US-98, 1.1 mile/left at E Memorial Blvd/US-92/US-98, 0.8 mi/Turn right at Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Destination will be on the left, 0.4 mi.
Where do we start? Westgate River Ranch itself offers plenty to see and do, check their www.wgriveranch.com site for info. The ranch allows you to indulge yourself in a wide range of activities that allow you to escape into nature's sanctuary at a dude horse ranch in Florida. Enjoy horseback riding, guided nature hikes, fishing, boating, trap and skeet, swimming, airboat or swamp buggy rides, hayrides and a petting zoo. Or go line dancing at the River Ranch Saloon. Golf carts and boats are for rent.
And, the facility lies just an hour south of Orlando (Disney, anyone?) and about two hours from the madness of Daytona Bike Week. Head to Daytona after the GNCC is complete to see everything you could ever expect to see that has to do with motorcycles and motorcycle racing. For a full schedule of Daytona week, check out the AMA website at www.ama-cycle.org.
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