Westgate River Ranch provides a facility unlike any other race on the tour.
An all-new GNCC track 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 2009 GNCC season opener. The track will be 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. Since the facility has never hosted a race before, though, you should see enough scrub and trees to keep the trails tight and speeds and dust down.
As always, be careful not to push too hard here, because the Georgia GNCC is only a few days away, and you don't want to have too many blisters (or sore muscles) for that one.
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 1,200-seat rodeo stadium. Leave your "city worries" behind and enjoy a change in pace "western style."
Hotel accomodations are also first-rate, but you can camp on your own if you wish, too.
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.
2008 Winners:
Bike: David Knight (Melbourne, FL)
ATV: Chris Borich (Melbourne, FL)
Special Info: This opening GNCC round is held in conjunction with the world famous "Daytona Bike Week" and features a modified event schedule for practice and racing. The practice fee is $20/person.
| Saturday | Feb. 28 | Youth ATV Sign Up | 10 a.m. - Noon |
| ATV Sign Up | Noon | ||
| Youth ATV practice | 12:30- 2 p.m. | ||
| ATV Practice | 2-5 p.m. | ||
| Rodeo | 7:30 p.m. | ||
| Sunday | March 1 | ATV Racing | |
| Monday | March 2 | Youth Bike Sign Up | 10 a.m.-Noon |
| Bike Sign Up | Noon | ||
| Youth Bike Practice | 12:30-2 p.m. | ||
| Bike Practice | 2-5 p.m. | ||
| Tuesday | March 3 | Bike Racing |
Directions:
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 14-285
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
www.lakewalesmedicalcenter.com
410 South 11th Street, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Main number: 863-676-1433
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 miTurn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 E, 23.2 miTurn right at S 11th St
Hospital will be on the left, 0.2 mi
Winter Haven Hospital
www.winterhavenhospital.org
200 Avenue F. NE, Winter Haven, FL.
Main number: 863-293-1121
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 miTurn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 E, 25.3 miTake the ramp onto SR-25/US-27, 0.9 miSlight right to stay on SR-25/US-27, 5.1 miTurn left at Cypress Gardens Blvd/SR-540, 6.9 miTurn right at 1st St S
Hospital will be on the left, 1.6 mi
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
www.lrmc.com1324 Lakeland Hills Boulevard, Lakeland, FL 33805
Main number: 863-687-1100
Directions:
Make a left out of main gate onto River Ranch Blvd toward Oakmont Rd/Oakmont Dr, 2.6 miTurn left at SR-60/State Rd 60 EContinue to follow SR-60, 40.4 miTurn left at SR-60/SR-60A/SR-700/US-98/E Van Fleet DrContinue to follow SR-700/US-98, 11.8 miTurn right at S Lake Parker Ave/US-98, 1.1 mileft at E Memorial Blvd/US-92/US-98, 0.8 miTurn right at Lakeland Hills Blvd
Destination will be on the left, 0.4 mi
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
Where do we start? West Gate 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.
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