April 26, 2007
David Scearce photos

Welcome to Quick Fill. It’s back to Loretta’s.

No matter how many other great GNCC events come and go, nothing matches good old Loretta Lynn’s, the oldest race on the tour and one of the most famous. The ranch is jam-packed with atmosphere and history for the emotional end of things, and it’s a real campground with a motocross track and great trails on the practical end. So no matter how many great events we add, this will always be at the top of the list for “ones to win” for most of the competitors.

Loretta’s is a strange place to describe. The trails have some elevation, and the soil changes completely depending on where you are. Some parts are sandy river bottoms, some parts are harder and slick, and the whole thing is just super rough and whooped out. Plus you have the motocross track, and the weather is always unpredictable. One year that race is hot, humid and dusty, and another time it’s swamped out. That’s spring in Tennessee, people. Be lucky you’re not there in August when we hold the motocross races—it’s so hot you would die if you raced three hours.

(Some riders like Andrew Matusek, Garrett Edmisten, Charlie Mullins and such know what August heat is all about down there.)

This weekend is always a big one for our ATV boys, since many of the top pros in the series live close by and consider it their home track. The Ballance brothers will no doubt have plenty of help down there, and William Yokley isn’t too far away, either. The Yoke will benefit from some Kawasaki engineers from Japan who will be there to help tweak his equipment. He’s been fast all year on that Monster Energy/National Guard/Kawasaki KFX450, but starts have been an issue. The hope is that the Kawi guys can get him off the line like he used to do it, and then he can run for a win from the start with the locals cheering for him. This new era of four-strokes, electric start and fuel-injection can really throw people for a loop with dead-engine starts. I remember years ago when the Nac’s/Cannondale team started running two batteries in their quads just to get them cranked quicker.

In the old days, everyone ran a version of the Honda TRX250R. They’re pretty much all gone from the races now, but one championship model still remains. There’s a big themed restaurant in Orlando called Race Rock (you may have passed it on your way to the Florida GNCC on I-95) that is shutting its doors, and all the memorabilia must go. Turns out one of Barry Hawk’s #1 quads is down there, and now Barry has to come up with a way to go get it! If you have any suggestions (maybe you live nearby and could grab it and bring it to a race), send me an email and we’ll try to get it hooked up with the Hawkster. jasonw@gnccracing.com

 

Last week we said we would focus on the XC2 classes for this Quick Fill. On bikes, the XC2 concept is brand new, and it couldn’t be working out better. Veterans are in the class giving it legitimacy, as Kurt Caselli could end up the WORCS Champion before this season is over, and Rodney Smith, well, he needs no introduction. Then you have the young kids who are battling for the title, like Scott Watkins, Thad DuVall, Justin Williamson, and this unknown, unsponsored, under dog named Josh Weisenfels. We sure didn’t know much about this guy when the season began, but I found a source of info on him now: www.joshweisenfels.com Check it out!

I talked to Fred Andrews about his team, with Watkins, Cole Calkins and PA Allen. Turns out Cole now has some complications with his old wrist surgery, and expert moto-doc Steven Augustine believes the only real way to fix it is with surgery. But Cole doesn’t want to throw the season away, so Augustine gave him some treatment that should help alleviate the pain and help him get by until at least the summer break, or next year. Meanwhile, PA Allen had been racing with a bad back, but he said he hit a hole really hard at Big Buck and it seems to have jammed it back into place. Now he feels good!

 

On the ATV side, Brandon Sommers got his 15 minutes with his Tuesday Toolbox interview on, well, Tuesday. Brandon has systematically risen through the GNCC ATV ranks with hard work and smarts, and he’s a nice, well-spoken young man who will surely do great things in this sport. Read the interview to hear more about him. And don’t forget the rest of his class, guys like Don Ockerman and Ryan “Can’t Buy a Start” Lane aren’t far behind. XC2 Pro Am cranks out the GNCC talent, just look at riders like Chris Jenks, Chris Bithell, Adam McGill and Duane Johnson.

Let’s have a look at our 4x4 Classes from Big Buck. The big news came from the U2 class. Multi-time GNCC Champion Brock Parker crashed on the first lap and ended up down and out, which sadly is familiar turf for him. Remember back in his Kawasaki days big Brock went down hard early at Rausch Creek and hurt both shoulders, and it took a long, long time to come back from that. Word from the Utility pack is that no one hangs it out like Brock, who is a mad man out there, especially early in the races. Anyway, I’m not sure at this time how long Brock will be out, but he supposedly has a broken upper arm, so it might be awhile. Tough break (no pun intended) for Can-Am and their Renegade rider. Now it’s a battle between Four-Stroke Tech’s Michael Benson and privateer Kawasaki campaigner Marcus Gonzalez.

Scott Kilby is once again taking control of the Open 4x4 class on his big Outlander 800. Scott’s consistent and usually gets those big quads to the finish line, which is key, of course. Rick Cecco, another Can-Am rider, has shown tons of speed this year, but Rick hasn’t been getting to the finish line.

In 4x4 Lites, Can-Am's Cliff Beasley won again, his third of the season (still have to give props to David Reese for winning the other race on his Honda. And right now Jerime Dudding is out front in points thanks to solid second-place scores in each race).

 

Another story, a sad one, came from the 4x4 Limited class. Sadly, Michael Swift and his wife lost their newborn baby just a few days before the race. Mike was expected to skip the race, along with Cliff Beasley, who is part of the family. But they showed up after all and both went on to win their classes. Michael wanted me to make it clear to everyone that he is going through a tough time, and he only came to race because his wife said he would just end up sitting around the house on Saturday sad, and maybe he needed to get out and do something else. Lest you think the man’s world hasn’t been rocked by this, trust me, it has been. The GNCC Family gives its best to the Swift family during these tough times.

If you’re looking for the latest from any of these Amateur ATV classes, Harlen Foley has been putting together quite a list of good stuff at ATVRiders.com. Head here to see the list, which includes amateur race reports from all four rounds this year.

I got an email from our old GNCC bike buddy Nathan Kanney, who won the Unadilla and Ironman GNCCs last year. Nate’s still carrying the flag through Europe with Husky, and the WEC Series will do battle again for round two this weekend. The Husky team is hoping Nate learns fast, but those Euro guys are good. Good luck to ya, Nate Dawg.

 

Loretta's Mansion.

Shane Watts sent me the results from the latest Mid-East race from over the weekend. Shane’s quite the reporter. Anyway, he finished way down in the rankings due to punctured engine cases, but his Aussie mate Josh Strang got his first U.S. win.

Results here: http://www.mideastinterstate.com/mideast/042207/bo.htm

That Mid-East race took plane in Hickory, NC, which is where the GNCC Make-A-Wish Foundation event came about. Richard Lima put it all together, and the event got some press. Check out this article from the Morganton News Herald regarding Steele Creek. Link.

And while you’re at it, check out the second article Morganton’s paper ran on Steele Creek. Click here.

GNCC TV keeps coming at ya! We just wrapped the awesome Steele Creek ATV show this week, featuring a big last-lap showdown with Borich and Ballance. Awesome racing on this one, and it will air in a few weeks. This weekend we’re showing the Georgia ATV race, and it’s a good one that features, well, another last-lap showdown with those Killer B’s! I’m sensing a pattern this year….

Long-time GNCC favorite Santo DeRisi welcomed his first child into the world right before Big Buck. Here’s a photo.

Nate DeRisi DeRisi photo

 

Last year’s GNCC Master’s 55+ bike Champion Greg Davis is still on the mend, but he loves hearing about the races.

Just a note to say hi.  I've been going crazy not being able to ride or race a GNCC (I broke my leg the Sunday before the Florida GNCC practicing on a MX track, I guess I should start riding my age).   Every GNCC I'm on my cell phone trying to see what's going on.  Last week, Papa Charlie Mullins was nice enough to call me about half way through the race to let me know what was going on.    Glad he had cell service!  In any case, it's an interesting year.  I hope to be back racing the GNCCs after summer break.  I can't stay away, and am going to TN to watch, and cheer my friends on.  See ya. Keep up the good work, I look forward to reading the Quick Fills.     Greg Davis

Some one sent an email this week wondering what happened to GNCC super veteran Kim Kuhnle. Kim actually raced with us early this season but hasn’t been seen yet. Anyone know?

Last week we heard about Logan Chillman breaking his leg. His mom sent an update:

I had Logan back at the Doc today.  They removed a lot of fluid and re-x-rayed.  Still a fractured femur. We go on Friday for an MRI to see if we are out for 2 months or up to 9 months. He is already really stir crazy. Any notes of encouragement from those that have been on the injured list would be welcomed! Kchilman@aol.com

Our man Joey Halloway is planning a GNCC talent show, where racers and racer friends and family will be able to strut their stuff and see what they can do besides race. Any singers, musicians, dancers or other talents out there? Stay tuned, we'll probably get some stuff going for Sparta on June 9. And if you see Joey this weekend at Loretta's tell him you're interested.

Okay I think that’s all I had for Loretta’s, it’s time to hit the road because this place is far. Have fun down there!

For more Loretta's House images, check out http://www.pbase.com/ktmrider/lorettas_place Good job, David Scearce!