Indiana Cross Country Racing
Round #3
Bainbridge, In
Baker’s Camp

Someone once said if you don’t like the weather in Indiana stick around, it will change.  With temps soaring into the 70’s last week then dipping down to the 30’s mid-week I don’t think anyone knew what to expect for Sunday.  Our fearless leader Mr. Tim Bowman kept posting on facebook how good the weather was going to be according to the weatherman, but let’s be honest, those guys are about as useful as a left handed screwdriver and you never know if they are going to be right or not.  But the weather could not have been scripted any better than what we got. 

PeeWee’s are where this sport starts and they get a chance to learn the basics of racing on Saturday night’s.  Nathan McCabe found his way to an overall win followed up by Zachary Campbell and Gavin Carman and if we go back one more spot we will pick up Teegan Fleming finish fourth overall and come from row three.  These little guys and gals are a blast to watch and that is what it’s all about.

UTV’s aren’t near as hospitable as the 50’s!  These small trucks bang off trees, hammer thru deep ruts, and as Kevin Chase put it “Let us hit that creek jump!!!”  This side of the sport is growing like crazy and bringing in new faces every day.  The great thing about this is you don’t have to train or eat right, you just have to be able to hang it wide open thru the woods and attempt to keep you machine in one piece!  Travis Nicholson was able to do all of the above taking the overall win with almost a two minute advantage.  He was followed up by Brian Baker and Mark Richardson.

Sunday morning came and the dew was fresh along with the trails as we started in a whole new area and got the chance to explore a few new trails on this amazing piece of property.  The hills and creeks we brought to life when 71 youth bike riders took to the course.  After the fifth lap was complete Landgdon Feltner had found his way to the front with Kayden Young less than a minute back for the second podium position.  Chase Mundy rounded out the podium on his Yamaha.  Sydney Marshall got a “W” in the Girls Super Mini class as did Tyler Silvia in the 65cc 7-11 class.

After the youth bikes quad were cleared, it was time for the 46 youth quads to battle it out.  Logan Rhodes out of Boggstown, In was the top finisher followed up by Brandon Ball and Brandon Butz.  Michael Myers battled a few minor motor issues and still brought home a win in the 90 Mod 8-15 class.  I was in his pits when he stopped for fuel and I have to tell you I was impressed!  Dad was on the gas, mom was on goggles and gloves and the little guy just grabbed a drink and took a breather.  This was really cool to see a family work together while supporting their son.  We had a great showing in our girls 7-13 class and Lauren Patterson finished up front in her class of five girls.  Jack Brewer won 90 Stock 8-12 and William Witty won 70 Open 6-11.

The big kids took to the track next and a very challenging course greeted all 339 entries!  With creek crossings, bridges, jumps, and hills it was sure to be an epic day behind the bars and IXCR had the privilege of seeing some of the nation’s top riders come out.  Chris Bach is coming off a podium performance at the North Carolina GNCC race and he did himself proud by grabbing another pro class win and overall top finisher for the day.  Chris was followed up by Adam Bonneur and Chris Douglas.  Top overall amateur rider was Senior A rider Jeffery Lauth showing that the old guys can still throw down!  Jeremy Robinson had an impressive top ten overall finish and won the Heavy A class.  Sam Shaver won A Lites as did Jeff Zimmerman in Vet A 30+.  For the B classes Matt Moore, Barak Mooneyhan, Knudt Hanson, Charles Waggoner, and William Boyd all took home 1^st place plaques and some bragging rights for completing this brutal course on two wheels.  I titled this report Creativity Wins because this race was about more than just following some arrows on trees.  You had to improvise and make a way thru when just about every line seemed to be taken.  This reigns true for all of these guys who are riding in the C Classes.  These guys have the biggest classes and are forced to put themselves and their machines in places they had no idea they would go when they heard the ten second call.  So a job well done to Chase Murley, Kyle Horton, Jason Small, and Doug Harris.  Dean Hayes won the D Open class and Dawn Silvia also won the Woman’s class.  I do have to give a special shout out to Becca Sheets.  She is the girlfriend of Pro ATV rider Walker Fowler and she flooded her bike out on Saturday at a race and they worked hard to get all the water out and she finished 5^th in B Lites and even hit the creek jump!!!

I started on dirt bikes over a decade ago and I have always been told ATV guys are the worst!  They tear up the trails, they aren’t very smart, and they smell funny.  Since that seemed more like my style, I switched and have gone back and forth for the past few years LOL.  But I love both sides of the sport and it’s really cool to see others taking on my viewpoint.  Chris Bach (bike pro) and Johnny Gallagher (atv pro) are proving that we can co-exist!  Chris’s twitter account last week read like this to JG: Thanks for all the help and support this year buddy! #4wheels-#2wheels-#1love. @gncc_racing   I just thought that was a really thing and proof of how far things have come.  Speaking of Johnny Gallagher he was able to put his blue Yamaha/GBC Tires/HMF atv on top of the box.  Johnny and Marshall Goings, who took second overall, put on an impressive show and pulled another SICC rider to the podium.  Fred Marley was third on the day and a huge shout out to Fred for finishing on the Pro-Am podium in North Carolina at the GNCC last week.  Andrew Langston brought his utility quad from the 8^th row all the way up to 6^th overall!  Justin Remley was 8^th overall from the 15+ A Class and Brian Reusch had a great ride for the B Class riders taking 9^th overall in the Vet B Blass.  Gary Loper grabbed another 40+ win as did Tyler Blackburn in B 15-21 and Brent Marshall won Senior B.  Davy Singleton out of IL won Junior B  and Becky Mullins won the woman’s class.  For our C Classes Kristian Meyer, Aaron Pridgen (who just keeps getting better each race), and Rob King all took home top honors.  Drew Moore out of the Sport class took his 400ex all the way up to 11^th overall!  For the D Classes Justin Kramer and Dustin Wood each grabbed win’s as did Gage Lindsey in Schoolboy and Todd Pridgen in Super Senior.  We had 209 entries for the ATV’s and it was a great race!

Next up is Canaan’s Mountain and we have been going here for a few years now.  This track brings it all to the table and hills are everywhere so bring your big boy pants!

Until next time,

Stay between the trees!

Garon Davis