The GNCC Racing community lost another great friend and racer last Friday, January 10, with the passing of former ATV Vet racer Kevin Hurst. Kevin was known as “a good friend and a hell of a competitor.” Kevin, age 49, was employed by GMS Mine Services at Federal #2 Mine in Daybrook. He loved his family and enjoyed racing his 4-wheelers, competing in what used to be known as the ATV Vet class in GNCC. God Speed, Kevin.

We’ve seen tons of information floating around about KR4’s Arrive-N-Ride program, where racers can sign up to be a part of a “factory” team – essentially paying a fee to be supplied with a bike, gear and a pit crew and one or all of the GNCC races. It’s tailored toward the riders who don’t necessarily have the means to get from race to race or maybe they’re just too busy during the week to prep their things before a race. Riders who took part in this program in 2013 included Chris Bach, Mark Heresco, Luke and Ben Parsons, Karlynn Beam, Jeremy Randolph, Kurtis Palmer and of course, all of the Keegan boys: Brian, Brandon, Conner and Colin.

The idea seems to foreshadow what could become a big hit in GNCC Racing, especially since the recent state of the economy has highly affected racer support pretty much everywhere. Which is why it’s not surprising to see a similar program being implemented in 2014 but this time from Shane Watts and his DirtWise race team. Wattsy has been known to push the limits and move himself to the forefront and I think he’s done it again with his new DirtWise Ready to Race Program. It sounds pretty similar to what KR4 is doing with Arrive-N-Ride but it’s tailored more toward the single event riders, rather than the folks who want to be part of a team all season long. Basically you have a choice between a KTM 125, 250 2-stroke, 450 or other select bikes to rent for the race day. They hook you up with all the Maxxis/KLiM/DirtWise team extras and their crew will look after you in the pits during your race. For more information on the specifics, click HERE. I can tell you the basics on each program but if you’re interested in this concept I suggest you take a look at both of these programs and decide for yourself what fits your needs the most! 

If you were one of the many people who entered into the AMSOIL Get Trail Ready sweepstakes, aka: a chance to win a FREE Can-Am Maverick, I regret to inform you that you didn’t win. That is, unless your name is Matt from Barnesville, Ohio. AMSOIL collected every entry from the GNCCs and ATVMX Nationals and drew one lucky winner, who was surprised at his doorstep with a brand new UTV! Matt actually entered for the sweepstakes at Powerline Park this year, probably thinking that there’s no way he could win. Check out the video HERE, pretty cool stuff!

That’s going to do it for me this week. Keep an eye out for some cool things via RacerTV.com and while you’re at it, add us on Twitter and Instagram @RacerTV.

Here’s Mr. Bolton.

@JaredBolton:

Well folks, things are starting to pick up. There’s more news floating around, races happening, riding happening and just an overall buzz going on in the off-road racing world right now. What does that mean? Well, to me, it’s a pretty good sign that the clock is ticking down more and more to the start of the 2014 GNCC Racing season. Yes, we’ve got a little time to kill before then but at this point, it’s likely going to fly by for those who can remain patient. But, that’s hard to do.

So the big news of the week comes from what was mentioned last week in Quick Fill about a rider without a ride having an iron in the fire. Well, that all became official with the announcement that Chris Bach will be riding for the JCR Honda team. It was announced early in the week that JCR Honda would be pulling out of the Baja 1000 for 2014, and many wondered, after many years of winning such a big race, why? Well, the next day it was announced that they would be going GNCC Racing with Chris Bach at the helm.

That kind of left people thinking that was the sole factor for them pulling out of Baja, however, there’s many, many, many more factors that went into their decision. The Baja 1000 is one of the most famous off-road races in the world. It had an entire full-length documentary made about the 2003 race, and was a part of the plot in the 1982 movie “Time Rider” where Joe Dirt’s dad is racing his Yamaha XT500, gets off-course and hits a government time travel test site which sends him back to 1875. (Seriously, look that movie up sometime. I give it about a 1/2 star rating but it’s worth watching once just to see motorcycles in a Hollywood movie).

However, Baja is one single race. It’s a nearly year-round preparation process but it’s only one race. Contesting an entire series is much more viable to sponsors and the manufacturer. Plus, there just comes a time where programs are ready to change, and that’s exactly where JCR Honda is. Regardless, I have to send a huge congratulation out to Chris Bach for landing a solid ride.

I’ve also been hearing of another rider who may have a bit of support coming together soon. Nothing is official yet as there’s still some stuff being sorted out, but if everything comes together, it should be an exciting addition to the XC2 class for a rider making the switch to a white European made machine.

I got a note from Shane Watts earlier this week as well with a race report from Jason Thomas from the Tri-Sanction Shootout in Maplesville, Alabama. From the sounds of things, Thomas was racing a 450 and got a mid-pack start but worked his way up and had a little bit of a battle with Ryan Sipes before eventually getting around Sipes and pulling away. Thomas took the overall win ahead of Sipes and Shane Obanion. 

That’s kind of all the racing news I heard from last weekend, as it seems like it was a pretty quiet weekend as a lot of areas were covered with rain. Boo! This coming weekend sees another round of the SORCS Winter Series with the Rattler in Sparta, Georgia. The SORCS Winter Series has been drawing a pretty big turnout of top quad talent and a number of fast bike guys as well. Makes you wonder what this weekend’s event has in store!

Another note I got this week was from our friends at Powersport Grafx. For all of you class champions that received a certificate for a free set of number plate backgrounds, please redeem those as soon as possible! It’s starting to be a busy time of the year and they’d like to get any of the number plates done and sent out before peak graphic season hits.

Other than that, things have been a bit on the quiet side other than the buzz of people taking the time to head south, or west, or where ever to do some riding. However, we’re now to that point where it will all pick up with some big off-season races coming up, and then the start of the National Enduro Series a week before GNCC makes it’s return in Florida. So get ready, because it’s just about go time!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for this week. Until next time, Bolt-On says bye.

And here’s @HotRodney22:

Already halfway through January and the long off season has turned into a preseason and the GNCC Racin’ Nation is starting to come to life even more.  It is an exciting time of year as those that are feverishly training and testing new equipment are beginning to feel a little bit of crunch time. Though it may not be so evident at the moment, I would say two weeks from now there will be some panic in some programs as things will seemingly be falling apart as the big day at the Mud Mucker GNCC approaches.

Temperatures are still a little whacky here in the north but it looks like many are making their treks south to race the different series taking place this time of year to avoid the constant and unpredictable weather conditions. Last week we got a very detailed report from Walker Fowler on how things went at the FTR race there a couple of weeks ago. I said it was the opening round for them and I must admit I made a mistake. It seems that was more like round 6 and Walker actually raced a bike on Sunday and did very well from what I understand. I try and get some more of the information in the coming weeks. Walker on a bike! That’s so cool to know he still has it there as well, because remember, Walker was a two-wheel guy in the youth ranks! 

I spoke with a handful more riders this week and still hearing positives in most reports. The ATV racing world is hopping right now. As expected for the AM ATV racing this year, it is shaping up to be another stellar year of racing. Cody Collier, who is the youngest rider to ever win a morning overall and the national #201 plate, will be back to defend it in 2014 as he is still not old enough to race the 450cc machines. Add to the mix that Wesley Wolfe’s return to the Schoolboy class and rumor has it that Hunter Hart making the move up from the Youth ranks to the Schoolboy as well.

Collier actually sent me a note this week,”Right now I am working on getting everything together and get back to into shape for racing. I have to stay back in the Schoolboy class because of my age, but it's awesome I can defend my #201 plate this year. I am staying on the Apex, but I plan to dabble in the youth bikes on a CRF150 to see what I can do. (Ha-ha) I've been racing the SORCS series in Georgia to get some seat time and get back to race pace before Florida. Just excited for the season and can't wait for it to start.”

Cody also tells me that Hunter plans to race a 105cc KTM in the Super Mini class and that he is more than impressed with the speed that Hart is already showing on the bigger machines. I know that Hunter is excited to make the move and it will be an exciting addition to both days of racing. On a personal note, I am kind of amused about the fact that ATV guys can ride motorcycles and do it well but on the flip side of things I have never seen a bike guy become a great ATV racer. Might answer the age old question of which is more challenging to race…..debate that for a while.

Speaking of bikes, I also had some chats with Mike Witkowski, who is just an amazing rider who burst on the scene at the end of his youth racing career. Mike has shown great speed and promise and has his sights set on some pretty big things in the future. Right now Mike is training at the Baylor Boys Compound in South Carolina. And anyone that knows Stu Baylor and his younger brother Grant, knows that you are in for a treat anytime you stop by. It’s almost in their programming to send you away with a memory that will last a lifetime.

Mike told me that they have been training pretty hard and that things haven’t gotten too much off the hook just yet. He said when Landon Wolfe gets there next week is when things should really turn up. But then as if it was no big deal he said, “Just the normal stuff so far, not too many parties! We did hang out with the Anderson chapter of Hells Angels and that was a little scary! But other than that just wake up work out, ride, eat and sleep I think all of us are on the same page of wanting to come into 2014 and really make an appearance.” Just the normal stuff?! I don’t think hanging with a biker gang is really all that normal. At least not the Hells Angels!

Mike also said; “I really have a blast riding with these guys and I know it helps me get ready for the season! I feel like I will come in stronger this year than I ever have! I'm really hoping to win the 250 A class with the top amateur award. I plan to move to XC2 Pro Lites for 2015 so I know as far as overall I want to be battling with the top five in XC2 this season as far as overall finishes. I am hoping to get a top 15 number and maybe get some support for my jump up to XC2.”