As for the rest of us, the days are ticking away and before we know it the race weekend will be upon us. I know everyone is scrambling to get the last minute things taken care of so I wanted to take a minute to jot down a few friendly reminders as far as GNCC is concerned:

Have you confirmed your 2014 number? Number requests are now open to ANYONE, even if you didn’t meet the requirements from last season. If you haven’t done this already, please fill out the online request form and we will process your number as quickly as possible.

Have you signed up/renewed your AMA membership? You will need this in order to race GNCCs in 2014. Sign up through this special link and a portion of your membership will go to the GNCC Foundation. A new membership earns $5 and a renewal $2.50. The GNCC Foundation will determine where best to spend these funds (i.e., ISDE support, Team Faith, injured rider, etc.). For 2014, the GNCC Foundation Board members will consist of Tim Anderson, Mark Hyde and Chuck LeMaster. Visit www.amajoin.com/RAPROD for more details on memberships.

Have you pre-registered for Round 1? We think the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Fast Track Pre-Registration is the best thing since sliced bread. Well, I don’t know how great sliced bread is but it’s pretty awesome to now have the option to sign up ahead of time, kill the long waits at the track AND get $20 to spend however you want on RockyMountainATVMC.com. And they’re not just giving that away once; it’s each and every time you pre-register for a GNCC event. So please take advantage of this opportunity and jump on the fast track now.

Just a reminder that the gate admission for this year is as follows: $20 Adult (12+), $10 Kids (6-11), 5 and under free.  While we understand that a $5 increase for adults can add up, we hope it’s helpful to note that the Kids price has actually gone down by $5 compared to last year. We’re also happy to introduce an all-new kick back for racers this season. Beginning at Round 1, racers who finish in an award winning position will have the opportunity (while supplies last) to choose a GNCC event specific poker chip, featuring some of the top racers in each discipline, instead of taking home your plaque. The poker chips are worth $10 each and may be redeemed with GNCC for things like gate admission. They’re also a cool collectible item if you can capture all 13! Like I said, though, there will be a limited number of these available so as soon as the results are posted, you might want to head over to the awards pick up and claim your poker chip!

The folks at the Mud Muckers facility contacted us this week to let us know that GNCC Racers are welcome to stay and camp on the property after the race is over. A lot of times it's hard to find a spot to park your big rig in the Daytona area so they're offerring these rates per night: $10 per adult, $5 per child (6-11), 5 and under are FREE. Camping permits will be sold at the Muck Mart on the property and if you have any questions about post-race camping, please do not contact RP but instead call the Mud Muckers office at 386-566-1456 and Billy will take care of you.

Before I go, I just want to remind everyone that GNCC Live will return this season, broadcasting the afternoon races at all 13 rounds – both ATV and Bike – beginning at 1 p.m. EST. We will have a very similar format to last season and all shows will be once again shown live and archived on RacerTV.com. Can’t wait!

That’s it for me this week. I’m looking forward to getting to Florida so we can have some racing action to talk about!

@JaredBolton:

In 1968, The Zombies said, “It’s The Time of the Season,” and I’m sure there’s quite a few folks out there who are familiar with that song. Well, that saying can still hold true today, 46 years later. It is that time of the season, or well, pre-season, really where everything is officially in last minute prep mode.

Many are beginning their 2014 season this weekend with the Sandlapper National Enduro in South Carolina. I went into a little detail about it last week and gave a rundown of what to possibly expect out of the opening round of the National Enduro Series. However, I did miss a couple of names. The biggest of which being, Cory Buttrick. Cory has missed almost two seasons of racing due to injuring and then re-injuring his knee but he’s healthy now and came away with a solid fifth place finish in his first race back at the Sumter Enduro last month.

I also got a note today saying the Rory Mead will be racing the Sandlapper Enduro. Rory will be back aboard the 2-stroke this year in XC2 after a tough 2013 season. Yes, he can do that due in fact that, while he finished third in 2012, he didn’t finish in the top 10 in points in 2011 or 2013. Anyway, Rory snagged a couple of overall wins aboard a KTM 300XC 2-stroke in 2012, so keep an eye on him at both the enduro, and when the GNCCs kick back off.

The Factory Husqvarna team has been busy getting their race bikes ready to go this week. Joey Maurer is actually working out of the RidePG shop in North Carolina to stay close to the racing over the next several weeks and has been hard at work getting everything ready for this weekend’s National Enduro, and the opening GNCC next weekend. The Husky guys just have to do a little last minute testing on the race bikes to fine tune where they want their bars, levers, etc., and they’ll be good to go.

It’s definitely cool to see a full factory effort by Husqvarna. While it’s unfortunate that it won’t be through F.A.R, which ran the Husky effort the past few years, those heavily involved with that effort will still be around with Fred Andrews coming on as KR4’s team manager and I mentioned Joey Maurer working with the Factory Husqvarna team. It’s a great team, and the bikes look super sharp. And yes, I have ridden one, and yes, they’re darn good motorcycles. Most people have the misconception that it’s only a re-labeled Husaberg, which is basically just a blue and yellow KTM, but that’s not entirely true. While they do share a lot of characteristics, the Husqvarna is definitely it’s own motorcycle, and definitely a lot of fun to ride.

For those who may not be into the whole enduro scene, there’s still a chance to do some racing this weekend. The ever-popular Mid-East Hare Scramble Series kicks off this weekend in South Carolina as well, not far from where the National Enduro is. Formerly Palmetto Motorsports Park, the facility is an excellent chance to get in some sand time and yes Mid-East opens their doors to both bikes and quads. Check out all the info at www.mideastracing.com

Then of course the icing on all of that cake is the fact that, well, as we’ve mentioned for a while, there’s still a ton of riding going on all over! It’s officially that time of the year and we’ll be full swing into racing before we know it. Time is running out, better get all that last minute prep done because you’ll be in Florida soon!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for this week. Hope everyone has an excellent weekend on their machine getting that last minute prep done. Until next time, Bolt-On out!

@HotRodney22:

Okay, my stomach just did a flip-flop. It just dawned on me that we are only one week away from the kick off to the 2014 national racing season. I probably warn of this time and herald it’s coming more than anyone and weirdly I am the one that’s surprised the most! To say a slight panic attack is underway may be an understatement. I may have to have EMS on standby for this one.

It is an exciting time of the year though, and a feeling nearly like Christmas as we get to gather with our racing families for the first time in what seems like an eternity. This year’s gathering will be even more special as we are only minutes away from the heart of Daytona and Bike Week and all of its glory. If you have never been and you want to experience every form of motorcycling known to man, then you are in for a treat. Make sure you pick up a Daytona Bike Week schedule and explore everything it has to offer.

As we roll into the 2014 season I have noticed a lot of things going on over on ATVRiders.com as far as the build up to the new year. Harlen Foley has been busy checking in with the key players in today’s four-wheel racing society. Chris Borich, Chris Bithell, Walker Fowler, Cole Richardson and more have already been featured and according to an interview I had with Harlen late last week for Quad-Radio there is plenty more leading into both the GNCC and ATVMX seasons.

A lot of focus and attention has been being paid to the newly formed 4x4 Pro class in GNCC as of late and this is obviously becoming a very premier class. It is really invigorating for me to see this new life breathed into the division. I can remember only a few short years ago when people thought 4x4 racing they thought about utility quads with racks and the whole nine yards. That is not uncommon, obviously, in our format of racing but the seriousness and passion by riders, fans and manufacturers is almost unparalleled in its possibilities as this sport takes on a new life. Where does it stop no one knows. I am here for the ride though and can’t wait to see what is coming.

Another class that is sparking my interests for 2014 is going to be the WXC (Women’s Premier Class) on both two and four wheels. On the two-wheel side of things, if last season was any indication of what is to come, then we are in for a treat. Jessica Patterson, Kaci Martinez, Hannah Otto and more will be lining up to do battle for the bike side of things. Another contender we will throw in this season will have to be Becca Sheets. There has not been a lot of commotion from this division but reports from the Sheets training camp are all more than positive on the bike. The former motocrosser-turned-woods-girl is expected to be a contender for the title in 2014.

The four-wheeled side of things will see some major competition again this year as Kylie Ahart, Kara Merritt, Quincey Cunningham and more, once again racing for class wins and some top overall spots. One has to think and expect to see some of the top Women Amateur riders step up to this class this year. Kristen Deloach should be there, although I have not talked or heard what she has planned for 2014 but one can only think she will step up after winning the class. I wouldn’t be surprised and also expect to see Kendall Taylor, Alicia McCormick and Kameron Bobb to all move up. These girls were all tops in the class and looked more than ready to meet the next challenges which should open a whole new Pandora’s Box in the amateur women ranks with a number of Youth girls looking to move up.

A look back through the Girls 8-15 class from 2013 and one has to wonder what the plans are for the ultra-fast Sadie Welch, Hanna Hunter and Sydney Sams. These girls will be ones to watch whatever division and class they race. It is a very promising future for the sport of Women quad racing right now. If one would take into account the names mentioned in these classes today alone, would make for the greatest class of women competition that has ever been seen in the GNCC history. Gone it seems are the days where only one or two riders ruled. It looks like there could be an uprising in the future of Women GNCC and we are about to witness the start of the revolution. Mark my words!