Thursday, August 7, 2014 | 12:50 PM
Welcome to Quick Fill.
@JaredBolton:
We’re ticking away time in that oh so long summer break. We’re actually now on the downward slope of it as we’re only a month away from returning to racing at Unadilla. There’s still a lot of summer left before then though, so if you haven’t exactly caught up on all your fun summer activities just yet, get on it while you still can!
Obviously the big stories in the racing scene recently were that of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. Yes, we as GNCCer’s are no strangers to Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and we’ve turned our fair share of laps around the entire piece of property. However, if you’ve never been for the Amateur National, well, it’s almost hard to recognize the place. It looks totally different.
I actually turned this week’s Tuesday Toolbox into a Loretta Lynn’s Special Edition and dissected a little bit about what the event was all about and highlighted how the week went for a couple of familiar faces from the GNCC world, Aaron Plessinger and 5-time champ, Rodney Smith. If you missed it, head over and check it out here: http://gnccracing.com/2014/08/05/tuesday-toolbox-loretta-lynns-special-edition
Now, I realize that’s only two riders and there are several others with GNCC ties who competed at the ranch last week. One name that comes to mind, Andrew Matusek in the 25+ class. Matusek spent some time in the GNCC world several years ago and even landed an XC2 podium to his credit. He’s spent the past few years enjoying his time back in the motocross world, but once a GNCCer, always a GNCCer! It also goes with another 25+ competitor, Shane Obanion who also put in some solid XC2 performances a few years ago, most notably snagging some holeshots.
Another name, which is actually one of the big names at Loretta’s, is that of Tyler McSwain. Tyler’s dad, Steve, is a former GNCC pro racer who also won a few overall championships in the North Carolina Hare Scrambles. While Tyler has been more focused on the motocross side, he’s also put in some solid performances at an occasional GNCC over the years as well.
That’s just another one of the things that’s really unique about GNCC Racing. The versatility of the racers is pretty impressive. Not only can we go fast through the woods, we can hold our on out on a motocross track too. Speaking of versatility, the Endurocross is returning to the east coast with an Atlanta round in a few weeks and Kailub Russell along with both Steward and Grant Baylor is confirmed to be racing.
It’ll be pretty cool to watch as KR takes his first crack at Endurocross. Stu Baylor had a go at it in the X-Games a couple of years ago and did well until some classic Endurocross bad luck struck him. All of these 3 riders have shown they not only have the talent to go fast on normal terrain but they’re also exceptionally good in the tough, technical terrain as well.
While we’re still on summer break, the eyes in the off-road world this weekend will be focused to Colorado with the National Enduro Series. Jesse Groemm snagged his first ever National Enduro overall win at the previous round in PA, so he has the momentum heading into this round. However, you can never count out the guys like Delong, both Baylor brothers, Brad Bakken and of course, Mike Lafferty. Nick Fahringer leads the points standings but suffered a knee injury at the previous round. However, you can’t count him out either as it looks like he’s going to fight through the pain the rest of the season to try to lock up the championship.
On our end, we’re heading back down to Loretta’s for the final round of the Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship to be showcased live on RacerTV.com. Should be a good show, so if you’re interested in watching, tune in at 3:30pm eastern, that’s 2:30 central, for all the action.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Time to head back to the ranch! Until next time, Bolt-On out!
@HotRodney22:
Howdy folks! This week’s Quick Fill contribution comes from the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The 33rd Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Amateur National Motocross Championship as we all know consumed last week. This week I have been consumed by the quickly approaching finale of the Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship and honestly a couple of days just hanging with the kids. It has been one of the most enjoyable “Loretta Lynn Experiences” I have ever had.
Last week there was not a drop of rain all week, sunshine came in the right amount of doses and the temperatures felt like a comfortable weekend of GNCC racing here in May. At least the ones we have had here at times any way. One thing is for sure, you never know what to expect at good ole Loretta Lynn’s but she always serves up something memorable.
After the races we decided to take a “whim” trip and see where it would lead us and on Sunday the kids and I loaded up and headed the Nashville Zoo. I must say that there is entirely too much to do in Nashville in one day so we figure there are more trips ahead. Once we looked at the weather and saw that it was going to be a hot day for the first time since our arrival we would just go for the waterpark at Nashville Shores. Good call kids! Daddy had a blast.
Now it’s back to the grind and gearing up for the wind down to the 2014 season. As I mentioned I am still at the Loretta’s for the Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship finals. The AMA Pro ATV Motocross champ Chad Wienen has been crowned with his third consecutive title and that leaves the race for second place in the championship wide open. RacerTV.com will also be “Globe-Casting” the event beginning at 2:30 pm central time on Saturday. Log on and watch the world’s top ATV motocross racers tackle the famed Loretta Lynn’s course for The 2014 Can Am Dirt Days ATV National.
Now as far as the GNCC breakdown we have been focusing on in recent contributions goes, we left off talking about the morning overall and was leading into the morning class breakdown. I have to be honest here and say that the only time I thought about GNCC this past week or so has been when I saw the Great Barry Hawk eyeballing the Senior 40+ class and Rodney Smith in the Masters 50+ class.
Yes you read right. 5-Time GNCC Champ Rodney Smith qualified and raced the 50+ class at the AMA Amateur Nationals and did very well. If you know anything about the former off-road great then you know he is a former and 5-Time Brazilian Motocross Champion as well as top World Motocross contender before making a home in the GNCC. So to say he is fast on the MX track is kind of an understatement. He finished 2nd in his first try. Rodney actually was a professional rider when the Loretta Lynn National came into being so he never had a chance to come until now in his career.
Rodney Smith opened his first moto up with the hole-shot and early lead but the ever charging and fast Earl “The Pearl” May was able to best him in the end. Rodney told me he decided to make the trek while training a handful of kids back home in California for this year’s event. He decided to try himself since he had never been here before. Rodney said that his wife Lori would train them in the gym and with diet and he would stay with their daughter. When Lori was done he would ride with his students and that was about all the training he did. He did tell me he really enjoyed the experience and said that if he would have realized how big and cool it really was he would have trained even harder.
Rodney told me that originally that Lori and their daughter were planning on staying back in Cali but once he got here and felt the atmosphere and saw the crew he told her “You got to get out here, you will love it!” So they boarded the next flight and were here in Tennessee before you knew it. They were all smiles and Lori told me that she felt so much like they were at home. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see a little more of the Smith family in the future. Let’s hope so anyway.
It was good to see the Smith’s and it was also kind of cool to see Barry Hawk with a gleam in his eyes. Could this mean Barry Hawk may give this a try in the future? Who knows? But I can say anytime Barry looks like that, there are some wheels turning about something in there.
That’s it for now! Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.