by: Chuck Lemaster
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 | 1:50 PM
Kara Frederick has been a part of the GNCC Racin' Nation for a few years now. She really started to shine in the second half last year, getting on the WXC ATV box twice in the last 4 rounds. She came out swinging in 2016 and took the top spot in Florida! She followed up with consistent top 5's, then some bad luck and a rebound to the center of the podium at Snowshoe! GNCCRacing.com caught up with Kara over the break.
GNCCRacing.com: Kara, congratulations on your most successful GNCC season to date!
Kara Frederick: Thank you. It’s hard work, money and time in the garage every night, but it has turned into the best season ever!
So are you training hard?
I have too much going on with work and then all the time in the garage wrenching on the bike.
What kind of work do you do?
I work with my dad in his sawmill. It’s good because we can be flexible with hours. Often, I need to leave on Wednesday to get to the track on Thursday and then do track walk on Friday. I used to work construction and it was just too hard to get the time off and then drive through the night.
So when do you get your ride time in?
I race two series, so that helps keep my speed up. I live in New York a little over an hour from Syracuse, so I can race the WYNOA series.
How is that going for you?
It’s good. I’m 3rd in points in the Junior A class. It’s tough. Those top two guys are pulling 4th and 5th overalls. My best overall has been a 10th place, so there’s a bit of a gap there. But I’m getting faster and it’s helping with GNCC.
I would say so! You came on really strong with a win in Florida! What was going through your mind that race?
I was excited! My dad was hootin’ and hollerin’! I knew I was doing well, but was surprised when I saw #1 on the scoreboard. I got a good start but then Traci [Pickens] put me in a tree trying to pass. It was no big deal, just a race thing but I was behind and she checked out. I never saw her to pass her and then the scoreboard said first, so I was a little confused and excited at the same time! I guess she and a couple other racers got off the course. I ended the race with nearly a 7-minute lead.
And then you had some consistent finishes and maybe a little bad luck at a couple rounds?
I was doing good until North Carolina when I accidentally hit my kill switch in the middle of a mud hole. No one wanted to get in there to help me out. I knew where I was out so I got off the quad and ran to the pits and grabbed someone to come help me. He got there and was like, “Really?” It was just the kill switch was off! I guess you gotta live and learn. We’ve changed that set-up but I’ll probably never forget that lesson!
Not to relive bad memories there, but you are scored with a DNF at Tomahawk. What happened there?
That was just bad luck. We take really good care of the bike and do regular maintenance, but with only 12 hours on the top end, a rocker arm broke and I didn’t even make it into the woods. We’ve never seen anything like that and no one that we know has had that kind of issue. One of those things, I guess.
Well, you obviously adapt and overcome! Take us through the Snowshoe win!
That was a tough race! I didn’t even know I won at the end. We had gone back and forth so much. I knew that Kylie Ahart had passed me on a hill and I didn’t see her to pass her back. But I guess she got stuck and Alicia [McCormick] got by her, too. I managed to beat Alicia by 2 minutes and Kylie by 4, so it turned out to be a good day for me!
You’ve been coming to GNCCs for a while now. What got you started racing and what brought you to the Nationals?
I was 14 years old when I got a 400EX and just rode it on weekends. It was for fun, but then I started doing a local winter series. I started coming to Unadilla in 2010 and racing the Women’s class. You always want to know how you stack up against the best, so in 2014 I started doing enough for championship points. I got 8th, I think, that first year. And last year I scored 7th but I got on the box at Unadilla and Somerset. Right now, Alicia has me by 21 points and I’m only 1 point behind Kara Merritt so I’m sitting in third.
What are your goals for these last four races?
Ride smart and use my head! Don’t ride over my head and just keep it together.
Any important lessons you’ve learned along the way?
2 years ago at Powerline, I hadn’t walked the track. So when I came to the mud jump, I didn’t know what I was doing. I crashed and ended up kicking myself in the head. I was pretty funny! I was one of the only quads that made Blooper Dude’s video that year! So now I make sure to walk the track ahead of time.
Over the break, I understand you just can't stay away from ATVs! You were the 30 Second Girl at the Unadilla ATVMX?
[laughs] Yes! I was sitting at the Maxxis rig having a beer and Chelsea Taylor’s friend came up and asked if I wanted to help out and get a free t-shirt? So I went to the starting line and Chad Weinan’s mechanic’s girlfriend was the 30-second board girl and I held the “Moto 1” and “Moto 2” cards.
Is it really just as easy as it looks?!
[Laughs] Yes. Although I wish I was wearing sneakers instead of flip-flops!
What is in store for the rest of your summer? Are you training, racing?
No. I have a new quad that I need to start building for next year. We have this current quad that I’m going to finish the season on, but next year will be here pretty quick and with running two series, there’s always a lot of work. Summertime is a good time to catch up.
Alright! Thanks for chatting with us. We will let you get to it. Who would you like to thank?
I ride on Team VFR/ Vetern Family Racing and Allen Carpenter has helped out with so many sponsors; Fly Racing, WPS, Graphic Worx, HMF, Alco Cleaners, DP Brakes, Galfer Brakes, Evans, Tireballs, Powermadd, VP Racing Fuels, CV4, FourWerx, Fasst Co., Hot Rods, Hot Cams, Cylinder Works, Pivot Works. I couldn’t be here without Maxxis, Rekluse, Binghamton Honda, Houser Racing, Ye Old Cycle Barn, Scott Goggles, IMS Products, Glann Innovations, Imortal Atv, Stone Concepts, Rocket Ron for my amazing suspension. Also, my Dad, Mom and Cody. I also want to give a shout out to my cousin, Aieen Graves for building me a motor in two days last year so I could race Ironman!