Important Racecourse PSA

Beginning at Steele Creek, there will be a new addition to the racecourse markings. The yellow and black striped markers as seen in the photo above will represent the track boundaries. This means the exact same thing as a "double arrow" regardless of what color arrow you are supposed to be following, thus meaning you MUST stay between these markings or you will be penalized.

This comes as an addition due to difficulties in truly defining double arrowed sections of the course. Due to different races following the same sections of grass track and other areas, it becomes nearly impossible to properly double arrow certain spots of the course. These new boundary markers define the course boundaries with NO exceptions. You go outside of these, you will be penalized. Thanks for your understanding and we hope you will help in making these a success.

Predict the Unpredictable at Steele Creek

Since it’s addition to the GNCC schedule in 2000, Steele Creek has earned a reputation as being the most unpredictable event of the season. Many factors go into that reputation with the two biggest being the racing itself and the weather as well. Weather at Steele Creek has been all over the radar over the years. We’ve seen muddy races, we’ve seen dusty races and we’ve seen near perfect conditions at Steele Creek. There have been unseasonably warm temperatures nearing 80 degrees, and there have been cold temperatures hovering around the freezing mark.

The racing at Steele Creek has been interesting as well. There have been run-away wins, and there have been races that were literally decided in the final turn, and both have happened more than once. Steele Creek truly is a very unique place to host a GNCC event. For 51 weeks out of the year, this facility is a beautiful campground, nestled in the North Carolina Mountains, and ATVs and motorcycles aren’t even allowed to ride in the woods. However, for nearly two decades, the one remaining week of the year at Steele Creek is dedicated to GNCC Racing and it has became one of the most storied events in the history of GNCC Racing.

For the bikes, there are two standout events in Steele Creek history that folks have talked about for many years. The first of which comes from 2007, when Barry Hawk and Glenn Kearney would battle through the final field section, all the way to the finish line. However, if you ever talk to Barry about it, he will tell you that battle almost never happened. In the final stages of the race, Barry had put on a charge toward the front of the pack and caught Kearney nearing the end of the final lap.

As they entered the grass track for the final time, Barry put his front wheel just a little too far over the berm in the first turn of the grass track and was literally just inches away from crashing, and the battle would never have happened. Barry was able to save himself from falling and would begin challenging Kearney in each turn. Hawk would pass Kearney on the outside of the next turn but would enter the following turn just a hair too fast, which allowed Kearney to dive to the inside and take the lead back.

Hawk would pull up to Kearney’s rear wheel in the next turn, creating a drag race to the following turn, which they would enter almost side-by-side. As they rounded a sweeping turn, Kearney would hold the inside line, forcing Hawk to the outside. Barry would cut toward the inside of the next to last turn, and a ditch just before the turn would be the deciding factor in the race. Kearney would slow to roll across the ditch, going high in the final corner before the finish. Hawk would use a bump just before the ditch to jump across the ditch, passing Kearney in the final turn to claim the win.

The battle in itself was a testament to these guys talent. Kearney was so exhausted that he would collapse at finish, so his challenge for the win becomes even more impressive. Glenn Kearney was an excellent competitor and very well may have been the best racer to never claim a GNCC overall win. He came very close on a number of occasions, but would just never quite seal the deal.

Fast forward to 2011, and the Steele Creek finish would see a very similar story. However, this time it would be defending champ, Josh Strang, and eventual champion, Charlie Mullins, battling it out to the finish. The two would begin their battle early in the final lap and it would continue through the lap, and as they entered the final grass track section, it would be a back and forth battle through the final corners.

Coming into the grass track for the first time, Mullins would pull ahead as Strang would attempt to dive inside. Mullins would pull ahead heading into a big sweeper where Strang would dive inside once again, but unable to make a pass. As they headed to the next to last turn, Strang would try to make a move inside once more, but Mullins would pull away when Strang’s rear end would step out. For a second, it would appear that Mullins was going to cruise to the win.

However, that’s not exactly what would happen. In the final turn, just inches before the finish line, Mullins front end would wash out on the slick North Carolina clay causing him to fall. Strang would ride around him and cross the finish to take the win. Undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking losses in the history of GNCC, Strang even said that’s not how he wanted to win the race. You could literally feel the disappointment in Mullins as he rode across the finish for second.

These are just two examples of amazing races at Steele Creek. We could sit and talk about the history of Steele Creek for hours, but there’s still history to be made moving forward. What will happen at this year’s Steele Creek GNCC? It’s hard to say, but if it’s anything like the past, then it’s going to be pretty exciting to watch it all unfold.

Keeping Up With Ken Hill:

So there I was just minding my own business in the hotel before our return to The General GNCC when it happened… It seemed innocent enough, a simple request turned into a very hot and smoky ordeal that would catch the attention of the hotel manager and those who happened to be coming in and out doing their typical hotel life thing. I was sure the fire department was going to be called with the hoopla surrounding my actions or at the very least the price for causing such a ruckus! I mean after all, this is a hotel and certain things are done at hotels, so this should have been just more of the same old for the staff and occupants. Who cares if it was near midnight when I lit things off, when it is that time it is that time and you have to do what you have to do especially when you are hungry, and I had two ladies that were very hungry. So I pulled my truck under the big mezzanine, fired up my grill and began cooking a few steaks for two of our series illustrious leaders who had been driving non stop and needed chow that did not start with “I will take a number 5 with fries.”

Now what does all that have to do with Quick Fill? Well, let me tell you that when you try to make folks happy you tend to get volunteered to do other things and adding a contribution to Quick Fill seems like it was just the ticket/repayment for such a fine effort on my part. I’ve been told it is advancement, a chance to fill the world in on what I see at the races and an opportunity. Those are fancy words for me, where I come from that’s bush whacked, high jacked or rustled into something! In all seriousness, we had some changes and needed another perspective on the GNCC racing world so here I am, ready to tell you all what I think! The name, Ken Hill and I can say that I have shot most of you seeing that I have been the series photographer for quite a few years now! I am the ruggedly handsome chap riding around on my yellow horse with my fancy lid tilted to a jaunty angle and loaded down with cameras as I go about covering the event all weekend long. So for those of you who know me, this all comes as no surprise except the fact that I am typing a few paragraphs, not just a blurb on social media. For those who do not know me, lets keep it that way, friends are overrated! I am just kidding, be sure to say hey or come shake my hand and introduce yourself please, I do enjoy trying to get to know all of you who love this crazy life we lead dancing through the trees. Just keep in mind, I am at work at the races and I try and stay busy so if we are talking about a myriad of subjects, make it look like we are talking shop so I keep my job!

Ok, with introductions out of the way I will figure out how to get in and fit in each week or bi-week or whenever they tell me I need to start punching keys. After the whirlwind start to the 2018 season I am ready for things to start settling down to a normal type of chaos that the schedule brings. It is hard to believe we will be hitting round four after a small break which means no break because lets face it, you people race, it is what you do and there is always a race and having a non race weekend is almost unheard of. The first three rounds have provided some great action in so many classes that I find it hard to keep track of. The UTV races have seen success and heartbreak, the ATV races have been an all out brawl and the bikes, well they have a war brewing that may never end. Kailub Russell and Walker Fowler have been two names that have dominated for so many seasons now, even my spell check knows Kailub personally and my camera naturally gravitates to Fowler when we ride by him in the pits! Those two have earned their success no doubt, however both are now facing competition that will make past wins seem easy.

If you haven’t taken a look at the podium or at the Moose Cool Down Zone right after the race is over, you should. This is where you see who put in the effort, sometimes without success, but sometimes it is goal achieved. The thing I have noticed this year is that Steward Baylor and Thad Duvall are coming off the track in much better shape than last season. Sure they are tending to injuries and getting hydrated, but they are not looking like they got so beat up just to finish 2nd or 3rd that they might keel over dead. That is a sign to me that both top seed challengers are primed to make Kailub work for every win this year and will leave each round more hungry to take him down. This also means more training, more speed, more effort, which is what it will take to kick Russell out of that number one spot. Luck or hard work alone won’t do it, you need that drive deep down inside yourself to push so hard that you refuse to accept anything less than success. That is what I am seeing and hearing, and it is actually kind of scary to think just how much harder can they all push? I can see at some point during an upcoming round where there will be three riders racing bar-to-bar as they head into take the checkered flag, the competition is just that close and exciting doesn't even come close to describe it. RacerTV can film it, and I can photograph it… but being there and experiencing it is the only way you can feel it.

Walker Fowler and the ATV crowd are just starting to see what the bikes have been providing in the realm of close competition. It seems that the past few champions have all had some sort of hook that got them the wins they were after. Bill Balance was just smooth and fast and had a sixth sense about line choices, set up or maybe he was part deer because he slipped through the trees seemingly effortlessly. Chris Borich was a last lap master who patiently waited making his move before snatching the lead and clawing his way to another win. Now Fowler is doing something a bit different, he just takes the lead and rolls out and doesn't slow down for a thing until he takes the checkered flag, usually with little in the way of competition. He has been making it all look easy, but if you’ve followed his success this is nothing unexpected. Brycen Neal held off a hard-charging Chris Borich to take his first XC1 Pro win at The General showing some serious growth in knowing how to get things done at the level needed when running up front. Would Fowler have won if he didn't become all ecology minded and take a few soil samples and beat up on some trees? I would have to say that at that round, Neal was coming for blood regardless of who else was on the line with him. His win may have come at a race where Fowler wasn't an issue but he now has tasted victory and he wants more of it and in a very bad way! That win could be his spark, time will tell. As for Borich, he entered this season more fit than ever and wants to prove he is still a threat and I have a feeling he will see a win or two this season especially if Fowler and Neal get to fighting it out and he can employ his proven ability to make your ride home a long one! In any event it is good to see the level of competition rise to the challenge in both our pro classes.

That is all from me this week even though I could keep typing for days, as there is so much to tell the world about what we do. Steele Creek is next at bat and this is a well-liked location for many and disliked by others. Weather can change things fast there that set up is going to be very important. Parking is tight so arrive early and get things set up and remember this is a big round for spectators so be safe in the pits. With this weekend being an off weekend for me, and the weather looking to be pretty solid, I might just get the chance to see if I can land a fish or two and enjoy the downtime. Be safe in all you do and may God bless you all!

#ThrowbackThursday

Since this week’s edition of Quick Fill is a little on the short side, we’ll make up for it with some cool Throwback Thursday photos! Enjoy!