GNCC Racing Debuts Kurt Caselli Foundation GNCC Safety Vehicle

GNCC Racing recently announced The Kurt Caselli Foundation GNCC Safety Vehicle, which made its debut at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC. The Kurt Caselli Foundation partnered with GNCC Racing to build a safety vehicle that will travel to every round of GNCC Racing for local medical teams to use around the facility and racecourse.

Kurt Caselli is among the most decorated off-road motorcyclist in history; his career highlights include three AMA National Hare and Hound National Championships, three championships in the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS), AMA Sportsman of the year in 2007, and multiple International Six Days Enduro medals. After Kurt’s death in 2013, The Kurt Caselli Foundation was established in his memory with the mission of Protecting and Supporting the Lives of Off-road Riders.

“The emergency medical transport unit is one of the best additions to the GNCC equipment list,” said Tim Cotter, Racer Productions Event Direction. “Our racers and their families now have the comfort to know that at every GNCC there is a well equipped off-road vehicle to help riders in need.”

This is the foundation's first donation and partnership with a racing series on the east coast. Also helping in the partnership for the GNCC Safety Vehicle are FMF Racing, Westfield Powersports, Kawasaki, PCI Radios and Baja Designs. With the help from these partners, the GNCC Safety Vehicle is full equipped with a medical backboard and other medical necessities to help racers in the event of an injury. The safety vehicle and all of the accessories have a value of over $18,000.

The Kurt Caselli Foundation has a three-part mission that covers safety precautions for riders before, during and after a racing career. Listed below are the three missions they strive to complete for the riders:

1. Before racing, we are committed to encouraging, developing, and standardizing safety precautions that will help minimize risk outside of the rider's control.
2. During racing, we are committed to developing, establishing, and encouraging the use of safety equipment and policies to increase the safety of the riders.
3. After racing, we are committed to providing a safety net that allows and encourages former racers to further their education and reach career goals for themselves and their families.

The Kurt Caselli Foundation President, Donny Emler Jr. joined GNCC Racing on the start of the pro bike race at the FMF Steele Creek to present the new Kurt Caselli Foundation GNCC Safety Vehicle. Click HERE to watch the video.

Catching Up With Ken (Ken Hill)

Can you believe we are on the cusp of round number five? It truly seems like yesterday we were attending the opening round and here we are diving into the fifth round of racing and each round has been just a notch above the last. Thad Duvall’s win gives everyone a new flavor on the box and some much needed win in his sails and on the ATV side Fowler’s last few races have opened the door for others to grab some glory before he gets back on track and starts racking up the wins. Usually this type of change would have me pretty stoked because writing abut the same three guys gets stale even though you expect it when you have such close talent. The difference in all this is me, plain and simple. I rolled into Steele Creek with an infection and rolled out headed south to Texas with a plan to cover the ATVMX national at Underground MX then shoot back to South Carolina for this weekends GNCC. I ended up heading back home after the ATVMX event to lend a hand to the family as that confounded fowl weather had the homestead a mess. My head still wasn’t on straight but three actual days home seemed like plenty of time to get things done and just like that, I am about ready to head to Camp Coker!

Now what I did enjoy was seeing all the posts and pictures from last weekend’s racing; from the National Enduro to the IXCR event and more in between. I could be wrong but I do not recall seeing a dry race anywhere east of the Mississippi! Holy rain buckets as it were, you guys and gals showed once again that nothing would keep you from doing what you love. Now I hope and pray that this weekend, and for our remaining rounds, we see great racing weather because after this prolonged winter we all need a break badly. Not just for equipment to be squared away but for our own peace and sanity because watching social media I have a feeling a few of you are about ready to blow a gasket and move to the Caribbean, and I do not blame you one bit!

Moving onto this weekend, Camp Coker is a deceiving piece of property at least in my mind. It looks fairly smooth enough ground for a nice flowing track and sans a monsoon, can handle some wet weather. That sounds like a fairly mundane and easy track to handle, but it isn’t! I looked back through my images and recall how rough this place can get for all classes all weekend long. Choppy braking bumps, hard edge ruts, soft here and hard there, wide open runs that lead into tight and twisting woods. This place is challenging, for sure, so be double sure your ride is ready and that you are prepared for your race. Of course, you always have that tough decision on which lure will work or if you will brave the zip line and take a swim. As you can see, this property offers a person so much that you might even forget there is a race going on. Ok, it would be hard to forget that fact but this location is a blast and some serious memories can be made here both on the track and with the family so be sure to take a few minutes and enjoy it all. 

Speaking of the racing, I really do not have my podium picked for Saturday. Walker Fowler for sure, Adam McGill and of course Brycen Neal all come to mind but with Cole Richardson’s climb back to the box, there is going to be a fight for the top three and someone is going to get booted. Then there is Jarrod McClure, who tends to strike when no one is looking so he could easily be a threat here. I kind of see this round as a lot like The General. It is open enough to allow a few really hot laps that could get someone out front when it counts or we could see a huge name dropping back after a high speed mistake costs them a podium finish. I reckon it is anyone’s game right now and that for me makes it exciting and we all get to enjoy watching this race unfold in front of us. In any event, as long as you all are safe at the end of the day I don’t care who lands on the box so have fun and show us some good times!

This round will also mark the return of the UTV races and I have no idea who to watch as everyone will be eager to hit the go button after a two round hiatus. Keeping your car in one piece seems to be the benchmark for those that win as we have seen some big stars towed back in instead of smiling from the podium. That makes for a long day and longer ride home when a broken part ends your day. I am not one to follow points but it appears to me we have a three-way tie in UXC1 Pro Turbo so Walker Fowler, Hunter Miller and Kevin Trantham may be the drivers to keep an eye on as they get things worked out when Ricky turns them loose.

That is all from me this week, I am still trying to get things right before I roll out. Hanging around things that go-fast with a cluttered mind is a bad situation so if you se me hiding behind an even bigger tree this weekend, I am just playing it safe! As always, be safe in all you do and may God bless you all!

Update From the Woods of Camp Coker! (Jared Bolton)

Here we are! We’ve approached the most popular section Quick Fill leading up to a GNCC race weekend. Let’s talk about this weekend’s track because it’s going to be a great one. Last year’s Camp Coker course was a pretty good one and we’re using some of the same trail, but it’s healed up extremely well and we’ve also worked in a few different sections as well.

The starting line has been moved to the motocross side of the property, but located by the big swimming pond. When you take off into the woods, you’ll actually be starting around the three-mile mark. You’ll hit a slightly tighter section of woods that zigzags back and forth to the four-mile mark. From there, you’ll get onto a section of trail we haven’t used in a few years that takes you through some faster trail out to the five-mile mark before you hit your first big grass track section. This grass track brings you past the six-mile mark and by the big pond out back with the nice A-Frame cabin overlooking it.

This is the longest section of grass track that you’ll encounter on the course and while it will take you a little bit to get through it and back to the next woods section, it’s a lot of fun and flows really well. When you get back into the woods, there’s a really fun medium-speed section past the seven-mile mark that has a couple of small ups and downs in it. This will take you over to one of the most fun sections of the course. This will be a really cool section of pine trees that works its way back and forth through some tighter and medium speed sections to the eight-mile mark.

Past the eight, you’ll run through more of those really cool pine sections before popping back into another section of grass track to the nine-mile mark. That brings you back into the woods once again into some faster stuff before you hit yet another section of grass track out to the ten-mile mark. From there, it’s a bit of grass track into the finish before you’ll hit another section of woods with some faster trail in it. This pops you out by the pro pits to a fast section towards the one-mile mark.

Just past the one, you’ll head out onto the old Camp Coker Motocross track. If you’ve never been on it before, it’s actually not in use anymore except for when we run it for GNCC. It’s more of an old-school style motocross track with some big, bermed turns and some smaller-sized jumps. That takes you to the two-mile mark and through a fast and flowing section before you hit the woods once again. When you get into those woods, it’s another tighter section that will bring you back around to where you started.

Overall, this promises to be the best Camp Coker Bullet course we’ve seen yet. There’s truly something for everyone as it ranges from fast trails, tight trails, fast field sections and even motocross. If you’re on the fence about coming out, then get off the fence, get your machine loaded and get to the track because this one is going to be well worth attending! We hope you enjoy it!

Industry News

First CST Contingency Plan Awards Cash Prizes in GNCC Series

CST is going full-throttle with its first-ever contingency program, offering generous cash prizes for winners and podium finishers in AMSOIL GNCC Racing, WORCS, the ATV MX National Championships, and the AMA District 37 Big6 Grand Prix Series.

Prizes ranging from $400 to $50 will be awarded for upcoming races, with amounts varying according to series, class, and first, second or third-place finish. The contingency place begins April 21-22 for AMSOIL GNCC; April 27-29 for WORCS; April 14-15 for ATV MX; and May 5-6 for Big 6. Races prior to the specified dates are not covered by the program, and no prizes will be awarded retroactively.

To be eligible, racers must ride CST tires and display decals in the number and size specified on the entry form throughout the event. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Don’t wait! Visit https://www.csttires.com/us/contingency/ to find entry forms and to learn more!

Former GNCC competitor, Tara Dunaway, now holds the crown as the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen. Congratulations, Tara!

Polaris RZR Factory Racing Announces New Contingency and Purchasing Programs

Polaris RZR® Factory Racing is now offering RZRdrivers an unmatched contingency program for select race series. Each contingency series winner will be awarded a 2018 RZR XP Turbo. Qualifying racers will also be eligible to join Team RZR, giving them access to its industry leading purchase program. These programs are designed to support privateer RZR racers.

RZR has powered the most dominant race team. Within the last two seasons, Polaris RZR Factory Racing has amassed more than 45 wins and 122 podiums. That success, coupled with this year’s electric start, has attracted significant interest from privateers to race RZR.

“After a historic run last season, and a podium-filled start to 2018, we want to extend our support outside of the factory teams, awarding top privateer racers who drive RZR’s in 2018,” said Matt Boone, RZR and GENERAL Marketing Director at Polaris. “We have received enthusiastic feedback from privateer racers looking to capitalize on their success, and what better way to reward top racers than to offer an industry-leading contingency program.”