GNCC Racing

Quick Fill #27: This Week in GNCC

Quick Fill #27: This Week in GNCC

Friday, July 10, 2020 | 1:15 PM
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Friday, July 10, 2020 | 1:15 PM

Welcome to Quick Fill.

It’s time to go racing! We’re set up and ready to go here on the West Virginia/Pennsylvania state line for this weekend’s High Voltage GNCC. This is actually going to be a pretty fun track, and just because you may take a look at the map and think there’s a lot of field or think it’s pretty short, well, don’t be deceived by that map. I’ll have all the details on that coming up soon in this edition of Quick Fill.

But first, if you haven’t already heard the big news, we’ve got a couple of special guests who will be racing Sunday. Zach Osborne, who actually won the last round of Supercross, will be racing out of the Rockstar Husqvarna rig this weekend. ZachO is no stranger to GNCC as he actually raced several events in the past and landed three XC2 podiums in his three appearances in 2013. This time Zach will be stepping up to the XC1 class, and it will definitely be interesting to see how things go.

There’s be a big mix of discussion on how Zach will fair but keep in mind that not only does he have past GNCC experience, he also has competed in the ISDE as well. Zach is no stranger to off-road racing, no matter the terrain and he very well may surprise you at just how long he can hold on. We’ve also heard that Kicker Arenacross champ, Kyle Peters, will be coming to race XC2 with the Phoenix Honda squad.

It’s pretty cool to see these guys come out and give GNCC a shot and definitely makes things a little more interesting heading into the weekend. As for the course, well, as usual I’ll give you a quick rundown of what to expect. You’re starting less than a half-mile into the course; so all your laps will be pretty close to the same time. You’ll make your way up into the woods and the first section has a several up and down hill sections that work you up to the one-mile mark.

After the one, you’ll pick up some trail that will be pretty tight for the ATV guys. This tight stuff actually lasts a good way around the track, so for the quad racers, expect a tight trail with a few passing opportunities along the way. From the one to the two-mile mark is all woods with varying terrain going slightly up, slightly down and a few off-cambers as well.

That continues around to the three-mile mark where you’ll pop out into an open section for just a bit then drop back into another woods section. This section is a little more open and will bring you to the four-mile mark before popping out into a field section. In that field, you’ll cross a small creek and head back into another tighter section of woods with a cool uphill climb in it. This leads you through some more zigzagging trail over to the five-mile mark where you’ll hit a big field section.

At the end of the field you’ll work your way through some more tight trail with a couple of technical turns and a little off-camber that will take you to the six-mile mark. You’ll work your way through more woods and into a big field section that takes you past the seven-mile mark. That field continues back to the woods and into an open section that works its way up to the top of one hill, down the other side, then back up another hill before you get to the eight-mile mark. Once you pass the eight, the woods open up a little bit with some faster sections of trail that have some gently rolling hills all the way to the nine-mile mark. That trail will then bring you back out of the woods and into the finish line. 

There will also be a couple of bike-only sections added in just after the two-mile mark and another after the eight. These will add a little distance for the bikes and slow things down a little as they’re a even more twisty and technical than the other sections of woods, which are already pretty twisty and slow! 

Overall we’re looking forward to a great weekend of racing. That’s it for me this week, enjoy your weekend and we’ll see you at High Voltage!

Catching Up With Ken (Ken Hill)

This weekends GNCC is going to be blazing hot! Well of course it is, we have some of the fastest racers in the world in competition but I believe you all know what I am talking about, the actual temperature! Hey, its July and the next two months are typically scorching and even though you think you are in shape, please hydrate and take precautions. Crew members and teams, be observant to your rider(s) as the heat can make someone do things they shouldn’t do such as race past the point of their ability and that prove to be very dangerous. Take a few seconds at a pit stop and ask a few basic questions, ones that do not refer to the race or racing and take note of the replies. If it appears your rider isn’t “all there” get him or her some medical assistance because heat stroke is no joke.

We found out that Zach Osborne will be racing in the XC1 class as he looks to find some competition while the Pro Motocross schedule has been delayed. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen him race GNCC and he did pretty well when he gave it a go, so we will see how things have changed since his last appearance. This is the craziest season I’ve ever witnessed so anything and everything can and probably will happen so it should make for an exciting weekend in the hills of West Virginia. 

I’ve been watching the weather like a madman obsessed due to our complete lack of rainfall here locally and I try and keep tabs on the region where the race will be held. It’s hard to believe we are this deep into the season and we are indeed very fortunate to be able to have run things pretty smoothly as so many things around us all are shut down or cancelled or rescheduled but here we are. It will be a tough one coming out of the break and having Snowshoe as the second round back due to how punishing that event can be but you all can handle anything I am sure of it! 

There hasn’t been a ton of chatter running up to this weekends event and I recall last year we had a pretty decent turn out and I am expecting an even larger one based on the previous events held this season so get there as early as they will allow to get a decent parking spot. Bring lots of water and the typical supplies especially sun blocker! Is it just me or does everyone else hate the dust sticking to you after you wipe down with that stuff?! In any event, take the needed precautions so you have an enjoyable weekend. Be sure to swing by Adam McGill’s pit Friday evening through Saturday to sign and get involved with his auction as he continues to support our armed forces. 

That’s all from me, I have to go do my daily pray for rain dance and get packed up. Please be safe in all you do and may the good Lord continue to bless us all! See you in the woods!