The GNCC Racing family mourns the loss of Charles “Chad” Ford II, age 60, longtime GNCC competitor, worker, supporter and father of Wyatt Ford (Junior A 25+) and Wylie Ford (Vet C 30+). Chad and his wife Becky Ford began racing in the early 1990’s, both competing in the famous Blackwater 100 together. From then on, they continued to compete in GNCC events and help pit for others that raced the series and were regular attendees on the Appalachian Dual Sport Tour.

Chad hauled multiple ATV racers to the events, helping pit each of them, which resulted in multiple GNCC Pit Crew of the Year awards and National Championships throughout the different disciplines, including an A class GNCC ATV title with his brother-in-law, Bryan Davis and a GNCC Women’s Bike title earned by his beloved wife, Becky, in 1997.

Chad also helped as a Course Marshall for many years. He helped “Big Dave” Coombs, Jeff Russell, Buren Hamrick and the rest of the crew in building many of the GNCC courses over the years. He even wrote the GNCC Youth Race Reports for the series while his sons were racing in the youth bike ranks.

“My dad had great respect for Chad and Becky,” commented Carrie Coombs Russell. “Chad had a common-sense, no non-sense attitude, and Becky was one of the hardest working women I have ever met. We could not have done the dual sports without them.”

In recent years, both Wylie & Wyatt continue to try and make it to the GNCC’s when their work schedules allow it, and their parents, Chad & Becky, never missed the chance to travel to the races as a family, just like when they started many years ago.

This past weekend, Chad, Becky, Wylie, Wyatt and Bryan all traveled to the Talladega GNCC for Bryan to race his ATV on Saturday morning and Wylie & Wyatt to race motorcycles on Sunday, just as they have for many years. Chad spent Friday riding around on his favorite golf cart catching up with friends at the track and enjoying the sunshine.

Saturday morning prior to heading to the track, Chad experienced an unexpected medical emergency at the hotel. Chad sadly passed away on Monday, March 10, in Alabama, surrounded by his loving wife of 34 years (40 years together!) Becky and family.