Rachel Gutish

• Tuesday Toolbox: Ryder ReickSeptember 5, 2017As you might have guessed by his name, Ryder Reick and his family are motorcycle people through and through. Both his father and grandfather race motorcycles, and his mom rides as well. This seven (soon to be eight) year old from Pennsylvania first started riding at three years old, then started racing at four. His whole family comes to the races – his mom and dad, as well as his maternal grandparents – and they all split the work and maintenance on his machines… Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that he competes on micro bikes and micro ATVs? Pretty impressive for a third grader, isn’t it?! Ryder is currently tied for the lead in the ATV Open Senior class going into the last round this weekend at the one and only Unadilla.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Cody BarnesAugust 29, 2017While I always enjoy my Tuesday Toolbox interviews, it is especially exciting to interview someone that I already know personally. I grew up riding 85cc’s and Superminis in the OMA series with Cody Barnes. He kicked my tail at every race, and he’s only gotten faster since. Fast forward a few years, and in his first year of running the GNCC series in the PM race, he’s sitting in a close 2nd place in the 250 A class and has three top amateur honors under his belt (Big Buck, Camp Coker and Tomahawk). To top it all off, he and his dad are two of the nicest people you could meet here at the races. I spoke with Cody about what he did before bursting on to the GNCC scene and his future plans for his racing career.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Robbie PecorariAugust 22, 2017Robbie Pecorari (@robbiep2681) is a thirty-year old 4x4 Pro class racer from Aston, Pennsylvania. He works long hours during the week at his family’s business (SAI Hydraulics) manufacturing motors and gearboxes for heavy equipment, so that he can take the time off when needed to go compete. Though Robbie has been racing since he was seven, he only started racing quads five years ago, back in 2012. Though his season has been hit-or-miss so far, he has already had at least one major accomplishment. He has put his two biggest sponsors, one a newcomer to the industry and one a veteran, on the 4x4 pro podium for the first time ever. To accommodate busy schedules, I interviewed him via text over the course of about a week.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Tayla Jones, Grant Baylor & Jesper BorjessonAugust 15, 2017With the International Six Days Enduro just a little over a week away, and most of the riders boarding a plane or already in France as we speak, now seemed like a perfect time to talk about the KR4 pro team’s historic moment: all three of KR4’s pro riders were chosen to represent their home country at this year’s ISDE, starting August 28.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Frank KeeganAugust 8, 2017It’s hard to miss the KR4 crew at the average GNCC, as there are usually well over 20 riders and two semis with full pit setups at every race. The KR4 organization consists of three levels – a pro team, an amateur team, and of course, the Arrive-N-Ride program, where riders pay for the privilege of being able to show up at the race with nothing more than a gearbag (and maybe not even that) but get a “Factory Rider Experience” – a fully prepped bike, pit crew, a mechanic to help with setup, and best of all, not having to clean the bike or equipment at the end of the race!
• Tuesday Toolbox: Brandon IcardAugust 1, 2017Brandon Icard is a 19-year-old XC2 Pro-Am ATV rider and college student from Hickory, North Carolina. Though fairly young, he has already reached his biggest goal in racing – an XC2 Pro-Am class win at America’s Toughest Race. Along with his win at Snowshoe he also finished an impressive twelfth overall. We caught up with Brandon to see how his season has been going.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Grant BaylorJuly 25, 2017Grant Baylor is a name that needs no introduction. He and his brother Stu have been fixtures at the GNCCs for many years now. The good ole’ boys from Belton, South Carolina bring a unique flair to the XC1 ranks of the GNCCs, as well as the National Enduros and other East Coast off-road series. Just two weeks ago Grant Baylor earned his first career overall win at the John Penton GNCC.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Kenny HawkinsJuly 18, 2017Kenny Hawkins is a 48-year-old ATV and bike racer from Elkins, West Virginia, a small town just outside of Snowshoe Mountain. He races the Super Senior A classes in both divisions; he is currently fourth in points in the ATV class and third on the bike side. He earned his first amateur overall podium at Snowshoe Mountain in the AM Bike race, which he then followed up with a second place overall at the John Penton, again in the AM Bike race. In an unfortunate error, however, his overall finishing position at Snowshoe was not recognized in time for the podium ceremony. So as a peace offering, especially given his excellent standings in both his bike and ATV classes and because top-3 overall finishes are generally pretty cool, we decided to gives this week’s Tuesday Toolbox to Kenny.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Graham WiddicombeJuly 11, 2017Graham Widdicombe is an Englishman who has been racing 4x4 ATVs in the GNCC series for the last three years. He currently is competing in the 4x4 Senior class, and recently took his first-ever GNCC win at Snowshoe a few weeks ago. It was definitely not smooth sailing, but he got the job done. I gave Graham a call not long after The John Penton GNCC, to ask about Snowshoe and follow up on some of the things he talked about in his previous Tuesday Toolbox back in 2015.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Ricky RussellJuly 5, 2017Ricky Russell been a familiar face at the GNCCs since 2013, when he moved from Washington State to South Carolina to pursue the GNCC and National Enduro series, taking the advice of Jason Raines, another familiar face and Washington transplant. It was quite a gamble to take, especially for someone who didn’t even start racing until he was in high school! But clearly it has paid off, as Ricky just brought home his first ever XC1 Pro win last round at Snowshoe! I called him the Tuesday after his win, both to congratulate him and interview him for this week’s Tuesday Toolbox.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Cash JacobsJune 27, 2017One point. One measly point is all Cash Jacobs missed the 200 B title by last year. But he is back with a vengeance this year, as he is currently leading the points race in 200 A. Like most amateur racers, he works full time and struggles to get to the races each weekend. The fact that he is from Sarasota, Florida makes the traveling that much tougher.
• Tuesday Toolbox: Brittany ReebelJune 20, 2017Most riders who attend the GNCCs have a team behind them. Not a full factory effort, of course, but somebody. A parent, friend or spouse who helps the rider out. Even if it’s just someone who helps with the driving and keeps the rider company on those long trips. Twenty-seven year old New Castle, Pennsylvania native Brittany Reebel is an exception to this rule.