ESPN Great Outdoor Games 2005
- Updated: July 9, 2005
ESPN Great Outdoor GamesDisney Sports Complex
Orlando, FL
July 9-10. 2005
When was the last time you saw ATV racing on a major television network like ESPN or ABC? Correct, never, but thanks to MXi (the promotional company behind Supermoto, the X Games among others) and ESPN — ATV racing will be seen in over 150 million households this week! If you’re wondering how much effort went into capturing video for the televised production, try this on for size, ESPN went the extra mile and even brought “Sky Cam” to the ATV track for this year’s Great Outdoor Games. Four huge towers hold the wired camera, otherwise known as “Sky Cam” for overhead shots of the entire track. It’s impressive that they went to this kind of effort.
Let’s see “Sky Cam” is used at events like NFL games, Arenacross Football and…. oh yeah, ATV Races!
ESPN is expecting the ATV activities to steal the show. Of the 11 “pods”, (scheduled events to be filmed), nine involve ATVs! As we said, ESPN means business and they’re serious about showcasing what professional ATV racing is all about to millions of television viewers world wide! Are you excited as we are? As you’ll see this is not your ordinary ATV race. If you’re not excited about what you’re reading than you’re simply at the wrong web site — surf elsewhere because this news piece is reserved for die-hard ATV enthusiasts only!
Who made it all happen? Tes Sewell will argue that it was a group effort. But his relentless suggestion to include ATV racing as part of the GOG’s sixth year inspired the powers that be at ESPN to go for it. Thanks for all the hard work and dedication Tes!
Enter Mainstream ATV Racing
It all started a few years back when organizer Tes Sewell of MXi suggested to ad professional ATV racing to the powers that be at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. The timing wasn’t right then, and ESPN didn’t jump at the idea right away, but Sewell continued to push our sport in their direction nonetheless. One day late last year he got the, “let’s talk” message and the birth of mainstream ATV racing was born.
Davey Coombs, son of promoter legend Dave Sr., and founder of Racer X Illustrated, was contacted for his opinion. Coombs highly agreed that it was indeed an excellent fit for the 2005 Games and suggested they contact 3-time ATVA People’s Choice Promoter of the Year, Donny Banks, for help with the event. Banks jumped at the opportunity and flew to Wisconsin late last year to meet fellow organizers and look over the current venue where the Games were originally scheduled to be held. Along the way, ESPN later found a better opportunity to hold their Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge directly on Walt Disney property in Orlando, FL.
This was the view from our hotel. Next year plan to attend the Great Outdoor Games. It’s a great family vacation idea. You too can live it up like we did.
Sewell, with guidance from ATV racing legend turned promoter, Donny Banks, put together a six member committee, which they referred to as their “panel of experts”. This committee would be responsible for selecting the 24-person roster.
| COMMITTEE | ROSTER |
| Donny Banks Multi-time champion and legend professional ATV racer. President GPG (3-time ATVA People’s Choice Promoter of the Year). President of Capitol Cycle Dealership in Macon, GA. Resides in Macon, GA Wayne Hinson Ray Christy John Howell |
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