On The Fast-Trak 8-23-00

GNC Round 11 — Loretta Lynn MX – Hurricane Mills, TN — August 19-20, 2000
Jones Wins Battle, Spader Wins War
Racer Productions hosted the 16th annual Dirt Days ATV Grand National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. A record-breaking turnout of riders braved the typical Tennessee heat and humidity to try their hand at the legendary Loretta’s track. One week prior to the event Racer Production promotes the AMA Amateur Motorcycle Championships. Luckily for the ATVers, the weather was relatively cool compared to the 110-degree temperatures that the bike crowd had to endure. (30 people were treated for heat stroke during their event). As for the ATVers weather, uncharacteristic mild temperatures graced the coal miners daughter’s property. After a touch of early morning rain showers, (which basically watered the track for the promoter), Sunday’s Pro National was underway.

Moto 1
Tim Farr (Baldwin/Ferrell/White Bros.) used the mighty YZ thumper motor to launch from the gate and lead the pack. Two weeks earlier Farr crashed at a county fair race near his hometown while trying to clear an 85-plus foot triple jump. The impact from the landing tore the ligaments in his left arm. Even with a severely weakened grip, somehow Farr found the strength to hold the world’s best riders at bay for three laps. “Digger” Doug Gust (Nac’s/TC Racing) pressured Farr, pounding past him through the finishline whoops. All the while, Jeremiah Jones (Legacy ATV/Sparks Racing) was charging hard from an eighth place starting position. Jones reeled in the leading Gust, motored his way into the lead, and impressively walked away with the victory. Travis Spader (Duncan/Roll/Golden West Cycle) already had a 46-point advantage on Shane Hitt (Sparks Racing) going into LL’s. All Spader would have to do is finish in a somewhat respectable spot to clinch the national championship with one round to spare. A Freak motor failure in moto 1 ruined all hopes of a win for Spader, Joe Byrd (East Coast ATV) and Ben Jackson (TC/Jackson Racing). Meanwhile Shane “Dog” Hitt worked his way into a fourth place finish.

Moto 2
Hitt’s fourth place moto one finish and the unusual motor problem on Spader’s quad meant that Spader’s clinch was far from a breeze. The gate fell while Spader twisted the throttle and motored his way into the lead. “I’ve been running this race in my mind for a good week. I was even walking the track this morning at 6am!” After moto one’s DNF, I wanted to get away from any bumping and grinding that might allow for a DNF, so I was happy to get such a great start. My new ITP Holeshot MX tires worked great”, said Spader after the race. Jeremiah Jones quickly took over the lead and dominated for the remainder of the race. Gust had a nice start and led Jackson, who was charging hard from a mid-pack start. The TC Racing duo would make their way past Spader. Joe Byrd hooked up with a PSI Genesis 265cc cylinder and motored his way to a respectable top five finish.

“Once I got the lead I felt comfortable. I let the faster guys by and concentrated on a smooth ride to the finish”, said Spader. At the end it was Jones with a perfect 1-1 finish taking his third GNC Pro class MX win of the year. “I’ve been struggling lately at the TTs, so it was great to come here and show everyone that I’m a motocrosser”, said Jones at the podium. Spader finished with a 14-4 score, which gave him an eighth place overall but more importantly sealed the deal on his first Pro class National Championship.

In Pro-Am class action, Pro class crossovers Ben “Action” Jackson and Harold “the Bee” Goodman went 1-2 in the Open class Andrew Smith rounded out the top three with an extremely impressive ride. Goodman was utilizing one of PSI’s new Genesis 425cc Fourtrax big-bores. GNC rookie Jason Dunkelberger brought home the 250 Pro-Am gold with perfect (1-1) scores on his Lost Creek Leager 250R. California’s Tavis Cain (Duncan Racing) and Ohio’s Jason Luburgh (TC) followed for second and third. Meanwhile, Justin Gandy (Sparks/Hollywood) clinched the title with a 5th place ride. Finally, in the 4-stroke class, Jason Luburgh bested class points leader Kory Ellis (Trinity). David Diver (Lost Creek/TC) took home the three spot honors.

Pro Results:
1. Jeremiah Jones (Legacy/Sparks)
2. Doug Gust (Nac’s/TC)
3. Shane Hitt (Sparks)
4. Tim Farr (Baldwin/Ferrell/White Bros/DG)
5. Jimmy Elza (Nac’s/LRD)
6. Ryan Detrick (LRD/LoneStar)
7. Justin Gandy (Sparks/Hollywood)
8. Travis Spader (Duncan/Roll/Golden West)
9. Michael Walsh (Walsh RaceCraft/Sparks)
10. Chad Lohr (Duncan/Roll)

Pro Point Standings (11 of 12 rounds complete)
1. Travis Spader 258
2. Shane Hitt 220
3. Doug Gust 207
4. Jeremiah Jones 192
5. Tim Farr 185
6. Keith Little 166
7. Joe Byrd 127
8. Ben Jackson/Justin Gandy 123
10. John Natalie 116
11. Kory Ellis 93
12. Jimmy Elza 90
13. Michael Walsh 87
14. Ryan Detrick 85
15. Chad Lohr 68
16. Tom Miller 58
17. Harold Goodman 43
18. Chris Bartholomew 38
19. Johnny Hale 37
20. Nathan Dallas 26
21. Jeff Seegott 24
Next stop on the GNC tour:
Labor Day weekend will wrap up the GNC series in style with the United States ATV Jamboree at I-81 Speedway in Greeneville, TN. The event will feature the Short Track National finals on Friday and the GNC TT finals on Saturday and Sunday. The Pros will take to the track at 7:30 PM both Friday (Oval) and Saturday (TT) nights. The list of ATV activities is huge! Mud bog events, poker rides, demo rides, tug of war competitions, dirt drags, dyno horsepower shootouts and much more are on order. There will even be nighttime trail rides Friday night. For more event information surf on over to www.victory-sports.com .

We’re Back in the Woods!
The GNCC Series returns from summer break on August 26 in West Virginia. For more event info. click over to www.racerxill.com/gncc . Look for increased GNCC coverage on the Scene this fall as JP and GD plan to hit a couple rounds. We spotted GNCC points leader Bill Balance at Loretta Lynn’s checking out the short-course guys, cheering on fellow Kentuckian Jeremiah Jones and chilling with his main sponsor—Maxxis Tires.

Mid-Atlantic Here We Come!
The Scene heard that the Mid-Atlantic series has it going on, so we’re taking a road trip for the August 26th TT season finale in East Bend, NC. Look for a report in the next edition.

Ask Curtis Sparks Debuts
The first set of answers to your pressing technical questions is up in the Scene’s Ask Sparks Racing column. Be sure to check it out.

Making The Scene
ITP
Head honcho Craig Peterson made the trip to Loretta Lynn’s to celebrate ITP sponsored rider Travis Spader clinching the GNC title. Fittingly, Spader holeshot Pro Moto #2 on his ITP Holesot MX tires. Craig also announced that ITP is in the final prototype stages of releasing a brand new MX tire to compete head-to-head against the mainstay grooved Riken radial. The new meat will be similar in size and compound to the Riken and will come pre-grooved.

Maxxis Tires
GNC Series title sponsor Maxxis had 4 company reps on hand at Loretta’s to check out their investment firsthand. Their new 18” Razor MX tire is finally in the U.S. They should be in distribution soon.

PSI
There’s a new name making a serious impression in the ATV aftermarket. PSI has been heavily involved in snowmobile and watercraft for years. Now they’re entering the ATV market in a big way–they showed up at Loretta’s with a 40-plus foot fifth-wheel hauler. PSI’s new Genesis engine kit for the ever-popular 250R is available in 265cc, 330cc and 425cc versions. The kit includes the cylinder, adjustable dial-a-dome head, reed cage, intake, their patented Big-Air carburetor and a custom-tuned exhaust system. Their Genesis line of snowmobile engines have been kicking butt in the white stuff for a decade, so the technology is proven and they are indeed for real! The PSI Big-Air carburetor is a high-tech design that is 100% externally adjustable—no jetting hassles!

Open Pro-Am TT specialist Daryl Rath and Harold Goodman are using PSI Genesis systems on their machines. PSI also stepped in and helped out 250 Pro Joe Byrd out at Loretta’s after he seized his engine in moto #1. The entire PSI crew jumped in and lent Joe a complete 265cc Genesis for moto #2. Byrd promptly went out and rode to a 5th place moto finish in PSI’s pro debut. “I’m very impressed with the power delivery on the kit. It’s smooth but strong. It definitely helped me out there”, said Byrd about the new PSI set up.

For more info on PSI’s new line of ATV performance products surf over to www.psiperformance.com or give them a call at 920-622-4555 and be sure to tell them that you heard about them on ATVScene.com. This product has us thinking about a full-blown evaluation. We just might need to test this bad boy ourselves, so look to the Scene for the inside scoop soon.

Honda
It’s nice when an OEM makes the Scene, especially when it’s so few and far between, BUT that’s a changing! Honda had two members of its R&D team at Loretta’s. Don’t expect Honda to sit by idle for long while Yamaha’s Raptor steals the thunder. We’re expecting an official press release on Honda’s newest sport performance entry within a few months. We’ll keep you posted.

South American Invasion
Argentinean national champ, Jorge Santamarina made the trip to America to ride Loretta’s and to attend Joe Byrd’s ATV Racing School. Byrd man was kind enough to hook up 18 year old Jorge up with one of his quads for the race. Unfortunately for the young Buenos Aires, Argentinean, he didn’t make the main of the ultra competitive 250A class. For more info on how you too can get some top-flight ATV racing instruction call Joe Byrd at (901) 885-3287.

Mark Kendall
This fast Ohioan won the 250B class at the Dude Ranch with perfect (1-1) finishes and has the class title in the bag. Kendall dominated the Blaster class last year, making a smooth transition to a 250. Kendall works at Kames Sports Center and has a great Kame’s Sports Center sponsorship going. Winning the 250B class is not an easy task. This class is usually the biggest of all the classes offered at the GNCs. At Loretta’s Kendal topped a whopping 49 entries. He plans to step up to the 250A class in 2001.

Dana Creech
‘The Prospect’ wrapped up the 250A championship and has announced that he’ll go Pro in 2001 for Team Nac’s Racing. He’s amazingly smooth on an MX track AND an unbelievable freestyler. Once he gets a handle on TT racing LOOK OUT! Creech-man has worlds of talent and proved that by overturning the fast 250A class and winning the championship early.

Team Duncan Racing
Travis, Turner & LD earned their key to an exclusive club. Spader took the title in dominating style with one race to spare. In 15 years of 250 Pro Quad action, Spader’s name is immortalized with the likes of Gentry, Denton, Farr, Hitt and Gust. We couldn’t be more proud of Spader’s massive accomplishment. Sometimes the best of the best don’t always finish that way. A perfect example of that is Dan Marino. He recently retired and never got to win a Superbowl. We’re thrilled that first Doug Gust and now Spader wont have to live without winning the ultimate prize in ATV racing – the AMA Grand National Championship. Congratulations Doc and Team Duncan Racing!

Piston Power
It seems like everybody was at Loretta Lynn’s. LA Sleeve/Nik’s and Wiseco both had reps at the Dude Ranch. We talked with both companies. Both are planning on supporting ATV racing at a higher level next year.

Andy Smith
This Michigan Mafia rider from Westphalia, MI busted onto the Open Pro-Am Scene in style with an extremely impressive 3rd overall at LL’s on his LRD/Arens 440EX. Smith scored a 3-3 finish behind Ben Jackson (1-1) and Harold Goodman (2-2). That’s some serious pro-level competition if you ask us. Way to motor Andrew!

Jay Gobel
Jay Gobel brought the IMS/Roll Design race support trailer to Loretta’s. Gobel is a fixture on the GNCC circuit and has been instrumental in bringing the Roll LOBO chassis to the forefront of woods racing. Now, with Spader and Keith Little having mucho success with the LOBO in GNC competition, look for more and more Roll’s on the starting line in 2001.

Brad Warner
Bad Brad was back in action at LL’s and rode to a respectable 5th in the Pro-Am 4-Stroke class. Warner is hoping that his injury streak is over and he can get back to his fast self. Warner was running 5th late in the race at the PACE US Off-road opener this past January on his thumper when a get-off in the whoops ended his season with a severely broken shoulder that refused to heal properly, (that was the second time he broke it!). Warner’s building a new YZ426 thumper for 2001 and plans to come with fire to the all the GNCs.

Jeremiah Jones
He came from mid-pack, reeled in the MX king – Doug Gust, passed him and said “Goodbye”! ‘Nuff Said! Most riders don’t come of age before 21. Jeremiah’s an exception.

Stocker Spode Puppy turns the ATV world upside down in one race!
Jimmy “Jeremy” Reese from Little Rock, AK makes the Scene for sure. This guy is soon to be the Jeremy McGrath of ATV racing. Well, first he’ll need to quit smoking, then it’s all over for the competition! Well, maybe get a set of aftermarket A-arms, on his R. Yeah that should do it! Wait, come to think of it, he should probably take off the tool kit, trim up the bulky full fenders and maybe replace the stock pipe and silencer. OK then look out! Wait a minute, we forgot — he’d need to lose about 50-lbs. OK next year Spader better watch out! Reese should be dialed and gunning for that target on Spader’s back.

When asked if he was sure he wanted to enter the pro class, Reese made it clear that he wins all the time and would be right there with the field. Get a grip on reality buddy!
Moto one terrified the officials enough that they escorted him off the track with a black flag. In moto two the debatable C class rider never even made it a half lap before crashing in the whoops. Yeah this was way funny to watch and provided 3 Stooges kind of humor to the crowd, but If you’re not a Pro, don’t try to run with the Pros! When one guy’s not riding at the same pace as the rest of the class someone could be seriously hurt. Luckily that didn’t happen last weekend. Maybe pro riders should have to have an ATV pro license in order to race at the professional level.

12 Hours of Pont de Vaux
Duncan Racing and European distributor Phillips Charles Racing are again teaming up to tackle the 12-Hours of Pont de Vaux in France. Yamaha of Europe is supplying a 2001 Banshee to the Duncan/PCR team of Paul Winrow and Doug Eichner. Unfortunately, this year’s PDV is slated for the same weekend as the Greenville, TN GNC TT Finals so don’t look for many US riders to participate.

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors
We hear a lot of rumors here at the Scene. Here’s just a few of the latest and greatest….

Kawasaki is very close to releasing a new sport quad—probably an early 2002 model. Polaris is also developing a true sport quad complete with a standard shift tranny. Reportedly they just had a few prototype engines sandcast. The Cannondale super-thumper is proceeding through final R&D.

Nac’s Racing is considering purchasing a semi-hauler for the 2001 race season and will reportedly field a 4-man powerhouse team. Team Coordinator Sean Sermini is hard at work finalizing rider and sponsor commitments. Duncan Racing is also exploring the possibility of expanding to a 2-rider GNC team in 2001.

Kudos to ATV Source
Hats off to ATV Source for their top-notch coverage of the Orrville, Ohio GNC TT. Surf on over to www.atvsource.com for articles on the racing action, the freestyle and an interview with Matt ‘The Kangaroo Kid’ Coulter.

MIA
John “Ironman” Natalie was a no-show at Loretta’s. Where are you, John?

Missouri State TT Championships
Keith Little (PRC/Sparks/Roll) took home the Open Pro gold at Sikeston, MO on August 11th, but a first turn crash in the 250 Pro class left Little with a dislocated shoulder. Joe Byrd (East Coast ATV) took the 250 Pro title home to Tennessee. Little’s injury seriously hampered him in the GNC point standings dropping him from 4th to 6th since he wasn’t up to speed a week later at Loretta’s. We hear Little’s crash was horrifying. He was sideways going into the first turn when he was hit by another racer at full speed.

Hi-Torque Defecto
Longtime 4-Wheel ATV Action editor Bill “WBGO” Lanphier has resigned. He will now be contributing to ATV Sport and freelancing for a number of hunting and fishing magazines. Lanphier is a diehard ATVer and arguably the best true ATV journalist. Hi-torque has some big shoes to fill while Ehlert Publishing (ATV Sport, ATV Magazine and Powersports Business) gains a gem of a reporter.

Surfs Up
For those of you like us here at the Scene that practically sleep and breathe ATVs, here’s some sites to surf to…
Steel Riders is an ATV adventure mag (often tongue in cheek).
http://www.steelriders.com

ATV Time is a popular and friendly ATV discussion board. There are all kinds of interesting topics – check it out.
http://www.atvtime.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

ATV Sport magazine has revamped their website, check it out at www.atvnews.com

Quotes of the Week:
“When you hear Honda advertise their new ATV technology, it’s really just an acronym for underdeveloped and improperly tested” – Honda employee (name withheld).

“Way to go mom, well I guess you got a taste of motocross and TT at the same time” – Matt Bartosek after his mom (Debi) dozed off at the wheel of their RV. She woke up in the median, over corrected, jack-knifed the 26’ trailer, jumped the median the other way, and landed in oncoming 1-71 traffic while returning from the Loretta Lynn national. Debi hopes her ordeal will act as a “wake up call” to all the overworked — under slept race team drivers out there who try to push too hard to get home faster than they should.

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