Jarrod McClure
GNCC Pro ATV Race Report "Snowshoe"
McClure Back on the Podium
GNCC
ATV Racing Links |
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Jarrod
McClure Podiums at Snowshoe GNCC |
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Snowshoe WV (9/15/2008) - The summer
break is now over and it’s time to go GNCC
racing once again. I was anxious to see how hard
everyone trained over the summer. The Snowshoe GNCC
was going to be a tough track, from what everyone
was telling me. I think this is one of the coolest
races on the circuit just because of the different
style of start, and being at a big ski resort like
this.
Snowshoe is about seven hours from my home, and
I arrived at the track early Friday afternoon.
After getting the trailer parked, I took a walk
and caught up with some of my fellow GNCC racers.
Everyone was really looking forward to this race,
and wanted to come on strong the second half of
the year. A lot of people had their new bikes
built, but some decided to run their old ones
just because of how rough this track is on equipment.
I built a new Honda over the break, and Bowers
Motorcycle Supplies built the engine, and it had
so much more power than what I have been running
all season, so I just couldn’t wait to put
it to use!
Saturday morning I woke to rain outside. Besides
the rain outside a bigger issue for the morning
races was going to be the fog. I headed over to
the starting line for the youth races, and with
the thick fog you couldn’t even see the
first turn. With the youth racing going on I grabbed
some breakfast and headed to the trailer to prep
the quad for some mud. I ended up having to re-jet,
my quad due to the change in elevation. Once I
got the jetting all wrapped up, I put on my bigger
handgaurds, and taped up my bumper.
As noon rolled around I began getting ready and
headed to the start. For everyone who doesn’t
know, the start was “Blackwater” style.
By this I mean everyone started in rows of five,
on the main street of Snowshoe’s Village.
It was a live engine start and the rows were sent
every five seconds. It would all be time adjusted
at the end. I started in the second row because
of my position in the points.
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Jarrod McClure started
on the 2nd Row for a Grand Prix style
start on the pavement
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The first row took off, so my row rolled up to
the starting line as awaited the wave of the flag!
We took off down the pavement, and I went into
the woods in ninth place. I fell in line right
behind Ryan Lane with Matt Smiley at my heels.
As we hit some of the rougher sections, we caught
the first group of five, and we swapped some positions,
but at the end of the lap I was still in ninth.
The track had some nasty rock sections, hill climbs,
and on the ski slope there were drainage ditches
that turned into bad kickers.
On the second lap we hit a bottleneck and I got
by a few riders. I ended up behind Tyler Lenig,
Brandon Sommers, and Taylor Kiser. Around the
8-mile marker or so, the three of them missed
a turn coming down one of the ski slopes. I noticed,
and was able to jump in front of all of them,
and by the time I finished the lap, I was up to
third place! I felt good, and the new Honda was
really flying. The power was awesome, and my Laeger
/ Elka suspension was working flawless.
As I made my way through the third lap, I caught
Borich and McGill who were both caught in one
of the mud holes. I think at that point I was
actually in the lead for a little. I arrived at
a tough section of the track, and there was a
bunch of lappers stuck on the uphill section.
I got stuck and backed down. Meanwhile Ballance
and Mcgill caught up to me and both got up the
hill. I looked back and seen Borich coming, so
I gassed it and made it up the hill behind Ballance
in third. From there on out, I just rode smart,
and had a quick pit stop.
The fourth and final lap came, and I ended up
losing my front brakes. Anyone will tell you losing
front brakes stinks! I just stayed smooth and
out of trouble. I hit the tough uphill section
again and it was full of lappers. I made it halfway
up the hill and got stuck. Luckily my buddy Ben
Hott was there with a rope, and him and another
guy hooked up to me and pulled me up the hill.
Thanks a lot Ben!! I came through the finish in
third. Johnny Gallagher put in a great ride getting
fourth, and I had to make sure he didn’t
beat me on time adjustment.
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Pro ATV Podium (left
to right)
Jarrod McClure, Adam McGill, Bill Ballance
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It was official I got third, and I was extremely
happy to be on the podium again. McGill was first
and Ballance was second. I started the second
half of the season exactly how I had hoped, now
I just have to keep the ball rolling. Unadilla
is one of my favorite tracks. It is close to home,
and I have a good history there. I’ll see
ya there!
Finally, I’d like to give a shout to my
sponsors: Bowers Motorcycle Supplies, ATVriders.com,
Motoprotraining.com, Maxxis, Elka, HMF, SHIFT,
DWT, Team-Ind, Tag, IMS-Roll, Clarke, DP Brakes,
DBR Industrial services, Hinson, Laeger’s,
Maier, Rage Atv Racing, 317 Graphics, The Sligo-Press,
Leumas enterprises, and my parents.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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