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2009
GBC Heartland Challenge
ATV & UTV Endurance Racing Events
Carlisle, Iowa
August 22-23, 2009
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GBC Heartland Challenge
4 Hour UTV Endurance Race Report
::Continued::
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| 15
Teams signed up for the 4 Hour UTV Race
with the race running from 7-11PM, which
meant several hours of night racing |
The next event on Friday’s schedule was the
full sized UTV race. Last year, the UTV’s
were run for three hours, but this year, it was
decided to have them race for four hours, much to
the delight of the racers.
Fifteen teams competed in the four hour event.
While some encountered mechanical issues that
ended things early for them, others were a little
more fortunate such as the Calhoun Bonix Racing
team that was competing with a Redline. “We
were running at 68” wide, so the Redline
was a little wide for the course in some places
and we ended up hitting a tree and broke a tie
rod,” said pilot Bob Calhoun who was lucky
enough to get his machine fixed and finish the
race.
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| Calhoun
Bonix Racing Team claimed the UTV Open win |
Kip
Steuben & Curt Stevenson claimed the
Overall & 850 Limited Class Win |
Over the course of the 4 hour race, it was the
team of Kip Steuben and Curt Stevenson, who would
take over the overall lead in lap five and cruise
to a first place finish in the 850 Limited class
and take the overall win. What made the team’s
pairing unique is that they are normally competitors,
not partners. “Curt and I race in the Iowa
ATV Harescramble Series and right now I’m
first in points and Curt is second in the UTV
class,” said Kip Steuben, who stated that
racing the four hour endurance race was a last
minute decision for Curt and him. “We weren’t
planning to race, but our crew, the “Short
Bus Crew” really helped us out and did an
excellent job, which helped us to win,”
Steuben said.
The Jontz CSI Racing team would finish second
in the 850 Limited, just over two minutes behind
Steuben and Stevenson, and take second overall,
while the Watts/Kenny team would claim third in
their class.
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A Plus One Inc. Team worked their way into
the lead from a mid pack start to claim
the 850 UTV Mod Class Win |
The
only Yamaha Rhino Team, Gilham Liberty Cycle,
completed all 4 hours & won the 700
Mod Class Win |
The 850 UTV Modified win went to the Antonovich,
Sil A Plus One Inc. team, with the Steward Trucking
team claiming second and Stevens, Harris Fusion
Tech 2 would find themselves in the final spot
on the 850 Modified podium.
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