2008 GNCC Series Rd's 1 & 2 Amateur ATV Race Coverage

[Pappy]

It is hard to believe that I sit here typing this with 2 rounds now complete in the series. I would like to apologize ahead of time because I was sick with the flu in Florida and did not get everything I wanted at the opening round. I figured it was best to avoid everyone for the most part to keep from being sick around those not sick:p Add to being ill the fact the first two rounds would be an 11 day road trip for us and you have yourself one miserable person and I have to thank my wife for packing enough kleenex's to get me through!

So, without further ado, lets get down to business and talk about the first two rounds of competition.

The Triton was held near St Cloud Florida were the sun was warm and many of us broke a sweat standing still for the first time in months! Located at the Kempfer ranch on 25,000 acres, room to stretch your elbows was not in short supply.

Months of off season wrenching, planning, racing and training were now in the past as the seconds ticked away for the start of the 2008 season

[Pappy]

The Amatuer ranks are filled with talent, such as Warnert racings Rick Cecco who will be running for the championship in the U2 class this season.

[Pappy]

For a few riders, the practice session held on saturday was the first real chance for them to ride this year. Weather at home prevented Cody Hill from doing much of anything besides hit the gym.

[Pappy]

Any excuses or things that werent worked out before the race would now be in the past as the green flag flew for the start of the 2008 season

[Pappy]

The Womens class was first to hit the sandy soil, and it was Yamaha backed Traci Cecco grabbing her first holeshot of the 2008 season!

[Pappy]

Angel Atwell finished out the 2007 smoking hot as she racked up win after win. She knows that the road to the Womens class championship starts right here in round #1 and was carving through the first turn looking to hunt down the leader

[Pappy]

Shanna Bradshaw was slow leaving the line and with good reason. A day before leaving for the race she jumped off some steps at home and tweaked her right foot bad. It was all kinds of black and blue and how she would be able to compete was beyond me. Heck it hurt me just to look at it!

[Pappy]

Super Senior rider Mike Ockerman grabs the holeshot

[Pappy]

4x4 Open ripped up the florida sand as they take the first turn

[Pappy]

4x4 Lites had the Kymco riders winning the battle to the first turn, but the drag race to turn two favored teh Can Am machines

[Pappy]

4x4 Limited has some serious talent in it, and they make those big machines sail!

[Pappy]

U2

Rick Cecco just edges out all others for the holeshot

[Pappy]

The U2 class was once dominated by the Kawasaki V-Force, however the Can Am Renegade will be making it's mark this season in the class!

[Pappy]

Schoolboy 13-15

This class just keeps getting bigger and is stocked with talent. Walker Fowler grabs the holeshot and takes off after the leaders! Fowler is a ball of fire on a quad and a bike and the boy literally hunts down the leaders of the race from the last row!!!

[Pappy]

Cody Hill refused to lift as he rips the outside of turn one apart! Hill knew he had atleast 2 good laps in him before he figured he would get tired and wanted to atleast get upfront at the start.

[Pappy]

John Gallagher Sr works his Polaris through the last obstacle before scoring is first lap. John switched to the straight axle version of the Outlaw for 2008

[Pappy]

Bryan Buckhannon just missed out on the 4x4 Open championship in 2007 and has a great oppertunity to claim the reigns in 2008. Bryan went on to win 4x4 Open

[Pappy]

The 12 mile course was wide by GNCC standards and you couldnt go a foot without hitting a palmetto root. The big machines had their work cut out for them in these conditions.

[Pappy]

When Brent Sturdivant turned Pro, his brother Brandon hung up his helmet to better support his younger brothers racing efforts. Brandon is an accomplished racer who at one point would battle to the death his own kin for a $3 trophy! For 2008, Brandon will be riding in the U2 class aboard a Renegade and by the second lap of round 1 he was running upfront!

[Pappy]

Rick Cecco was running down Sturdivant as he heads in to scoring

[Pappy]

Greg Condons day ended at some point on the first lap after clipping a stump and tweaking his steering

[Pappy]

Laura Stother was another victim to hitting something during the race and once returning home found out she had bent her frame!

[Pappy]

I think everybody should hit something atleast once, but when you get to do it in front of me, noone will ever let you live it down!

[Pappy]

Walker Fowler and Jeff Rasterelli battled the entire race. Fowler won the war and finished an incredible 6th overall!!!

[Pappy]

Cody Hill was getting used to his new race quad during the race and was having a ton of fun!

[Pappy]

Scott Kilby on his way to a 4th place finish in 4x4 Open

[Pappy]

Traci Cecco was out front as she heads away from scoring another lap

[Pappy]

Florida offers some awesome scenary but being so flat had me off balance:p

[Pappy]

Finding open spots to capture the race was harder then I had thought

[Pappy]

Angel Atwell was chasing down Traci Cecco as the laps wore on. Cecco wrecked late in the race and it allowed Atwell the break she needed as she over took the lead.

[Pappy]

Jennifer Albright is riding with support from Geico this season and she looked great in Florida, taking 3rd in her class!

[Pappy]

David Hunsucker was looking like a million bucks aboard his Cardio Stack Honda

[Pappy]

Tyler Seiverd moved up from the mini quads to run Schoolboy this season and had a great first race, finishing 12th!

[Pappy]

Cody Hill was still plugging along and by lap 3 his thumb was toast:p He enjoyed the race (and being out of school for a week!) and especially liked the fact that his clean looking Raptor 250 stayed clean:p Hill finished 13th

[Pappy]

Micheal Swift pits on his way to teh 4x4 Limited win!

[Pappy]

Rick Cecco had taken the lead in U2 and was looking to score the class win, and more. After the race, it was determined that Cecco was indeed the 3rd place overall finisher but it was corrected to late for Cecco to get on the podium

[Pappy]

Cliffton beasley put down a strong run and walked away from Florida with the class win.

[Pappy]

Brandon Sturdivant was throwing a wrench into U2 and was up front and running strong until he started to run out of fuel. He went on to finish 2nd behind Cecco. Hey Rick.....I think we found someone to run with you in that class!

[Pappy]

Jeremie Dudding was making his hot rod sing, but he to fell victim to fuel shortage. That extra lap threw a few riders a curveball:p

[Pappy]

Ken Robey checks in with 1 lap to go. Ken rode to a 3rd place finish today in 4x4 Lites

[Pappy]

Atwell rounds the last corner, grabbing herself the overall and class win!!

[Pappy]

Cecco's crash left her stranded as her YFZ wouldnt fire. Thankfully a Utility rider gave her a push and she was back in the game, finishing 2nd

[Pappy]

It s not often when Traci makes a mistake, and a broken battery cable was reported to me as being the cause of her quad not firing back up after the wreck. If she had been able to refire the machine it is likely she could have retained the lead and won the event. Thats racingf or sure, and Atwell capitalized on it big time.

For most of us, the week in between races would be spent working on machines or resting at some warm and cozy location. The next round was fast approaching!

[Pappy]

The week between rounds sure went fast. We spent the a few days with family and then headed to Durhamtown Plantation for some rest.

Austin Findleys dad, Eric, had one heck of a week. His son had won his class at the opening round, his wife had emergency surgery on monday and he was busily wrenching on many quads to prepare for round 2. Dedication folks, it is what it takes.

[Pappy]

Alot of GNCC quad and bike riders hit Durhamtown as its close to round 2, offers camping and riding and is a nice way to kill a week!

[Pappy]

The mx practice not only helps, it is alot of fun!

[Pappy]

Cody was airing out his practice quad on the killer jumps this place offered

[Pappy]

Several of the top GNCC bike riders in teh world were there having a blast

[Pappy]

Arriving at the Aonia Pass MX location for round 2, the weather was being a cruel and evil witch. Rain pounded the area thursday night and friday which left the track a royal mess.


A week did not do much to help heal some wounds!

[Pappy]

The nasty wet and muddy race would cause everyone to change strategy and prepare for the conditions

[Pappy]

The slop didn't bother 4x4 Lites rider Jeremie Dudding one bit, he was all smiles as he prepped his hot rod

[Pappy]

After chatting with Chad Duvall of ITP Tires, we decided to make a switch to the ITP GNCC tire this round. The small and light Raptor 250 we hoped would benefit greatly from both the size and traction offered by the new tires.

[Pappy]

The hard ride put in at round 1 still had U2 class rider Brandon Sturdivants hands a mess.

[Pappy]

Rick Cecco was in good spirits knowing that the conditions favored his riding style.

[Pappy]

Around 3am saturday morning, the skies opened up and we got more rain and bad winds.

I wonder if Jennifer Albright can get us a hook up on insurance!

[Pappy]

Traci cecco was bundled up in her nice Yamaha winter jacket but was still cold:p I saw everything from sunshine to sleet at the starting line:eek2:

[Pappy]

Dudding does his best to look mean as he sits aboard his hot rod and proclaims he will be number 1!





He may have been telling me it felt like 1 degree so I will have to clarify that with him:p

[Pappy]

And I have a complaint:grr: Everyone was sporting some sweet garb....GBC windbreaker, Yamaha parka, Can Am winter jacket and beanie.....


All I do for all these companies and I was sporting the walmart flannel shirt over a ratty atvriders.com sweatshirt:ermm: I want some of that stuff:macho :blah: I will be expecting delivery at Steele Creek, I wear a size XL:devil:

[Pappy]

I ran away from this guy, he scared me!:D

[Pappy]

Cody was freezing at the line as the rain misted everyone yet again

[Pappy]

David Burton gets ready to pop the cherry on his ultra clean 450R. This quad was on display at the Indy show a few weeks ago and was now about to tackle one nasty track!

[Pappy]

Cliffton Beasley hunkers down as the winds kicked up.

[Pappy]

Some folks know how to stay warm, thanks for sharing pal:blah:

[Pappy]

Expierencing the nasty weather for 30 minutes had everyone ready to get going so they could warm up!

[Pappy]

U2 was first off the line and it was Danny Jessee grabbing the holeshot

[Pappy]

Stephanie Parton clawed her way to the holeshot in the Womens class

[Pappy]

Mike ockerman was out front at the start of Senior 50+

[Pappy]

The next row gets its 10 second call!

[Pappy]

Scott Kilby was charging to turn two in 4x4 Open

[Pappy]

Mike Penland got the jump in 4x4 Limited

[Pappy]

Dudding had his hot rod equipped with a super-tune and smoked the field to the second turn!

[Pappy]

Instead of an exhaust for more power, this rider uses the old "leg it out" method pf power:p

[Pappy]

Hunter Dalrymple grabbed the holeshot in Scoolboy

[Pappy]

Walker Fowler grabs the brakes as he sets up for turn 2

[Pappy]

Cody Hill had issues getting his quad to shift, but was mid pack at turn 2

[Pappy]

The first lap was well underway and already we were seeing riders stuck in the yuck

[Pappy]

Tyler Seiverd works his way in to score his first lap complete

[Pappy]

Dudding was flying on lap 1

[Pappy]

Greg Condon had his grizzly ripping up the georgia clay

[Pappy]

Picking the right line was important as the wrong line could suck you into a bottomless pit or put a beating on you and your machine

[Pappy]

Taking hits like this will spoil your day

[Pappy]

Even the big Utilities were having to really work through some sections

[Pappy]

Just keeping your rear on the quad proved to be a challenge

[Pappy]

Dan McConnaughey limps back in due to mechanical issues

[Pappy]

Upfront, it was the Yamaha mounted Traci Cecco in the lead

[Pappy]

This fellow is lucky, as he was in the only one that did not blow over:eek:

[Pappy]

Riders drop the hammer in scetions that smoothed out, allowing them to make up time

[Pappy]

Lexie Coulter was finally getting a good run in, shown here in 2nd

[Pappy]

Stephanie Parton was running in 3rd and closing in on Coulter

[Pappy]

Dylan Bradford jumped to Schoolboy this year and finished 6th in class

[Pappy]

Sucking air works...sucking air when its filled with flying mud sucks:p

[Pappy]

Johnny G awaits Traci Cecco's arrival for her last time past her pit

[Pappy]

Riders were showing signs of how brutal the race was

[Pappy]

Traci out front and heading to the white flag

[Pappy]

4x4 Lites rider Kevin Johnston pilots his Kymco to a 3rd place class finish

[Pappy]

Brandon Boso's eyes tell the story as he rides to a 7th place finish in schoolboy

[Pappy]

Beasley gets a change of goggles and a splash of fuel as he heads in for his second straight victory in 4x4 Lites

[Pappy]

When Cody passed me with 1 to go, his thumbs up let me know he was doing fine. I know he was closing in on the top ten in his class and he was still running strong so I had my fingers crossed he could run down the field and get a decent finish.

Ofcourse in the end he clipped a tree which sent him into a mud hole where he sat waiting for track personell to winch him out:p Thanks to the spoectators who did try and help! From teh sounds of it he was buried:p

[Pappy]

The conditions were pretty bad in a few sections and many were looking forward to this race being over

[Pappy]

Walker Fowler heading out for his last lap, which unfortunatley would spell bad news for him. His mom reported to me that he possibly had broken his ankle, however he still won his class and finished an amazing 21st overall!!!!

[Pappy]

David Hunsucker works on getting his 450R unstuck as the race came to a close.

Traci and Angel both have a win between them as we head to round 3 however Atwells 8th place finish gives Traci a slight edge and that could be all she needs to refire her engines for yet another championship run.


We saw it all in the first two rounds folks, from weather you would killf or to weather you would kill to get away from! There was always great racing action and the good spirited friendships that thrive at the track. Look for coverage of round three as we will be working hard to keep you updated on all the info!

[Velocity Girl]

Great coverage and great pics as always!!!

(and thankfully my frame is still straight and everything in one piece after this race...lol!)

[Simon MX49]

Sweet Pics Pappy. The race was great, I just wish I could've raced, but I pitted for 2 friends of mine, and picked one utility quad rider who did 2 or 3 flips after getting sideways in some mud.:D

See you In North Carolina in 18 days (16-19 C, first race of 08 for me):D :D :D

[hondaboy251]

Thanks for the great pitting job in GA. tommy!Can't wait until NC.Great pics and coverage by the photographer!Tommy got that yamaha,ha,ha together yet for NC.

[Simon MX49]

Im still waitin on my buddy about a set of nerf bars, but the rear end is Almost completely together, and the front will be done by this weekend. I wanna go riding Sunday to get back in a good groove, but most likely I'll just ahve to smoke your *** in NC without riding for 2 months

[hondaboy251]

Keep dreaming tommy thats what you do best.Winner buys dinner?

[Simon MX49]

HAHAHA, that would require me to have money. Im broke, I'll be borrowin 95% of the money I'm bringin with me off my mom. Im gettin my nerfs and hopefully tie rods and ends off an 06 tomorrow, Im goin to Coshocton to get them, my bike will be done by Monday, at the latest

[TRAVISM3]

Originally posted by Pappy
The 12 mile course was wide by GNCC standards and you couldnt go a foot without hitting a palmetto root. The big machines had their work cut out for them in these conditions.

Yo Pappy I race an Arctic cat 650 like the black one in this photo...do you know how I can find out what kind of bumper this guy has?