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View Full Version : 08 was great...will 09 be fine?



Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:19 PM
Looking at the calendar, it sure looks to me like we are closing in fast on the 2009 GNCC season! You cant read anything about our sport without reading about how the economy is effecting all of us. Riders, manufactures, sponsors, the companies that put on the series, you name it and its a concern.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/3217305392_64694ed81d_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:23 PM
Even with the economy heading into the crapper, Polaris laid out a 99% new Sportsman that will see Rath racing among others competing aboard this all new 70 hp machine in 2009! Will it live up to the task of unseating the Can Am crew?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2871841408_aa3e17bc18_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:29 PM
Bill Ballance...now legend status if he never throws a leg over a quad again. You know he wants #10, and if I were a betting man, my money would be on him to once again capture the championship in 2009!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3217329548_6b98641c68_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:32 PM
Bithell got his balls busted all season long, and finally pulled off a win. We know he has what it takes...will his machine be more up to the challenge?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3216479519_95cde4b270_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:37 PM
McGill was on fire at the start of the 2008 season, then ran into issues that anyone could have had. It cost him big time but he bounced back and remained vigilant. Will he have the drive he had as the new season gets underway?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3216488069_f916167aee_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:42 PM
Bryan Cook. The man came out swinging and never let up. He had something to prove, maybe just to himself. He showed everyone he was a rider that could compete at all levels and hoped it would pay off for him in 2009. I havent spoken to him, hopefully good news greeted him in the off season.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3216498799_2008f12d8a_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:48 PM
Jeff Pickens was the name many were talking about in 2008, especially at round #2 where he was riding on the ragged edge as he did all he could to get up front. An injury to his thumb cost him mid season but he bounced back. Look for him in 09....I have a feeling he will be pulling well inside the top 10

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3216505263_a46f66d941_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:52 PM
Let us all pray that we never see this again!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3217374364_04ba0f496f_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 09:57 PM
If there is one rider that can throw a monkey wrench into the XC1 class, its Ockerman. He has everything he needs to claim the win at virtually any round. He will be the one to beat from the get go and he has to be causing a few pro riders some loss of sleep.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3216527039_b6a75bcaea_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 10:03 PM
Sommers will also be ultra competitive. His program is solid, he has the talent and a whole lot of expirence gained in 08 that may help him see that podium more and more in 09!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3217395206_35f1bfc809_o.jpg

Pappy
01-21-2009, 10:16 PM
Sturdivant........what voodoo women threw hex on this kid:p If it werent for bad luck he wouldnt have any at all! I have my fingers crossed that 2009 will treat him much better!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3217416718_64abed718c_o.jpg

Dave400ex
01-22-2009, 03:55 PM
Go Donnie O.! :D Also hope Cook has another great year.

quadracer707
01-23-2009, 07:19 PM
Originally posted by Pappy
Let us all pray that we never see this again!


A big AMEN to that, crude oil at its lowest in 5 years & it is starting to creep up a little,

Ken:grr:

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:23 PM
Will we see more cross overs to our side of the racing scene? Pat Brown may not have set the world on fire but he sure as hell had some fun!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3221766896_783c1991d1_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:28 PM
Jason Dunkleberger always seems to have a big old smile on his face, and hopefully he will make a run at a few this year if we can get him off the west coast:p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3221777468_aebc848d7e_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:31 PM
You never know who will turn up at a GNCC event!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3221783070_7867bc4865_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:37 PM
Keep your eyes on Johnny Gallagher this season as well...I have a feeling this will be his year!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3221790594_53db8e49c7_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:40 PM
Even when Jenks goes over the bars, he remains pretty controlled:devil: I hope he has abetter season!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3220945411_240a3ed213_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:46 PM
Taylor Kiser will be looking for love in 2009...and the podium!:devil:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3221804714_f5ef4d704d_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:49 PM
Ryan Lane quietly made a statement in 2008. he didnt shout that he had what it takes, he silently slid by and finished solid all season. I will be keeping an eye on him for sure in 09

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3221813050_456388b631_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:52 PM
The best story out of the McClure camp was the one where he had to use a discarded Mountain Dew bottle and steal gas from a broken down quad on the course to finish the race! This kid is fast, and he has gotten faster in the off season!

The chump beside him is not his dad....I hear he is a paid goon that is out on parole:devil:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3220965493_b76b906322_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 07:59 PM
I havent heard whether Matt Smiley will be making a return to the series in 2009, I sure hope he does. Great guy, great rider and I enjoy following his racing!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3220972087_68b3c2b822_o.jpg

Pappy
01-23-2009, 08:02 PM
Yokely making some big changes for 2009......can he pull off another great season?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3220983693_84d76c4f12_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:22 AM
You know the economy was bad in 08 when only 1 flip flop could be afforded:eek:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2642907688_048aa48729_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:26 AM
Jesi Stracham should see some solid finishes this coming season as well. She got her feet wet in the Womens class and will be training hard in the off season to step up her program.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2641436258_efdc2c1341_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:38 AM
It will be a tough year on the series sponsors as well, I hope everyone supports them the best they can!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2497551544_20b0659a16_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:40 AM
Emotions ran high at several rounds, and if some new folks find the podium in 2009 I suspect we could see some more as it is quite an accomplishment!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2483182628_7f2aa1a7bf_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:43 AM
Finding wood is good, being tops in your class is icing on the cake!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/2484492811_0ab6fb7cf1_o.jpg

Pappy
01-24-2009, 07:57 AM
Freezing cold, windy as all get out, covered in wet mud....and a heart warming smile! You just gotta love the kids racing!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/2328603365_3c7dbbbe93_o.jpg

Pappy
02-02-2009, 09:38 PM
Looking back at 2008, I started to reflect on how far we have all come in this sport. A rider looking out over his competition now has to work so much harder to be cometitive then ever before.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3248970651_47ac740782_o.jpg

Pappy
02-02-2009, 09:43 PM
No matter how much training and mental prep you do, there are some things that happen that you just cant control in racing.

Brent Sturdivant gets towed past the crappers just minutes before the green flag at round #1. Fitting picture as the poor boys season went in the dumper and stayed there. Hopefully in 2009 , all issues with the new DS450 are worked out and we can see some serious competition out of that crew.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3248979367_83536944c9_o.jpg

Pappy
02-02-2009, 09:59 PM
I have some surprises up my sleeve for this season as well. You all arent the only ones who have to work at this ya know:p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3249011861_bf86bfa681_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3242771890_6b67136f9b_o.jpg

Pappy
02-02-2009, 10:18 PM
The womens class should provide some stiff competition again this season, and I will be right there to watch it all unfold!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3249041695_da1408d764_o.jpg

Pappy
02-02-2009, 10:22 PM
Thats it for now folks! I hope everyone takes a few minutes out of their busy schedule to spend a few minutes each day with friends and family and not get so stressed over the upcoming season that they forget about who really counts!

For me and the boy, well we have been working all winter and are looking forward to digging in for another action packed racing season!

See you all in a few weeks where we hopefully will be in shorts and a t-shirt and away from the cold and snow!

Pappy OUT!:cool:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3245436001_51b4c8c334_o.jpg

walrusfarm
02-02-2009, 10:28 PM
I would love to see that new Sportsman unseat the Can-Am boys! My 9yr old daughter will be racing some select GNCC races this year on her Outlaw 90 number 111... watch out she's killer fast!!!

Pappy
03-09-2009, 02:04 PM
rounds 1 and 2 are inthe books. Here are a few of my favorites

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3341464089_3f8d4af5df_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3341464093_684d0006a7_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3341490809_21d2bc3865_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3341499485_76014da757_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3342353776_cca4be8366_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3341535927_c155064bce_o.jpg

angelon400ex
03-10-2009, 03:10 PM
Your pics are AWESOME! I should be at Steele Creek. Hope you get one of me that makes me look fast :D

Pappy
03-10-2009, 07:59 PM
I will do my best:p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3345897106_5d21ea915f_o.jpg

Pappy
03-14-2009, 07:10 PM
Sand is supposed to be clean:eek2:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3354473123_aff946f44a_o.jpg

Anyone else end up with drawer's full of sand....I just today started walking normal:huh :p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3352159251_216226ae57_o.jpg

Schoolboy is pretty intense again this year, great to see it!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3352965086_df6f179ab1_o.jpg

Pappy
03-14-2009, 07:14 PM
Everyone was asking me about my stay in Florida, and if I was able to find any gators:p

Uh...yeah:D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3326064667_148874b24b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3326673016_29f8ea2875_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3315623586_3e0bbc2fe0_o.jpg

Tons of wildlife down there, glad I dont have them damn things in my neck of the woods!

Pappy
03-16-2009, 06:56 PM
While I was in Florida (actually was in Georgia) I spy'd an Eagle that had just taken down another type of bird. By the time I picked my way to him in a position where I could see him and the light was favorable, he had eaten quite a bit of it.

I geuss some time went by while he was ripping this thing apart and I was focused intently on him because I wanted to catch him when he flew off. I infact was so focused that I never noticed the gator that was less then 20 yards to my right. Not sure if he was there when I snuck up or emerged after I had taken up a spot. I wasn't leaving until I had a chance at that Eagle!

Finally, the small birds around the Eagle pestered him enough that he took flight and I was able to catch him as he flew off. This was my first chance at photographing an Eagle that gave me a half decent set up and while not perfect, I was pretty stoked to have captured what I have here.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3360802119_8856c97302_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3360802121_bc52f05c06_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3360802123_3c0d7376ab_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3360802131_dcd16c7a6a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3360802137_0bf2220e68_o.jpg

The gator that was way to close for me. After the Eagle left, I back tracked and came back above the gator to get a shot of him, but I couldnt back up enough to get him all in the shot and I wasnt going to get closer

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3360831793_223f6af3b3_o.jpg

pepshocks
03-20-2009, 05:03 PM
THANKS FOR THE SWEET PHOTOS OF ME N WES"S 250R"s . HOPEFULLY MORE PEOPLE BREAK OUT THEIE R"s AND RACE THEM AGAIN

Pappy
03-23-2009, 07:49 PM
No problem...I will do my best to catch every R I see:p

A few from round#3

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3380321457_ff9c01719c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3380338793_78a28fba6c_o.jpg

angelon400ex
03-23-2009, 07:57 PM
Hi Pappy! I saw you at Steele Creek but not close enough to say hey. I went for a dive in a ravine when I had gotten the lead in women novice. Needless to say after 20 minutes lost there my race was pretty much shot. :(
If I want to get caught by your camera I am thinking I may need to stay on the track :D

Pappy
03-23-2009, 08:06 PM
Well..lol If you go over a ravine near me i stand a pretty good chance of catching it:p


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3380351045_c999bf3da3_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3380357163_5767400541_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3380362113_aa89879e4d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3381372772_f31c6cd2b4_o.jpg

54warrior
03-24-2009, 11:17 AM
Nice pics... how did you 'overlook' Chris Borich in the very first part of the thread though? He's also got as good a shot as anyone at the #1 plate!

smithersusmc
03-24-2009, 09:06 PM
I saw you at the Steele Creek Bridge. Sorry I didn't get a chance to wave. Thanks for taking great pictures.

Smitty

Pappy
03-24-2009, 09:19 PM
No thank you ! Im just doing what I live to do:p

angelon400ex
03-25-2009, 07:07 AM
That would have been super cool to have sequence shots of me crashing into the ravine and the look on the guy's face whose quad I did my "rag-doll" landing on.

Pappy
03-25-2009, 11:46 PM
Bryan Cook needed a shot for his poster and I supplied him with the image. Unfortunatley, I was on my laptop and unable to work the original photo but he was able to have his posters made with what I gave him.

Here is the edited version, now that I am home:p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3387043336_e6c4954f1f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3389305840_51598cfbba_o.jpg

Dave400ex
03-26-2009, 06:01 PM
Dang Pap these pictures are amazing! Of course I'm partial to one of them! :blah:

Pappy
03-26-2009, 07:35 PM
Haha, well hopefully we will be able to do a shoot at a round in the near future

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3389006942_8588287114_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3389454752_de6f857860_o.jpg

Pappy
03-28-2009, 11:54 PM
Maxis never fails to fill the pits with the aroma of something damn good to eat!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3393702285_ba946d94a6_o.jpg

Pappy
04-06-2009, 08:36 AM
Dudding along for the ride

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3415169591_26db0877d3_o.jpg

The UTV's at Big Buck

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3419139235_1e87b35bb6_o.jpg