June 29th Story, Photo And Results!
Barnegat Grand Prix Was a Huge Success No Matter How You Looked At It!
Sunday June 29th 2008 - Barnegat NJ Round #2 of the Atlantic Grand Prix had a monumental challenge from the get go. First the new location didn’t become available until about a month prior to the June 29th event. Approvals were going to be complicated giving the short time frame, coordinating the property preparation so that it would coincide with permit approvals as well as local resident concerns on what to expect from this event complicated matters even more. On top of that, with this being a new location the task of creating awareness for the event and getting the required numbers of riders we need to put on the event was going to be a Herculean task all in itself.
The property was another challenge and the AGP trail bosses had a plan knowing this property could be one of the best cross country courses ever put in New Jersey. So with that being said we broke the property down into sections... Woods trails, natural terrain motocross and miles and miles of grass track. Our overall goal was to design a course where the rider could get into a comfortable groove and just rail. With this property we also knew both spectating and parking had the potential to make this event even better and with the help of the township, the fire companies, the rescue squad and the Barnegat police department everything came together in a big way.
AGP organizers had to work fast if we were going to pull this event together and make it another successful event for the hosting community as well as the riders and their families who have support the series from the beginning. First and foremost AGP goal was to raise a lot of money for the community volunteer organizations that supported us and were also the beneficiaries of this event at this location. Without their support and help this event would have never happened.
Now lets get into the racing... First off the only thing missing was from this event was RAIN which needed in a big way. Conditions on the 8 mile course were dusty to say the least but again AGP did an excellent job designing a safe course for all the participants.
The first race of the day was the morning Peewee race which started at 8:30 that course consisted of a one+ mile grass track, Parents were great as always helping and cheering on all the future stars of the sport. Toms River NJ native NJ Julian Coffing was first overall, followed by AJ Garreffi out of Woodbine NJ, in third overall it was Andy Eccles out of Southampton NJ.
Class winners are as follows: 50cc 4-8 Matthew Constintino out of Manahawkin NJ, 50-110 EL Jarrett Hunt again from Manahawkin NJ, 50-110 4-8 Andy Eccles out of Southampton NJ, 50cc oil injection Nathan Szwed out of New Gretna NJ, Quad 70cc 6-11 AJ Garreffi out of Woodbine NJ and Quad 50cc stock Luke Wilson out of Forrest hills MD. Again a big congratulations to these young ones who all proved they can do great things.
The second race of the day was the Youth Minicycle race which AGP extended to a five mile loop that consisted of grass track, natural terrain motocross and a one+ mile woods loop. This event was a one hour race with the riders averaging 15 minute lap times. Vineland NJ native Dylan Frey rocked and rolled to a hard fought 1st overall, 2nd overall went to Hunter Lucas out of Little Egg Harbor NJ and 3rd overall went to Tyler Greenway out of Manahawkin NJ.
Class winners are as follows: Super Mini 14-15 Dylan Frey from Vineland NJ, Super Mini 12-13 Hunter Lucas out of Little Egg Harbor NJ, 85cc 14-15cc Jason Mcnulty out of Dennisville NJ, 85cc 12-13 Cole Gennella out of Lanoka Harbor NJ, 85cc 7-11 Michael McGee out of Atco NJ, 65 10-11 Tyler Szwed out of new Gretna NJ, EL Woman Justine Reiss out of Ulendora NJ, 80cc-125 10-12 Eric Wollerman Egg Harbor NJ Again a big congratulations to these young guns that put the older guys on notice by proven to them we’re coming for you.
The third race of the day was the Youth Quad race which AGP extended to the same five mile loop that the youth minicycles ran previously and again consisted of grass track, natural terrain motocross and a one+ mile woods loop. This event was a 45 minute race with the riders averaging 20 minute lap times. Toms River NJ native Nicholas Major tore-up the course on a DDR 90 and in doing so took 1st overall, 2nd overall went to Austin Findley out of Quarryville PA and 3rd overall went to Brian Thorson out of Levittown PA.
Class winners are as follows: 90cc Modified 12-15 Austin Findley out of Quarryville PA, 90cc Modified 8-11 Nicholas Major out of Toms River NJ, 90cc Limited Mark Nozza out of Forked River NJ, 90cc Limited 8-10 Benjamin Wilson out of Forest Hills MD, Again a big congratulations to these young races and Borich and Balance had better be looking over their shoulders because these young guns have their eyes set on them.
