2005 12 Hours of ATV America - Rausch Creek - Live Coverage

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*****12 Hours of ATV America Results & Photo Gallery <---- Click Here*****

Valley View, PA – With all 2005 ATV Nationals concluded, it is finally time for one of the most anticipated ATV events of the year, the fourth annual 12 Hours of ATV America.

In 2002, the 12 Hours of ATV America went from a vision to a reality for Fast-Trak Promoter, John Pellan, with his first event held in Fort Dodge, IA, which attracted 54 teams from around the country to compete, and in the end, the Walsh Racecraft 250R piloted by Mike Walsh, Joe Byrd, and Doug Gust would take the Inaugural win and claim the largest ATV racing Purse of $9,000.

Each year since, the race has continued to grow in popularity and attract even more teams to participate in this extraordinary event, which not only test its racers ability to ride, but also their ability to work as a team to complete the grueling 12 hour race on the same machine.

This year’s event won’t be held in its usual Midwest Fort Dodge, IA location, but instead back East at the Rausch Creek Motor Sports Park in Valley View, PA. The Rausch Creek Facility will offer a perfect venue for the event with its extensive motocross track and miles of trails to go along with a huge level parking area.

The past two 6 Hours of ATV America events have attracted a record amount of teams to attend, and I expect the same for the 2005 12 Hours of ATV America with perfect conditions forecasted this weekend for racing with sunny skies and temps in the low 50’s.

If you don’t have anything planned for this weekend and are in the PA area, I suggest you make the trip out to see some of the fastest racers compete in this exciting event. The racing action will get underway at 8AM, but will extend into the night, so don’t worry if you can’t arrive early because their will be plenty action to witness throughout the day.

For those unable to attend, you will not be left out because ********.com will be streaming information online through out the day, and ATVriders.com will focus on providing photo updates from the event starting tonight.

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Initially just over 60 teams pre-registered online for the event with only 6 Pro Teams signing up, but today the numbers are quickly rising as many teams waited till race day to sign up.

Additonal Pro Teams
Chris Borich, John Natalie Jr, and Cyle Chislock
Matt Smiley, Chris Jenks, and Bryan Baker
James Wahl, Jeremy Rice, and Adam McGill

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Teams and Visitors arriving at the Rausch Creek for the 12 Hours of America were greeted by a huge inflatable Maxxis Tire, which is tall enough to drive a motorhome under, but it did have me little worried before attempting to drive under it.

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Hetrick Racing Pro Team (Bobby Ross, Brian Shaw,Trent Kandel) had a very well setup pit area and really showed off their sponsors.

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Jody Bateman applied some finishing touches to his A Class Team's (Mitch Reynolds, Daryn Capitena, JR Hinds) TRX450R

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Kevin Johnston was busy setting up their Night Rider Lights on LTE YFZ450

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The T&A B Class Team(Travis Markham, Jason Markham, Austin Holm) made the long trip all the way from Minnesota, but for the most part attendance as of this evening was down from last year with the majority of the teams attending were from the East Coast.

Ofcourse, those that felt the race would have done better if held in Iowa this year will argue the point the race shouldn’t have been moved, but I personally feel the high gas prices would have put a crunch on attendance regardless of the location this year because many of the teams back East commenting that they couldn’t have even consider attending if it was still in Iowa this year.

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John’s Mobile Repair (John Cunningham Jr, Steve Cunninghma, Neil Belcher) B Class Team Honda TRX450R was looking mighty sharp with their new Updog Graphics.

A big thanks for John for also helping out at these events by bring out the portable lights for the pits at night.

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Team HMF/********(Phil Cole, Matt Zeleski, Jeff Frank) came prepared with some series lighting which will prove valuable once the sunsets over the mountains tomorrow night.

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Sport Quads aren't the only machines competing in the event as several Utilities teams are in attendance. Team HMF(Ken Robey, Michael Swift, Cliff Beasley) will definitely be a team to contend with tomorrow as this trio have rode impressively all season in the GNCC Series.