2007 GNCC Series Round #5-Loretta Lynns-Hurricane Mills-Youth Coverage
Where else will you find almost 100 kids, up at the crack of dawn (without complaint!) gearing up to race their hearts out in any condition over any terrain? Round #5 in Hurricane Mills Tennessee is one place!
Beautiful Loretta Lynn's Ranch was host to this round and the youth racers showed up in force. 62 entries were on the line for this event and all were eager to get the day started.
All the riders awaited their call to the line and for some, this would be the first time they would chew the same dirt as legends such as Ricky Carmicheal, Bubba Stewart and Jeremy Mcrath as the start was held on the world famous Loretta Lynn's MX track.
The youth riders start at 8am, plenty early for most sane folks on a saturday morning, much less those that will spend the next hour riding as hard as any rider twice their size and age ever will. The unsung hero's in all this are the parents who toil all week, drive all night and worry all morning that their rider will not only due well, but arrive at the checkered flag safe and sound.
And the machinery that these young racers are arriving on are nothing short of spectacular in form and function.
I always look for interesting photographs, and usually the kids supply me with tons of them. I spied Matthew Harris on the line as the morning event was closing in. As I peered through my lens I couldnt happen but wonder what was running through his mind. Harris has a win this season, followed by a few rounds that did not go his way. Could it be worry and stress....maybe pondering how the race would go, what the first few turns may be like when the flag drops....
Cody Hill had a choice this round. Sit at home, go to the mall and kick back resting and healing from his wreck at round #4. Or he could ride to the race in a truck for 10 hours and watch his friends race.
I don't think I got the options past my lips when he started packing his gear and asked if he could carry a camera around!
I have been involved in the Youth racing scene since 2003, and it never ceases to amaze me as I watch these young men and women start taking on the methods needed to race. They may be kids on mini quads to alot of folks, but to me, they are the future in training.
Austin Findley checks out the first turn prior to the start.
The first turn was now alive as the sound and sight of 18 90cc Modified riders screamed our way, and it was Matthew Harris and Dylan Bradford battling for the holeshot
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