Great Helmet Cam Video from Sahara Sand Grand Prix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DqgeKA-kgs

AGP Attendance continues to grow with close to 1000 spectators and 350 riders making there way to the the sixth annual Sahara Sand Grand Prix in Eagleswood New Jersey. Of those 19 were Pro ranked riders and 300+ were amateur ranked racers plus close to 80 youth racers. Because of all of you the Atlantic Grand Prix series raised close to $10,000 for local non profits all in the name of promoting responsible cross country racing in New Jersey.

Overall race winner on the bikes was ISDE Gold Medalist Wally Palmer and the overall race winner on Quads was GNCC National #2 and team Rockstar Suzuki’s Chris Borich.

Eagleswood NJ- October 19th 2008
Round 7 of the Atlantic Grand Prix series was another great weekend for a race. Conditions leading up to the event were near perfect for an October South Jersey event. Weather conditions were dry over the last two weeks, but come race time there was a good 20mph wind moving the dust off the trail allowing the rider good visibility. The adult course was 10+ miles in length of which 6+ miles was just nice open woods for primo roosting. Sunday morning the day of the race, the sky was again clear with temps were in the mid 30s. Race time temps were expected to be in the mid 60s.

The morning Peewee event: started at 8:50 and ran for 30 minutes. Winning the overall PeeWee event was 50cc-110cc (10-12) racer Mathew Cornish out of Pemberton NJ followed by 50cc-110cc (10-12) racer Austin Spagnoh out of Little Egg Harbor NJ and 50cc-110cc (10-12) racer Cortney Abrams from Belmar NJ.

PeeWee Class winners were: 1st 50cc (4-8) class was Todd Minshall followed by Scott Minnshall in 2nd. In the 50-110EL (10-12) class Matthew Cornish snagged 1st. In the 50-110EL (4-8) class Cortney Abrams grabbed 1st followed by Karly Morgan in 2nd. In the 50cc oil injected class Michael Nirdlinger pulled off a well earned 1st, followed by Nathen Szwed in 2nd and Tylar Varga in 3rd.

The Youth Minicycle race: started at around 10:00am and that race was a 60 minute event. Those racing that event included AGP and GNCC regulars like, Hunter J. Lucas, Dylan Frey, Steve Hodgson, Henry Ferreira, Austin T. Lucas, Ricky Underaffler, Sean J. Dolan and William Gallo to name a few. When the green flagged dropped it was Dylan Frey grabbing the lead on the 1st lap which followed by a hard charging Hunter J. Lucas who would eventually overall the minicycle event. When the checker flag dropped it was Hunter J. Lucas in 1st followed by Dylan L. Frey in 2nd, Steven A. Hodgson Jr. in 3rd, Austin T. Lucas in 4th followed by Henry Ferreira in 5th.

Youth Minicycle Class winners: were as follows: Super Mini (14-15) Dylan Frey, Super Mini (12-13) Hunter J. Lucas, 85cc (14-15) Dean Amos, 85cc (12-13) Cole Gonnella, 85cc (7-11) Austin T. Lucas, 65cc (10-11) Tyler Truex, EL Woman Cassandra Check, 80-150cc (13-15 ) Cole J. Schilling and 80-125 (10-12) Derek Sammartino.

The Youth Quad race which started close to 11:00 am and that race was a 45 minute event. Those racing that event included AGP and GNCC regulars like Nicholas Majors, Brian Thorson, Allie Slate, Dennis Baker, Taylor N. Johnson and Adam Yaple. 26 AGP racer showed up for that race. When the checker dropped Nichlos Major quickly positioned himself as the race leader. Running in second was Taylor Johnson followed by Brian Thorson who retired after a lap with mechanical problems. As the race wore on Nichlos Major opened his lead, but in second you had a hard fought battle between Adam Yaple, Madison Alessi and Taylor N. Johnson. In the end the top 5 overall were Nichlos Major 1st, Adam Yaple 2nd, Madison Alessi 3rd, Taylor N. Johnson 4th and Darren Baker in 5th.

Youth Quad Class winners were as follows:1st 90cc Modified (12-15) Dennis R. Baker, 90cc Modified (8-11) Nichlos Major, 90cc Limited (11-15) Adam Yaple and in 90cc Limited (8-10) Kenneth Larson, 50cc Quad (5-10) v Julian J. Coffing and 70cc Quad (5-10) Lea N. Concepcion.

The Adult Bike race: was another great race with many of the regions fastest riders making their way to the 6th Annual Sahara Sand Grand Prix at Eagleswood NJ. Those in attendance included Wallace Palmer, Joel Dengler, James A. Kapitan, Jesse Festenstine, Leonard Rehatcheck, Michael A. Collins, Ian Pannebakker, James R. Henshaw, Jeremi I. Truex and the brothers Malcolm and Dane Schoeneberg. Conditions come race time had clear sky’s with a light breeze from the north and temps in the mid 60s. When the flag dropped it was a four way battle between Wallace Palmer, Jesse Festenstine, James Kapitan and James Henshaw. At the 24 minute mark Wallace Palmer was first through the barrels followed by Jesse Festenstine who was 1 min and 20 seconds back, then you had James Kapitan in 3th and James Henshaw in 4th. Running 5th was Joel Dengler who was on the gas from his late start and peeling off the guys in front of him one at a time for the next 3 laps eventually finishing 2nd overall. So after 1 hour and 30 minutes the checker came out and Wallace Palmer grabbed another AGP first overall. Joel Dengler grabbed 2nd overall and rounding out the top 10 overall were James A. Kapitan, Jesse Festenstine, Leonard E. Rehatcheck, Michael A. Collins, Ian Pannebakker, James R. Henshaw, Jeremi I. Truex and Malcolm B. Schoeneberg.

Bike Class winners were as follows: 1st XC1Pro Wallace Palmer out of Mullica Hill, NJ, 1st in Open A Malcolm B. Schoeneberg out of Barnegat, NJ, 1st Light A (0-200) Ian Pannebakker out of Harrisburg, PA, 1st in A Vet Michael A. Collins out of Manahawkin, NJ, 1st 4 Stroke A Heavy (+300cc) Scott Wolferberger out of Marlboro, NJ 1st in A 4stroke lites Jeremi I. Truex out of West Creek, NJ, 1st Senior A Jerry Boscherdt out of Newark DE, 1st Open B Saeed Abbaszadeh out of Jackson, NJ, 1st Light B Stephan H. Check out of Ringwood, NJ, 1st Vet B Edward Parishy out of Flemington NJ, 1st 4 stroke B Lite Jeremy Nease out of York Springs PA, 1st Senior B Biggs Mesler, 1st Super Senior A David Hurley out of Brick twp NJ, 1st Vet C Rick Seely out of Manahwin, NJ, 1st Senior C Herman Teran out of Valley Stream NY, 1st Super Senior B/C Brian M. Schoeneberg out of Barnegat, NJ, 1st Masters (55+) John Dunn, Jr Hamden, CT, 1st Open C Todd C. Gordon out of Hammonton, NJ, 1st Light C Cole Gonnella out of Lanoka Harbor, NJ, 1st 4 Stroke C Heavy Ant Mesler out of Middlesex, NJ, 4 stroke C Lite Joseph Gallagher out of Somerdale NJ, 125 School Boy Michael Reid out of Magnolia, NJ, 1st Woman Jennifer Singleton out of Trenton NJ,

The Adult Quad race: brought out some of the regions fastest Quad racers including GNCC National #2 Team RockStar Suzuki’s Chris Borch, as well as Sean Neidlinger, Steven Stracka, Rob Hertz, Tom Hartman, Rob Houghkirk, Ralph Johnson, Josh Whithead and Tom Wright as well as New England’s Scott Samuel who were all in attendance. In the A class local GNCC/AGP regular James Eaton out of Lindenwold NJ, Joseph and Mike Papa out of Edgemont PA, Will Tindall from Tuckerton NJ, Richard Sharky from Hammonton NJ and the A Vet class with GNCC racers David Bishio, Lou Russo and David Guercia. Conditions come race time was again real nice and again the temps were in the mid 60s with low humidity. The course was the full 10.5 miles made up of 6+ miles of woods and 4 miles of open fields and grass tracks. On the first row it was all the fast XC1Pro riders, on the second row it was the A rows riders followed by B rows and C rows . Also in attendance was a very large contingent of Utility ATVs. Including Can-Am’s Jamie Bougher.

So on to the race!... The 10 second warning was called followed by the drop of green flag! Right off the line Borich grabbed the holeshot with Sean Neidlinger, Thomas W. Wright and Scott Samuel right on his heels. Wave after wave left the starting line. After about 24 minutes it was Borich first through the scoring barrels, followed by Sean Neidlinger, Tom Wright, Scott Samuel and Rob Hertz. In Collage A running in first was Joseph S. Papa followed by Steven G. George and Corey J. Karch. In Junior A James Eaton came through the barrels 1st. In Vet A the leaders were 1st Richard Sharkey 2nd Lou Russo followed by and David Guercia in 3rd. After about 1 hour and 34 minutes Chris Borich, was 1st to the checker flag, 2nd overall went to Sean Neidlinger, 3rd to 890Thomas W. Wright. The rest of the top 10 overall are as follows: 4th Rob Hertz, 5th Joseph S. Papa, 6th Scott Samuel, 7th Steven Stracka, 8th Thomas O. Hartman, 9th James G. Eaton and 10th overall to Richard Sharky.

Quad Class winners were as follows: 1st XC1Pro Chris Borich out of Sunbury PA, 1st in Collage A Joseph S. Papa Edgemont, PA, 1st in Junior A James G. Eaton Lindenwold, NJ, 1st in Vet A Richard Sharky out of Hammonton NJ, 1st in Collage B Leroy Truex West Creek, NJ, 1st in Junior B Jason A. Pritchard Blackwood, NJ, 1st in Vet B Robert Dewitt Medford, NJ, 1st in Senior 40+ Thomas Meeks out of Southampton NJ, 1st in 16-19 C Randy Hamilton out of Southampton NJ, 1st in 20 C Paul K. Summers Vineland, NJ, 1st in 24+ Gabriel M. Young Baltimore, MD 1st in 30+ C Richard Dantonio out of Swedesboro NJ, 1st in 36+ C Greg Savage Joppa, MD, 1st in U2 Terrence P. Weseloski S Toms River, NJ, 1st 4x4 Open Jamie Bougher Westwood, NJ, 1st in 4x4 Lites Kaul G. Vanassen Washington, NJ, 1st in 4x4 Limited Nicholas Brajuka Honesdale, PA, 1st in Youth Production 13-15 Timothy Naikiewicz Williamstown, NJ, 1st in Sport 0-400 Robert Dingman Lakehurst, NJ, 1st in Super Senior Paul Stiffler Southampton, NJ and 1st in Woman’s Barbaro Epsaro Teaneck, NJ

AGP Pro rider CASH payout for both Quads and Motorcycles was again well received with 1st Pro winning $500, 2nd Pro winning $200 and 3rd Pro winning $100. A-class riders also did real well with each A-class rider nabbing $100 for a class win $75 for 2nd and $50 for third. All A, B and C class payouts were based on the AMA formula of 1 payout for every 3 riders in class. B and C class riders got really cool 12x15 Plaques from Gear Designs who are the same people that produce the GNCC awards.

ATV attendance was around 150 riders for the day and dirt bike attendance for the day was at around 200 riders. Total gate proceeds raised for Eagleswood township community based non-profits and charities was close to $10,000 for the weekend... So again you Sahara Sand and the AGP series made cross country racing respectable once again.

Atlantic Grand Prix would also like to thank our sponsors and they include: Can-Am ATV, Moose Racing, ITP Tires, Scott USA, Husqvarna Motorcycles, P3 Pirie Performance Products, North American Warhorse, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Mount Holly Powersports, Cycleworld of Cherry Hill, Mt Holly Kawasaki and Suzuki, Hanover Powersports, Sport Honda Powerhouse, Southern Ocean Cycle Center, Xtreme Machines, Trick Racing, Hamilton Yamaha, The Quad Builder, Pro Pilot Suspension, MotocrossSupport.com, ATV Riders.com, The QuadBuilder.com and BannedAtAtvNews.com

In closing I want to remind everyone that riding on private property in Eagleswood NJ as well as the Sahara Sand property without written permission is punishable with up to a $1000 fine and confiscation of your OHV, We only have permission to be on this property the weekend the of this event and anyone that comes back to this property is only going to jeopardize future events, so please respect the neighbors and only use this property when there is an event taken place and please use an exhaust system that complies with the AMA 99 dBA limit.

Hope to see you all on November 23rd at AGP Round 8 of the AGP series in Millville New Jersey.

For more information photos and results go to http://www.AtlanticGrandPrix.com/AGPround708.html