2005 GNCC Round #4 "Steele Creek" Morning ATV Race Coverage

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Morganton, NC - GNCC Racers once again converged at one of the finest facilities on the circuit in the mountains of North Carolina. Unlike many other locations, Steele Creek is a campground, so it has RV hookups, bathhouse, and other amenities which makes it a great race for a family get away. It is also a great event for spectators with the easily accessible creek crossing sections, mud hole, and field sections.

Unfortunately, conditions for this years race aren’t picture perfect with heavy rain saturated the area throughout the day with scattered heavy down pours and light drizzle with temps only in the low 50’s. Overnight, the possibility of thunderstorms rise as a front comes out of the west, and more of the same weather is forecasted for tomorrow with some clearing toward afternoon.

This will definitely be a mud feast for tomorrows morning race, but if the rain holds out the track should become extremely tacky and excellent by afternoon if the area is spared from anymore heavy downpours.

The riders were hit with two fees for this event with a $20 camping charge vehicle and the normal $10 entry fee per person, but it is well worth it for this location.

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The Moose Rig came in early and crossed the narrow bridge that the riders will be forced to ride under tomorrow for the race.

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The racer production crew was busy marking the course and preparing the creek section that is a spectator favorite.

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The water was fairly deep today going under the bridge, but I am sure they will pump out some of the murky water before the start of the races tomorrow, but regardless, the riders better be ready to get wet through this section.

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Even with the heavy rain, the creek remained crystal clear and calm before the run off from the mountains begin to filter into it over night which may turn it into a murky mess as well tomorrow.

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This racer had the right idea for passing some time on this dreary day.

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Jim Stack also decided to spend some time in the creek as he submerged his new Four Stroke Tech ride in the creek up to the handle bars after misjudging the depth of the water. He used his Ramsey winch to pull him out of the water and proceeded to drain the water out of the engine and air box.

Doug Henke raced this Brute Force to start of the season, but has decided to go back to a sport machine and I believe he will be on a Honda 450R for the rest of the season.

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This track is known for its mud holes even in dry conditions, but with the rain this deceptively wide open section of track may look like an easy crossing section, but a spring head comes to the surface and the mud will quickly become soup after the 1st lap of the morning race, and by the afternoon, I am sure many riders will be looking for some help from the spectators to pull them through.

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Even in the fields, the riders will have to deal with standing water and some extremely slick conditions, so a new set of ITP HD tires will come in handy this weekend especially for the morning race, but by afternoon, the XC tire may be the better tire choice or the Razr for those Maxxis riders

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With the light drizzle coming down, the mountains that the riders will be traversing up and down tomorrow were covered by low level clouds.

With some steep inclines bottlenecks will probably develop tomorrow as riders get stuck on the side of some of the hills.