View Full Version : 2004 Extreme Dirt Track ATV Racing - RD#3 - Pine Lake - Amateurs ATV Race Coverage
Exrider member mjnova (Mike Novak) and "part-time" GNCC racer decided to do some TT racing this summer. Since I had never been to a TT race and Pine Lake was one of the closer races and was known to be one of the better TT tracks, I decided to go to the race as mjnova's pit crew.
With both his TT YFZ450 and XC YFZ450 down with broken/bent mainshafts, mjnova was forced to buy a third YFZ450 last Thursday. I helped him pull the motor and put into into his TT quad Thursday night before heading to Ashtabula on Friday morning. mjnova had not raced a TT event since 2001. Since he normally races the 4 Stroke B class in the GNCC's and struggles to run in the top 10, he decided to race the 4 Stroke B, 265B, and Vet classes at Pine Lake.
When not performing pit crew duties, I was "allowed" to take some photos. I am sorry that I was not able to take more photos of the amature races. What follows are some of the better amature race photos that I was able to take. For obvious reasons, many of the photos will be of mjnova.
Here mjnova is seen giving tips to his good friend and pro rider Harold Goodman.
mjnova's first race of the day was the 265B class. mjnova struggled a little bit with the starts. He is used to dead engine starts with a flagger instead of running engines and a traffic light.
mjnova exited the first turn in 3rd place.
mjnova quickly passed the 2 riders in front of him and was out front as they completed lap 1.
mjnova openned up his lead on lap 2.
mjnova must have gotten a lit bit excited to be leading his first TT event in 3 years. He started to get some serious arm pump and cramps and had a hard time using his throttle. His big lead soon vanished.
mjnova struggles to maintain first place.
mjnova finds the throttle has he hits the straight.
mjnova catches a break as the rider in second spun out.
Sorry for not including the names of the other riders. I could not find any results which included both rider names and numbers so I would only be guessing if I attempted to include names.
mjnova takes the checkered flag and wins the 265B class. Not too bad for an XC racer.
The first class of the day was the 265C class. Here is the start.
More 265C first lap action.
265C class winner taking the checkers.
The Senior +40 class start.
Senior +40 guys getting some air. I hope that I am that fast when I hit 40. Heck, I hope I can still ride when I am that age.
Battle for the lead in Senior +40 class.
I wish that I had started out racing (or even riding) at that age.
The winner. Something he will probably not forget anytime soon.
mjnova's second race of the day was in the Vet +30 class. He new that taking his mostly stock YFZ450 motor up against open motors and experienced riders would not be easy.
The start.
mjnova gets a mid pack start.
The guy on the DS650 takes the Vet Class lead. He was flying. His choice of riding with blue jeans reminded me of GNCC legend William Howell.
Unfortunately the DS650 rider had some problems and fell back to second. I believe he pulled off the track on the next lap for a DNF.
Your new Vet class leader.
mjnova again. Please remember that I was relying on him for a ride home after the races so I had to take at least some photos of him.
Fellow Michigan racer Steve Stroud in 4th (I believe).
Back up front to the leader.
Stroud trying to make a last lap pass for third.
The early leader, Mandi Brodil.
Mandi Brodil still out front.
Amanda Slaton on her KTM based quad not far behind.
More of the ladies battling a little further back. They may not have been leading but they still looked fast to me.
A new leader. I didn't see what happened as Amanda Slaton was now leading with Tara Klueber in second and Brodil back in third.
Womens class winner Amanda Slaton.
More action from Production A.
Not sure hat class this was. I was a little distracted.
More 71cc-90cc Modified action.
I did NOT photoshop this pic.
Nor did I photoshop this pic. It was amazing to see these quads with the go kart rear ends.
4 Stroke B. mjnova's final class of the day. He hung on a little longer than the rest to pull the holeshot. Here he is ready to complete lap 1 in first.
mjnova stretching his lead.
More of mjnova. He provided the camera.
Plus when he is leading, it's hard to not take at least a few pictures of him.
mjnova hits the straight.
mjnova holds on to win the 4 Stroke B class. Three races. Two firsts and a sixth. Not a bad weekend.
Thanks again Mike for dragging me along.
QuadJunkies
08-02-2004, 01:02 AM
Once again.VERY good pics!! What kind of Camera were you using? The pics have great clarity!!!:blah: Those minis looks VERY WIDE!!!!:eek: :cool: thanks again for posting great coverage and for taking some of the ladies!! Its not often we see this coveage of the ladies tearin it up........:macho I hear Mandy is having a pretty good year on the new 450r of hers..;)
Camera is a higher end 6 or 8MPix Sony. I give the camera all of the credit for the good pictures.
C-LEIGH RACING
08-03-2004, 08:29 PM
Fred,
The pic above, where you didnt know what class it was with the blue bike # 2 jumping, that's 265C. The blue # 2 rider is Tim Farr's brother.
My daughter run's in the 265C Class & when I seen Tim & Mark hoovering over that Pro class bike he was riding, I knew we were in trouble. Neil
bradley300
08-03-2004, 09:42 PM
if i just wanted to try a national tt race, could i just go with my xc set up, or do they make you run slicks?
QuadJunkies
08-04-2004, 12:14 AM
Originally posted by bradley300
if i just wanted to try a national tt race, could i just go with my xc set up, or do they make you run slicks? Im thinkin I would want TT tires for that track........:eek2:
bradley300
08-04-2004, 09:09 AM
i would WANT them also, but are you allowed to race w/ holeshots in like a beginner class? i just dont see buying a whole new set of tires just to try it out.
I thought I heard that there is a class available specifically for non-flat track style tires but I may be wrong. I did see quads with "dirt" tires there but I don't remember seeing them actually race.
From what I saw, unless you are ready to commit to it and spend some money on a sway bar, wider a-arms, axle, and proper suspension, it would not be that much fun unless you like getting lapped.
Your best bet if you want to just try it out would be to find someone willing to let you take their TT setup quad out during practice. If they are a good friend, they may even let you race it.
bradley300
08-04-2004, 10:07 AM
lol, that would have to be a really good friend, have you seen the hatfield thread? lmao. if you bought all that stuff on ebay, would it be fairly easy to re-sell it? i never hear much about TT so to me at least, there dosent seem to be much of a demand for a TT set up
Easy to re-sell TT parts for a 300ex? Probably only if the 13-15 year old class continues to grow.
bradley300
08-05-2004, 09:15 PM
well, the lowering kit should also work on a 400ex and wheels/tires would be pretty universal for any honda bolt pattern. rear strut may be a hard sell tho
C-LEIGH RACING
08-09-2004, 10:29 AM
Bradley,
Check http://www.atvaonline.com & see if there is a knobby class. I remember seeing knobby's run at Danville VA, GNC TT but dont remember if ATVA has a class.
If you run the Mid Atlantic ATV, or the Southern ATVA Asso's TT race's we have a class just for the knobby's. Your GNCC set up would work, might want to lower it a bit for the corner's though.
Rule's are, no sway bar, no slick's, any type of knobby tire, any size engine, any size of ATV, ( other than kid's ) age limit, not under 16 year's of age adult class.
These two Asso's are located in V.A. & N.C. & you would be amazed at what the rider's get at the year end award banquet. Neil
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