What I Learned from the John Penton GNCC
- Updated: June 13, 2014
To tell the truth, I didn’t learn all that much from this round, other than my usual lesson that I’m way under prepared for these courses than most of the other entries. I suppose I was pushing my luck by not running tire balls or tire blocks, whichever expensive flat-proof solution you prefer. With all four corners of my Polaris RZR XP 900 held up with trusty 8-ply thick GBC Grim Reaper tires, which are bolted to dual beadlock HiPer wheels I felt as if flats only happen to other entries. I went a year and half without getting a flat with this set up, but my luck ran out on the first lap of the race when I sliced a front tire nearly in half on a razor blade of a rock. What was that thing doing in the course anyway! Just kidding, no one to blame but myself. It wasn’t as fun of a race as it could have been limping around for an hour, but I’m happy to say I did however finally finish a race, the first one this year,
I spent a lot of the time before the race swapping out a throttle cable and brake line. Both of which might as well be made from shredded money. You know I think I can get Lamborghini parts for cheaper. I miss my old TRX 250R days when stock OEM parts were so affordable even guys low on funds like me could purchase backup parts. Anyway, I wasn’t able to poke around the pits too much this round. And directly after getting my Polaris ready to race I ran around trying to find a copilot before they started the race without me in it. Thanks to West Virginia GNCC regular, Travis Smith I found a great partner.
Dust sucks. I’m probably the opposite of most but I would rather race in sticky Sunday Creek Raceway mud than have to guess my way through high-speed dust. I think mud is a good equalizer, and when you run a stock machine with aggressive Grim Reaper meats you tend to like a wet track. Luckily no one got hurt in the blinding dust, but I think I saw a broken entry at every G-out valley on the high-speed course. I didn’t have time to walk the track but did get to talk to my old buddy Tim Farr who predicted that would be a problem, sure enough Tim was spot on with that. I’m glad I talked to him and slowed down enough to not get swallowed up by those blind valleys.
I talked to my buddy Rich Curly of the Loud Performance team after the race and he told me something interesting. He said he discovered that a lot of the drivers he’s talked to don’t really put their copilots to work at all. – a sit there, shut up and hang on type of thing I guess. Rich and I are the opposite. We both love the copilot rule and think of it it more as a partnership effort, a true two-person team. We agreed that our passengers are constantly helping the cause. They help to remember the course, see alternative lines, see what’s going on behind us, help see through the dust, and in my case, help me push and hand me tools from the side of the course. While I’m talking about communicating with your teammate, I have to say I actually love my stock exhaust. It makes talking to once another so much easier. And I have pulled many holeshots in my stock Polaris XP 900 including the one at the John Penton GNCC event where six of us were in my row, and several were running loud performance exhaust systems.
Rich Curley of Team Loud Performance #33
Speaking of the Polaris 900. I’ve heard a few rumors that Polaris has a new 900 coming very soon. While talking with the boys at Concord Motorsports in Concord, Ohio I found that getting your hands on a new 900 isn’t easy lately. Either Polaris is slowly weeding them out or lowering production on the XP 900 in an effort to make room for their 900cc product. Makes sense to me. I think the later is the case. I predict that Polaris announces a more cross-country-worthy, heavier-duty 900 this summer. Let’s hope I’m right, and lets hope it handles and motors just as well as the dependable XP 900, I sure do love mine.
While I’m talking about new machines, I get to go test ride something new at Kawasaki next week. I have no idea what it the machine is at this time, but how cool would it be to see even one of the big four manufacturers alongside the Polaris and Cam-Am machines. Check UTV Scene out next week to see the newest member of the Kawasaki line up. At least I think it will be featured on UTV Scene, but maybe it will belong on ATV Scene. We’ll know very soon.
I thought it was really classy of Rodney Tomblin to say some great words of Laz and Mary Ann Sommers before the AM race at the first of two Ohio GNCC events. Then they let loose a few hundred red and black balloons in memory of the husband and wife duo that has helped and was loved by so many people especially in the GNCC ranks with their GT Thunder brand. It was really nice to see all the GT Thunder love in the pits with banners, shirts and best of all riders and their families remembering these two great people by sharing good times together in the pits like the GT Thunder clan always has. They’re missed but not forgotten, that sure is for sure.
Congrats to Travis and Hans of the Crash Addicts team. They finished with a close runner up overall at the John Penton GNCC. I didn’t see the finish but heard it was pretty exciting. Their Team Crash Addicts PARKS Can-Am finished with a 10:53 lap, the fastest of the day. With that, they finished the race just a half second behind the winner and current points leader Kyle Chaney. I didn’t get to meet them but they look like a deserving team that I bet will be on the podium again.
XC1 Points Leader Team Can-Am Chaney Racing of Kyle Chaney and Chris Bithell
Man o man this Team Re/Con out of the XC2 ranks has been something else these last few events! The rarely photographed #13 Polaris entry won by another minute and a half. That’s the second butt-kicking in as many races. They have two 6th overalls and an 8th at the John Penton. Did they sign up for the wrong class? At the rate they’re going their limited XC2 Polaris could break into an overall podium spot this year, very impressive season. Be sure to look for the number 13 team at the last two events.
Marcus Pratt of Team Jacks II
Speaking of the XC2 ranks, the points race in this class is insanely close, check it out with just two events left the top three are tied at 68 points. Yep, Held Racing, Jacks II and Brockway Racing all tied for first in points. I so wish it were a four-way tie and Team UTV Scene also had 68 points. Sorry drifted off in dream land again, maybe I’m still woozie from that tree limb to the face at the Mountaineer Run GNCC. In reality Team UTV Scene is way back in 20th overall. No championship for me, this year, that’s for sure.
Well that’s all for now. I would suggest the AWRCS Series if you can’t wait until Oct 4 for the next GNCC UTV event at Powerline Park in St Clairsville, Ohio. Maybe I’ll see you there.
