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By Robert Janis
Racing Organization WORCS
for Racers
ATV owners who wish to
race their machines in the eastern region of the
United States look to GNCC to produce and
sanction events. In the west, riders seek out
WORCS.
Formed in 2001, WORCS held its first ATV only
race in 2004 at Clay Peaks OHV Park in Payette,
Idaho. "We had 200 entries for that first race,"
commented Sean Reddish, media director for WORCS. "Presently, it
holds eight to nine events for ATVs a year,"
added Reddish. It is located in Washington,
Utah.
The group was formed by Dave Hamel. He wanted a
professional series managed by one person and
the same professional staff which would assure
the consistency of each event.
Reddish said the
original founders wanted events to be confined
and much more spectator friendly.
So they created GP style racing.
Reddish purchased WORCS from Hamel in 2004,
and he and his staff immediately split the
series into two separate programs for the 2005
season--one for ATVs
and one for motorcycles. "I think this
was great for the ATV racers because now they
would have a full program with ATV only staff
and crews to go along with the ATV type race
tracks. ATVs would no longer play second fiddle
in WORCS racing."
Flyers are produced and distributed to ATV shops
in the vicinity of a track that will host a
WORCS event. In addition, WORCS advertises on
the radio and in Dirt
Wheels and
Cycle
News in order to promote a race.
The Tracks
 WORCS events are strictly GP style racing. "The group uses
an existing Motocross track as the main hub and
then they use the off road areas around the
track to make the off road loops,"
said Reddish. Existing tracks are used because
they already provide existing infrastructure.
There is no need to actually build a track
specifically for an event as GNCC does.
That's not to say that the racers are not
tested under different racing conditions. For
example, WORCS uses 15 different tracks: Speed
World Motocross, Phoenix, Arizona; Bull Hollow
Raceway, Monticello, Utah; Burnt Ridge
Motocross, Cinebar, Washington; Clay Peaks
Motocross Park, Payette, Idaho; Crazy Horse GP,
Lake Havasu, Arizona; Eddie Motorsports Park,
Goldendale, Washington; Goldendale Motocross,
Goldendale, Washington; Honey Lake Motocross,
Milford, California; Honolulu Hills, Taft,
California; Longview Motocross, Longview,
Washington; Mesquite Motocross Park, Mesquite,
Nevada; Oceano Dunes Beach, Pismo Beach,
California; Race Town 395, Victorville,
California; and Washougal Motocross, Washougal,
Washington.
Speed World Motocross is a national track that
features high speed sections, technical
sections, table tops, doubles, step-ups, rhythm
sections, and natural terrain.
Bull Hollow Raceway is a family-owned
and operated Motocross facility designed and
built by Dirt Wurx that sits 7,000 feet above
sea level.
Burnt Ridge Motocross features a Motocross track
as well as off road wood sections and a large
grass track.
Clay Peaks Motocross Park includes big elevation
changes, big and fast sand washes,
a sand dune and open roads sections.
Crazy Horse GP is right on the shore of Lake
Havasu and water plays a prominent role.
Eddieville Motorsports Park and Goldendale
MOTOCROSS are both located in the dry region of
Washington state. The courses need to be worked
up each day and watered.
Honey Lake Motocross includes a high-speed
uphill with more than 400 feet in elevation.
Other features include open sagebrush, oaks, and
tough creek bottoms.
Honolulu Hills is 2500 feet above sea level with
rolling hills,
incredible terrain changes,
and large canyons that are mostly sandy loams.
Longview Motocross is located on the Columbia
River and includes tight woods trails and open
grass sections.
Mesquite Motocross Park is located in southern
Nevada and has lots of sand and elevation
changes.
Oceano Dunes Beach is right on the sand dunes.
Race Town 395 includes a Pee Wee track, a
beginner track, a main track, and a veterans
track.
Washougal Motocross is about 500 feet above sea
level and located in the heavily timbered
foothills of the Cascade Mountains in southwest
Washington. The track has highly technical
trails.
Forty Three Racing Classes
Racers are expected to pay an entry fee of $25
to $100 as well as front gate fees which vary at
each track.
WORCS recognizes five ability classifications:
Pro, Pro-Am, Expert/Intermediate Level,
Amateur/Junior Level, and Beginning Level.
Racers in the Pro level must be at least 16
years old. Pro-Am racers must be members of
WORCS.
According to Reddish, there are 43 different
racing classes that race over a two-day weekend.
There are youth classes that include stock,
production, and open. There are nine open
classes that permit kids from 4- to 15- years
old to race. The breakdown is 4- to 6-year olds
in the 50 cc class; 7- to 8-year olds in a 50 cc
class; 6- to 11-year olds in a 50 to 70 cc
class; 6- to 11-year olds in a 70 cc stock
class; 8- to 15-year olds in a 71 to 90 cc stock
class; 8- to 15-year olds in a 71 to 90 cc mod
class; 8- to 15-year olds in a 71 to 90 cc stock
class; 8- to 15-year olds in a 71 to 90 cc
sports class; 8- to 15-year olds in a 91 to 125
cc class; 12- to 15-year olds in a stock class
(200 cc, 2-stroke and up to 350 cc 4-stroke);
12- to 15-year olds in a mod class (200 cc,
2-stroke to 350 cc 4-stroke); and 12- to 15-
year olds in the open class (200 cc, 2-stroke up
to 350 cc 4-stroke).
 For the adults there are stock, production, and
open classes. There are 10 sub classes that
permit racers from
15-years old to 60-years old and up to
participate. The 15-year olds participate in the
200cc and 350cc class; 30- year olds and up race
in the veterans class; 40-year olds and up run
in the masters class; 50-year olds and up take
on the senior class; 60-year olds and up are in
the super senior class; 15-year olds and up are
in the sport and Pro Am class; and 16-year olds
and up are in the pro class. There is also a
class for women racers who are 15-years old and
up.
Reddish claimed that each WORCS event attracts
an average of 500 racers. About 40 women
currently race. He added that the premier venues
attract about 5,000 spectators while the remote
locations bring in about 1,500 fans.
Racers do not have to be a member of WORCS to
participate in a WORCS event. However, members
do get perks. There is a contingency program
that assists
members in getting a 5
to 20 percent discount or a $50 discount
or $30 gift certificate on products purchased
from WORCS sponsors.
Companies that sponsor WORCS include ATK, ATV
Eyz, DH Racing Products, Enterprise Rental Car,
Fastway Performance, Ferodo Racing Brakes, GPR
Stabilizers, Hinson Clutch Components, Ironman
Sprockets, Maxima Lubricants, Maxxis Tires,
Number Technologies, Rekluse, Rocky Mountain
MC/ATV, Scott USA, Team Hawg Racing, Terrycable
Products, The Tire Ball Development Company,
Wiseco, and Works Connection.
According to Reddish, WORCS seeks out sponsors
"all the time." "Most have just come to us," he
said. "They find us either through word of mouth
or our website
http://www.worcsracing.com." Sponsoring
companies are given exhibit space at WORCS
events for no charge. Non sponsors pay a vendor
fee for the privilege.
The Internet
WORCS has a website which offers current news,
standings, scoring, racer profiles, schedules,
links to sponsors' websites, rules and
regulations, membership information and
information on the contingency program and
tracks that host WORCS events.
Tentative Schedule for 2007
Round 1 Phoenix, Arizona January 19-21
Round 2 TBA, California February 9-11
Round 3 Lake Havasu, Arizona March 9 - 11
Round 4 Payette, Idaho March 30 - April 1
Round 5 TBA, California May 11 - 13
Round 6 TBA June 2 - 3
Round 7 Olympia, Washington August 17 - 19
Round 8 Monticello, Utah September 7 - 9
Round 9 Oceano, California November 16 - 18
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