2001 GNCC ATV Racing
Round 6
Sparta, Kentucky

By Brian and Craig Goley
5/5/2001

Round six of the 2001 Grand National Cross Country series took us to Sparta, Kentucky.  The action packed ATV racing took place in the backdrop of the Kentucky Speedway.  In between quads racing past us, we could hear several stock cars taking laps around the speedway.  The Sparta course entered its second year for the series and provided a fun filled race day, not only for the riders, but for the racing fans as well.

ATV Source was there to witness all of the ATV racing action.  The Source Crew received a double dose of ATV racing this weekend as we attended the GNCC at Sparta, KY and finished our weekend with the GNC MX at Blountville, TN.

Doug Morris, the newly appointed Director of the ATVA, was in attendance as well.  We applaud his efforts to make it to the various ATV racing events.  It is good to see that the AMA is making an effort to get fully involved with our sport.

One racing note to mention was the return of Chad Duvall to the Series.  Chad sat out for the first set of rounds, but decide to return for the Sparta event.  Chad indicated he would race in the remaining events.  Chads return earned him a 5th place finish.

Race day weather started out on the hazy side with temperatures in the lower 70's.  As race time approached (High Noon), the sun broke through the clouds to promptly heat up the course, riders, and the event. A total of 368 riders signed up for the race, put on their helmets, and proceeded to blast across the Kentucky countryside.

ATV Source dubbed this series race the GNCC Dust Bowl, because once you saw a glimpse of the first couple of riders that was all you saw!  Heavy dust engulfed the remaining riders and everything around them, making the course difficult to negotiate.  One DNF rider told us, I couldnt see where the $@!# I was going!  The extremely dry conditions on most of the course provided a grueling event for all riders.  In the woods, the conditions were better, but still on the dusty side.

A large number of fans lined the fences to see the ever-exciting start for each quad class.  The first turn was a left hand high-speed banked hillside.  The start provided spectators with an awesome view as hundreds of quads hammered through the turn at WOT speeds.  The fast start allowed the racers to enter the S turns, just prior to entering the woods, at break neck speeds.  The off-camber right hand turn going into the S turn was all out chaos.  This harmless looking corner was really hard packed clay, with tall field grass and a hidden trickle of water running down the slope.  Racers coming into the corner at full throttle didnt have a chance.  So much for the course markings and course workers trying desperately to direct the racers through the corners and into the woods!!  This corner became the Start and Finish for some riders as quads toppled each another and sent spectators running to escape the quad wrecking carnage.  Even a course workers dirtbike didnt stand a chance.

The nearly twelve-mile course sent riders through some of the toughest backcountry that we have hiked in a while.  Long winding hillsides, rocky creek crossings, and huge tire eating and rim bending rocks, scattered all over the place, was on the menu for the racers.  The natural obstacles came into play throughout the 2 hour and 15 minute race.  William Yokley had to change a tire due to a flat.  Both Yokley and Matthew Smiley finished the race with flat rear tires.  Other racers went through the same, as many pit stops took place for tire changes.

Riders had to not only fight with the various course obstacles, eat a pound of dust, and battle the rising temps, but they also encountered a very tight winding course which left few places to pass.  The race leaders all spoke about the tight course, the dust, the many lappers, and the grueling temperatures.

The standing, once the dust settled, were 1st place - Bill Ballance, 2nd place Matthew Smiley and 3rd place going to William Yokley.

For results on the various classes for this race and more coverage of the GNCC races, please visit the official GNCC web site.