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Story and photos by: Stephanie Hulsey
New OXC Series Kicks Off Round 1 in Missouri
Ockerman takes overall in inaugural
race
Pack your race gear boys, frigid temps and
snow is all part of the fun – we’re going OXC
Racing in Missouri!
Missouri Weather
Carson Coffman takes the inside of the
first turn, as Bryan Baker (#38) moves
ahead to take the hole shot off the Pro
Class start.
No momentum left these riders struggling
at the base of the hill climb in the
final laps of the race. A spectator
lends a hand as a competitor tries to
take another line. |
96 hours until the main event:
Missourians are overwhelmed that the mercury has
hit 70 degrees in much of the state. The
sun is shining and there is a light breeze, it
is a gorgeous day, and uncommon for January.
In Kansas City it is 12 degrees.
72 hours until the main event:
Temperatures have dropped down to the teens and
low 20s. A wind advisory is in effect for
most of the state with wind chills dipping below
0 degrees and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per
hour.
48 hours until the main event: Many
businesses are preparing to close early and
schools are being dismissed as the first wave of
a winter storm is stretching across the state.
A second wave is to follow in the evening hours
with a total of 6-10 inches of snow
accumulation.
24 hours until the main event: While
the amount of snow varied across the state,
southern Missouri was hit with a few inches of
snowfall. Weekend temperatures are to
reach the low 40s on Saturday.
Race Day: Awesome!
Granted, it was a bit chilly early February
2, but the weather called for temperatures to
reach the low 40s and the winds have calmed
down. Snow is on the ground and it is best
if you packed your boots to walk around the pit
or the track at round one of the Ozarks Cross
Country Racing series.
As racers from six states, Missouri, Kansas,
Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Colorado,
pulled into the pit area 13 miles outside of
Mountain View, Missouri, the 13 racers in the
morning youth and women’s classes were already
off and running and drawing the attention of the
fans. There was much chatter among the
afternoon racers about the potential track
conditions and the discussions they had the
night before about whether to make the trip or
just sit this first race out, but they placed
their money on the rocky terrain of southern
Missouri and never looked back.
Giving a thumbs up to the crowd, first
place overall winner, Donald Ockerman
does a burn out on the podium as second
and third place finishers Jody Estes and
Kyle Martin look on. When asked about
the track, Ockerman simply stated,
“Awesome. Loved it.”
Top three overall pose for the crowd.
Left to right, 2nd Place, Jody Estes;
1st Place, Donald Ockerman; and 3rd
Place, Kyle Martin. Martin said, “The
track held up a lot better than I
thought. . .It was a lot of fun.” |
As racers filed out for their practice lap,
spectators and race promoters waited to hear
what they had to say. It wasn’t long until
everyone found we would have to wait for the
race itself, as one Pro rider said, “It’s slick,
because of the snow.” Seconds later another Pro
rider, pulling into the pits said, “It isn’t bad
out there, the traction is great.” Mixed
feelings about the snow and mud were the same
through most of the classes. Next on the
agenda was the riders meeting, where Randy Owens
of Dirt Works Motorsports was greeted by a
cheering crowd as he thanked racers and
spectators for taking a chance on the weather
and coming out for the inaugural race of the
first ever ATV-only race series in the state of
Missouri. Finally, with adrenaline
pumping, it was off to the starting line for the
121 racers and minutes away from the start of
the first OXC race. On the Pro Class
starting line were 16 riders including familiar
names from the GNCC Series, Bryan Baker, Donald
Ockerman, and Kyle Martin; GNCC racer and 2007
Iowa Hare Scrambles ATV Champion Duane “The
Rock” Johnson; 2007 Missouri Hare Scrambles ATV
Champion Bryan Hulsey; and 2006 Kentucky Hare
Scramble ATV Champion Jody Estes.
Needless to say, nothing runs flawlessly, and
a late arrival of the ambulance set the start
time back about 10 minutes, then the OXC Trophy
Girls dropped the 15 second card and the Pro
Class rocketed off the start, mud flying and the
snow a mere memory. As they blazed into
the first turn, it was a last second battle
between two Missouri riders as Bryan Baker
inched ahead of Carson Coffman to clinch the
hole shot award on his Polaris Outlaw and
continued to lead the pack the first two of the
five lap event.
Pro riders were running 18-19 minute lap
times on the 6 mile track for most of the race.
As the mercury climbed into the 50s, the snow
melted considerably and the made the loose dirt
and rocks on the hill climb more challenging as
the race went on. Keeping your momentum
was the key to winning this battle. The
hill climb also drew the attention of race fans
wanting to cheer, snap a photo, or lend a hand
when the going got tough.
Ockerman, running fourth after the first lap and
only 5 seconds behind the leader, maneuvered
around Devon Jarrett and Duane Johnson in the
second lap and still in a battle with Baker for
the lead. It was Ockerman who took over
first place as he came through the scoring lane
after three laps, seven seconds ahead of second
place Jarrett. Baker had fallen to third
and Johnson, now in sixth, was pushing hard to
make up time after getting tangled with a lapper
and falling to ninth.
At the checkered flag, Illinois’ Donald
Ockerman on his GT Thunder built Yamaha YFZ450
took the overall victory, as 11 of the 16 Pro
racers came through the finish line on the final
lap. It was Jody Estes of Kentucky aboard
his Gateway Cycles Kawasaki KFX450 taking second
place after racing his way around Martin and
Baker in the fourth lap, to come from fifth
place. In third, Missourian Kyle Martin,
on his Dirt Works Motorsports prepped Honda
TRX450R, motored past Baker in the final lap.
Rounding out the top five overall finishers were
Missouri racers, Baker on his Polaris Outlaw
placing fourth and Johnson in fifth on his
Looney Tuned Can-Am DS450.
The top five overall finishers represented
three states and five different ATV
manufacturers, proving the OXC series will be a
great six-race battle of man and machine – now
that’s what I call awesome!
2008 Results
Adult Race Results
Adult Series Points
PeeWee & Women Series Points
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