A Battle to the finish!

[xtremedad]

Or is it really a battle just to finish?
http://www.quadzoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=33465
That's what caught my eye after the mud had flown at Powerline Park.
Nobody says Cross Country racing is easy. Most people wouldn't do it if it was. And Dave Barton (Ginxd00) will agree along with the masses on that one. But he does find the sport more inviting when it comes to challenging himself and his Honda 450R.
After reading his thread and seeing the incredible sportsmanship of so many on Quadzone, I had to find out more about Dave. As it turns out, he is in the closest battle for supremacy in the morning classes with the exception of the 4x4 Open class (and we know who's gonna win that one... )

I dialed up Dave on the Quadzone hotline, and this is the scoop.

Howdy Dave.
Where is it you call home, and how did you get into XC racing?
I live in Strasburg, Ohio. Its a small 2 light town where everyone knows when and what time people mow their lawns. I like living here alot, its a close community.
I have a loving wife who supports me in racing. She's never been to a XC race. I got her burnt out during my MX days. I don't blame her, I can't stand to watch when i'm not participating.
My good friend Justin Wright who used to race in 265B and 4 stroke stock class owns some land nearby. We started riding together in 2007 and Glenn McConnell and some of his friends would come out to practice. We would do a couple mile loops. It was everything I could do to keep up with those guys, I hated it until I got a bit faster to keep up. In the spring of 2007 Justin talked me into doing a local, can't remember, I don't think I finished the race but I knew I was hooked.
I used to run 450B MX until I broke my back showing off on a downhill double 4 months before my marriage in 2002. I took a few years off and got a 400EX to play with in 2007.
Wow! That is a feat in itself to come back from a crash like that.
I came back the next year with my wife in tow. Thank god for Aultcare, 18 grand just for a helicopter ride. I had the crash in the back of my mind the whole time I raced and couldnt give 100% and it killed me. I knew it was time to take some time off before I hurt myself again by not being able to attack the ruff stuff. It was a easy choice. I got involved in national level paintball until I was ready to try again.
So you're actually an MX racer, gone woods crazy, huh?
*laughs...No, the cross over was pretty easy. The first thing you notice is the attitudes of XC guys versus the attitudes of some of the local MX guys. Some people will know what I mean when they made the jump to XC. Its hard to explain nicely, but we will say there is alot of ego's on the other side, LOL.

Do you race only GNCC? Or do you mix it up around home?
I try to run CRA here in Ohio, AWRCS when its close, and Extreme Dirt Series or MOVHS. In the winter we like to go to North Carolina and run a few outlaw races they host down there.
What do you do for work that helps get you to the track on the weekend?
I am a painter for a company a few people may have heard of; A.R.E. truck caps. I'm the guy who makes'em shine.
What does your co-workers think about your hobby?
They always ask how I did, and if there were more than 2 in my class that weekend, dang comedians! Alot of guys at work either jet ski or do the Wellsville type riding, I go with them sometimes to Wellsville. It's fun to just go and hang out and remember why I started riding.

You're tied in points right now with John Lupinski. I can only imagine this is going to be quite the epic battle come Ironman.? But really, that tie wouldn't be so if it weren't for a rider that knocked into you like a freight train, crippling your ride, and setting you back 5 spots from first.
Other than the fact of being down right pissed, what would you say to a rider that operates like that?
Ya, Ive been plowed before, but NEVER like that! 1st turn smacks in the arse are one thing, but this was a whole other level. It was everything I could do to keep it under control. I was going to park it, but I figured I couldnt afford to give up the spots to John. Not taking anything away from John, he's a good rider and now a good friend. He pretty much threw the towel in to me at Yadkinville. I told him he better not back off, anything can happen and guess what, it did.
I am still trying to figure out how he didn't know what was going on? If he was looking for another line on the way up the hill and came up on us so fast he couldnt stop or what? I think people who use the bumper and tactics like that shouldnt be out there. I had two incidents with other riders this year also. I had a +30C rider crash me out at Steele Creek on a pass I was making on a downhill. He wouldn't let me pass, and I had the line. He cut me off causing me to flip the quad and snap my steering stem. Another rider in the +30C on a Kawasaki who wouldnt let me pass for 2.5 miles, until he clipped a tree. I know adrenaline makes people do some dumb stuff and we're always going to have riders like that. They shouldnt be out there with us, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Quadzone members didn't hesitate to step up and help when you posted your dilema to them. I know you thanked them all in the thread. But, give us a run down of where you got the parts to repair your quad, and be ready for The Ironman? And is there a sense of pride to know that every member on QZ wants to see you and John have a good solid race to the finish?
I posted that thread as a way to vent off some steam. I had no idea the PM's, emails, and calls I would get from people wanting to help out shortly after posting that. I am still in awe over the offers of help. My suspension guy Greg Mcnemar from Greg's ATV in Coshocton, OH is setting me up with the axle, airbox, shock and setup, and other small stuff, I can't thank him enough. I just got back from HMF yesterday and Hans and Mike hooked me up with redoing my silencer, I am proud to be sponsored by them, they're great! Most of all my father-in-law who goes to every race with me and supports me and helps me with telling my wife parts only cost $50 everytime I need to replace something (that's a cool father in law.. ). When the Powerline park incident happened he offered to help pay for the repairs.
What's the plan for the Ironman?
I wish John and I could get hooked up to the finish, but for him it's always some small detail that keeps that from happening. I hope it does happen, John is a good guy and clean racer, he deserves to be up there the whole race. I mean, he's paid his dues and ran all 13 rounds; he's due. It's kinda cool to be tied with someone at the last race, at what will probally be as usual a mudfest. I love that place and did well last year. I just hope we're not the last line of the C class to go off, I hate for a bottleneck to decide the outcome.


Dave, thanks a bunch for taking the time with Quadzone. We will all be watching closely as you and John take it to the wire at The Ironman!!!!

Give us a run down of the folks that help you out getting to the track?
I need to thank all my sponsors, Rath, ITP, Fly, MXN nutrition, Rekluse, Instigator racing, and Hiper technology. Most of all, Tom Skladzien from ATV Four Play for everything, Greg Mcnemar from Greg's ATV, and Hans and Mike from HMF.

[317GRFXJohn]

Great job David. I to hope we can run the whole race together, i though that would be the case at Powerline then i saw u turned around against a tree and took the lead then got of track when there was a bottle neck in the creek. The road to the championship is a little easier for you 14th or better and your champion. I have to win and you'll have to finish 15th or worse, but its the ironman and there will be many local racers there so anything can happen. I believe we are on the front row of the c class. Wish they would put the class battleing for championships up front. Let the women if the back for once see how well they do LOL.

[gpd005]

good luck to both of you guys!

[RoostinRaptor]

Great post !!! I'll be watching the outcome and although I respect both of you, I'll be rooting for the local guy sponsered by Greg's ATV ... Dave Barton. Have a great Ironman race guys !!!!!!!!!

[Bleedblue700R]

Great write up Dave. And here's to an awesome battle for first place
Good to see local companies helping you out like they did.

Oh yeah who does your killer graphics???

[hillbillyhpower]

go gettem davey, your team knows you got it..............

[deerchooper]

Originally Posted by Bleedblue700R

Oh yeah who does your killer graphics???