2010 Gncc Rd 9 Snowshoe Review

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Great to see ya at the races Glen & Ellen Pritchard!!

Were praying for ya buddy :-)

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J.d. Welch
Snowshoe is an awesome race, its a race full of mistakes which means its anybody’s game to win. The track is really rough, long, rocky, and in a lot of spots muddy.

Larry Sanner Jr.
I thought it was a great track, my bike ran horribly the jetting was way off and it made tough just navigate the course. The bottle necks were as I expected. It makes it tough when you start on the very last row. I was very surprised by the small turn out.

Ken Robey
Had a decent start and off into the woods we went, Swift, Kilby, Langston and Myself. The first lap was completed in 30 min. but it seemed like we were out there for about 15. Maybe because we were all together battling for positions the time just flew by. I had a pretty flawless race and changed positions many times over the course of the race. On the last lap I was in third and Scott Kilby was no where to be found, I passed Michael Swift at his pit and I was running 8th overall, second place now. I pressed hard and didn't take any fuel during the race, I was just in a zone. That was until I came to the biggest bottleneck of the year. All I could think was, where are the course marshall's at ? There had to be 100 quads when I got there all waiting for their chance to get stuck on the hill next. I saw Scott Kilby come from behind me and start his way up on the left side of the trail so I followed him but let a U2 rider in front of me first, big mistake. As I sat about 15 feet from Scott I told the U2 rider to move up to Scott so no one could get between us, he didn't move and soon came Micheal Swift and took away my second place spot. I wouldn't have been so upset about losing the spot if I had been actually racing, but we were sitting there with our motors off. Scott and Michael got going before I could and off they went. I slowly made my way up the hill beside all of the sport quad riders who didn't look happy at all that we were able to make it through. I even got the chance to exchange some nice gestures to the ones that were just sitting in the middle of the trail staring at the hill ahead. I have never seen so many riders sitting there doing nothing, it was really insane. Finally I was able to get my self through the mess and onto the finish line I went finishing third and 9th overall. No bad at all, but I know I should have finished higher. Thanks God it's break time. My quad is bent all over.

Colton White 90 Mod 12-15
Started on second row. Spun out when I hit the grass. Did fine on the downhill’s and the woods. However the long uphill was terrible. My Apex would not shift down. I was barely making it uphill. Would pass a lot of riders to the bottom and they would leave me behind on the uphill’s. Still finished 7th in class and 17th overall. Would like to thank G-Force, West Coast Quads, Don from Statesville, NC, and all the Mid-East riders and fans at the race.

CHEYANNE SHADRON (Women)
I locked up my novice class and started my first race in women’s. I was never really nervous about a race before this one, and really decided to make the move as I stood in the registration line. I signed up and got my new sticker color for my helmet and immediately felt sick to my stomach. Everyone was very supportive, and encouraged me to do my best. I was happy to start on the last line of women’s by myself and the nerves went away pretty quick. The first 2 laps were without lappers and bottleneck free, I am used to having to pass people right from the start. The third and fourth laps were huge bottlenecks, probably over 75 people in each one. I got around the first one after about 5 mins but the other one was a lot longer, it was a disaster! In the end it all worked out in my favor and I finished second for the day. I had alot of fun and can't wait for Unadilla, it is one of my favorite tracks.

Blaine Martin (90 Modified 12-15) - I got last in the hole shot, and had to work my way up. I didn't get stuck or anything, and I ended up fourth. The track was okay. I liked the wide open fields.

Kyle Riley (College A 16-21) - I got stuck for two laps on a big rock. Josh Merritt and I were stuck in the same place so we talked for a while. When I finally got out, I charged as hard as I could for the rest of the race. I think I finished 14th.

Pat McGuire (College A 16-21) - I thought the track was a lot of fun. I guess you could say that it was my favorite track of the year, but it was even better because I won. I finished first in my class and 18th overall. It was also really cool to see Brian Wolf win the overall. Good Job Brian!

Matthew Harris (Schoolboy A/B) - The first lap was pretty good, and the second lap was the same. But the last two laps I got stuck in a bottleneck on a big, rocky hill. I sat in that for a while. On the last lap, I hit a kicker and wrecked pretty hard. I sat there for a while, then finally got up, and finished 3rd. I'd also like to thank the guy who helped me when I wrecked.

Vince Harris (Schoolboy Novice) - The first lap was good, but the second lap I got stuck in a bottleneck for like 5 minutes. During the third lap, I got stuck in the same bottleneck, but this time I was stuck there for the rest of the race. I tried to go around, but I flipped my quad. I think I ended up in eighth place.

William Setser
Lets see, had a good start and that was about that. Went in to about the fifth turn and it died and wouldn’t start back. Finally got it started back and it wouldn’t rev. Thought about for a minute while going down the trail and thought it might be my reverse switch stuck out. Stopped pushed it in and out a few times. Got it where it would rev then. But still wasn’t running right so made it a round to my pit and drained the bowl and it then ran fine for the rest of the day. Must have been some water in my fuel can( it doesn’t take much). Then sat at the bottleneck at the hill climb for about twenty minutes. So it was race to forget, but the weather was great and still had a good time. I’m planning something cool for the New York race being the race is on 9/11 and it being in New York and all. Have a great summer.

BJ Naugle, Jr B #298
Got off to a great start and led my line into the 1st few turns, settled in quickly and just took my time. The track was very rough but I didn’t expect much less, the washouts on the straights were the worst part. Hung around the bottom half of the top 10 all day and even with 2 flat right side tires I managed to survive and finish the race 10th in class and an even 100th overall. Quad will get some nice pampering over the summer and Ill be back for more in September!

Brayden Shick
I started in row 74 out of 76! I did get the hole shot on my row and that was the best part of my race. I got stuck in a mud hole on the first lap and was trying to make up time from that, but there was several "small" bottlenecks all over the place then came the "biggest" bottle neck ever! (Well, that I have been in)There were some people trying to find there way out but only a few of them made it. People had there quads turned off and some were walking around. It was very frustrating. All we could do was wait. I don't know how long I sat down there but it seemed like forever!! I ended up getting 12th for the day.

Cliff Vowell 30+C class
It was like sitting on the DC Beltway in the woods. 25 to 30 minute delays.
Welcome back!!!

Walker Fowler XC2 Pro-Am
Snowshoe is one of those races you either love or hate, look forward to or can't wait to never go back. I've always had the wrong attitude going in so this year I wanted to prove to everyone that I could ride the tough stuff just as good as anyone else, something I haven't been able to show all year. I said I'm either going to win XC2 or get 2nd overall trying. Well, 3rd is pretty dang close! I got off the pavement in 4th and was 3rd into the first woods section. I could see Brian already getting away and I knew I would have to keep him close if I wanted to stand a chance. Then all of a sudden were going through pro-pits with all the XC1 guys. I knew something happened but I figured I'd just race my race, unlike I did in Yadkinville. Wolf was long gone so I just pushed all I could. Got stuck 3 times but didn't loose much time because college A rider Aarol Bright gave me some pointers on how to get unstuck, and I owe him a big thanks cause they worked! 3rd overall is cool, just getting 2nd in the class and losing points sucks. But Brian is an awesome rider and he's out to show everyone what he's got. He is more deserving of that big check than anybody, and he's really opened everyone's eyes to see what kind of talent is soon to come out of the XC2 class. Awesome job Brian, you da man!! Thanks to all the incredible fans who were hootin and hollering when I went by, you kept me going. Also thanks to the Ballance Racing/Moto-Xperts/Yamaha team for everything they've done this season.

Dustin Hendershot Junior B # 706.
“ Came into the woods behind Jantzen and Nathan off the start….paced behind Nathan trying to keep them in sight until the first big bottleneck on the hill climb that was slick as hell..lugged it up hill into 1st place… tried to ride smart…was up there with graber and mcavoy for awhile …kept leading till the big ol mudhole on the backside second loop….dropped into a deep mud hole on the right and zoomed right out of it… quads everywhere on the left…went right…had to stop in another rocky hole because of slower guy in front of me… released clutch to pull out….DIED!!!!...restarted…died…restarted..died… By that time…Janzten caught back up to me…tapped me on the back….pointed down and my chain…..wrapped around sprocket and swingarm. About 10 minutes later, thanks to many mud fleas including Troy Gum, and Logan Waugaman, about a 6 ft log…we rolled the chain back on and I took off….well outside the top ten…. Put my head back into…and tried to catch whoever I could…. Eventually saw BJ naugle…deceasare…mckay….and a few others…. I kept thinking that mavis, chelsted, and hornacek had checked out…and indeed they did!! Finished 5th in junior B and 81st overall. Not my average….but for that place I will be satisfied. Special thanks to Laz at GT Thunder!!!!!”

Cody Javens: I had a great time at snowshoe this year!! The race went very well, got a good start and never had an problems and worked my way up to a 3rd place finish!!

Garon Davis
We made this our vacation so we did some fun stuff! Rented side by sides for a couple hours and we several mountain tops away and even climbed up in a fire look out tower. Saw ton's of wildlife and just enjoyed being away from work and home. Good thing Friday was so fun cause Saturday kinda sucked!!!! Got a decent start, blew thru a corner once we hit the woods and lost a few spots, got thru that and got t-boned by someone for no reason! After that I got in the huge bottleneck and tried to make a new line which proved to be a bad idea. Hung out there for an hour or so and realized it was going to be a trail riding day. A few miles later my crank came thru the front of my motor. So I spent the next couple hours waiting on a tow and adding up how much I can part out my bike for. My race was horrible but I had a blast hanging out with friends all weekend. Not sure what my next step is in racing.............

Bryan Buckhannon #230
I had a great time at this race! I love the Snowshoe event. I was third going into the woods. Worked my way up to second by the end of the lap. Hit a rock on the long downhill and did a superman but forgot to hold onto the handlebars. I was lucky that I landed in the only mud hole going down the hill! Got up and chased my atv for about 40 yards. Mounted back up and held second for the rest of the lap. Took over first on the the third lap. Found the big bottleneck, was there for about 10 mins waiting. Was leading on the last lap and found the bottleneck was still there. Tried to find a better line around it and got passed by Zac. I followed Zac and Swift up the hill, they made it through the other riders. If I ran into anyone making my way up the hill I'm sorry! I hate having to be that aggressive but I was fighting for the championship. Thanks to the guys that rolled me back over on the hill! After the crazy bottleneck I passed Zac back and got the win! Locks up the championship up for my team! I had a lot of fun Sat. night hanging out with everyone! See everyone after the break.

Dave Simmons
My day started good, got the hole shot, and started to hit the slopes. With us starting every 10 seconds I was into traffic in a hurry, and stayed that way the hole day. I was never just alone and charging, I seemed to always have someone in front of me( other then going around the bottle neck, that mess I lead and they followed)I tried to be patient and just pick riders off one by one, but it was hard. You didn't want to venture to far of the trail for fear of what was hiding in the weeds(rocks, stumps, logs...) On the second time around witch would of been the third lap, I came up on a bottle neck on a hill that just wasn't moving very fast at all. I rode the edge and got around several riders then dropped in the trail, I tried the hill to the right but didn't make it, and the line started to move about the same time and I pulled in line and off we went.

My next lap was uneventful until we got to this same hill, it was bottlenecked even before we got to the hill. I followed Beasley around the pack and pointed him to go this way, he started but stopped and I went around him and kept on the trail looking for a way to the top. I spun around a couple times and I think the pack that had followed me did the same thing, I took them over some BIG rocks looking for the trail, if you followed me on a sport quad you can race the afternoon. After several spin a rounds and heading back at my pack I found the trail and off we went. Beasley and I went back and fourth a couple times the last lap, I was having fun. He had gotten around me and I was going to try and get him some place in the last few miles I didn't have to pass him to win, but I was going to give it a shot, with about a mile to go my quad just quit, some kind of electrical problem, haven't washed it to find out yet. It sucks to loose an OA like that but that’s racing, and this place is to nice to pout about it.

This place is great, I only wish I would have taken the bus to the top of the hill to watch the PM, I forgot about the shuttle, should have used it to watch the bikes Sunday but never thought about it, I'll give that a try next year.

Kristen Atwell
Snowshoe was a crazy race, got a decent start. A few mistakes were made in the beginning that set me back. On the third lap I started up a long uphill and a huge bottleneck had formed in which no one was going anywhere. I ended up getting stuck there for 20+ min. Angel and I actually started pushing people up the hill to get it clear so we could get up it. Got going again but coming to the same spot on the 4th lap, the bottleneck had gotten worse. Angel and I ended up trying to find a trail around and ended up on the bike course, we worked our way through and ended up coming out right at the top of the bottleneck and continuing on with the race after about a 2 mile detour to avoid it. Ended up 4th for the day.

Blake Chirdon
Had a good start. had very little problems on the first lap but on the 2nd and 3rd lap I got stuck in a bottleneck at the hill climb, where I sat there for 1/2 hour watching people get stuck! Otherwise had a great time.

Jay Shadron
I got the hole shot, and about a mile in I got hung up on a rock and got passed, then I made my way back up to the front and didn't have any problems. The second lap I sat in a bottleneck for 10 minutes. The rest of the race went well ended up taking 1st. The best part about racing at Snowshoe is all the places to ride bikes with my "HOSS" friends.

Hello Amy. My name is Roy McDonald Sr and I would like to thank you for giving my son & I Quadzone stickers. We found the website easily and went to yours as well. We have come the past two years to Snowshoe because of its wonderful nature and scenery. I heard this race was being compared to black water. My granddaddy was apart of that generation. It was his choice along with others to part take in the hardest race in history. Watching the youngins struggle on the hillside and cause huge bottlenecks didn’t seem like fun for anyone. Hearing riders talk after the race that follow the series, maybe they should consider making it a non points race in off season allowing those to choose to race such a track. Many riders that I watched didn’t have the skills or lack the experience to race under those track conditions. We enjoy watching the race but felt really bad for those who sat in traffic forever. My home folk will follow your races and photos on your websites. Thanks again!

Nathan Hornacek Junior B
My race went ok. I got off to a good start in 2nd. I knew it was going to be a long day when a few miles in my back and leg started to really bother me a lot so I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. We came to a bottleneck on a hill about half way through the 1st lap I didn’t want to risk getting stuck in the other lines people were trying so I just waited and fell back to 3rd. I started to feel a little better after the 2nd lap and just tried to push. On the last lap after the first mud hole i clipped a rock with my peg and bent it pretty good I tried to take it easy after that and be safe but with about 4mi left I hit something and the peg feel off so i picked it up and put it in my air box and was lucky enough to make it to the finish I ended up 2nd and 64th overall ill take that with how my day went. I’m looking forward to the break so i can get my quad fixed up and to try and pay some bills off.... Cant wait for NY!!!!!!!!!!

Braden Henthorn (Schoolboy A/B)
I thought the track was fun, but I had some problems. I hit a kicker and my seat fell off, so I had to ride a whole lap without a seat. The next lap, I stopped to pick it up, and I ended up finishing second. It feels really good to be Schoolboy Champ!

Bryan Sutherland #336 Sport 15+
Started off the race well and moved up through the pack after starting from the second row of my class. I moved into first after a few miles, but made a bad line choice in the rocks over on the right side of the street. After that I tried to reel back in 1st place and did so on the 3rd lap, but once again got hung up only this time on a log angled across the trail. Dan pulled away again and I didn't see him till we got to the MONSTER bottle neck on the hill at around mile marker 4 I think it was. Quads were lined all the way up the hill and it looked like something you'd see on I-85 here in Charlotte around 5:15 on a Friday..... Not the middle of the race track DEEP in the woods of WV. We sat so long that I saw people leave and come back 3 different times trying to find a way around. UTE's were EVERYWHERE trying to climb anything to get around it only to come back unsuccessful. After waiting every bit of 15-20mins for my turn at the hill I made it up on my 3rd attempt only thanks to the help of a spectator pushing me off of another quad. At that point I had dropped back to 3rd and just brought it home. I was very disappointed in the track layout. 8mi of logging roads and gravel roads out of 12mi was not my idea of a good time.

Lexie Coulter
Unbelievable, race for 20 minutes and sit in line at a bottleneck for 20 minutes. Will it ever change?

Brian Wolf
What a busy week leading up to snow shoe. On Monday my bike was down to the frame for repairs. My wife and I worked really hard to get it done by Friday at 3. RP was saying how bad the new side of the mountain was, so I biked the whole side. Well I carried my bike for most of it. On Saturday Annie and I were really relaxed and Laz from Gt Thunder helped me make some last minute changes to the bike. At the start of the race my goal was just to win the XC-2. Which I knew would be tough with the type of track. But I was able to pull the hole shot and push extremely hard to run down the front runners. Before entering the pro pits I took advantage of a small bottle neck of the pro riders. Which when I came out of pro pits I was surprised to see Kiser, So I know I was were I wanted to be. Then we were running with Borich and Ockerman. I was able to get by Kiser when he missed a turn and nosed a tree. I was fortunate to not get hung up all day and kept Borich in my site. It was exciting to run with Borich for the type of track. I wasn't able to run with him cause of speed, I ran with him cause I took chances in the tough rocky, muddy sections. It was also exciting to have all the fans but the excitement of the overall was not there. Do to the protest from the pro riders that were passed in the first lap bottle neck. When they are the ones that took a harder and longer line. And everyone that past them stayed on a quicker, easier, MARKED line. Thanks to everyone pulling for me. Have a great summer.

Ryan Robey
loved the afternoon track ...I got held up on one of the hills with a bottleneck ,after I got through that I just tried to pick good lines and ride smart. I really had fun even know I finished 12th in my class. I’m so glad summer break is here see ya all in the fall!!!!

Scott Kilby
I lead the whole race until the last lap. I came upon a bottleneck and couldn’t find away around. I had to sit there a long time. Mike Swift was 3rd & he pushed his way to me. Then as it broke he slammed into my side and pushed me into another atv. Passed me there and he won. I was mad because it wasn’t good sportsmanship the way he done it.

Todd Moskala
Track was great and I felt good. Other than a few mistakes on my part is was a good day.

Zac Strong
The day went well and led most of the first lap. Rode better than I have all year. I felt really good until my positive cable broke off the battery. I had to stop and fix it throughout the rest of the race.

Adam McGill
The race went well and just had to stay smart. The first lap was hell. I got tangled up in a gas line, got stuck in the rock section and buried in a mud hole. I just put my head down and kept it on the wood and came out 3rd in the class. GOOD JOB WALKER!

Brandon Sommers
The race went very well and got stuck two times. I kept rolling the rest of the race. The track was awesome. I finished 8th in Pro with 11th overall.

Parker Jones
My race started off pretty good until a few miles in I took a tumble down a small hill. Rode smart nad picked good lines but had some mechanical issues.

Cliff Beasley
It went awesome and is the highlight of my career. Starting in the front was awesome and being able to stay there all day was great!

Shawn Javens
Shawn Javens: Had a blast at Snowshoe! I was doing well in the race batteling back and forth with Tom Wright on the first lap. I was going out a road section of the track when I bottomed out. My front bumper caught a rock and threw me over the bars. One of the worst wrecks I have had! Totaly tore my bike up, bent my frame, tore my plastic off and much more. After all of that some how i finished the race. It would be easyer to say what dosen't hurt than what does hurt!

Michael Swift
Never give up anything is possible!! I love the rough tracks!! Look out at the last four rounds, Im comin!!

Nick Mccready
I started the race on a good foot. Was second off the holeshot behind one of my best friends, Charlie Welch, he is a great rider but he spun out a few turns into the tough course of the Snowshow,Wv mountains. The track was great all that i rode ok so i was in front of the row #2 of the 90 Modified 8-11 class and was catching the top competiters. I caught Cody Collier and Hunter Hart. two great riders and Charlie hot on my heels if i were to make a mistake then he would've passed me. And of coarse my ATV had to give out and it stopped going down the first Ski slope it shut off and then Charlie Passed me I had already Passed a few of the slower riders of the girls class and all the people that I passed, passed me right back and i started kicking my ATV it finally started and i was flying i looked over the ledge and i could see the people who had passed me 2 minutes before i caught them passed them. A few minutes later i saw Buren I was flying! I passed by him and it shut off again. I told him what had happend he said that he would come slowly down the trail just to try to finish at least one lap. So going up the next slope it lost all its power and momentum and started to spit out smoke i decided my race was over and here came Buren. Towed me to the finish line and my dad figured out what happend. So i didn't get to finish a lap but had a lot of fun and i can say that i was in first in my class at one point of the race.


Thanks to everyone for taking the time to participate