TRP Volume 9 // Issue 6 by The Racing Paper

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 // 2012 Schaaf

SLEEPY HOLLOW TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT

Lukaitis

ENGLISHTOWN’S KAWASAKI RACE OF CHAMPIONS

FINAL S.C. POINTS •

CERNIC’S •

BROTHERS BALKOVIC •

GOODBYE 2012! 1

THE RACING PAPER

REGULARS CONTRIBUTOR

FEATURES Fred

RED BULL RE-MX Some new teams joined the podium for this year’s annual Red Bull RE-MX, but nobody was able to knock the Cernic’s Johnstown team out of the top spot for the second straight year.

PUBLIC ADDRESS

HIGH POINT VET NATIONAL/PAXC Plenty of vintage bikes were dusted off and old gear got unpacked when the Vet National weekend approached. A harescramble also returned to High Point after a long absence.

PREMIX TAKE 5 INVENTORY TAPPED OUT DECEMBER 12, 2012

TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT Brap Braaap! The sweet sound of two-strokes were back for Sleepy Hollow’s 2012 Two-Stroke Shootout. Gates were open for the entire weekend, but they never let a fourstroke in to contest for the prize money in the Pro-Expert classes.

EDITOR / ART DIRECTOR: JORDAN ROBERTS STAFF LENS: CUDBY, FRED STAFF PENS: JEN KEN, CHASE STALLO HEAD HONCHO: DAVEY COOMBS BOSS GUY: BRYAN STEALEY BOSS GIRL: JULIE KRAMER ADVERTISING: TIM CRYTSER ACCOUNTS: JERRI HEADLEE INTERN: TAYLOR DRESSLER VOICE OF REASON: RITA COOMBS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: MIMI GREINER, LAUREN HALL, KEN HILL, ARLENE LANTZER #98, ZAK LOWERY, AMY SCHAAF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: TIMMY COOMBS, TIM CRYTSER, TYLER NEWCOMER COVER PHOTO BY FRED THE RACING PAPER 122 VISTA DEL RIO DRIVE, MORGANTOWN, WV 26508 TEL 304.284.0080 | FAX 304.284.0081 | THERACINGPAPER.COM The riders appearing in this newspaper are, for the most part, skilled amateurs or highly trained individuals with experience racing and operating motorcycles. Please don’t try to imitate them. When you ride a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, always wear a helmet, eye protection and the appropriate safety gear. Never ride beyond your capabilities. Use your head, be safe and enjoy the ride. The Racing Paper publishes six issues annually by World Sports Holdings, LLC. Our editorial office is located at 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508. Copyright ©2012 Filter Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newspaper may be reprinted in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Editorial contributions are welcomed, but must be guaranteed exclusive to The Racing Paper. We are not responsible for the return of unsolicited material. Letters cannot all be answered, nor can all service inquiries be answered. We appreciate correspondence sent to our editorial office and will use the most interesting and appropriate letters in the newspaper. Email letters to: jordan@racerxonline.com

Advertising: Please call Tim Crytser at 407-748-4663

Lukaitis

KAWASAKI RACE OF CHAMPIONS A handful of Pennsylvania racers made the trip to Englishtown, New Jersey, to make a name for themselves at the Kawasaki Race of Champions.

WATCH ON FEATURING DAY

DATE

TIME (ET)

RACE LOCATION

RACE

Sun

Nov 18

4:00 PM

Hurricane Mills, TN

Loretta Lynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MX

Sun

Nov 25

5:30 PM

New Berlin, NY

ATVMX

Sun

Dec 2

5:30 PM

Millfield, OH

GNCC ATV

Sun

Dec 9

5:00 PM

Buchanan, MI

ATVMX

Sun

Dec 9

5:30 PM

Hurricane Mills, TN

ATVMX

Sun

Dec 16

5:00 PM

Millfield, OH

GNCC Bike

Sun

Dec 16

5:30 PM

New Berlin, NY

GNCC ATV

Sun

Dec 23

5:00 PM

New Berlin, NY

GNCC Bike

Sun

Dec 23

5:30 PM

St. Clairsville, OH

GNCC ATV

Sun

Dec 30

5:30 PM

St. Clairsville, OH

GNCC Bike

Sun

Jan 6

5:00 PM

Crawfordsville, IN

GNCC ATV

Sun

Jan 6

5:30 PM

Crawfordsville, IN

GNCC Bike

Sun

Jan 13

1:00 PM

Hurricane Mills, TN

GNCC ATV

Sun

Jan 13

1:30 PM

Hurricane Mills, TN

GNCC Bike

Sun

Jan 20

1:00 PM

Washington, GA

GNCC UTV/Utility

Sun

Jan 20

1:30 PM

Union, SC

GNCC UTV/Utility

Sun

Jan 27

1:00 PM

Masontown, WV

GNCC UTV/Utility

Sun

Jan 27

1:30 PM

Millfield, OH

GNCC UTV/Utility

Sun

Feb 3

1:00 PM

St. Clairsville, OH

GNCC UTV/Utility

Sun

Feb 3

1:30 PM

Crawfordsville, IN

GNCC UTV/Utility

CATCH UP ON EPISODES AT WWW.RACERTVONLINE.COM Schedule subject to change.

THE RACING PAPER

USA

5¢

Hi, my name is Dana Luhovey and my son is Vinny Luhovey from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. We just wanted to say thank you very much for posting articles on Vinny and just noticing him out of the many talented riders in the sport. It’s definitely a tough sport to compete in and we try so hard to get noticed. It’s people like you who make a difference by just taking notice and posting things that make a rider feel special. Again, much appreciation and thank you all! Dana Luhovey Greensburg, Pennsylvania I appreciate your appreciation! It makes everyone’s job at The Racing Paper that much more gratifying when we know we’re making an impact with the individuals that pour their heart and soul (and undoubtedly, piggybank) into motocross. Vinny definitely deserves the recognition. He’s had a great season and it’s hard not to enjoy watching all 70 pounds of him find the fastest way around the track on his 150.

The current points-leader in GNCC Racing’s Women Amateur class also happens to be The Racing Paper’s leading contributor for written content. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Taylor Dressler began interning at the Racer Productions office in Morgantown to aid in various PR functions for the GNCC series, that is, before TRP managed to steal her. Hey, it’s hard to find good help these days! The avid two-stroke racer currently resides back in her hometown down in Georgia, but that doesn’t stop her from finding ways to help out with each issue. Taylor will still load up her KTM and travel to various races along the eastern side of the States, all while attending college at Kennesaw State University—she majors in Communication with a focus in PR—and working for a local motorcycle shop. So if you find yourself getting passed in the backwoods of a GNCC by an orange 393 machine, just remember she’s not only riding better than you, but there’s a good chance she writes better than you too! TRP

Thanks again, JR _____________________________________________________________ Hello, I just received my Racing Paper in the mail today, and every time I get mine I’m always excited to see if any of the women who race have pictures riding, racing, or hanging out at the tracks! I honestly don’t think it’s fair enough for the guys to always be in here. Girls are just as good as the guys, even better! I think it’d be nice to see more photos of the women in the paper! Thanks, Tiffany Palacki Latrobe, Pennsylvania Want to write a letter to The Racing Paper? Send it to: jordan@racerxonline.com or

TRP Sign Up 122 Vista Del Rio Dr. Morgantown, WV 26508 5

DECEMBER 1, 2012

Series Eligibility for Awards are as Follows: PAMX Spring Series

• Trophy Classes Must Race 9 of 13 • 250A Open A & +40A Must Race 11 of 13

PAMX State Championship Series • Trophy Classes Must Race 6 of 8 • 250A Open A & +40A Must Race 7 of 8

PAXC State Championship Hare Scramble Series • All Classes Must Race 7 of 10 Rounds

Rules

• You Must be a PAMX or PAXC Member for awards. • Any ties in series points will be broken by the rider that had the best overall position when both riders last raced together. • Rider MUST attend the PAMX Night of Champions to receive awards and prizes. • If you cannot attend, you may still recieve your trophy if you contacted PAMX by November 4, 2012.

Please plan to attend the banquet to be recognized for your accomplishments. Tickets are $25 each and will not be sold at the door. Do not delay we do plan to sell out. Additional prizes will be given only to those racers who attend the banquet. In order to receive your tickets and trophy, you needed to fill out the form on the www.gopamx.com website. We needed to have this form postmarked no later than November 4, 2012 and mailed to PAMX. Tickets will be at the door upon your arrival. You may call (412) 614-0601 or go to www.gopamx.com to check if your response has been received. A Class riders must attend to receive their checks. We will not mail your checks out. If you do not attend and send in to have your trophy mailed out, you will receive it approximately 14 days after the banquet.

Banquet Location: The Aces 316 Chestnut St Johnstown, Pa 15906 Hall Number: (814) 536-4176 See you there! 6

THE RACING PAPER

50CC 1

1. BREYDEN CAMPBEL

POINTS 147

85CC 9-11 C (CONT.) 3. SETH ANDRES

POINTS 142

2. NATHANIAL JACKSON

137

4. COLTON GORBY

139

*3. WILLIAM FILIPOVICH III/PHILLIP

5. JACOB POSEY

105

WILLIAMS/COLE COVERT 50CC 2

JR MINI THRU 13

1. TIMMY CROSBY

142

1. GAVIN TOWERS

188

2. SETH ANDRES

2. TYLER CAPANE

121

3. JACOB POSEY

3. DONOVAN SANTE

118

4. MAURO CAUTELA

4. CODY TAGGART

5. JUSTIN NORCO

5. TATE ELLIOTT

50CC 3

85/150 12-15

1. TIMMY CROSBY

122 97

1. BREYDEN CAMPBELL

147

2. VINCENT LUHOVEY JR

2. NATHANIAL JACKSON

141

3. JUSTIN NORCO

3. CADE COOMBS

4. DEREK CARBERRY

4. PHILLIP WILLIAMS

*5. HOLT BABICH/KLAY PRAGER

*5. BRIAN PIERCE/COLE COVERT

50CC OPEN

SUPERMINI 12-15

1. TIMMY CROSBY

172 85

1. GAVIN TOWERS

192

2. VINCENT LUHOVEY JR

2. TYLER CAPANE

119

3. JUSTIN NORCO

3. DONOVAN SANTE

111

4. MAURO CAUTELA

4. BREYDEN CAMPBELL

5. ALEX SAYLOR

5. TATE ELLIOTT

65CC 7-11 B

SCHOOLBOY 12-16

1. BLAKE WADSWORTH

152

1. CHRISTIAN MCCAULEY

169

2. DEVIN CAFASSO

103

2. ANGELO AGOSTINELLI

3. GARRETT SMITH

3. MAXIMUS WHITE

4. DANIEL ROSEBOSKY

*4. COREY PASSIEU/GAGE STINE

5. CHRISTIAN MIKITA

65CC 7-11C

1. COLTON GORBY

191

2. GAVIN TOWERS

250 A

1. DYLAN SLUSSER

197

165

2. JOHNATHAN WELLS

164

3. JACOB INGRAM

141

3. JASON MCCONNELL JR

128

4. BRANDON BARR

4. TIM SCOUTEN

109

5. DONOVAN SANTE

5. NICK FRATZ-ORR

85CC 9-11 B

1. CHRISTIAN MCCAULEY

146

*2. CHRISTOPHER TEDESCO/HANK

HAYS *4. CAMERON SCHELLER/JASON

NEIDIGH/ZAKARY SHAFFER/KORIE STEEDE/ TRAVIS LANGWORTHY 85CC 9-11 C

250 B

1. MICHAEL FISHER

138

2. ZACH OESTERLING

137

3. CLINTON SCHAFFER

127

4. ZACHARY DIXON

124

5. BLAKE WADSWORTH

101

250 C

1. JARRETT THOMPSON

163

1. JACOB INGRAM

146

2. DYLAN SHEEN

153

2. NOAH CARBEN

145

3. TANNER FLEMM

129

250 C (CONT.)

POINTS

5. TRAVIS WEST

4. AARON FENCHAK

OPEN A

122

+25 B/C (CONT.)

POINTS

5. MICK D’ATRI

VET B/C

1. BRETT WHITE

144

1. DYLAN SLUSSER

188

2. DAN DERRICO

116

2. JOHNATHAN WELLS

137

3. NORMAN LAMACZ

3. JASON MCCONNELL JR

121

4. THOMAS BURNSWORTH

4. TIM SCOUTEN

110

5. CHRIS ROMANO

5. NICK FRATZ-ORR

OPEN B

+35 A

1. RICK BARRETT

176

1. MICHAEL FISHER

143

2. JASON HALLER

2. ZACHARY DIXON

127

3. TAYLOR BARNHART

3. ZACH OESTERLING

122

*4. NATHAN MOCNY

4. RYAN LECHIEN

DANIEL PORTZ

5. SETH MOORE

OPEN C

+40 B/C

*1. D BOOTH NOMAN LAMACZ

1. JARRETT THOMPSON

172

2. DYLAN SHEEN

143

3. THOMAS NAGLE

3. AERIAN WEAVER

139

4. LOUIS ALI

4. AARON FENCHAK

124

5. WILLIAM FILIPOVICH

5. TRAVIS WEST

OPEN D

+45

1. RICK BARRETT

194

1. JOSH BEDNAR

138

2. MIMI GREINER

108

2. IAN WEYER

134

3. BILL BRADY

3. TYLER DAVIS

101

4. KEITH MARAUGHA

4. JOE BLOCK

5. RICHARD LISCIO

5. CODY GUZZO

COLLEGEBOY 14-24

2 STROKE

1. CLINTON SCHAFFER

145

1. JOSHUA LISTON

2. MATTHEW BRADY

127

2. JAMES FULLEN

3. JASON MARAUGHA

3. TREY GILDEA

4. RONNIE DEMOREST

4. BEN NAGY

5. D. GRIMES/B. SHIPLEY

5. JUSTIN LISTON

+25 A

4 STROKE

1. CLAYTON POWERS

151

1. TIM SCOUTEN

164

2. AL POTCCHKO

2. RICK BARRETT

138

3. TYLER MCGOFF

3. NICK CAFASSO

4. AERIAN WEAVER

*4. JASON MARAUGHA

5. JAY WETZEL

JASON HALLER

+25 B/C

WOMEN

1. GRACE MAJKOWSKI -

136

BOMBER

1. COLTON RABER -

122

1. CLAYTON POWERS

169

2. RAESLEE WEIMER -

2. JACK MACHUTA JR -

120

2. BRETT WHITE

131

3. TAYLOR LEVIC -

*3. SCOTT KARLUCK -

3. DAN DERRICO

101

4. TIFFANY PALACKI -

4. JAY WETZEL

5. ALYSSA ELLIOTT -

PARTICK ERB 5. JEFFREY LABUDA -

NEXT EXIT BY JORDAN ROBERTS

here probably would’ve been snowboarding featured in this last issue if we would’ve waited another week before going to the printer. I’m not sure where you live, but Mother Nature sent her bewildered second cousin, Sandy, down to Morgantown to give us a closed-fist slap—more commonly known as a right hook—straight to our brain bag.

give you guys some sort of a send-off to fall fun and play riding at your favorite practice track with your friends. So not only did Sandy ruin the last issue, she ruined everyone’s chance at having a somewhat enjoyable fall season. Oh well, at least I’m not going down alone. On second thought, perhaps the worst has passed and we’ll have a late season fall revival for a brief moment. I particularly remember wearing a t-shirt during random days in February this past year. I’m also from Michigan, though, so I have yet to find out what a normal winter is around here. Either way, some of the scattered fall themes in this issue are staying as a focus towards good superstition. If it ends up working, you’re welcome. Speaking of moving in from Michigan, I’ve had the joy of being able to meet a lot of new people this season by covering what all of you do best. I began this season knowing you by the number on your bike, and then looking at the sign-up sheets for the matching name. It’s a task that would’ve been a lot easier if I were, say, Rain Man or maybe even Alan Garner. I take that last part back. Arlene and Mimi helped speed up that process quite a bit. I can’t express how much they helped me get acquainted with the usual suspects that frequent the races around here. I’m now proud to say I’ve gotten to know quite a few of you. For example, I recently learned Joey Deneen enjoys destroying cars and blowing stuff up in his spare time. Maybe I’ll get him M80’s for Christmas. After 15 minutes, I learned Charles Bright has the vocabulary of a sailor raised by strippers. Soap for you, Charles. Chad Sanner doesn’t have an off switch. Is Ambien an acceptable stocking stuffer? Of course all of that’s a joke. I’m too cheap to be going out and buying novelty gifts. As it stands, my sister will be upset enough when she gets her old Furby again for Christmas. I mean, they’re rising in popularity again, right? For those I haven’t had the chance to meet this year, I look forward to doing so when we get back to the track next season. I hope everyone enjoyed this season as much as I did. See you in 2013… if the Mayan calendar is indeed a hoax. TRP

Unfortunately, our previously mentioned uninvited guest would later ruin that evening of planning and preparation with a “blirricane”. Next Exit is always the last section to be completed in each issue of The Racing Paper, so there’s always a common theme from column to column: spontaneity (kind of like that switch from the last paragraph). It’s not a recipe for success every time, but at least it stays true to the formula. During the conception of this last issue, however, a consciously planned theme from front cover to back cover was endeavored. Unfortunately, our previously mentioned uninvited guest would later ruin that evening of planning and preparation with a “blirricane”. That’s right. We got snow. We got rain. We felt the pain. I’ll be waiting for the royalties to roll in from that terminology any day now. This issue was supposed to feature some of the more fun, laid back events—which it did—and then

Timmy Crosby raced his new KTM 125 in Schoolboy for the first time in the PAMX State Championship Series at Round 6. He bested everyone else with 3-2 moto scores and walked away with first overall. Schoolboy just got a little faster. PHOTO BY: MIMI GREINER

THE RACING PAPER

Brad Esper raced his new Suzuki 250 in Schoolboy for the first time in the PAMX State Championship Series at Round 6. His first moto didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go so well, but he bested everyone else in the second moto with a win. In case you were unaware, Schoolboy just got a little faster. PHOTO BY: MIMI GREINER

Here’s a little then and now for you. The top photo is the 125 class at the ‘91 Steel City national, while the bottom is this year’s 250 class. A lot has changed in 11 years, but the red starting gate is still running strong. PHOTO BY: TOM VEETY (TOP), SIMON CUDBY (BOTTOM)

THE RACING PAPER

Raeslee Weimer didn’t make it to every round of the PAMX State Championship Series, but she won the rounds she did make it to. She’s part of a small group of riders that entered a class on three separate occasions and won. Check out the stats on page 29 to see who else joined this group. PHOTO BY: MIMI GREINER

THE RACING PAPER

Jeff Cernic sent in some photos of a few vintage bikes he has collected over the years. (Bottom-right, clockwise) Pictured is a 1974 KX 400, 1975 RM 125, Ronnie Tichenorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1995 RM 250, and buried under this caption is a 1974 Suzuki TM 75. Cool stuff, Jeff! PHOTOS BY: JEFF CERNIC

THE RACING PAPER

AGE: 20 // DOB: 2-10-92 // HOMETOWN: BUTLER, PA CLASSES: 250 A, 450 A TRP: How does it feel to win the Red Bull RE-MX at Steel City two years in a row? Slusser: It’s pretty cool. It’s not your everyday event and it only comes around once a year. It’s definitely fun and it gets your blood pumping pretty quick for the one lap—last year was two. So yeah, it’s definitely cool to win it. Which win did you have to fight for more, last year’s or this year’s? This year for sure. Last year they started out with the 60s and kind of made it to where I didn’t have to do much, to be honest. The speed is more spread out with the 60 and 80 riders, and the better riders of that group pulled away before it even came to the A riders. This year they started the A class first, so we had four or five good A riders to go off at the same time. That kept everything a lot closer and made this year more fun. Red Bull, Oakley and Skullcandy sponsored the event. Did they hook it up for placing first? Yeah, the headphones were sick. Just for entering, everyone got Skullcandy earbuds and an Oakley keychain, and then we got the big new-style Skullcandy headphones for winning. The Oakley goggles are pretty sick, too. Each rider on our team also got $500 for the win, which was definitely a big bonus. That’s a pretty good payout for doing, what, three laps? [Laughs] Yeah, it’s pretty good. The RE-MX is still in its early stages. Is there anything you can think of that would improve it for next year? It could be longer, maybe two laps or something. Or, it could go through all the

classes and then go back to the A riders again for the last lap—maybe something to that effect, and maybe just for the main event. Switching gears a little bit, you got your best pro national finish [25th place] in the second moto at High Point this year. How do you feel about that? I guess I’m just happy I qualified; that’s definitely an accomplishment. I feel like I could’ve done better. It was actually the second moto where I didn’t get tired and I was stronger towards the end. It’s the only time I could see myself saying, ‘I wish there were two more laps’! I really

think I could’ve gotten inside the toptwenty because everyone else was fading. What are your goals for next year’s pro nationals? I don’t know if I’d get back out to California and Texas and do those two again. Those wouldn’t have even been possible this year without Eleven10. I’d really like to do Colorado again, and then maybe the rest from there—besides the ones really far away. Colorado was really fun though. I’d like to go back out there again if possible.

You were only five positions away from a points-paying position this year. What class do you think you have a better chance at making it inside the toptwenty: 250 or 450? It’s pretty even. The 250 class has a higher pace throughout the moto, yet the 450 class has a lot of guys that are really consistent that don’t necessarily charge real hard like all the 250 guys do. I’d have a better chance staying consistent in the 450 class, but I feel like I’m better on a 250. At the same time, I’m kind of a bigger guy so it’s more realistic for me to stay on a 450. Who have you been riding with at the practice track mostly this year? I’ve rode with Alex [Martin] quite a few times, but more recently I’ve been riding with Nick Fratz-Orr and Brady Kiesel a good bit. I haven’t really practiced that much this year, not as much as I should have, at least. I haven’t had a practice bike put together for most of the year. I’m going to start practicing a lot more next year to set myself up better for the racing season. Sponsors and help? My mom and dad, for sure, for helping me as long as they have; Jeff Cernic helps me out a lot; Chad Sanner helps me have the fastest bikes; John Knowles at Scott hooks it up with gear all year long and keeps me looking good; definitely Wayne from Total Image Autosport; Justun from In The Blood Tattoo—he’s been behind me for a while; and Chris from PR2—he’s been helping my ride stay smooth. TRP

BAR-TO-BAR

e l l , i t ’s b e e n a recessive season and money has decided whether many of us can make it to the races or not. The world

was in the process of e x t e n d i n g h i s c a m p e r ’s f r o n t s e c t i o n . B o y, w e r e they pissed, but they got over it as soon as they got some dry clothes

BY TIMMY COOMBS

the cops showed up, and the lady whose yard I was filming from started tur ning her backyard lights on and off in the worst Morris code I’ve

I LATER FOUND THE EXACT PARTS I NEEDED TO FIX IT WITH IN THE DUMPSTER. I WOULDN’T LIE ABOUT A DUMPSTER, OR IN ONE FOR THAT MATTER. economy is unsure to say the least and so is the future. Who wrote that? S t e e l C i t y ’s l a s t r a c e was a long one for me, especially after I soaked half the campers in the pro pits on my way to the staging area Saturday night around 10 pm, and the other half on my way back. It was due to a right-rear sprayer that I didn’t know was tur ned on—and left on—by mistake the whole time, even as I was stopped and getting yelled at by a soaked parent who 18

THE RACING PAPER

on and eventually fell asleep. Around 1:24 am, the wind kicked up and ripped the awning up over our motorhome. About the same time, a big garage across the road from the entrance exploded and caught fire. Soon the air was filled with sirens and I had a mule, so off I went to observe the chaos. The chaos was 14 fire trucks large. I didn’t look very natural filming the fire with my iPhone in the middle of the night when

e v e r t r i e d t o d e c i p h e r. Cut. Disperse. Flee. So at 2 am in the mor ning the night before a race, I’m up on top of my motorhome trying to s a l v a g e w h a t ’s l e f t o f t h e awning on my motorhome along with the help of the guy parked next to us. I later found the exact parts I needed to fix it w i t h i n t h e d u m p s t e r. I wouldn’t lie about a d u m p s t e r, o r i n o n e f o r t h a t m a t t e r. The pee wees were running up the uphill doubles for the first

time… and the last. G a v i n To w e r s w a s jumping the first set and it was nerve-racking each time he made a lap without breaking his neck. Everyone made it up okay besides the parents who were sure their kid wasn’t going to fall in the turn at the top of the hill. I decided that my kid wouldn’t either and I was on a quad. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the Red Bull RE-MX race on Saturday a f t e r p r a c t i c e . I t ’s basically a relay race with riders from different classes, even including the 85cc class. It was a good time for everyone who participated, except for the flagmen and flagwomen. They were kind of bored since there weren’t many crashes and there were only three riders on the track at a time. I hope it becomes an annual event for the next twenty years— meaning that we’d all still be racing and the track would still be open. I t ’s f u n n y h o w I h e a r from various people at the end of the season that this will be our last year racing. Where do they get their information from, and if it was true, don’t you think I’d be the first one to know about i t ? We l l i t ’s n o t t r u e , s o there! See you at the banquet. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive. And if you’re going to drive, don’t drink. Banquet advice. TRP

PERFORMANCE FIRST

PHONE: (724) 342-5378 FAX: (724) 342-5530

Sharon Cycle Sales & Service “HONDA MOTORCYCLES-PARTS & SERVICE” Over 45 Years of Service in the Shenango Valley

ROBERT BORNICK OWNER

MON. & THURS. 10 to 8 T W F 10 to 6 SAT. 10 to 4

265 E. CONNELLY BLVD. SHARON, PA 16146

VIRTUAL TRAINER

otocross and road cycling have a lot in common. Two of our sports top trainers are ex-Olympic cycling athletes, another has trained with Tour De-France winner Lance Armstrong, and countless professional riders prefer cycling as their main source of cardio training. Most of the top bicycle manufacturers like Specialized, Trek, Scott, and Giant sponsor top riders like Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, Broc Tickle, Andrew Short, Justin Brayton, and James Stewart just to name a few. So what if you’re not a cycling enthusiast and just want to learn the basics so you can buy a bike and get started with your training? Choosing the right road bicycle for training is probably just as hard as picking your new steed for the motocross track. There are no less than four popular frame materials, several component groups, and an unimaginable amount of wheelsets available to cloud your decision-making. The very first and most important thing to consider is frame sizing and geometry. Frames are sized by seat tube length by convention. This is the vertical dimension of a frame. Equally important is the top tube length, or virtual top tube on frames with a non-horizontal top tube. This is the horizontal dimension of a frame. A square frame has a seat tube length that is equal to the top tube length. This is a standard size. These frames work fine if you have normal torso and leg length proportions. It gets more complicated if your torso is relatively long compared to your legs or vice versa. This is when you have to really 20

THE RACING PAPER

look at frame specifications. A person with long legs compared to the torso length will require

materials can do the same but to a much lesser extent by utilizing changes in tubing wall

IT IS HARD TO DENY HOW COOL AND HOW TRICK DURA ACE AND RECORD ARE, BUT… a frame with a relatively longer seat tube compared to the top tube. These non-square frames also require compensatory changes in normal frame geometry such as shorter or taller head tube, differing fork rakes, changes in seat tube angle, etc. to make the frame handle correctly. The next thing to consider is frame material. The big four are titanium, carbon, aluminum, and steel. These materials vary greatly in characteristics from cost, weight, stiffness, and how they dampen different kinds of vibration. Carbon fiber can be manipulated in tubing thickness, shape, resin/air amount (non carbon components) and even fiber orientation. The other

thicknesses, shapes and diameters and the extent of materials overlap at their connections. Almost all the bikes, no matter what the frame material, will now come with a carbon fork due to the above advantages. Since the manufacturing of carbon doesn’t limit the designer to tube sets, forks can have the optimal lateral stiffness while also possessing great vibration dampening characteristics, which greatly improves handling and comfort. The next step will be to choose which component group will be hanging off your new frame. There are two major manufacturers: Shimano and Campagnolo. Both Shimano and Campagnolo offer com-

BY COACH SEIJI RACERXVT.COM

ponent groups at several price points. For the motocross racer it would be very hard to justify the big cost difference in their premier products for a small gain. Think of their premier groups the same as you would a titanium bolt kit for your MX bike—yeah, you do get a slight weight savings, it costs a lot, it looks trick, and man is it cool but what about actual performance gain? It is hard to deny how cool and how trick Dura Ace and Record are, but… Now you will have to choose a wheelset. Over the last 10 years the gains made in this department are huge. Wheels have lost a lot of weight and gained durability at the same time. Cost is still an issue here and again, a lot of what you get is directly related to how much you are willing to empty your wallet. If there were one place to splurge a bit, it would be here. A big reason is weight. Any rotating mass has to be lifted against gravity just like anywhere else on the bike but you also have to work to accelerate it around in a circle. Spending a little more on wheels to save a few ounces is worth tons more than the same money spent to save the same weight anywhere else on the bike. For the motocross athlete that will train and maybe occasionally hit a race or two, going for the middle of the road may be the best advice. You can get a very light wheelset that will also be very durable and fairly aerodynamic. You are delving into a whole other sport with all its own techniques, goals, social quirks, and mechanical issues just like motocross! Now get out on the road and enjoy! TRP

Lantzer #98

This was a common theme on the starting gate at the Red Bull RE-MX. Lantzer #98

Joey and Clint are saving up for the sidecar.

THE RACING PAPER

The newest member of the Coombs family. Fred

Lantzer #98

Football pads... Not a bad idea if you plan on racing a Maico on a modern MX track.

Fred

Vinny practices psyching out the competition...

Lantzer #98

Fred

...and it totally worked on Luke.

Update: Jason got some new sunglasses and is feeling fresher than ever.

Fred

Mauro and Blake practice forging their parents’ signatures.

Red Bull girls at Steel City’s RE-MX. Fred

Steve Roman looks like he’s getting along with his new Suzuki.

Fred

Lantzer #98

Laurie and Timmy are all smiles.

Rodney “Golden Voice” Tomblin Fred

Coming up next: A CR 500 and one broken leg.

Fred

Jake gets all unabomber during morning practice. 23

Lantzer #98

Fred

Heinz raced Vet B/C.

Some people just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle their Red Bull. Fred

Fred

The K9 unit was called upon after Trey was suspected of smuggling Brap Bars.

DJ Zimmie pumped out the music for Red Bull.

Charles and Dylan laugh it up in staging. Lantzer #98

Fred

Would you like your photo in Public Address? Email jordan@ racerxonline.com Snail Mail

TRP Public Address 122 Vista Del Rio Dr. Morgantown, WV 26508

Ellie takes Logan for a walk. 24

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Just your average Toth family photo.

AMERICAN SUZUKI STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY FLY RACING

City 27 Stat Stat, stat, city.

As you know, the PAMX State Championship Series is under wrap. The last event we have to look forward to is the Night of Champions banquet in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on December 1st. In the meantime, check out some of these stats we dug up from the recent series. Our team of mathematicians worked overtime to double the amount of statistics from the Spring Series.

Fred

Check 28 Style Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a blast! Courtesy Cernic

Talk 29 Shop Heard of this place? Roberts

Winner 30 FB Early Christmas Present

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Rick Barrett Aaron Fenchak Colton Gorby Jacob Ingram Seth Moore Dylan Sheen Dylan Slusser Jarrett Thompson Gavin Towers Johnathan Wells Ian Weyer

Johnathan Wells

Kevin Bednar Noah Carben Timmy Crosby Zachary Dixon Michael Fisher Tanner Flemm Ryan Lechien Christian Mccauley

Jason Mcconnell Jr Zach Oesterling Clayton Powers Tim Scouten Blake Wadsworth Aerian Weaver Travis West

Gavin Towers

50cc 2, 50cc Open

Breyden Campbell Timmy Crosby Clayton Powers Clinton Schaffer

50cc 3 Supermini 12-15 +25 B/C 2 Stroke

Rick Barrett

Gavin Towers

Gr ein

250 A

GAVIN TOWERS TIMMY CROSBY RICK BARRETT

50cc 2, 50cc Open Supermini 12-15 +45

BREYDEN CAMPBELL CHRISTIAN MCCAULEY COLTON GORBY CLAYTON POWERS CLINTON SCHAFFER

50cc 1, 50cc 2 65cc 7-11 B 65cc 7-11 C +25 B/C 2 Stroke

Greiner

7 DYLAN SLUSSER

Gre

ine

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE

Colton Gorby

DYLAN SLUSSER 250 A RICK BARRETT +45 GAVIN TOWERS 50cc OPEN COLTON GORBY 65cc 7-11 C GAVIN TOWERS - 50cc 3 DYLAN SLUSSER - OPEN A

Undefeated in a class. 3 Wins Jared Lesher Jason Haller Raeslee Weimer

250 B +35 A Women

2 Wins Alexander Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell Collegeboy

Corey Passieu Corey Passieu Corey Passieu Gage Stine Josh Hoover Cameron Schell Jason Neidigh Zakary Shaffer Korie Steede Travis Langworthy David Lisowski Chase Balthers David Lisowski Pj Farrell Cody Wagner Walter Podpora Anthony Thomas Timmy Crosby Randen Landrum Steve Roman Jarek Balkovic Steve Roman Shane Durham Jarek Balkovic Kyle Skinkis Jared Lesher Robert Bercosky Greg Bladel Joel Barnett Joe Bloch Brendan Kutsch Tyler Holm Steve Roman Benjamin Ritter Michael Foor Mark Brader Jason Benkowitsch Dan Nowakowski Nathan Mocny Daniel Portz Brian Semder Eric Peters Brad Stepp Mike Jones David Grimes Bret Shipley Broc Streit Bob Hess Jasmine Deitch David Grimes Lance Bailey

50cc 2 50cc Open 65cc 7-11 B 65cc 7-11 B 65cc 7-11 C 85cc 9-11 B 85cc 9-11 B 85cc 9-11 B 85cc 9-11 B 85cc 9-11 B 85cc 9-11 C 85cc 9-11 C Jr. Mini Thru 13 Jr. Mini Thru 13 85/150 12-15 Supermini 12-15 Schoolboy 12-16 Schoolboy 12-16 Schoolboy 12-16 250 A 250 B Open A Open A Open B Open B Collegeboy 14-24 Collegeboy 14-24 Open D Open D Open D +25 B/C +25 B/C +25 A +25 A +25 A +25 A Vet B/C Vet B/C +35 A +35 A +40 B/C +40 B/C +45 +45 2 Stroke 2 Stroke 4 Stroke 4 Stroke Women Bomber Bomber 27

EVENT: HIGH POINT VET NATIONAL // BY FRED

Chris Romano

Paul Dylewski

Mac look kin’ Ronnie a m n e e b on 85s. I’ve nce he was si l o o f a like

Todd Streit

The other side.

Showcase your finest skills by sending your photo to jordan@racerxonline.com

Who’s listening to what before the gate drops...

Name

Artist

Album

Jared Lesher’s Playlist 1 Looking at the Sky 2 Back for More 3 Loud 4 Cali Dreamin’ 5 Where I Belong

Huey Mack Five Finger Death Punch Mac Miller Kid Ink Calvin Coolidge

Freshman 15 American Capitalist Macadelic Day Dreamer Now That’s What I Call Swag

Tiffany Palacki’s Playlist 1 Headstrong 2 I’m Feeling This 3 Up, Up and Away 4 Click, Click, Boom 5 Dirtbike Rider

Trapt Blink 182 Lil Wayne Saliva Hot Action Cop

Trapt Blink 182 Tha Carter IV Every Six Seconds Hot Action Cop

Aaron Fenchak’s Playlist 1 Mercy 2 Right Above It 3 Hell Yeah 4 Santeria 5 Soundtrack 2 My Life

Kanye West Lil Wayne Rev Theory Sublime KiD CuDi

Mercy I Am Not a Human Being Light It Up Sublime Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

THE RACING PAPER

EVENT: TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT // BY AMY SCHAAF

Q: Who will win the Monster Energy Cup? ryan dungey

12.5% chad reed

12.5% ryan villopoto

12.5%

j-law

Dakota Kessler

Mike McDade

Steve Roman

Shane Durham

50%

other

12.5%

And the winner is... Sarcasm!

Visit facebook.com/theracingpaper to tilt the scales!

Courtesy Cernic’s

By Taylor Dressler

After 43 years in the business, Cernic’s has become one of the most well known shops in the east. In 1969, Ed Cernic Sr. set out to tackle his dream of owning a motorcycle dealership. He and another fulltime employee ran the shop out of a one-room building while Ed Cernic Jr. came in after school to work part-time. Three years later, Ed Sr. purchased land in Armagh, Pennsylvania, to give his sons Ed Jr., Craig and Jeff a practice track. The Cernic family has hosted sanctioned racing on that property—which is now known as Pleasure Valley Raceway—for the past few decades to this day. In 1977, the shop faced a major setback after the Johnstown Flood wiped out most of their inventory. However,

the shop was rebuilt, business began to flourish and they actually outgrew their newly built building by the early 80s. By 1991, Cernic’s Suzuki became home to Honda as well. In 2001, a second location was opened in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, as a Suzuki and KTM dealership. By 2005, they opened the third location in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and Kawasaki was introduced to the rest of the line-up. Yamaha finally became part of the Cernic’s family of dealerships in 2008. After doing business out of the three original locations, the family decided combine the Somerset store with the new Johnsontown location. The company continues to do business out of two modern facilities, offering Honda,

Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki, and Kawasaki products. The Cernic’s value the fact that the shops have remained family owned. “Family is important to us. We treat our employees like family and they treat our customers the same. Without either of them we would be nothing,” says Jeff Cernic. The Cernic’s family also understands that supporting local riders is what has allowed the industry to become what it is today. They hold the title of being the shop that “has helped more riders reach the professional ranks than any other motorcyclist company in the US.” Riders such as Travis Pastrana,

Nico Izzi and Davi Millsaps have all been a part of the Cernic’s racing team early in their careers. When asked about how he feels about Cernic’s being so heavily involved in amateur racing, Jeff Cernic said, “I do it because I enjoy helping talented young riders make their way up through the ranks and working with the families.” Their amateur support program has become to be known as one of most successful in the history of the sport. Cernic’s 132 Belmont Street Johnstown, PA 15904 814-539-4114 www.Cernics.com 29

Courtesy Herrington

Brought to you by:

mm production

Like The Racing Paper on Facebook to learn how you can win cool prizes while sitting on your butt.

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Rider: Troy Herrington Bike: YZF 250 Prize: Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Way (DVD)

Brothers Balkovic

By Jordan Roberts

You may remember Jarek from the first cover we came out with this season. We catch up with him and his brother, Joe, to see what they’ve been up to this year. According to the movie Stepbrothers, it’s always better to interview as a team. What classes have you raced this year? Jarek: Schoolboy 1 & 2 Joe: 85 Stock & Mod, Schoolboy 1 Which race(s) really stood out for you this season? Jarek: Daytona Amateur Supercross. I won three classes. Joe: I had fun at the Doublin Gap Regional. Funniest road-trip story? Jarek: When Joe was around ten, he made friends with someone named Fudgie at a truck stop, that was funny and scary at the same time. Joe: Fudgie was a good guy. Between the two of you, who would win in a hot dog eating contest? Jarek: Joe, hands down. Joe: Me, for sure. Favorite place to eat? Jarek: The Tavern in State College, PA. Joe: Fager’s Island in Ocean City, MD Worst place to eat? Jarek: Any fast food. Popeyes is the worst. Joe: There is no bad place to eat.

What’s your favorite track? Jarek: Davie’s farm in Alabama. Joe: Monster Mountain in Alabama. Who’s better at wheelies? Jarek: Joe, easily. Joe: Me. When did you start riding? Jarek: Four. Joe: Four years old. What was your first dirt bike? Jarek: A Yamaha PW 50. Joe: Same, the PW 50. Who’s your favorite pro rider? Jarek: Chad Reed Joe: Ryan Villopoto How many times do you go riding in a normal week? Jarek: Between four and five times. Joe: Once a week, normally. If you had to describe Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, in one word, what would it be? Jarek: Home. Joe: Friends. Which one of you has a better taste in music? Jarek: We pretty much have the same taste. Joe: Yeah, we listen to the same music. Who lets you get away with more, Mom or Dad? Jarek: Mom, easily. Joe: Yeah, I’d have to say Mom does. 31

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The tournament-style relay race opened its doors to thirteen teams at Steel City for the second annual RE-MX. Fortunately, the weather cooperated for this year’s installment.

WORDS BY JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOS BY FRED

Ronnie Demorest may have possibly had the fastest lap times of any mini rider, but things got a little too close between Luhovey and himself in LCQ 1, resulting in a crash that knocked PAMX out of the running.

nything could’ve been better than last year’s Red Bull RE-MX, right? Sure, the concept was solid, but the weather certainly wasn’t. When the rain poured down and turned Steel City into a mud bog, it wasn’t only difficult for all of the riders to complete a lap, it was nearly impossible to prevent most of the sixty-five riders from sinking. Hank Hays was the only exception. As one of the four members of the Cernic’s Johnstown team, Hays had quite a solid team backing his efforts, but never relied on their help since he plowed through the mud and separated himself from the rest of his 65cc competition. It was apparent that the range of the 65 riders’ skill levels varied much more in comparison to that between the 85, B/C, and A riders. For that reason, event organizers decided to drop the 65 class for the second annual RE-MX. The 2012 teams consisted of an A, B/C, and 85 rider for each team. Thirteen teams of three signed up for the event: Carben Racing, Cernic’s Duncansville, Cernic’s Johnstown (defending champions), In the Blood/Hillview Motorsports, J Michaels Racing, Morgantown Powersports, PAMX, Pittsburgh Raceway, Plum Contracting, Pro Action Suspension, Racer X, Steel City Honda, and Team #357. As morning practice came to an end—practice was open to all riders, not just the competing teams—riders gathered around the Red Bull tent to collect their bibs and see what teams they would be racing against in the first round. The RE-MX has a tournament-style double-elimination format, with four motos in the first round and three teams racing against each other in a relay-style race in each moto—except for Moto 4, which had four teams in it.

It was the two Cernic’s teams—which took first and second overall last year—that were pitted against each other in Moto 4. Cernic’s Johnstown advanced to the next round, sending Cernic’s Duncansville and two other teams to the LCQ bracket. Plum Contracting, Racer X, and J Michaels Racing were the other three teams to advance to the next round for Moto 5. Next up was the first round from the LCQ bracket. With two separate LCQs in the first round, each race would once again advance the winning team and send the three remaining teams packing after acquiring two losses. In The Blood/Hillview Motorsports and Cernic’s Duncansville won their respective first-round LCQ and kept their heads above water. After the first round of LCQs, racing shifted back toward the winners’ bracket. The undefeated teams went back to line for Moto 5 after a brief intermission. The top two finishing teams would advance straight to the main event, while the other two had to duke it out with In the Blood/Hillview Motorsports and Cernic’s Duncansville in the second-round LCQ 3 for the final spot. The A riders took off up the start straight and Cernic’s Johnstown’s Dylan Slusser grabbed a convincing lead in Moto 5. Racer X’s Charles Bright started last out of the four but was able to move up to second before the halfway mark. Bright didn’t quite catch up to Slusser before the end of the lap, so Cernic’s B/C rider Jared Lesher got the jump on Racer X’s Matt Toth. Toth closed in on Lesher, who suffered from a few mistakes late in the lap, which allowed Racer X’s 85 rider, Brock Papi, to start close behind Cernic’s Timmy Crosby. Crosby and Papi exchanged the lead in the first few corners, but Crosby was able to put a slight gap on Papi by jumping some additional features on the track. Cernic’s Johnstown and Racer X’s finishes were rather close, which inevitably built up excitement for the Main Event. (Clockwise from right) Lesher lead Cernic’s Johnstown’s B/C efforts on his YZ 250; J Michaels Racing’s Joe Michaels and Pro Action Suspension’s Billy Kibler set up their B/C teammates, Cody Carlock and Shane Smallwood, with solid starts in Moto 3; Brock Papi is all focus in staging; Timmy Crosby rode the 85 class for Cernic’s Johnstown, probably for the last time this year; In The Blood/Hillview Motorsports’ Steve Roman leads the charge in LCQ 1; LCQ 2 holeshot went to Cernic’s Duncansville’s Daniel Lippman.

THE RACING PAPER

But before the Main Event could drop, the last four teams with one loss each had to fight for the last Main Event spot in LCQ 3. Cernic’s Duncansville, In the Blood/Hillview Motorsports, J Michaels Racing, and Plum Contracting all had solid teams, but front-of-the-pack racing came down to Cernic’s and In the Blood/ Hillview Motorsports. Vinny Luhovey ended up crossing the finish line before Hank Hays, resulting with In the Blood/Hillview Motorsports earning a ticket to the Main Event. Slusser, Charles Bright, and Steve Roman lined up as the A riders for their respective teams in the Main Event. Slusser and Roman went toe-to-toe for the entire first lap, but Bright made a few mistakes early on and finished more than five seconds behind the two. Lesher and Aaron Fenchak blasted off the gate as soon as Slusser and Roman passed under the Red Bull arch. Toth started a full corner behind the two but looked determined to catch up as he put his head down and charged. All three B/C riders were close around the halfway mark of their lap, and at that point it seemed like anybody’s race. Toth neared Fenchak

BIB # TEAM NAME

RIDER NAME

CerniC’s DunCansville

CerniC’s Johnstown

team #357

in the BlooD/ hillview motorsports

plum ContraCting

pittsBurgh raCeway

morgantown powersports

steel City honDa

raCer X

pro aCtion

pamX

J miChaels raCing

CarBen raCing

aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 aB/C 85 -

Daniel lippman trey gilDea hank hays Dylan slusser JareD lesher timmy CrosBy hunter hoffman Corey CroCCo ty kesten steve roman aaron fenChak vinny luhovey mark mills Brian ausele mauro Cautelo luke himler miChael fisher austin legg JorDan martin Josh stanley Blake shaffer frank ali Dan DerriCo Chris mCCullough Charles Bright matt toth BroCk papi Billy kiBler shane smallwooD Colton gorBy John wells garrett smith ronnie Demorest Joe miChaels CoDy CarloCk seth anDres Jeff mCCarren Corey leinenBaCk noah CarBen

and prepared to set up a pass but crashed going into a downhill corner. Lesher continued to extend his gap, and Cernic’s Johnstown’s chances of a repeat win increased while Racer X’s hopes of a come-from-behind victory dwindled. Lesher passed under the Red Bull arch with a cushion between himself and Fenchak, allowing Crosby to ride the last lap with little pressure. Vinny Luhovey’s distance from Crosby wasn’t too overwhelming off the start, but Crosby had consistently faster laps times throughout the day. Racer X’s Brock Papi was out of the hunt by the time he got the signal to start, but he kept his KTM 85 pinned the entire lap with a never-give-up attitude. However, the running order never changed. Cernic’s Johnstown secured their title as reigning champion, while In the Blood/ Hillview Motorsports and Racer X joined them on the podium for the first time. Each team won purse money and received cool prizes from Red Bull, Oakley, and Skullcandy. The unique Red Bull RE-MX provided a fun atmosphere throughout the entire day and will hopefully be a staple in the racing community for years to come. TRP 35

eptember 22 marked the beginning of the two-day, 22nd Annual DC Vet National Championship at High Point Raceway. Anyone over 25 years of age was eligible to race, but practice motos were also offered for 50, Mini, 250, and 450 classes. Needless to say, you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a vet rider to participate in any of the practice motos. A, B, and C classes were offered from age groups 25+ to 50+, and Vet 55+ and 60+ were offered as well. In addition to the run-of-the-mill classes, the Vet National also offered 25+ Four-Stroke, Vintage Pre-1995 (25+), and Vintage Pre-1985 (25+). The Vintage classes brought some old spectacles out of the woodwork once their owners dusted off the classic bikes and apparel. For some, it revitalized memories of racing motocross during a simpler time, but the presence of the vintage bikes and apparel also provided the opportunity to witness the classics in action for those who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live through those generations. You can look at the black-and-white photos of our motocross forefathers, but some may find a little bit more satisfaction from watching a CR500 blast through a deep, sandy berm at a nationalcaliber track.

THE RACING PAPER

(Clockwise from top left) The PAXC race started on the motocross track; Paul Dylewski won the Vet A 35+ overall on Sunday; the creek section was one of the more difficult sections to navigate; Tim Kuhns won Vet B/C 30+ in the PAXC race; the hare scramble utilized most of the motocross through the first lap; AJ Stewart showed up to win the PAXC hare scramble in the Pro class and was the only rider to complete nine full laps.

Some of the racers were able to make a solid sweep in their class—some for the day, others through the weekend. Lamont Hunter was flawless in Vintage Pre-1995 over both days of racing. Cody Longwell won Saturday’s Vintage Pre 1985, while Todd Streit won it Sunday on a David Bailey replica 1987 Honda CR500. GNCC XC1 Pro rider Jimmy Jarrett was also on hand Saturday and had no problem sweeping every moto in Vet A 25+, 30+, and 35+. An appearance by Jimmy Jarrett wasn’t the only facet of off-road racing during the weekend. PAXC, in collaboration with Racer Productions, held a hare scramble on Sunday. This is PAXC’s first year as an organization, and they brought off-road racing back to High Point for the first time since Moto X Country in 2008. PAXC directors Kelly Fritchman and Ron Stetz got the approval from Rita Coombs, and things began to fall in place shortly after. When asked how difficult it was to get an off-road race back at High Point, Fritchman said, “Not too hard. Rita was willing to help us out and she got Barry to lay the track out.” That Barry was none other than Barry Hawk, multi-time GNCC Champion. He plotted out the course, beginning with the motocross starting gate and following most of its length before shooting off into the woods and open fields. The race even attracted one GNCC XC2 Pro rider. AJ Stewart was one of the 150 riders to sign up and the only rider to complete eleven laps in the two-hour race. PAXC hopes to return to High Point in 2013 with the help of Racer Productions for another successful off-road racing event. TRP

Sleepy Hollow welcomes you to a weekend full of sweet sounds and snappy throttles. WORDS AND PHOTOS BY AMY SCHAAF

any may know the 2012 U.S. Sleepy Hollow 2-Stroke Shootout as the inaugural event that attracted top riders such as Mike McDade, Shane Durham, Steve Roman, Broc Schmelyun, Dakota Kessler, and many more. In a way, that could be a correct assumption, but the 2012 2-Stroke Shootout certainly wasn’t the first of it’s kind at Sleepy Hollow. Jere Swarr actually hosted the event last year at Sleepy Hollow, but under a different event name. The event was then called the North American Two-Stroke Championships, or NATSC for short. After running the event as NATSC in the first year, Swarr felt the name needed to be changed to promote future growth. “From a marketing standpoint, it was kind of cumbersome. That’s why we changed it to the U.S. 2-Stroke Shootout, or just ‘The Shootout’ for short. It’s simple and catchier.”

With help from DEP Pipes, Moto Tassinari and Boyesen, Swarr was able to raise a $7,000 purse and plenty of prizes for 125 A, 250 A and more. Wiseco also awarded the best sounding two-stroke and best smelling two-stroke with $250 each. The event also gained support and recognition from Braap Creative, TwoStrokeMotocross.com and Bob Albright Motors. The goal for next year will be a $10,000 purse for the A classes. (Cont. on page 40) THE RACING PAPER

(Above) Shane Durham, aboard Darryn’s old Eleven10 Mods CR, works on chasing down Dakota Kessler in 125 A. (Left) Steve Roman secured fifth overall in 125 A, but a DNF in the first 250 A moto didn’t help his overall. He came back with a third in the second moto for an eleventh overall, respectively.

✔ 2 & 4 Stroke ✔ Welding & Repair ✔ Piston Kits/Coatings ✔ Boring & Honing ✔ Single or ✔ Big Bore Kits multi-cylinder block ✔ Nikaseal Plating (Aluminum, Steel, or Cast Iron) ✔ Expedite Service

Fast Turnaround

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337 Coldstream Rd. • Phoenixville, PA 19460 Toll Free 1.866.845.1531 • www.powersealusa.com

If the purse is indeed raised by an additional $3,000, the likeliness that top talent will travel in from farther areas will increase as well. However, those who plan to travel from great distances to race the A classes should be aware of the odds. This year, Mike McDade swept every moto in 125 and 250 A against some already stiff competition. Shane Durham and Dakota Kessler were able to split runner-up positions in 125 A, while Casey Clark and Dustin Kendall captured next best in separate 250 A motos. The race also brought out former pro and current presenting sponsor Dag Boyesen. Boyesen competed in 40+ A and swept both motos as well. Aside from the classes conventionally ran during the two-stroke era, the U.S. 2-Stroke Shootout also offered vintage classes to the lineup. The vintage classes offered were Pre ’75, Evo ’75-’80, ‘80s and ‘90s. An impressive 23 entries were recorded for the solo day of vintage racing. Jere Swarr is already planning the third annual U.S. 2-Stroke Shootout for 2013. The event will be held once again late in September. Visit www. sleepymx.com to check out this year’s results and to stay updated on next year’s 2-Stroke Shootout. TRP

(Clockwise from left) Durham packs the gate for some 250 love; vintage bikes were plentiful; Broc Schmelyun went 5th overall with 7-4 moto scores in 250 A, but he faired better in 125 A with 3rd overall; Mike McDade was untouchable the entire weekend, as he swept every 125 A and 250 A moto.

THE RACING PAPER

BAR-TO-BAR

ow, that was a short season. Rain poured down every weekend throughout the spring. Money was scarce during the summer, and we basically got our butts kicked at Loretta’s—PAMX riders that is. The season ended kind of abruptly, putting an end to this publication just when I was getting on a roll. Where can I write my stuff now? We’ve got plenty of upside-down marking-paint left over from the GNCC races. Maybe I should find a wall that’s laying on the ground so the paint will come out better. My shoes are already white, and so are my work boots from painting the barrels in Tennessee. I paint them white there instead of green like at High Point and Steel City. By the way, the exact color of my green paint is called “My Favorite Green”—easy to remember and especially easy to back into after it gets dark in your pit area. Once again, please place full bags of garbage beside the barrel, not in it. Barrels are meant for loose garbage and half-sticks of dynamite when placed upside-down. Please feel free to try this at any racetrack in the U.S., besides mine. Thank you. It’s kind of like practicing holeshots. By the time you get to a track on raceday, you’re as good as you’ll ever get. What are you going to accomplish with a meaningless number of spectator-endangering, clutch-dulling, rut-forming, grass-shredding, noise-making, tirewearing, goggle-fogging (or even dangling) holeshots in the pits?

BY TIMMY COOMBS

How many chances of falling do you need to make yourself believe that you’re better prepared for a start that’s not even going to be in grass? The best-case scenario is you overshoot the first turn, now making all the practice you got in the pits from avoiding fence lines and moving targets an immediate advantage, unless you heated up your brakes in the process. Once on my CR 500, I jumped over Cody’s truck at the top of the last uphill at High Point (to impress my son) when it came straight up from the bottom and made an S-turn before the finish. I cleared

the windshield, but when I landed I had nowhere to go but through the fence. I got five scars across my body from my face down. That’s why I always try to use springs with all my high-tensile wire around the tracks. Besides, you can’t always get thirty drunks to stand and hang on the fence at the same time to create the right tension unless there are sheep involved—scratch that—unless the FMF water truck mysteriously starts spraying out beer just a foot short of the fence line. Yeah, that’s it. TRP

A small handful of southwestern Pennsylvania riders took off to Englishtown, New Jersey, to make a name for themselves at the thirty-sixth annual Kawasaki Race of Champions. WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT LUKAITIS

ld Bridge Townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Raceway Park has long been recognized as one of the premier tracks in the Northeast. For thirty-six years, the Englishtown, New Jersey-based facility has hosted a classic October motocross race known as the Race of Champions. In the beginning it was sponsored by a local country club, but Kawasaki has been the title sponsor since the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s. Over the years, the Kawasaki Race of Champions has transitioned from an event where factory racers competed against the local racers to more of a showcase for privateers looking to make a name in the professional ranks. The race is an AMA Pro Am points-paying event, so racers looking to qualify for a pro card often use the KROC to get the required Despite some inclement weather, Jake Weimer was on hand for the 2013 KXF demo ride.

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points for that license. For 2012, several Pennsylvania and West Virginia racers took the trip east to see what they had for the Jersey locals. Saturday racing was for amateur, mini, and vet racers, while Sunday was reserved for the pro motos. With more than 600 racers signed up, the competition was sure to be intense in every class. The most successful of the group was KTM rider Brock Papi, whose first overall in 85cc 9-11 was backed up by a second overall in Junior Mini, while Yamaha rider Cameron Scheller finished ninth overall in 85cc 9-11 and third in Junior Mini. Another Pennsylvanian in the minibike ranks was Ty Kesten. A sixth in 80/150 12-15 was backed up with an eleventh overall in Super Mini and third place in the Town and Country Cycle Center/Fox Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout. The top minibike racer for the Shootout was Missouri’s Austin Forkner. The Team Green racer won five of six motos for overall victories in Junior Mini and Super Mini, as well as the Town and Country Cycle Center/Fox Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout. A few familiar names showed up on the opposite side of the spectrum for the Vet Expert classes, as Suzuki rider Barry Carsten and Team Green racers Scott Sheak and Mike Treadwell battled in both 25+ Expert and 30+ Expert. The overall in the 25+ class went to Sheak, while Carsten got the top spot in 30+. Carsten and Treadwell continued the battle in 40+ Expert, with Treadwell earning the top spot in that class. In amateur-class racing, Matthew Toth won two of his four motos, taking the top spot in an Open B moto before scoring third overall. Toth was also a close second in the Iron Man Classic after being forced off the track by Josh Osby early in the moto; he then fought back to challenge for the victory. In pro racing on Sunday, Mike McDade started well by winning the one-lap Traxxas Dash for Cash and ended well by finishing second overall in Open Expert. Josh Clark won that class, with Ohio’s Steven Mages rounding out the podium. New Jersey native Luke Renzland won both 250 Expert Motos and the overall, followed by Josh Clark in second and Joey Peters in third. Mark the first weekend of October on your 2013 calendar for the thirty-seventh annual Kawasaki Race of Champions. You won’t be disappointed! TRP

(Top left to bottom right) Papi scored two overall podiums; McDade won the Traxxas Dash for Cash; Nick Fratz-Orr; Ty Kesten; Cameron Scheller got third overall in Junior Mini; Matt Toth goes for the holeshot

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By Jordan Roberts // Photos by Fred

Renthal Twinring // $89.99

Have you ever noticed just how many of today’s professional riders run Renthal hard parts? Virtually all of them do, and it’s no coincidence. Renthal’s Twinring chainwheels offer the best of both worlds with a light aluminum inner ring and a durable steel outer ring. Now they even come in a bunch of different colors.

www.Renthal.com Thor Core Volcom Gear // $259.85

Thor has always made quality gear and apparell, so you’re guaranteed to get a winner when you mix in Volcom’s unique clothing influence. The designs are somewhat chaotic, yet they somehow still balance out. The sleeves of the jersey are slim fit like last year, but they’re not restrictive at all.

www.ThorMX.com Fuel Giraffe Socks // $14.00

There’s a good chance you’ve never seen a red giraffe, but hey, Billy Madison never saw a blue duck, right? You’ve probably never seen a pink zebra, red leopard, or blue cheetah before, but Fuel makes those animal-themed socks too. Check out their website if you want to get your wild animal on.

www.FuelClothing.com 100% Racecraft // $75.00

When 100% first came back, I wasn’t sure if they were going to get all vintage on us or not. It turns out that wasn’t the case. By now you’ve probably seen some of there products, like the Tuxedo shown here, and know they produce some good looking stuff. Their frames run pretty large, so you’ll also be able to use your peripherals under those mirrored lenses.

www.Ride100Percent.com

As the season draws to an end, any pressures from training and performing well at the races tend to dwindle. Fall riding is all about going out with your friends and having fun before the snow moves in. This is the side of riding Southern California never gets to see. Enjoy the moment. See you at the races next Spring. Photo by Jordan Roberts

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