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Racers prep for a day of dirt hucking racing.
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Blake Jensen would take top honours in the Limited Lites.
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Lane Halarewich fought hard but had his luck run out.
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Ryan Holz would take top honours in the Novice UTV class.
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Matt Nieman did an admirable job piloting the big Ultra4 truck around the course but could not overcome Monsees.
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Rob Stewart tearing up the course on his way to a heat win.
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Troy Armstrong attacking a jump.
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Craig Mennen piloting his pro UTV to a respectable third in a competitive field.
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Jim Jensen kicking up the dust on his way to a heat victory.
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Jeff Allen
Richard Hoekstra would take top honours in the pro Buggy class.
Story by Jennifer Loucks photos by Jeff Allen of Fatkid Photography
The sun lazily crests the mountains early on race mornings, slowly exposing the frantic hustling across the grounds. Track officials are rushing around, completing last minute tasks. Putting down as much water as humanly possible and packing the earth one last time as the sound of a lawn mower hums in the distance. Racers hurry to get registered, get their vehicle and safety gear teched, and ensure that everything is functioning as it should. The anticipation and the adrenaline build for all, as the clock ticks closer and closer to noon.
The spectators trickle in as the drivers meeting winds down, and finally it’s time. Everyone lines up at the gate for hot laps, and the volunteers take their positions. The announcer plays the national anthems and the first heat lines up. The checkered flag drops and it’s on!
The Limited Lites are the first to play, and they take full advantage of the freshly groomed, pavement like conditions of the track. Aside from a spectacular roll over from Colton Wheeler in the first lap, the mostly stock trucks easily and quickly complete their first heat, with newcomer Aaron Brown in # 72 out front, followed by Blake Jensen in #13 and Lane Halarewich in #992. The #3 of Colton Wheeler did not finish because of his crash. Heat two saw Jensen, Halarewich and Brown battling it out, in a tight race for the checkered flag. In the end, Brown once again took first place, Jensen second and Halarewich third. In the main event, mechanical issues kept Brown from the race, leaving Jensen and Halarewich, who were neck and neck, until Halarewich’s truck had enough, and Jensen won the heat, and the day.
The novice UTV’s line up next. This class is comprised of several racers with varying levels of experience, and always gives the fans a good show. Today is no exception! In the first heat, all five racers were tightly packed together, and Dennis Beebe, #15, was in first place throughout the race until he was overtaken in the last corner by newcomer Ryan Holz in the #58. The second heat had the fans on their feet as rookie driver Travis Huk, from Fort St. John, had an absolutely spectacular roll over. Huk and another racer got a little too close going in to a small jump, sending Huk endoing, then rolling several times like a car on a tilt-a-whirl before coming to a rest on its roof. Huk escaped unscathed, but his UTV was not so fortunate, sidelining him for the rest of the day. The rest of the class finished the heat with no further incidents, with Holz in first, Beebe in second, and Mike McClellan, #45 in third. The main event was down to Holz, Beebe, and Troy and Trena Armstrong, #17. Holz and Beebe once again were neck and neck, with Holz taking the final checkered flag, and the day.
The various Outlaws took to the start line next, comprised of half-ton pickups, full-sized pickups and rock crawlers. They roar past the green flag, the bleachers shaking from the rumble of high revving engines. Wheel to wheel, the large class enters the first corner and are lost in a cloud of dust. Everyone strains to see who will emerge in the front of the pack on the other side. Troy Monsees, #44, comes out ahead and cruises his way to victory, with Matt Nieman, #4487, second, and Troy Armstrong, #69, in third. Heat two saw a tight race again between Monsees and Nieman, but they were upset by newcomer Rob Stewart, #50/50. Stewart held his lead through out the event, and took 1st place. In the main event, Nieman pulled out all the stops, and roared to victory, with Armstrong second, and Monsees third. However, when it comes to racing for points, consistency is key, and Monsees ended up winning the day overall.
The start of the first pro UTV heat had eight powerful machines lined up at the start line. The flag dropped and they took off like miniature rockets, and were lost in the dusty first corner. Beebe emerged out front and held his own for the first lap before being passed by Holz during the second lap. Holz fended off the rest of the pack, and narrowly took first place, followed by Beebe, and Travis Squair in the #171. In the second heat it was Cecil Sinow, #22, who took the lead, and fought off Al McBeth, #357, and Squair, while Holz and Beebe had a tight race further back, swapping positions halfway through the event. Sinow came first, Squair second and McBeth third. The main event featured the pro UTVs jam packed together, jostling and bumping each other. Sinow led for the first half of the race, until his machine broke down and he was passed by the field. Squair settled in to first, with McBeth hot on his wheels. Squair held on to his lead and crossed the finish line in first place with McBeth right behind him and Craig Mennen, #111, in third.
Finally, came the unusually small Pro Truck class. After some brutal action in May, the field was reduced to only two trucks, combined with two buggies. Brad Wheeler in the #13, and Jim Jensen, #74, fought hard in the first heat until Wheeler’s truck gave up the ghost, handing the victory to Jensen. There was a tight battle between the two pro buggies of Mike Strange in the #142, and KORRBC newcomer Richard Hoekstra in the #1097. Strange took the first heat by a narrow margin, and Hoekstra took the second and third heat, and the day.
Overall, race day delivered what was promised, lots of action, tight knit races, and fun for all. We will all be back, September 7, 2014, to watch the battles unfold once again, and see who comes out on top, in the best position for the final race of the year. KORRBC - not your average Sunday drive.