Cancelled GNCC races re-scheduled

Racer Productions, producer of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, is pleased to announce updates to the 2011 series schedule today. The updated schedule includes the announcement of the T.B.A location in September, as well as make-up dates for the Loretta Lynn and Indy 100 races, which were rained out.

Round 11 of the series will take place at the Mountain Ridge ATV Trails in Somerset, Pa., September 24 and 25. Mountain Ridge returns to the GNCC schedule for the fifth year in a row.

“We are excited to announce the return of Mountain Ridge to the 2011 GNCC schedule,” said Trail Boss Jeff Russell. “Somerset is a great location and we couldn’t be more excited to bring the GNCC racers and fans to the Pennsylvania area once again this year.”

The Loretta Lynn and Indy 100 GNCCs, hosted at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. and Gosport, Ind., respectively, both cancelled due to flooding, have been rescheduled for the weekend of November 4-6. The rescheduled November race will mark the first-ever double header in GNCC history. Bikes are scheduled to race on Friday, November 4 and then again on Sunday, November 6. ATV racing will resume on the regularly scheduled Saturday, in between the two days of bike racing.

“There has never been a double header GNCC as long as I’ve been racing so I’m excited to see it unfold at Loretta’s this year,” said Barry Hawk, 8-Time GNCC Champion and track crewmember. “With increased travel expenses, we decided to hold a double header so families wouldn’t have to make an additional trip to make-up the Indy 100 bike race,” Hawk added.

Friday’s race will be the Indy 100 make-up bike race, while Saturday and Sunday will be the Loretta Lynn make-up weekend race, co-sanctioned by the AMA East National Hare Scramble (NEHS). The 50cc bike class will race on Saturday evening, in conjunction with the NEHS.

Furthermore, an additional throwaway has been added to account for the unusual scheduling. Amateur bike class championships will now be determined by the rider’s best finishes in a minimum number of eight events, rather than the previous nine events. A rider must now enter a minimum of eight events to be eligible for series awards and national class ranking, as Racer Productions realises that not all riders can attend Friday’s race. The additional throwaway affects only the amateur bike classes.

The 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series heads to Patton, Pa., this weekend, May 28 and 29, for the first annual Rock Run GNCC. ATV racing will take place on Saturday, followed by bike racing on Sunday.