Is The GNC Dead in Texas?
G. Montoya
Last year Trey Clingfost blasted the doors off of the GNC with his Lone
Star Series, which proved that a promoter can have a successful series
and not invite Jerry Surber or his GNC
Two weeks ago Bruce Whitehead held his first race as the new owner of
Lake Whitney Motocross (formerly Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch). In spite of
an early morning showner and a very successful, Lone Star Series race in
Houston on the same day, the even was a success.
Jerry Surber had, by that time, worked himself into such a position that
he was not allowed on the property by a court order, even though he
continued to drive up and down the road that leads to the Lake Whitney
property.
Yesterday, the Grand Opening of Wild Creek MX in Covington, Texas (round
four of the Lone Star Series) was another successful motocross event in
Texas that shunned the GNC.
Next Sunday Clingfost will host the AMA Regional qualifier at Swan
Motocross in Tyler, Texas and it is certain to have a huge turnout.
Obivously, this will have nothing to do with the GNC.
On June 21st. Terry Cordray returns to motocross promoting with the Grand
Opening of of the Cordray Family's Village Creek MX. After his expirence
with Surber at Mosier Valley Cordray (who was one of Surber's last
supporters) will operate without Surber's blessings or paying the hefty
fee that goes to Jerry Surber for the GNC's blessings.
Cordray plans a July 13th opening for the night track at Village Creek,
feeling no competition from Surber's operating of Mosier Valley on Friday
nights. The operation of the Mosier Valley night track has had a number
of cancellations for rather vague reasons, since Surber's take over. As a
matter of fact some of the may riders that state that will not return to
Mosier Valley site the conditions there as "becoming a dump".
Yesterday at Covington there were numerous meetings between the various
promoters in this area for the purpose of having all of the tracks
working together. New leadership is developing, a new mailing list has
been established at a central computer and the "need" for the GNC
apparently has passed.
Certainly these new promoters are not willing to do busness with Jerry
Surber or pay any money at all to him for GNC sanctions.
AS far as the GNC International Final and the Good Times National
(Surber's two big events) Surber has only two locations (Mosier and
Burleson) where he can possibly hold these events. There are ads
currently running for the Good Times to be held at Mosier, but local
experts agree that and neither Mosier or Burleson are capable of
supporting such a race meet. One has to wonder of the major corporate
supporters of these big races will want to put their money into anything
so uncertain.
The obivous conclusions are that the GNC Series (Top Texan, etc.) are
dead) and the big GNC races are in deep trouble.
schooley, russ
Jack,
I'm glad to see that some of the "new" Texas promoters
are coming together. It's good to see the beginning of some
cohesion among the Texas promoters. I really am looking
forward to some good things happening in the near future.
Rather than being so concerned about bashing Surber's GNC
though, I think it's far more important to simply concentrate
on bringing about some sort of new Texas sanctioning body for
the benefit of the riders. If Surber's GNC is truely on it's
way out, it'll be evident in the near future. No sense in
fueling an already existing fire in the meantime. Just let
the rider's make that choice - that's where the real strength
is anyways! :)
Russ Schooley scho...@airmail.net
Allen, TX '94 KX-250 #67
Todd Heemsbergen
On Jun 10, 1996 18:36:18 in article <Is The GNC Dead in Texas?>, '"G.
Montoya" <w...@gte.net>' wrote:
>Last year Trey Clingfost blasted the doors off of the GNC with his Lone
>Star Series, which proved that a promoter can have a successful series
>and not invite Jerry Surber or his GNC
I am one to welcome the new Texas tracks. I wish them GREAT SUCCESS!!!
The ill prepared Mosier Valley track was greatly responsible for my
accident!
Durring the last round of the GNC Texas series they added a lip to the top
of "Mosier mountain." The lip had mostly washed away due rain. This left
a big dip at the top of this huge jump. I hit it in 4th gear WFO, the
front wheel walked right over the huge dip. The rear wheel kicked me into
an instant endo position 20 feet off the ground! I then landed on my front
wheel and head (want to buy a scratched to hell JMG replica Bell Moto6
cheap) 75 to 80 feet later. I know because the parametic paced off the
distance from the face of the jump and where I was laying and it was 115
feet!
I am looking forward to some safe well groomed tracks when I return to the
sport!
--
Todd Heemsbergen
Colleyville (Dallas) Texas
National Sales Manager / Moore O.P. Services
Todds...@usa.pipeline.com
Todds...@aol.com
Todds...@msn.com
Home Page http://pwp.usa.pipeline.com/~toddsvette/todd.htm
Mark O'Connor
todds...@usa.pipeline.com(Todd Heemsbergen) says:
>The ill prepared Mosier Valley track was greatly responsible for my
>accident!
>I hit it in 4th gear WFO,...
Uh, Todd,
I hate to sound disrespectful, and you might get some sympathy from
others, but none from me. Whenever I hear "The track conditions
and/or track prep was primarily responsible for my crash/injury", it
infuriates me. Motocross is a track of obstacles. In recent years,
riders have come to expect the track to be so well prepared, that
obstacles have become more a device for the rider to demonstrate
their ability to jump or land or show rhythm. And if the track
ain't "just so", the riders get pissed.
You hit an obstacle WFO in 4th. Obviously, you thought you could handle
it, otherwise you wouldn't have attacked it so aggressively. Practice
sessions are just that, an opportunity for the rider to inspect the
racing surface and determine lines, difficulty of obstacles and areas
to avoid.
As a racer, you and I know the track changes dramatically during the
course of a day of racing. This makes it more exciting from my
perspective because invariably the track surface is far more challenging
in the second moto than it is in the first.
If the dip you hit was intentionally placed after your practice session,
you'd have something to complain about. Otherwise, I see your remarks
as another whining racer.
>I am looking forward to some safe well groomed tracks when I return to the
>sport!
And that's probably exactly what you'll get because riders seem to demand
this under the cloak of 'safe track'. Its a shame to lose the real
natural obstacles the sport was founded on for these nearly paved boulevards
with jumps and whoops.
Flame on.
-mark
schooley, russ
Todd,
Sorry to hear that an "ill-prepped" Mosier track may have
contributed to your current list of injuries. :( But, that
same reason is why I have not frequented Mosier this year
like I have in the past. Between Jerry Surber's attitude and
the lack of track preparation I have little desire to ride
or race out at Mosier this year. On top of that, I think this
year's Mosier Night Track is the worst in years. Real sorry
to see Terry go after all he had done. Now I simply ride at
Greenville since the distance is about the same for me coming
from Allen. Greenville has really turned into a first class
facility. John and I really enjoy our practice sessions out
there. I can't wait to see Terry's new facility in Ft. Worth!
Best of luck to you on your recovery, and for heaven's sake
don't let the wife get any crazy ideas about selling your bike
while your out of commission! ;)
Todd Heemsbergen
On Jun 13, 1996 03:05:47 in article <Re: Is The GNC Dead in Texas?>,
I just received a flyer announcing Terry's new track and the posted
practice and race schedule. If you didn't get one let me know and I can
fax it to you when I get back from the hospital.
I am on way to the hospital right now.........
The part about the wife selling the bike was a joke from Mikeee P.
I WILL RIDE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Russ Schooley
Todd Heemsbergen wrote:
>
>
> I WILL RIDE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
That's the spirit! :) Looking forward to your return. John and I
will have to hook up with you once your recovery is complete for some
funfilled roosting!
--
Russ Schooley
Kenneth Murphy
Now THAT is *good* news!
: Todd Heemsbergen
--
O
<M>erfMan aka kmur...@ford.com
_/ \_
Disclaimer: I speak only for myself and not for Ford Motor Company