NEOC Round 8  Ormond Farms 2

September 11th & 12th

Back to the Business of Racing!

Picture & Videos Complete.  RESULTS   Check out Tim Ds Photos

Special thanks to Lovely Lois & Mean Gene for sharing their beautiful land with us. Belleplain Ambulance EMT's and OEM first responders for taking such good care of our riders in need, you guys did a top notch job. Moose Racing, HRP Sports, Skorbordz, Scott USA, Fairway Cycle, Riders Choice, Racers Edge, Offroad Cycle, Spectro Oils, Sunoco Race Fuels, TD Photo Imaging, Water Gap Coffee Co, Town & Country, Kevin Bennett,  Riders & Pit Crews, NEOC Staff & Volunteers, Mother Nature and The Rain Gods.

Rd 8 Ormond Farms 2 *9/11 & 12 This race couldn’t get here quick enough. What a great summer break everyone had. Beach, reading a book to the end, surfing, fishing, camping, traveling or just hanging out back around a pool and BBQ pit. No bed times for the kids and no arguing about getting up for school. Aah the lazy days of summer; but all good things must come to an end so great things like racing can happen again. As everyone knows we ended the summer break in a drought, so you know what enemy would be lurking around and waiting at the farm for us. Anyone involved in this event was praying to their God for rain or doing a rain dance of some sort. Mother Nature and all the powers to be heard our cries and answered them on Sunday with just enough dust control to make it work.

Our weekend started out with campers pulling in Friday evening. The excitement and anticipation for this race to start was in the air everywhere. School was in session for a week or two so the buzz was up and down the halls on who was going to race and how well they would do. Dads were doing all the last minute details to the bikes and making sure it was jetted just right.

Saturday morning a steady flow through the gate was filling the field quickly. A huge shout out to Johnny “Brush Hog” Manera for coming out with his big tractor and mowing the field down for us. Sign ups open at 10am but the line started forming at 9 so by 9:30 Theresa and the girls had things underway.

11am our Tutor Time program was beginning. Big Phil was the instructor with the absence of Dan the Man (he just became a pop-pop’ congrats Brenda!). They were practicing riding in the soft sand and how to stay steady in the traps. Big Phil and the boys did a great job pinch hitting with the youngins.

High Noon we had a record turn out for our Tikes on Bikes program. 35 wide eyed eager wanna be racers filled the pit area with grand parents, friends, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings and an atmosphere that just gives you goose bumps and great emotion. Todd, Big Phil and the boys laid out a course that had soft sand, small hills and two straight away sections for them to challenge themselves on. By the end of their 25 minute stint they were mastering all the obstacles that confronted them at the start. This event had one more rider then the Oil Injected division, so can you imagine how big  that group will be next year? I believe 2011 will have many surprises and exciting things happen. Am I nervous? Heck Yes! Am I Scared? Heck Yes! Am I going to put my hands in the air and enjoy the ride? Heck Yes! Will anyone be strapped in next to me? I sure hope so ‘cause riding the crazy train alone is no fun!

1pm all of our Oil Injected racers were lined up and ready to start the weekend racing events. In honor and memory of 9/11 and what it stands for with all Americans, Big Chuckie had us bow our heads and take a moment of silence before we started our engines. 7-8 OI winner and overall recipient of AA #32 Kevin Bennetts National Enduro Grand Champion Trophy #316 Jonathan Miller lead the whole race and closed the door on the last two laps. #515 Hunter Keen fought to keep second place over #841 Zeppy Wright for all five laps. The 4-6 OI class had an incredible battle between the top two contenders. After holding second place for the first three laps #89 Wayne Cox took the lead and win by a second over #237 Tyler Kowalski. This was a screaming battle that made you bite your nails when they were outta sight and pull your hair when they came into scoring bar to bar. It’s incredible and breath taking to think of their age and the adrenaline that has to be pumping through their little bodies. How kids handle pressure like that with such ease really baffles me. I hope they always remember that it’s for fun and friendship is forever.

3pm, 74 Peewees came to the line fully prepared to take on the 3.5 mile challenge Brian and the boys laid out for them. It was the longest course they’ve been given-Yet! The last round of the season they will be given a challenge that will set a record for the PW division. 7-9 65 winner, PW overall  and recipient to another National Enduro Grand Champion Trophy of Kevin Bennetts,  #26 Kyle Tino held first with a gaining lead the whole way. He owned this course today. #38 Brandon Gahm ran hard keeping second tight in his boot straps against third #202 Michael Shaw. Our Thumper class had some excitement because the winner #125 Chris Blackburn took second overall and his first podium interview. #165 Nico Marts owned second place and so did #388 Cody Reeves with third. #41 Jason Tino took the lead on lap four in the 4-8 50’s. Points leader #136 Colby Davis held second over third place #185 Johnny Manera who held first place three of the five laps. I am so glad this class came back to life. 10-12 EL winner has just blossomed this year with his confidence and motivation to ride. #460 Beau Hickman is quickly riding his way out of the entry level status along with second place #813 Adam Exel. They are in a tight battle for points as I am sure they will be for many years to come. Both are challenging themselves at an equal level. Exploding onto the scene with her freshly carved game face is #451 Courtney Algarin. I’m not sure what she has started eating for breakfast but I bet the boys are hoping she doesn’t ask for seconds. Our 4-9 EL winner is a dominant force that has peeled back the layers of beginner rider to reveal a natural born rider. His body was built for a bike and his brain can translate a trail. #117 Ryan Gross took first with #288 Craig Cossaboon sealing up second over #498 Kyle Plummer. The PW event was very dusty in some spots to the point of almost zero visibility but all of them used their heads and rode a great race. I would like to give a special thanks to AA #32 Kevin Bennett for passing on his greatest trophies to the kids so they can enjoy them for years as he did. KB-WE LOVE YOU!

5pm and it’s time for the pitsters to show case. As they always do, this banshee load of racers let it all hang out. They were in groups of five and six at a time coming through the trail in a ball of dust. You would hear them first and then all of a sudden bars, tires, helmets and shoulders would emerge out of the abyss. Insane, that’s it. That’s how you describe these riders. They are out there having fun trying to score bragging rights over their friend that had probably just called them a girl before the race started. Top “girl” came from the Mega Buck class and was top gun for the plaques, #85 Ryan Klair. Second overall and first Young Buck to the flag #40 Nicky McCollough. Second Mega Buck and third o/a #44 Alan Jessat battled it out with MB #311 Joey Ford. Fifth o/a and first Big Slam Daddy #737 Joey Sumpter was right in the middle of the herd that was causing the huge dust storm everywhere it went. Sixth o/a #102 Sammy Hansen was the first 12 pointer pro to the flag.Next in line and keeping on his winning streak was #906 Jeremy Williams from the Ruttin’ Bucks. Coming to us for the first time this year in the Doe class is a new name in the lead spot #615 Shawn Davidsonbut she did not take the win easily form #629 Samantha Hill. Both are coming back from a broken bone but you couldn’t tell by the way they were dicing it out on the trail. You know a funny thing I observed in the Big Slam Daddy, not sure if it was the dust causing an optical illusion but I could have sworn I saw pink rose petals shooting out of a pipe from one of these bikes. Kind of like leaving a trail to follow. I’m sure it was just my imagination, right guys?! Youth Pit top three Spikes were #122 Dillan Abrams, #90 Malcolm Hill and on a roll for the podium #125 Chris Blackburn. Our Button Buck top name was #312 Sal Cusimano who, by the time he was done racing, looked like he had been sand blasted by every Spike buck ahead of him.

Once the race was over and the dust settled down the Hammer Head Band fired up. Everyone was grilling on their BBQs or eating Lovely Lois pulled pork sandwiches and cheese fries. The smells floating around were heavenly. Race weekend is not the place to be if you’re watching your weight and have no will power against the lure of delicious. By night fall the band was in full jam, the water truck was parked and everyone was mingling. As we rode around patrolling the parking field I saw everyone in their groups just chillin talking about the days events and what tomorrow would bring (hopefully rain). You know what one of the most comfortable and nice things I enjoy seeing? I have seen it my whole life and I realized this weekend I am still surrounded by it. The sight of a couple guys leaning against a truck with their arms hanging over the tailgate just shooting the sheet. Most of the time there is a bike strapped down in the back that they are discussing. Life is always changing but thank God some things never do.

By 6:30 Lady T and her girls had sign ups ready to go. Everyone was searching their I-Phones for the radar to tell us if rain was on it’s way. I think we had a thousand people praying for rain at the same time to all the Gods. Our prayers were answered right on cue for the first event of the day. The 40,000+ gallons we put out with the redneck watering trailer would have been no match for the 400 riders on Sunday. Only the heavens opening up their water valves was going to fix the issue and it did.

8:30am the flagged dropped for the youth and AAY #1 Robbie Civiletti rode with the confidence of a National Champion. #2 Jeff Hall ran a strong race just coming back from a broken collar bone. #109 Thorn Devlin took a solid third on the podium for his new baby brother Wyatt James. 12-15 100 winner took the lead on the last lap #795 Fransico Held-Cid with #23 Jake Butterly keeping second place in his sprocket the whole time. Third and top gun on the plaques ran the lead until the very last lap due to some bad luck but #216 Zack Olsen kept the charge on to hold his place. 14-15 85 winner is on a roll #36 Chris Gordon has top billing in this class, however, #666 J-Rod sure did make him sweat a bit on the last three laps. What a great battle guys. Our top three riders in the 12-13 85 could have ended up in anyone of these positions. It was an awesome fight to the end, this is how the rubber fell #336 Ryder Lafferty, #906 Jeremy Williams and then #122 Dillan Abrams. Another great bar banger was the top two in our 10-11 85 group. #312 Sal Cusimano took the win with #90 Malcolm Hill attached to his back knobby. What an exciting race. One mistake by either and the game was over. 13-15 150 winner was taken by a south jersey sandworm #909 Johnathan Hiles but for two laps #289 Kevin Adams ran the lead ‘til he took solid second place. #140 Brock Lore took the win lock stock and barrel for the 10-11 65 crew leaving #98 Matthew Cropper and #363 Steven Green to fight for position. Five out of eight wins for 10-12 125 #293 Hunter Bush. #50 Brandon Cronin took a solid second followed up by #70 Brandon Richie. Our ELW class winner took her fifth win this year #712 Kiersten McDonal is keeping herself safe in points. Second #143 Amanda Stites helped herself with a boost in points too. Third place #416 Shannon Abrams had her best finish ever, way to ride girl. Our youth division keeps growing in numbers and skill. We are very proud and excited over all of them.

11am 150+ racers gathered in the pit to take on the farms challenge. This was a crazy and hard event for us because three racers got hurt. I’d like to give a shout out to them; Jack Hansen, Nick Dejesus and Carl Trout. They will all be okay but out of the game for a while. It turns your stomach when things like that happen. We all know the risk of this sport but until it happens you don’t really dwell on the risk side of it. Wearing ALL safety gear is essential to keeping injury to a minimum. Things could have been worse had they not been equipped properly. Our top C event runners started with C Light #759 Christian Crum coming in just ahead of his competitor and friend #30 Trevor Stevens. Third overall and first C 4 Stroke was #783 Jonathan Edel. Fourth and fifth o/a were from the C Heavy class and they came to the flags like men possessed, #444 Michael Purificato and #313 Cole Kennedy. Now, the battle of the entire weekend came in the  next overall spots  as a female freight train you did not want to get in front of. The top three women made everyone crazy with anticipation on every lap they did. Coming in a split hair apart their race ended in this order #615 Shawn Davidson, #231 Nicole Hiles and #372 Felicia Robichaud. Awesome race girls! Ninth o/a was #35 Larry Gordon winner of the Ind & Mech class. Our first C Vet fellow #75 Robert Robbins, rumor has it, is on a new all natural holistic program to help him ride better, it seems to be working, lol. Our C Senior class shows that experience and patience will get you where you want to be. Top three Seniors fought hard to gain their positions and kept their cool to keep them. One second apart each #613 Johnny “Brush Hog” Manera, #661 Frank Smith and then #973 Hernon Jeron followed directly up by B Super Senior #954 Gerard Kurry. Many of these C Riders have put themselves in a position for the main event next season. They have run hard and improved greatly.

1:30 our Main Event flag dropped and the sun was out. The pitting area was filled with gas cans and tool bags. Every spectator area was lined from end to end with cheering fans all waiting for their favorite rider to fly by and shine for them. The first star to wow us all came from the A Heavy #306 Kyle “the Bomber” McDonal. We and I think everyone was so ecstatic for this boy to take a great accomplishment as the overall. Second and third o/a came from the AA and it was a photo finish #8 Jesse Groemm then #32 Kevin Bennett. Fourth o/a and NEOC top gun on plaques A Heavy #240 Kyle Bylsma.  Ol’ “Hollywood” from AA #15 Chris Curlett took fifth o/a and how great it was to see him run a NEOC event after watching grow through his youth racing years. Now, lets talk about the first A Light to the flag #326 Keny “Too Tall” Tenner. This kid is wicked fast with an even faster pit crew. He got a flat at the start and was back on the track in less the four minutes. It took him until lap five to get the lead spot over #130 Russ Sheppard. Great fight and charge guys. Ninth and tenth o/a came from A Vet, #96 Sean Gaugan first with #102 Michael Collins running a faster last two laps for an almost catch. First A Senior #181 Norm Innis came in twelfth o/a. Our first  B rider to the flag came from the School Boy class #85 Ryan Klair. #202 Johnathan Davis from B Light ran his best race ever followed up by #910 Darren Huff out of the B Heavy. We had a surprise guest in the A Super Senior,  #563 Tim Gift took the win. We had the pleasure of watching his son grow up racing through the youth ranks but now he is away at college so ol’ pop is taking his turn in the saddle again. B Vet winner #914 Eric Gross has his daughter in training running the Tikes on Bikes. They share the same racing number. The last line to leave for the day is B Senior but it happens to be one of our favorite lines because its filled with all hard working dads that are still getting jiggy wid it.

What a great crew of racers that have come together to have fun. At the end of the day everyone is exhausted and maybe thinking “I’m too old for this sheet”.  I know that’s what I think when I finally sit down at the end of the weekend and then go to get up again only to find I need a little help to do so. Do you think we will all still be doing this in ten or so more years with the same smiles we have now? By then we will have a “Hoveround” class for all of us wore out geezers. Our racing numbers will be on the mandatory orange flags so they can identify us when we are lost in the trail, lmao, the tikes will probably be roosting us too. Hey, It could happen!

It was great to see everyone again after the long break. See you at Cumberland County Fairgrounds October 2^nd & 3^rd.