The Buzz – Happenings Around the Industry – Week of September 23rd

by Jason Giacchino

As we start to approach September’s end, the ATV biz is far from idle. In fact racing news is pretty hot this week in general. Let’s get right to it shall we?

Polaris CEO Scott Wine to Join Terex Corporation Board of Directors

Polaris Industries Inc. has announced that Chief Executive Officer Scott Wine will be appointed to the Terex Corporation Board of Directors effective October 10, 2011.

Terex Corporation is a diversified global manufacturer reporting in four business segments: Aerial Work Platforms, Construction, Cranes and Materials Processing. Terex manufactures a broad range of equipment for use in various industries, including the construction, infrastructure, quarrying, mining, shipping, transportation, refining, energy and utility industries.

Wine has served as the CEO of Polaris Industries Inc. since 2008.

Holz Offers New Steering Rack Chassis Brace for Can-Am Commander

Holz Racing Products introduces an essen¬tial upgrade for the Can-Am Commander 800 and 1000. Their new Steering Rack Chassis Brace provides an extremely rigid mount¬ing surface for the Commander steering rack. The Brace prevents flexure at the critical location where the steering rack attaches to the front chassis. The Brace is built from laser-cut chromoly steel which has nearly twice the tensile strength of mild steel. HRP adds a press-brake formed angle that increases rigidity and includes a durable black powder coat finish.

See HRP’s entire line of UTV products by visiting www.holzracingproducts.com and download their new 2011 UTV Catalog. It’s packed with chassis, suspension, motor and safety upgrades for the fastest UTVs on earth.

Part #633020 Commander 800/1000 Std., X, XT .95

Polaris Donates Ranger RZR XP 900

Polaris recently donated a stock White Lightning RANGER RZR XP 900 to the American Sand Association (ASA) to help raise funds to keep the public desert riding areas open. The unit was accessorized with other donations and will be given away at the 2012 Sand Sports Super Show. More information can be found at: www.americansandassociation.org

Hinson Clutch Accepting 2012 Racer Applications

Hinson Clutch Components is now accepting applications for the 2012 racing season. Hinson is already in full production getting ready for 2012. Team Monster Kawasaki won the 2011 Supercross and Outdoor Nationals in the 450 class, Team Pro Circuit Monster Kawasaki won the lites West Coast Supercross and 250 Outdoor nationals, and Team Geico Honda won the lites East Coast Supercross all with the help of Hinson Racing and you too can have the same piece of mind.

If you would like to be a part of the Hinson racing team apply at: www.hookit.com/brands/hinson

Racing News

GNCC:

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich is well on his way to another championship title after his signature final-lap pass on Warnert Racing Can-Am riders Adam McGill and Chris Bithell last round at Unadilla. Borich now holds a thirty-six-point lead over McGill heading into round eleven of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at Mountain Ridge ATV Trails in Somerset, Pa. this weekend.

The thirty-six-point margin doesn’t fully reveal the season-long battles between Borich and McGill, or even the competition level within all the top five XC1 contenders. Chris Bithell has been exchanging podium positions with his Warnert Racing Can-Am teammate all season long and is now only ten points behind McGill for second place.

GT Thunder-backed Brian Wolf is the only rider besides Borich and McGill to claim an XC1 class win, and due to a couple strings of bad luck, Wolf is trailing Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser by thirty-eight points in the championship standings. Kiser has consistently put his blue machine inside the top five and a race-win at Mountain Ridge would keep him in the running for the championship title.

Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Walker Fowler continues to impress – the young rider claimed his second overall win in New York, beating out the premier riders on time adjustment. Fowler is undefeated in the XC2 Pro Am division and looks to grab his tenth consecutive win this weekend in Pennsylvania.

In the XC1 Pro division, the Foremost Insurance/Warnert Can-Am duo of Adam McGill and Chris Bithell have been consistent frontrunners on a combination of ITP Holeshot GNCC and QuadCross XC tires. Following round 10 in Unadilla, New York, where Bithell was 2nd and McGill 3rd, they are 2-3 in the point standings, with McGill holding a 10-point edge.

Patrick McGuire has been consistently quick in the XC2 Pro Am class, notching five top-5s (with three podium appearances). His third place at Unadilla put him into third place in the standings.

Angel Atwell charged to her second Women’s class victory of the season at Unadilla (second overall in the morning Amateur class competition), and currently holds a strong second place in her division’s points with three events remaining on the schedule.

ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, September 24. Local riders are invited to race the event as well, as GNCC racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur racer entry fee is and riders can sign up at the track.

Spectator passes run for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge.

On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 am, beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 pm. For more information and directions to the event, please visit www.gnccracing.com

SxS & ATV Roundup:

ITP was proud to be a part of the 2011 SxS & ATV Roundup, held for the third time at Brimstone Recreation near Huntsville, Tennessee. There’s nothing like spending a Labor Day weekend with 5,000 of your closest friends!

The desert-like conditions experienced this year (hot and dry) did little to dampen the fun and excitement this event always presents. Activities included guided trail rides for riders of all ability levels, a “Show and Shine,” a drive-in movie, a Kid Zone, and a concert by Tracy Lawrence. A vendor/demo area drew plenty of attention, and ITP was there. ITP also held a raffle drawing for a set of Mayhem tires.

There were a number of competitive events as well, such as drag races, sled pulls, an obstacle course, pole bending, mud bogs and a ladies dash for cash. Highlighting the racing was Sunday’s King of the Mountain Endurance Challenge.

The King of the Mountain race is one of the toughest around, a true test of man and machine: in the three-hour ATV event only 12 of the 23 entrants were able to finish; only five of 19 UTVs were able to complete their two-hour event. ITP passed this test with flying colors, as Alan Clark and Chris Umphrey finished first and third in the UTV race, both running ITP 900XCT tires. Jimmy Elam was the ATV winner, using ITP Holeshot GNCC tires at the rear of his quad.

We highly recommend putting the SxS & ATV Roundup on your itinerary for 2012. There is something for everyone on Brimstone’s 19,000 acres in northeast Tennessee. To learn more, visit www.brimstonerecreation.com

WORCS:

Glen Helen MX Park WORCS Side-by-Side & Pro ATV Race Report

National Guard Polaris Coastal DragonFire Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished 2nd in the Side by Side 1 Class in Round 7 of the 2011 WORCS Series, and National Guard Polaris Coastal Yokley Racing Team driver Scott Kiger finished 5th in the same Class. National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished 6th in the Pro ATV Class.

Summary – Side-by-Side

Race Glen Helen hosts many different types of off-road races, including the AMA National Motocross Series. The course features a pro style mx course with many steep hills and lots of natural elevation changes. The weather was sunny and 85 degrees.

William Yokley was in 4th place after the first turn, with teammate Scott Kiger right behind. The two National Guard Coastal Polaris Ranger RZR XP900s moved up to 2nd and 3rd going into the second lap. They stayed in those positions for the next several laps. Scott dropped back to 5th place after damaging his front differential on one of the many rocks. William had a nice battle with the lead machine, finally finishing in 2nd place, and Scott coming home in 5th place. The course was pretty rough, with many sandy washboard sections with choppy, square-edged whoops. Both machines ran strong and cool, thanks to their large capacity radiators and cooling systems built by Fluidyne Powersports.

Yokley increased his lead in the WORCS season points, and Scott is in 4th. The next side-by-side race is the GNCC in St. Clairsville Ohio on October 8.

Next week’s GNCC ATV race is set to take place in Somerset Pennsylvania.