2005
ATVA ITP/Moose/FMF
GNC Series Awards Banquet
Motocross & Extreme
Dirt Track ATV Racing Series
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ATVA
Nationals Banquet - Links |
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Fort Mitchell, KY(11/5/05) - 2005 marked
the 20th year of GNC racing, and it marked a year of many
first in ATV racing history as the sport continues to
reach new heights that were only dreams several years
ago. Semi rigs finally appeared at the races this year
with Suzuki upsizing and expanding its ATV race team to
include both Doug Gust and Jeremiah Jones, and FMF sponsored
the Media Allstars amateur team with a semi rig as well.
The legendary Unadilla MX track was added to the GNC motocross
schedule after years of being reserved exclusively for
the AMA Outdoor Nationals. Finally, racer entries set
new records around the country with Loretta Lynn’s
signup almost reaching the one thousand mark for the season
finale.
After a year of traveling around the country from coast
to coast following the 2005 Grand National Championship
Series, the racers converged for one final time this
year. However, this time, they left their race trailers
and riding gear at home and instead packed their Sunday’s
best for a night of celebration at the GNC awards banquet
to honor the top ten in every class and award the ATV
Sport Peoples choice Awards.
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Jamie & Jeremiah
Jones newly weds and soon to be parents. |
The banquet was once again held in Fort Mitchell, KY
at the Drawbridge Inn; The festivities were kicked off
early this year with a pre-banquet baby shower held
for newly weds Jeremiah & Jamie Jones(Rentz) as
they are expecting a baby boy over the winter.
For the two hours prior to the London Hall doors opening
for the start of the awards ceremony, ATV Sport's Journalist
were busy processing ballets for this years Peoples’
Choice Awards, and everyone with a ticket to the banquet
was eligible to vote once, and unlike the Presidential
election, there were no worries of hanging chads to
cause a recount.
At five o’clock, the doors to the hall opened
and the silent hall came to life with chattered and
laughter while those in attendance searched for their
seats. After a diner, it was time to award the top ten
racers in every class as they were called up to receive
their plaques, but with over five hundred award recipients,
only the top three from each class joined Mark Straubinger
on stage to thank their sponsors and inform everyone
of their tentative plans for 2006. Each rider was awarded
season ending contingency prizes for their racing efforts
as the ATVA and Series sponsors showed their support
to the riders for their dedication to the series
Throughout the evening, ATV Sport representatives announced
the Peoples’ Choice Award recipients for the nine
categories voted on earlier in the evening by those in
attendance and the winners were:
ATV Sport
Peoples’ Choice Awards |
“Youth Rider of the Year”
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Joel Hetrick |
“Amateur Rider of the Year” |
Mitch Reynolds |
“Race Team of the Year” |
Baldwin Motorsports |
“Promoter of the Year” |
Donny Banks |
“Mechanic of the Year” |
Baldwin Motorsports |
“Engine Builder of the Year” |
Curtis Sparks |
“Most Influential ATV Manufacturer” |
Honda |
“Pro Rider of the Year” |
John Natalie Jr |
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Baldwin Motorsports,
Mark Baldwin, was awarded the ATV Sport Peoples'
Choice Award for Mechanic and Race Team |
The biggest prize of the evening was awarded at the halfway
point of the ceremony, which was the Mobile Medical Unit
Weekend Warrior Trailer. Every rider that finished in
the top 10 was given a chance at the trailer and the lucky
winner this year was none other than MX Pro AM rider,
Josh Upperman.
Several other large raffle giveaways had many on the
edge of their seat with KYMCO raffling off an ATV to
one lucky child in attendance at the event for five
dollars a chance, and Ryan Wheeler would be the big
winner and leave smiling ear to ear with his new race
machine for 2006.
Also, Debi Bartosek and Cindi Hart conducted a Super
Raffle with $3,000, $1,500, and $500 cash prizes up
for grabs to the ticket holders that donated $100 to
help raise money for the 2006 Mobile Medical Unit. John
Hines was awarded the $500 prize followed by Penny Dunkelberger
winning the $1,500 prize, and the “Ironman”
John Natalie Jr claiming the top prize of $3,000. Natalie
Jr donated half his winnings back to the fund and was
followed by Penny Dunkelberger and John Hines donating
all their prize money back to the Mobile Medical Unit,
which was a true testament to those involved in our
sport.
Debi Bartosek proudly announced the Autograph jersey
sales added $3,236 to the fund and the Bartosek race
earned another $4,900 this year, which took the fund
well over $40,000 with the the Super Raffle winner contribution
with her goal of $88,000 in the memory of her son #88
Matt Bartosek.
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John Natalie Jr was the Grand Prize winner of
the Super Raffle and donated half his winnings
back to the fund |
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The
celebration after the Awards Banquet went well
into the night with dancing and games.
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The awards ceremony was concluded with the Top 10 Pros
from MX and EDT receiving their awards, which was followed
by a pizza party, dancing, and games which kept many
up to well after 2AM celebrating another grear year
of racing with friends and family.
2006 will mark yet another exciting year of racing
with the newly revised Yamaha YFZ450 and Honda TRX450R
and recently announced Suzuki LTR450. The manufacturers
are truly taking interest in ATV racing, and things
will surely be bigger and better for next season especially
with the GNC Promoters preparing to announce some exciting
news about some big changes for next season, in response
to a recent meeting with rider representatives Rich
Hetrick and John Natalie Jr.
Some of the details have already been released with
the Pro Purse increased to $10,000 and the addition
of several new classes, but there are many other details
yet to be released in the very near future.
Congratulations to everyone on another great year of
racing, and I look forward to seeing you at Glen Helen
to kick off the 2006 season.
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Fighting for your
Rights
All Terrain Vehicle Association
P.O. Box 800
Pickerington, OH 43147-0800 |
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