Ozarks Cross Country Racing Series Round #1 - Mountain View, MO February 2nd, 2008

By: Stephanie Hulsey

Mountain View, MO - Pack your race gear boys, frigid temps and snow is all part of the fun – we’re going OXC Racing in Missouri!

Missouri Weather

Bryan Baker (#38) moves ahead to take the hole shot off the ATV Pro Class start.

96 hours until the main event: Missourians are overwhelmed that the mercury has hit 70 degrees in much of the state. The sun is shining and there is a light breeze, it is a gorgeous day, and uncommon for January. In Kansas City it is 12 degrees.

72 hours until the main event: Temperatures have dropped down to the teens and low 20s. A wind advisory is in effect for most of the state with wind chills dipping below 0 degrees and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour.

48 hours until the main event: Many businesses are preparing to close early and schools are being dismissed as the first wave of a winter storm is stretching across the state. A second wave is to follow in the evening hours with a total of 6-10 inches of snow accumulation.

24 hours until the main event: While the amount of snow varied across the state, southern Missouri was hit with a few inches of snowfall. Weekend temperatures are to reach the low 40s on Saturday.

Race Day: Awesome!

Granted, it was a bit chilly early February 2, but the weather called for temperatures to reach the low 40s and the winds have calmed down. Snow is on the ground and it is best if you packed your boots to walk around the pit or the track at round one of the Ozarks Cross Country Racing series.

As racers from six states, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Colorado, pulled into the pit area 13 miles outside of Mountain View, Missouri, the 13 racers in the morning youth and women’s classes were already off and running and drawing the attention of the fans. There was much chatter among the afternoon racers about the potential track conditions and the discussions they had the night before about whether to make the trip or just sit this first race out, but they placed their money on the rocky terrain of southern Missouri and never looked back.

No momentum left these riders struggling at the base of the hill climb in the final laps of the race. A spectator lends a hand as a competitor tries to take another line.

As racers filed out for their practice lap, spectators and race promoters waited to hear what they had to say. It wasn’t long until everyone found we would have to wait for the race itself, as one Pro rider said, “It’s slick, because of the snow.” Seconds later another Pro rider, pulling into the pits said, “It isn’t bad out there, the traction is great.” Mixed feelings about the snow and mud were the same through most of the classes. Next on the agenda was the riders meeting, where Randy Owens of Dirt Works Motorsports was greeted by a cheering crowd as he thanked racers and spectators for taking a chance on the weather and coming out for the inaugural race of the first ever ATV-only race series in the state of Missouri. Finally, with adrenaline pumping, it was off to the starting line for the 121 racers and minutes away from the start of the first OXC race. On the Pro Class starting line were 16 riders including familiar names from the GNCC Series, Bryan Baker, Donald Ockerman, and Kyle Martin; GNCC racer and 2007 Iowa Hare Scrambles ATV Champion Duane “The Rock” Johnson; 2007 Missouri Hare Scrambles ATV Champion Bryan Hulsey; and 2006 Kentucky Hare Scramble ATV Champion Jody Estes.