Friday Sight Lap:The Good News

A New Year, a new season and some new faces and places are just ahead and this week we put it a little more into perspective.  Welcome to Friday Sight Lap, a look at what's coming up in AMA ATV Motocross Racing.

Welcome to another edition of what we like to call Friday Sight Lap.  Some of you may be familiar with the first few interviews we began with to start the New Year.  Well this week instead an in depth interview I thought I may throw some stuff out there for a little food for thought.

I know I for one am excited about what the new season brings.  Realizing that there has been some bad news coming down the pike with the pull out of team Rockstar/Suzuki followed by the move of newly crowned champ Josh Creamer to a new team and new series.  Then there was the news of 2-time champ Dustin Wimmer switching to N.E.A.T.V. racing.  It really seemed like a major blow to things.

Then I heard of Travis Moore's story.  You may remember him being a rather competitive Pro Am racer.  Well, he had given up on the dream when things turned around for him.  This started to renew my faith and I started looking at the positive rather than the negative.  It is unfortunate that change has come the way that it has, but we cannot let it get us down.  I know many of you reading this have lived the ups and downs of what ATV racing has gone through.  The most important thing is that there was change and it came back stronger.

It was exciting to read the press release featuring the new television schedule for Racer TV.  It includes coverage of all 11 rounds of racing and that is huge, probably more so than many may realize right now.  The reason I say this is because in years past Racer TV would run on Saturdays or Sundays and it was at sporadic times.  Viewers never really got accustom to watching it on a regular basis.  Not anymore!  It will air each Sunday evening at 5:30! Now it will have a chance to build a loyal following.  Even better the viewer will be offered a variety of racing programs.  Including 11 ATV motocross and 13 ATV GNCC races there will be a total of 24 episodes a year featuring ATVs.  Now do you see what I am saying?  That is nearly half of the schedule.  Then there will be UTV racing, Snocross racing and GNCC bikes and Loretta Lynn's Amateur National.  That's only 15 motorcycle shows.  So ATVs will really get a big bill in the grand scheme of things.  This really gives the amateur program something to look forward for sure.

As far as round 1 is concerned coming up at Aonia Pass Motosports Park and what you can expect.  The Gunter family is a very fun loving and accommodating family.  They love all types of motorsports and GNCC has been going there since around 2003. And I know they are extremely excited to AMA ATV MX there this year and the whole area is beginning to buzz with the excitement as well.

Weather wise it is generally around 60 in the day and upper 30s to 40 at night.  However I have seen it colder.  Just be prepared clothing and accommodation wise and things should go smoothly for you.  The soil is red Georgia clay and the track is built with great drainage and the motocross track has always seemed to have a great spectator view.

Here is some other info that may make planning a little easier for you:

Directions: Located in Wilkes County between Athens and Augusta.

 

From Atlanta: Take I-20 East to Exit 160 (Hwy 223 Norwood Exit). Go left and travel on Hwy 223 until it dead-ends with Hwy 78 (roughly 12-15 miles). Turn right on Hwy 78. The General is 2.5 miles down on your right (look for the big Aonia Pass Motoplex sign). From

 

Thompson: Take I-20 to Exit 172 Rt. 78 for 14.8 miles. Track is 5 miles East of Washington, GA on Rt. 78.

 

Shipping Address:

Aonia Pass 
3030 Thomson Rd.
Washington, GA

 

Weather: Washington, GA

 

 

Where to Stay:

Scottish  Inn	Thomson	706-595-8700	Exit 172 off I-20
Econo Lodge	Thomson	706-595-7144	Exit 172 off I-20
Holiday Inn Express	Thomson	706-595-6500	Exit 172 off I-20
Best Western	Thomson	706-595-8000	Exit 172 off I-20
Jameson Inn	Washington	706-678-7925	HWY 78
The Fitzpatrick*	Downtown Washington	706-678-5900	*This is a historic hotel (very cool)
Durhamtown Plantation		706-486-4603	www.durhamtown.com

 

Hospitals:

 

Wills Memorial Hospital
120 Gordon St, Washington, GA
706-678-2151

 

Directions: Go North on US 78; Bear left on BUS US 78; Turn left on GA-47; Turn right on Gordon St.

 

 

McDuffie Regional Medical Center
521 Hill St SW, Augusta, GA 
706-722-3150

 

Directions: Go south on I-78 (14.9 mi.) ; Turn left on I-20 (26.9 mi.); Turn right on GA 28 (5 mi.)

 

St. Mary's Regional Medical Center
1230 Baxter St, Athens, GA
706-389-3000

 

Directions: Go West on US 78 (22.8 mi.); Continue onto US 78 (29.2 mi.); Turn left onto Magnolia St (.4 mi.); Turn right onto Baxter St (.1 mi).

 

Things to Do:

 

 

Downtown: If you love great architecture, take a quick trip to historic Washington and discover a town boasting over 100 colonial, antebellum, and Victorian homes. Southern hospitality, tree-lined streets and historic sites are waiting to greet you. Washington was one of the few towns that survived the civil war. Whereas many of its neighboring towns were burned to the ground, Washington remains. It's only a few miles down the road from the track. Take a left out of the track and follow the signs. It's well worth the trip.

Contact our friends at the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce
104 E. Liberty St., Washington (706) 678-2013. Tell them you are there for the races!

That'll do it for me.  I hope you have enjoyed Friday Sight Lap and if you have any comments feel free to email me.

Till next time, God Bless Your Hearts and All Your Vital Organs.