From Cycle News Online:
Beach Blanket Bikin’!
WILDWOOD, NJ – Life is full of important decisions, among them what to do with your weekends. Time is limited, and you can only fit so much activity into your leisure time. Many of us face this challenge each and every week during the nice summer months. Do we pack up our gear and bike and go racing with our friends, or load up the car with beach chairs and towels and go to the beach with our families? This constant struggle takes place for many riders who live and ride near the famous Jersey Shore. If only there was a way to do both.
Well, thanks to the New Jersey Hot Rod Association and the town of Wildwood, New Jersey, you can do both. This motorcycle-friendly town near the bottom tip of the state has solved the dilemma. They will let you race on the beach. Yes – on the beach! With the blue Atlantic Ocean in the background, the famous sands of the Jersey Shore offer a scenic backdrop for a motocross event.
And quite an event it has become: This year marked the event’s eighth anniversary, and the town welcomed racers with open arms. Many local hotels offered discounts, and all of the local merchants are happy to see the revenue dollars that this event brings to their community.
The constantly shifting sands offer a rough and challenging racecourse made even more so by the torrential rains in the days leading up to the event. Portions of the original track looked more like the ocean than the track, but the hard work of the New Jersey Hot Rod Association staff, along with race director Mark Hufnagle and former professional factory motocross racer Kevin Crine, turned the waterlogged, sandy mess into a motocross track. Although the track was shortened from its original length, it still provided plenty of room for racing. The wet sand and remaining puddles made for interesting line choices, and a good start was necessary to avoid being covered in the wet, sticky sand.
To add to the family atmosphere of the event, the staff decided to make this a multiple-day race, from June 3 through June 5. Each class would run its practice schedule on Friday and race one moto on each day. The riders welcomed the relaxed schedule, due to the long motos and rough track. During the day, classes were held for every rider, from the minibike riders to the Over 40 veterans. At night, riders enjoyed the Jersey Shore Boardwalk. Packed with rides and games, a fun night was in store for the whole family. Famous boardwalk treats such as sausage and pepper or cheesesteak sandwiches, along with desserts such as funnel cakes, were sure to put a dent in riders’ training schedules.
In Expert-class racing, New Jersey riders Bobby Jimenez and Stephen Hunter swapped positions, with No Fear Suzuki jockey Hunter taking the 250cc class and the Dragon Optical Kawasaki jockey Jimenez taking the 125cc class.
Another big winner on the weekend was Suzuki rider Jeff Sullivan, who was the overall winner in the 85cc (14-15) class as well as third overall in the Supermini class. Winning the Supermini class was Ty Wozney; the Holeshot Graphics-sponsored Suzuki rider was also second overall in the 125cc C class, second division. The big winner on the weekend, however, was Teddy Grant (181), who put his Yamahas at the top of three classes: He won all six motos in the 125cc B, 250cc B and Schoolboy classes.
For those who missed this excellent opportunity to score some points with the family and race as well, have no fear: There will be another event later this year. Held during the Wildwood Harley Bike week, September 9-11, the next event is right around the corner, so make plans now for the Thunder in the Sand. Check out the website at www.njhra.com for more information.
Results
85 (7-9): 1. Chris Rivera; 2. Andrew Voroscak; 3. Zachary Burton; 4. Joel Hull; 5. Leonard Debruno.
85 (10-11): 1. Dylan Wolfe; 2. Max Callen; 3. Gaetano Press; 4. Dahsauyn Staten; 5. Joseph Chincilla.
85 (12-13): 1. Chris Sack; 2. Eric Williams; 3. Chris Dasilva; 4. Frank Robie; 5. Nick Eggart.
85 (14-15): 1. Jeff Sullivan; 2. Jay Grisham; 3. Tab Hans; 4. Kevin Quigley; 5. Ryan Wojnarski.
S/MINI: 1. Ty Wozney; 2. James Dzierwinski; 3. Jeff Sullivan; 4. Jay Grisham; 5. Frank Robie.
125 A: 1. Robert Jimenez; 2. Stephen Hunter; 3. Chip Koban.
125 B: 1. Teddy Grant; 2. Frank Shumski; 3. Charles Meiser; 4. Chris Fredericks; 5. Anthony Dalessandro.
125 C D-1: 1. Matt Grant; 2. James Dzierwinski; 3. Luke Maguire; 4. Ryan Gallagher; 5. Douglas Zee.
125 C D-2: 1. Mike Cox; 2. Ty Wozney; 3. Brad Yohn; 4. Sam Hansen; 5. Tyson Myers.
250 A: 1. Stephen Hunter; 2. Robert Jimenez.
250 B: 1. Teddy Grant; 2. Brandon Taylor; 3. Greg Roman; 4. Mark Di Pasquale; 5. Dan Buske.
250 C: 1. Matt Grant; 2. Luke Maguire; 3. James Dzierwinski; 4. Ryan Gallagher.
SCHBY: 1. Teddy Grant; 2. Matt Grant; 3. Ty Wozney; 4; Mike Cox; 5. Ryan Gallagher.
CLGBY: 1. Pasquale Marrocco; 2. Chip Kobem; 3. Tom Sullivan; 4. Chris Fredericks; 5. Mark Di Pasquale.
25+ B: 1. John Hurley; 2. Scott Humphreys; 3. Charles Hoy. 4. Stephen Welden; 5. Kevin DiFrancesco.
30+ A: 1. Glenn Scherer; 2. James Rolland.
30+ B: 1. Mike Moschitta; 2. Stephen Welden.
30+ C: 1. Frederick Seay Jr.; 2. Todd Tennis; 3. Steven Stoddard; 4. Brian Johnson; 5. James Dzierwinski.
40+: 1. Glenn Scherer; 2. James Rolland; 3. Mike Moschitta; 4. James Dzierwinski; 5. Thomas Gibson.
