First Annual GBC Heartland Challenge

The first annual GBC Heartland Challenge would be a true test of man and machine as not only the hours of racing abuse would need to be overcome, but the weather as well would test all as the temperatures dipped during the early November event and the wind speed increased. Months of planning set the stage for an endurance event that would see Youth ATV, UTV and the main event participants compete against the clock and Mother Nature during races that varied in time from three hours to an amazing 10-hour quad main. Utility and sport classes would run wheel to wheel with pro ATV entries to see who had what it took to be crowned the overall winner.

While endurance racing is not new for ATV and UTV riders in the U.S.A., only a handful of events are held each year. Taking the lead in making this event grow from its inception, Harlen Foley faced the unenviable task of bringing on big-name sponsors. But by the time race day arrived, riders were looking at up to a $7500 purse for the pro ATV and pro UTV classes! The main event sponsor, GBC Tires, was offering prize monies as were many others, such as PIAA, whose off-road lighting systems would illuminate the way during the night portion of the event for many teams. Can-Am, Precision Racing Products, All Balls Racing Products, T&T Racing, C&D Racing, Rekluse, PowerMadd, Tucker Rocky, Burgard Cycle, Moto Pro Training, Shrum Racing, Holz Racing, Zbros Racing, Yoshimura R&D, HMF, Tireballs, DP Brakes, Klim, EVS, Hinson Racing, IMS Products, Shift, WPS, Pro Armor, Wiseco and Custom Axis were all on board as sponsors offering money and products to those who would be "fortunate" enough to endure both weather and terrain. Polaris and Kymco both had an ATV giveaway that would be determined by a drawing from those entered in the event! For a race in the middle of nowhere (Carlisle, Iowa) things were looking bright indeed for any who would dare to compete.

Just days before the race, the weather was a balmy 70 degrees; however, this quickly changed and by Friday the wind began picking up speed as a front moved in bringing temperatures that would drop to the lower 20s. As the race banners held their own against the howling wind, racers and crews began setting up their respective pits and planning a strategy for race day. The day was packed with competition as the Milwaukee Tool Pit Stop Challenge tested teams to do a pit stop consisting of a two-tire change and switching out the rider's gloves and goggles. This contest may have been a ton of fun, but it was all business when the timer sounded the start to a team's run. With a winning time of under a minute, the spoils of war were awarded. Not bad for a minute's work as various Milwaukee battery-powered tools and gear were given to the top three teams!

The UTV race was poised for a 4 p.m. start on Friday, and the lights set up around the course would earn their keep as snow and sleet moved in as the flag was dropped! Three hours of racing action in these conditions would indeed prove who had the best skills on this day. Five classes separated the registered teams as the start was underway. It didn't even take a lap before body damage could be seen as the racers rubbed and bumped everything from each other to trees! The track conditions were plenty slick as the still falling snow and sleet made some corners a challenge in their own right! When the final seconds ticked away, it would be Lube-Muncur Racing running a Polaris RZR S and Karst Racing--both of which made the trip all the way from Wyoming to compete in the Holz Racing 850 Limited class--took top honors as first and second in their class as well as overall. With the first race completed for the weekend, we all had a small taste of how Saturday's events would fare, as the weather conditions were predicted to be more of the same.