Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545069
38 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com In an age of crazy suburban growth, environmen- talists, and HOAs full of motorcycle-ha ng Karens, it is ge ng harder to find good places to ride and race. Clubs are aging out, and a rac ng young, enthusias c new members is difficult amid so many other life distrac ons. But there are s ll a few folks out there who are bucking the trend and pushing forward with new and exci ng racing opportuni- es. One such organiza on is the Great Plains Cross Country series, GPXC for short. The Great Plains series is centered in Oklahoma, which is a seven-hour drive for me just to cross the Red River from Texas. But GPXC is expanding into northern Texas and has scheduled a race at GW Davis' ranch near Kilgore, TX, so I thought I'd take a ride up, do a li le sweep riding for fun, and check it out. The races are Hare Scramble format, dead engine start, with several op ons to choose from on Saturday, Sunday, or both. Quads race Saturday morning; there are two 30-minute sprint races for bikes in the a ernoon, with open prac ce following. Sunday is all two-wheels, with a 30-minute peewee race, a 1-hour youth race, a 90-minute big bike race, and a 2-hour big bike race. At Davis Ranch, they had separate courses for bikes and quads, and the bike course was adjusted in length and technical difficul- ty for the youth and adult races. Here is what series organizer Hudson Taylor had to say about the series and the future: " The Great Plains Cross Country is an emerging series in the central United States, created with the vision of bringing a true na onal caliber racing experience to the region while preserving the family-friendly atmo- sphere that makes the sport so special. With the diverse terrain found across Oklahoma and Texas, we're able to design off-road courses that are both fun and flowing, offering something for riders of all skill levels. From professional live announcing and unique trophies to podium interviews, every detail is designed to deliver a premium race-day experience without losing the welcoming, communi- ty-driven feel that defines GPXC. We've been incredibly humbled by the support from the racing community. Hos ng nearly 700 racers at our season opener in just our second year is a tes- tament to that momentum, and it has us all excited for what lies ahead. The future of GPXC is bright, and we're just ge ng started." As anyone who's set up or worked a two-day event knows, these things take a ton of manpower to pull off. For those who like to work, GPXC has a cool online sign-up where you can pick and choose which days or even which races you want to work, and they even offer pay for some jobs. With most GNCC races a good 15-to-20-hour drive from here, the Great Plains Cross Country series is aiming to offer Midwest riders a GNCC experience in their backyard. They start racing in February, so snowed-in northern riders looking for a place for two-wheeled therapy take note. You might want to grab your riding buddies and head south. We'd love to see ya! GPXC - Great Plains Cross Country Series GPXC - Great Plains Cross Country Series By Jeff DeBell By Jeff DeBell