The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will begin airing the 2009-2010 season this Sunday afternoon with one full hour of "High-flying, bar-to-bar action.
The first event will be the AMSOIL Duluth National and will feature both pro classes as well as behind the scenes footage from season opener. The Duluth race will be on Sunday at 2:00 P.M. EST. on Versus. (Click here for the full schedule.)
The ACSS heads to its only Western race of the year on January 9 in Salt Lake City.
What began as a relatively calm morning in the southern California foothills just outside San Diego literally became the stuff Guinness Book of World Records are made of when AMSOIL driver Johnny Greaves came roaring down a dirt road at 105 mile per hour and launched his 3,800-pound, 800-horsepower TORC off-road PRO 2WD Toyota through the air over the length of an NFL football field.
Landing quite peacefully some 301-feet later despite the overall violent nature of the jump. Greaves looped back around and was met by his Monster Energy/Toyota Motorsports team and off-road racing teammate McGrath.
"He made it look good, made it look easy. But that jump was huge," said McGrath.
With a spectrum of measuring and surveying equipment on hand, Greaves added more than 100 feet to the previous 2WD distance truck jumping record of 193-feet set last year. Check it all out for yourself here.
"I was a little bit nervous," Greaves admitted the day of the jump. "I woke up and I was going to go ride down there and look at the ramp and talk about what we need to do, but my brother was already in Jeremy's horse barn tearing the truck apart and getting the gearing right and I was like, 'All right, it's on!'"
With a gap of 200 feet (between the take-off and landing peaks), Greaves knew anything below 100 mph on the in-run would cause him to "auger" into the face of the landing. But with some spot-on mathematical calculations provided by his crew, and, believe-it-or-not, some tips on flying a truck like a dirt bike from McGrath, Greaves pulled off one of the most amazing motorsports distance jumps in history.
"Yeah, you can really manipulate the flight of the truck with the rear wheels - just like a dirt bike," said Greaves. "I'd actually hit the jump and rag the brake a little to get it to flatten out. Once I got the feel for that then I was like 'All right, I'm good. Let's hit this wide open!'"
Wide open in a 800-horse, 351-cubic inch NASCAR Truck motor emits an awesome sound. But Greaves would be a bit impervious to that, with all attention focused on the take-off-point, then, in vain, to spot any discernable landmarks once airborne. "It looked like a house in front of me," he said. "And when I hit it, you were up there so high that I couldn't even see the ravine or valley until the truck started rotating down."
Touching back down onto McGrath's property - and into the pages of the upcoming Guinness Book of World Records - Greaves and his team were elated with the Monster effort. And when asked if this at all compares to the thrill of racing Traxxas Off Road Championship (TORC) at places like Crandon (Wis.) and Bark River (Mich.) where Greaves is a household name, much like McGrath in AMA Supercross, the grin his face said it all.
"I'm not a stuntman or a jump guy, but Monster gave me the opportunity to do this and I took it," he said. "It's the greatest thrill I've ever had. You can't believe how long you're in the air, just up there in this massive truck floating through the air."
AMSOIL oval ice racer PJ Wanderscheid started the new season off with an impressive opener in Shakopee, Minn.
The three-time AMSOIL World Champion grabbed the hole shot at the WSA Pro Ice race last weekend. From there he battled back and forth with eventual winner Dustin Wahl. Wanderscheid finished second in the first big oval ice race of the year.
Wanderscheid is looking to become the first man to win four AMSOIL Eagle River World Championships. The event will be held January 14-17 at the AMSOIL Eagle River Derby Track in Eagle River, Wis.
You can also be a winner with the AMSOIL World Championship. Polaris and the AMSOIL Derby Track are giving away a VIP Package to this years event, including participation in the annual Derby Celebrity Ride on a new 2010 Polaris Rush on Friday, January 15. Click here for full details.
AMSOIL continues to help professional racers win and set world records. This time, it comes in the form of a 301-feet jump in a 3,800 pound off road truck driven by AMSOIL sponsored Johnny Greaves. Last Friday, December 18, Greaves and his crew headed out to Jeremy McGrath's ranch near San Diego with the goal of flyng his Toyota two-wheel drive over a 180-foot gap and past 300 feet in the air.
After several attempts, Greaves was happy to finally accomplish the feat.
We needed to be at 105.5 miles per hour (at the top of the ramp)and that’s exactly what I hit it at and we got exactly 301 feet. It’s pretty cool when you can work with a group of guys that can tell you “this is the ramp we need and this is the speed we need” and it’s done.
Greaves is a top Pro 4x4 racer in the Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL. The 2010 season is scheduled to start April 17-18 in Tucson, Ariz.
In the AMSOIL Pro Open class, AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports Ross Martin and AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sport's Robbie Malinoski took part in four sled competition for three podium spots. With Tucker Hibbert picking up his 50th career win, Martin just missed the second podium spot to Brett Bender. Malinoski, meanwhile, started ninth off the line but pushed his AMSOIL sponsored sled into fourth, battling Martin for the third place trophy.
In pro super stock, Martin grabbed the early lead and held on until Hibbert pushed his way past on lap five. From there, the two champions battled back-and-forth until Hibbert pulled away at the end. Malinoski was again in the mix, pushing as high as third before finishing fourth.
In semi-pro racing, AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports' Mike Bauer continues his Saturday onslaught. Bauer pushed his Polaris to an early lead and never looked back, controlling the race from start to finish. Bauer picked up his second straight Saturday win (he also won in Duluth). AMSOIL/Scheuring rider Joe Fallen picked up his first career podium in semi-pro on Saturday, finishing third.
The next stop in the series takes the teams to the Western National in Sandy, Utah on January 9. The third event of the series will take place at the state-of-the art Rio Tinto stadium.
"Gentlemen, start your engines!” Those are the four most important words in racing and they are about to be heard at the Milwaukee Mile National. There is plenty of snow and the race is a go. After finishing the first event on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series tour in Duluth, Minn., drivers and crew prepare for the second stop at the Milwaukee Mile National.
Full throttle bar-to-bar snocross racing action will run December 18-19 at the Milwaukee Mile Race Track in West Allis, Wisc. Professional and amateur racers from the ACSS tour will compete all weekend. The world’s top professional snocross riders such as Team AMSOIL stars Robbie Malinoski and Ross Martin will heat up the snow.
The Milwaukee Mile National is sure to be as action packed and exciting from flag-to-flag. Pro feature races both Friday and Saturday nights including freestyle shows by the Monster Energy Sledneck Invasion Tour.
Officials of The Traxxas TORC Series Presented by AMSOIL have announced that it will bring its heart pounding brand of off-road truck racing to the East Coast in 2010 with a two-day event at the new Metrolina Speed and Sports Center in Charlotte, N.C. The inaugural dirt event at the fabled speedway will be held May 15-16 and feature the biggest names in off-road racing and be televised nationally.
"We are very proud to kick things off and be a part of the re-birth of the Metrolina Speed and Sports Center and bring our extreme form of racing to the fans in Charlotte, stated Ricky Johnson. "We will be working hard with John and his team at Metrolina to design an event that rocks the house with our East Coast debut and I know our drivers will continue to bring the best show in racing today."
Metrolina's racing history dates back over forty years and is perhaps most famous as the track where Dale Earnhardt won his first race on asphalt.
"We are extremely excited to have The Traxxas TORC Series as our debut event to launch our "Metrolina Makeover" project", stated Simon Weber, president and CEO of Speedway Investment Group. "The excitement that the TORC Series will bring is an excellent way to get the Charlotte fans back out to Metrolina".
The Traxxas TORC Series- The Off Road Championship, presented by AMSOIL is the world's premier short course off road series. TORC drivers push the limits with 900 horsepower, action-packed fender pounding on challenging natural terrain racetracks. For more information on TORC please visit http://www.torcseries.com/.
For both riders, the start of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series in Duluth, Minn. this past weekend helped answer a lot of questions and concerns.
Malinoski proved that signing with Scheuring in the off season was the right move. The former 2-time champion finished strong in all of his heat races at the AMSOIL Duluth National, including a win in Sunday's Pro Open heat. He even grabbed the hole shot in the Pro Open final and battled with the leaders on way to a fourth place finish in some terrible conditions. It wasn't a perfect weekend for Malinoski. In Saturday's Pro Stock final, he made a brilliant move on Brett Bender for third, but the sleeve to his jacket got caught on Bender's sled, putting the number four sled on it's side. From there, a little bit of gas hit the brake pads and a fire started, meaning Malinoski's day was done.
"We were in the mix on Saturday night, and despite the bad luck, we know we have a couple of bulldogs on these sleds," said team owner Steve Scheuring. "We proved again on Sunday that we are a front running team. We can't wait to get to Milwaukee this weekend and get a win." For Martin, there is no doubt that the 2008 Pro Rider of the Year is back on track. Despite a couple of glitches in Pro Stock qualifying, Martin won the LCQ and, from the back row, moved his AMSOIL/Polaris up into fifth on the final flag. On Sunday, it was vintage Martin. He went with a pair of seconds to get into the final. From there, Marin used a good start and a hand full of throttle to push past the field into second. He was gaining on eventual winner Tucker Hibbert, but time ran out and Martin finished second.
Meanwhile, his younger teammate, Mike Bauer started the weekend off with a win in Semi-Pro Super Stock 1 on Saturday and followed that up with a third place in the Super Stock 2 class.
"We know we need a good start this weekend, and I think we got it," said team owner Scott Judnick. "Ross proved he is healthy and Mike really showed he is ready to battle in the Semi-Pro class."
The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series heads to the famed Milwaukee Mile this weekend. You will be able to watch the event via pay per view. The AMSOIL Duluth National will air on Versus on January 3, 2010.
Racing begins on Friday with the pro's racing on Saturday and Sunday. You will be able to watch the entire weekend of racing at amsoil.com. Check back later this week for more details.
The AMA Racing Championship Banquet rocked Las Vegas Friday night, December 4. A sell-out crowd helped celebrate the evening as AMA national champions were honored for their excellence on the track throughout the 2009 season.
AMSOIL/Factory Connection amateur Eli Tomac, who won two championships at the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships as well as the FIM World Junior Championship in Taupo, New Zealand, won the 2009 AMA Racing Sportsman of the Year award. The AMA Racing Sportsman of the Year is an individual who has elevated the sport of motorcycle racing through his or her unselfish demonstration of outstanding sportsmanship. Although this award is not always presented to a racer, the Tomac excelled on the track, on both U.S. soil and abroad.
Tomac said that his focus has turned to the next level of his career.
"Right now, I'm just getting ready for my professional career, which will kick off next spring," Tomac said. "I really appreciate winning this award and, first off, I would like to thank the AMA for helping me get to New Zealand, where I was able to win the Junior World Championship. That was a phenomenal event."
Along with signing autographs, Wharton rode a 2010 Honda provided by CedarCreekMotorsports.com. Wharton said he was very comfortable on the track and took no time to clock in some very fast lap times.
LPmotocross was there to film all the action:
The Winter MX Series continues on January 9, 2010. The AMSOIL Sandbox Arena is open daily, year round for free riding.
"High-flying, bar-to-bar action.
the WSA Pro Ice race last weekend. From there he battled back and forth with eventual winner Dustin Wahl. Wanderscheid finished second in the first big oval ice race of the year.
Last Friday, December 18, Greaves and his crew headed out to Jeremy McGrath's ranch near San Diego with the goal of flyng his Toyota two-wheel drive over a 180-foot gap and past 300 feet in the air.
We needed to be at 105.5 miles per hour (at the top of the ramp)and that’s exactly what I hit it at and we got exactly 301 feet. It’s pretty cool when you can work with a group of guys that can tell you “this is the ramp we need and this is the speed we need” and it’s done.
In the AMSOIL Pro Open class, AMSOIL/Judnick Motorsports Ross Martin and AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sport's Robbie Malinoski took part in four sled competition for three podium spots. With Tucker Hibbert picking up his 50th career win, Martin just missed the second podium spot to Brett Bender. Malinoski, meanwhile, started ninth off the line but pushed his AMSOIL sponsored sled into fourth, battling Martin for the third place trophy.
forth until Hibbert pulled away at the end. Malinoski was again in the mix, pushing as high as third before finishing fourth.
inish. Bauer picked up his second straight Saturday win (he also won in Duluth). AMSOIL/Scheuring rider Joe Fallen picked up his first career podium in semi-pro on Saturday, finishing third.
on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series tour in Duluth, Minn., drivers and crew prepare for the second stop at the Milwaukee Mile National.
off-road racing and be televised nationally.
Malinoski proved that signing with Scheuring in the off season was the right move. The former 2-time champion finished strong in all of his heat races at the AMSOIL Duluth National, including a win in Sunday's Pro Open heat. He even grabbed the hole shot in the Pro Open final and battled with the leaders on way to a fourth place finish in some terrible conditions. It wasn't a perfect weekend for Malinoski. In Saturday's Pro Stock final, he made a brilliant move on Brett Bender for third, but the sleeve to his jacket got caught on Bender's sled, putting the number four sled on it's side. From there, a little bit of gas hit the brake pads and a fire started, meaning Malinoski's day was done.
in the Super Stock 2 class.
Championship Snocross Series. 
hampionships as well as the FIM World Junior Championship in Taupo, New Zealand, won the 2009 AMA Racing Sportsman of the Year award. The AMA Racing Sportsman of the Year is an individual who has elevated the sport of motorcycle racing through his or her unselfish demonstration of outstanding sportsmanship. Although this award is not always presented to a racer, the Tomac excelled on the track, on both U.S. soil and abroad.