JD Friebel blasts Fox Valley Off Road HS

JD Friebel blasts Fox Valley Off Road HS.

Normally we start a racing story by saying how great a day or crappy a day was. Weather plays a big factor and has all summer with the hot and dry conditions. This not being a secret many chose to stay home and play with thermostat on the wall while thinking ha ha those suckers are sweating up a storm on a dusty trail! Well it wasn’t as hot with all the clouds, it was pretty dusty but hey this is off road racing, dust sucks and is part of the game. This was the first time that Fox Valley Off Road had the opportunity to host a dual sanctioned event which welcomed District 16 riders over from Wisconsin and it kinda became a shootout of sorts.

This brings up JD Freibel (17) and his Hot Rod Husqvarna 310. Some of the fast D-17 guys didn’t show up but others were there, Matthew Dissel (90), Steve Willis(33), the old guy Ryan Moss(24) , the kids Alec Perry (124), and home boy Travis Ward (131). Ryan pulled the holeshot and lead for a couple laps til he made a small hiccup and slid out giving the lead JD. As the laps wore on JD pulled a lead, Ryan running second and with a last place start Matt is reeling in the two with Alec and Travis dicing strong and coming up fast. Matt passes Ryan on the east side, next Ward passes him on the off camber along the lower road. Think the comment heard was “damn kid have to quit showing him stuff!”

JD is motoring keeping consistent lap times with Matthew doing what he always does and getting faster as the race goes on. We all watched to see if Matt could reel in JD, who last year went to the ISDE 6 day race I am told. So his ability isn’t second guessed. As JD fueled late in the race, Matt was in striking distance, coming over the finish line logs. Anyone that knows Matt knows he is the “stalker” and makes his play in the last minutes of a race. Today wasn’t his day. JD wins AA and the overall in the afternoon classes, Matt took second and Travis held down third for the last spot on the podium. Ryan Moss took 4th overall and 5th to Halls Husqvarna Alec Perry. Lap Times here!

So this was a special race for the Moss family as three generations raced this day. Grampa Greg rode the thumper class and Alex rode 65cc. Of course Ryan rode AA. Not to often that this happens in any sport and well it’s special when it does. Hats off to them and hope they can race and ride a long time!!

The other big bike 50+ and C classes race in the morning at 10am. The Geritol group was back but a thinner group as it seems a few are dinged up and sitting out this race. More had confidence with the finish line log this time and quickly they learned to maneuver this obstacle with ease. The course this race much different then the easier earlier events. 9 up hills and as many slick down hills, rock creek with a touch of the big creek to ad in. Small stretch of mx track and of course that sideways log here and there to make it interesting. The morning classes has of the course the 50 somthin crowd with up and comers in the C class. Not often does a C class kid who also races 85cc gets the overall in that race but this happened today. Mason Schuhler(945), a name to remember, came from the fourth row (2 min behind) in 1.5 hours to win the overall in this race. Mason is 13?, second place in the overall is 50+ rider Wally Mika at 60 years old. A very fast older guy but Mason in the late laps found a way to make his American Machine 100cc Kawasaki pass Wally’s 300 ktm. DJ Ryan took the third spot on that podium Lap times here!

Thumper class which is a bunch of guys who race a 150cc or smaller air cooled four stroke has a rivalary that formed between to individuals John Conley (160) from Fox Valley Cycles and Nick Blacklaw (640) from RCR Kawasaki. If you remember last issue Nick was picking on John a little as he passed him on the big log. Well the exact opposite thing happened this race, John passes Nick on the log, we don’t have a photo to show if there was a little payback stare, but it now is “ON” for round 4. Nick passed through the check point less then 5 seconds behind John for the whole race. These two guys one on red bikes one on green have become pretty good rivals with mutual respect. Lap times here!

Not to leave out the other brothers Schuhler, Riley (281) waxed the crowd again this weekend. Older brother Nolan (245) tried to make it a race and ran his brother up hard In the first turn. Riley didn’t hesitate, by putting away big brother and claiming bragging rights at the diner table this night. Nolan’s hole shot lasted only a short while. Some where in the fray, Shaffer Finney who left in the box with the pretty lights on top last year came back with a vengeance. Nate Hornung bouncing his Kawy 450 off the rev limiter took advantage of Nolan’s "conditioning" and got the 2nd. Shaffer brought his Yamaha home in third. Lap times here!

65cc, 85cc and Super mini classes rocketed off the gate 9am this morning Matt Mcdonald doing his repeat of a runaway win in the supermini class. 85cc Mason Schuhler and Jacob McCarrens battled for a while in the first part of the race, Doug Propper II and Caleb Mabus was in the hunt a short time as well. Mason has been on fire this summer after last years broken arm and such which left him on the quad watching the last part of the season. Lap times here

65cc's Garrett Ward(153) pulls the hole shot with Mason French(194) and Tanner Whipple(129) in tow. French made that KTM sing keeping hot on the heals of Ward. Whipple who is the D17 points leader and IL's local hot rod kid doesn't like third place much, he hunts, stalks, and will pass for the lead. Today was an easy day at the office for Tanner. Mason on lap five found a log that liked his shifter better then he did taking out the shifter, ending a very good race for him. On lap 6, Ward gets a rear flat tire after amassing a pretty comfortable lead to have it evaporate on the last lap. The top three had a good race til the mechanicals kicked in. Alex Moss rode a solid race ending up 4th which was a really good ride and looks like he is starting to listen to dad a little more! Lap times here

We saw 14 entries in the event, wrestling their machines through 9 laps, with 1 out of 14 eventually finishing all 9 laps. The scoring team held up well throughout the event, recording 86 entries at the checkpoint.

Scott BURKITT wasted no time in setting the pace on the first lap - turning a 8:17 lap time - but looking over the shoulder at Doug Yunker following by 0:03. The next rider through the checkpoint at the end of the first lap was Scott McDaniels, rolling through with a 9:57 lap time. Kevin Johnson was looking good cruising through the checkpoint with only 0:27 separating him and Tim Volski riding in the number 5 position.

One rider dropped out sometime before the end of lap 2, with 13 riders completing lap 2.

We had a new leader at the end of lap 2, with Doug Yunker taking the lead away from Scott BURKITT with Scott BURKITT arriving at the checkpoint in the number 2 position - behind by 0:12.

We watched as two riders made the largest gains (and losses) on this lap - with Chase Pavelonis, moving up from number 7 to the number 5 spot - meanwhile Tim Volski dropped 8 places from number 5 to number 8. Rolling through the gates in third place was Kevin Johnson, treating it like a rental - but still trailing by 2:20. Could it be this easy ..... Scott McDaniels seemed to ghost through the checkpoint in fourth place. Chase Pavelonis owned fifth place, behind by 0:17.

One rider dropped out sometime before the end of lap 3, with 12 riders completing lap 3.

Scott BURKITT was the first to arrive at the checkpoint on lap 3, giving us a new leader on the track.

The largest swings in rider position on this lap centered around Edward Gimenez, moving up from number 11 to the number 9 spot - meanwhile Doug Yunker dropped 2 places from number 1 to number 2. Doug Yunker kept a cool head and staked a claim on the number 2 spot, buth with a 0:09 disadvantage. Kevin Johnson was giving the second place rider a run for the money - but wasn't able to take the position - still in third place, trailing by 3:23. The fourth place position belonged to Chase Pavelonis, doing some killer riding, but still behind by 0:14. Scott McDaniels was sticking to the game plan, but it was time to make the move. Coming in fifth wouldn't grab that 1st place tropy.

One rider dropped out sometime before the end of lap 4, with 11 riders completing lap 4.

Scott BURKITT kept the lead at the end of lap 4 on the gas, and opening the lead on the second place rider.

The biggest change in position on this lap was Edward Gimenez, moving up 1 places from ninth to the number 8 spot. Riding in second, Doug Yunker was doing his best to claim first place. Kevin Johnson was solid in third place - trailing by 4:22. Riding like a 'possessed' person - Chase Pavelonis was ripping through the checkpoint - but still in fourth place, and trailing by 0:35. Riding in fifth place, Scott McDaniels was like the little engine that could .... looking at the fourth place rider, taking it one corner at a time to reduce that 0:14 disadvantage.

Scott BURKITT was still in the lead at the end of lap 5 with the rest of the pack picking the track debris from their goggles and chest protectors.

The movers on this lap were Bryan Wittersheim, heavy on the throttle able to move up 2 places from number 6 to number 4 - meanwhile Chase Pavelonis fell off the pace and dropped from number 4 to the number 6 position. In second, Doug Yunker knew the throttle had to stay open if there was any chance of eliminating that 0:33 disadvantage. Thinking about spending a little more time at the gym in preparation for a workout like this, Kevin Johnson still owned third place - trailing by 5:26. Our number four rider cranked it up, but Bryan Wittersheim was still behind by 0:42. Scott McDaniels was doing some brilliant riding, coming through the gates in fifth place, trying to eliminate that 0:18 deficit.

We lost 2 riders by the time we'd reached the end of lap 6, with 9 completing lap number 6.

Scott BURKITT was still in the lead at the end of lap 6 with the rest of the pack picking the track debris from their goggles and chest protectors.

The action on the track centered around Chase Pavelonis, moving up from number 6 to the number 3 spot - meanwhile Kevin Johnson (312) dropped 3 places, from number 3 to the number 6 position. Doug Yunker claimed second place, trailing by 0:35. Our number three rider was Chase Pavelonis, behind by 6:30. Bryan Wittersheim wasn't ready to toss in the towell and came through the checkpoint in fourth place - with 0:17 separating the number 4 spot and the third place rider. Scott McDaniels maintained his position on this lap - holding the number 5 spot, trailing by 0:32.
Still on the gas, Scott BURKITT remained in the lead during lap 7 staying ahead of Doug Yunker who was trailing by 1:16.
The action on this lap centered on Bryan Wittersheim, moving up from number 4 to the number 3 spot - and on Chase Pavelonis dropping 3 places - from number 3 to number 6. Bryan Wittersheim claimed third place, trailing by 6:29. Lap 7 had fourth place rider Scott McDaniels running well, but still behind by 1:15. Although consistent with the game plan - it was time for Kevin Johnson to make a move since a fifth place finish wasn't going to snag that 1st place trophy.
We lost 3 riders by the time we'd reached the end of lap 8, with 6 completing lap number 8.
Scott BURKITT kept the lead at the end of lap 8 on the gas, and opening the lead on the second place rider. Bryan Wittersheim was still rolling along in second place, trailing by 8:15. Scott McDaniels was riding like a person possessed, in third place, trailing by 1:59. Kevin Johnson claimed the number four position, trailing by 0:35. Chase Pavelonis was already feeling the length of the race, but blew through the chutes in the number five spot - looking for that second wind.
We lost 5 riders by the time we'd reached the end of lap 9, with 1 completing lap number 9.
Scott BURKITT was still in the lead at the end of lap 9 riding well, doing his best to ensure the lead didn't change for the remainder of the event.

In the end it was a great race with 2 different leaders, but it was Scott BURKITT taking the win, able to hold off Doug Yunker, proving to be a just a bit stronger, and a bit faster - with an average speed of 18.38 MPH. Overall Quad Lap times here!

Next up Fox Valley Off Road Hare Scrambles series will host the Bonus d-17 round and is round 4 of the series. Hopefully much needed rain will happen and conditions will improve for all the races the rest of the season! Special thanks to FreeMotoPix for the photos, and Dan Siner for the ATV shots he took later in the day!.