Atlantic GrandPrix Race Info!

What: Round 10 of the Atlantic Grand Prix Series
When: This Sunday October 7th/Race starts appox. at 11:30
Where: Shoreline Sand & Gravel in Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ
*Directions: From Rt 70 and 72 Circle take 72 East untill you come to your first traffic light at Rt 539. Make a right on Rt539 and continue to follow for about 10 minutes untill you see Thomas Avenue on your left. Make left and then about 100 yards on your left will be the entrance to Shoreline Sand and Gravel.
Pit Fee: $10

Atlantic GP Eagleswood Race Recap!

Atlantic GP Eagleswood Pics!

1st to the Turn out of 26 = Holeshot!
Jersey Whoops get Big

2.5 Seconds to Relax

#925 on the Table Top

Attack Position

#925 Stylin'

#099 DHaggs Sr. Back in the Mix!

Setting a Pace...

.5 Seconds to Relax

#099 Uphill Wheelie

Pictures By: EventPhotoNow

Eagleswood Mid-Atlantic GP Race Recap!

Round #9 of the Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix Harescramble Series took place at Sahara Sands Quarry in Eagleswood, NJ. This same location was the home of the AMA National Harescramble just last year. If I remember correctly last year at race time the temperature was around the mid 50’s and the wind was extremely aggressive. This year I don’t think that there could have been a better environment for a dirt bike race. Temperatures were in the mid 70’s with close to no humidity and the track conditions were absolutely perfect with the little bit of rain we received on Thursday and Friday. After riding this track 3 years ago it immediately became our favorite track on the circuit, one, it was relatively close and two, it was nothing but fun for the whole 8+ miles of track. So needless to say I was anticipating this race all week and I could hardly wait to see what kind of track the Atlantic Grand Prix could carve out. I imagined it would be somewhat different now that it was solely their event and not a National Harescramble. Mid-Atlantic courses are naturally more wide open and the woods sections aren’t typically that tight.
When I picked out my spot on the line I notice that they combined the 250 Open with the 250 Lights so there were a combined 26 riders on my line. I got an awesome start, first to the corner and held second place to the second corner before hitting the table top and then the steep spectator uphill. For the whole first half of the first lap I notice there was a big thumper behind me and it wasn’t until I took a turn wide that I noticed that it was Chris Borich who was racing in the same class as me. He made the pass when I went wide and we went back and forth for a bit until I let him go. Currently he is #2 in the country right now for the ATV side of GNCC so I didn’t want to mess with him at all. On the first lap I was trying to figure out if I like the track layout or not. There was a lot of open track which consisted of about 70 percent of the course leaving only about 30 percent in the woods. One things for certain; it was all wide open, blasting as fast as you can for the whole race. At times it got a bit dangerous because the track was wearing down and the speeds were increasing as the race went on. I was getting a bit of arm pump too because I used liner gloves to help my blister problem. They caused my grip to feel a little bulky on the handlebars and it wasn’t until about the 3rd lap when they finally got worn in and I didn’t notice them as much. I decided that I really like the track and continued to push as hard as I could to try and catch up to my Dad who was a line behind me on the start. On the first lap there were 3 huge water crossings, the first one was the worst and the second not as bad and the third got really bad as the race went on. Of course I blitzed the first water hole and went right through the middle and my bike sunk to the seat as a huge wave of brown water went completely over my helmet. I was soaked and shocked at how deep that hole was, I then wondered if they dug that part of the road out and filled it with water. The rest of the track was awesome with different types of terrain and different elevation variations.
As the race went on I picked people off each lap until the second to last lap when I was in third place and I was :51 seconds behind second. I put in a really good second to last lap and thought that I had to have made some time on the racer ahead of me – and I did. When I came through the scanner on the last lap I got the white flag and looked at the board and saw that I was only :21 seconds behind second place - it was on! I came screaming out of that scanner like I was on a mission and I was. I pushed and charged as hard as I could and about half way through the last lap I made a minor mistake which forced me to take a quick breath. I regained my composure and pushed beyond my boundaries and as I came across the finish line I looked at the scanner board and I was still exactly :21 second behind second place so I took home 3rd place.
I was extremely happy with the way I rode but yet a little disappointed that I am finally peaking and the end of the season is one race away. Either way I’m giving it my all to the end and in two weeks I’ll be on the line still trying to chase down DHaggs Sr. before the checkers.
DHaggs Sr. was back in action after suffering his horrific crash that sent us to the hospital just about a month ago. He felt really good for not being in a race for a while and finished in his favorite position of 8th place on the day. He will also finish out the season in two weeks at Little Egg Harbor’s Mid-Atlantic Race on November 4th.
Pitgirl had the day off on Sunday so pictures were taken by a photo company that was at the races. They took some really good pictures of DHaggs Harescramble Racing and you can find them on the web at http://www.eventphotonow.com/
Last race of the year is on November 4th back at Little Egg Harbor in NJ.
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!

Atlantic GrandPrix Race Info

What: Atlantic Grand Prix Round #9

When: This Sunday October 21st /Pro Race 11:30am

Where: Sahara Sand of Eagleswood 942 Main Street (Route 9)Eagleswood, New Jersey 08092

Directions: Location of the event is at Sahara Sand and Gravel in Eagleswood NJ which is just south of Rt. 72 on Rt. 9 We’re right between Tuckerton NJ and Manahawkin NJ if you are looking for it on the map

Pit Fee: $10

Millville ECEA Pics!

On the Line
Between Trees

On the Charge!

Sand = Deep Ruts

925 Across the Gravel Pit

Pictures By: Christina Haggerty & timdphoto

ECEA Millville, NJ Pics!

ECEA Millville Race Recap

Round #9 of the East Coast Enduro Association Series took place this past Sunday at Ormond Farms in Millville, NJ. Again on race day we were blessed with lucid blue sky and comfortable temperatures hovering in the upper 60’s. Since DHaggs Sr. was still recovering from his bummed knee and suffering from the flu we decided that the GNCC in Ohio would have to wait till next year. The next best racing series on the east coast was racing right in the neighboring state of NJ, so I packed up the van, along with my number one pit girl and headed across the Delaware River. ECEA has some of the best riders from the northern coast so I knew that I was going to have to take care of business if I wanted to place well for the day. What I also knew is that ECEA is a bike strictly series so they don’t race quads, which means they can make the track as narrow as the bikes we ride. I found this out on the second lap; the first lap I was in awe over how tight the trails really were. I got a good start but some undeceive moments where I was questioning where the tracks next turn was helped me fall back some spots. I found a good flow and started to figure the 8+ mile track out. On the second lap I was in a really tight section of trail with about 6 guys in front of me. I knew that we had a way to go before the tracked opened up in the field section so I got impatient and tried to make a pass on a small trail that was just off the main trail. As soon as I saw the opportunity I pinned it and it appeared as if I was going to be back in the front of the pack when I saw two really tight trees that I would have to pass through before I made it back on the track. It was one of those moments where you only have about one millisecond to judge and you just close your eyes and hope that your handlebars fit through – mine didn’t. I hit one of my bark busters on one of the trees going at a good rate of speed and I went down, only to see the 6 other racers pass me. When I came around to the scanner again I was in 11th place and it was time to put my head down and push a bit. Since we were in Jersey it was obviously sandy and when the trail is so tight for the most part there is only one line to take, and with 200 guys taking that same line it get whooped out, really whooped out! The track got super rough really fast; at least it was a long track so all the racers were spread out pretty good. I really liked the track and even though it was so tight and really rough the soil was amazing. It is on a farm and the woods sections were just so loamy and the soil almost resembled a woodchip mulch combo with some sand mixed in. When I came across the finish line my hard push was only good enough for 8th place. I made some mistakes and when you’re riding at that level you just can’t afford to lose seconds let alone minutes. Overall my conditioning felt good, my bike is running awesome and I am really excited about this weekend’s race at Sahara Sands. DHaggs Sr. is supposedly to make his comeback debut so keep you fingers crossed.
My super talented, dedicated and supportive team member/Wife/Pit Girl, Christina, was there to cheer me on and take some really good pictures. I think that she is starting to be a bit of a good luck charm so hopefully she will be able to make it out again this weekend.
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!

ECEA Round #9 Info

What: Round #9 ECEA Series
When: This Sunday October 14th / Race starts at 1:00pm
Where: Ormond Farms; Millville, NJ
FROM NORTH, SOUTH & WEST Route 55 to exit #24, Route 49 East approximately 5.0 miles turn left onto Hess Town Rd.
Track entrance is ½ mile on the right.
FROM EAST Garden State Parkway to exit #25 to rote 623 which merges onto route 631 Tuckahoe Road, to route 50 North, turn
left onto route 49 West, turn right onto Hess Town Road, Track entrance is ½ mile on the right.
Pit fee: $5

Atlantic GrandPrix Race Recap!

Little Egg Harbor Township in New Jersey was host of the 8th Round of the Mid Atlantic Off-Road Series. Being its second full year as dual (bike and quad) series, it seems as if the promoters are starting to get the respect they deserve. Not only is the number of racers starting to cultivate but the quality of competition is starting to show. It seemed to me like the event was run like a mini GNCC. Even the pit area showed a glimpse of a National with trailers and Winnebago’s with an array of neighboring state license plates. Racers came from near and far and with the weather forecast hitting the 90 degree mark you would think they came to New Jersey as if it were summer vacation at the shore. My wife sat in for Jimmy B and took over duties as my pitgirl and photographer on race day and I’m sure she would much rather me be writing about lying on the beach for the day. And even though a summer vacation in October sounds enjoyable; everyone was here to race; race in the Mid Atlantic Series.
While sitting on the line waiting for the start of the race I took notice of racers in attendance and I was quite impressed. It’s been a year since I attended one of these Atlantic races and I really felt as if they are starting to get a good following. With that in mind I knew that it was going to be business for the whole race.
I got a really good start, just missed the holeshot but managed to hold onto second at the first turn. I know that the Jersey boys are naturals in sandy conditions so I made a really good push to make sure I kept myself in the front of the pack. I lost sight of the rider in front of me about 4 minutes into the first lap but I continued to push really hard. The track was awesome, I mean it was really wide open and most of the track was wide enough for two quads to pass. It had both hard packed and super deep sand, with some sweet up and down hills. I knew that it was going to get whooped out well into the race so I had to conserve some energy for the finish.
I kept the pace up for the first lap and went through the scanner in second. From that point until the last lap I felt as if I was fighting little wars within a battle. The heat was a bit of a factor in the middle of the race. At times I was going really fast, pushing harder that I normally push just to make it easier on myself riding in the sand. The slower you go the harder it is because you have no momentum to keep you balanced when riding in the deep Jersey sand. Then at times I was feeling heat exhaustion so I slowed it down and kept a steady pace. As the track got whooped and rutted out some nice single track lines developed off the main trail, which I made an appoint to take. That is one aspect I love about this type of racing – creative line selection. As I came through the scanner I was 3rd,3rd,2nd,3rd,2nd until the white flag was waving and I started out the last lap in third. I didn’t remember getting passed but as I looked at the scoring tent I notice that I was only 0:05 second behind 2nd place. The rider, who was on a Honda, was right in front of me as I was getting scanned. NO WAY was I going to give up second place when I was so close. I mean this is the reason why people compete and racers race. The first half of the final lap we would play touch and go, he would take off and I would catch back up. When we reached the half way point I realized that I was going to have to make a move soon which was a good enough reason for me to dig down real deep and find some strength to hold on while blitzing some really deep and nasty whoops. Just when I thought that it wasn’t going to happen we reached 3 lappers on some tight single trail. They slowed us up just enough where I could take a few breathers and get ready for the final push. Just as we were approaching the last half mile of the race 2 of the lappers let their front end wash out on a big right-hander berm. The Honda guy tried going to the left and went over the berm while I pinned it and made it through a space between the fallen riders no bigger than this computer screen. I pinned it for about 150 more whooped out yards until I was out of the woods, and then down a big downhill, a quick left-right turn and to the finish where I held on to 2nd Place. Just as I was getting scanned I looked back at the Honda rider and gave him and thumbs up. I was dead tired, I had nothing left, nothing saved – I laid it all on the table on that last lap and it worked to my advantage. I’d like to think I was lucky, I could have made the pass earlier and that would have been me getting stuck behind the lappers. But a good man once told me that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Chris Borich who is in the midst of winning the GNCC national championship on quads was in attendance to race. Not only was he there to race quads but he also ran the bike race before and he was in my class. He ended up getting fourth so it’s kinda cool to say that I beat Chris Borich. If the roles were reversed he would run laps around me, like he does every time I see him ride, at every race, to every other rider who tries to challenge him.
My wife/pitgirl/photographer came through with flying colors. She endured the strange summer heat in October and did an awesome job helping me out all day long. Good thing she’s a permanent fix on our team.
I said our team as in DHaggs Harescramble Racing and as you know DHaggs Sr. is still out. His knee is much better and he hopes to get at least one race in before the season comes to and end. Keep checking back on the site to stay updated!
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!

Atlantic GrandPrix Pics!

90 Degrees in October = Crazy/Hydration
Pre-Holeshot

Muddin It!

Gettin Scanned

Gas'n the Downhill

925 Across the Pond

Pictures By: Christina Haggerty

Atlantic GrandPrix Race Info

What: Round 8 of the Atlantic Grand Prix Series

When: This Sunday October 7th/Race starts appox. at 11:30

Where: The location of the event is at Shoreline Sand & Gravel in Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ *Location: Shoreline Sand and Gravel Thomas Avenue and Rt. 539 Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey

Pit Fee: $10

Hurricane Hills Pics!

Pictures By: Pitman Jimmy B

Hurricane Hills Race Recap!

Round #14 of the PA State Harescramble Series was held at Hurricane Hills this past Sunday in Clifford, PA. Yet again, racing conditions were absolutely perfect. I hit the road Saturday to meet up with pit-man Jimmy B at our racing buddy Biggs’ house, which isn’t all that far from the track, since DHaggs senior was still on the DL with a sewn up knee cap. By cutting the ride from home in more than half we had plenty of extra sleep when we awoke Sunday morning. After we arrived at Hurricane Hills and set up camp we walked a lot of the track to see if any changes were made; from what I saw it was the same exact track layout they ran last time. I don’t know if it’s because there is a lot of room in the pits but it always seems as if there isn’t that many people that make the trip to the PA/NY border. It’s always a different story when you get down to the starting line because usually all the top guys are there. I guess it’s good that there isn’t a tremendous turn out because the track is short and that would make for a lot of bottle necks in the technical sections.
I got a great start and held the hole shot for most of the motocross track. I lost a few positions before heading into the woods. The first spot where they drop you into was so rocky and so slick you would think that they just pulled slime molded rocks from out of a nearby creek. After that there was only one other spot on the whole track where there was actually some dark sloppy mud. The track was fast, dusty, dry, rocky and really whopped out in some sections. They really need to do something different there because it’s always the same track and the huge up-hill they have on the fare side of the facility is getting really chewed up! I was pushing pretty hard on the first lap and I got some arm pump which came and went but I just couldn’t shake my sore fingers. I had a heck of a time holding on through some of the super rocky sections. Of coarse there were rocks, we’re still in PA and Hurricane Hills has a lot of those big slate looking rocks that clutter the track. Sprinkled in-between are the little loose rocks that make you concentrate in fear of your front end rolling on one. The track still doesn’t have bar code scoring so I had no idea what place I was in or how far I was from the guy in front of me each lap. I ran a good race and felt good, I just have been off schedule this year and to be competitive at this level I understand that being inconsistent isn’t going to keep me at the top. Because in this sport it’s not necessarily who goes that fastest at each race but who can be the most consistent throughout the whole season. I ran a good race, I pushed as hard as I could and I still managed to get 7th place. I’m still not happy with my results this year but I am learning a lot and getting prepared to battle with the same guys next year.
Placing in the top 5 for the season in the PA State Series is out of the question. My new focus is to finish strong this year and look forward to regrouping for next season. The last round of the PA State Series is this weekend at Dutchmen MX park and it’s the worst track on the circuit. It’s flat as a parking lot and it’s 80 percent motocross track, not even close to a harescramble track. Since I’m out of the points hunt for the season I am heading to NJ to compete in the Atlantic GranPrix Series Race. Ohio GNCC is next weekend and this track will prepare me more than Dutchmen will so I’m heading east on Sunday. On a side note: DHaggs Sr. is slowly improving. He is a little bummed that he will be missing this weekend’s race but he is still sticking to racing in Ohio next weekend. I intend to keep you posted on his progress.
Thanks again to Jimmy B for making the ride with me this past weekend, Biggs for letting me crash at his place, and thanks to everyone else for your support.
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!