Story By Mike Carruth, Via BMXNEWS.COM
April and early May this year brought weeks of pounding rains to the Nashville area, producing flooding that temporarily crippled the city, and brought damaging waters to some of the Music City’s most cherished landmarks, including the Grand Ole Opry. For BMXers, another staid landmark that was affected was Music City BMX.
On May 3, a thread was posted on VintageBMX.com asking for information on how the track faired in all the flooding. Locals came back with reports, saying “There is extensive damage to the track and will take a TON of work to get it back to even a local level.” At that point, there were voices asking “will it be necessary to reschedule or move this year’s installment of the Music City Nationals?”
It was evident, on June 2, a plan was in place to bring in legendary track builder Tom “Ritz” Ritzenthaler not only to restore what was lost, but to add some new spark as well. As is so firmly embedded into the fabric of the town, itself, the show would go on!
By the time the first vendor rolled in on Tuesday July 6, all the work track honchos Tommy Jacobs, Brian Hill, Shawn Hisel, and their dedicated crew of volunteers put in over that two month period put the track back to the way it was, and then some! There was no sign of the previous distress, and the facility was as ready as could be to receive the thousands of families who were enroute.
Hard as it is to believe, this was the first NBL National of Calendar 2010 that BMX News has covered—-and our first exposure to their “Pro Spectacular” format which runs the elites classes in the late afternoon, after the amateur mains have concluded. And while we like the idea of the pros being upgraded to have their own show, we’d be lying if we didn’t say it felt like the band was playing one member short. Probably one of those “we’ll get used to it” things.
Precisely at 11:00AM on Saturday, we were underway. With 110 motos, not counting pros, the race was a bit smaller than the 2009 installment, but the ferocity was undeniable, as the 41-Over Expert hit the track for the first rack of the day.
The stage was set early for an impressive matchup between Tony Lehman and the newly-healed Bill Madden. Madden, you might remember, got folded, spindled and mutilated at last year’s NBL grands, but has made a more-than-full recovery and has been back in the chase since May. To show just HOW full a recovery, Madden took the 41-Over ex win both days in Nashville, a second in 40-44 Cruiser on Saturday, and a win in that class on Sunday. Nice job Bill!
Lots of familiar jerseys in the crowd, with strong presence from GT/SC Action Sports (who brought Colman Habib, Cole Tesar and Felicia Stancil), Morphine Industries, with guys like Richie Day and Noah Reeves in the ams, and Pros Jason Larev, Tim Dinger and the newly-unsuspended Mike Kapes (more on that later), Rennen-Intense with Will Murray, Austin Loebe, Cam Moore, Shayne Robinson and Melissa Woodruff. Lots of Kovachi riders as well, with Seth Utz and Crystal Kalogris among them. Dan’s Comp had Justin Posey and Weston Pope.
Sure as Elmer Fudd is hunting Wabbits, the NBL faithful are hunting their perfects, especially with the Grands shimmering on the horizon, a mere 55 days away. And lots of them were bagged in Nashville. Without turning this into an honor roll of sorts, with names listed in long-form we’re gonna give the thumbs up to a few notables right up front, and in no particular order.
Zach Attack Jacobs grabbed double perfects in 6-7Ex, as well as one in 8-Under Cruiser on Saturday. Jonathan Messing came a callin’ on Sunday to snatch the perfect in cruiser, with Zach in the two slot.
The Lone Rider from the Lone Star State, Tristan Judd grabbed a sunday perfect in 9-10 Cruiser and…um…10 Novice. Looks like 10X has one on the way, as he toasted more that a few experts on the big bike.
Cam Moore was a force of nature, winning every lap all weekend long in 11-12C and 12X for Rennen Intense. Looks like that G-Cog training is working out just fine! From Moore’s North Carolina to South Carolina’s Coleman Habib, who owned 11X both days.
Tyler Wagner out of OH scored a double perfect in 13X.
14X was a trail of tears for Cole Tesar fans. With 1-1-1s in both 20″ and Cruiser on Saturday, it looked like another perfect weekend was on tap for Rock & Roll Cole. Looking forward to the Worlds in South Africa in a couple weeks, Nashville would be a good prep trip. All hopes came unglued in the last turn of the 14x main, as Cole and seemingly-recent-arch-rival, Andrew Townsend tangled and both ended up on the asphalt. Cole seemed to get the worst of it, as he was rushed to a local hospital, where his shoulder was set (no surgery, contrary to early reports). The net result was no racing on Sunday for Cole, and the Worlds are all-but dashed. Hope you get that sling un-slung in time to make it happen at the Grands, Cole!
17-18 Expert was one of the largest classes of the weekend, with 24 riders. Going into Saturday’s main, Four riders had 1-1-1s (Jarrod Adcock, Bryan Kipp, Austin Loebe and Chase Hines). Adcock got the Saturday win, and it was Hines on Sunday (though not with a perfect, as Geoff Banser got the first moto win on Sunday).
What can be said about Felicia Stancil that has not already been said a million times before. She’s got the patent on speed, style and smooth in the 15G (well, 15-Over Women this weekend), as well as…uh..15-34 Girls Cruiser. 16 starts, 16 wins in Nashville. ‘Maritzburg awaits, and we can’t wait to see twin W1 plates coming back to the Land O’ Lincoln!
OK, we have officially run out of time in writing part one of this reace report. The innkeeper is litterally pounding on the door, so we have to go, before we’re put on to ironing sheets. Watch for the Elite report from on Nashville Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, let us give the punchline away by telling you to browse the image galleries from both days (where you are sure to see the podium shots, but oh well).
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