GNCC Racing, born
from the legendary Blackwater 100, is celebrating its first 50 years just as you might expect—with mud, sweat, and tears of laughter.
WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: Mack Faint/GNCC Racing
The referee stood in the middle of a wet, grassy field, staring down the line of professional riders anxiously waiting for him to flinch. Engines dead, they had already heard the announcer do that patented “Ten seconds!” shout. Behind them were row after row of amateurs and their support crew—the rank and file of this vast segment of dirt bike racing. And around them were a few thousand spectators. The sun was out, but everyone was wet—the referee, the riders, the crews, the fans—as the rain had already come and gone. It was opening day of the 50th season of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series, in the tiny backwater of Union, South Carolina, and it was going exactly how one might expect GNCC Racing to start a new year. But after the referee waved the green flag up over his head to begin this historic season, the elite XC1 450cc motorcycles fired up and splashed off the line, nothing else went according to plan.
We are deeply rooted in Moto—We’ve been here all our lives. Back in 1998 when we turned an underground newspaper into a shiny color magazine, it immediately changed the game with its unprecedented depth of coverage, sense of humor, and access to the sport’s biggest names. Today, our readers know they can go to Racer X Online for all the news, race results, and event coverage they need, and then enjoy even more detail and perspective in the pages of Racer X Illustrated. The mag offers a chance to learn something new on every page and stay connected with the people and personalities that shape our sport—the competitors out on the racetrack, as well as the ones behind the scenes—through our exclusive deep-dive stories and columns.
Our trademark has always been insider knowledge from the experts who are at the races and around the sport. We have long prided ourselves on our unparalleled race reporting and detailed storytelling. We go deep with the riders and teams to provide comprehensive coverage you won’t find anywhere else—all with first-class photography and design. It’s a full education in motocross past, present, and future.
Davey Coombs
Editor-in-chief & Founder
Racer X Illustrated
Subscribe Now
to continue reading Blackwater Now
and other premium content from the pages of Racer X magazine
Get immediate access to this issue + 12 more issues
Subscribe or Renew for your FREE Racer X windshield sun shade and air freshener! (Subscribe now!)
Already have a subscription?
Login to your Account