National Pride
2010
Suzanne Howie
W ell, another one is in the
books; the 2010 edition of World
Enduro Canada/Royal Distributing’s
Canadian Enduro Championship,
presented by Parts Canada is over. Boy
was it an amazing ride!
Bigger and better than last year,
once again, I was lucky enough to be
along for the ride again.
It started at Machine Racing, in
Sharon, Ontario, where the Captain,
aka Yamaha/Machine Racing’s Brian
“Wojo” Wojnarowski, and I set out on
our 50 hour journey from Ontario to
Blairmore, Alberta.
Between Blairmore and Pentic-
ton, BC, I accompanied another group
of Ontarians, Lockhart’s Suzuki rider
Chris Van Hove and Machine Honda
rider Bryan “Swampy” Marshall.
Parry Sound is the “local” round,
a mere two and a half hours from
home, it was an easy solo ride up
Thursday evening.
For Labelle, Quebec, I was re-
united with travel buddy Swampy. We
must be cursed. Last year, while travel-
ling to Labelle, we got lost and almost
ended up on the Oka Ferry (except
it was midnight, and the ferry was
closed). This time, on the way home,
we were stuck in an extra three hours
worth of traffic!
These photos were gained from
the eight rounds of the series, and
there are pictures that span the Pro
and Amateur classes.
I hope you enjoy these photos
as much as I do.
Blairmore
Lovely Ladies:
Left to Right: Victoria Hett, Jillian Bolso, Karla Brandt, Almeda Rive
and Suzanne Pelletier, with seven month old baby Jacob.
Where:
Blairmore/Coleman, Alberta
When: July 3 and 4
Rounds 1 & 2
Elevation:
4,400 feet above sea level
Terrain:
Rocky Mountains; rough, jagged rocks. Lots of pine trees. It
snowed Sunday.
Memorable Racing Moment:
Watching Shane Watts ride; he’s a man of incredible talent and
skill.
Memorable Non Racing Moment:
Getting lost on a mountain for six hours with Wojo. Sorry, no,
getting rescued from the mountain after being lost for six
hours with Wojo.
Marty -The Party- Halmazna:
Marty “the Party” Halmazna rode the big Husqvarna E3 bike in Alber-
ta and BC. And whether he was busting a move in the pits (left) or busting
out some smooth moves on the track (right) he rocked the TLD gear, unique
on the Husqvarna Team, who wore Extreme Gear this year.
Adam “-Cheeseburger- Millson:
The 2009 CEC Eastern Amateur A Class Champion, Millson moved up to the big time, joining Ya-
maha/Machine Racing’s Brian Wojnarowski in the big rig. Blue 22 had a pretty good rookie season, fin-
ishing 11th overall.
Seeing
Ryan -Thunder-
Graffunder
The name “Graffunder”
has been getting a lot of press
lately, and while cousin Cory
might be partially to credit,
brothers Ryan and Nick are
doing their bit on the home
front. While Cory is out ex-
ploring the Carpathian Moun-
tains and battling in the bar
to bar action of the AMA En-
durocross series, these two
brothers have been ripping it
up at home.
Double
Nick Graffunder
-the Lumberjack
Older brother Nick puts the
power to the ground in the E1
class, while Ryan represents the
family name in the E2 class, tak-
ing home the Inside Motorcycles
Top Junior award in 2009. Com-
ing into 2010 he had his eyes set
on the prize for the second year
in a row. After a phenomenal
run in Alberta, he was well posi-
tioned to claim that prize.
Shane Watts - the Man from Oz:
Last year, fast Aussie Jake Stapleton tore up the E2 class aboard a Ya-
maha/Machine Racing ride, this year Shane Watts ripped it up in Alberta
aboard his kangaroo KTM.
Factory Phil - Philippe Chaine
Philippe Chaine came all the way from Quebec to compete in the E1
class, with his eyes set on the Championship. He wasn’t alone. Chris Van
Hove, Ryan Durkee, Jared Thomas and Nick Graffunder were also chasing
that dream.
Eric Demoulin
Adam Millson
Chris Van Hove
Ryan
Graffunder
Brian
Wojnarowski
Jack Sawatzky
Legends in the Making...
Ryan Durkee (left) and Ryan Graffunder (right) both came into the
series with the intention of putting their names on the podium, as well
as earning the title of Top Pro Junior, and the $500 prize put up by Inside
Motorcycle magazine.
Jack Sawatzky - Little Bike; Big Fight
Alberta is known for being home to big bikes. The E3 riders are the big boys on campus, with the
E1 class populated mostly by eastern riders who made the trek. Jack Sawatzky is one of few E1 riders to
ride out of the Prairie Rose province.
Geoff Nelson - King of E3
Geoff Nelson, former ISDE competitor, is no stranger to the big bikes. In 2009 the
British Columbia native raced E3 and came second to then teammate Jason Schrage. In
2010, Schrage signed with Honda and moved to the E2 class. Nelson swept the west-
ern E3 podiums, but was unable to push Schrage off the top spot at home.
Mark Cahill - Vet Pro Champ
Mark Cahill was the only defending Pro Class champion racing in the western
rounds. Jason Schrage, who won E3 in 2009, had moved to E2, Patrick Beaule, the E1
champion, could not make the trip out, and Bobby Prochnau, reigning #1 plate holder
and E2 champion was out with an injury. Cahill, a former trials champion, rode to his
first truly national championship last year. He was also known for saying “We’re Pros
too!” when the often over looked Vet Pro class was just that, over looked.
Ben Rego Jason Shane
Schrage Watts
Bryan Cody Kevin
Marshall Bykerk Pelletier
Stephen Adam Brian
Foord Millson Wojnarowski
Ryan Nick Mark
Graffunder Graffunder Cahill
Guy -G-Rox- Giroux
The firey Frenchman from Quebec didn’t have the best of finishes in the
west. His short legs didn’t seem to be conducive to the rocky terrain of the rugged
Rocky Mountains. That said, he still had fun.
Top Finishers Rnd #1
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Ryan Graffunder, HSQ
3 - Ryan Durkee, KTM
4 - Shane Watts, KTM
5 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
Top Finishers Rnd #2
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Shane Watts, KTM
3 - Ryan Graffunder, HSQ
4 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
5 - Ryan Durkee, KTM
Penticton
Where:
Penticton, British Columbia
When:
July 10 and 11
Rounds 3 &4
Elevation:
1,263 feet above sea level in town; 7,187 feet above sea level on
mountain
Terrain:
Again, very mountainous, but this time no snow. The moto test
had lots of natural elevation changes, but the enduro test was a
bit extreme for some.
Memorable Racing Moment:
Adam Millson throwing a heel clicker in the moto test in round 4,
but no one catching it on film because we were all looking in the
wrong direction.
Memorable Non Racing Moment:
The Sasquatch; nothing says BC like Big Foot!
Whip It Out!
The whip is the oldest trick in the book, and here we see three differ-
ent variations on it from an enduro rider’s perspective.
Chris Van Hove
For 2010 Van Hove traded in his 450f for a 250 and took on the E1 class
aboard his Lockhart’s Suzuki.. The young rider from Delhi, Ontario, enjoyed much
more success in the E1 class than he did the previous year, earning himself a spot
on the podium in six of the eight rounds.
A Tale of
Ask riders what they
think of when they hear
the word “Penticton,” and
you’ll get one of two an-
swers: Moto Test or Ex-
treme Test.
The moto test was
mostly unchanged from
the previous year. There
were a few rerouted parts,
but the ski jumps and
double were the same.
“I don’t know, peo-
ple say these Hondas like
to fly, I’m inclined to dis-
agree,” said series leader
Jason Schrage.
Apparently Yamahas
have no issue jumping;
Yamaha/Machine Rac-
ing’s Adam Millson even
did a heel clicker off the
ski jump!
Two Tests
For 2010 the crew
changed the location of the
Extreme Test, putting it in
the old dumping grounds.
Riders came down through
the trees, over the infamous
teeter totters and jersey bar-
riers, through some more
trees, over the concrete cul-
verts that were such a hit
last year, through a debris
pile, into a mud filled tire
pit, into a water section,
before finally reaching the
rock “garden.” After the
rocks it was a quick shot to
the finish of the test through
some tight trees and sticky
mud.
Tire Trouble
Enduro riders are up for
any challenge you put in front
of them. A tire pit? No problem.
Mud hole? Sure! Child’s play. Put
them together?
To make things interest-
ing, and to keep their reputa-
tion as having the toughest Ex-
treme Test in the series, the men
behind the Penticton round
dreamt up a special kind of hor-
ror for the riders. The mud filled
tire pit was only one part of a
very tough test.
Brian “-Wojo-” Wojnarowski:
Also known as: Captain Stress, the Captain, Wrinks and any other
number of aliases. Wojo is the front man for Team Yamaha/Machine Racing
Off Road. An experienced rider, Wojo has raced moto, enduro, hare scram-
bles, the ISDE, enduro cross, trials and Xtinction. .
Brent Shane Eric Clint
Kroeker Cuthbertson Demoulin Riviere
Bryan Marty Mark Ryan
Marshall Halmazna Cahill Graffunder
Ryan - Wonder Boy- Durkee
In 2009 Ryan Durkee took the E2 class by storm aboard his Suzuki
RM250. For 2010, the fast 17 year old rider mounted an RTR KTM and
charged the E1 class. Mentor and good friend Bobby Prochnau, expect-
ed big things from the young BC native, and he didn`t disappoint. Dur-
kee competed in all four western rounds, sweeping the E1 podium, and
was the only E1 rider to break into the top ten overall in the mountains.
Shane -Moose- Cuthbertson
One of the original off road riders who put Canada on the map, Shane
Cuthbertson has had a long and distinguished career, having raced Ro-
maniacs, Erzberg, the ISDE on several occasions, Red Bull’s Last Man
Standing and, of course, the prestigious Canadian hare scramble, Corner
Grass and the first running of the Canadian Extreme Enduro, Xtinction.
Top Finishers Rnd #3
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
3 - Shane Cuthbertson, HBG
4 - Ryan Durkee, KTM
5 - Ryan Graffunder, HSQ
Top Finishers Rnd #4
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Shane Cuthbertson, HBG
3 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
4 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
5 - Julian Cerny, KTM
From Left to Right: Jared Thomas, Paul Andratis, Bruce Moffatt, Chris Don-
ald, Rob Hewitt, Ben Rego, Paul Lachance, Dave Nelson, Kevin Cockayne,
Geoff Nelson, Clark Peters, Jean Pellerin, Phillipe Chaine, Adam Millson,
Chris Van Hove, Alexander Lagault, Ryan Gauld, Jason Schrage, Bryan
Marshall, Guy Giroux, Clint Riviere, Ryan Graffunder, Nick Graffunder, Paul
Petrin, Shane Cuthbertson, Lee Fryberger, Brian Wojnarowski and Julian
Cerny.
Parry Sound
When:
September 11 and 12
Elevation:
Rounds 5 & 6
832 feet above sea level
Terrain:
Much of the course was carved out of quarry, so there was lots
of sand and rocks, and lots of mud due to a pretty wet year.
The mud was a mix of sand in some areas and thick clay in oth-
ers, and could be sticky or slippery depending on where you
were.
Memorable Racing Moment:
Watching the guys jump the log double in front of the fans.
Even Jason Schrage, who had said that his Honda didn’t fly,
eventually did it. It was amazing to watch those machines fly!
Memorable Non Racing Moment:
When the WEC, in a sign of respect and posterity, held a mo-
ment of silence before rider’s meeting Saturday morning, in
memory of 09/11/2001. Round 5 marked the 9 year anniver-
sary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
World Enduro Canada:
Behind the Scenes
There is a lot of work involved in putting on a national enduro series.
Not only do the clubs and organizers on a local level put in countless hours
on their individual rounds, there is also an incredible amount of work at a
national level required to put together the event. The WEC crew, Lawrence
Hacking, Stephen Able, Sean Wiesner and Trevor Wideman, work tirelessly
with national sponsors, working on logistics and timing equipment.
Trevor Lawrence
Wideman: Sean Wiesner: Stephen Able: Hacking:
the Voice the Face the Brains The Name
Fighting Fire with Fire
Jason Schrage is a man of two personalities. By day he’s the hero of
many, a fire fighter for the city of Lethbridge, in Alberta. On the weekends
he’s Honda’s top ranked off road rider, looking to trade that #8 in for a #1.
Take
Julian Cerny comes
off the log jump a little
low in the nose. As al-
ways, though, Cerny scores
points for style. Elbows
out, head up, looking
where he wants to go.
Two
Ben Rego lands heavy on
his front wheel too, but
Rego is able to power his
way out of a crash.
Swelling in the Ranks
Team Yamaha/Machine Racing might have lost Vet Pro rider Craig
Kennedy for the eastern rounds, but it gained an E1 rider (for Parry
Sound), an A rider and a B rider.
Left to Right: Brain Wojnarowski (E2), Adam Millson (E2), Ryan Gauld (E1),
Mark Koens (B) and Patrick Gesualdi (A).
Mechanical Wings
The Honda motorcycle’s logo might be a wing, but Jason Schrage
stood by the fact that his red rocket did not like to fly. “People say these
Hondas, they like to fly,” the points leader said after the Western rounds.
“But not mine!”
In Parry Sound, it looks like his little red tractor found its wings and
finally took flight, easily clearing the log double in the Extreme Test, to the
shock and awe of the audience, including Schrage’s wife, Rochelle. “I can’t
believe he did it!”
We all knew you could, Jason!
Hail to the King!
Clint Riviere was dubbed “King of the Rednecks” in BC, when he led
the “Redneck Minute.” In Alberta the term “redneck” is used as a compli-
ment. A redneck is a hard working man/woman, who works hard for
their money, plays harder and would give you their very last dollar if you
needed it. Clint certainly embodies these traits. The King finished first on
Saturday and second on Sunday in Parry Sound.
Fueling Dreams: Feeding Performance
Marc Coffin and his FP Husqvarna team, comprised of Ryan and Nick
Graffunder, Guy Giroux and Marty Halmazna upped the ante at the nation-
als this year. FP/Husqvarna, along with the Yamaha/Machine operation, had
a professional set up and a large presence at all four venues. Coffin hopes to
set an example for the rest of the manufacturers.
Kevin Cockayne
Last year there were three #7 bikes racing at Parry Sound, and they were all KTMs. Bobby
Prochnau, Scott Bowes and Kevin Cockayne all wore the white #7 on their red plates. This year, Coc-
kayne was the only one who of the three who made it back to Parry Sound, and he was no longer
wearing the #7. Instead he wore his provincial number: #11.
Lee Fryberger
Lee Fryberger is a member of the Corner Grass Race Team, multiple ISDE competitor, and for the
last few years has been team manager for the Canadian Trophy team. To say he’s an experienced rider
is a bit of an understatement. Fry normally finds himself on the opposite side of racing, organizing the
famous Corner Grass race in Compeer, Alberta, as well as the 2010 Blairmore CEC round and the very
first Canadian extreme hard enduro, Xtinction, near Patricia, Alberta.
History in the Making?
Jason Schrage (left) and John Nelson (right) shake hands. Nelson
helped set up support for the Honda rider when he came east, including
bringing a spare bike for the racer should he need parts. Nelson is known
for offering tremendous support for the off road riding community. His gen-
erosity didn’t stop at Schrage, he also brought an extra YZ450f for BC brute
Ben Rego.
Will Schrage be running Machine Racing and LGS stickers for 2011?
Only time will tell.
Moto Media Madness!
For Parry Sound the editors of Canada’s two
motocross publications, Jeff Morgan of Inside Mo-
toX and Off Road magazine, and Ryan Gauld of MXP
magazine, put their money where their mouths are
and saddled up.
Morgan (left) competed in the B class, finishing
8th on day one and 6th on day two. Gauld (bottom
right) competed in the E1 class, part of the expand-
ed Yamaha/Machine team, but was unable to finish due to mechanical
problems (top right). Gauld smashed the chain guide clean off the swing
arm and sent it into the case during lap one, day one, and was out for the
count.
The Best Laid Plans
Jason Schrage hoped to repeat Bobby Prochnau’s perfect season, but Guy Giroux put an end to
that pursuit in Parry Sound. After a less than stellar performance out west, Giroux came home, trained
hard and upped his game, jumping on the Husqvarna 300 for the final four rounds. It appeared to be
the ticket, as G-Rox rocked the Pro class day one in Parry Sound, taking home the top spot in E3 and
finishing first over all, effectively ending Schrage’s run at a perfect season.
Julian Cerny
The Original Hurtin’ Albertan, Julian Cerny is a one of the few who can make the transition from
off road to moto and back. Cerny competed in the Wild Rose MX round of the CMRC nationals and fin-
ished 12th overall in MX1; he finished 5th in E2, and 8th overall, in the CECs.
Top Finishers Rnd #5
1 - Guy Giroux, HSQ
2 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
3 - Jason Schrage, HON
4 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
5 - Chris Van Hove, SUZ
Top Finishers Rnd #6
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Guy Giroux, HSQ
3 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
4 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
5 - Shane Cuthbertson, HBG
Labelle
Where:
Labelle, Quebec
When:
September 18 and 19
Rounds 7 & 8
Elevation:
878 feet above sea level
Terrain:
Again, more mud. Parts of the course and transfer trails were
rerouted for Sunday after riders had difficulty navigating
through some of the trail due to mud. The moto test was most-
ly grass track, but did cut through the forest in some parts; the
extreme test was built in a sand pit.
Memorable Racing Moment:
The final moto test show down between the top 13 riders. That
was an epic battle.
Memorable Non Racing Moment:
Three way tie here. On Saturday the feeling of dread not know-
ing where several A riders, and one B, were. On Sunday it was
positive. A split between watching Madelynn Nield, Geoff Nel-
son’s girlfriend, squeal with delight as Geoff passed for third,
and the local children cheering “Guy Gi-Roux!” for their hero.
L’Extreme
There might not have been tires, or water pits, but there were rocks
and bottomless beach sand, the likes of which is normally only seen at
the CMRC’s infamous Gopher Dunes moto track in Courtland, Ontario.
The LaBelle Extreme Test was much the same as the previous year, with
the addition of a longer woods track cut into the start and some extra
logs thrown into at the end.
Riders agreed: it was one of the best tests of the year.
It’s not about how
many times you
fall...
It’s about how fast you get up!
Double Take!
Yamaha/Machine Racing riders Brian Wojnarowski (above) and
Adam Millson (below) share a lot of similarities on the outside, but that’s
where the likeness ends. Yes, both ride YZ 250s, Wojo’s number is 2, and
Millson’s is 22. They both wear the same Fox helmet and have the same
sets of Shift gear, but while Wojo is a more fines rider, Millson’s style is
more laid back and laid out.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Chaine!
Philippe Chaine finally got his first E1 victory in front of the home
crowd. The proud 20 year old was the youngest competitor in the Eastern
E1 class.
G-Rox Rocks!
“Guy Gi-Roux! Guy Gi-
Roux!” You couldn’t go any-
where in the pits without
hearing young fans of the
fast french Canadian rider
cheering him, or telling you
who their favourite rider
was.
The #801 gets a lot of
love where ever he goes,
but home is where the fans
and heart lie. Giroux’s girl-
friend, famous in her own
right, the beautiful Karine
“Flexi” Gefferione, has al-
most as many fans as the
man himself.
In the final moto test,
the brain child of Giroux,
his brother Marc and the
other master minds behind
Labelle, the kids were all
cheering for Giroux, the
home town hero.
Bryan -Swampy-
Marshall
Hailing from Utpopia, Ontario,
the man they call Swampy has
made the trip cross country two
years running now.
Father of two, Swampy proves
that family and racing can coexist
beautifully. At Parry Sound, his two
sons, Devyn and Curtis, could be
seen riding their Oset electric trials
bike through the pits to the delight
and entertainment of those watch-
ing.
Changing Tides
When the WEC guys set out putting their series together, their hopes
were that they would bring fresh tires to the races. Younger riders, with
motocross backgrounds, were their target audience.
Patrick Gesualdi (above) is a mid-pack Intermediate moto rider, but
trade his 450f for a 250 two stroke and he becomes a contender in the A
class for the eastern series.
Amateur A Hour
The 3 Amigos, Chris Culbert Castelo, Jamie West and Tyler Murray,
were the top contenders in the A class on Saturday, that is until they got lost
for almost four hours.
Just before the awards ceremony, approximately 2 hours after the last
riders came in, Marc Giroux and his crew, armed with head and helmet
lights, set out into the darkening woods to collect the three wayward riders.
Kudos to them, though. Proving that sportsmanship is paramount in
enduros, as the three sacrificed their points positions to stick together.
Man Down!
The steep hills and soft sand, the LaBelle Extreme test was short but
brutal. Many people were getting stuck on the first steep uphill after leav-
ing the woods. There was a bypass to the right, but it dug out quickly, as
it was made of the same soft sand.
For most those who didn’t get their bikes up the hill the first time,
they also had to fight with the soft sand which sucked in handle bars,
foot pegs and other protruding pieces. Not to mention your feet would
sink into the soft stuff too.
Going Out With a Bang
In 2009, Guy Giroux invited everyone, regardless of their class desig-
nation, to line up for a final, one lap, dash for pride on the moto test. The
fans, and the riders, loved it. For 2010 they incorporated this idea into the
scoring itself, but disallowed amateur classes from participating. The Pros
were divided into an upper and lower half, with 13 riders in each class.
They would do two laps, the winner of each moto would get bragging
rights, and the times would count towards their final score for the day.
Julian Cerny, who finished 12th overall at a western CMRC national
event, won the second tier, while Wojo, after battling Jason Schrage near
the end, took home the bragging rights for being the fastest of the fast
on the moto test.
Wojo Mojo
Wojo led his heat in the final MX wire to wire; rocketing out to a fast
lead ahead of Giroux, Schrage and Nelson. With three corners left to the
finish, Schrage managed to catch up to the big blue #2, but was unable
to pull in front.
Ben Rego:
The Toughest Man you HAVE Heard Of
At the beginning of the series, Ben Rego was deemed the “toughest man you’ve never heard of”
by several media outlets, but now, that title seems to need some editing. Rego has made a name for
himself. From Kitamat, British Columbia, the tough rider drove 56 hours to race the eastern rounds.
Rego finished 6th in E2, 7th overall.
Top Finishers Rnd #7
1 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
2 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
3 - Jason Schrage, HON
4 - Guy Giroux, HSQ
5 - Ben Rego, YAM
Top Finishers Rnd #8
1 - Jason Schrage, HON
2 - Geoff Nelson, KTM
3 - Brian Wojnarowski, YAM
4 - Guy Giroux, HSQ
5 - Shane Cuthbertson, HBG
Rounds 1 & 2: Coleman/Blairmore
Lee Fryberger, Clint Riviere and Bob Reed had an army of volunteers
that included local off road community members, family members and
friends. They would like to extend their thanks to everyone involved, in-
cluding, but not limited to:
Bob and Debbie Reed Clint Riviere Leanna Schrage
Lee Terri Graysen Falyn Fryberger Roy and Diana Reed
Travis Reed Amy Lyn Reed Rick and Adam Fox
Ben and Tyler Riviere Murray Sennott Kevin Renners
David and Tracy French Gerry and Nina Conners
Herald and Geannie Schrage Rob and Leticia Miller
Al and Laurie Denis Vicki Miller Dave and Lori Scott
Debbie Riviere Jodi Cuthbertson Jordan Reed
Allan Bowersock Amanda Skirty Sid Seitz
Dan Watt Cecil and Loreline Aardema
Rounds 3 & 4: Penticton
Ken Wortman, Mike Fetterer and Ron Johnson put enormous effort
into making the BC rounds of the CEC a huge success, with countless
man hours working on the Extreme Test.
Also to thank for the Penticton races were:
Tammy, Mykahla, and Rebecca Wortman Alistair and Lucy Bishuty
Maureen and Brian Hutchinson, Barb McMath
Kevin Dermondy Jay Hartwick Kevin Wortman,
Terry Burke Dustin Chadburn Mick Rasmussen
Dennis Smith Carol Boyd Gord Siemans
Adrian and Christine VanNieuwkerk Kadin and Ken Hiebert,
Gord Paulson Wendy Dyck Dale Wellborn
Tanya Grunski Wes Barten Jane Yaschuk
Alex Lamont John Davis Miko Mcgrady
Rob Taylor Carel Oberholzer Ryan and Missy Cutler
Apex Mountain Resort:
James Shalman Steve Laprairie.
Rounds 5 & 6: Parry Sound
these events happen:
The Men (and Women) who made
Matt McAnanama and his crew at DirtyBikes.ca did
an amazing job putting together the Parry Sound rounds.
Matt, along with Greg Bradnam, would like to thank all of
their volunteers:
Rob Martin Kevin Cockayne Steven Hart
Mike Hurst Dave Taplay Dave Cockayne
Jake Stapleton Keith Bicard Kyle Bicard
Tracie Bradnam Treva Job Mike Muir
Alex Sidin Jeff Placidi Valerie Cheaney
Emma Billings Guido Kneiling
Rounds 7 & 8: Labelle
The town of Labelle, Quebec welcomed the enduro
riders like the gladiators they are, and it was no small task,
ask the many men and women involved in putting the event
together. Headed by Marc Giroux and Francois Michel, the
volunteer team is what made the event the huge success it
was. They would like to thank everyone involved, including:
Daniel Gauthier Richard Gianchetti Marco Plante
Maxime Therien Carl Lauzon Martin Paquette
Eric Lapointe Stephane Lapointe Julie Brouillard
Michel Falardeau Michel Courci Patrice Bigras
Yanick Garon Benjamin Racine Ritchie Parent
Pascal Rousseau
1st Place:
Jason Schrage
Vital Stats:
Name: Jason Schrage
Date of Birth: March 5, 1981
Height: 5’6”
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
Bike/Brand/year: 2011 Honda CRF450R
Sponsors: Honda Canada, Machine Racing, Fox Race gear, Recluse, Riders
Edge Suspension, MX1 Canada, Kermaxx, Acerbis, Rebel Hotshot
Racing since: 1984 I was 3 years old
Pro Since: 1999
Favourite CEC stop: Labelle, Quebec because its so different from what I
am used to
Favourite Test: Its a split between the Moto test at Labelle and the Ex-
treme test in Penticton, B.C.
Most memorable racing event: 2007 I.S.D.E. in La Serena, Chile becuase
it was a real test not only of your riding ability but to persevere and dig
deep, you find out who you really are.
2nd Place:
Geoff Nelson
Vital Stats:
Name: Geoff Nelson
Date of Birth: June 25, 1984
Height: 6’2”
Hometown: Abbortsford, British Columbia
Bike/Brand/year: 2011 KTM XC 300
Sponsors: KTM Canada, Royal Distrubuting, Thor, Alpinestar, Maxima
Oils, Mitas Tires, Holeshot Motorsports, Scorpion Racing, CTS Suspension,
RTC Composite
Racing since: 1997
Pro Since: 2005
Favourite CEC stop: All of them have been fun, however I am partial to
my home stomping grounds in BC
Favourite Test: This would have to be a tie between the MX test in Que-
bec, and the Enduro test in BC.
Most memorable racing event: This would be the 2007 ISDE in LaSerena
Chile as I was the Top Canadian. This meant that my name would be add-
ed to the Jim Kelly Perpetual Memorial Trophie, along with all of the past
Canadians that have won the Top Canadian Award at the ISDE. I also re-
ceived the Bert Irwin Memorial Cup for being the Fastest Canadian. This
was a true honour.
3rd Place:
Brian Wojnarowski
Vital Stats:
Name: Brian Wojnarowski
Date of Birth: April 5, 1979
Height: 6’2”
Hometown: Pontypool, Ontario
Bike/Brand/year: Yamaha YZ 250
Sponsors: Yamaha Canada, Machine Racing, LGS Suspension Develop-
ment, Podium Grafix, Orthoflex, Electrosport, PerformX Motocross Train-
ing, Bondi Engines, Trail Tours and Rekluse.
Racing since: 1995
Pro Since: 2006
Favorite CEC stop: Labelle
Favorite Test: Parry Sound MX test
Most memorable racing event: ISDE 2008 in Greece. There was a great
deal of logistics and expense involved with this race. I met some really
nice people. Rode with some really fast guys. It was the first time I had
ever ridden in the mountains which was a great experience. I also got
smoked which is hard to forget.
E3:
1st: Nelson
2nd: Giroux
3rd: Kroeker
E2:
1st: Schrage
2nd:
Wojnarowski
3rd:
Cuthbertson
E1:
1st: Thomas
2nd: Van Hove
3rd: Chaine
Love is in the Air!
There are a lot of people who I need to thank for making this book possible.
First off I’d like to thank the crew at Machine, starting with my boyfriend, Mark, and shop
front man John Nelson. Without Mark and his contacts, I would have never got into this sport,
and without his support I would have never been able to go as far as I have. Speaking of sup-
port, no one in Canada supports off road more than Nelson, in my opinion at least. John goes
out of his way to support both his moto and off road riders to the very best of his abilities.
Brian Wojnarowski drove the 50+ hours (about 42 of actual driving) that was required to
take us from Newmarket to Blairmore in the rig, John’s big diesel truck and gooseneck trailer.
We made good time and good conversation on the way. I learned there was a more human
side to Captain Stress and he learned to never order a salad in a burger place.
Bryan “Swampy” Marshall, Chris Van Hove and their buddy, Jitters (Jim Mueller) all put
up with me between rounds out west, and let me camp with them in Drumheller, Alberta and
Golden, B.C. It was a lot of fun to have company. Last year I bunked with my western counter
part, Suzanne Pelletier, for a night, but it was still lonely travelling by myself. The guys were a
welcome taste of Ontario in the prairies.
For the eastern rounds I was in my element. Parry Sound was a short 2 hour drive from
home, with plenty of friends from the Ontario series racing and coming to watch.
Quebec was a flash back, riding out with Swampy for the just over 7 hour drive. Again,
the Machine crew was well represented, even though the wives stayed home. Sunday night
we shut it down in style, led by the one and only Guy Giroux, who is probably one of the most
approachable riders, once you get behind that big grin and bigger laugh.
Naturally, the organizers, both at the WEC and the local level, deserve tremendous credit
for making these events happen. Without all of their tireless effort, the armies of volunteers
and locals willing to put up with us dirt bikers, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come
out two years in a row now and see the beauty of western Canada, and meet some of the nic-
est French people on the planet in La Belle.
I’d also like to thank my friends and colleagues at Inside Motorcycles and Inside MotoX
and Off Road magazines; David Weber, John Hopkins, Jeff Morgan, Derek Rockel and Mark
Hoffberg. Without your support, your work on my behalf and encouragement I wouldn’t have
dreamt I could have come so far. They also helped me put out a big fire when Jeff and Derek
came up with 4 cases of magazines to hand out at the first four rounds.
Fellow media spokes person, and OffRoadMotorcycles.ca founder, Dan Paris also de-
serves credit. Not only is he a stellar guy who truly cares about the sport from a fun and family
perspective, he also provided the photos of Stephen Able and Lawrence Hacking for this book.
My parents deserve a thank you as well, as much like with Mark, without their support
and encouragement I would have never got as far as I have, and wouldn’t still be aiming high-
er.
Thank you,
- Suzanne Howie
5th Gear Media
Suzanne Howie
2010
