2015 Gopher Dunes ‘Sandstorm’ Photos

By Billy Rainford

I’ve been heading over to Gopher Dunes in Courtland, Ontario, for the Red Bull Sandstorm since the first year they held it. The event has sort of become the unofficial end of the racing season here in Southwestern Ontario.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the track until just after the ‘Red Bull Whip Contest’ which was won by #818 Davin Grose.

We got lucky with the weather this time and it was pretty much a perfect day for some autumn racing on the tough Dunes sand track. Here are a few shots from the day.

Full results can be found HERE.

Unfortunately, the day wasn’t ‘perfect’ for everyone…

Just hold it pinned and everything usually straightens out on its own. Right, #424 Austin Watling?

Austin was the fastest in the Junior classes.

Although, when Watling stalled his bike in a corner, #672 Seth McDowall snagged an MX2 Junior moto win.

#46 Dylan Osterroth took 5th overall in the class.

The rider to beat in the top classes was Pro rider #43 FXR Yamaha’s Jay Burke but trouble in the first moto left him 2nd overall with 4-1 motos. This big single, although tamed down this weekend, is a great addition to the track, I think.

Jay sends one out to the old schoolers in the crowd with this textbook ‘cross-up.’

#675 Jamie Hajgato was 2nd in Under 30 to Burke and took 3rd in Pro Am.

Jay with some classic style into this corner. #130 Duncan MacLeod won the Pro Am class, but I must have arrived after his 2nd moto was done.

Sandstorm.

Ducking out of the way of MX3 Beginner class winner Gregery Grovers’ roost.

Dave Bell doing his thing on the mic.

This young ATV rider, Brooke Galley, needed a tow back to the pits.

#667 Thomas Munro took the 50cc Open class win on the Pee Wee track.

Yep, it’s been a long season for all of us!

I watched more vintage racing Sunday than I have the entire summer. It was great!

This is what the starts looked like when I started racing! Minus the cool small van in the background…

Ken Gimour on the #57Q (?) Honda grabs the holeshot over #81 Perry Godschalx.

A big part of me would enjoy the races more if the two classes were 125cc and 500cc 2-strokes.

#88 Mike Spain.

Jason Massingberd leads Godschalx.

#94 Randy Zuest finished 2nd in the Heritage class.

Gilmour coming up on #49 Scott Smith.

Smith finished 3rd in Heritage.

#30 Derek Mols going after Spain.

#18 Tim Mols going with the red and orange combo. That’s a fashion faux pas in many other places.

Yep, that’s what Yamahas used to look like back in the day…and they came with a big, irritating #1 on them too! #85 Greg Collis still loves his!.

OK, this may be pushing the ‘fun limit’ a little. That’s an old Can Am under #40 Paul Guilbert.

#31…OK, the numbers in the results don’t jive with what I saw on the track! This is…someone on an old Yamaha…

#314 Gordon Sivyer on the bog old Honda.

#667 Munro keeping that leg up and out of the way.

Chris Pomeroy cheering on his son Ayrton who took 5th in 50cc Open.

#23 Ryder Reinhart bags himself a juicy holeshot.

Gilmour and Smith getting serious in a corner.

#010 Aaron Smerek took 12th in Heritage.

Sivyer wound up 13th.

#96 Craydon Dillon leads Reinhart.

The Facciottis were on hand to watch some racing and give out awards at the end of the day.

#957 Jake Loney looking good in the Supermini class.

#59 Dallas Pier took 8th in the class.

#32 Seth Hughes was 4th.

#294 is Austin Tremblay.

#52 Luke Tricco was was 3rd in Supermini.

Older brother, Jake, was just flying and took the Supermini class.

#794 Sonia Saraiva won both motos in the Ladies class.

#196 Chloe Metcalfe was 2nd and laughed as she almost ran me over here.

#527 Jake Tricco letting it air out over the big table, which isn’t the finish line anymore.

There was a full schedule of ATV races too.

Colton Facciotti lends a hand getting this EVO class started…

If you’ve ever wondered how Dave manages to butcher names from so far away, this is how. LOL

#67 Nic Wallis gets off to a great start in Plus 40. He took 3rd.

EVO class blasting off.

Colton will need some practice dropping the gate. He was replaced after his 2nd try left the old bikes burning up at the gate.

#46 Marco Cannella’s progress is going very well. He won the Schoolboy class and MX2 Intermediate.

It was fun to watch Tricco mix it up with the big bikes in Schoolboy on his Supermini. He finished 4th.

#124 Tyler Evanitski won the 85 (12-16) and took 2nd in Supermini.

#164 Wyatt Kerr looks like a young rider worth keeping an eye on. He finished 2nd in 85 (7-11) and looked solid doing it.

Luke Tricco took the 7-11 win.

#317 Cooper Larche went 1-1 in MX3 Intermediate for a nice win.

Cannella finished 3rd in the class.

Mason Firby had a pretty fast looking bike in the Junior classes.

#999 Matthew Meszaros and #46 Dylan Osterroth duke it out in a Junior moto.

Ron and Carol had everyone’s back, as usual.

#45 John Corbett grabbing a mittful.

#818 Davin Grose won the Whip Contest and took 3rd in MX2 Intermediate.

Cannella hitting his marks out front.

Steve Simms lined up and had some fun.

Grose leading #17 Damon Luksys.

#707 Martin Harant took the wins in the Plus 40 class.

My dad laughs at me because when I was a little kid I’d look back at my feet to see how fast they were moving when I ran. I think Steve likes to watch his roost because there was nobody behind him!