Racing in another country is a challenge. Teams need to consider expense, fatigue from jet lag, the language barrier, and strange food they want no part of. In 1992, a well-known American racer, after several days of starving himself in France, discovered a MacDonald's 15 minutes from the track, gorged himself, jumped on his race machine and, just a few minutes into his hour-long ride, barfed inside his helmet. But, even with the gastronomic dilemma, teams keep coming back to France's annual 12 Hours of Pont de Vaux, and 16 countries were represented at the '09 event.
Why is the race so big? Actually it's more like a festival than a race and there's nothing like it, at least in the US. Race quads parade through the town, the French army makes a showing, the quad expo is huge, freestylers flip, 500 riders (comprising 200 Pro and amateur teams) compete, 10,000 spectators watch, and, at the podium ceremony this year, the mayor of Pont de Vaux jumped on stage with the racers, spraying champagne and grinning like a man possessed.
The list of championship riders who have competed at PDV reads like a who's-who of international ATV racing. This year, even in a down economy, a dozen riders made the 5000-mile trek from America, including nine-time GNCC champ Bill Ballance, current #3 GNCC racer Adam McGill, and a handful of other fast cross-country racers.
Other favorites in the '09 event included last year's PDV champ and multi-time French champ Romain Couprie, three-time PDV champ Paul Winrow, multi-time UK champ Justin Reid, plus other former PDV winners Gregory Lassaigne, Marc Gobert, Cyril Lamet, Guy Meertens, and Clement Jay.
Also competing was the PDV winner from exactly ten years ago, Jean Michel Abfalter. Although slight, mild-mannered, and older than most of the other competitors, at the end of 12 hours he and his two French teammates had piloted their Suzuki 450 to a flawless race and the #1 spot at PDV 2009.
PONT DE VAUX FAQs
• Annual, ATV-only race started in 1987 and held near the village of Pont de Vaux (pon-duh-voh) in east-central France.
• A pro field of 113 two- or three rider-teams compete on machines between 250 and 1000cc.
• Countries competing this year: France, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Scotland, Poland, Italy, North Ireland, Corsica, Ireland, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, New Zealand.
• High-speed but rough, 2.3-mile grass circuit with four jumps. Longest straight is 1/3 mile. Maximum track width is 15 feet.
• The race is held over two days and divided into three sessions, one of them a night session with lights on the quads. Grid position for all sessions is determined by mass qualifying. Each session begins with a LeMans-style start: riders sprint across the track and start the quads. Computer/transmitter scoring.
• Between each race session quads are locked into an impound area. Repairs can be made only during the race sessions.
• The winning team has completed the most number of laps at the end of 12 hours.
• Related activities: Stock ATV race, quad freestyle, carnival rides, disco, RC car demo, ATC and UTV racing, ATV manufacturer displays, ATV rides, and a rider presentation and parade in town, plus vendors for food, alcohol, ATV accessories, and apparel.
• For more information about the 2010 PDV, which will be held August 20-22, check out PDV Racing at
www.pdvracing.com.
Click on the image above right for pictures and stories from the 2009 12 Hours of Pont de Vaux. Also, check out Bill's interviews with Adam McGill and Bill Ballance
here.