submitted by Crystal Gates
Tanner Wolfrum, a 12 year old seventh-grader at Hoosick Falls Central School, took his first solo ride on a PW50 at a little over two years old and has been racing dirt bikes since 2007. He is a member of the Stateline Riders Motorcycle Club, New England Trail Riders Association (NETRA) and AMA, competing in Hare Scrambles, Jr. Enduros, Motocross and Super Moto races.
In 2010 his focus was competing in the 85cc 7-11 AMA East Coast Hare Scramble Championship Series,
winning the Championship for his class. Tanner was invited by AMA to the awards banquet in Las Vegas where he received his National #1 plate. He also competed in the NETRA Hare Scramble Championship series in 2010 and ended the season sixth overall in the Mini class.
In 2011 he focused on the NETRA Hare Scramble and Jr. Enduro Championships Series, competing in the Mini class. After a very long season Tanner won the championship in both the Hare Scramble and Jr. Enduro Series. On February 11, 2012 the NETRA banquet will be held in Albany to recognize the NETRA racers that competed and placed for the season. Tanner will be awarded the Mini Grand Championship for his efforts. For the 2011 season Tanner was sponsored by Factory Connection, Performance Auto and Body Repair, Vanness Mountain Power Sports and his family.
For the 2012 season Tanner will be competing in the Grand National Cross Country Championship Series (GNCC) in the Super Mini (12-13 year old) class. This involves 13 races in 10 different states. He will also be competing in the NETRA Championship in the Big Wheel class and select motocross events that can be incorporated into his GNCC race schedule.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC ) series is America’s premier off-road racing series. The 13-round championship series is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week on NBC Sports. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
Competing in the GNCC’s for 2012 is going to be a great opportunity for exposure in the sport but will also be financially demanding. The cost to maintain the race bike and back up bike along with fuel, travel expenses, entry fees and unplanned expenses (broken parts etc…) add up.
Tanner is the son of Todd and Crystal Gates of Eagle Bridge, great-grandson of Beverly Stevens of Gansevoort, grandson of Sherry Stevens of Salem, Monty and Louise Wolfrum of Eagle Bridge and Theron and Karen Gates of Greenwich.