Jean Turner | April 5, 2022
The second annual Jimmy B Classic took to Vogt Ranch on Saturday, April 2, 2022, for a single-track hard enduro race.
Overall winner Dustin McCarthy successfully defended his crown at the Jimmy B Classic.
Photos by Jean Turner
The scramble-style event marked only the second time an off-road race has been held at the privately owned facility in Dulzura, California, and was limited to an elite 50 entries. The excellent conditions, aided by rain earlier in the week, and the fresh-cut eight-mile course was both the reward, and the punishment to racers who struggled their way through the mountainous terrain, the quickest completing three laps in the 90-minute race.
Defending Champion Dustin McCarthy was, once again, victorious at the Jimmy B Classic—named after local motocross legend and co-promoter Jim Beauchamp—having to contend with his brother, Gavin, and Noah Fouch for the overall win. Dustin admitted the course was tougher than last year’s but the result proved to be the same, as he “just cruised,” and held on for the big win.
“It was really nice because we had rain a couple days ago. So the course was nice and wet—like it was watered,” said Dustin McCarthy. “It was really technical, and a bit harder this year, I think. But I just cruised, kept it smooth and it worked out.”
Racers make their way down into another canyon.
Former WORCS Champion Gary Sutherlin was an early favorite, lining up for his first race in over two years. It was a last-minute effort for Sutherlin to get his KTM 450 XC-F ready for a hard-enduro race, and Sutherlin admitted going in that he probably wasn’t on the right bike for the job. Despite getting out to a blistering start and storming the motocross sections of the course, Sutherlin began to suffer in the first technical canyon, and the abuse proved too much for his clutch to bear.
“Gary was going fast in the beginning,” said Dustin. “He was ripping in the single track; I had nothing for him. But he was on a 450 motocross bike and we went straight into a gnarly canyon and it was overheating, so it worked out for me once we hit the rocks.”
You won’t find many races like this in the Southwest. Prime conditions and fresh single-track were worth the trip.
From there, Dustin McCarthy took the point, and led the way through three laps in the 90-minute race, picking his way through lappers while staying comfortably out front. In his wake, his brother Gavin McCarthy and Noah Fouch duked it out for runner-up honors.
“I was in second for a while,” said Fouch. “I was going back and forth with Gavin McCarthy. But he was ripping super good. Those two dudes are in great shape and I’m totally not. But I knew he was going to get by me eventually so there’s no point in blowing myself out. I just accepted third place, kept it moving, I’m happy!”
Jim Beauchamp (second from left) poses with the Pro podium, winner Dustin McCarthy (right), second-place Gavin McCarthy (second from right) and Noah Fouch (left).
“We caught some lappers on the second lap in that big rocky creek and I can tell he got super tired in there,” Gavin said of his battle with Fouch. “But it was awesome. It was a good mix of some fast stuff, but it kept you going the whole time. There wasn’t a whole lot of room to rest.”
Does this spell a future for off-road events at Vogt Ranch? Time will tell, as the private invitational is intended for friends and family of the Vogts. Course builder and family friend Jordan Eubanks said, “I will always be ready to help out, but for now I think we’re all tired! It’s a lot of labor for a small crew. Maybe when the dust settles the excitement will return. We loved having friends and family come together. I’d be glad to do it again as long as everyone is happy and we preserve the ranch and its trail system.”CN
2022 Jimmy B Classic Hard Enduro Results
Overall:
- Dustin McCarthy (KTM)
- Gavin McCarthy (KTM)
- Noah Fouch (Hus)
