Red Bull GRC: MCAS New River event brings rallycross to U.S. Marines - MotorSportsTalk

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – The patriotism is on full display this week at Rounds 6 and 7 of Red Bull Global Rallycross, the doubleheader at MCAS New River. It’s fitting considering it’s July 4 weekend.

For the U.S. Marines themselves stationed here or visiting this weekend, it’s an opportunity for them to see something new and different as rallycross racing takes over the base.

With today’s event (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, NBC) opened to the public after Saturday’s activity was open to D.o.D. and authorized personnel, it’s a chance for both Marines and civilians to see action here.

The hope from those who saw last year’s inaugural Red Bull GRC race at MCAS New River was that they wanted it back for an encore.

“Last year as soon as it was over, all the Marines were like, ‘Man, I hope they come back.’ Because everyone was super excited,” Lance Corp. Ned Johnson of the MCAS New River Public Affairs Office told NBC Sports.

“There were a lot of Patrik Sandell and other various T-shirts given out last year, now guys are wearing them around town. So people know they’re coming back.”

Johnson expanded on the cool aspects of accessibility here at a Red Bull GRC event.

“There are so many cool aspects. For the Marines, the cool part is if you went to a NASCAR race, chances of meeting anyone is remote,” he explained. “Here they’ll all know where everyone is, with drivers, mechanics all around and about. You can’t get that anywhere else.

“It shows Red Bull GRC wants Marines to get something out of it. The racing is almost secondary because we get to meet the people who care about us.”

Several Marines got to go for ride-alongs on Thursday, as well, including MCAS New River new Commanding Officer Russell Burton, who only just took his new post recently.

“I want to do it again!” Burton told NBC Sports after riding with Chip Ganassi Rallycross driver Brian Deegan in his No. 38 NOS Energy Drink Ford Fiesta ST.

“There’s a lot of G-forces coming off the line. But the seat kept me in place very tight. It was just remarkable.”

Sgt. Jared Lingafelt, also of the PA Office, rode with Austin Dyne in his No. 14 Relativity Media Ford for AD Racing and called his ride “an incredible experience.”

Johnson rode in 2015 and described more of the sensation from the passenger’s seat.

“I think we have a huge advantage of having a runway, which just makes a massive asphalt straightaway,” he said. “That straightaway is just… I don’t know if I’ve ever been that fast that quickly. It was intense. You then slam on the brakes going into the turn. It’s awesome to be in a car going that fast.”

Brandon Ward. Photo courtesy SH Rallycross

There’s also a military component for one of the Supercars drivers. Jeff Ward of SH Rallycross, who drives the No. 07 MET-Rx Ford, has a son in the military. Brandon Geoffrey Ward, 23, is private first class in the U.S. Army (pictured right).

“It’s exciting. He’s super excited,” Jeff Ward told NBC Sports. “He works the night shift over there in intelligence division. So he gets to watch live on his computer. He knows it’s on a base here. It’s cool for me to be here.”

The Marines here described how incredible this weekend is to them.

“It was really special for me as a Marine,” Lingafelt said. “Racing is an American way of life – bigger, faster, stronger – and it’s exciting to see the camaraderie between Marines and how they interact with drivers and teams. All drivers and teams are so open and friendly.”

Added Burton, “We really appreciate the fact they brought the series here to show their appreciation for Marines, the sailors, and the civilian Marines stationed aboard MCAS New River and Camp Lejuene. We love the fact they are here.”

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Vicki Golden has earned a career worthy of a thousand stories and 805 Beer tells at least one of them, as “Inverted Perspective” premiered March 30 on the company’s website and YouTube channel.

Golden did more to break the glass ceiling in SuperMotocross than she ever thought possible. She knows this because riders have never felt the need to explain any of her accomplishments with the disclaimer, “for a girl”.

At this point in Golden’s career, she’s been the first woman to finish top 10 in AMA Arenacross Lites, the first woman to qualify in the Fast 40 in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the first woman to compete in freestyle Moto X competition, earning a bronze medal by doing so.

Her love for moto came from childhood while she watched her dad and brother ride. By seven she was on her bike and making waves throughout Southern California.

Golden, 30, is still madly in love with the sport and has no plans on moving away but her career is already one to talk about. 805 Beer’s film series wanted to do exactly that.

“I’m taken aback by it all,” Golden told NBC Sports about the documentary. “It’s just crazy to see your story, it’s one thing to live your life and battle everything that comes about but it’s another to just sit there and talk about it.”

805 approached Golden about the feature by asking, “Do you even realize that what you do, and your story is special?”

Golden took the question as a blank canvas to map out the highs and lows of her career and life.

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The title “Inverted Perspective” came from a brainstorming session with Dominick Russo and it highlights Golden’s outlook on the sport of SuperMotocross and her life in general.

“My whole life, my whole career was thinking differently and looking at things that shouldn’t be done and aren’t there, while being able to make a place for myself, where no one thought there should be a place,” Golden said. “It’s inspiring someone to think in different ways. It sums up my life.”

*Vicki Golden is not “fast for a girl”; she’s just fast. – 805 Beer*

While Golden is no stranger to the spotlight, this was the first time she’s been fully involved with the storytelling and creation of a feature about herself.

“It’s not like a full new experience,” Golden said. “Obviously, you get your standard questions about your upbringing and accomplishments, but I’ve never really put into perspective things that happened in my past with my dad and putting that to light. Also, certain other things that maybe got overlooked in previous interviews or films. I wanted to touch on these and Dom wanted to create a story. It’s just cool to see it come to light, it’s a nearly impossible thing to tell somebody’s life story in 40 minutes.”

Golden’s father was left paralyzed after an ATV accident, robbing him the opportunity to ride again. This happened a few months before the father-daughter duo was set to compete in the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Nationals when Vicki was 12. While she might have been unable to grasp the severity at the time, it’s something she carries with her. Golden continues to ride in his honor.

Years later, an accident in 2018 nearly sidelined the then 25-year-old Vicki when a freestyle accident almost resulted in the amputation of her lower leg.

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Golden 805 Beer — *Vicki Golden has ridden a variety of disciplines in SuperMotocross, which gives her a unique perspective. – 805 Beer*

“Inverted Perspective” highlights her father’s diligence in helping Vicki continue with her career and the kindness and strength he carried while fighting his own battle.

“My dad was the entire reason that I started riding in the first place,” Golden said. “So, to honor his memory and to honor what we went through and how hard he pushed to keep our dream alive and keep everything going – in that sense then, it was really special to be able to honor him and talk about him.”

The 40-minute feature was filmed entirely in black and white, a stark contrast from the oversaturated world of motocross where the brighter the suit the easier it is for fans to find their rider and follow him in the race. By filming in monochrome Russo and Golden had the chance to focus on the race and track from a different perspective.

“It was cool to be able to film it differently,” Golden said. “It created a challenge in the sense of what was going to be more visually impactful for the film.

“I couldn’t be here without the companies that back me but at the same time, it’s not like the logos or colors disappeared, it’s just different lights shed on different spots. It’s just a cool way to do it and to take color away and still be impactful. When you think of black and white, you think of old school, the OG way of doing things.”

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