Other Racing Venues
Here's a sampling of the other random areas I've raced over the years. If you're interested in more detailed descriptions of
these areas, check out my race reports.
Walsenburg, Colorado
This race site was located in the cattle range side of Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains are visible but definitely not
part of what we were riding. In fact, I couldn't see how an International Six Days Enduro Qualifier race could be held here.
Pulling into the race site, all I could see was flat terrain and scrub brush. However, this area is full of canyons that you
can't see until you're about ready to fall down into them. They are carved out of the flatlands and offer some very
interesting challenges. For two days, I rode in and out of the rocky canyons and tried my best to avoid cactus. Elevation
was about 6,000 feet, but my KTM 300 handled the thin air pretty well with some jetting adjustments.
Iowa Enduro Riders
Winterset, Iowa
I won my class here for the first time ever in 2000. This part of Iowa is a little different from what I had expected,
considering it's smack in the middle of the Corn Belt. I would call it a cross between Missouri and Illinois - some rocks, but
not enough to drive you crazy. The enduro was set up as a 30 mile loop that was run twice. When I was there it was very
dry and dusty, so my Michelin S-12's weren't really necessary. In fact, there was not a drop of moisture anywhere. This
event is almost always on the Iowa enduro series schedule, as well as the Illinois schedule.
Zwingle, Iowa
This became my new favorite hare scrambles venue in 2008, when I moved to the Rockford area. It's a property
somewhat similar to White City, Illinois but has more rocks. The many ravines are cut into stone and the scenery is
beautiful - not that I ever see much of it while racing. There are a couple of off-camber spots where you can slide 75 feet
almost straight down if you're not careful. The property is owned by an off-road family who help make this race
extra-interesting, with an Endurocross course and an "escargot" section.
Atalissa, Iowa
The rolling hills of Eastern Iowa are ever-present in this ranch property near the Quad Cities. The terrain here is similar to
Zwingle, minus the state-park-quality rock formations. The District 22 hare scramble at this location in 2011 was one of my
favorite rides of the year, and one of the best organized. As with much of Iowa, the trails are moderately rocky but full of
singletrack. The property is located near the picturesque Cedar River.
Dutch Sport Park
Bloomingdale, Michigan
This property is more known for its excellent motocross track, but is a regular host to a round of the National Hare
Scrambles Series. After rains, the woods will be muddy, although the ruts are usually not bottomless. Some areas have
very slick, hard clay. In hot weather, the course is tough on stamina because the trails are tight and energy-consuming.
Razorback Riders
White Rock Mountain Recreational Area (Western Arkansas)
Think St. Joe State Park times 10. This place is huge. I did a 65-mile enduro here in 2004 and saw maybe 1/3 of the trails.
Located east of Fayetteville, the terrain is rocky and the elevation changes are plus or minus 500 feet. The hills you climb
seem to go on forever, as do the downhills. This area hosts some downhill mountain bike races, if that gives you any idea
of the size of the mini-mountains. Many of the trails are wide enough for ATV's but the locals know where the good
singletrack is. The riding are is open to the public, but be careful: you can get lost in there. Just ask Brian Jahelka. The
annual White Rock Enduro is a first-class event and lots of fun.
Unadilla Valley Sports Center
New Berlin, New York
This famous motocross track has been an AMA National Motocross series venue for many years, and it also makes for a
pretty good place to have a Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race. Located in scenic upstate New York, the terrain
consists of rolling hills and old, well-established forests. The woods surrounding the motocross track make up much of the
off-road course. The event I attended here in 2007 was typical of most GNCC races, with wide, choppy trails. The soil can
be thick and muddy when wet, especially in the low-lying areas. On the hilltops, the dirt is filled with small, rounded stones
that can make hill climbing a challenge. I pushed my KX250 up a few hills where the back tire could not locate any traction.
Expect ATV-type trails and high speeds if you attend a GNCC here.
North Alabama Trail Riders
Westpoint, Tennessee
A broken clutch cable limited my riding here to approximately 10 miles of trail in 2007, but it was enough time in the
southern Tennessee woods to get a feel for the place. The woods are vast, mostly singletrack from what I could tell, and
pretty fun to ride. The national enduro I raced was very dusty, due to drought conditions, especially in the open areas of
past logging activities. Rocks were moderate, and while the terrain had a decent rock base underneath, the solid
appeared to be the type that could be slippery when wet. Although the woods are well-established, expect to see some
relatively tight sections. Wish I could have ridden more of it....
Viking Bow & Hunt Club
Valders, Wisconsin
The race I did here in 2008 was one of the muddiest of the year, and one of the shortest courses I've ever seen for a
hare scramble. The terrain in this area is somewhat rocky and can be a challenge when combined with the slick clay that
made up a fair amount of the property. The woods were somewhat tight, but the trails were mixed with some ATV trails
that sped up the pace. The highlight of the race has to be the hunt club lodge, where you can relax, order a beer from the
bar and dine on a burger from the grill.
Summit Lake Game Farm
Hayward, Wisconsin
Wisconsin's enduro and hare scramble series both make regular stops at the Summit Lake Game Farm, where the trails
are tight and the terrain is very much like the Unadilla GNCC. The rocks are round and tend to blend into the soil. The
enduro I entered here in 2010 challenged me greatly. The toughest part was keeping the front wheel planted while
turning. The round rocks offered little traction and my front wheel wanted to slide out around every corner. The enduro
speed average was 18 mph, which should give you an idea of how tight the trails are.