| Updated November 2007 |
Illinois
Belleville Enduro Team (BET)
Belleville
One word: CLAY. The BET club grounds are located on an old strip mine property that was never reclaimed. As with
most of Illinois, the property contains plenty of clay that is very slippery when wet. There are some sharp-edged rocks
in a few places, but most of the terrain is black clay. The strip mining activities left many ridges that the club uses in
various ways to challenge riders. Some of the ridges are approached straight into the face, so it's impossible to tell
what's on top as you ride up the ridge. Many of the ridges are so narrow at the top that if you're riding straight up the
face, you can expect an immediate drop (usually very steep) when you reach the top. The BET club is located about
20 miles from downtown St. Louis and is setup very well for spectators. Some of the ridges have been cleared, so
viewers can stand at various vantage points as the riders come in and out of the woods. When it rains, BET can be a
tough place to ride. Soft terrain tires are a must. Most of the trails are tight, and the club usually gets maximum
mileage out of the property. Hare scrambles courses are often 4-5 miles long. If it is wet, plan on spending lots of time
cleaning the clay off your bike.
Forest City Riders M/C
Byron
The Forest City Riders M/C have hosted an enduro here for many years, and I finally had a chance to attempt it in
2006. The terrain is much like most you'll find in North-Central Illinois, with smooth dirt (or mud) and almost no rocks.
You won't find huge tracts of woods, but what's there is predictably tight. Since the event normally takes place in the
Spring, expect to find some damp or muddy conditions. In 2006, a wise decision was made to postpone the race for a
week because of rainy conditions, and it turned out to be nearly perfect the following Sunday. The staging area for
the enduro was at the old high school in Leaf River, which now serves as a community center.
Lincoln Trail Motosports
Casey
More known for its motocross racing, Lincoln Trail is a Southern Illinois off-road property heavy on mud (when wet)
and dust (when dry). I've experienced the worst of both in the handful of races I've attended over the years. One of
the more interesting events in Illinois is staged here: The Cornstock 100. It's 100 miles or so of cross country racing
on a course that includes all parts of the property (including the motocross track). There are many opportunities to
race here, as District 17 schedules a few hare scrambles at this location each year.
WFO Productions
Colona
Just outside Moline is a small tract of land used in a regional series of hare scrambles (also part of the D-17
schedule). It's typical Illinois - muddy when wet and a short loop with many repetitions. A few short, steep hills are
mixed within the tightly spaced trees, and a creek flowing through the property makes for some interesting spectating.
The soil is somewhat loamy, but if damp, expect to see lots of it clinging to your bike after the race.
WFO Promotions
Hooppole
A new venue on the WFO Promotions regional hare scrambles series in 2006, Hooppole has a loamy surface that is
very enjoyable when dry. I happened to experience both sides of good and bad weather in 2006, and I can tell you
that driving rain was a whole lot less enjoyable than dry loam. Even so, the course was ridable when wet, although
challenging. A few sections of woods were very tight, but frequent high-speed passes through fields gave a nice
variation.
WFO Promotions
East Moline
Ron Whipple, the main man of WFO Promotions, knows how to get the most out of limited acres. The East Moline site
is very near the Quad Cities on a small piece of land with extremely tight woods. The terrain is similar to Colona, with
narrow trails inside the woods and fast grass tracks in open fields. The length of the course was fairly moderate but
the tight trails made for some challenging passes.
Little Egypt Off Road
Crab Orchard
I raced Crab Orchard for the first time in December 2000 under less than ideal conditions. Like most places in Illinois,
Crab Orchard is a tough place to ride after a rain. The grounds are now open to the public on weekends and the site
is on an old strip mine property. The ridges remind me of Belleville and Ottawa, and many of them are very steep. In
dry conditions, the hills are not much of a challenge, but the December 2000 race was very muddy and I didn't make it
up one hill on the first try. Other areas of the course had deep mud in which several riders got stuck. The trails are
tight in the woods, but the Little Egypt club had a mile or two of grass track and ended up with an 8 mile loop. This
race was the first time the property was open for riding, so only the club guys had ridden the trails. The second time I
raced Crab Orchard, conditions were perfect and I had fun until I broke my front brake perch. Crab Orchard is now
open to the public on weekends. You do have to buy an annual Illinois off-road permit ($20/year, I think) to ride, plus
the $10 (or so) gate fee. The AMA has taken note of this nice property and awarded a National Hare Scramble to the
Little Egypt club the last couple of years.
Splinter Creek Dirt Riders
Fosterburg
The Splinter Creek club is about 80 acres of short, steep hills and plenty of clay. The well-traveled trails can be
extremely slick after a rain, especially where the ATV's have packed down the surface. The club puts on a couple of
hare scrambles each year and usually lays out a 4-5 mile loop. In dry conditions, the trails are fairly hard-packed, so
much that a soft terrain tire isn't really necessary. However, I learned in 1999 that it's better to be safe than sorry.
After a three-month drought, the rains decided to return during the September hare scramble and my Michelin M-12
rear tire was very ineffective. Unless conditions are very wet, the trails are ridable for everyone. But wet clay makes
racing difficult. Certain sections of the course are very tight, so speeds are generally moderate.
Central Illinois Dirt Riders
Glasford
This venue used to be a regular stop on the District 17 hare scrambles series. With race promoter Dan “Link”
Lingenfelter now living in Missouri, it's not clear if this site will be used in future D-17 hare scrambles. I've raced here a
few times and always had fun. It can get pretty muddy when it rains during the week (it's Illinois...what do you expect),
but there's some nice woods and a few steep hills. The woods are fairly tight, but the CIDRA club usually mixes it up
with some runs through creeks and a couple of open areas. The course is usually set up for 3-5 miles loops.
Directions: somewhere north of Glasford; south of Hwy 116 (is that specific enough?)
Central Illinois Dirt Riders
Marietta
Marietta is similar to White City in many ways. You either love it or hate it. The last time I rode there was the 1999
enduro and I only made it through the 7-mile section that is on the property where the hare scrambles are held. But
by that time I had already houred out. With some very steep, long hills, Marietta is extremely difficult in wet conditions.
But in dry or slightly moist conditions, the place is very fun to ride. Sometimes the CIDRA club cuts new trails, and
usually they get 5-7 miles for loops that wind in and out of the Spoon River Valley. If you are looking for a challenge,
go race after they've had a couple inches of rain during the week. If you want a very fun ride, wait until the area has
been dry for a week.
Directions: south of Marietta on County Road 34; entrance is on the eastside of the road a few miles south of town.
United Offroad Racing
Morrison (Bike Barn)
Until the Last Man Standing came along, the Moose Run was universally recognized as the toughest race in the U.S.
For the average racer, it still is, because Last Man Standing is not really open to the average guy (probably for good
reason). Most years the peat bogs swallow bikes and the logs make the best racers look like amateurs. In my only
attempt at the Moose Run in 2005, conditions were surprisingly mild, thanks to dry weather leading up to the race.
Still, the logs were very impressive. The course is a mix between wide open spaces along railroad tracks and
waterways, and miles of very tight woods. It will wear you out, regardless how wet or dry the soil. Don't put new plastic
or graphics on your bike before this race. Waste of time.
United Offroad Racing
Morrison (Ryan's Farm)
I happened to ride the hare scramble here in 2006 in very wet conditions. Even so, the course held up fairly well.
Since it's a Bill Gusse race, expect to see tight woods and a few large logs. The largest log in '06 was about 5 feet off
the ground, and going under it was about as difficult as it would have been riding over it.
Dirt Riders, Inc.
Oakley
The Oakley club is located along the Sangamon River near Decatur and offers typical Illinois tight woods and some
steep hills. Hare scrambles courses are usually 4-5 miles long and there are some open areas to add variety to the
woods sections. Rain can make the black dirt very slick and the hills challenging. The club has a small motocross
course that is usually part of the hare scrambles loop. Each year it seems that the jumps get bigger and bigger. I
always have fun when I race at Oakley, even when it rains. Soft-terrain tires are the best choice here. My very first
hare scramble race was at this club and I also won my first trophy here, so it holds special sentimental value.
Directions: Exit I-72 at Decatur; IL Hwy 48 south to Brush College Road; south on Brush College Road to County
Road 24 east; cross lake; road heads north and then back east. North on Prairie View Road (I think). The club
grounds are around the area where Prairie View turns into Sheets Road (this is all from memory...check the website).
Buffalo Range
Ottawa
Don't worry, there aren't buffalo here anymore. Just an old strip mine that is open to the public for riding off-road
vehicles. They also hold at least one race here each year. As with most abandoned strip mines, Buffalo Range has a
series of ridges that run parallel, and there are many different ways that the promoters have fun with them. In the area
where silica sand was removed, a deep pit remains, full of sand so white you'd think you were riding in snow. The
property has a motocross track that is usually part of hare scrambles courses. Many of the areas have slick clay, but
the sand pit adds some variety. There's enough acreage to get 5-mile loops at hare scrambles and they always route
the course through a cool section that has rock stair-steps (there's also a nice waterfall in that same area). Buffalo
Range is open to the public for a daily fee of $20. I've never ridden anywhere in Illinois that a soft terrain tire wasn't
the rubber of choice, and Buffalo Range is no exception.
Variety Riders
Ottawa
The Trumbo Farm used to be the site of an annual hare scramble hosted by Ottawa’s Variety Riders, until part of the
land was sold in 2006. Interstate 80 splints the farm, but the course accessed both sides of the property via the I-80
bridge over the Fox River and a very long, dark culvert. The woods were fantastic when the trails are dry: tight,
technical, and loamy. A couple of the creeks running through the property were used as trail and had a few decent
sized rocks; otherwise, the course was mostly smooth dirt. When wet, the trails were a challenge, just like any other in
Illinois.
South Fork Dirt Riders
Taylorville
This club was opened a few years ago and hosts hare scrambles. If you race here, be prepared for the fastest Illinois
race you'll ever experience. Woods are scarce but high speed, open “grass” tracks are plentiful. These tracks contain
blind jumps that can produce ugly surprises on the other side. If you like motocross, this is the place. If you like tight
woods, well...might want to try something else. The owners were trying to buy some adjoining land and expand the
property (not sure if this ever happened), so it may one day be a little more challenging. As usual in Illinois, the terrain
is heavy with clay and gets slick when wet. When dry, the surface gets pretty hard-packed.
Directions: about 5 miles west of Taylorville on state Hwy 104. Property adjoins 104 on the south side of the road.
Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders
White City
I've raced here many times over the years, and I either love it or hate it. As with most of Illinois, the trails get very slick
when it rains. White City happens to be located in one of the few places in Illinois that have steep hills, so wet
conditions virtually guarantee that every once in a while you'll need a couple tries to get up a hill. When the soil has
just a hint of moisture (or is dry), Cahokia Creek is a joy to ride. Nice,loamy, smooth soil with hardly any rocks. Now
that's my kind of terrain. Two of the three races that I attended in 2000 were muddy, including the enduro in October
that was nearly impossible. But the Fall 2000 hare scramble was pure ecstasy. I've never been able to finish an
enduro at White City for a variety of reasons, either injury, bike problems, or too much mud. The club has several
hundred acres and has been known to lay out 12 mile loops, the longest you'll find at Illinois hare scrambles. The
trails are fairly tight in places and the hills can be challenging. Expect to see plenty of tree roots and some choppy
ruts that develop during a race. The best part about Cahokia Creek is that there aren't ATV's, so only motorcycles
are shaping the trails. Soft terrain tires like the Dunlop 752 or the Michelin S-12 work well here.
Directions: about a mile west of White City, Illinois on Route 138 (exit 44 on I-55).
Fox Valley Offroad
Wedron
Fox Valley is a public riding area near Ottawa, operated by Gerhard “Wardy” Ward. Each year Wardy hosts a few
hare scrambles on the property as part of the District 17 series. Since the riding area is open to ATV's, most of the
trails are fairly wide. There is a small motocross track used in most races, as well as a rocky creek bed that the
motorcycles usually get to ride through. This short section is as close to Missouri-style riding as you'll find in Illinois,
but if that bothers you, don't worry because it won't last long. The rest is pure Illinois, hard packed when dry and slimy
when wet.
Belleville
One word: CLAY. The BET club grounds are located on an old strip mine property that was never reclaimed. As with
most of Illinois, the property contains plenty of clay that is very slippery when wet. There are some sharp-edged rocks
in a few places, but most of the terrain is black clay. The strip mining activities left many ridges that the club uses in
various ways to challenge riders. Some of the ridges are approached straight into the face, so it's impossible to tell
what's on top as you ride up the ridge. Many of the ridges are so narrow at the top that if you're riding straight up the
face, you can expect an immediate drop (usually very steep) when you reach the top. The BET club is located about
20 miles from downtown St. Louis and is setup very well for spectators. Some of the ridges have been cleared, so
viewers can stand at various vantage points as the riders come in and out of the woods. When it rains, BET can be a
tough place to ride. Soft terrain tires are a must. Most of the trails are tight, and the club usually gets maximum
mileage out of the property. Hare scrambles courses are often 4-5 miles long. If it is wet, plan on spending lots of time
cleaning the clay off your bike.
Forest City Riders M/C
Byron
The Forest City Riders M/C have hosted an enduro here for many years, and I finally had a chance to attempt it in
2006. The terrain is much like most you'll find in North-Central Illinois, with smooth dirt (or mud) and almost no rocks.
You won't find huge tracts of woods, but what's there is predictably tight. Since the event normally takes place in the
Spring, expect to find some damp or muddy conditions. In 2006, a wise decision was made to postpone the race for a
week because of rainy conditions, and it turned out to be nearly perfect the following Sunday. The staging area for
the enduro was at the old high school in Leaf River, which now serves as a community center.
Lincoln Trail Motosports
Casey
More known for its motocross racing, Lincoln Trail is a Southern Illinois off-road property heavy on mud (when wet)
and dust (when dry). I've experienced the worst of both in the handful of races I've attended over the years. One of
the more interesting events in Illinois is staged here: The Cornstock 100. It's 100 miles or so of cross country racing
on a course that includes all parts of the property (including the motocross track). There are many opportunities to
race here, as District 17 schedules a few hare scrambles at this location each year.
WFO Productions
Colona
Just outside Moline is a small tract of land used in a regional series of hare scrambles (also part of the D-17
schedule). It's typical Illinois - muddy when wet and a short loop with many repetitions. A few short, steep hills are
mixed within the tightly spaced trees, and a creek flowing through the property makes for some interesting spectating.
The soil is somewhat loamy, but if damp, expect to see lots of it clinging to your bike after the race.
WFO Promotions
Hooppole
A new venue on the WFO Promotions regional hare scrambles series in 2006, Hooppole has a loamy surface that is
very enjoyable when dry. I happened to experience both sides of good and bad weather in 2006, and I can tell you
that driving rain was a whole lot less enjoyable than dry loam. Even so, the course was ridable when wet, although
challenging. A few sections of woods were very tight, but frequent high-speed passes through fields gave a nice
variation.
WFO Promotions
East Moline
Ron Whipple, the main man of WFO Promotions, knows how to get the most out of limited acres. The East Moline site
is very near the Quad Cities on a small piece of land with extremely tight woods. The terrain is similar to Colona, with
narrow trails inside the woods and fast grass tracks in open fields. The length of the course was fairly moderate but
the tight trails made for some challenging passes.
Little Egypt Off Road
Crab Orchard
I raced Crab Orchard for the first time in December 2000 under less than ideal conditions. Like most places in Illinois,
Crab Orchard is a tough place to ride after a rain. The grounds are now open to the public on weekends and the site
is on an old strip mine property. The ridges remind me of Belleville and Ottawa, and many of them are very steep. In
dry conditions, the hills are not much of a challenge, but the December 2000 race was very muddy and I didn't make it
up one hill on the first try. Other areas of the course had deep mud in which several riders got stuck. The trails are
tight in the woods, but the Little Egypt club had a mile or two of grass track and ended up with an 8 mile loop. This
race was the first time the property was open for riding, so only the club guys had ridden the trails. The second time I
raced Crab Orchard, conditions were perfect and I had fun until I broke my front brake perch. Crab Orchard is now
open to the public on weekends. You do have to buy an annual Illinois off-road permit ($20/year, I think) to ride, plus
the $10 (or so) gate fee. The AMA has taken note of this nice property and awarded a National Hare Scramble to the
Little Egypt club the last couple of years.
Splinter Creek Dirt Riders
Fosterburg
The Splinter Creek club is about 80 acres of short, steep hills and plenty of clay. The well-traveled trails can be
extremely slick after a rain, especially where the ATV's have packed down the surface. The club puts on a couple of
hare scrambles each year and usually lays out a 4-5 mile loop. In dry conditions, the trails are fairly hard-packed, so
much that a soft terrain tire isn't really necessary. However, I learned in 1999 that it's better to be safe than sorry.
After a three-month drought, the rains decided to return during the September hare scramble and my Michelin M-12
rear tire was very ineffective. Unless conditions are very wet, the trails are ridable for everyone. But wet clay makes
racing difficult. Certain sections of the course are very tight, so speeds are generally moderate.
Central Illinois Dirt Riders
Glasford
This venue used to be a regular stop on the District 17 hare scrambles series. With race promoter Dan “Link”
Lingenfelter now living in Missouri, it's not clear if this site will be used in future D-17 hare scrambles. I've raced here a
few times and always had fun. It can get pretty muddy when it rains during the week (it's Illinois...what do you expect),
but there's some nice woods and a few steep hills. The woods are fairly tight, but the CIDRA club usually mixes it up
with some runs through creeks and a couple of open areas. The course is usually set up for 3-5 miles loops.
Directions: somewhere north of Glasford; south of Hwy 116 (is that specific enough?)
Central Illinois Dirt Riders
Marietta
Marietta is similar to White City in many ways. You either love it or hate it. The last time I rode there was the 1999
enduro and I only made it through the 7-mile section that is on the property where the hare scrambles are held. But
by that time I had already houred out. With some very steep, long hills, Marietta is extremely difficult in wet conditions.
But in dry or slightly moist conditions, the place is very fun to ride. Sometimes the CIDRA club cuts new trails, and
usually they get 5-7 miles for loops that wind in and out of the Spoon River Valley. If you are looking for a challenge,
go race after they've had a couple inches of rain during the week. If you want a very fun ride, wait until the area has
been dry for a week.
Directions: south of Marietta on County Road 34; entrance is on the eastside of the road a few miles south of town.
United Offroad Racing
Morrison (Bike Barn)
Until the Last Man Standing came along, the Moose Run was universally recognized as the toughest race in the U.S.
For the average racer, it still is, because Last Man Standing is not really open to the average guy (probably for good
reason). Most years the peat bogs swallow bikes and the logs make the best racers look like amateurs. In my only
attempt at the Moose Run in 2005, conditions were surprisingly mild, thanks to dry weather leading up to the race.
Still, the logs were very impressive. The course is a mix between wide open spaces along railroad tracks and
waterways, and miles of very tight woods. It will wear you out, regardless how wet or dry the soil. Don't put new plastic
or graphics on your bike before this race. Waste of time.
United Offroad Racing
Morrison (Ryan's Farm)
I happened to ride the hare scramble here in 2006 in very wet conditions. Even so, the course held up fairly well.
Since it's a Bill Gusse race, expect to see tight woods and a few large logs. The largest log in '06 was about 5 feet off
the ground, and going under it was about as difficult as it would have been riding over it.
Dirt Riders, Inc.
Oakley
The Oakley club is located along the Sangamon River near Decatur and offers typical Illinois tight woods and some
steep hills. Hare scrambles courses are usually 4-5 miles long and there are some open areas to add variety to the
woods sections. Rain can make the black dirt very slick and the hills challenging. The club has a small motocross
course that is usually part of the hare scrambles loop. Each year it seems that the jumps get bigger and bigger. I
always have fun when I race at Oakley, even when it rains. Soft-terrain tires are the best choice here. My very first
hare scramble race was at this club and I also won my first trophy here, so it holds special sentimental value.
Directions: Exit I-72 at Decatur; IL Hwy 48 south to Brush College Road; south on Brush College Road to County
Road 24 east; cross lake; road heads north and then back east. North on Prairie View Road (I think). The club
grounds are around the area where Prairie View turns into Sheets Road (this is all from memory...check the website).
Buffalo Range
Ottawa
Don't worry, there aren't buffalo here anymore. Just an old strip mine that is open to the public for riding off-road
vehicles. They also hold at least one race here each year. As with most abandoned strip mines, Buffalo Range has a
series of ridges that run parallel, and there are many different ways that the promoters have fun with them. In the area
where silica sand was removed, a deep pit remains, full of sand so white you'd think you were riding in snow. The
property has a motocross track that is usually part of hare scrambles courses. Many of the areas have slick clay, but
the sand pit adds some variety. There's enough acreage to get 5-mile loops at hare scrambles and they always route
the course through a cool section that has rock stair-steps (there's also a nice waterfall in that same area). Buffalo
Range is open to the public for a daily fee of $20. I've never ridden anywhere in Illinois that a soft terrain tire wasn't
the rubber of choice, and Buffalo Range is no exception.
Variety Riders
Ottawa
The Trumbo Farm used to be the site of an annual hare scramble hosted by Ottawa’s Variety Riders, until part of the
land was sold in 2006. Interstate 80 splints the farm, but the course accessed both sides of the property via the I-80
bridge over the Fox River and a very long, dark culvert. The woods were fantastic when the trails are dry: tight,
technical, and loamy. A couple of the creeks running through the property were used as trail and had a few decent
sized rocks; otherwise, the course was mostly smooth dirt. When wet, the trails were a challenge, just like any other in
Illinois.
South Fork Dirt Riders
Taylorville
This club was opened a few years ago and hosts hare scrambles. If you race here, be prepared for the fastest Illinois
race you'll ever experience. Woods are scarce but high speed, open “grass” tracks are plentiful. These tracks contain
blind jumps that can produce ugly surprises on the other side. If you like motocross, this is the place. If you like tight
woods, well...might want to try something else. The owners were trying to buy some adjoining land and expand the
property (not sure if this ever happened), so it may one day be a little more challenging. As usual in Illinois, the terrain
is heavy with clay and gets slick when wet. When dry, the surface gets pretty hard-packed.
Directions: about 5 miles west of Taylorville on state Hwy 104. Property adjoins 104 on the south side of the road.
Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders
White City
I've raced here many times over the years, and I either love it or hate it. As with most of Illinois, the trails get very slick
when it rains. White City happens to be located in one of the few places in Illinois that have steep hills, so wet
conditions virtually guarantee that every once in a while you'll need a couple tries to get up a hill. When the soil has
just a hint of moisture (or is dry), Cahokia Creek is a joy to ride. Nice,loamy, smooth soil with hardly any rocks. Now
that's my kind of terrain. Two of the three races that I attended in 2000 were muddy, including the enduro in October
that was nearly impossible. But the Fall 2000 hare scramble was pure ecstasy. I've never been able to finish an
enduro at White City for a variety of reasons, either injury, bike problems, or too much mud. The club has several
hundred acres and has been known to lay out 12 mile loops, the longest you'll find at Illinois hare scrambles. The
trails are fairly tight in places and the hills can be challenging. Expect to see plenty of tree roots and some choppy
ruts that develop during a race. The best part about Cahokia Creek is that there aren't ATV's, so only motorcycles
are shaping the trails. Soft terrain tires like the Dunlop 752 or the Michelin S-12 work well here.
Directions: about a mile west of White City, Illinois on Route 138 (exit 44 on I-55).
Fox Valley Offroad
Wedron
Fox Valley is a public riding area near Ottawa, operated by Gerhard “Wardy” Ward. Each year Wardy hosts a few
hare scrambles on the property as part of the District 17 series. Since the riding area is open to ATV's, most of the
trails are fairly wide. There is a small motocross track used in most races, as well as a rocky creek bed that the
motorcycles usually get to ride through. This short section is as close to Missouri-style riding as you'll find in Illinois,
but if that bothers you, don't worry because it won't last long. The rest is pure Illinois, hard packed when dry and slimy
when wet.
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