Missouri
Park Hills, Missouri
St. Joe State Park hosts about 3 races every year, and in the old days the most famous was called the Flat River Grand
Prix. The races can be brutal, with a constant battle being waged between bike and rock. The Flat River GP was
resurrected (sort of) in 2000 as the March of Dimes charity race, a 100 mile affair that was also part of the Missouri Hare
Scrambles Championship (MHSC) series. At hare scrambles races, the motorcycle course usually shares some of the
ATV route and also has some bike-only sections. Loops often consist of about 10 miles of varying terrain that includes
rocks and sand. As with most MHSC events, the courses are fast and rocky. The property has fairly well-established
forests and the trees are spaced far enough apart that there are few sections I would call "tight" (by the Illinois/Indiana
definition). St. Joe is very rideable when it rains, thanks to its plentiful rocks.
Soft-terrain tires will work decently at St. Joe but they wear out quickly in the rocks. I usually choose an intermediate tire
like a Bridgestone M402 or even a Michelin M-series if the ground is dry. Pipe guards are a must!
Directions
Steelville, Missouri
I like this place because when it's wet, there's actually some mud. Most of the Missouri races south of I-70 don't ever
make the racers have to find alternate routes around obstacles because few parts of the trail deteriorate during the race.
Steelville is a large ranch-type property that has a couple of muddy sections and every year they route the trail through a
manure pile (nice touch). This place is secluded. You actually drive through a creek to get there. A couple of long hills
and a very tricky off-camber section make for a challenging ride. The off-camber section follows a natural spring up the
side of a hill, so it's always wet.
Despite the sometimes muddy conditions, plan to pretty much shred a rear tire during this race. I don't know what kind of
rocks they've got there, but they are very sharp. I've never seen anything like it. The first time I raced at Steelville, I was
too lazy to take off my Dunlop 752. Man, was I pissed afterwards (but not nearly as upset as when I discovered my rear
brake rotor was mangled and a piece of the hub broke off).
Directions: Hwy 8 east of Steelville; after about 8 miles, turn off at the entrance to the Bass resort/canoe trip place
(there's a sign).
Finger Lakes
Columbia, Missouri
No matter what, it will probably be muddy. This race is held in the Finger Lakes State Park north of Columbia, which is an
old strip mine. Like many strip mine properties, there are lots of ridges that are used in various ways to challenge riders.
The clay is very slippery when wet, and with ATV traffic, some deep ruts have developed. When filled with water, you
can't see the bottom. If you choose to ride through one, don't be surprised if your bike suddenly disappears below you.
The other thing to watch out for is the tree branches that are never trimmed and constantly slap you in the face. Finger
Lakes has a motocross track that the hare scramble course goes through at various points. The large double by the
grandstand is sort of fun if you don't mind having the poop scared out of you. Plan to spend a lot of time cleaning your
bike after this race.
Directions: www.mostateparks.com/fingerlakes.htm
Newark, Missouri
This delightful race showed up on the MHSC schedule in 2002 and was absolutely fantastic, partly because the property
had never been raced on before. There was a grand total of one rock on the entire course, which I managed to hit on
each lap. The woods were somewhat open, the trails were generally smooth, and there were some surprisingly steep
hills. Newark is located in the Northeast part of Missouri.
Midwest Motosports
Kahoka, Missouri
Kahoka, along with Newark, is the most Illinois-like stop on the MHSC schedule. Part of the reason is that Kahoka is
spitting distance from Illinois, so plan on a tighter trail with few (if any) rocks. They get several miles out of the property,
and the last time I was there it was at least 10 miles long. For the last few years this race has also been part of the
National hare scrambles series. Should be a lot more fun race. Midwest Motorsports has a very nice motocross track that
offers some good views of the racers as they come in and out of the woods. The promoter goes to great lengths to
prepare the course, since it's a National race, but be prepared to pay about $40 to race and $10 just to get in the gate.
Directions: Hwy 81 south of Kahoka; look for arrows a couple miles south of town (Midwest Motorsports is west of Hwy 81).
Westphalia, Missouri
Some of these Missouri race sites are so similar that it's hard to find any differences. Westphalia has plenty of rocks and
the motorcycle course shares most of the ATV course. Speeds will be similar to the other MHSC races (for me, that
means mostly third gear or higher). Bring an intermediate-terrain tire and try to keep it on two wheels through the long
creek bed sections. The loops are usually 8-10 miles long.
Directions: From Jefferson City take Hwy 63 south of Hwy 133; turn right; go 9 miles to road #516. Follow arrows.
Tebbetts, Missouri
Tebbetts is way too fast for my style. You'll see your highest gear for a good part of this race. The race site is mostly
pasture and some very wide-open woods. The rocks combined with high speeds make this course border on dangerous.
The 8-10 mile loops include some incredibly long rocky creek beds and a bunch of good-sized jumps in the middle of the
pasture where the race starts. Don't get me wrong...the course is fun, but to be competitive you have to be comfortable
with really high speeds.
Directions: turn off of Hwy BB between Tebbetts and Fulton and follow the arrows.
Lebanon, Missouri
I would consider this site one of the rockier places in the Missouri series. I don't think there's a square inch of the trail
that doesn't have some kind of rock covering it. Plan on more of the same...8-10 mile loop with some long stretches of
rocky creek bed. It can get very dusty when dry. Some of the open pasture sections have some hidden rocks, so don't
stray too far from the beaten path.
Directions: Hwy 5 south of Lebanon; left on O to Hwy TT; right on TT to Hwy NN; turn left and follow arrows.
Sedalia, Missouri
Westpahia, Lebanon, Sedalia...what's the difference. Rocks, long stretches of rocky creek bed, get tired and beat up
and go home. Put on your hard or intermediate terrain tire and go torture yourself.
Directions: I don't even remember how I got there or how I got home.
Chadwick, Missouri
I raced here for the first time in 2000 for the Hardwood Enduro. The National Forest Service manages the land and in
2000 they decided that the enduro promoters couldn't stray from the established trails. So basically the entire route was
on ATV trails. It was still fun, though (I think they're now able to lay out the course with some singletrack). The rocks
here are more flat, and often come in the form of ledges. Sometimes the ledges are off-camber and virtually guarantee a
crash if you ride over them when they are wet. There are many miles of trail in this part of the Mark Twain National
Forest and could be more trails if the Forest Service would allow. They do take an active role in containing erosion,
which is good, but their methods are odd. On the well-traveled trails they have paved portions with interlocking concrete
brick. Some of those sections are very steep and can be slick even when dry. Despite the lack of single track trails, the
course was fun and very rideable for anyone. For a rider trying an enduro for the first time, Chadwick would be a good
choice.
Directions: Hwy 125 south of Chadwick to Hwy H. Look for Cobb Ridge recreation area on west side of road.
Festus, Missouri
This event appears to have become victim of annoyed neighbors. The 2001 hare scramble was canceled due to some
very petty complaints by the locals. A classic case of how important it is to have good relations with the people nearby.
The smallest complaint can shut down a race very quickly. The terrain was very similar to Lebanon, Florence, and
Eugene.
Florence, Missouri
Expect typical Missouri conditions for this race. Plenty of rocks, very dusty when dry, and several runs down creek beds.
The course is 8-10 miles long and crosses a large creek that can get deep if it's been rainy. Events here usually take
place in the heat of the summer, so bring a vented jersey and an intermediate-terrain tire. Here's the 2002 and 2003
race reports.
Eugene, Missouri
This was a new venue on the 2002 schedule, and was more of the same for Missouri terrain. The most interesting part of
the course was a 3/4-mile run through a very rocky, wet creek. My knee was sore for a long time after crashing in that
section in 2002, and in 2003 I drowned the bike when I fell over in the deepest water. The course can be very dusty when
dry, and the race is usually scheduled during the summer months, so expect some heat. Much of the trail is ATV-wide,
but there are several miles of singletrack. Check out my race reports from 2002 and 2003.
Polo, Missouri
Adam Ashcroft & Co. do a great job with this race in Northwest Missouri. The trails are a good compromise between the
often-rocky Missouri venues south of I-70 and tighter, Illinois-style singletrack. It's a bike-only course, so the trails are
usually in very good shape. Passing can be a bit tough, but overall it's a very enjoyable course. However, pay close
attention to the fast, open pasture sections that link up the woods. I crashed very, very hard in 2001 and my regular
riding partner, Matt Sellers, broke his collar bone and some ribs in 2002. In both cases, we found some nasty ruts/gullys
hidden in the grass. In 2003, I sprained my ankle badly during a crash in a creek bed. Polo's a tough place, but fun.
Smithville Lake, Missouri
Another well-run race near Kansas City. The terrain is largely devoid of rocks and the trails are generally smooth. The
2002 course was brand new and was much tighter than the previous location. A few moderately rocky sections are
scattered throughout the course but the property is a bit smoother than most Missouri courses. When dry, it's always in
the running for Race of the Year in the MHSC series. A soft-terrain tire will work well here.
Marshfield, Missouri
Located in the Southwest part of Missouri near Springfield, Marshfield is deceptively tight considering where it's at. After
rains the course can be muddy in a lot of places, but the terrain has enough rocks that there aren't any bottomless ruts.
Expect to see a few fast sections through pastures, and watch out for ticks when you're walking around in the staging
area.
Bixby, Missouri
This course was new in 2003, thanks to a donation by the Doe Run Company (lead mining). It's typical terrain for
Missouri, with some moderately fast woods and a few open grass sections. This property is expected to be open to the
public at some point.
Warrensburg, Missouri
Sometimes called Knob Noster, the Warrensburg course is mostly smooth dirt with a few rocks thrown in now and again. It
always reminds me of White City, Illinois. Woods are moderately tight and can be somewhat muddy when wet. As with
most of the Midwest, the hills are short and tricky when wet. This course is one of my favorites on the MHSC schedule.
St. Joe State Park hosts about 3 races every year, and in the old days the most famous was called the Flat River Grand
Prix. The races can be brutal, with a constant battle being waged between bike and rock. The Flat River GP was
resurrected (sort of) in 2000 as the March of Dimes charity race, a 100 mile affair that was also part of the Missouri Hare
Scrambles Championship (MHSC) series. At hare scrambles races, the motorcycle course usually shares some of the
ATV route and also has some bike-only sections. Loops often consist of about 10 miles of varying terrain that includes
rocks and sand. As with most MHSC events, the courses are fast and rocky. The property has fairly well-established
forests and the trees are spaced far enough apart that there are few sections I would call "tight" (by the Illinois/Indiana
definition). St. Joe is very rideable when it rains, thanks to its plentiful rocks.
Soft-terrain tires will work decently at St. Joe but they wear out quickly in the rocks. I usually choose an intermediate tire
like a Bridgestone M402 or even a Michelin M-series if the ground is dry. Pipe guards are a must!
Directions
Steelville, Missouri
I like this place because when it's wet, there's actually some mud. Most of the Missouri races south of I-70 don't ever
make the racers have to find alternate routes around obstacles because few parts of the trail deteriorate during the race.
Steelville is a large ranch-type property that has a couple of muddy sections and every year they route the trail through a
manure pile (nice touch). This place is secluded. You actually drive through a creek to get there. A couple of long hills
and a very tricky off-camber section make for a challenging ride. The off-camber section follows a natural spring up the
side of a hill, so it's always wet.
Despite the sometimes muddy conditions, plan to pretty much shred a rear tire during this race. I don't know what kind of
rocks they've got there, but they are very sharp. I've never seen anything like it. The first time I raced at Steelville, I was
too lazy to take off my Dunlop 752. Man, was I pissed afterwards (but not nearly as upset as when I discovered my rear
brake rotor was mangled and a piece of the hub broke off).
Directions: Hwy 8 east of Steelville; after about 8 miles, turn off at the entrance to the Bass resort/canoe trip place
(there's a sign).
Finger Lakes
Columbia, Missouri
No matter what, it will probably be muddy. This race is held in the Finger Lakes State Park north of Columbia, which is an
old strip mine. Like many strip mine properties, there are lots of ridges that are used in various ways to challenge riders.
The clay is very slippery when wet, and with ATV traffic, some deep ruts have developed. When filled with water, you
can't see the bottom. If you choose to ride through one, don't be surprised if your bike suddenly disappears below you.
The other thing to watch out for is the tree branches that are never trimmed and constantly slap you in the face. Finger
Lakes has a motocross track that the hare scramble course goes through at various points. The large double by the
grandstand is sort of fun if you don't mind having the poop scared out of you. Plan to spend a lot of time cleaning your
bike after this race.
Directions: www.mostateparks.com/fingerlakes.htm
Newark, Missouri
This delightful race showed up on the MHSC schedule in 2002 and was absolutely fantastic, partly because the property
had never been raced on before. There was a grand total of one rock on the entire course, which I managed to hit on
each lap. The woods were somewhat open, the trails were generally smooth, and there were some surprisingly steep
hills. Newark is located in the Northeast part of Missouri.
Midwest Motosports
Kahoka, Missouri
Kahoka, along with Newark, is the most Illinois-like stop on the MHSC schedule. Part of the reason is that Kahoka is
spitting distance from Illinois, so plan on a tighter trail with few (if any) rocks. They get several miles out of the property,
and the last time I was there it was at least 10 miles long. For the last few years this race has also been part of the
National hare scrambles series. Should be a lot more fun race. Midwest Motorsports has a very nice motocross track that
offers some good views of the racers as they come in and out of the woods. The promoter goes to great lengths to
prepare the course, since it's a National race, but be prepared to pay about $40 to race and $10 just to get in the gate.
Directions: Hwy 81 south of Kahoka; look for arrows a couple miles south of town (Midwest Motorsports is west of Hwy 81).
Westphalia, Missouri
Some of these Missouri race sites are so similar that it's hard to find any differences. Westphalia has plenty of rocks and
the motorcycle course shares most of the ATV course. Speeds will be similar to the other MHSC races (for me, that
means mostly third gear or higher). Bring an intermediate-terrain tire and try to keep it on two wheels through the long
creek bed sections. The loops are usually 8-10 miles long.
Directions: From Jefferson City take Hwy 63 south of Hwy 133; turn right; go 9 miles to road #516. Follow arrows.
Tebbetts, Missouri
Tebbetts is way too fast for my style. You'll see your highest gear for a good part of this race. The race site is mostly
pasture and some very wide-open woods. The rocks combined with high speeds make this course border on dangerous.
The 8-10 mile loops include some incredibly long rocky creek beds and a bunch of good-sized jumps in the middle of the
pasture where the race starts. Don't get me wrong...the course is fun, but to be competitive you have to be comfortable
with really high speeds.
Directions: turn off of Hwy BB between Tebbetts and Fulton and follow the arrows.
Lebanon, Missouri
I would consider this site one of the rockier places in the Missouri series. I don't think there's a square inch of the trail
that doesn't have some kind of rock covering it. Plan on more of the same...8-10 mile loop with some long stretches of
rocky creek bed. It can get very dusty when dry. Some of the open pasture sections have some hidden rocks, so don't
stray too far from the beaten path.
Directions: Hwy 5 south of Lebanon; left on O to Hwy TT; right on TT to Hwy NN; turn left and follow arrows.
Sedalia, Missouri
Westpahia, Lebanon, Sedalia...what's the difference. Rocks, long stretches of rocky creek bed, get tired and beat up
and go home. Put on your hard or intermediate terrain tire and go torture yourself.
Directions: I don't even remember how I got there or how I got home.
Chadwick, Missouri
I raced here for the first time in 2000 for the Hardwood Enduro. The National Forest Service manages the land and in
2000 they decided that the enduro promoters couldn't stray from the established trails. So basically the entire route was
on ATV trails. It was still fun, though (I think they're now able to lay out the course with some singletrack). The rocks
here are more flat, and often come in the form of ledges. Sometimes the ledges are off-camber and virtually guarantee a
crash if you ride over them when they are wet. There are many miles of trail in this part of the Mark Twain National
Forest and could be more trails if the Forest Service would allow. They do take an active role in containing erosion,
which is good, but their methods are odd. On the well-traveled trails they have paved portions with interlocking concrete
brick. Some of those sections are very steep and can be slick even when dry. Despite the lack of single track trails, the
course was fun and very rideable for anyone. For a rider trying an enduro for the first time, Chadwick would be a good
choice.
Directions: Hwy 125 south of Chadwick to Hwy H. Look for Cobb Ridge recreation area on west side of road.
Festus, Missouri
This event appears to have become victim of annoyed neighbors. The 2001 hare scramble was canceled due to some
very petty complaints by the locals. A classic case of how important it is to have good relations with the people nearby.
The smallest complaint can shut down a race very quickly. The terrain was very similar to Lebanon, Florence, and
Eugene.
Florence, Missouri
Expect typical Missouri conditions for this race. Plenty of rocks, very dusty when dry, and several runs down creek beds.
The course is 8-10 miles long and crosses a large creek that can get deep if it's been rainy. Events here usually take
place in the heat of the summer, so bring a vented jersey and an intermediate-terrain tire. Here's the 2002 and 2003
race reports.
Eugene, Missouri
This was a new venue on the 2002 schedule, and was more of the same for Missouri terrain. The most interesting part of
the course was a 3/4-mile run through a very rocky, wet creek. My knee was sore for a long time after crashing in that
section in 2002, and in 2003 I drowned the bike when I fell over in the deepest water. The course can be very dusty when
dry, and the race is usually scheduled during the summer months, so expect some heat. Much of the trail is ATV-wide,
but there are several miles of singletrack. Check out my race reports from 2002 and 2003.
Polo, Missouri
Adam Ashcroft & Co. do a great job with this race in Northwest Missouri. The trails are a good compromise between the
often-rocky Missouri venues south of I-70 and tighter, Illinois-style singletrack. It's a bike-only course, so the trails are
usually in very good shape. Passing can be a bit tough, but overall it's a very enjoyable course. However, pay close
attention to the fast, open pasture sections that link up the woods. I crashed very, very hard in 2001 and my regular
riding partner, Matt Sellers, broke his collar bone and some ribs in 2002. In both cases, we found some nasty ruts/gullys
hidden in the grass. In 2003, I sprained my ankle badly during a crash in a creek bed. Polo's a tough place, but fun.
Smithville Lake, Missouri
Another well-run race near Kansas City. The terrain is largely devoid of rocks and the trails are generally smooth. The
2002 course was brand new and was much tighter than the previous location. A few moderately rocky sections are
scattered throughout the course but the property is a bit smoother than most Missouri courses. When dry, it's always in
the running for Race of the Year in the MHSC series. A soft-terrain tire will work well here.
Marshfield, Missouri
Located in the Southwest part of Missouri near Springfield, Marshfield is deceptively tight considering where it's at. After
rains the course can be muddy in a lot of places, but the terrain has enough rocks that there aren't any bottomless ruts.
Expect to see a few fast sections through pastures, and watch out for ticks when you're walking around in the staging
area.
Bixby, Missouri
This course was new in 2003, thanks to a donation by the Doe Run Company (lead mining). It's typical terrain for
Missouri, with some moderately fast woods and a few open grass sections. This property is expected to be open to the
public at some point.
Warrensburg, Missouri
Sometimes called Knob Noster, the Warrensburg course is mostly smooth dirt with a few rocks thrown in now and again. It
always reminds me of White City, Illinois. Woods are moderately tight and can be somewhat muddy when wet. As with
most of the Midwest, the hills are short and tricky when wet. This course is one of my favorites on the MHSC schedule.
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