Missouri
Although I now only do a couple of Missouri races each year, from 1998-2004 most of my racing activities were inside the
boundaries of the Show-Me state. These are the venues in which I raced back then, as well as some additional race sites
that I've visited since I moved back to Illinois in 2005.
Although I now only do a couple of Missouri races each year, from 1998-2004 most of my racing activities were inside the
boundaries of the Show-Me state. These are the venues in which I raced back then, as well as some additional race sites
that I've visited since I moved back to Illinois in 2005.
Bixby
This course was new to the Missouri Hare Scrambles Championship ("MHSC") in 2003, thanks to a donation by the Doe
Run lead mining company. It's typical terrain for Missouri, with some moderately fast woods, a few open grass sections,
and plenty of rocks. There are no major hills here, but it was a large property capable of generating long lap times.
Mark Twain National Forest
Chadwick
I raced here for the first time in 2000 at the Hardwood Enduro, which was part of the excellently run Blackjack Enduro
Championship ("BJEC"). The National Forest Service manages the land, sometimes aggressively. In 2000 the forest
service decided that the enduro promoters would not be allowed to stray from the established trails. Since the established
trails were the width of 4-wheeled ATV's, the trails were somewhat fast but more technically challenging than one would
expect. The rocks here are plentiful and often come the form of ledges. Sometimes the ledges are off-camber and
virtually guarantee a crash when ridden while wet (which they were at 8:00 in the morning). There are many miles of trail
in this part of the Mark Twain National Forest and even more could be added if the Forest Service would allow. The forest
service does take an active role in containing erosion, which is good, but their methods are odd. On certain parts of the
well-traveled trails, interlocking concrete brick had been laid in certain places, just like an outdoor patio. Some of those
sections were very steep and 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.
Eugene
In 2002, this was a new (to me) venue for the MHSC and has been part of the race schedule many times since. This was
an interesting property, divided by a long, rocky creek. The most challenging part of the course was this creek, which was
itself about 3/4-miles of the 8-10 mile laps. Each year the course arrows would point us down the center and we wouldn't
exit the creek for what seemed like at eternity. 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 was very dusty when dry, and the race was
usually scheduled during the heat of the summer months. Much of the trails were ATV-wide, but there were several miles
of singletrack for the motorcycles. For some reason I usually rode well here. Check out my race reports from 2002 and
2003.
Festus
For two years in a row, this was a race site which made me feel like St. Louis was heaven for off-roaders. Festus was just
45 minutes from my home, and along with St. Joe State Park, the Belleville Enduro Team (Belleville, Illinois), Splinter Creek
Dirt Riders (Fosterburg, Illinois) and the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders (White City, Illinois), I had almost a full season of racing
within about an hour's drive. The hare scramble course was typical of most Missouri terrain, although the rocks seemed to
be flatter and looser here. One particular off-camber hillside always seemed to challenge me. Unfortunately, in 2001 hare
scramble was canceled due to some very petty complaints by the locals (rumored to be owners of those 4-legged beasts
known for racing). Landowner/neighbor issues are a rarity in the MHSC, but this was a classic case of how important it is to
have good relations with the people nearby. Since then, Bill Gusse's OMA series held a venue in this area in 2009, but
Festus has been otherwise absent from most racing schedules.
Finger Lakes State Park
Columbia
During my time in St. Louis, this race was a mainstay on the MHSC schedule, usually in the springtime when the course
was very wet. The race site is an old strip mine with many leftover ridges that are used in various ways to challenge riders.
This area is a Missouri state park located north of the Missouri River, where the soil is mostly the same kind of heavy clay
found in Illinois and parts of Iowa. Since it's a public riding area, ATV use is heavy and deep ruts are everywhere. When
filled with water, there's now way to tell how deep they are. Riding through the ruts often presents random, contrasting
results: an effortless glide over a benign rut, or -- Surprise! -- your bike suddenly disappears below you. Another quality
of Finger Lakes is the relatively tightly spaced trees that are never trimmed for races and constantly slap you in the face.
The park has a motocross track used in hare scramble course, which provided entertainment for many in 2003. 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.
Florence
This race site was, for me, the toughest of all the MHSC venues. Events here were held back when the motorcycles and
ATV's raced on the same day, on the same course. Florence usually showed up on the schedule in July and on the
hottest, driest day of the year. Two races in particular stand out in this respect - dust so thick, you were either leading or
choking. When I think of all the dangerous races I've done over the years, the dusty ones at Florence scared me the most.
The ATV's didn't do the motorcycles any favors, with their morning race exposing every loose rock on the course and
leaving a powdery layer of fine dust at every berm. Despite my dislike for the course, I had some good results here. In
2002, I won my class for the first time in an MHSC race. It was a turning point in my racing "career" and led to winning the
Open B class for the whole series (still one of the toughest things I've ever done). In 2001 and 2004, however, massive
rains made the course challenging in a different way. A wide creek which divides the property was actually too full to cross
in 2001 and the race was canceled. In 2004, in almost as wet conditions, the race was held, but the creek crossing ranked
right up there with Rock Creek at the Moose Run. That year I toughed out a 12th-place overall finish despite drowning out
my KX250 on the practice lap. It still ranks as one of my best-ever results in the MHSC. So despite my displeasure for the
venue, apparently most other racers must have enjoyed it even less.
Midwest Motosports
Kahoka
Kahoka, along with Newark, was the most Illinois-like stop on the MHSC schedule. Part of the reason is Kahoka's proximity
to Illinois, in the upper half of Missouri where rocks are few and heavy clay is abundant. The property is more known for its
motocross track, which is covered in mulch to make it rideable when muddy. And it can be very, very muddy. Along with
Finger Lakes, this venue helped me develop a reputation as a capable mud rider in the MHSC series. The Kahoka event
has, in the past, doubled as a stop on the AMA's National Hare Scrambles series. It was here that I witnessed Shane Watts
in his prime, who in those years was arguably the fastest off-roader in the world. It was also here that I participated in two
of the muddiest races in my long history of muddy racing. When dry, the course was very fun, but when wet, it was all
about survival.
Lakeview Heights
The BJEC series hosted an enduro here in 2008 on the Walters Ranch in Southwest Missouri. Wet conditions made this
course challenging. Rocks were abundant, but just enough soft dirt was mixed in to cause some long, continuous ruts. The
ruts didn't bother me much and I had a pretty good race, but many riders struggled. The property is large, so there were
plenty of trails for the enduro. This race site shows up on several race series schedules and is a fun place to ride.
Lebanon
This race site has been a mainstay on the MHSC circuit, thanks in part to its hosts. The Leivan's, the First Family of
Missouri hare scrambles, has staged this race almost continuously for as long as the MHSC has been around. The
property is several miles outside of town in one of the rockier places you'll find in Missouri. Since the Leivan's are
motorcyclists, the course was always well suited for dirt bikes. When I first began racing in Missouri, this event was usually
held in the summer heat and dust. Later, the race fell early on the MHSC schedule and I enjoyed it much more. Lebanon is
notable for its punishment of my KX250 in 2004, which lost a radiator when I jousted with a tree limb. This course is about
as "Missouri" as the MHSC can be.
Mansfield
The inaugural Ozark 100 was held here in 2008, and this 750-acre ranch also hosts MHSC and Hillbilly GP events. The
Ozark 100 in 2009 was one of the most physically demanding races I've ever done, mostly because this place is all woods.
The 25-mile loops had no easy trails where I could relax and catch my breath. Most of the trails are off-camber in some
fashion. Mixed in are some seriously steep, rock ravines. The Ozark 100 has a night portion, and after witnessing some of
the terrain they had to endure, I wouldn't want to race there under any circumstances in the dark.
Marshfield
Marshfield hasn't been part of the MHSC schedule for some time, but when it was, I thoroughly enjoyed the tight woods.
This course was the origin of the phrase "Spud-cut", named for race promoter Jon "Spud" Simons and his propensity for
narrow trails. It was here where I threw away a top-10 overall finish in the last 100 yards of the race, to a crafty veteran
named Steve Crews. The course was typical of Missouri in some ways (i.e. rocks) but was made more enjoyable than
most, thanks to abundant singletrack mixed in with ATV trails. Guys like Matt Sellers will still remind me (quite frequently)
about the time I tried the "shortcut" down Route 5 to get to the race site via Hartsburg instead of Marshfield.....I still think it
was quicker.
Newark
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
on the property. The terrain here was similar to Kahoka and challenging like some of the Iowa courses I've ridden over the
years.
St. Joe State Park
Park Hills
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. Various clubs take turns
hosting hare scrambles and enduros here. Hare scramble 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. Enduros are held at St. Joe
annually, with many doubling as stops on both the BJEC and the AMA's National Enduro Series. In 2009, St. Joe hosted an
International Six Days Enduro ("ISDE") qualifier race. 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.
Polo
This race site in Northwest Missouri was a good compromise between the often-rocky Missouri venues south of I-70 and
tighter, Illinois-style singletrack. It was always a bike-only course, so the trails were usually in good condition for
motorcycles. Passing was always a challenge inside the woods, but a few sprints across open pastures offered some
opportunities to crack open the throttle. This venue will be remembered for a very hard crash in 2001 , as well as a
similarly painful crash of my regular riding partner, Matt Sellers 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 could be a tough place to race,
but usually a lot of fun.
Sedalia
When I first described this race side many years ago, it went something like this: "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." The last couple of races here, I didn't really feel that way anymore. In
fact, I rather enjoyed the course. About half of the property was made up of ATV trails, and the other half was singletrack
only. In wet conditions, the trails could develop ruts, but nothing in the bike-swallowing range. Like many MHSC venues,
this one was located in the southwest quadrant of the state.
Smithville Lake
This race was part of the MHSC series in the late 1990's and early 2000's and was a nice break from the rocky courses
that made up most of the series. Until the race location was changed in 2002, this was a race generally know for being
wide open. After that, it was considered one of the tighter courses in the MHSC series. When dry, it was always in the
running for Race of the Year in the MHSC series.
Steelville
When I was a regular on the MHSC circuit, Steelville was on a 20-year consecutive run as part of the series. The ranch
property was located in a gorgeous valley near the Bass River Resort. This place was the definition of seclusion. You
actually drive through a creek to get there. A couple of long hills and a very tricky off-camber section made for a
challenging ride. The rocks here are very sharp-edged and will chew up a rear tire like nobody's business. The trails are
generally fast and flowing and are mixed in with some very technical ravines and other obstacles.
Tebbetts
Tebbetts was always one of the fastest races in the MHSC - generally too fast for my style. I don't know of any other hare
scramble I've ever attended where I was in top gear for so much of the race. The race site was mostly pasture and some
very wide-open woods. The rocks combined with high speeds made this course border on dangerous. The 8-10 mile
loops included some incredibly long rocky creek beds and a bunch of good-sized jumps in the middle of a pasture near the
staging area. The course was always fun, but to be competitive, you had to be comfortable with really high speeds.
Thayer
Thayer is somewhat of an oddity of the MHSC, due to its relatively small acreage and the tightness of its woods. This was
basically an Illinois-style hare scramble with more rocks. The property is centered around a motocross track in Southern
Missouri, very close to the Arkansas border. Even though the course was only 7 miles long or so (a short one for the
MHSC), the trails were tight enough to keep speeds down and lap times about the same as many MHSC races. I tried out
my brand new KTM 250XC here in 2009 and found the woods to be too tight for the stock gearing. I did enjoy the course
very much.
Warrensburg
Sometimes called Knob Noster, the Warrensburg course was always one of my favorites. The terrain was mostly smooth
dirt with a few rocks thrown in for good measure. It always reminded me of White City, Illinois where the woods were
moderately tight and could be somewhat muddy when wet. As with most of the Midwest, the hills at Warrensburg were
short but steep, and tricky when wet. One of the highlights of any race here was spotting a B-2 Stealth Bomber overhead.
These aircraft were stationed out of the nearby Whiteman Air Force base.
Westphalia
Here's another Missouri venue with characteristics of what I would call the typical MHSC race site. Most of the race courses
had the same route for both the ATV's and motorcycles, making it slightly less enjoyable as a dirt bike venue. The rocks
were loose and plentiful. One of the first times I forgot to turn my fuel petcock to the "On" position was here, which was
about the only highlight I can remember from this race course.
This course was new to the Missouri Hare Scrambles Championship ("MHSC") in 2003, thanks to a donation by the Doe
Run lead mining company. It's typical terrain for Missouri, with some moderately fast woods, a few open grass sections,
and plenty of rocks. There are no major hills here, but it was a large property capable of generating long lap times.
Mark Twain National Forest
Chadwick
I raced here for the first time in 2000 at the Hardwood Enduro, which was part of the excellently run Blackjack Enduro
Championship ("BJEC"). The National Forest Service manages the land, sometimes aggressively. In 2000 the forest
service decided that the enduro promoters would not be allowed to stray from the established trails. Since the established
trails were the width of 4-wheeled ATV's, the trails were somewhat fast but more technically challenging than one would
expect. The rocks here are plentiful and often come the form of ledges. Sometimes the ledges are off-camber and
virtually guarantee a crash when ridden while wet (which they were at 8:00 in the morning). There are many miles of trail
in this part of the Mark Twain National Forest and even more could be added if the Forest Service would allow. The forest
service does take an active role in containing erosion, which is good, but their methods are odd. On certain parts of the
well-traveled trails, interlocking concrete brick had been laid in certain places, just like an outdoor patio. Some of those
sections were very steep and 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.
Eugene
In 2002, this was a new (to me) venue for the MHSC and has been part of the race schedule many times since. This was
an interesting property, divided by a long, rocky creek. The most challenging part of the course was this creek, which was
itself about 3/4-miles of the 8-10 mile laps. Each year the course arrows would point us down the center and we wouldn't
exit the creek for what seemed like at eternity. 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 was very dusty when dry, and the race was
usually scheduled during the heat of the summer months. Much of the trails were ATV-wide, but there were several miles
of singletrack for the motorcycles. For some reason I usually rode well here. Check out my race reports from 2002 and
2003.
Festus
For two years in a row, this was a race site which made me feel like St. Louis was heaven for off-roaders. Festus was just
45 minutes from my home, and along with St. Joe State Park, the Belleville Enduro Team (Belleville, Illinois), Splinter Creek
Dirt Riders (Fosterburg, Illinois) and the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders (White City, Illinois), I had almost a full season of racing
within about an hour's drive. The hare scramble course was typical of most Missouri terrain, although the rocks seemed to
be flatter and looser here. One particular off-camber hillside always seemed to challenge me. Unfortunately, in 2001 hare
scramble was canceled due to some very petty complaints by the locals (rumored to be owners of those 4-legged beasts
known for racing). Landowner/neighbor issues are a rarity in the MHSC, but this was a classic case of how important it is to
have good relations with the people nearby. Since then, Bill Gusse's OMA series held a venue in this area in 2009, but
Festus has been otherwise absent from most racing schedules.
Finger Lakes State Park
Columbia
During my time in St. Louis, this race was a mainstay on the MHSC schedule, usually in the springtime when the course
was very wet. The race site is an old strip mine with many leftover ridges that are used in various ways to challenge riders.
This area is a Missouri state park located north of the Missouri River, where the soil is mostly the same kind of heavy clay
found in Illinois and parts of Iowa. Since it's a public riding area, ATV use is heavy and deep ruts are everywhere. When
filled with water, there's now way to tell how deep they are. Riding through the ruts often presents random, contrasting
results: an effortless glide over a benign rut, or -- Surprise! -- your bike suddenly disappears below you. Another quality
of Finger Lakes is the relatively tightly spaced trees that are never trimmed for races and constantly slap you in the face.
The park has a motocross track used in hare scramble course, which provided entertainment for many in 2003. 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.
Florence
This race site was, for me, the toughest of all the MHSC venues. Events here were held back when the motorcycles and
ATV's raced on the same day, on the same course. Florence usually showed up on the schedule in July and on the
hottest, driest day of the year. Two races in particular stand out in this respect - dust so thick, you were either leading or
choking. When I think of all the dangerous races I've done over the years, the dusty ones at Florence scared me the most.
The ATV's didn't do the motorcycles any favors, with their morning race exposing every loose rock on the course and
leaving a powdery layer of fine dust at every berm. Despite my dislike for the course, I had some good results here. In
2002, I won my class for the first time in an MHSC race. It was a turning point in my racing "career" and led to winning the
Open B class for the whole series (still one of the toughest things I've ever done). In 2001 and 2004, however, massive
rains made the course challenging in a different way. A wide creek which divides the property was actually too full to cross
in 2001 and the race was canceled. In 2004, in almost as wet conditions, the race was held, but the creek crossing ranked
right up there with Rock Creek at the Moose Run. That year I toughed out a 12th-place overall finish despite drowning out
my KX250 on the practice lap. It still ranks as one of my best-ever results in the MHSC. So despite my displeasure for the
venue, apparently most other racers must have enjoyed it even less.
Midwest Motosports
Kahoka
Kahoka, along with Newark, was the most Illinois-like stop on the MHSC schedule. Part of the reason is Kahoka's proximity
to Illinois, in the upper half of Missouri where rocks are few and heavy clay is abundant. The property is more known for its
motocross track, which is covered in mulch to make it rideable when muddy. And it can be very, very muddy. Along with
Finger Lakes, this venue helped me develop a reputation as a capable mud rider in the MHSC series. The Kahoka event
has, in the past, doubled as a stop on the AMA's National Hare Scrambles series. It was here that I witnessed Shane Watts
in his prime, who in those years was arguably the fastest off-roader in the world. It was also here that I participated in two
of the muddiest races in my long history of muddy racing. When dry, the course was very fun, but when wet, it was all
about survival.
Lakeview Heights
The BJEC series hosted an enduro here in 2008 on the Walters Ranch in Southwest Missouri. Wet conditions made this
course challenging. Rocks were abundant, but just enough soft dirt was mixed in to cause some long, continuous ruts. The
ruts didn't bother me much and I had a pretty good race, but many riders struggled. The property is large, so there were
plenty of trails for the enduro. This race site shows up on several race series schedules and is a fun place to ride.
Lebanon
This race site has been a mainstay on the MHSC circuit, thanks in part to its hosts. The Leivan's, the First Family of
Missouri hare scrambles, has staged this race almost continuously for as long as the MHSC has been around. The
property is several miles outside of town in one of the rockier places you'll find in Missouri. Since the Leivan's are
motorcyclists, the course was always well suited for dirt bikes. When I first began racing in Missouri, this event was usually
held in the summer heat and dust. Later, the race fell early on the MHSC schedule and I enjoyed it much more. Lebanon is
notable for its punishment of my KX250 in 2004, which lost a radiator when I jousted with a tree limb. This course is about
as "Missouri" as the MHSC can be.
Mansfield
The inaugural Ozark 100 was held here in 2008, and this 750-acre ranch also hosts MHSC and Hillbilly GP events. The
Ozark 100 in 2009 was one of the most physically demanding races I've ever done, mostly because this place is all woods.
The 25-mile loops had no easy trails where I could relax and catch my breath. Most of the trails are off-camber in some
fashion. Mixed in are some seriously steep, rock ravines. The Ozark 100 has a night portion, and after witnessing some of
the terrain they had to endure, I wouldn't want to race there under any circumstances in the dark.
Marshfield
Marshfield hasn't been part of the MHSC schedule for some time, but when it was, I thoroughly enjoyed the tight woods.
This course was the origin of the phrase "Spud-cut", named for race promoter Jon "Spud" Simons and his propensity for
narrow trails. It was here where I threw away a top-10 overall finish in the last 100 yards of the race, to a crafty veteran
named Steve Crews. The course was typical of Missouri in some ways (i.e. rocks) but was made more enjoyable than
most, thanks to abundant singletrack mixed in with ATV trails. Guys like Matt Sellers will still remind me (quite frequently)
about the time I tried the "shortcut" down Route 5 to get to the race site via Hartsburg instead of Marshfield.....I still think it
was quicker.
Newark
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
on the property. The terrain here was similar to Kahoka and challenging like some of the Iowa courses I've ridden over the
years.
St. Joe State Park
Park Hills
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. Various clubs take turns
hosting hare scrambles and enduros here. Hare scramble 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. Enduros are held at St. Joe
annually, with many doubling as stops on both the BJEC and the AMA's National Enduro Series. In 2009, St. Joe hosted an
International Six Days Enduro ("ISDE") qualifier race. 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.
Polo
This race site in Northwest Missouri was a good compromise between the often-rocky Missouri venues south of I-70 and
tighter, Illinois-style singletrack. It was always a bike-only course, so the trails were usually in good condition for
motorcycles. Passing was always a challenge inside the woods, but a few sprints across open pastures offered some
opportunities to crack open the throttle. This venue will be remembered for a very hard crash in 2001 , as well as a
similarly painful crash of my regular riding partner, Matt Sellers 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 could be a tough place to race,
but usually a lot of fun.
Sedalia
When I first described this race side many years ago, it went something like this: "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." The last couple of races here, I didn't really feel that way anymore. In
fact, I rather enjoyed the course. About half of the property was made up of ATV trails, and the other half was singletrack
only. In wet conditions, the trails could develop ruts, but nothing in the bike-swallowing range. Like many MHSC venues,
this one was located in the southwest quadrant of the state.
Smithville Lake
This race was part of the MHSC series in the late 1990's and early 2000's and was a nice break from the rocky courses
that made up most of the series. Until the race location was changed in 2002, this was a race generally know for being
wide open. After that, it was considered one of the tighter courses in the MHSC series. When dry, it was always in the
running for Race of the Year in the MHSC series.
Steelville
When I was a regular on the MHSC circuit, Steelville was on a 20-year consecutive run as part of the series. The ranch
property was located in a gorgeous valley near the Bass River Resort. This place was the definition of seclusion. You
actually drive through a creek to get there. A couple of long hills and a very tricky off-camber section made for a
challenging ride. The rocks here are very sharp-edged and will chew up a rear tire like nobody's business. The trails are
generally fast and flowing and are mixed in with some very technical ravines and other obstacles.
Tebbetts
Tebbetts was always one of the fastest races in the MHSC - generally too fast for my style. I don't know of any other hare
scramble I've ever attended where I was in top gear for so much of the race. The race site was mostly pasture and some
very wide-open woods. The rocks combined with high speeds made this course border on dangerous. The 8-10 mile
loops included some incredibly long rocky creek beds and a bunch of good-sized jumps in the middle of a pasture near the
staging area. The course was always fun, but to be competitive, you had to be comfortable with really high speeds.
Thayer
Thayer is somewhat of an oddity of the MHSC, due to its relatively small acreage and the tightness of its woods. This was
basically an Illinois-style hare scramble with more rocks. The property is centered around a motocross track in Southern
Missouri, very close to the Arkansas border. Even though the course was only 7 miles long or so (a short one for the
MHSC), the trails were tight enough to keep speeds down and lap times about the same as many MHSC races. I tried out
my brand new KTM 250XC here in 2009 and found the woods to be too tight for the stock gearing. I did enjoy the course
very much.
Warrensburg
Sometimes called Knob Noster, the Warrensburg course was always one of my favorites. The terrain was mostly smooth
dirt with a few rocks thrown in for good measure. It always reminded me of White City, Illinois where the woods were
moderately tight and could be somewhat muddy when wet. As with most of the Midwest, the hills at Warrensburg were
short but steep, and tricky when wet. One of the highlights of any race here was spotting a B-2 Stealth Bomber overhead.
These aircraft were stationed out of the nearby Whiteman Air Force base.
Westphalia
Here's another Missouri venue with characteristics of what I would call the typical MHSC race site. Most of the race courses
had the same route for both the ATV's and motorcycles, making it slightly less enjoyable as a dirt bike venue. The rocks
were loose and plentiful. One of the first times I forgot to turn my fuel petcock to the "On" position was here, which was
about the only highlight I can remember from this race course.
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