I've updated the directions page again with more details, thanks to Wade Wassinger, about how to get the the WRM gathering area once you get onto Mill Creek Rd after turning off of Hwy 16 West.
Here're link's to the trail map and legend of the WRM riding area, thanks again to Wade Wassinger.
Here's a page with a good map of the trails at Chadwick, a map to the riding area and other information. We'll meet at the "K.C. Day Use Area".
Check out the Accommodation information web page. Jim Cook found out that Kenny's court is not available and discusses other options. Thanks Jim!
The plan this year is to meet at Chadwick, MO on Friday, 2/22/02 or Saturday, 2/23/02. We'll ride there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will most likely be a few days of addtional riding, too. A lot of us from up north like to make a week out of the trip so we'll be riding through the following week.
Looks like we will be headed to White Rock (WRM) after the weekend. Jim says he may hit Train Robber and Breezy Hills after that, too, but I'm pretty sure I'll ride at WRM through Thursday and head home Friday. I've updated the directions page with details, thanks to Stewart Hall, about how to get to the WRM gathering area from Chadwick.
Other news. Stewart said he's heard that an ice storm has knocked down some trees at White Rock Mountain recently. Sounds like that will not be a show stopper, though. I've gotten feedback from Wade Wasinger and he said he was riding there shortly after the storm. He said there were some trees down but it's not that big of a deal. He said it was quite fun riding there, actually. Jim Cook found an AA level rider, Eric Brewer, who lives in Fayetteville, just west of White Rock. He has offered to guide for us on Monday, 25, at White Rock. Eric is also Jim's Part's Unlimited rep.
Bentley Wolfe is organizing the first ever WUDI stop-n-hop trials ride as a part of WUDI IV! Click here for more information. New information on this page as of 1/24/02.
Stewart said he was in Kay's store the other day. That's in the town of Chadwick and it's where you go to buy the permits to ride. He said that the permits are still $35 for a yearly and $5 a day for temporary ones. Kays store has a few dirt bike items on hand for sale that a shop in Ozark brings by (tires,tubes,brake pads,oils,small items). He also said the water was still on at the campground.
Chadwick Weather:
The 3 Feb trips I've made have all been pleasant, at least for us northern types. NORMALLY, it might get into the low 30's at night but usually it is warmer than that. We've seen some rim ice on puddles in the
morning from time to time but that's not usual and it's only in the lower ATV trails. It gets up into the 50's to upper 60's during the day generally, which is perfect riding weather to me. I've seen it much warmer and somewhat cooler. The rocks never seem to get any ice on them, which is good.
Last year on the last evening we were in Chadwick we got some cold weather. We also got an ice/rain/thunder/tiny hail storm that made riding that last day pretty tricky. Only 5 of us were left at that point and only 3 of us were crazy enough to go riding.
Looks like I'll be traveling down in the RV again for this trip. It's the fun way to stay as you can just kick your boots off at the end of the ride and fall asleep around the campfire. For anyone not camping, here's some accommodation info for the Chadwick/Branson area.
Stewart Hall will be the local trail ride guru at Chadwick. Stewart's club maintains trails, sets up the HS and Enduro held at Chadwick and rides there often. He's a great guy and a hotshoe. He's won his class in HS and Enduro in past years and is an A rider. Stewart ran into a nasty rock at Chadwick in April '00 and ended up loosing two toes out of the deal.
He's back in the saddle now and riding well from what I hear. He's got a great attitude about the whole incident as evidenced by his new email address of two_toes_gone! I'm pretty sure that he took special care of the offending rock once he got back on his feet, too. :-)
I (John Brunsgaard) have ridden at Chadwick several times now. Chadwick has a well developed and marked
trail system. It's very rocky (Stewart calls it 'The Rock'!) but not like boulders or anything. Mostly
planted flat rocks with a lot of loose rock in some areas. I love riding down there but it's hard on tubes
and tires. Make sure you get thick tubes from Jim.
Speaking of which, it's time to plug our sponsor and namesake. Jim, for those of you who don't know, owns Smackover Motorsports in scenic Smackover, Ark. Click on his name or picture above to link to his website. He sells GasGas dirtbikes. Jim can get you almost any part for whatever bike you ride for great prices. If you have him deliver it to the ride you will not have to pay shipping or sales tax.
Anyway, he's a great guy who will give you the shirt off his back. I've ridden with several times now and I even
rode with him at his beloved (for good reason, too) Breezy Hills riding area near Alexandria, LA over Thanksgiving in 99.
Mike Kruger may be at the ride as well this year. He's the manager of Cycle Zone KTM in Topeka, KS. So for you KTM guys, he'd be able to bring you parts if you let him know in advance. Here's his website: http://www.cyclezonektm.com
Chadwick requires a permit to ride. They may be purchased in the town of Chadwick. Spark arrestors are
also required at Chadwick. Permits for Chadwick are $5 per day and $35 per year, or at least that's what they were last year.
I talked to Jim at length about tubes and tires. He's going to run the Dunlop 756 front/Michelin S12 rear combo that he loves so much. I have the same setup on my bike right now so I may go with it, too. Other tires he recommended are a Dunlop 755 front, a new Michelin M12 rear, or a 6 ply Vee Rubber that he sells. He says he's going to try a Michelin H12 this year.
You should run heavy tubes in both tires. Moose Super Tubes are very good tubes and Jim sells them. Give him a call at 870-725-3966 to place your orders. Again, click on his picture at the top of this page to go to his web site.
So just what is annual WARM WUDI ride? Good question! It stands for the annual WUDsracer Invitational. It happens each year in February to let us northern types get some winter riding in. The only riding we get to do at that time of year is on snowmobiles up here in Minnesota! It's only open to whomever, oops, that's all ya'lls who can come so it's not much of an invitational, actually. Please pass the word on. The more, the merrier.
These events started when Jim Cook extended an invitation to my Yankee self and friends to come down south and ride. He's since come to regret the offer but he's too much of a gentleman to turn me down when I come begging each winter. It's grown from there into whatever it is now. This is NOT a full blown spodefest. However, there is some MX available in the Branson/Chadwick area but I don't have any details about that.
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