| We first heard of Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park | | | | choice but to finish it out. These are the kind of trails |
| one cold winter in Roseau, Minn. One of the Polaris | | | | that can catch unsuspecting riders off guard. So it is |
| test engineers got all wide-eyed and excited as he | | | | imperative that everyone in your riding group is an |
| was telling us about this riding park in North Carolina | | | | advanced rider before you hit these ATV trails. |
| he had visited the previous fall. He kept telling stories | | | | As indicated, the trails are marked for difficulty, but |
| of one-way trails, hillclimbs, jumps, mud, hardpack, | | | | they are also numbered. A map shows all the trails |
| loose rock, beautiful vistas. He went on and on about | | | | and also their difficulty, and the trails are well marked |
| the park. | | | | throughout the system. Plus, if you need to get back |
| The Chance Arrives | | | | to the main office, most trails have signs that direct |
| The first thing I noticed was the nice building at the | | | | you so you don't have to consult the map. One thing |
| trailhead. Inside the building were showers and clean | | | | I did appreciate on the BMMS trails were their |
| bathrooms. There was a vending truck parked next | | | | one-way nature, so there was no risk of blowing a |
| to the building set to serve hot dogs, hamburgers | | | | corner and meeting another rider head-on. This |
| and anything else a tired trail rider may need. Across | | | | contributes to safety, and allowed us to ride at a |
| from the building was a place for hosing off dirty | | | | faster pace than normal. |
| ATVs - a plus in my book. | | | | The Story |
| I was greeted by Richard Mull, one of the park's | | | | Mull started this project years ago. Originally, the |
| co-owners and the main architect of the park. He | | | | project began in an adjacent county, but was |
| was happy to show me around. | | | | derailed when local environmental groups complained |
| Time to Find Out | | | | to the county board. After trouble at a meeting one |
| Mull let me ride one of his own ATVs. It was an old | | | | night, Mull thanked everyone for coming and said he |
| Yamaha Big Bear 400; he rode a Yamaha | | | | was taking his money and idea elsewhere. After a |
| BearTracker. Together we disappeared into the hills | | | | little more searching, he found another piece of |
| to explore the land nestled in the Brushy Mountains. | | | | property and started again. Citizens near the second |
| The first trail we hit looped around a ridge and led to | | | | site (near Hickory, N.C.) were happy to have Mull and |
| a clearing with a great view of the valley below. | | | | his park. |
| Continuing, I was surprised at the amount of | | | | "I started this because I was able to ride |
| elevation change. He took me on the "beginner" trails | | | | everywhere when I was a kid," says Mull. "Now, I |
| first to get a feel of the land and its variety. All the | | | | want my kids to be able to ride in a good area, too." |
| trails are clearly marked and use a ranking system | | | | He also wanted to give riders the trails and facilities |
| similar to that on snow slopes. A green circle means | | | | that he thinks is lacking in North Carolina. "There |
| the trail is easy and can be ridden by beginners. A | | | | aren't a lot of riding areas in North Carolina," he |
| blue square is for intermediate riders. And the black | | | | explains. "And where there is riding, the areas are |
| diamond is for advanced riders only. For the time | | | | overcrowded with too many riders." |
| being, we meandered on a green trail. The trail was | | | | Thus BMMS opened. |
| wide and had multiple lines, including those around | | | | Rules |
| obstacles. | | | | If you go, there are some rules you must follow. |
| On the green trails, the hillclimbs were mild and there | | | | First, is age guidelines. BMMS strictly adheres to the |
| were several off-shoots - most of them marked | | | | manufacturer guidelines on engine sizes. That means |
| with blue squares and black diamonds. I hinted that | | | | that no children younger than 16 years old can ride a |
| maybe it was time to up the skill level of the trails - | | | | machine more than 90cc. Children aged 12 to 16 must |
| so Mull took me to the harder trails. The blue trails | | | | stay on machines 90cc and less. And those aged 6 to |
| were much harder than the green trails; they had a | | | | 11 can ride machines 70cc and less. Safety gear is |
| lot of abrupt elevation change and nice mud holes. | | | | also strictly enforced, and riding double is not allowed. |
| Mull said that some of the trails hold water for almost | | | | Mull is strictly enforcing a sound limit for all machines |
| the whole year, while others can dry out. The trails | | | | on the trails. A 99dB limit at 3,500 rpm is enforced |
| were tacky from rain the previous week, so traction | | | | and all silencers must have a USFS-approved spark |
| was great. Even when things are bone dry, Mull said | | | | arrestor. |
| the trails deep in the woods retain moisture well. | | | | These rules are a necessary thing in this age of |
| Some of the hillclimbs were a little extreme for | | | | litigation. Mull says in order to maintain insurance on |
| "intermediate" status, making me wonder what I was | | | | the park, and not open himself to a financially |
| in store for on a black-diamond trail! | | | | devastating lawsuit, the rules are strictly enforced. He |
| The blue trails were more muddy and tighter than | | | | also said he is not afraid to turn patrons away if they |
| the green trails. A lot tighter. If you are looking for | | | | do not follow the rules of the park. In short, call |
| twists, dips and turns, these are the trails for you. | | | | before you go to ensure you comply with the rules. |
| But all things must come to an end, and we had to | | | | The rules are in place for everyone's safety and, in |
| hit at least one black diamond trail. Even on his | | | | my opinion, they enhance the riding experience |
| BearTracker, Mull was happy to hit the hardest of | | | | because you know everyone is serious about having |
| the trails. He wasn't kidding, these are black-diamond | | | | fun on these beautiful trails! |
| trails indeed. Imagine hillclimbs where there is no | | | | |