MAddOG Morrell Motorsports: Spring Bash 2012... Experience of a LifeTime.

The flight from Charlotte to Knoxville was beautiful, it was early AM. The topography below was incredible and I was excited to meet the group responsible for bringing me out to ride and cover this event - This was the People With Disabilities off road Spring Bash presented by Lucas Oil. This was huge, I was thinking, I was going to make contacts and friends united in Off Roading all the way across the country, and I had the opportunity to be involved in something good, Helping disabled kids get on the trails. I was imagining the surprised look on their faces when they saw the helmets from the HEARTS for HELMETS program, and how cool the helmets really were.
Yes, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. My nephew picked me up at the Knoxville airport, and drove out to the Ride Royal Blue ATV park. We pulled in and met the People With Disabilities group, It was great to finally meet in person. There appeared to be some confusion as we attempted to get settled in, about the Loaner ATV and Cabin, but got the cabin settled for sure, and got my stuff moved in and organized.
Late Wednesday morning we had the Loaner quad set up (it was a little disappointing, an older Polaris 400 4x4, but hey it was a quad right ? due to some technical and personnel issues the side by side I was promised was not going to be available at all, so I guess I would make do with what I had.) and headed out for a ride, approximately 5mi. into the ride we had to divert up the bank to avoid a couple downed tress across the trail. While climbing the bank I realized 2 things 1) the 4X4 was in-op, and more importantly 2) Be familiar with your machine and it's limits. The latter I noticed as I was tumbling over backwards. NOT A GOOD start. Unfortunately the little sportsman 400 was damaged enough that we were not able to continue and headed back for camp.
~ Know your equipment, wear your safety gear, be aware, and take extra time to evaluate the situation.
To say that the beginning of The Spring Bash presented by Lucas Oil, was more turbulent than my flight from Seattle to Charlotte is an understatement. There were no more Loaner/ Rental quads available, and there were lots of meetings and backs and forths with my hosts. I helped set up the tent and raffle items and got to meet some amazing folks (Greg, Tracey, Dave, Ed and the little Fronks).
Friday things changed, my host left the event and things were kinda awkward, as I helped my new friends man the tent and sell raffle tickets for trail therapy for special needs children. There were some tense moments but we all adjusted fine, Thanks in a bunch to the Straight-forwardness, honesty and intestinal fortitude of Greg and Tracey.
By late Friday afternoon a big fella' (Luther) came by and invited us over to the mud pit, and gave us directions. After everything that went on in the morning we were skeptical, nonetheless we headed over to the Ride Royal Blue, Tennessee Gumbo pit.

Upon arrival we found Tracey stuck in the middle of the pit with Dwayne, along with a RZR XP900 ... what a sight... the fences were starting to mend. After taking 4 vehicles lashed together to get them out they moved on to the other RZR, an XP900, that was not only stuck, but had broke a belt attempting a self escape from the gooey sticky thick Tennessee muck. To no avail they tried 4 vehicles - 5 vehicles, different rigs - pulling on the back, pulling on the front, Getting the tractor -- NOPE he was freakin' stuck. Than we heard it, my mind instantly went to Maximum Overdrive (a real classic for you younger ones) grind, clank squeek, squeek, clank, grind, clunk, squeek, squeek, (you know the sound). The fact that it was beyond dusk made it even creepier when the dozer cleared the top of the hill, long story short 2 tow straps, 2 winch cables and a dug out pit to about 4' finally released the maimed XP to hard ground. I can not explain the feeling of standing by the mud pit with the whole group, upstanding people dedicated to having fun and the cause, The people who would've just as soon shot us as looked at us that morning, all one big group taunting a poor broke down bastard stuck in the mud.

Saturday morning, as we stood around and drank coffee and waited for the group to get together for the am ride (yes they were going to let me ride again LOL) things really started to come together, We were finally going to run some trails. The dogs and burgers were lined up (thanks to Dwayne). The band was lined up (thanks to Sheila) and we were going for a ride.

Taking off Saturday morning with the MudBuddies, Greg, Ed and the Royal Blue rangers, I reminded my self that it was a loaner quad (Recon 250 2x4), not designed for someone my size, or to ride the way I usually do, and off we went. Up the side of a mountain, switchback to climb to switchback to mud to switchback to creek crossing , ect... ect. The country was beautiful, the trails were well maintained and had areas you could run faster, and rocky edges you had to be technical on, surprisingly for as warm as it was the dust was not overwhelming. We switched positions in line a couple times so I could get some different GoPro footage, and than I noticed Greg dropping back some on his can-am, turns out he was overheating due to the coolant being a little low. No worries though as one of the guys on the ride had a portable, 12volt pump system, just for this kind of situation. We stopped by a small stream and they pumped water from the stream to cool the radiator, and then top it off. Just as we were getting ready to continue JONNY LAW showed up ( A group of 6 rangers in three Side by Sides). Turns out I forgot to get my trail pass that morning and got ticketed, at least the Ranger (name omitted) told me how to get it dropped after I get home. Well by the time the rangers got done with the 7 of us, some of us needed to head back, we had ridden several miles and had to repeat it to get back. The trip back was going well until we ran up on the rangers, they were putting along and would not move over in any wide spots and at one time had us all stopped both directions as they checked for passes with an oncoming group.

The rest of Saturday was busy helping with the raffle stuff ( there was some very cool stuff offered up for raffle- from winch ropes to Utility ATV rear packs), selling tickets and raising money for special needs kids to get Trail Therapy, THIS is why we are here , I remember thinking. A lot of people donated and bought raffle tickets, THANK YOU to all those who did for being so generous !

That evening before the band (POIZEN WHISKEY) Started, Dwayne provided dinner for the whole camp, burgers and dogs and cupcakes, and Greg pulled the raffle winning numbers, with the help of some excited young ATV'ers. The numbers were announced. A bunch of great people got some fantastic prizes. Then it was over to me, to present the HEARTS for HELMETS, Helmets to Mike and Susie from MudBuddies www.mudbuddiesfoundation.com ( PLEASE take the time to go to their website and see the amazing things they are doing). It was a very, very emotional time, and I felt blessed to be able to contribute to such a great cause.
~ As a side note, due to the generosity of many, and with the incredible help, support, and backup from The MotoShop, FLY Racing, and Western Powersports we were able to present 16 Helmets to the MudBuddies Foundation, to be used as loaner helmets in their program...

We did the presentation pictures, and talked and hugged and shook hands and cried, the band played, the music was good, the people were friendly and having a great time. It all came together because of good people , dedicated to a GREAT cause, and I am proud to have been part of it.
~ MAddOG Morrell Motorsports would like to thank :