Posts
870
Joined
5/30/2021
Location
Corryton, TN, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/23/2022 8:01am
Hey folks,
As my move to east TN becomes more definite, I am thinking more and more of what life will be like and how the joys in life will be impacted. I already know my Jeep/wheeling hobby is going to be less exciting, I have learned to accept that. I am approaching 50 and am ramping up my moto life more and more each year (I have been at this since 1983) and with the kids getting older and growing up, I have had more time and energy for my main passion, and that is track riding, working on bikes, spending way more than I should on gear, etc.
Anyway, I know there was threads here recently seeking the same in KY so I got a little info there, but any of you on the east side of TN, west side of NC, where do you guys all ride? I mainly just go to tracks on open practice days, my hands do not do well with full motos (I will also be seeking a surgeon when I get there), but I am mainly seeking out practice tracks, hopefully within a two hour drive from the Kingston/Knoxville area. I was hoping to make Muddy Creek my go-to, but my research says they do not have practice days there, so I am scrambling now. I don't mind private tracks, I don't mind helping financially support private tracks, I don't mind spending an extra weekend a month helping maintain said tracks, I keep my mouth shut if I ride said private tracks, you guys know the drill. I am just not at all a woods rider, and any suggestions y'all may have, I sure would appreciate.
Thanks!
As my move to east TN becomes more definite, I am thinking more and more of what life will be like and how the joys in life will be impacted. I already know my Jeep/wheeling hobby is going to be less exciting, I have learned to accept that. I am approaching 50 and am ramping up my moto life more and more each year (I have been at this since 1983) and with the kids getting older and growing up, I have had more time and energy for my main passion, and that is track riding, working on bikes, spending way more than I should on gear, etc.
Anyway, I know there was threads here recently seeking the same in KY so I got a little info there, but any of you on the east side of TN, west side of NC, where do you guys all ride? I mainly just go to tracks on open practice days, my hands do not do well with full motos (I will also be seeking a surgeon when I get there), but I am mainly seeking out practice tracks, hopefully within a two hour drive from the Kingston/Knoxville area. I was hoping to make Muddy Creek my go-to, but my research says they do not have practice days there, so I am scrambling now. I don't mind private tracks, I don't mind helping financially support private tracks, I don't mind spending an extra weekend a month helping maintain said tracks, I keep my mouth shut if I ride said private tracks, you guys know the drill. I am just not at all a woods rider, and any suggestions y'all may have, I sure would appreciate.
Thanks!
When you find said private track, convince them to call me 🙂
R3 is meh. Fast Farms is good but it is hardly ever open. I-81 sucks, Little Valley MX is another practice track just north of Knoxville, but it is hit or miss on opening as well, and I think they do member deal there. Honestly if you are into jeeps/wheeling your hobby will not be less exciting in this area if you are into that sort of thing. Windrock, Royal Blue, and Huntsville are areas you would probably enjoy the jeep scene.
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Thanks also for the mention of Windrock and the other wheeling trails! It kills my assumption the scene was mainly just 'mudding'. I have been doing the Jeep thing since about 1995, I have built a few Jeeps over the years, have gone from just sticking to trails, to the rock crawl scene, to when it got dangerous when buggies became trendy, to when purpose-built rock gardens were built, ALWAYS been into the more 'hardcore' snow wheeling (1 PSI stuff), and back to nowadays, mainly trail wheeling, still into the snow, and rock gardens now and then, I am not as into the hard stuff as I used to be, it will be fun to see new playgrounds and a change of scenery. I have the typical JKU on 40s, with all of the stuff underneath you need to do it all right, it has been a lot of fun to build over the years, and these newer Jeeps with longer arms can still drive almost like stock on 40s, it is pretty sweet, and point and shoot off road, it will do whatever you want it to - good family fun
Thanks again!
https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/knoxville-looks-blast-dirt-downt…
I’ve been in Chattanooga coming up on 2 years and the moto scene sucks. Nothing good within 1.5 hours. I’ve been riding WMMX but it’s really a mini bike track. No real obstacles and never rough. It does develop decent,deep ruts. Track prep is always VERY good but so very basic and small. None of the other “tracks” are open on a regular basis or at all. Sand Mountain is better but about 2.25 hours each way for me.
Thanks for the response! So far my time has been spent at WMMX, and starting to spend time at Little Valley where I am probably going to get a membership. What I like about WMMX is the groomed aspect (fresh tracks in the AM are a treat), it is definitely on the basic and safe side, but scratches the itch, especially for a vet rider and is under an hour to get to. Little Valley is neat, John the owner is a very mellow and cool guy. My biggest gripe there, riding alone.. I was joking about needing a life alert to ride there in case you crash.. LOL. But it is 25 mins from my door and the way it is built natural terrain on a hillside, it doesn't get the beating from the weather that a lot do.
I am dying to go ride R3 next, it is under two hours from me, just waiting for the right day and weather.
Have you tried fast farms in mcminnville? They seem to be open a few times a week for practice or racing. I just bought 16ac in Cookeville with the intentions of opening a practice track on the property . I have a few more things to fall into place but I'm hoping to start laying the track out this fall and be open next spring
I go to WNC every summer for a few weeks and this year I bought my son a new bike on the way up. Looking on the net and google maps I was pretty happy to see many tracks within 2 hours. Unfortunately, it seems that none are open for regular practice, only private rentals and races. We happened to go to 221MX thinking it would be open, lucky for my boy, it was rented and we were allowed to ride. Track was fun. Maybe there isn’t enough riders to keep these tracks open every weekend?
Im an hour east of Asheville and It seems like woods is definitely more popular here which is fine as thats what I like but there is quite a few MX tracks but most only hold races rarely practice days it seems.
Id say its more fun on ADV and dual sport bikes but would certainly be fun in a jeep, eastern TN and WNC is probably some of the best ADV riding in the country. Look all around Tellico plains, over towards Robbinsville up and around the Dragon there is tons of forest roads.
Dusting this off a bit. I know there was a mention that I-81 Motosport Park sucks... Can you guys tell me more about that track? On the surface, it looks a lot like WMMX which has been my favorite so far. I-81 is almost the same distance as WMMX from me, it would be nice to have an alternative when WMMX is closed on questionable weather weekends.
I can't tell if R3 is ever open, the videos seem like a nice track, but their FB content is never anything about the track, just items for sale. I have tried to send them a message, I guess I should probably just pick up the damn phone.
It's R3 Motoworx LLC on instagram, their facebook page got hacked awhile back and they never made a new one. The R3 sale page isn't theirs from what I understand. As far as I-81 it has been at least 10yrs since I rode there, I got a concussion and never went back lol. It used to be like riding on pavement, but I have heard it's changed since then. Tim at wmmx is a great dude, but yeah, if he thinks it is going to sprinkle or a wind over 5mph he locks it down.
Just a heads up, they are open Nov.11 & 12 9am-3pm All veterans ride free. R3 that is.
Does R3 have a separate kids track like WMMX?
@tmauto769
You said it yourself lol... Just call man. They're open as often as they possibly can be. Probably well over 10 ride days a month. One of my go to places.
Pit Row
It’s sad WMMX is the only consistent track close to Chattanooga. WMMX does a great job prepping but it’s a mini bike track. There are no challenging obstacles or jumps. I realize this is by design but riding a track that requires no suspension as it never gets rough and there aren’t any jumps gets boring. Running the track on a big bike in 1st or 2nd gear is not ideal. There is a lot of room to make it a “real” track for big and small bikes but this would greatly increase prep and maintenance time. Oh well, it’s better than nothing.
It is why I bring my 125 there LOL. I really only use 2 gears there on the 350. The older I get, the more I appreciate groomed tracks and tabletops though.
Another vote here for the offroad scene out there, windrock, brimstone, royal blue/tackett creek (TWRA managed areas) have become huge for sxs and jeeps over the last ten years. Just made the trip from Illinois this past weekend. You're in a prime location if you end up in knoxville.
Anyone know if Thunder Valley MX in Livingston, TN is still running?
yes they do, I couldn't tell you how good it is though.
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