Russ Townsend has been riding on and off road motorcycles for over 25 years. He has been active in promoting new legislation for OHV users, is a lifetime AMA member, former racer, and current Secretary of the Volunteer Riders dirt-bike club.
Dodging Trees in Bybee for the Volunteer Hare Scrambles
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009
On Nov. 8, 150 dirt bike racers from around the Southeast gathered in beautiful Bybee, Tenn. for the Volunteer Hare Scrambles, round four of the 14-round SETRA Hare Scramble series. In case you are wondering, Bybee is the community located off of I-81 at exit 12, close to Newport. This was same location where the BMW Adventure ride was based earlier this year. Full story »
Let’s Help Save Our Off-Road Riding Trails
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
In this column I try to look at the positive side and talk about all of the great off-road riding opportunities we still have in East Tennessee. I try not to dwell on what has been lost over the years. However, when you talk to men who rode in the ’70s and early ’80s, you become aware of how much has been lost as they tell stories of riding at places like Haw Ridge, Bluff Mountain, and Tellico (in the Cherokee National Forest). Hearing how many riding areas no longer exist emphasizes how important it is to keep what we have left. Full story »
True Adventures
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sometimes you go to an event and you just know you’re going to have a great time. Well, this was one of those days. The first day of the Slate Creek Adventure ride (April 18-19) was one of those times where everything came together. The weather was absolutely perfect, the route was lots of fun, and the organization of the event went way beyond what you usually experience at a first-time ride. Full story »
Yes, the Kid's Dirt Bike/ATV Ban is Real
Friday, April 24, 2009
You can thank our lead paint-loving friends in China for this one. It is now illegal to sell a kid’s dirt bike or ATV in America. Effective Feb. 10, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was passed to deal with lead content in products primarily intended for children. This wide-sweeping and comprehensive law has banned the production, importing, and sale of Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs) marketed to kids 12 years of age or younger. Full story »
Dirty Politics
Monday, March 23, 2009
The vast majority of people who ride off road, either motorcycles or ATVs, are pretty much in the dark when it comes to what goes on behind the scenes with regards to politics and how it affects where you can ride. Once people find out there is a place that they can ride, they usually don’t delve into such details as who owns the land, or who worked behind the scenes to make it possible to ride there. Full story »
The King Daddy of All Riding Areas
Thursday, March 12, 2009
This one’s for all the new off-road riders, or riders new to this area, because I don’t think there is anyone around here who doesn’t already know about Coal Creek/Windrock Mountain. For those of you who don’t, let me tell you that this is, without a doubt, one of the premier riding areas in the eastern United States, and we are blessed to have it in our back yard. Full story »
Your Guide to Exploring East Tennessee’s Dirt
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
If you ride off the pavement as well as on it, and you’re interested in all types of off-road motorcycle riding, this will be the column for you. Getting Dirty is geared to those of us who have to wash the mud off when we get home at the end of a ride. Full story »