Hi All,
I thought I would give a quick update on the upcoming Whooping Creek event in Whitesburg. I would like to thank David Ige, Ted Cox, Jim Craig, and Sonny Roberts for their help last weekend. 16 sections are complete except for final checking and riding in. If you plan to check for us and would like to help ride the sections in, you are welcome to come out this weekend for some fun. Not much work, just riding. Let us know.

Anyhow, I think that we have hit a good balance of difficulty and fun. Please make plans for a great weekend on 4/16-4/17. Also don't forget that you must be an AMA member and will not be able to join or renew at the event. Please take care of this ahead of time. It is easy via the AMA website.

See you all there!!

Hi All 2,

Ron beat me to the punch. Thanks to everyone that has helped out so far, Sonny, David, Ted, Jim, Ron!!

So far, we have 1 checker for Saturday and 1 checker for Sunday. As Ron said, if you plan to check, this weekend would be a great opportunity to help us ride in the sections (all 16 ready to go). Weather is predicted to be good. If you want, reply here and I will start a list. So far I am relying on my fading memory, but even I can remember 1 person. If you come out to ride you can pick an exciting section, or one that you feel may draw the most blood (or dabs). I have predictions!!

So I have been working this week to connect the dots, with orange loop arrows. Other than the temperature of our first event, talk about the loop has been most prominent. Sure would be nice to hear good things about the sections. Maybe this year!!

The Sections: The plan is to have 8 sections for Sportsman and up, so S, A, AS or is it SA, E, and C will be plummeting down the hill to the creek and dragging their bikes up from the creek, after riding 2 sections each day. Novice and Intermediate will not need to risk their lives on this part of the loop. We will have 1 Novice / Intermediate Only Section each day 6 + 1. So 8 sections for upper classes (that sounds really wrong in my case) and 7 for N / I each day. Depending on attendance and volunteers the NI section maybe should be group scored?

The Loop: The clean up detail (me) has been hard at it this week. I start out with supplies in my pouch (Arrows, Staples, Ribbon) and nourishment in my backpack (Southpaw) and head off into the frozen tundra, oh wait? (how bout that super bowl anyway). Remembering the campfire discussions, I have been easing up the loop as much as possible.

I was going to save this for the riders meeting but I thought I would share now instead (gulp). While marking the trail I have been inspecting all the scattered debris carefully. I have found many rocks and it pains me to say (it hurts to bend over) that they all appear to be in working order. If after inspection they were too far from the intended line I moved them back to where they belong. And if I found and wood pieces close to the trail, I dragged them back on to the loop also, and of course I placed them at an angle for everyone's enjoyment. I even found a few Pine Logs that I managed to peel the bark off of and carried water out to properly soak them for added traction.

All seriousness aside, the loop will be shorter, nicely groomed (watch out for the Southpaw bottles) and Novice and Intermediate will not be required to ride down to Whooping Creek.

Parking: For the Big Rigs we will have parking in a new place, just past our driveway on the right. You may have noticed the Tractor Trailers in years past. It should be solid from previous use, and grassy too. I would like to collect $10 for Parking Fee but in this location only. There are plenty of FREE spots along our driveway, and there is a new circle turnaround down near our house if you are pulling a trailer. I would think turning around before the event, and heading out the drive before parking, would be a good idea.

Call with questions 770 838-1556, or to volunteer, or respond here!! Looking forward to seeing everyone!!!

Frank

Frank,

Was thinking of brining my 8 yr old to ride with around the loop and take in the event. Given that I am riding Expert, is that a good idea given the loop difficulty? Never ridden here before and want to make sure.

Thanks

Tom,

Glad you are planning on coming over!!

We don't have Novice or Intermediate riders going down to the creek because of the loop. The sections at the creek can actually be very reasonable for lower levels but it is fairly steep down and off camber up. With dry dirt the loop is still at least a good Novice or Intermediate or higher section in some spots. I think it is very ride-able, but the hills are just a bit different than most entry level riders are accustomed to.

When the upper level riders go to the creek sections, it is easy for others to bypass, and wait for a upper level rider. The bypass spot is one of the most difficult spots on the loop for N an I riders however. Riders turn down to the creek and come right back to the same spot to ride, just 2 sections later.

I would have to assume that if we are not sending lower level riders to the creek, because of the loop, it probably is not a good idea to take an 8 year old down with you. He is however a McNeal, so if he is following in Daddy's footsteps, he is probably already a better rider than me.

Call me if you like, Frank 770 838-1556

For those coming to the event from the Atlanta area I would suggest driving through Newnan/Whitesburg instead of I-20. The last few weekends had the traffic backed up at I-20 near Six Flags westbound due to road work.

To compound matters, at least for myself and a few others, it's Nascar Redneck Heaven at Talladega too. Having been trapped in the I-20 east bound gridlock after a day's competition is not to be missed.

Frank, I mashed my right foot really good on Sunday (luckily no broke bones) so I will be healing up this weekend.

Have fun

Tom,

Sorry to hear about your foot. I hope it happened while riding and not while shooting the potato gun off the back deck!!

If you are up for it, we have a total of 5 checkers for the weekend. I can give you a spot that you can see it all from a lawn chair.

Get well soon, Frank

This has kind of turned into an information thread, but don't be afraid to volunteer to check.

My route coming south from TN. (GPS and Mapquest).

Basically when in GA follow I75 to Cartersville, through Dallas, then Villa Rica, and finally Carrollton. Our address is 884 Shoemake Road, Carrollton, Ga 30116. We are toward Newnan outside of Carrollton.

Here are the details:
I75 South
Exit 288 GA113 at Cartersville
Follow 113 and GA61 Merge
Follow GA61 and GA166 Merge
Follow GA166 West to outside Carrollton
Left on 166 Bypass around Carrollton
Left on ALT27/16 (Jail on left)
Go almost 5 miles and turn right on Happy Hill Road
Follow the signs for 3.6 miles
Right on Shoemake Road (Gravel) to 884 (2nd driveway on the left)
Free parking along our driveway
$10 big rig parking, just past our drive on the RIGHT (New Location)

So if you want to avoid I20 construction, as David Ige suggested, head south toward Newnan on I85.

If coming through Newnan from the east or down I85 from Atlanta
I75 Exit 47 GA34W right
Right on GA34 Bypass
Right on Alt27 US16 (if coming from I75 start here going straight)
Follow 16 to Whitesburg
At the Roundabout GO STRAIGHT if you want to drive on pavement (Mapquest and your GPS will send you south (left) on Highway 5)
Just after 3 lane passing zone, up a big hill, narrow to 2-lane, turn left on Happy Hill Road
Follow the signs for 3.6 miles
Right on Shoemake Road (Gravel) to 884 (2nd driveway on the left)
Free parking along our driveway
$10 big rig parking, just past our drive on the RIGHT (new location)

Please call if I had too many Southpaws!!!

Frank