2013 Brimstone White Knuckle Event Report

Rick Sosebee
by Rick Sosebee
Wild Mountain Rampage!


Getting out and riding is something we all live for, but the long holiday weekends make it a little easier. We had been looking for a place to take our Memorial Day weekend retreat and Brimstone Recreation‘s annual White Knuckle Event made our choice easy.

With our Kawasaki Teryx4 loaded on the trailer and the truck packed with some weekend get away goodies, it was time to head out from our Dawsonville, Ga. home and start the trek four hours north to Huntsville, Tenn.

Arriving into the small town of Huntsville we instantly recognized Kawasaki front man Jon Rall strolling down the sidewalk. Jon was on hand for the Teryx4 giveaway later that evening. This was just one of many events planned by the Love family and staff. Erika Love Schmelter is always promoting the park and the great advancements in technology it uses to put this ride destination in the forefront. From registering on one of the many iPads to the electronic bracelets given to each rider for identification on the trails, the future is now at Brimstone Recreation.

On Friday night we enjoyed the kickoff for the event with musical acts like Uncle Kracker and a young man named Jay Faires. Faires and Uncle Kracker jammed out together to the encouragement of the audience. Faires has been playing and singing for years and is a great talent who seems humble and appreciative of the people who brought him to the show. You can check out his music at JayFaires.com. Faires had been scheduled to appear again on Saturday, but due to unforeseen circumstances he didn’t have a chance.

Saturday morning was a flurry of action as the many riders who just wanted to start making miles in the cool mountain scenery mixed with many others who were in for the many contests at the park. The original White Knuckle Event was held on top of the mountain for many years at Brimstone, but a change this year would bring the entire event to the hollow along the river where it seemed the temps were a little lower. Many walked past the huge display of the Kawasaki Teryx4 UTVs and dreamed of taking the beast home, but it would have to wait until the racing was finished.

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2013 White Knuckle Kawasaki Teryx4 Giveaway

This is the machine everybody was hoping to win at Brimstone Recreation.

Racing events started off with the GBC Dueling Drag Race. The live Christmas tree, just like the big time NHRA racers use, made for a great start. The classes were set up for many displacement ranges and included Sport, Utility ATVs and Side-by-Sides. A volunteer squad of officials who donated their time as well as expertise to make every event happen organized all the racing competitions. If you had an old Banshee or a new Can-Am Outlander you had a chance to race.

2013 White Knuckle Utility ATV Drag Race

If you had an ATV or UTV with you, chances are you could compete in a drag race.

After the group of competitors finished the drags it was time to head over, about thirty feet, to the entrance to the SuperATV.com obstacle course. This was our favorite as it consisted of logs; creek jumps, tire graveyards and many twists turns as well as a double jump that had a secret middle hump for those not paying attention. Each rider, whether on a Sport quad, Side-by Side or Utility quad, had only one chance to make the fastest time possible. This was where walking the small course would pay heavy dividends. Each and every rider give it their best and some even gave it more than they expected to.

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2013 White Knuckle Obstacle Course

Riders only had one chance to put up a fast time in the obstacle course.

Warn winches had the next event and it was the two-lane mud bog. This drag strip of muddy mess was hard on some and great to others. The mud was three- to four-feet deep in areas and thick. One competitor jumped into his bone stock Polaris Ranger and raced a Can-Am Maverick to the finish. It seemed like an unlikely pairing, but both made it and not too far apart in time (the Maverick pulled out the win). One rider was photographed grinning ear to ear as he pulled his Can-Am Outlander X mr to the start line and blitzed down the course. It was apparent he had the right idea.

2013 White Knuckle Mud Racing

Deep, thick mud proved a challenge for ATV and UTV racers.

Wrapping up the muddy races was a foot race that was sponsored at the last minute by Monster Axles. The $250 dollar prize to run the length of the pit was split with $200 going to the winner and $50 going to the second place. About 15 runners lined up and made the crowd cheer as they ran covered in the smelly mess. Two actually stopped for an impromptu wrestling match when they figured out they would not win. A crazy and fun time.

2013 White Knuckle Mud Run

You didn’t even have to have an ATV or UTV to race at the White Knuckle Event!

After a short break the long awaited Kawasaki Teryx4 giveaway took place. The winners of the races were awarded entries for the drawing as well as anyone wanting to enter for this awesome prize. After drawing ten possible winners from the stack of cards, the Wild Mountain Rampage box was filled with 10 paddles and one contained the winning words “Kawasaki Teryx4!” It was Kathleen Brown from Massachusetts that would take the Teryx4 home and it was apparent that she and her family would really enjoy the ride.

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2013 White Knuckle Kawasaki Teryx4 Winners

Here are the lucky winners of the Kawasaki Teryx4.

After a great night’s sleep at the Grand Vista Hotel it was our turn to enjoy the Teryx4 we had brought with us to Brimstone. My wife and I headed out on the trails for a day of fun and excitement. Brimstone is the kind of place you can pack a picnic lunch for and not see everything. The trails seem endless and some are a little more challenging than others. Our Teryx4 handled everything we could throw at it and more. This was also our chance to get one more ride in for our long-term testing on the machine as well as our GBC Kanati Mongrel tires and No Limit wheels! Look for that in future stories on ATV.com.

2013 White Knuckle Kawasaki Teryx4 Water

Beyond all the racing and other events, Brimstone Recreation offers some amazing trails to explore.

If you are looking for a great way to kick off your summer riding season next year, the Brimstone White Knuckle Event in Huntsville, Tenn. is not to be missed!

Rick Sosebee
Rick Sosebee

Whether he is in Mexico covering the Baja 1000, building ATVs for local racers, or out enjoying the trails, Rick’s passion shows in his stories. Learning to wrench his own machines from his grandfather, Rick also has an undying appreciation for the mechanics of off-road vehicles. Do not let the dirt and mud fool you, though, as Rick also has a deep love for street cars.

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