Okay folks, it’s time for the first annual Hot Springs ORV Park 400 Hare scramble on June 26, 2016! Now don’t worry, it’s not a four hundred mile race, it named that for the 400 acre block of beautiful hardwoods that it’s built under at the 1250 acre Hot Springs ORV Park located in Hot Springs Arkansas. The park is located only about 15 minutes from downtown Hot Springs and is a quick drive off of highway 128 on one side and highway 70 on the other. As you come into the park, the Office, cabins, camping areas, parking areas, bathhouse, and starting area for the race are all in the same location.
The Track:
This year’s inaugural race track will be located on the 400 Acre side of the park. However, we will be starting on the 800 side, just beside the parking and camping areas. Your family could almost sit in their RV and watch the start. After the green flag, the racers will cross Mill Creek road and enter the race track. You will not come back across the road until the race is over. The track is about 7 ½ to 8 miles long and is about a 21/22 minute lap for a middle class rider. The track is very unique in its layout. This track will be known for its elevation change, it has a huge mountain running down the center. You will run along one side, up and over the mountain, and down the other side. You’ll run several miles on the backside before coming back over the top and down the other side again to the check point. On either side of the mountain you’ll find flowing single track with few rocks, beautiful berms, and fast sections that some will use to rest! When you get to the top of the mountain you’ll find the rocks. Those of you that are rock hounds will love this section of the track. This is a technical sections, with rocky/gravely soil. While it is the most technical portion of the track, it still maintains a feeling of flow that everybody from the Pro’s to the D Class will enjoy! We have cut in lots of alternate and split lanes in the track, this will make passing easy and will allow for great racing! We also have four Hard/Easy lines in the Long course. These will save you time, but beware, they call them Hard for a reason!
Our Peewee, Kids, and short classes have not been forgotten! They will get to play on a track that they will talk about and enjoy for years to come! Their tracks are all just across the street with great areas for parents to watch their kids battle it out.
Awards/Giveaways:
As many have noticed, we will be giving out $1500 to the pro class. This will be a bonus and will be split up among a number of pros that will be determined after we see the turn-out. The pro class will also be paid their regular payout on top of the bonus. The First through third overall trophies are custom, handmade pieces of art. Each is a beautiful stone, handpicked from the park, cut smooth, and fitted with a glass front displaying the position.
As I said before, the Peewee, kids, and short classes will not be forgotten. Each class will be award first through third position awards. Also, each class will have a fast lap award and a hole shot award! We wanted to be sure that the young ones feel like they have done something, they are the future of our sport and we want to make this a fun event for them!
The same will be done for the Long course class. Each and every class will have a Fast lap award and a hole shot award. There will also be a $100 fast lap award to the fastest overall lap time regardless of class. Every class will receive a custom 1st thought 3rd award as well.
The Hole shot award for this event will be a brand new set of googles and the fast lap award for every class will be a FREE day pass to ride at Hot Springs ORV Park, which will be good for one year! We will also be giving away a FREE Year membership to the ORV Park, valued at over $200.
We also have boxes and boxes of giveaways to be handed out to everybody that races during the awards ceremony (which will be held under our covered pavilion, which has a stage and sound system). These giveaways are everything under the sun from places like MSRHP, Kenda, Hot Springs ORV Park, EVS, and so many more.
Spectating:
The start will be basically in the campground which will allow everybody to watch in ease! Once the racers are on the track there will be numerous spectating areas. You could watch all day from the area just near the check point, however we will have marked spectating paths and roads that you can follow to go onto the track and watch the coolest areas! No need for a map, we’ll be sure that you can follow them out into the park and back to the camp! Please remember that you MUST always wear a helmet on Dirt Bikes and four wheelers, and that there will be absolutely NO double riding on bikes or four wheelers unless they come from the factory as a 2 person machine. If you bring a UTV, as long as it has a roll cage and seat belts, you will not be required to wear a helmet and you can carry as many people as the machine recommends from the factory. Due to the insurance companies and recent deaths at off road parks around the country, this rule will be strictly enforced. If you need, we will be providing shuttle services to and from the start and the race track for those who don’t have a ride or cannot walk.
Camping:
This is the race to camp at. Hot Springs ORV Park has the best camping around! The Park has four different cabins, accommodating different numbers of people. The first known as “The Cabin” will sleep about 8 people and has its own bathroom which includes a shower. “The Duplex” has two sides, each a mirror image of the other. This is the newest of the four cabins and was built just a year ago. It sleeps about 8 and it too has a full bathroom as well as a mini kitchen. “The Bunkhouse” has the largest sleeping capacity of all our cabins and has been known to sleep up to about 15. This cabin does not have a bathroom, however just past the office is our newly renovated bathhouse. Our bathhouse features new tile floors, well lite shower stalls, hot showers, and wonderful wash area.
If you’re looking to bring a tent, Hot Springs ORV Park has primitive tent camping spots. ALL Camping spots are located under large oaks and well shaded. They also have a beautiful spring fed creek running right down the middle of them. Our tent spots all have nice new picnic tables as well as a pea gravel frame so that your tent will always be level and comfortable.
If you’ll be bringing your RV or camper, you’ll love our spots! All of our camper parking is easy to get in and out of. Each spot has a gravel frame so that your camper will be level and so that it is impossible to be muddy. Every camper spot has a picnic table fire pits. Some spots even have porches for your sitting enjoyment. While we do have primitive RV spots available, our camper spots have power and water hookups. The electrical hookups include 30 and 50amp hookups. And just like all the other sights, a crystal clear stream runs just behind them.
Please remember to call Hot Springs ORV Park to reserve your spot. The spots are going quickly and I cannot guarantee that the premium spots will be available if you wait until Saturday before the race. The Parks number is 501-625-3600. Also, don’t forget that the park office has ice, drinks, camping supplies, snacks, and more!
Other Important Info:
Hot Springs ORV Park is located at 2100 Mill Creek Road, Hot Springs Arkansas 71901. The phone number is 501-625-3600 and James King’s number is 501-318-3585. We will hold practice all day on Saturday, from 9am until Dark. There will be a $5 fee for a short course rider to practice and a $10 fee for a long course rider to practice. Don’t forget that we will have a Pro autograph signing on Sunday at 11 before the race for the kiddos and the fans! Also, please do not forget that there will be absolutely NO double riding on bikes or four wheelers unless they come from the factory as a 2 person machine. If you bring a UTV, as long as it has a roll cage and seat belts, you will not be required to wear a helmet and you can carry as many people as the machine recommends from the factory. Due to the insurance companies and recent deaths at off road parks around the country, this rule will be strictly enforced. If you need, we will be providing shuttle services to and from the start and the race track for those who don’t have a ride or cannot walk. There will be a food truck on sight in the parking lot on Saturday and Sunday and the Arkansas Crawlers (The local jeep club) will be grilling on the race course on Sunday. If I have left out any information or you have any questions, please call or text me, James King, and I will be glad you help you out!
