Four-wheel enthusiasts have fun in mud
When most people decide to conquer a mountain they usually start at the bottom and work their way up to the top, but that’s apparently not the way participants in the annual New Years Day ride on Harrison Ferry Mountain do it.
These four-wheel drive enthusiasts start at the top, and work their way to the bottom. It’s obvious these enthusiasts have concluded it’s best to have gravity working for you, rather than against you, though some would probably argue it’s just as tricky going down the mountain as it is coming up.
In any case, the event drew hundreds of devotees and their machines to the starting area on Highway 8 near the old fire station. The weather was pleasantly warm, and, though the sky seemed to threaten rain, none actually fell on the assembled crowd. But surprisingly, the lack of precipitation didn’t seem to prevent some riders from getting a satisfactory coat of mud.
It seems kids of all ages can locate a mud puddle if they really need one.
Local resident Ron Lee has been involved in the ride for quite some time.
“About 10 years now,” he said. “But it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been up here.”
Lee said there are several things he enjoys about the ride.
“Just the outdoors,” he said, “and the beauty of the country and the scenery. There’s a lot of fun, a lot of friends.”
Participants come from all around the area, according to Lee.
“There’s people coming out of Cookeville, Sparta,” he said. “I’m waiting on some people coming out of Nashville right now.”
Though the ride isn’t really sponsored by one organization, there are some who participate, including one to which Lee belongs.
“We’re members of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association,” he said. “Not everybody up here is, but several are. We’ve got about 1,000 members in the Southeast United States. We promote carrying out more garbage than we carry in. Education for safety, seatbelts and all that. It’s just good family recreation. That’s what we’re after.”
Jared Collier, who has been coming to the event for around four years, agreed.
“It’s a nice hobby,” he said. “You get out and meet people and have fun with all your friends.
Jake Trapp, 17, said he started out young, first coming when he was 11-years-old or so, but has his own reason for making the ride.
“For the thrill,” he said, with a wide grin.
Derek Marten, who was born in Detroit, but has lived here for most of his life, said the ride is not to be missed.
“If you live in Warren County,” he said, “enjoying the annual New Years Day ride is an absolute must. You get to see a lot of people and have a lot of fun. I love it.”
No one seems to know when the tradition got started, but Lee estimated it’s been going on for 15 years or so, but not on the current scale.
“It may have started from hunters going in,” Lee said. “But like I said, people just like getting in the outdoors. It’s a rural area,” he added with a laugh. “Welcome to Americana.”