The original high and lifted-up company out of Shreveport, Louisiana, came east and brought mud racing with it. Looking to expand one of the most popular events in the industry, Scott Smith, Tracie Engi and the rest of the High Lifter team that puts on this yearly mud bath sighted Georgia in their crosshairs. After enjoying a huge success in 2009, the High Lifter gang has done it once again with an East Coast version of the most-talked-about mud riding and racing event, the High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals.
The stage for this East Coast mudapalooza would be the family-owned farm affectionately called Creek Bottom ATV Park. Terrel and Dixie Howell have had this ATV paradise open for about five years. The 1,500-plus-acre spread yields many deep creek crossings (hence the Creek Bottom name) as well as bogs and race-ready pits that consume unsuspecting racers. There are around 30 miles of trails with more in the works. And what appears to be a six- to 10-acre lake is for swimming and fishing, even though no one was braving the cool October weather to do so. The camping is primitive (for now), but it's free, so that's a plus right off the bat! With free quad wash and showers to boot, who can complain, right?
Arriving Friday afternoon allowed us time to check out the Mudda-Cross and all the incredible machines that were competing this weekend. The Mudda-Cross pit differed from the usual thanks to a break in the center that allowed for better spectator viewing from the banks on either side. This also created huge, monstrous waves from the muddy monster quads that made the racing even more exciting. Getting around turn one meant all the water the racers pushed forward would be waiting around turn two. Some quads even flipped upward and almost over due to the sheer pressure from the waves. The racing continued with the side-by-sides raging toward the finish line at break-neck pace. Even Smith brought out his highly modified Polaris rig to challenge the other racers. As the beautiful amber sun set on the crowded banks of the Mudda-Cross track, huge lights fired up and blazed down on the action, and the Open class duked it out to finish the night's racing.
But racing wasn't the only competition this night, as many racers and family had dressed to impress for the costume contest held on the front stage of the park's general store. The crowd oohed and aahed over four ladies dressed in patriotic armed forces costumes, a family of Flintstones and many others, but it was a lone witch who secured the final vote. Pam Gillian from Ward, South Carolina, took home the honors as best dressed in her slick witchy costume.
With the sun gone and many of the riders out on the trails, we headed to camp to settle in and get prepped for another full day of racing. The Ladner family had invited us to stay with them, and with the fire crackling the seating around the fire was calling our names. Adam Ladner shared with us how that very next Monday he would be traveling to Sweden to show them how we ride in the mud. It seems he has made a few fans overseas and even is fielding calls from Poland. Adam has been known to do things his own way, and that's what makes him unique. His trademark is his straight-up helmet bill, and at any race the Ladners attend you'll be able to pick him out of the crowd. As the fire died out we packed it up for the night.
Saturday morning's wake-up call came via many loud engines and the smell of a great country breakfast being cooked right outside the trailer door. The family atmosphere of the mud-racing world is what really makes these trips so enjoyable, and we thank the Ladners for taking us in.