Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1536785
June 2025 15 2025 has been the season of mudders thus far. The GNCCs have been crazy slop fests, and the Louisiana round of the NEPG was cancelled a few weeks ago when the forest service decided three and a half inches of overnight rain was more than the state forest could take. Last year's Flying W was dry and dusty, however rain during the week had a lot of folks skep cal about making the trip to Missouri. The ranch has a variety of terrain, some of which deals with water well, some not so much. There is dark, loamy stuff in the woods which ruts up easily exposing plenty of roots. Then there are areas with a more gravelly mix in the dirt which drains well and can take a lot of water. There's plenty of eleva on changes, ght woods, open grassy areas, and great clear water rocky creeks that are a blast to rail. It rained some Friday with drizzle on Saturday right up to the noon me kids 50cc race, but by Saturday a ernoon condi- ons were much improved for the 65 and 85cc big kids races. Barring an overnight downpour, Sunday would have some epic condi ons. I always try to help out at the kids' races, and the li le rippers on the 50s had the worst of it. Their mile and a quarter loop was some grass track and some ght woods, and they'd do 30 minutes hare scramble style. The woods sec on quickly became muddy and ru ed, but the li le ones kept it pinned and there were plenty of parents and spectators on the course to help with the inevitable stalls and p overs. Whoever makes electric start minis will change the game as the biggest obstacle for the kiddos is restar ng the bike a er falls. The E-bikes have an ad- vantage in that arena for the moment. Star of the 50 race was Stew and Jade Baylor's son Levi who was the youngest and smallest racer out there. I was at a corner that had go en ru ed out with a couple of deep rooted holes that we literally had to li kids and bikes out of so they could con n- ue...which they did while spraying us with WFO roost. The rut was deeper than the wheels on li le Levi's bike and he got stuck there each lap and even lost his boot in the muck. We got his boot back on, put him on solid ground, and he was off again with an angel- ic "Thank you!" The li le guy soldiered on, finishing dead last but first in everyone's hearts, darned good for a 3-year old.