Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545069
June 2026 19 Kutskel's long standing experience in these Ap- palachian foothills s ll allows him to conjure up an amazing course. In fact, this year's may have been the best yet. Even though the property has shrunk, the prominence of the event has grown. This season is the second year that the compe tors for the AHRMA Na onal Cross Country Champion- ship presented by Redwood Engineering have been scheduled to ride the Rocket. Paying Na onal and Regional points may be enough to encourage some par cipants to show up, but the experience is what keeps bringing them back for the last two decades. The Rocket Raceway course runs rampant over the valley, so-o en volunteered by owner Mark Carlson for its yearly vintage mo- torcycle landscaping. A wide variety is presented to the riders as they encounter an early stretch of rocky terrain before tackling the western grade where a serpen ne of ght single-track weaves through young growth trees, brush, and shallow roots sprou ng from the firmly packed soil. A large rolling pasture is a joyful grasstrack interlude before dipping into the eastern woods, which are more mature and offer a forest floor covered in fallen branches, leaves, and a rich organic loam peppered with a modest amount of Pennsylvania rock beneath. Highlights here are several freshly routed tracks up and down the incline and a quarter mile bobsled run along Starr Road that finds you banking le and right off huge berms and moguls barely clearing the adja- cent tree trunks with your handlebars. This is one of those fun at any speed sec ons that have populated trail rider dreams since helmets were made of leather. A long gradual downhill returns the loop back toward the start and toward another lap of bliss. And being a Na onal event, the fun goes on for two days! The trail held up extremely well for a two-day event on the same loop. In fact, the course was arguably be er on Sunday as the fresh stuff was rounding into shape with good trac on and clear fast lines forming. Easy to see why this ride is so popular, can't wait for the 21 st itera on! So, now that you've kept your arms inside the vehicle at all mes, and properly fastened your safety equip- ment, I sure hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay at AHRMA Land. Check out the MA regional and Na onal schedule at AHRMA.org to see what to ride next! And remember the next me a li le brat annoys you cu ng in line for the Tilt-a-Whirl…you could be at AHRMA Land instead. Mark Hinton Mark Hinton