Mud Bog to benefit Shop-With-A-Cop

By Mark White

If you like you like a side order of mud to go along with your four-wheeling fun, then the Williamsburg Hillbilly Mud Bog Saturday may be just what you’re looking for.

“It will be a great time for anybody, who likes off road vehicles. Anybody that is into Jeeps, trucks, big tires, four-wheelers, ATVs and mud is encouraged to come out and have a good time,” said Williamsburg Police Department Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson.

“I definitely enjoy something like that and would be in the middle of the mud with something but unfortunately I have to work that day.”

The first of its kind event here in Whitley County will serve as a fundraiser for the Williamsburg Shop with a Cop program and the McCreary County ATV and OHV Club, which is a sponsor of the event. The proceeds will be split evenly. The Whitley County Fiscal Court and the City of Williamsburg are also sponsoring the event.
A mud bog is a timed race through the mud that usually involves either four-wheelers or ATVs.

“We just make mud holes and they go by time as they go through it. The one that gets through it the fastest wins first place. We pay back first, second and third place,” said Ronnie Kidd, an organizer of the event and member of the McCreary County ATV and OHV Club.

“If they don’t make it through, we measure it by footage on who goes the furthest.”
(ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle. OHV stands for off-highway vehicle.)
The competition involves both ATVs, four-wheel drive vehicles, and small battery powered vehicles for the little kids.

Kidd said the size of the mud holes varies depending on the class and the vehicle involved.
Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe said the event ties in well with the adventure tourism initiative that Governor Steve Beshear is spearheading.

“If this thing goes the way I see it, I think it is going to be huge thing for us. We are looking forward to it,” Sharpe said.

“The location is ideal because it is close to the interstate with good visibility and pretty good security. It is an ideal location.”

The event will take place off George Hayes Road on the Gill property near the site where the new sewer transfer station is being built.

Those getting off I-75 at Exit 11 or coming to Whitley County via Ky. 92W should just follow the signs.
Sharpe suggests taking George Hayes Road through the underpass or Savoy Road to get there.

McCreary County success

Kidd said the club, which has been in existence for about five years, has been putting on the mud bogs for about two years now.

He said turnout has been tremendous in McCreary County.

This is the first time the club has tried to hold a mud bog for ATVs and four-wheel drives both in the same day.

Kidd said that normally the two events are spread out over two days.
“It is going to be one long day, and hopefully we can get done in one day,” Kidd noted.

He estimates that on four-wheeler night there are 500 to 700 people with a much larger turnout on truck night.

“Over here, you haven’t ever had one, and it should pull a big crowd with people from Jellico, London and Corbin,” Kidd said. “A lot of people come through and watch them. It’s a lot of fun.”

McCreary proceeds
Kidd said the McCreary County club will use its proceeds in part to try and get some trails opened up in McCreary County.

Because much of the land in McCreary County is in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kidd said the club has to conduct environmental studies and so forth first.

He said the club will also make donations to worthy causes.

“Whitley County has been good to help us,” Kidd noted. “They helped tie trails into our trails, which really helped us. We’d like to see trails going from county to county that is what we are working for.”

ATV competition

There is a $5 gate admission for Saturday’s mud bog with children ages 12 and under free.
ATV registration will start at 9 a.m. and the race will start at 10 a.m.

There is a $5 entree fee for ATV participants’ ages two through 15 years old. There is a $10 entry fee for participants’ age 16 and older in addition to the gate fee.

Winners in the children’s divisions will receive $30 plus a trophy. Winners in the adult division will receive $100 plus a trophy if there are at least five entries per class.

Four-wheel drive competition

The four-wheel drive vehicle registration will start at 11 a.m., and the competition will begin immediately after the ATV’s and UTV’s are finished.

There will be a $20 entry fee plus gate fee for participants in the four-wheel drive competition.
Winners in the four classes will receive $200 plus a trophy if there are at least five entrees per class.

Mud race

Women, who are pretty quick on their feet and don’t mind getting a little dirty, are encouraged to take part in the mud run.

The ladies will sprint through the mud filled course with the winner taking home a $150 cash prize. Participants must wear lace-up shoes.

The time for the foot race will be announced during the event Saturday.

No alcohol allowed

Concessions will be sold at the event.

Organizers say the event will be family friendly with no alcohol allowed. Law enforcement will be on site.
“It is going to be really exciting. I know it might be a little cool, but we encourage all the families to come out and have a good time,” Jackson said.

For more information about the event, contact Rodney Wilson at (606) 354-2755.