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KR4'S JASON THOMAS & MARK HERESCO TAKE 1ST & 2ND PLACE FINISHES IN BLACKWATER 100 TRIBUTE RACE

18th Jun 2012

KR4 Performance/Rockwell Time's Jason Thomas & his KR4 Team-mate Mark Heresco Jr took both of the top spot's overall in Saturday's annual MOVHS Blackwater 100 Tribute Race,which was held in Elizabeth,West Virginia.The 'Blackwater 100' occupies a special place in the history of American Off-Road racing,as it's where Dave Coombs Sr,the founder of the GNCC series,& a pioneer of Cross-Country racing,held his first such event in 1975.Coombs had been contacted by a preacher from a church in a small West Virginia town called Davis. The preacher wanted to help the economy of his struggling town by hosting a motorcycle race. Dave Coombs saw major potential in the land and thought that a grand prix style race through the town and surrounding country side would be special enough to bring visitors to the town.He named this race The Blackwater 100. The name "Blackwater" originated from nearby Blackwater Falls and the Blackwater River, while 100 for the number of miles in the race. The land was rugged, which would make the race itself one which would be difficult for riders and their machines alike. The race became popular when Dave invited a group of magazine editors from California, who went back and wrote about their experiences with the rugged race. Eventually, Blackwater would become known as "America's Toughest Race","The Indy 500 of Off-Road Racing",or "The Father's Day Massacre".The Blackwater 100 became notorious,due to it's merciless terrain,& the many other obstacles which the trail featured.These included the infamous 'Route 93' stream crossing,& a near-vertical climb up muddy clay banks which was made even worse when it rained.The fans would form a human wall on the top of these banks,& would catch the bikes & ATV's when their rider's couldn't make it all the way up.These fans became known as the 'Mud Fleas'.Year after year they became more rambunctious.They were in the parking-lot Mud-Bogging with Dune-Buggies & Four-Wheeler's.They would also splash water on the riders as they went through the Creek-Crossing's.In the 1993 event,Dave Coombs said that the party at the race was "An insane Asylum & the patients are running it".He also refered to the Campground as "Derelict Drive".After the 1993 event,a study revealed that E-Coli levels in local Creeks & Rivers had risen to un-healthy levels.The local power company,who's land encompassed much of the trail,didn't want an E-Coli outbreak on their property.Once this private land was no longer available,the legendary race was history.Photo's,Videos,memories,& scars were all that remained,until three years ago,when the Mid Ohio Valley Hare Scramble Club brought the event back to life.