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Pre-Ride
Reconnaissance |
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TCCRA
Race # |
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Pre-Race
Recon of Sandefur Farms, in Cleburne TX |
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3108 (again
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Date: 13 JUL 03 |
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TCCRA
Race Schedule here.
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You can view a
Mapquest Map by clicking the Map below, once there, zoom and
print as you need to. |
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Click the radar
map below to go the The Weather Channel for this track's
weather forecast. |
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Then
Click here to get long range weather from AccuWeather.
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Below
are some specific area maps, & photos. |
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The track map for you to print and take
with you...I'll update this on Thursday so check back.
And this one just for fun.
( Not to scale, just for fun )
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8.5 miles for the big track,
a little over 1.5 for the Pee Wees.
Amateurs ride first.
Thanks to
Jerry Putty for coming out after work last night and
showin' me around the track.
Don't
forget the festivities at RFC on Saturday night. (again! )
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| Directions |
This one's
fairly simple, and the directions on the flyer are pretty straight forward
and accurate so I'll just copy them here.
Everybody
knows how to get to I-35W or I-35E, so from either of those interstates,
you head south out of Dallas or Ft. Worth until you get to US Hwy 67 which
goes south and west. From I 35 W it's only about 5 miles to the
CR414 turn. There's a tall radio tower right there that you can see for
miles. Turn left. After a little bit you'll cross a railroad track and
it's a couple of miles further to FM3136. There's a "T" there
and you'll turn right. CR 414 picks up again in about 800 feet, and it's a
left hand turn. From there the track's 1.3 miles and on the left.
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| Description |
Well,
I've seen this track when it was a sloppy mess, that was
nearly impassable. And I've seen it hot, dry, and dusty
with an 8 mile rut around it ( left from the sloppy race
). But I would have to say that last night was the
most fun I've had on this track. The ground after the
rains we've had this week was just about perfect. Kinda
hardpacked, not too much dust, and just a small mudpuddle
here and there in the corners in the woods, and a couple
at the creek crossings of course. It was pretty good
fun.
Since we criss-cross a creek for most of the track, you'll
find quite a variance of soil types, from the black dirt and
roots in the deep dark woods ( and I mean dark ), to the
red hardpack and occasional rocks out in the open areas of
Mesquite trees. A good sharp intermediate to
hard tire should work just fine.
You won't find the east Texas hills out here, but there
are quite a few "off cambers", and even more quick little ( and
kinda steep ) climbs outta the gullies. Don't worry
though, I made the whole track on my two wheel drive
fourwheeler. Which should also tell you that it's not too
"bark buster" tight.
You'll recognize some of the previous track here, but not
to worry, the promoter has cut some new stuff in there as
well. In fact, it's actually a fairly "scenic"
course, with the track coming close to a lake, going in
and out of the dark woods, and into the open mesquite
filled fields.
Ya gotta be careful on the first lap
though, I was havin' fun ridin along last night and sorta
got off in high spirits ( if ya know what I mean ) and
almost lost my ass off in an off camber gully. Be careful
!! Remember to use a gear too high, put all your
weight on the outside peg, and force the tires into the
side of the hill...or else you'll have a scrape like this
here ( Patman showing his elbow ).
Also be careful of sharp rain ruts crossing the track just
when you get into fourth or fifth! And speakin'
of rain, don't worry too much about it. We could use the
break from the dust. I think we've seen our share of
cancellations at this track... But be prepared just in case. I'd
have a set of sharp mud / sand tires at the ready, to
boost ya up outta those creek crossings ...just in case.
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| Camping |
The
camp area is fairly large, flat and grassy, not a
stitch of
shade though. The
track is all to the back side of the camp area and both
the main track and the Pee Wee track are accessed through
a gate in the back corner of the camp area. Here's
a warning though: Be prepared with a tow strap, digging
tools, or whatever else you may feel you need to have in
the event of rain. The camp area is fairly flat and
grassy, but we've seen this place get to the point where
getting out can be a little bit of a challenge when it
rains heavily.
Come on out even if it rains of course, cause even
after the rain we've had the past few days, I was makin'
dust as I rode the track last night. I'm just sayin'...be
prepared to take care of yourself.
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| Spectator
Rating |
The
track kinda heads off to the north and east from the back
of the camp area, and there seems to be enough open area
that one could find your way to some pretty interesting
spectator points. Marty says there is a road that will get
you to most places on the track, but as it was gettin'
late last night when I did this recon, I didn't have time
to explore it. I'll try to mark it on the map and update
it before you leave on Friday if I can. |
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| Hotels |
1896 Railroad House B & B, 421 E Henderson St,
Cleburne, TX 76031, (817-517-5529)
American Inn, 1836 N Main St, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-641-3451)
Best Western Inn, 1707 W Henderson St, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-556-3330)
Comfort Inn, 2117 N Main St, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-641-4702)
Days Inn, 101 N Ridgeway Dr, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-645-8836)
Greenbrier Inn, 100 E James St, Cleburne, TX 76031,
(817-645-2477)
Sagamar Inn, 2107 N Main St, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-556-3631)
Travelers Motel, 1911 N Main St, Cleburne, TX 76033,
(817-645-4378)
Western Motel, 1411 E Henderson St, Cleburne, TX 76031,
(817-645-4386)
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| Hours of
Operation |
Gates
open Friday at noon.
No
actual soil was sampled during the gathering of
information for this report.
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