Joe P. Asher
Staff Writer
The Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority is planning more events this year featuring both mountain biking and motorized off-road events.
Board member Ronnie Shoope suggested at a recent meeting that a subcommittee be formed to study the options available for mountain biking.
Chairman Dallas Gilbert said a subcommittee is an option, provided people can be located to serve on it.
Shoope volunteered to serve on the committee. Jeremy Williams and Lee Stallard were nominated. Shoope later verified both had accepted their nominations.
The board discussed plans for hosting an event with the East Coast Off-Road Racing Series (ECORS) this year, including one scheduled to be held at Verda Field.
Shoope said the recreation board will get a cut of the proceeds from the race.
“The park board gets the camping fees. The Mountain Crawlers get to do the raffle and the shirt sales,” said Shoope.
According to Shoope, this will be an important event for ECORS racers.
“Their series is really safety oriented… Their rigs have to have fire suits, helmets, window nets, all sorts of stuff,” said Shoope. “This race for them is going to be a filler race. It’s going to be in the season. It’s going to be a bonus. Any of their racers… if they win they get bonus points for the year. Basically what that means is if you don’t show up and race and get bonus points then you’re going to get behind.”
Shoope pointed out ECORS will be handling the bulk of the work for the event.
“We are going to assist,” said Shoope. “It’s going to be their race. They’ve got the gate, but, the Mountain Crawlers will be volunteering for some of it and doing the shirt sales… This race is going to be a monster.”
Shoope said he wants an ongoing association with ECORS.
“We don’t want a one-year commitment,” said Shoope. “We want this to be a growing every-year thing.”
A motion was made and passed authorizing the outdoor recreation board, along with the Mountain Crawlers ATV Club to hold an ECORS event at Verda Field during Memorial Day weekend.
Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@civitasmedia.com