Rumble on the Ridge Ride in Ohio

 

Ohio’s largest ATV event is called the Rumble on the Ridge ATV Trail Ride. It’s held a few times each year on the beautiful rolling hills of Shortcreek Sportsman’s Club in Adena, Ohio, which is also the birth place of Clark Gabel. With over 3000 acres of all types of terrain, and impressive yearly improvements to the facility, it’s no wonder why their events are becoming so popular.

I attended the most recent ride on April 5th, so did 4200 other ATV enthusiasts. Temperatures hovered at about 60 degrees all day, which was the warmest Ohio riders have been in four months. As the day progressed riders attending the Rumble on the Ridge season opener were greeted with the best loop in the event’s history. The 40-mile course included hills, rocks, woods and plenty of mud holes to play in. With a perfect layer of slime throughout the course dust was never an issue.

With manageable mud holes a 450cc sport quad would be my choice weapon. Don’t get me wrong a 4-wheel drive quad would offer plenty of fun, as evident by the many smiling faces of those 4×4 mounted riders throughout the property, but no one could have talked me into giving up the light weight nimble DS450 that Can-Am loaned me. I was fortunate enough to have one of the best quads possible for the 40 mile loop, but it gets even better. I met up with my good friend John Maley, who happens to work for KTM. Guess what he had in the back of his box van? That’s right, a KTM 450XC. Needless to say, we tore it up, switching machines a few times along the way and had an absolute blast.

The road into the facilty was like this until about noon.

4200 riders made their way into the facilty and on to the 40 mile loop.

KTM was on hand showing of their first-ever ATV, the KTM 450XC and 525XC.

ATV Insider’s David Schloss, who lives a half hour away, set up shop and offered a yearly subscription for only $10.

You need a $20 tag like this in order to ride. The other half of the tag gets you in a drawing to win an ATV.

Congratulations Rumble on the Ridge!
While other ride events are challenged with rowdy-helmetless-drunken-littering-partiers that ultimately end up closing down the ride altogether, Rumble on the Ridge caters to riders who wish to simply and safely enjoy the day on their ATV with their family and friends. Thanks to event coordinator, David Lengyel, and the 250 Shortcreek Sportsman’s Club volunteers, the event is very organized and several rules are enforced.

Other events let riders ride wherever they wish, this results in head-on-collisions. Implementing a simple rule to follow the arrows and not ride the course backwards or on unmarked trails will defiantly have us coming back to future Rumble on the Ridge rides. The people behind the scenes take it a few steps further when it comes to safety. Unlike many ride events going on in the country, all Rumble on the Ridge riders are required to wear helmets and safety equipment. Excellent rule! What’s more, alcohol is not permitted on the property as this is a trail ride, not a party. Way to lay the smack down Rumble on the Ridge! They also have 5mph speed limits in the pit areas and all riders under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Well done!

I’ve seen many events become too big, end up uncontrollable and ultimately close. The Rumble on the Ridge ride has a pretty good grasp on enforcing rider safety and based on the many respectful people I met along the trail and in the pits, I have a feeling this event will be around for a long time.

You might know Tarantula Performance Racing for their efforts on Quinn Michaels Outta Control show quads. The Hinckley, Ohio-based company was on hand showing off some of their custom made products.

Behind Five year old Trevor Maley is on bad-to-the-bone Polaris.

Staff members ready for the big raffle giveaways which included a Can-Am Outlander ATV and a Warn Winch.

BRP Can-Am had an impressive display, which included just about their entire line up.

Kymco made the trip from South Carolina to show off their 2008 line up.

As did most of the manufacturers at the event, Yamaha offered demo rides on their Grizzly ATVs and Rhino UTVs.

Here a few event staff patrol the mud bog area.

Ohio is still a little dull looking right now, but the Rumble on the Ridge property will really shine with beauty on June 14th and Sept 20th.

Check it out no liter. Just good people having a good time camping and riding their ATVs.

This is a shot of the final mile of the course.

Side X Side drivers are just as welcome at Rumble on the Ridge.

So are female riders.

This guy wasn’t afraid to get his brand new 400EX a little muddy.

This is the Can-Am Outlander 400 that Ohio’s Richard Rogers won with his free raffle ticket he got with his gate admission.

This is the guy behind the successful events. It’s David Lengyel the Rumble on the Ridge event coordinator.

rumbleontheridge.homestead.com

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