We got this On The Edge 2-Wheel Action Shows press release from Tom McNeil this week. The TTC is one of the show sponsors and our very own Alex Bedley is one of the riders.
On The Edge performs trials demos for audiences throughout the southeast and has two goals in mind according to Tom McNeal, owner/rider. “Our goals are to provide top notch entertainment at events and also introduce people to trials and encourage them to try it out”, McNeal said. “If trials demos aren’t connecting the dots to events or venues where interested individuals can try trials out we are really missing the boat. That’s why we encourage people to come to the Trials Training Center and learn more about the sport and take a class”.
The team consists of Alex Bedley and Will Ibsen on the motorcycles and Dave Campbell and Nigel Kohring on the bicycles. With a new rig and setup the shows have taken on an even more professional look and 2012 is looking to be a busy year. Events typically include fairs, festivals, car shows, concerts, etc. McNeal added, “We would like to book more demos at enduro, motocross and other motorcycle related events. That is where you get people who have a passion for motorcycles and many who may be to the point of giving trials a try. My work with Dale Malasek, GasGas USA, is to get as many new people into trials as possible. Without Dale at GasGas, Trials Training Center, Whataburger, Go Build Alabama and Bell Company we would not be able to be near as successful and we hope that we can positively impact the trials community”.
Many recognizable names in the sport have helped On The Edge get to where they are through influence, advice and friendships including Charlie Roberts, Catherine Bedley, Geoff Aaron, Nelson Crouch and of course Tom’s dad and brother Glenn and Steve McNeal.
Given the worldwide popularity of hard enduro, the Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro was proof that with the right organization, a good format, a difficult course and support from the top riders such an event can successfully be held on American soil. The rocky terrain surrounding the Trials Training Center was on par with the difficulty level of most hard enduros, and almost as soon as the event was over, the riders, teams and spectators were buzzing about a future edition of the race.
When you think about extreme enduros and nasty off-road racing, Europe usually comes to mind. Here in the United States we’ve seen events like Last Man Standing and some National Enduros get pretty brutal, but for years the U.S. extreme off-road race scene has been dead. The inaugural Kenda Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro (TKO) in Sequatchie, Tennessee, brought extreme off-road racing right here to the States. It was rocky, it was brutal and we hope it is here to stay.
Every year, the TTC is host to two events (4 days of competition) for the Southeastern Trials Riders Association (STRA) championship series. We call the spring event the Spring Splash and the fall event The 58k. For these events, spectators are welcome and admission is free. Helmets are required for anyone on a motorcycle. AMA and STRA membership is required to compete (membership applications are available on site). Riders are welcome to come early or stay after for practice or training classes on our 670 acres of mountain terrain. See our Directions page for how to get here, our Accommodations page on where to stay, and our Contact Us pageif you need more info.
The 2011 Fall 58K
For 2011, the Fall 58K (STRA Rounds 9 and 10) will be held on Oct. 29 and 30.
Cost : $30.00/ each day; $10.00 age 18 & under
Start times : 12:00 noon on Sat.; 10:00 A.M. on Sunday
Youth Trials at 4:30 PM on Sat.; 9AM on Sunday for $5.00 per day
The TTC is featured in the Nov. 2011 issue of Dirt Rider, in an article by Chris Green (photos by Shan Moore) titled Trials Training Center: Learning by Trial and Error.
The boss of this operation goes by the name of Charlie Roberts, and he serves as the resident instructor. Charlie knows a thing or two about the sport of trials, and having hosted the World Trials Championships a few times at his venue, he has seen the best get it done the right way. You’re getting some of the best terrain there is when you visit the TTC, not to mention the beautiful scenery and the old-school log cabins in the middle of the woods that give you the true feeling of an off-the-grid motorcycle camping trip.
The land at the Training Center offers a wide variety of terrain with a ton of exciting natural obstacles such as logs both huge and tiny and rocks of intimidating sizes as well as the easier ones, which I spent most of my time on.
Dry creek beds with scattered rocks wind through the area like the freeways in Los Angeles. There is even a cool flowing creek that runs through the property with fallen trees laying across it that are possible to be ridden by the daring. The bottom line is you won’t get bored here, just bring your imagination and throw together some creative lines.
Last week’s Cycle News (Sept. 7 issue) featured the Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro (TKO) in a 6-page feature titled TKO for Brown (pages 102-107) with many photos. An excerpt:
Brown led every lap of the final. He blasted to the front right off the start and opened up a small lead. Knowing any small mistake could mean disaster Brown rode conservatively and chose his lines carefully every lap.
Webb, however, had nothing to lose and went after Brown. The Beta rider had fallen in the first turn and was hammering it around the course. His aggressive riding style carried him right up to Brown late in the race. But when he was within striking distance on the last lap, Webb tipped over, which was just enough to give Brown some breathing room and eventual win.
After nearly 40 minutes of racing, Brown was happy to see the checkered flag. “Was tougher than anything I have ever done,” Brown said. “At the halfway mark, I thought I would not be able to finish, but I was leading so I kept pushing.”
We here at the TTC would also like to send out a HUGE thank you to all who helped us put on the First Annual Tennessee Knock Out Extreme Enduro.
We know it was a lot of hard work and we sure appreciate everyone’s special effort to make it happen. This event was a great success and we could not have done it without these people:
Greg and Wendy Clark, Wendy Roberts, Sadie Thompson
O.B.
Gary Smith, Jamie Gourley
Road Guards
Paul and Aaron Thistle, Cathy Priest, Barbara Ganley, Darrell Davis, Troy Roberts, Ian (Fro Man), Burke Breneman, Becky Melton, Alex Bedley, Austin Brown, Marisa Sinz, Papa Joe Terry, John Sipos, and Fast Eddie Faulkner.
Course Marshalls
Steve Glinski, Tim Cash
Layout
Becky Melton, Doug Caldwell, Kim Murrell, Mike Hathaway, Burke Breneman
First Responders
Griff and Alan Shirley
Scoring
Nathan Glinski
Shop
Angela Brown, Crystal Kee
And a very special thanks to Sean Finley, Digital Throttle, and Eric Peronnard, EPCN, for their help with organization, promotion, and all around everything!
From all of us at the TTC:
L to R: Alex Bedley, Charlie Roberts, Ashley Jackson, Catherine Bedley, Sadie Thompson, Dan Brown
Mike Tosh and Gus Niewenhous at 
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