by: Jared Bolton
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 | 11:50 AM
In honor of Snowshoe this weekend, we’ve taken Tuesday Toolbox to a slightly different direction in order to pay tribute to the race and its ties to the original GNCC event, the Blackwater 100.
First event:
Snowshoe – June 23-24, 2007
Blackwater – June 22, 1975
Last event:
Snowshoe – Still going strong!
Blackwater – June 19-20, 1993
First overall bike winner:
Snowshoe – David Knight: Isle of Man, UK
Blackwater - Kevin LaVoie: Chepachet, RI
First overall quad winner:
Snowshoe – Bill Ballance: Smiths Grove, KY
Blackwater – Donnie “Skud” Huggins: New Martinsville, WV
First winning bike brand:
Snowshoe – KTM
Blackwater – Ossa
First winning quad brand:
Snowshoe – Yamaha
Blackwater – Honda
Last bike winner:
Snowshoe – Rory Mead: New Zealand
Blackwater – Fred Andrews: Salem, OH
Last quad winner:
Snowshoe – Chris Borich: Sunbury, PA
Blackwater – Barry Hawk: Smithfield, PA
Most bike wins:
Snowshoe – David Knight (3)
Blackwater – Mark Hyde (4)
Most ATV wins:
Snowshoe – Brian Wolf/Adam McGill (2)
Blackwater – Bob Sloan (3)
Number of different bike winners:
Snowshoe – 4
Blackwater – 12
Number of different quad winners:
Snowshoe - 4
Blackwater – 7
While those may be a few fun facts for you, the similarities run much, much deeper. The rocky, rugged terrain of Snowshoe is very much like that of Blackwater. The grand prix, “in town” style start and long loop that Snowshoe offers is yet another tribute to the origins of GNCC Racing as Blackwater started the exact same way, in the streets of downtown Davis, West Virginia.
The rugged Snowshoe trails are very similar to those that littered the Blackwater course. About the only thing Snowshoe is missing are the deep water crossings, along with the infamous Route 93 River Crossing. Other than that, Snowshoe is very much a modern Blackwater with its rocks, it’s mud, it’s roots and endless challenges it presents the riders.
When Dave Coombs found the small town of Davis, he knew that the town would be the perfect fit for a race that only the strongest riders with the strongest machines could survive, and for 19 years Blackwater challenged many riders and machines. You know you’ve built a successful event when 20 years after the final event, it still lives on through stories, videos and more.
Blackwater was one of the most iconic off-road racing events in the world, and Snowshoe does it’s best to honor exactly that. For those of you racing this weekend, don’t forget why Snowshoe is ran the way it is. The race itself is a tribute to the one single event that is responsible for our entire sport, and it’s a great honor to remember that race and let its legacy live on.
