I have never attended or promoted this event even though I have been asked many times to do so. This event never had a good reputation, what do guys think?

E. Texas 'Redneck Games' under scrutiny 12:54 PM CT

12:55 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Associated Press

DALLAS - The way Bobby Williams tells it, his ranch on 100 acres of rural piney hills in East Texas was supposed to be a quiet way to enjoy retirement after a career in the insurance business.

But for years now, he's instead woken up to the roaring engines of all-terrain vehicles, midnight fireworks shows and thousands of drunken revelers who every so often gather across the narrow county road from his property at events like the "Texas Redneck Games" and the "Texas Redneck Muddy Gras."

"We're just a nice calm community and nobody can get any rest, nobody can get any sleep," says Williams, 76. "We've got a problem and I don't know what we're ever going to do to get rid of it. We need something to ban these things."
Also Online

Link: Texas Redneck Events Web site

The latest event ended Sunday with more than 50 arrests and citations, and authorities said Wednesday that they're considering charges against the show's organizer.

The four-day "Redneck Games" took place about 70 miles southeast of Dallas and included an estimated 6,000 people, live music and competitions such as an ugly "butt-crack contest" and the "Mattress Chunk." The goal in the mattress contest was for a team of two to drink a 12 pack of beer, get in a pickup truck and start driving, then climb into the bed and throw the mattress as far as possible.

By the time it was over, more than 54 arrests and citations had been issued on charges ranging from public intoxication to speeding, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Department. Officials are considering charges against the organizer and landowners where the event was held.

"I'm an old fuddy duddy and all that, but you got a vehicle, you got alcohol, and you got illegal dumping, and you're making a contest out of that?" said Lt. Pat McWilliams, public information officer for the sheriff's department. "We are very fortunate that we didn't have a fatality."

McWilliams said the organizer, Oscar Still of Kilgore, could face a misdemeanor charge for not having a permit. Telephone messages left with Still weren't immediately returned Wednesday.

Texas law requires any gathering of more than 2,500 people to get a permit, which McWilliams said Still didn't have.

Adults had to pay an admission fee of $25 plus $15 for each ATV. Children were free.

McWilliams said the misdemeanor charge carries a fine of $1,000 and 90 days in county jail.

He said it was less clear if there was any wrongdoing by Garland Pool, the owner of the 3,000 acre Pool Ranch ATV Park, a mix of sand, mud bog, prairie and forest where the events were held.

The Pool family was described by many as longtime residents in the area. Garland Pool was at a doctor's appointment and did not return a telephone call seeking comment Wednesday.

During the event, some two dozens troopers with the Department of Public Safety, a dozen agents with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 38 sheriff's deputies and other local law enforcement were on hand at one point or another to maintain crowd control, McWilliams said.

On its Web site, the Redneck Games has a list of rules, including no underage drinking, a 10 mph speed limit and no fence cutting. "Being a REDNECK is allowed.....IGNORANCE is not," according to rule No. 5.

There were other competitions, including one to see which guy could throw an engine starter the farthest and a "Daisy Duke Show-Off" for women in cut-off blue jeans. Cash prizes ranged from $40 up to $200 per contest.

Williams said he and about 100 neighbors have started a petition to stop the gatherings. But he's not too optimistic, he said as a work detail made up of local inmates picked up discarded beer cans, bags of trash and hamburger wrappers across the street.

"We need someone to tell the people they can't do this, they can't destroy our lives," he said.

I got word that it was gonna happen and also heard there will be more. This goes for all events that Highlifter will put on. I am glad it is happening cause it should have been done long ago. There are way to many underage kids drinking at these events and way to many small kids on adult atv's. I wanted to go and watch but I just didn't want to fight the crowed. I give 2 thumbs up to the police this go around.

Ronnie

Yeah, I have never endorsed this event all those above reasons.

What is funny I posted this on Highlifter to talk about it, and the moderators deleted my thread. Go figure.

That is one reason I dont visit HL anymore, too many goofy rednecks that think if you aint mudding you aint riding. I would gladly invite any one of them to ride in our hilly conditions. Its gonna be a real scar to our sport as a whole. Whats the big freaking deal about riding thru mud anyways??? NOTHING.

Over at HL if you say something a moderator doesn't like they threaten to lock the post or deleat it all together. I think HL needs to get some new moderators which would make the site much better.

Ronnie

quote:

Originally posted by jsc:
That is one reason I dont visit HL anymore, too many goofy rednecks that think if you aint mudding you aint riding. I would gladly invite any one of them to ride in our hilly conditions. Its gonna be a real scar to our sport as a whole. Whats the big freaking deal about riding thru mud anyways??? NOTHING.

This made the front page of the Foxnews website. Rednecks acting like rednecks must be interesting to New Yorkers.

Here it is on CNN news pages;

Redneck Games' end in raucous arrests

* Story Highlights
* Redneck Games resulted in 54 arrests and citations this year
* Event features mattress throwing race and the ugly "butt-crack" contest
* Similar games have been going on in Georgia for years
* Organizer of Texas games hosted competition without a permit

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- There have been more than a few athletes accused of doping over the years -- but the competitors at the "Texas Redneck Games" might just be dopes.

art.redneck.ap.jpg

Blake Harris belly flops into the mud pit during the Texas Redneck Games in Athens , Texas , Saturday.

These competitors forgo the shotput for the "Mattress Chuck" -- where teams of two slam a 12-pack of beer, get in a pickup truck and start driving, then climb into the bed and throw the mattress as far as possible.

And if you aren't planning on heading to Beijing for the next Olympic Games, there's always the ugly "butt-crack contest."

By the time the latest event ended Sunday, more than 54 arrests and citations had been issued on charges ranging from public intoxication to speeding, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Department.

Officials are considering charges against the organizer and landowners where the event was held.

"I'm an old fuddy duddy and all that, but you got a vehicle, you got alcohol, and you got illegal dumping, and you're making a contest out of that?" said Lt. Pat McWilliams, public information office r for the sheriff's department. "We are very fortunate that we didn't have a fatality."

For years, Bob by Williams has awakened to the roaring engines of all-terrain vehicles, midnight fireworks shows and thousands of drunken revelers who every so often gather across the narrow county road from his property at events like the "Texas Redneck Games" and the "Texas Redneck Muddy Gras."

"We're just a nice, calm community and nobody can get any rest, nobody can get any sleep," said the 76-year-old, who had hoped his 100-acre ranch would be a scene of post-retirement tranquility.

Modeled after similar games that have been going in Georgia for more than a decade, the four-day "Redneck Games" took place about 70 miles southeast of Dallas and included an estimated 6,000 people and live music.

McWilliams said the organizer, Oscar Still, could face a misdemeanor charge for not having a permit -- which is required for any gathering of more than 2,500 people. Telephone messages left with Still weren't immediately returned Wednesday.

The misdemeanor charge carries a fine of $1,000 and 90 days in county jail.

He said it was less clear if there was any wrongdoing by Garland Pool, the owner of the 3,000-acre ATV park where the events were held.

Pool, who lives about 5 miles from the ATV ranch, said he was aware of neighbor complaints but hadn't heard anything from the sheriff's department.

"Maybe the neighbors don't particularly like the traffic," he said, "but it seems like most of the businesses in town had a lot of success." E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

Calling them "dopes" is taking it lightly....

I just posted it on HL, wonder how long it will last.

HL POST

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jsc,

I sent Pool Ranch an email telling them what I thought of them letting something like this go on at the ranch. They had just put an add in last weeks paper talking about how they have family type rides then they let this happen. I used a few more choice words like not being safe there anymore cause of the drunks and trouble makers. I also told them that it definantly came down to money cause the add in the paper promoting the event said ADULT SUPERVISION RECOMMENDED. They have no excuse cause they new what was gonna happen. I doubt I will ever get a respnse back from them.

Ronnie

I'm guessing I missed the rest of the story??? Is HL affiliated or a main sponsor of this crap?

They were not affiliated with this ride. They put on the HL Mud Nationals every year and it is just as bad. Last night LaMigra posted it on HL cause most mud riders attend all these wild events and it was deleted. Greg told me at last years Mud Nationals a young child was found out in the woods at night and couldn't find her parents. Finally found them passed out at the place they were camped. This is why I don't go to these events plus it just turns into a drunk fest and way to many people. I was told today that if Henderson County where the ride took place had a major accident no ambulances were available. They were all time up at the red neck games. A guy I work with had to take his daughter to the emergency room and he was talking to the paramedics. He said it was much worse than what the news papers said it was. I live in Henderson county so now when I go down the road with my atv I wonder if I will be tagged a trouble maker. I think I will get a sign and put on my truck that says I wasn't at the redneck games. I think I will also refer all questions to my lawyer Gregg Jacobs cause I have been ask a 100 times today if I was out there. Some people where my wife works have already said they will not return to Pool Ranch again. I for one might do the same but I will wait untill the September ride and see if they change anything they do.

Ronnie

Thank You for the info.

We are our own worst enemy at times. When we say we are responsible riders, all the anti's have to do is point their fingers towards idiotic events such as this.

Trouble is that "we" responsible riders won't have a say. The media will show only the bad.

Got deleted so I posted it again...

No I think its folks acting like complete morons..must be all the inbreeding

quote:

Originally posted by Arkansawyer:
This made the front page of the Foxnews website. Rednecks acting like rednecks must be interesting to New Yorkers.

This is a good time to examine the ability of a property owner to use his property to do what the property owner wishes. I have a son that lives in the Dallas area, and frequents the Kilgore area to do his riding, racing, etc. He is always talking about Kilgore, and how it is his opinion that the same could be accomplished on the places our family owns in Idaho. It must be said that the idea isn't summerially dismissed. These ranches are in bad financal shape, due to fuel prices, and other external influances not related to management practices. Add to this the desire to keep these places in tact to provide a future to later generations, and the reluctance of family members to accept the realities of the market-place, and sooner or later places like this are not financially viable. It is a fact of life, that others in the same situation, has had to sell, or have another family member-generally one that has gone to the big city and acheived some deep pockets-to arrive on the scene, and allows the financial picture to keep the places going. Just a fact of life!!

So enter the Kilgore scenerio. Should a property owner be able to use that property to inhace his financial picture and get the most from the properties, and in turn possibly making the other properties viable? Just have to take this oppurtunity to mention that in this area the reintroduction of WOLVES are one of those tangable issues that makes it difficult to run a livestock business. It has always been my position in all this, that I absolutly do not want to be in a Kilgore situation. I have neither the desire or the personality to deal with the public on this level. I respect the land, and my neighbors, and don't want to visit this sort of activity on them. But one has to be responsible to other aspects of the business world, and I am not convienced that this sort of activity would be successful in this area. My son fails to grasp that his area has more people in a hundred mile radius, that Idaho has in its whole state. Idaho has public lands available to recreate on, Texas generally does not. But this activity could be done, with little effort on my part, so that has to be considered. He also says he has interest from WORCS to become involved in races, and commitments from racing acquaintances to support it.

I believe an owner should be entitled to do whatever he wants with his property. What I fail to grasp is why anyone in their right mind would invite the liability exposure brought on by this type of event. Unless, of course, you don't have anything worth getting sued over.

I have to agree with Cajun its your land but why would you want to put up with that close a relationship with the public. Lets face it most people are there are idiots.

I was born and raised in the Kilgore area, and firmly believe that the land owner should be able to do as he pleases, AS LONG as it doesnt infringe on someone else. Seems to me like just one big stupid drunk fest, with a bunch of idiots eventually bringing all ATVers down to their level in the public eye.

I use to agree with you jsc about not infringe on some one else but here lately seems that just bry breathing I am infringing on some one else. So I know say not unreasonabley infringing on some one else. Of course that leaves it open to interpitation