Mud Nationals underway
BLEVINS – Between 8,000-10,000 people are expected to descend upon Blevins this weekend for the High Lift Mud Nationals.
The Mud Nationals started Wednesday and will run through Saturday, with Sunday being an open day for those who want to play in the mud with their All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Tracie Engie, event coordinator for the Mud Nationals, said there are groups of ATV and UTV enthusiasts who will be on hand to compete during the event. There will also be concerts and riding with everyone expected to have a good time, she said..
Some of the machines, she added, cost upwards of $40,000. People, she said, like to bring out their ATVs and UTVs to show them off and see what others have.
Wednesday afternoon the Hillarosa RV and ATV park was rapidly filling up with recreational vehicles, campers and those who prefer sleeping in tents, even though rain is predicted the next few days. “A little rain is a good thing,” Engi said, “but a lot could be a problem.” Should rain prove to be a problem, she added, a tractor is available to pull anyone out who may get stuck.
High Lift is out of Shreveport, LA, and has sponsored this event for 17 years. The last 14 were in Jacksonville, TN, some have been in Texas, but the track there was closed. Engi said the Bonners were at the Texas event. They and High Lift talked about the possibility of holding the Mud Nationals in Blevins. Representatives visited the RV/ATV park and the rest, as it’s said, is history.
According to Engi, people will be coming to the event from Canada, TN, AL, FL, Iceland, GA, PA, Mexico, TX and SC, along with representatives from Arkansas. “This is the largest event of its kind in the US,” she said, “and the first of its kind.”
She said the event got started when people wanted to ride with Scott Smith, the owner of High Lift. He set a time, date and place and had 600 show up the first year. The second year the number rose to 1,500 and hit 6,000 the third year and has been growing ever since.
“A lot of people come annually,” she said. “Some plan their vacations around the Mud Nationals.” She added, the date and location for next year’s event will be set shortly after this one ends.
