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When:
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Registration: 7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Where:
J.I. Burton High School
109 11th Street
Norton, Virginia
Features:
-
3/4
or 1/4 Century Ride
-
Three
(3) rest stops with plenty of drinks & snacks
-
Food
will be provided to riders at the end of the ride
-
SAG
wagon
-
Showers
and bathrooms will be available at J.I. Burton High School and Flag Rock
Recreation Area
-
Free
T-Shirt*
-
Drawings
for prizes
-
Timed
results
-
Awards
will be presented to the top five (5) men and the top three (3) women with
the best time
Entrance
Fee:
$25 (non-refundable, no late fee)
*The
first 100 registered riders will be guaranteed a t-shirt on race day. Additional
shirts will be ordered and mailed.
About
Benge's Revenge:
During
Benge’s Revenge, you will bike the beautiful hills where the famous red-headed
Cherokee warrior “Chief Benge” roamed and conducted his murderous raids on
early settlers before being killed in 1792 by Colonel Vincent Hobbs.
Both
rides begin in the City of Norton at J.I. Burton High School.
Riders will proceed to the Town of Appalachia.
From here, you will split Stone Mountain through Big Stone Gap. You’ll
pass through the area where the original “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” ran.
(Those participating in the 1/4 Century will head back toward Norton from
Big Stone Gap. This shorter ride
will end at J.I. Burton High School.)
Those
participating in the 3/4 Century will proceed towards Pennington Gap.
You’ll parallel Stone Mountain to your right down Powell Valley until
you “shoot the gap” back through Stone Mountain at Pennington Gap by the
“Great Stone Face,” so named by the Native Americans.
Next, you will shoot onto 606 through coal mining country.
Stone Mountain will be to your south and coal-rich Little Black Mountain
is to your left. You will travel
through several of the original coal camps developed over a hundred years ago as
housing for the miners. From Keokee, you’ll ride back to Appalachia and again
to Big Stone Gap. From here, you will climb up the head of Powell Valley back to
Norton.
But,
wait folks! The mountain climbing ain’t over just yet! You’re about to see how the ride got its name.
From Norton, you will ride by “Benge’s Rock” as you climb up High
Knob Mountain. (It’s not called
High Knob for nothing!) 39 x 25 gear
is recommended for the final two-mile climb with an average grade of 11% and
spikes up to 20%. The ride will end
at Norton’s famous Flag Rock where the finish line is located.
Riders will have the option of stopping at the base of the final climb.
This is
not a closed ride. All riders will
be responsible for obeying the rules of the road.
The course will be monitored. Helmets are required!
To
Register:
Make
check payable to Norton Kiwanis Club. Mail
check and completed registration form/waiver to:
Virginia
Mining Association, Inc.
Park Avenue Center, Suite 206
18 Seventh Street
Norton, VA 24273
Must
be postmarked by September 14, 2007. Registration
will also be held Sunday, September 23, from 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. at J.I. Burton
High School in Norton.
Sponsors:
Norton
Kiwanis Club
City of Norton
Virginia Mining Association
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.
Mosby’s
Directions to J.I. Burton High School:
From
Kingsport, take US Rt. 23 and take the first Norton exit.
From Abingdon, take Rt. 58 to Norton.
Continue through downtown Norton on Park Avenue, and take a left at
Jefferson Motel. J.I. Burton High
School is located at 109 11th Street, Norton.
Need
More Information?
Please
call the Virginia Mining Association at 276-679-4211, the Wise County Chamber of
Commerce at 276-679-0961, or Mosby’s Restaurant at 276-679-0101.
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