Last Updated: Wednesday, September 5, 2007 2:55 PM CDT
News : Brush Run: From dream to reality
by Melissa Theisen - Forest Republican Editor - mtheisen@forestrepublican.com
When Rolly Yocum first came up with the idea for an off-road race in 1969, he had no idea that it would eventually turn into one of the biggest off-road races in the country. Yocum came up with the idea from watching a television show on the Baja 1000. He believed that a race amid trees, rocks and swampland would be far more interesting than a race over thousands of miles of desert.
When he presented the idea to the Crandon Area Jaycees, the idea took root and plans for Crandon's first off-road race began to take form.
The first brush run race, held in 1970, was a 101-mile off-road race through the thickest forest and roughest terrain in the state. The race would begin and end on the fairgrounds in Crandon. To race on the 25-mile track, however, the Crandon Jaycees had to obtain permission from 18 different land owners.
Once the location of the race was mapped out and the landowner's permission was obtained, brush run planners had to actually get racers to compete in the event.
By the time the date of the race approached, 47 entries were recorded along with two classes of motorcycles. Among the racing vehicles was a 1947 Desoto, a 1949 Chevy, a one-ton milk truck, an old pickup and a chopped up Volkswagon turned into a dune buggy.
Wally Schauer was the winner. His Volkswagon/dune buggy crossed the finish line with a time of three hours, two minutes and 15 seconds, a far cry from the times of races today. For winning, Schauer received $500, which, compared to today's $125,000 purse is mere chump change.
However, before the awards were presented, organizers scavenged the grounds for people who might have gotten lost along the race course. 27 people were found lost in the woods.
In 1973, the Wolfhead Sportsmans Club took over sponsorship of the races. Due to constantly changing landowners and complaints from race fans who claimed they could not see enough of the action of the races, the location was moved to a closed circuit in southwest Crandon in Pitt's Field.
The race course was again moved in 1983 to its current location at the Louis Plummer farm a mile west of Crandon. The farm offered a larger location than Pitt's Field as well as building that could be used as a base. The barn located on the property was modified to be a meeting room, bar, kitchen, dance hall and viewing point for the race.
Brush Run has come a long way from its humble beginnings, now featuring races in the 1600 Light Buggy, Stock Pickup, 1600 Buggy, Super Stock Pickup, Super Buggy, Classix, Enduro Truck, PRO 4x4 Pickup, Light Pickup and PRO 2WD Pickup categories. It has also gained numerous sponsors including the Forest County Potawatomi, Schaefer's Food Mart and BorgWarner, just to name a few.
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday featured the 38th Anniversary of the BorgWarner World Championship Off-Road Races. Besides the races, a parade was featured, as well as the Vic Ferrari Band on Saturday at 7 p.m. and fireworks following the concert. The 13th Annual BorgWarner World Championship Manufacturer's Shootout for the $125,000 cup concluded the events on Sunday at 5 p.m.
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