Local Backroads Exploring
There are many reasons I love living and riding in Dawsonville, but at the top of my list has got to be the history surrounding the area. From moonshining to racing, Dawson County has experienced much. Moto 400 makes a fantastic starting point to meet your riding buddies to start exploring some of the truly amazing things surrounding us here.

As most of you are aware, Lake Lanier experienced record lows last year. While most of the locals here were busy searching the muddy banks for lost treasures, I was busy learning what I could about the possibility of old buildings and other structures surfacing the water like a slow moving whale searching for a breath of air.

The forgotten road at Thompson Creek Park
My first discovery was made as many discoveries are made… by accident! From Moto 400, head south on GA400 to the first traffic light, which is Highway 53. Make a left at the light, ride for about a mile. You’ll pass the Tractor Supply store and then you’ll make a left at the next little road. This will dead-end at the lake at Thompson Creek Park. There have been many times I sat out on the banks of the Lake here, staring out over the calm waters, and wondered what the deal was with what I thought was the old boat ramp. I assumed it was deemed unsatisfactory by some misguided government official. However, as the water levels decreased, I began to realize the concrete of the ‘old boat ramp’ went pretty far out into the water. Eventually, the water lowered enough that you could actually walk all the way across the vanishing lake! I did some research and learned that this was in fact the old highway, which had to be abandoned and rerouted when the lake was created. The chilly lake water had perfectly preserved this submerged road so much so that the culverts were even there. Recent rains have brought our Lake back to near full pool and so the ability to walk across is once again left to the imagination, however, the beginning of the road is still visible and worth stopping to check out.

The grandstands of Looper Speedway
I had long heard rumors of a race track that was lost to the depths of Lanier, and this always fascinated me. After being able to walk across the lake at Thompson Creek Park, I decided to start searching for the fabled Looper Speedway. After much searching, I finally found it. This is located at Laurel Park in Hall County off of US129. Looper Speedway was a dirt track, and one of three in Gainesville. Hundreds of people used to gather here to watch what were the most popular events in the area at the time. According to one article I read, a few of the drivers reportedly parked their cars in the infield to let them die with the track because they racing would forever be lost in the area without Looper Speedway. When you arrive at Laurel Park, ride to the end of the main road, park the bike, and walk along the shore of the lake to the left and you’ll see some picnic tables, which indicate the concrete grandstand is just below you. I have seen reports starting it was between 10 and fifteen levels high. I walked the width across and it comes close to 200 feet wide.

These are just two of the many interesting things to be found around these parts. Much of my information has come from meeting and talking to locals, something that is easily accomplished when riding a motorcycle. Everyone wants to shake your hand and ask you what you’re doing when you roll up on a bike, as we all know. It’s one of the great things about this lifestyle.

Keep your teeth to the wind,
Mark “Flux” Scherrens