You’ve no doubt heard of flat track racing’s blue groove of the Springfield Mile, or perhaps the thick cushion tracks like Lima, but have you heard of racing on the gumbo of the Bedford (Pa.) Half-Mile? Here Adam Carpinello (No. 58B) shows what it’s like to power his Harley-Davidson XR750 out of a turn on the thick, sticky muck, his helmet splattered with mud after just a lap or so of qualifying. A heavy rain shower earlier in the day made the Bedford track a sticky mess, but the riders raced on, actually reporting decent traction, up to a point. But once the bike breaks away on a surface like this, riders say it’s tough to save. Carpinello leads Joe Hartrich (No. 90) and Dustin Crow.

Adam Carpinello (No. 58B) leads Joe Hartrich (No. 90) and Dustin Crow (89P) on the gumbo of the Bedford (Pa.) Half-Mile in AMA Grand National qualifying in June of 2008. (Larry Lawrence photo)