First Desert Race

[dave186]

Im going to race my first Hare & Hound next month, and having never done it before, I need some tips. I plan on running the sportsman class, which I believe is just one lap of the 40 mile course. What should I do to prepare? I plan on going out this weekend and doing some practicing. Will I be able to go 40 miles on one tank of gas? I have an IMS 3.4gal tank on my KX250. What about tools? any other tips?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[azcourt]

Dave,
The only advice I can give is start drinking lots of water now, and don't try to win your first race. Just have fun.
Good Luck

 

[dave186]

Ive got my 100oz camelbak all ready to go. Im just going to take everything I can think of and get there early. I hope I can make it 40 miles. I dont think ive ever ridden that far without stopping before. My main goal is just to have fun like you said. But I am concerned about gas, im assuming they will have at least one gas stop, but if I can make it without gas, do i have to stop? or should I just not risk it? Im going to put a cheap bicycle computer on my bike and go out this weekend to see about how far I can go on a tank.

 

[azcourt]

Dave,
Check this site out. You can ask Destry anything you want to know about Kawasaki's and being the National hare and Hound champ, he can give expert advice. I believe he said his favorite race is in Idaho. Check the message board area, he usually answers daily.

Destry's site

 

[dave186]

I believe his favorite race is the Idaho City ISDE qualifier. Its not a desert race. Ill see what I can find on his site.

 

[Strick]

My advise is this, especially on your 1st race. DON'T try to get the holeshot. You will pass everyone slower than you within 40 miles. It get pretty hairy bumpin' bars at the start if you have never done it before. As you get into the race keep reminding yourself you are racing. It will keep you going faster.

3.4 gallons is enough to go twice that far, so you are fine there. Just wear your normal fanny pack that you use on trail rides, that is enough tools, and there should be sweepers to help you along the way if anything major should happen.

Good LucK, and most of all have FUN!

Remember to finish is a win!!

 

[Thumpthump]

:D Have fun ,one race and I was hooked hope the same goes for you.Just remember slower means faster.by the way what race are you going to?

 

[Unit74]

I doubt there will be a gas stop in a 40 mile race unless you hide a can out in the bushes. 3,4 gals sounds like plenty. I used to race my stock 96 kx250 tank and carry a gatorade type bottle for emergencies. I only had to use it a few times.

As for the race. Threre will be two types of racers on the course. The hells bells pin it guys(me), and the I'm just racing for the experience and to have fun. Ride at your own pace and keep pushing yourself but know you riding ablilities and don't over step yourself otherwise you will be like many ion the last race I ran: waiting for the sweep crew or ambulance to pick you up.

Just be courtious to the guys who are trying to pass you. The last race I had this one guy refused to let me pass by weaving into me a few times and lets just say that was his first and last mistake of the day.

 

[dave186]

I figure if I just take it easy and try not to crash, I will do OK. If I have someone to follow, I can usually keep up, as long as they dont mess up. Now that Im pretty sure i can make it on one tank, I wont worry about the gas. My camelbak, is the backpack type, so I can fit just about all the tools and stuff I need in there. Its the Oreana 100 CLICK HERE

 

[Ramski]

Cool, another dez racer!

Everyone already gave the best advice. I remember my first dez race. Everyone thought it was funny that I was drinking so much water the day before and the morning of the race. It worked! I never crashed so much in my life on that 52 mile loop. I would have been so much more sore after the race if I didn't drink water like I did. Take a couple of asprin before the race and that'll help too.

Don't even worry about the gas. My KX500 made it the entire 52 mile loop with a little to spare. 3.4 is plenty of gas.

I treated my first one like a long trail ride. I believe your H&H's out there don't have long bomb runs like we do out in Lucerne Valley, Ca., but I did extremly well to the bomb run and was one of the first in my start to the bomb, but fell when a guy in front of me stopped in a tight rocky canyon section after the bomb. My bike flooded and I could not start it to save my life. Seemed like everyone passed me. After I got it started, I had to get back on to the trail as I was off and on top of big rocks. I fell about five more times in the space of about 50 yards trying to get off those big rocks. After that, it was okay since I no longer had to deal with dust. I finished pretty far back but had lots of fun. I did have a 4th gear get-off in a sand wash when a big rock jumped in the sand wash as I was comming. I landed pretty far from my bike but nothing happend to me or the bike. I just had a helmet full of sand the rest of the race.

Sorry for the long post. I just had such a blast my first dez race. I was the worst riding I ever did, but like I said, it was a blast. IMHO, its the best kind of off-road racing there is. Have fun and be safe!

BTW, run Dunlop 739 Desert ATs and you'll never have to worry about a flat, especially if your running a 18" rear wheel.

 

[zilla]

Just take it easy

The sportsman's class, as I remember, is for people who just want to ride the course, at a slower pace, and are not competing.. Hence, only one loop. This will give you the opportunity to see just what a real race course will be like. The downside is that the course will be chewed up by all the bikes ahead of you. They may or may not have an alternate gas, but the races I have been too the last few years have had them on the 40 mile loops most of the time. This is because more people are using their MX bikes for dez and have smaller tanks.. Your tank will be just fine.. You may try to hook up with another rider and stay together for the ride.. I just checked the race info and there are a few things to consider. There will be alternate gas, and the course is 40 MilesX2, which means the racers will do two loops on the same course. It also states tha Sportsmen will do 25 -40 miles, so it may not be as long as you think. More than likely you will get caught by the race leaders and passed. If you are caught from behind, move over and let these guys by.. Then you're gonna have dust to contend with.. Give us a report after the race..

zilla

 

[dave186]

There shouldnt be much dust to contend with, the snow should just be melting and probably causing a bit of mud. I will be going with another guy, but I dont know what class he wants to ride, hes raced before but not since he was on an 80. Im going to go sign up for SIDRA tommorow and talk to a guy that races regularly, he should tell me all I need to know.

 

[Unit74]

Originally posted by Ramski
., but I did extremly well to the bomb run and was one of the first in my start to the bomb, but fell when a guy in front of me stopped in a tight rocky canyon section after the bomb.

Hey Ramski-

What row did you start on? I was on the 4th row and was third on the holeshot. When I got to the first whoops section in the little canyon, I had a small get-off from head shake. There were some guys up on the hill watching and I dumped it right in front of them. After that, aways down the course I had a gnarly get off from, you guessed it, headshake and a guy on a KX, I couldn't tell you his # or type, stopped to ask if I was OK. I gave a thumbs up and took about 30 seconds to nurse myself back on to the beast and repassed him about 2-3 minuts down the course. Was that you?

 

[webbrace]

40 miles on that tank should be no problem, but i woudnt carry your tools in your camel back. The bouncing around can punch a hole in the water bladder. Carry a seperate fanny pack for your tools. Spare spark plug, spark plug wrench, wire cutters, zip ties, Matches, power bar, and anything else you may want to carry. Start tanking up on water now. If you have to take a leak(wee) during the race, do it, its better to fall on an empty bladder than a full one. Check your air pressure in your tires before the start.After the race remember to drink water and 2 asprin, It will make the ride home a little easier. Most of all, Have fun.. Like everyone else said. Treat this as a long trail ride.

 

[Ramski]

Hey Unit74,

Sounds like we might have crossed paths. I was also on the 4th row start along with my two brothers who are faster than I am. I had fun on the bomb and got through that whoop section before the canyon pretty good. It was in that first tight rocky section after that with all those people looking down at us when I dumped my bike the first time. I must have been pretty far up there cause for the next 15 min or so there was a constant stream of riders comming through while I was trying to get my bike retarted, including my two brothers. That was one happy moment, knowing I beat them both to the bomb.

I did ride by slow to every down or stoped rider and wait for the usual thumbs up. Maybe it was you that I passed. I do know there were a lot of people that passed me that I remember seeing down further back. BTW, what did you think of the killer rocky downhill before the check. My brother talked to Andy Grider who was sitting at the check with his broke bike and he said even the pro riders had to walk there bikes down. As for me, I tried riding down and fell, then decided to walk it and still fell.

What bike were you riding? Check the results. I finished 91st and was listed as Don Lesovsky. Good luck with future races.

 

[DDNMC78X]

someone said to move over for faster riders, please dont as it causes more problems than just holding yopur line. I also have a KX 250 with an IMS 3.4 gallon tank and at race speeds i can make 60 miles. Have fun and if you like it there are some things you can do to your KX to make the ride more enjoyable in the future.

 

[dave186]

What kind of stuff can I do to my KX to make it more enjoyable? I already have an FMF pipe and spark arrestor, Renthal bars and grips, Acerbis hand guards, a shark fin, skid plate, Metzeler soft terrain tires, and Race Tech springs.

 

[DDNMC78X]

Have the suspension revalved to your weight and riding ability, and add a scotts or similar steering damper. I have geared my KX up a little first to take some of the hit out of it and second as i need the taller gearing in the desert. What pipe did you put on it ?. On mine i used the FMF topend pipe as the KX has tons of low end and it helped it run out on top a little. An 18 inch rear wheel is a bonus also as it doesnt transmit the feel of the rocks and other crap you hit. I use tech tubes in all but the fast races so as not to have to worry about flats also.

 

[dave186]

Suspension is next on my list, already got the springs now on to valving. I have a Fatty Pipe and Turbine Core II silencer, they came on the bike so I cant compare it to stock. I also put on some Boyeson reeds. How much did you change the gearing? What are tech tubes?

 

[DDNMC78X]

I run a 46 t on the rear and at the really fast stuff like Best in the desert races i also use a 15t countershaft sprocket. Tech tubes are foam inserts ala bib mousse but the tech tubes are easier on the wallet. By the way i have raced in your area quite a bit as i lived in Elko Nv up until a year ago.

 

[JPIVEY]

Hey Dave, you'll be surprized at how many riders you'll pass just by doing a nice steady pace, quick but not necessarily fast, keep in mind a lot can happen to your advantage in a 40 mile race. Stamina and brains works better than fast and balls for your first few races. Most of all, have fun

 

[JPIVEY]

One more thing

Have a small label made and place it on the back of your helmet that says MEDICAL INFO INSIDE, Then write down the following info and stick it in your helmet under the liner:

Example :JOE DEZRACER
1234 MAIN ST.
ANYWHERE, CA 99999
(213) 555-1212
DOB: 12/12/65

ALLERGIES:
PENICILLAN, AMPICILLAN, WHEAT

MEDICATIONS:
NIASPAN (1000MG DAILY) ASPIRIN (325MG DAILY)

MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
HYPERTENSION, HEPATITIS B, BROKEN LEFT FEMUR OCT 1999


EMERGENCY CONTACT:
MA DEZRACER (MOTHER)
2222 SOUTH ST
SOUTH PARK, CO 66666
303-555-1212

PHYSICIAN
DR. SAW BONES
3333 PARK DR
SAN FERNANDO, CA 99999
213-555-1212

INSURANCE:
BLUE SHIELD #1234567890

stolen from Loren Davis D-37 board

It's a very good idea

 

[dave186]

That does sound like a very good idea, I think I will do it. What kind of tools should I pack with me? So far I have; Plugs and plug wrench, screwdriver, some wrenches, wire, zip ties, allen wrenches and pliers. Anything else I should have?

 

[DDNMC78X]

i only carry a plug and a fredette wrench, but i also make sure my bike is ready when i leave home.

 

[JPIVEY]

Originally posted by dave186
My camelbak, is the backpack type, so I can fit just about all the tools and stuff I need in there.

Be careful with this, my last race I landed on my back ( after bouncing off my head )hard enough to blow 2.7 liters in a flash, can't imagine how that would have felt with a screw driver mixed in there.

Try and find a Moose butt bag or something to carry your tools