Beginning rider

[5150Creations]

i am just basically making converstion here. looking to get some opinions. Just hear me out. i am trying to see if this is a direction i want to go.

i mostly do the truck / buggy thing but i have had a bike and rode the desert since i was in the 8th grade. i am now 23 years old. i am at ocotillio wells every other weekend riding for the last few years. i have rode a few other places also just for fun. i have never raced a bike or anything like that. i ride a 2002 kx 250 that is pretty much stock other than a few small mods and it is re-geared for the desert.

me and a buddy were thinking about heading out to plaster city in three weeks to go run some of the old truck courses i know out there. i have been trying to look at some of the bikes average speed times to get an idea of how fast we need to be going to keep up. i am not sure if i want to race yet or not but i like to enter some of the desert races as a novice that arent to long. is there anymore races that occur out at plaster city or somewhat local desert races.

i guess thats a start but i was just looking for some input, comments, bike mods, etc........

Nathan

[rkracing]

The ZR Promotions races at the Laguna Salada (about 30 minutes from the Calexico/Mexicali border) are a good place to start off, I havent raced yet but thats where I plan to start off in the beginners class. There are dirtbike races and then the quad races after that, usually the course is about 15-20 miles long. The ZR Promo crew frequents this board, they could tell you more about their races. You can visit their site at www.zrpromo.com (http://www.zrpromo.com) .

[OldStroppeTeam]

Take a look at some of the race results for average speeds. Since you have been around racing awhile, you know what the terrain is like, then figure if you are able to ride at that level for that period of time. (60 mph AVERAGE for 4-6 hours for instance). I know there are desert bike races somewhere every weekend, and there are novice classes in every organization...Try it, ya might like it!! GOOD LUCK !!

[sirhk100]

Go run a D37 race in the beginners class and see how you like it. Generally it's only one 40 mile loop...

[Vtr_Racing]

Go run a D37 race in the beginners class and see how you like it. Generally it's only one 40 mile loop...

Yeah what he said. :D

That should get you some good experience racing in the dez.

[5150Creations]

ok thanks guys.......

do you think my bike will work out ok. i just need to gear it up some more. i should gear it so the motor is running comfortable at 60mph or something around there right. what kind of gears is all the other 250cc 2 stroke guys running.

nathan

[captainuno]

District 38 also has desert races here at Plaster City & Superstition Mountains. We have had a total of 5 races since January. We are hoping for 5 more for the 2nd half starting in September. SDORC is planning a race at Ocotillo Wells in October. Roadrunners will be holding 2 races in the 2nd half of the season, Oct 16th @ Superstition & Dec 11th @ Plaster City. A new promoter named Realsports want to put on 2 races as well, one in September & one in November, dates to be announced.
We also have Beginner, Novice, Amateur & Expert Classes.
Feel free to email me with any questions or visit our website.

Kirk Hester
captain@dc.rr.com

[Blue Man]

Try D37 and D38, D37 has Desert, Enduros, and Grand Prix races. Best in the Desert has a 250 class for Ammies, the Mexico stuff is cool but we have not made it to them..........yet. Just go race, finishing is what it is all about, who cares where you finish, none of us get rich, paid or anything but enpty pockets from this addiction.

Just go race somewhere.

[5150Creations]

i am defiently intersted in this october race in ocotillio wells. i know ocotilllo wells pretty well. i better get to riding. to you know approximently how many miles the race will be.

also do i need to get a light for my bike. it sounds like i need a steering stabilizer, desert tank, re-gear it, and a small tool bag and camelback. that should be a good start i think.

thanks guys for all the help.

nathan

[captainuno]

Nathan,
Lights are not needed in D38 unless we have a night race and we don't have a night race scheduled this year (we had one last year). I don't believe one is needed in D37 either. A couple of things are mandatory, your green or red sticker and a forrestry approved spark arrestor. The other things you mentioned are great ideas, definitly the camel bak.
No information on the SDORC race in Oct is posted yet, I know it is on the 23rd, which is the same weekend as the 100's National in D37. We were just informed that the race was a go at the last D38 meeting. A lot of D38 riders won't be doing the D38 race because they will be racing the Nationals, us included.
Like Blue Man said, it doesn't matter where you race, just come out and have fun.

Kirk

[5150Creations]

well thanks guys........you have been alot of help for me.

i think we are gonig to head out and start warming up for the race in ocotillio wells on the 23rd. sounds like not to many people will be at that race so it will be good for me.

i dont know how familiar you guys are with ocotillio but i was thinking of setting up a little track for me and my buddy to run. what do you think about this for a little variety. start by blowsand and go over blowsand to the backside out past devils slide without using shellreef expressway and head to pumkin patch down the wash to pole line to the highway and then all the way back along the side of the highway (in the dirt of course) and through what is left of the mudhills back to camp. that should be a pretty good loop with variety. i will do it a few times right before dark. if anyone has any suggestions or knows a better track let me know. maybe an old race course or something.

nathan

[Mikey]

Can you race with a red sticker out of season?

[sirhk100]

For D37 you'd probably want to leave your stock MX gearing on or if anything gear it lower. They throw some technical stuff in there!!!

[captainuno]

The Red Sticker issue has been taken care of as far as competition riding is concerned. The rule was never meant to denie compitition red sticker bikes in competition events during the green sticker season. The rule is for recreational riding, not racing. If you have a red sticker bike, you can still RACE in a competition event even though it might be in a green sticker only area. However, this does not mean you can take your red sticker bike out to a green sticker area and practice etc. It is for racing only or for practicing the bomb run the day of the event.
We went through this in D38 last year, not allowing red sticker bikes compete in our June race, but found out at the last minute of how the rule was written.
Our secretary has the the actual wording of the rule on file, we had to take it to the local BLM office in El Centro to have it verified, they didn't even know what the rule actually was.
Hey, the little guy win one once in a while.
Best regards,
Kirk Hester

[Mikey]

Thanks, Kirk. Good to know.

[Chase 2]

The real question is do you want to do AMA District style races or do you want to do the races which also run the cars?

As mentioned the District races are much more technical and some (like a National Hare & Hound) could even be a challenge to even finish. For you first District style race I would suggest running a Desert Scrambles (formerly called a European Scrambles). The European Scrambles is typically around a 10 mile loop that is run multiple laps for around an hour. The great thing about these races is that you only on the course with other similar classes at the same time, and you get to go out and spectate the other classes. Be sure you go out and practice the start area, and remember these races are dead engine starts! The District desert guys are real new guy friendly so don’t be afraid to as questions around the sign up area.

If you are thinking of the other type of faces I would suggest that you go down to like San Felepe and get on some of those loooong whooped out sections. Do a loop like down to Matomi Wash and back up to El Diablo and back through Zoo road returning to town. That will tell you if you can take riding the car/truck made whoops or not. Of course you might want to wait till is cools off a bit before doing that loop for the first time. LOL

[Blue Man]

Negative on the stock gearing for District 37, always run at least one tooth bigger on the coutershaft sprocket. If you ride an XR 650 you can get away with stock only.

[ChuckH]

Twist the right hand grip and shift up untill your really sacred, then keep doing it.

If you dont crash your going to win ;) :p :D

[miguelitro]

Come on out to a D38 race. They are a blast but you'll be hooked. I did my first race last november, crashed real good in the mud puddle, i mean real good head to toe 3 pounds of mud just inside my boots!
i've done every race since then in 38 and they have all been bitchen great courses with a cool mix of terrain.
gotta make a couple 37 races this year too,
see ya in the dez
Mike