Vegas to Reno 08, British team, advice please.

[gregthebrit]

We are hoping to run a British (quad) team to enter the BITD vegas to reno next year. I have a bit of racing experiance in the US but the others have none, I raced in the BITD henderson 400 last year and went down to wtch the Baja 1000 a few years ago I have aslo raced in 5 GNCC national XC races and done OK. we are not a pro team but still like to race with a goal. I liked the BITD organisation and they were very helpfull and i felt like it was a well organised race club, we cant afford to do the Baja so this is next best. I have a few question that i would REALLY appreciate some advice form those who have done the race or know more than we do. a) am i right in thinking that the route is fairly near the highway and we therefore dont need a 4x4 chase vehicle? b) how many riders would you recomend for this race and how many chase vehicles and crew. cost is a major factor and vehicle hire will be a lot especially if we need 2 4x4s.
what should i relistically budget for running the race ie race fuel, chase fuel, entrys fees etc.
We will be running a race preped honda 450. we have a lock up in vegas to store the bike.
last question , what happens with prerunning can you pre ride the whole track and is it standard practice to do so.


Many thanks in advance. GREGGER.

ps if anyone fancys helping us out theres a pint in it!

[StrunkBro]

You can ride with up to three riders in expert class. If you are riding a Honda I would pay for the Honda pits. It might make your life a lot easier. If you don't get Honda pits you may need three trucks to do the last three pits because two trucks can't make it to all of them. The Course is just to fast at the end. You don't have to have 4X4 but it is a good idea some of the pits get really silty. A two wheel truck can make it thought. Last time I used them Honda pits was around $700.00 that included gas and entry fee is around $600.00

[Vtr_Racing]

I remember you guys from the Henderson race. You could use 3 chase trucks. Dont need 4wd. Like Strunk said, the last 3 pits are tough. Once you leave Mina its hard for the the chase truck to get to the last pit so its good to have someone there already. 3 riders in the expert class or Am class. Bring some spares or use Tire Balls. You may need some lights for the last few miles.

[JENN]

If this helps at all, I know of someone who rents out RV's, Rhinos, and other stuff... You may want to check into it as it may be cost effective. His website is

http://www.socalrvrentals.org

Contact Bruce Ogilvie over at American Honda re: Honda pits his # is 310-783-3748.. Make sure you sign up ASAP as they do get full!! Bruce may also be able to provide you with some great insight as far as logistical planning is concerned. He has been their offroad race team coordinator for many years! (Wait until just after the 1000 ... They are slightly busy/racing around on that!!)

[Ranch Hand]

To answer your question concerning pre-running: BITD has an official pre-run 2 weeks before the race. It starts on Saturday morning with an over night stop at Tonapah and arrives in Dayton around 3 or 4 Sunday afternoon.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. You might think about doing the pre-run in a rental vehicle instead of riding a bike. That way you all can share the expense of the vehicle and compare notes during the pre-run. The other advantage of utilizing a rental vehicle is that you can leave it in Reno and fly back to Vegas, just be sure to clean it up well and TAKE ALL THE INSURANCE THE COMPANY OFFERS.

Good luck to you and your team !!

[JPBart]

You may be able to team up with someone for the pits that are way out of the way. I think you could make it with one truck, but there is no backup if they have a problem and you might outrun them if you are fast. If you use one truck he will not be able to cover those 2 (?) pits. With 2 trucks you could divert to one if there was a problem with the racer and still have your main chase for the rest of the race.

So, 1 truck maybe, but risky and you would have to team up. 2 trucks almost certainly but a few holes in your coverage if you don't team up with someone else. 3 trucks you shouldn't have any problems dealing with anything on your own.

There is never a set in stone way to cover stuff. Look at the map, look at driving times going UNDER the speed limit and realistic race times going FASTER than you expect. Then start figuring out how far ahead of the racer the chaser will be. If it's even close, you need more chasers. Always err on the chaser being slower and the racer being faster than you expected. Never rely on a chase team having to drive like mad to make the next pit before the racer.

I would not suggest 1 chaser. I think it's a bad idea if you are going to seriously race it. If you are treating it like a sportsman race and don't care if you have to wait for your chase then you can do it with 1. If the choice is 1 chaser or you have to stay home and you don't mind treating it like an adventure but not a serious effort then you can do it with 1. Otherwise, spend the money on at least 2.

You shouldn't need 4x4. If something odd happens and you do there will be plenty of people willing to help get you unstuck. Just bring a tow strap. I have chased a lot of BITD races and I can't remember ever even thinking about clicking it into 4x4.

[gregthebrit]

well thanks everyone for all the help, thats what i mean you desert racers are just so helpfull. obviously organising a race in the US is very dificult from here in the UK but i am hoping not imposable. VTR yes that was us, although maybe be faster riders this year. maybe be me and 2 mates from PA.
Jen thanks for the contact Ill give them a call after Baja.
about these honda pits, i remember someone saying that actually. if you signed up for that are you saying you dont need a chase truck. as it would be much cheeper.
Thanks again.

[JENN]

I can't modify my post above the correct link for the rental place is as follows:


http://www.socalrvrentals.net

(you could rent a Rhino for prerunning purposes from them!) Comes complete with HID lights, it's a 4 seater, etc

[Shazaam]

I'll help you...for 2 pints

[gregthebrit]

2 pints! i didnt think you boys could drink that much!

so I need to find out if we go for the honda pits, do you still need a chase team, and are you allowed to prerun on quads or bikes sound more fun. who is actually allowed to prerun is it just the riders?
lastly what distance is the Vegas to Reno can find much info on it. I have emailed BITD.

[StrunkBro]

Vegas to reno is about 520 miles. The distance changes every year you wont know for sure tell the prerun. If you use honda pits you still need to get the riders from pit to pit so you need chase trucks. I would use two. For prerunning you are suppose to be in a street legal vehicular. I was told that bikes and quad were not allowed but I have seen bike prerun. If you prerun in a truck you must have one registered rider and you can bring you chase crew along.

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

For the 2007 pre run, BITD allowed bikes, but they had to be street legal.

[JENN]

The Rhino I am referring to is plated for CA ....

[Young&Fast]

The Rhino I am referring to is plated for CA ....

off topic but whhaaattt? You can street legal a rhino?
How? that's is the coolest thing I've heard all day.

[Vtr_Racing]

You can pre run with a dual sport bike or any that is streel legal. Dont ask me why!!! Lol... I dont know what the difference makes but thats the way it is.

[gregthebrit]

ok cheers. we can run quads on the road here, but am i right in thinking you cant in the states? 500 miles in a rhino sounds a long way is it possable to hire a legal bike to pre run? what happens on a pre run does every one just go balls out, or is it a more sober afair? what would the terain/course be like compaired to the henderson.?
thanks again for answering all my dumb questions.

[racer_dude]

you can get plates for rhinos that are typically for golf carts. so yeah they have plates but no they are not "highway legal" really.

the prerun goes a a moderate pace, not race speeds, but decent speed. i would go with a rental car, that way you can hual all your gear around (spare clothes, luggage etc.). There will be full built trophytruck prerunners, so most of the stock vehicles get filed to the back anyway, so speed isnt an issue.

terrain is generally fast paced, not super knarly, but has its times. overall flat and fast with slit by race time

[Triple B]

Rental car Prerun Video YouTube - 2007 BITD Vegas to Reno ( Fun Run ) :D :D :D

[JENN]

Vid is no longer avail.

[Triple B]

That is weard......it works on the Thumpertalk link

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=525123&page=4&highlight=reno

Post # 33

[JENN]

Superrrrr funnyy!!!

[Shazaam]

definetly get into Honda for the pits, it's well worth every penny. Get that taken care of early as they have limited space and often fill up fast. Two trucks will be fine to take you funny talkin guys from pit to pit. Remember tho, we drive on the "right" side of the road here and the windscreens get cracked when following too close. haha

2 pints... thats how much blood I loose at V2R

[gregthebrit]

well we are still trying to get this thing organised but time now running short. does everyone prerun, i know it would be nice but for us it means 2 trips out as taking 4 week off is just too much!
for us it wont be that serious, we will run in the am class and be chuffed to get a finish. my mate is sorting the entrys but i still havent sorted the pits, as the main man has a new yam not honda.

[D Bergstrom]

well we are still trying to get this thing organised but time now running short. does everyone prerun, i know it would be nice but for us it means 2 trips out as taking 4 week off is just too much!
for us it wont be that serious, we will run in the am class and be chuffed to get a finish. my mate is sorting the entrys but i still havent sorted the pits, as the main man has a new yam not honda.

I would not worry much about the prerun. We never prerun either. I would be willing to bet that most of the expert and amatuer quad teams do not. I would like to, but you have to have a street legal vehicle and I would not drive my personal truck down the course. Plus it is a added trip (expense) up to Reno and back.

Doug

[Dirty Neil]

Make sure you have lights. A majority of the quads come in during the night.

You can make it with two trucks, they just leapfrog the pits, first truck takes the even numbered pits and the second takes the odd number pits. That way there is always a truck moving to the next pit while one is at the pits. Also the info on the last couple pits is correct, there is one remote pit that the truck will never catch you again after that. That pit is usually that trucks last stop, then to the finish line.

[gregthebrit]

cheers guys, so what do you recomend for that last pit, share with someone else or are you saying just ride through it. whats the best lighting set up, can we get away with stock. we may be riding an outlander 800 now.
one other question is it possable for two teams to share chase trucks if they are running at the same speed?

[motogod]

The problematic pit is the "Top Gun" pit. If you have two chase vehicles then send one up to Top Gun. If you cannot afford the two chase vehicles get with a team that does have that capability and work out a deal to pit you. If you came into that pit without your pit crew being there (due to whatever), somebody will gas you as that is the way it works in the desert. If there is a true 'remote pit' on the course there will be somebody hauling gas out there so just talk to them and get your gas can on board and self pit. The terrain at that end of the course is easy fast roads so riders can run multiple pits without too much of an issue with exhaustion.

[Chase 2]

Make sure you have lights. A majority of the quads come in during the night.

You can make it with two trucks, they just leapfrog the pits, first truck takes the even numbered pits and the second takes the odd number pits. That way there is always a truck moving to the next pit while one is at the pits. Also the info on the last couple pits is correct, there is one remote pit that the truck will never catch you again after that. That pit is usually that trucks last stop, then to the finish line.

I totally agree. BTW, you don't need 4x4 trucks you easily could use vans.

[gregthebrit]

ok thanks again guys. 3 pages of invaluable info.

[Mike @ pit b]

You guys might want to get to the states as quick a possible just to get acclimated to the heat of the Nevada desert. Nevada in August can get sweltering hot (120+ degrees farenheit) And set your quad up for the heat and silt.

Mike Nilsen