Over on a Bike forum there are a number of people who have the dream to race in Baja. A thread was started by an individual who is rightfully concerned with getting passed by Trophy Trucks and he wanted people to share their stories of "close calls with Trophy Trucks and Buggies". An individual who came down from Oregon to race with a team at last year's 1000 posted the following story. I wanted to get the input from this site so I could share with these guys how dangerous they are to themselves and others.
Here's the post:
Originally Posted by Racinace
I'll bite on this one. I rode the 2008 with team Snortn' Boar Racing and had a great time. I was lucky enough to ride the San Felipe loop, but unfortunately the rider delivering the bike to me was running about 2 hours behind schedule. Shortly before he arrived the first of the TT started coming through. This is from my race report:
Just as I entered the wash I saw big lights and heard what sounded like a trophy truck approaching from behind. I acknowledged the truck with a hand wave and pulled to the right as soon as I found a spot…. Then I sat and waited for the dust to settle. With no wind, it took a while before I could get back on the gas and then it seemed like it was hit and miss… clear air for a while then a pocket of fog (dust). Eventually I got back up to speed and was having a pretty good time. This wash is 4th and 5th gear stuff and flows pretty well. About that time I saw the lights of what would turn out to be another trophy truck. I didn’t even have time to think, but just pinned it. I didn’t want to go through that again and felt like I could go fast enough to keep him behind me. I tried to make as much dust as I possibly could and put my head down. The faster I went, the less light I saw bouncing off the trees and the canyon wall. I knew in the back of my mind that if I went down, I would likely be used for traction as this guy was chewing my dust and I was pretty sure he wasn’t liking it. This battle went on for several miles until the wash split. I went right, he went to the left and we drag raced to the next intersection where he took the lead. I putted along the shoulder until the dust cleared and I could pick up the pace.
Another mile or two up the wash the dust cleared and I found both trucks sitting on the side of the road where one of them had a problem and the other had stopped to help. Back on the gas again whoo hoo!
Can't wait for this year!!!
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it"
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Lets just say its not fun getting passed by them or C1's no matter what! Especially during the day time. You have no clue they are there until they are on top of you if your going in a straight line and not looking back. V2R this year BJ passed me, I was doing 75 and he passed me like I was sitting still, with little to no waring that he was coming from behind me. SS300, Olligies and the Huffman same deal, I'm going 75 and they passed me in a train, again no idea they were there. But I think you all do your best to respect us MC/Q guys, as do I/ We try our best to respect you all.
It’s important to have the bike and quad guys racing but they are dangerous. At this past years Henderson 400 we were racing our 1600 and were the third or fourth row off the line. Keep in mind the bikes and quads were suppose to be off the course because there race was over. Well needless to say after we made the left hand turn onto the road behind the pits there was a dirt bike guy going back out. No big deal he pulled over and waited for the rest of the race to start. At mile 3 we caught another bike guy who was going at an ok pace but too slow for the pace we were running as we were trying to stay ahead of Moss who we started with. So as a usual pass would go we got on the horn and waited for a wave or for him to get out of the way. Well a couple hundred feet or so after we initially caught him there was still no acknowledgment other than a deep roar from his bike like he was trying to run from us. So we approached again but this time got close to him. I gave a few revs and we were all over the horn. Finally about a mile later at a sharp 90 degree turn where flagman he got flagged to pull over so we could pass. This is the only incident I have had with passing a bike but obviously this guy was just really tuned into what he was doing. And don’t get me wrong I ride bikes too and I am typically very focused on what I am doing. With the grand prix finish and three heats at Henderson so probably not his fault, but in Baja I think there could be a very easy solution to the danger of being ran over by a TT. I think a probable solution would be to start the pro bikes and quads at 630 like they do then let the TT, class 1 and whatever other classes that usually run faster than the amateur bikes and quads then let the rest of the bikes go the slower 4 wheeled vehicles. Would it be weird and goofy, yes but would it be safer maybe, I don’t know if that would work but what’s everyone else think?
My experience is that when you are passed during the day you have little or no warning; if they were to run a horn that has some dbs, that could help. Night is not as bad because of the lights, but when you are passed by a 7000lb, 850 hp off road godzilla it is a sobering event, no matter how many times you've experienced it.
Guess you gotta ride fast enough so they don't catch you!!!
The attached photo says it all.....
........I look at the border as a big filter to keep out the pussys! - TT #54
"I didn’t even have time to think, but just pinned it. I didn’t want to go through that again and felt like I could go fast enough to keep him behind me. I tried to make as much dust as I possibly could..."
That TT has made up +-4 hours on you and you're going to keep it behind you?
Chase2 - find that YouTube of the '08 B500 with RMac hounding that biker and BJ passing both of them and post it on that other site. If you haven't seen it, someone post it, it's incredible.
Chase2 - find that YouTube of the '08 B500 with RMac hounding that biker and BJ passing both of them and post it on that other site. If you haven't seen it, someone post it, it's incredible.
Tim, I tried to find it, but so far no luck. I'm pretty sure it was shot from BJ's chopper but it is no longer on BJ's web site. If anyone else could find it I would love to share it with these guys.
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it"
About that time I saw the lights of what would turn out to be another trophy truck. I didn’t even have time to think, but just pinned it. I didn’t want to go through that again and felt like I could go fast enough to keep him behind me. I tried to make as much dust as I possibly could and put my head down. The faster I went, the less light I saw bouncing off the trees and the canyon wall. I knew in the back of my mind that if I went down, I would likely be used for traction as this guy was chewing my dust and I was pretty sure he wasn’t liking it. This battle went on for several miles until the wash split. I went right, he went to the left and we drag raced to the next intersection where he took the lead. I putted along the shoulder until the dust cleared and I could pick up the pace.
Another mile or two up the wash the dust cleared and I found both trucks sitting on the side of the road where one of them had a problem and the other had stopped to help. Back on the gas again whoo hoo!
Here's the post:
This is exactly the mentality that causes the bike/truck conflict, I know during the day it is hard to let a bike know your back there, but at night it is pretty obvious, and every time we have given every opp to let them know, but when they turn, look at you and "Pin" it and run. Game on I say, we are sitting down in a Trophy truck some what relaxed and you are standing up on a bike in the desert, who do you think is going to win?? and we even caught you in the first place! The rob and bj video was a great example! I am a bike racer at heart and still do ride every chance i get but I have a complete understanding when I am caught
It is not what you drive....it is how you drive it [email protected]
If you are racing a bike at the 1000 and get passed in san felipe by a truck...QUIT. You are slow. I dont think I would ever race a bike in a race where I wasnt positive I would beat all 4 wheel vehicles. If there was down time for any reason and the trucks caught me...time to throw in the towel.
as far as "holding off a TT or C1...darwin is coming to get you. There are only a few individuals racing on bikes who can hold off TT's and 1 cars and you are not one of them considering that def. is not their attitude.
I think bikes should have different pit closing times the cars/trucks.
Originally Posted by Racinace
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