I entered my very first desert race Saturday with my dune bike. I have never ever even pre ran a desert race. We sponsor a really good local kid named Rob Brown, #1 in Pro Am WORCS points this year, and we have gone to a few races pit supporting him. He has been on my butt to race his practice quad so I comitted to doing it this race. Long story short, his practice bike was not available so I threw on my knobbies and changed my c/s sprocket and lined her up. I was nervous to run it with my duner built engine and bike, but I have a real duner with +3 LT suspension and a pump gas 480 engine. Its a Venom 480 with a Hot Cam stage 3. Its been running hard for about 6 months in the dunes. I entered the amature class along with 15 other riders. There were about 15 pros that left the line with a 5 min+ head start. I got the holeshot by a mile and had a huge lead after the first 35 mile loop. I made a mistake of using a ill fitting chest protector and had to spend about 2 mins in the pits taking off all my gear to remove it and the second place rider was entering the pits when I rolled out. Unfortunately he had a desert tank and didnt do anything but change goggles, so he gained 2 mins on me there. About 1/3 through the last 30 mile loop my hands were so sore I couldnt hold on and go fast through the whoops anymore. I had blood runing out of both my gloves from blisters tearing open. I heard that 2nd place guy comping but I just couldnt hold him off any more in the whoops. He passed me about mile 45 and I kind of let him go. This race is supposedly one of the toughest ones around here. It was 65 miles and of those 65 miles 55 were trophy truck whoops. I am talking 3 foot deep as far as you could see. There was relief of flats every once in a while. I had 90+ mph gearing on and I wa able to tap the 5th gear limiter a few times. I was flying by big desert racing 2 wheelers like they were standing still. That was a rush. I had to fully tuck like I was on a bullet bike or it would peel my visor off my helmet and whip my neck back hard.
I ended up taking 2nd in amature and 6th overall in the ATV's. I passed all but 4 pros that had a 5 + min head start.
I am pretty happy with the results considering my lack of preparation, equipment and training.
I would have probably cuaght most of the pros had my softy hands held up. I learned some tricks to help that next time.
So Venom build a fast and reliable engine that can pull holeshots and last the whole race.
And Klein builds a super strong duner arm that can hold up to 55 miles of whoops. The ARS-FX guys were tripping out that I ran that race on the arm with no skid plates...lol
Im getting some skid plates and better fitting gloves and going back for more. I loved it.
Thanks again John for building the right kind of power.
My pipe passed db with flying colors and sparky.
My piston and head powered me to the holeshot!
Venom Rocks!

Oh I have some cool videos of the holeshot and flying past motorcycles in the flats Ill post later as well as a photo of my bike with the desert race all over it!

kam that sounds like tons of fun. i guess you are going to have to bag the idea of being a male hand model and toughen them up for next time.

yep desert racing is grueling, been doing it for almost 4 years now. But its so fun and a huge huge addiction. Its good to hear you had a good time and congrats.

Nice Job! I probably would have crashed after the 1st 3' whoop!

not sure how you did it with out a skid plate

what didi they tell you to protect your hands better? I use weightlifting gloves when I go duning, lil extra padding.

Congratulations Venom!

Well my gloves were too large so they bunched up in my palms.
I guess some duds tape up their hands under their gloves.
I also have found out that its part of the dealio. You just got to get bigger callouses (sp?)
I have smaller gloves that Ill wear next time too.
There was not too many rocks on this course, it was mostly just whoops and salt flats. It was right by Bonneville, basically where the salt flats turn into the desert.
Thanks!

sounds like a blast kam. good job on 2nd place your first time out.

you REALLY need to come race the pismo beach race, its the same thing only in sand.

lets see the video

Kam, that is AWESOME to hear.... congrats on finishing, let alone getting the placing that you did; incredible. Holeshot, thats right up your alley, those guys never knew what hit 'em....



Edit: when you step up to the big races (Baja and such) and you need a flunkie to change tires, oil, etc... please call me... I'd love to get dirty for ya....

Very cool Kam! Good job riding and doing so well for your first race like that. Doesn't hurt having one of the best engines out there too.

Cant figure out the video thing but here is a pic or two.

well theres goes the duner look....lol