ya you may want to stick to the poker run. here is some info on the race...
http://www.stumpjumpers.org/dez100/

I can also contrast that experience with my brother's experience last year at the DEZ. My brother Mark was also a bit of a newbie, also riding his first ever race, and also riding a beat up old DR350, but his experience was totally different from mine above. He froze at the sight of the massive false start last year, and when he turned to see what I was doing about it he got a face-full of roost from my rear tire as I left the start-line, this put him into panic-mode and he got on his bike thinking he was in last place and hammered the throttle on the old DR grabbing gears as fast as he could to make up time. He passed me about a hundred yards off the start-line going like raped-ape, and I watched him pass almost the entire field of riders on his way to the bomb (I'm quite sure he got to the bomb in the top 50 despite his slow start off the line and despite riding a slow old bike). Mark had gone into such a panic he just shut off his brain and held the throttle wide friggin open. Even though he amazed all of us with his speed to the bomb, it was not a great day for Mark; he crashed HARD about 3-4 times in the first 5 or so miles after the bomb and had to finish the first 50 mile loop of pure torture on a bent up twisted pile of crap bike while ignoring the pain of all the bruises and sprains he sustained in the falls. When he pulled into the pits after the first loop, he looked like Hell and his bike looked worse. The smartest decision he made all that day was to load up his bike on the trailer and not even attempt the second loop. And for the past year he has had to endure all the crap all of us give him about his DNF.

I just thought I'd throw that story out there as an example of what happens when an inexperienced rider goes out and gets too caught up in "racing" and leaves all common sense behind (Mark isn't the only one that's ever happened to, and it could have been much much worse). The DEZ is not a terribly difficult race to do, but you'll want to be prepared and use your head when deciding how to run the race.

The Desert is also a place that instills a false sense of comfort in people to wick it up. I have ran the sweep crew for the past 3 or 4 years, we are out there riding all day Saturday and Sunday and I have seen it all:prof: The worst ones always happen in the long green draws, riders and racers alike soon find themselves in 5th pinned and BANG, POW, HOLY S**T it's a yard sale Those speeds do not allow the novice to see the camoflouged rocks and at those speeds scrapes and boo boos turn into collar bones and sternums...... Hayshaker says the Helicopter rides are goinmg to get more expensive so be smart play hard, pay hard:ride:

If you get hurt, we'll get you out but we would much rather see everyone finish and talking about at camp over a cold one

SJMC_DON said:

The most damaged bike I have ever seen with my own eyes was at the "Mattawa" 100 back in 1980 or '81. It was a brand new Husky...very sweet bike with the black painted metal tank with the polished sides that they had back then...anyways, I never found out exactly what happened or how the rider had fared but the guy had obviously either hit something or gone off of something that he was not expecting at a very high rate of speed. To this day I can still see that bike clearly in my mind and it still gives me chills.

I am starting to plan the trip for this next Dez100, but am wondering if it's possible to stay through the 16th (i.e. stay over night Sunday night and leave the next morning)? Last year we left on Sunday and it was too much, I'd prefer to stick around to not be on the road all tired and such.

Otherwise, I'll be looking for an RV park in Moses lake...

gregkzoo said:

I'll second that! It could save your life or somebody elses.

I fell a sleep at the wheel on the way home from a 24 hr a couple years ago. Hit the middle divider. It gave the truck & trailer a good foot plus boost on the left side but just bent the front rim a little & everything else was allright. I pulled over at a weigh station. Looked at the clock, closed my eyes for what seemed like 1 second & when I opened them it was an hour later. I'll never make that mistake again. I'll always plan a extra day to rest up before the long haul.

Quote

.

Yes he has, but we dont call him ditchdog for nothing!!!

Quote

Drew and Mark were part of the crew we passed, Drew stuck in the pack, Mark already on his head. I begged them to start slow and we would slowly crank up the pace, but the excitement was just to much for Ditchdog, and Drew couldnt let his little brother go alone so....

Is there any point in the weekend where you can ride sections of the course to look it over? I'm assuming it's a different course than the poker run on Saturday.

How early do you have to sign up for the race. also is the poker run 100 miles. What is an average ride time for the full 100 miles. Thanks for any info.

kball said:

ya part of the race just follows where part of the ironman poker run. other than that, the trails are closed because it is private property. one obstacle i can almost be 100% sure of is the crick sometimes up to your thighs. make sure to run a little thicker oil that usual.

lineman12345678 said:

look on the link at the top of the page i posted. it'll give most of the info you need. the poker run is supposed to be 70-80 miles, but last year i clocked it out to be about 63. the family is about 40-30 miles. the dez 100, i cant remember exactly, but the time that the top 40 people or so are comeing into the pits after the first lap is ~45 minutes, but the slowest people are taking like 3 hours, and of course there are the poor ideots that are on their 3rd ride ever and it takes them like 5 hrs just for one lap. so it kinda depends.

Does the family poker run go thru deep water? My wife wants to ride it with me but isn't liking the deep water thing.

old-school said:

Uhh, yeahhhh, that's it...it's his 'wife' that is worried about the water crossings...really.

DJ, no water crossings in the poker run. a couple hill climbs and descents, and a whole lot of fast crazies whizzing by though. its the one place my wife loves to ride though ( but not in the poker run, just the camp area ad beyond).
Joe

trailmeisterjoe said:

Ah... but there was this beauty. http://mrudy.smugmug...2757/5/63872674 We hoped it no problem, but lots of kids had a pretty good challenge. I think they diverted after this got nasty.

Thanks guys, from that picture that looks like she we have a fun challenge.
We are looking foward to this.

After you race the Desert 100 you'll have memories that will last all year and longer. I've been riding and racing since I was little, and the Desert 100 is at the top of the list in fun. I'm 40 and in mild shape, (taken many beat'ins in my life) and I was more sore the next day than I have every been in my life. I am going to do it again, but I am going to be in a little better shape. Crazy crowd, but very coool race. I've got video on my helmet cam of a guy at the start hitting something and endoing hard. Then on my DRZ400S I do the same thing about 10mi. into the race. All on film. Hit two rocks in a row going about 40. I got a sweet plaque for about 26th in my class. This year bike will be a 07' KTM 450 exc. I love this event.

ya this race is getting just unbelievable. last year there was over 700 racers. it will be interesting how many people will be this year (including me:thumbsup: )

washington_rider said:

What does it cost? I am considering a road trip this spring.

TJ

washington_rider said:

It was only about 500...actually (I can't believe I'm saying it was only 500!).

RedRockRider said:

The race cost around $55. I checked the Stumpjumpers link above and it said the flier is not available yet. That $55 includes a shirt...if you finish!

Thanks for the info.

TJ