Does anyone know of an entry level motorcycle rally raid style event, similar to the Sonora Rally, that is within the US? All I can find are organizations offering Hare Scramble, GP and, Enduro format racing.
Seems there are a lot of ride events using the word “rally” in the title but nothing with a rally raid race navigation format that I have found.
LABV did both GPS and roll chart navigation until a few years ago. Ribbons at the turns and a confirmation ribbon about 50m after you made the turn.
They stopped a few years ago because it was a shit ton of work for the organizers and nearly everyone was using GPS.
A handful of old Luddite desert racers eventually came kicking and screaming into GPS nav and 2008…
I can be a fun challenge to nav with a roll chart, as long as you have 2x resetable and adjustable trip meters. Meaning, if you blow a turn and have to back track, you need to be able to dial the correct trip distances into the ODO when you get back on track
I’ve had my eye on this online for a few years and the options in the states are slim to none. There was a competitive roadbook rally style race on the western slope that cancelled in 2024 or 25 due to lack of participation. I can’t find it anywhere now and it seems like the site was taken down. They had yearly issues with insurance and land access/permits.
Off Piste Adventure has some non-competitive roadbook events if you want to “experience the thrill of discovering hidden gems across the stunning Kansas landscape.” I’ve chatted with them, and it seems like all the serious guys just go to Mexico where it’s possible to handle insurance and land use issues for these events.
I have done roll chart nav events in the past. I still think it is cool, but as with time keeping enduros once technology arrives it takers over. Knowing how to stay on time using just a roll chart, trip meter, and a watch is a lost (fun) art.
The Great Lakes Dual Sporters club in Michigan provided PDF files of roll charts that you could print and do their routes, it was great. They were formatted to print at home on letter sized paper so you had to cut out the columns and tape them together! No route markings, just the chart. If you missed a turn you had to back track to your last known position and start from there. Was helpful to have a map too in case you really messed it up. They too transitioned to providing route files for GPS.
I was wondering if there was anything like FIM Rally or Dakar style nav events in the US? Defined waypoints in somewhat open terrain and you connect the dots.
Ah… insurance. The AMA will need to develop a off road rally class structure so that they can sanction events and provide promoters with insurance. There would still need to be enough participation to make an event financially viable.
Maybe look into the desert races is SoCal. Look up Checkers MC
All of the District 37 races in So Cal are Scrambles, GP or Sprint Enduro format. There are similar WEBE and UMORA races closer to CO. The UMORA scrambles (hare & hound) race on 2/28 in St George that the Wizards club promotes looks like a really good course.
In my digging the last few years the only thing close is the Sonara Rally.
I’ve toyed with the idea of hosting a for fun road book rally out of rabbit valley in November but the last few years life’s gotten in the way.
There’s a similar SoCal rally every year in April that looks like a great place to build skills of reading a roadbook.
Found an informal non-competitive Roadbook Navigation Rally in So Cal. Looks interesting.