The layout and course pre-run for the Nevada Rally Exeperience was completed on Saturday, Aug. 7. Casey Folks and I used the Best in the Desert course pre-runner, a specially prepared Ford Super Crew F-150 to navigate the route and create the Roadbook and GPS. Talk about a fine ride. Casey's truck is mounted with two different GPS systems plus mine meant we had enough GPS memory to layout a course around the entire state(twice!).
Day 1 saw us leave from the host hotel, the Oasis, in Mesquite. We found a really trick way out of town using old hiways and eventually joining the old, old highway between Vegas and Mesquite. The pavement ends at 16.64 miles where we hit the first dirt section on top of the Mormon Mesa. The Day 1 ride ended up being just about 150 miles and it is bitchin. From the Mormon Mesa, we headed across the Tule Desert where it cilmbs the southern slopes of the Clover Mtns topping out at Bunker pass at 6200 ft. From Bunker we travel down to the old farming community of Barclay where lunch will be held at a fully restored 19th century schoolhouse. Quite a bit of history here. The last half of Day 1 see us traveling some very scenic backroads through Lincoln county to Panaca, Echo canyon, Ursine and back to the finish in Pioche.
The Day 1 ride varies in terrain and trail. For the most part it is easily rideable on a KTM 950 Adventure or BMW GS. There is one 12 mile section on the Mormon Mesa where the going will be a little tougher. Its atwo track jeep road with loose rocks. It varies from point to point but is still passable on the big dual sport if you take your time. Also the last 18 miles up to Bunker pass are quite twisty but on a well maintained road. No difficulties here for the big dualsports; just slow going.
The overnight Bivouac will be held in the park in the center of Pioche. The town is welcoming the Nevada Rally Experience with open arms. Pioche is a historic mining community with one of the finest museums anywhere in the state. A quick trip by to visit the museum is well worth the time. For those that don't wish to experience the bivouac setting there are two nearby hotels in Pioche, one of them being the Overland which is really cool.
Day 2 sees the Rally leaving Pioche via the Ely mine, Castleton and Pan American Rd. It winds through some beatuiful back country on its way to Caliente and the fuel stop. Leaving Caliente via Rainbow Canyon the Rally will pass through this beautiful gorge on 21 miles of the most btichin, winding asphalt in the state. From Rainbow Canyon the ride heads east towards the Utah border crossing back through the Tule Desert to Littlefield, Arizona where we rejoin the old highway into Mesquite. Altogether day 2 is 140 miles in length.
Casey and I are really pumped about how the ride turned out. We are working on finalizing the roadbook and the other details for the event. Those coming on the ride will need a roadbook holder that holds the 150mm wide roadbook charts. They can be obtained by contacting Touratech at www.touratech-usa.com. For those that have already signed up you will be receiving an information packet on the event at the end of August. For those that are still thinking about coming along get your entry in now. This is going to be a great event!
Scot and Casey
The host hotel in Mesquite, Nevada , the Oasis.
Casey standing next to the Best in the Desert course layout Ford F-150. What a great vehicle for laying out this type of event
The "old time" cowboy Slim Davidson, our friend and partner from Caliente. Someday you might be lucky enough to meet someone like Slim.
There are many trick old cabins and mines along the way. This one has been recently lived in.