Hello all, before I start doing the dirt report, let me give you a short background on how this event started. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> In February of 2007, Tom aka Red_Bull_Addict and I were 4-wheeling in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on">Death Valley</st1lace>, we talked about attending one of the ADV rides. Both of us were totally nOObs and didnt feel (more like scared) there were rides suitable for peeps of our skill level. I hate to say this, but most nOObs dont feel welcome in many riding events. And yes, we can be a pain in the ass and will slow down everyone else. <o></o> So, in Dec of last year, we had the 1<SUP>st </SUP>nOOb valley rALLy ride with the intention of giving all the nOObs the rare opportunity to ride at their comfortable pace, enjoy the beautiful DV National Park, a chance to meet a lot of nice nOObs, and finally a place we call home. Last year's ride report: <o>http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292105&highlight=noob+valley+rally</o> <o></o> <o>This year's planning thread:</o> <o>http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372527</o> <o></o> <o></o> This ride was never meant for nOObs only, the better riders are encourage to come, and in fact their presence challenges us to try the harder trails; instead of just hanging out on the West Side Road the whole weekend! Besides, we ride a little better when there are baby sitters around. <o></o> <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">Death Valley</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">National Park</st1laceType></st1lace> is really an amazing place to visit and at the same time be able to ride your favorite dual sport bike and get to places where most tourist will never see. <o></o> <o>The Los Angeles group did the 330 mile ride to get to Stovepipe, which is nothing compared to the norcal guys.</o> <o></o> <o>Toby and Mario getting ready at 7:00 AM</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>We made it to Trona and met some of the norcal boys on time at 10:30 AM.</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>7 FFs.....Dean, Joel, Rick, John, Dave, Mario, and Toby </o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>Riding towards Ballarat</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>Zing saying hello</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>Mario's turn</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>This blue clear sky will go south in 2 days </o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>Entering Ballarat</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>When we got to Ballarat, the advriders already waiting</o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>If you don't see anything special about this bike, pm me... </o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>Typical nOObs ride...after 5 minutes, trouble...shit starts to flly :eek1 </o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>more coming....I have to go back and work... </o>
Typical nOObs ride...after 5 minutes, trouble...shit starts to flly :eek1 That was a planned self ejecting tank so I would remember to top off .
orange bikes in the hands of wanna-be-nOObs....brokenspoke could not believe who's coming up :eek1 it's zing creeping up on his fully loaded gsa and not knowing what's ahead going over Goler and saving gas at the same time dang sito made it look easy and fooled a lot of nOObs , i see a little wheelie here huh brokenspoke on a 530 got me fooled too..this is his 2nd year pretending to be a nOOb! :fyyff the bike tells me this guy jeff is not a nOOb nOOb's first mistake is buying an orange bike not sure if justin made it through but it looks like he was heading to the wall eggroll's first attempt he made the second attempt but........... ended up knocking a bike parked above, so i don't think it counts redbulladdict....our fearless leader and i will not make a comment... davebro....looks good on this picture and maybe someone will post the next sequence but for sure he broke his shifter lever on that attempt i had a good start too oh crap, now my nOOb status just got extended by another year.. trailtrick out of nowhere showed up..
always easier if you have extra 2 wheels john and sito enjoying the company of nOObs and still don't believe it was a difficult climb... time to move on to the next nOOb's challenge el diablo...when you buy a husky, the dealer will throw in a fuel jug for free for sure this unknown rider is not a nOOb zing is doing his best to show that a pig can hang out with the thumpers and 9fiddies more coming later on....back to the mines..
Many incredible thanks to the Redbull for starting what appears to be a snowball effect. I will return!!!! Headed out to Death Valley early Friday morning for the great n00b Valley Rally. Rode out Solo. As the once Great Borat used to say."veerry nice" Found some lonely roads. Yes;; in California. Time for a Rest Stop Now I am happy. What the......??? Crap.... And I thought it wasn't going to be very crowded..:huh Looks like a parade is about to start.. Prolly just a bunch of rocks rolling down the street. "Note mandatory mirror shot" Just so as not to get too far off track. I will try and keep pace with others on this thread.
Part 2; As I was able pretend that I was in a submarine riding under the sea. Okay that was really corny. sorry Well anyway, More Road Visiting with the locals... Finally;; Home away from Home. Look how green and lush it is here... n00bs and soon to be "TENT REMOVAL EXPERTS"!!! This dog was playing with a rather large rock. I guess rubber balls don't last very long out here. Dawg-gonnit!! where did everybody go? Is this the right place? Next stop, Charcoal Kilns and Skidoo To Be Continued....
hey john, the word was out in DV that the nOObs were coming and the tourists want to get some free entertainment and laughter....
Here are my 113 pics that I took. I also have a bunch of crash videos. http://gallery.mac.com/yj93#100162&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=49
I got there on Wednesday along with a few other guys. (Scruffy, Windrat, Brokenspoke and friend, rammer, trailtrick and Capt.Barbosa) Then it was off to Lake Hill Rd to play in the rocks. the road isn't on any map really, it's just there. just east of pannimant valley on the north side of the road. Don't let the picture fool you. it was loose and it climbed. It was then off to Darwin the back way: Capt Barbosa and Rammer had taken the road route and ended up messing around on some hills. I tried to connect with them only to be chased off by the property owner. This was at the Dance Hall stuck to the wall: I'll be back. Smugmug is goofing up on me. Nate edit: here is the gpx file for the first day.
Great Ride! and it was great hangin with some really cool people! This pic pretty much sums it up ADV style; 2 days of riding + camping in the desert + a serious hangover + an approaching winter thunder storm at 5:45am = A Strong Finish....
seeing this marker on top of the hill makes us nOObs shit in our pants meaning "Mr. Mengel" is not too far and waiting for us still have few moments to smile ....rruugger, davebro, and zing some guys just could not wait to get to Mengel, zing on the gsa (before mengel condition ) my bike was too skeered to move one and played dead not just once but twice mengel at last.... we cheated................we brought baby sitters with us davebro don't need help at the bottom of the hill... dean was the only victim.... dean got up and rode it out! zing rippped his "hollywood approved skid plate" which in no time, our official trailside mechanic sito was able to fix i have a suspicion that the 950s have an anti-gravity device built in them...jeff and sito mengel is over rated..... , and we officially added it to the nOObs gpx file
Have to say saw about every kind of different kind of riding I thought I would and was as much fun as I can remember. Havent gotten the camera out of the tank bag not that I know how to post the pics I got anyhow but I will try after dinner. Think I will dedicate this weekend to fixing broken pieces on the bike and those that were there know of one.:eek1 The reports are super cool and I would like to make one when I learn how to post my pics. Smugmug account would make life easier right? To everyone thanks and broken spoke thanks for helping me get the pig up before Joel could get a pic of it down.
Hey Zing, I was another GSA guy in DV this weekend, didn't have the balls for the Mengal stuff. I can claim the 2nd GSA skidplate casualty this weekend, only it wasn't in the dirt... Crossing train tracks at 70 mph took mine!
the shadow is getting long and we charged on eggroll, davebro, and redbulladdict justin (see license plate) and adam aka el diablo the nOObs found nice groomed dirt everybody waits at the junction....and seems it's forever...:ddog and the faster rider ends up falling .......................... eggroll leaving his scent? or excited? or simply near sighted?
after 300 miles of continuous riding (from home) , we made it to furnace creek in the dark. 150 miles for those who came from camp stovepipe. aware it's already dark, and that we will be too tired to make dinner, we decided to treat ourselves.... :dg ......................... dean was freaking out to see food ! zing showing off his meat :eek1 adam was a hard cored vegan until he saw zing's meat .........and he enjoys fingering his meat too....oser mine is as big as zing :eek1