Rally Moto Kit Racing - 2012 Mexican 1000

[c.vestal]

As I start on the full write up of our race, I still have decals on the van & a race bike that has been untouched with the exception of a quick ride to a C.Springs meetup. I also have a lust for going back to Baja in some capacity. Race the MX1K again? Maybe... Support another team? Maybe... Let's see where the next 9 months take us.

Kelly and I finish packing the van.
We open up the tent to pack in sleeping bags.


Pack up my 3 bins that carry most all I will need for the 4 days. Spare engine case parts (thanks Ned), larger Rolie bags in case I need to carry fuel, assorted energy food, oil, more spares...


More steekers.


Kelly did a good job adding some to the cooler.


I take a break to run to the COS airport & pick up my best friend from Indiana. Matt had no idea what he was about to get into. I can not believe I am about a 1/2 day of my packing at this point. I ask Kelly & Matt if he is ready to get rolling this after noon rather than early the next day. They say let's go! We snap this pic and hit the road.


We stop for the night in Santa Fe, NM. Then get rolling again early in the AM with the plan to make it to Mexicali that night.




Rain and a little snow in NM & AZ


We arrive in Mexicali a day earlier than planned. I was in line next to Ron Pearlman to check into our room. Cool dude. I am impressed with where he has taken NORRA and the Mexican 1000 Rally. I would be surprised if the bike entry does not double next year.

We parked ESV next to our room at the back of the Colonial Hotel, have dinner and hit the sack.
The next AM we have a little breakfast at the hotel and quickly get to work. Matt was finishing adding more stickers to ESV. Kelly was helping me with getting some cool lenses in my Ariete goggles. Jason at MX1-WEST recommended I try the silver chrome for the desert. I wanted to try the rainbow for a little bling.







The seat arrived from James of Renazco the day before we left. Just in time! I would be in big trouble after the big transfers without this bad boy.


I just noticed a little problem. I did not want to mount Wolfman's Rolie System over the Renazco seat. Shit!


A little Baja Fabrication Matt and I got the Rolie harness under the seat. (more on that later )

[Brodovitch]

excellent Chris!

can't wait for more installments

[mikechill]

Way cool

[pfb]

Supervising??

[Region Riley]

Originally Posted by pfb

Supervising??

That was my job.

[c.vestal]

Originally Posted by pfb

Supervising??

Reading NORRA rules.

Originally Posted by Region Riley

That was my job.

[wrk2surf]

Nice Seat!

Mine made my life totally liveable for all 4 days !

James does a great job!

[Deadly99]

[c.vestal]

Keeping the story rolling, I will skip the Rolie fix for now.

I got to a stopping point with the bike prep a few hours later. We started walking around seeing other race teams arriving.... I think there were 4 at this point. These yahoos arrived about the same time as us. Team Squatter made up of Arron, Mike and Jeremy. More on them soon.


We had to do some grocery shopping so left the bike within a "safe" radius of Team Squatter and Mag 7 Pits.


Got our shopping done and hung out at the pool for a few. Pacifico Light in a can... winning!

[c.vestal]

So here is a bit of my Wolfman Rolie System "Rally Modification"

Here his how I was riding these the months before. Over the seat as designed.
I do not run the top center bag when in terrain where I may see jumps or whoops.


So when I got to Mexicali with my gorgeous new Renazco. I did not want to run the harness over the seat. So we started looking at mounting under. Made some test fits and the seat will attach and not interfere with the seat pan and where it will touch the subframe. Only issue is the slack created by running under the seat. I cut off the top un-used buckle and attached it to pick up the slack and ran it under my seat. Photo below after the 1200 miles.

[BLINKER 152]

lovin the write-up here. thanks for sharing.

[c.vestal]

So the next couple days were a blur prepping the bike, van, spares. We had nice breaks meeting and hanging at the heckling wall with "Team Squatter". Crankshaft (Aaron) Mike "I can not ride in sand" Gilke, and their fearless support Beechum1 (Jeremy)

The day before tech was filled with heading to the grocery for supplies and final prep on the bike then a late night hanging at the Heckling Wall with our new friends.

Matt and I prepping some air filters.


Heckling Wall that night.


Here is a quick graphic I made of the area.


Here is another graphic showing the area you are not safe from the Heckle Wall. (blue)

[c.vestal]

Saturday the 28th. Was tech.
The hotel was getting crowded.


Tech was at the nearby bull ring. I was surprised of the scale.




















After tech helped other with loading roadbooks.




Then this crazy ass shows up. It was good to see Tim Morton. Last I saw him was waving him off the first morning of the Dakar in South America.

TIm rode in from the OX memorial the day before. What he was racing with is what you see in this pic. No support car & crew, no bags. F-ing cool.

[Brake]

mas por favor!

[oPAULo]

SAWEEET!! Those side bags are just what I'm looking for. Clean setup Chris.