I Finished the 2014 Vegas to Reno Desert Race in Last Place

"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
10/29/2014 at 08:58 • Filed to: None

Number 1 item on my bucket list was always to compete and finish a desert race on a bike, so I entered this years Vegas to Reno, the longest off road race in the US. It was 534 miles of the nastiest terrain I have ever ridden. I built my 2012 CRF450X bike up for the race with the help from Johnny Campbell Racing who were more than happy to advise me on how to set the bike up, and all the parts I'll need to buy for it.

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My goal was to do the race in 14 hours, averaging just under 40 mph. I did it in 24 hours, 42 minutes, 11 seconds. I was physically prepared, been conditioning and training, was in the best physical shape of my life since my teenage years. I was NOT prepared for the mental factor of night racing (I'll get to that later). My only goal was to simply finish the race. If I beat any other riders, then that is just extra credit.

My friends went so far as to get motocross legend Ricky Johnson to send me some support as he was doing the race in a buggy.

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The race started in Beatty, NV. First bikes left the line at 545 AM, I left a little bit after 6 AM in the Ironman Amateur class, race number 075.

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The first 280 miles were an absolute blast to race. Lots of wide open, very fast areas that you can really wind the bike out and hit rolling hills to catch some air off of. Seeing photographers coming up also makes you want to go faster. At 280 miles in we were at pit 8, this was the first time I actually took a break, a breather, got some protein bars in my system.

My wife took care of me, my good friend Jeff Christiansen took care of my bike. Best way to describe Jeff is he is a 60 year old man with a 22 year old spirit and lifestyle. I'm convinced Patrick Swayze's role in Point Break was based off of Jeff.

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Up until then it was just gas and water at each pit, I didn't want to slow down I was having so much fun. I actually over-hydrated myself and had to piss so bad, but didn't want to stop because everyone was still clustered up early on. So I ended up peeing in my rider gear going about 70 MPH down a dusty road standing up, that was a whole new experience for me. By this point I was feeling good. I had found my groove and was pacing myself to finish in about 16 hours if I could keep going at the same average speeds. This was the pit we also got word that some of the trucks were getting close, Jason Voss was about 30-45 minutes behind us.

Voss passed me around race mile 300, and I didn't see another truck or class 1 buggy for at least a half hour, that's how big of a lead that guy had on everyone.

My next stop was at pit 10, race mile 334. This was the start of the serious silt beds. As I took off I could hear the thunder from A LOT of trucks and buggies coming up behind me. They were spaced out just enough to where I couldn't ride the silt beds because they would run me over. Their 37" tall tires made ruts so deep in the silt that your handlebars touch the sides of the race course. Myself and 2 other bikes ended up making our own path about 10 feet to the side of the course just so we could continue on. It was that or sit there and wait for 2 hours to let all the trucks go by.

Pit 12, 387 miles in, was when the sun went down, and the first real problem with my bike developed. The front forks damn near stopped working, felt like they only had 1 inch of travel. My arms took a beating to the point where I thought they were broken.I tried to get some food in my stomach but I could barely chew it, and it didn't even stay down. Puked it right back up. I knew this was going to be a tough section because I could see the buggies and trucks going slow up the mountain, not to mention it was pitch black. The first 6 miles after pit 12 was an uphill mountain climb of nothing but rocks. Since the trucks had already been through it, it was nothing but whooped out rock sections. It took me an hour to go that 6 miles to the top.

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Gotta love LED headlights

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I reached pit 13 around 1am, 431 miles in. Baja Pits gave me some popsicles to eat, and it was the most relieving meal I had the whole race. This was the part where the mental factor really took it's toll. I was riding for hours on end in the darkest of night without seeing another racer, either off to the side or someone passing me, and I began hallucinating. Every cactus I saw looked like a person. I constantly thought I saw lights and heard engines coming up behind me. Was looking over my shoulder every 2 minutes, at least. I'd stop, shut the bike off, and realize it was dead silent, not one person was around me for a long distance. This made me ride smarter. The fear of getting hurt in the middle of no where and not knowing how long help could be away. Also rabbits and coyotes LOVE bright lights. They run out in the middle of the course, do a 360, then run off the course. There were A LOT that did not make it back to the side of the course due to the trophy trucks.

By pit 14, 457 miles in, I was literally blowing bubbles and not making sense when I talked. My hands and arms were damn near completely numb. My chase crew, comprised of my wife and my friend Jeff (Jeff has more experience in Baja and desert racing than almost anyone I know), were talking me up, keeping my head straight. I later found out that they wished I had quit at this point because I was so out of it. They told me after as well that they watched 5 other bikes call it quits at pit 14 as well. My adrenaline was still pumping and I was still going, and still hallucinating.

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Pit 15, last pit, came and went with a splash of gas and some more water, I was determined to hit the finish line and ride under the Red Bull arch.

They warned us the day before that the first and last 20 miles are a shit show, due to being washed out from the rain storms. I didn't think the first 20 were all that bad, the last 20 damn near killed me. It was 20 miles of 1st gear riding through a damn boulder field. I had to stop, look at the rocks and plan a route through them, and it was still pitch black during this. I finally made it through without falling, and met my wife and Jeff at the finish line. I was so exhausted they had to help me off the bike. I couldn't even take my gear off, they had to do it for me. I was told that I was the last bike on the course, not another bike was left out there. When Casey Folks handed me that finishers pin and congratulated me, I started to tear up, because I now knew I had done what most thought was impossible. I had just finished the longest off road race in the US. I finished 4th in class out of 14 riders (only 4 finished), 73rd for the bikes, quads, UTVs out 126 (only 73 finished). The next bike in front of me finished nearly 7 hours earlier.

Here's some video from the first part of the race
Pre race jitters talking a million words a minute

First 2 hours or so of the course

DISCUSSION (77)

RightFootDown > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:12

To finish first, first you must finish.

thebigbossyboss > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:16

Wow. Unbelievable story M8.

That hallucination stuff can happen to ANYBODY who drives too long. I once talked to a trucker who worked on a team and did nights. At first he couldn't get his sleep pattern right and supplemented it with energy drinks and sleeping pills.

Then one night driving on a lonely interstate he slammed on the brakes and woke his partner up.

He had hit a pedestrian. What a pedestrian was doing on the interstate in the middle of the night he didn't know, but he had hit him. So they got out of the truck and looked at the front of it. No blood no guts.

They looked under the truck, noone was there. They walked back down the road a bit, they didn't see anyone. They looked all over but never found any evidence that they had hit someone.

The pedestrian they had "hit" was just a mirage caused by lack of sleep.

I admire your commitment to finish the race the whole way through.

Dusty Ventures > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:17

Great write-up and congrats on the finish! I'm 0-for-2 in Vegas to Reno, but I still love the event and the course

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:18

You had the right attitude. Congratulations on your achievement! This is one to tell the kids.

450X_FTW > RightFootDown
10/29/2014 at 09:18

Only way I plan on finishing first is if I'm in a class by myself ha

450X_FTW > thebigbossyboss
10/29/2014 at 09:19

I may have clipped a rabbit at one point. Definitely never felt tired, eyes were wide open

450X_FTW > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 09:20

Dusty I plan on doing this race again but only as a team event. The pain afterwards for the following week + was horrible and I can't put myself through it. Plus the wife said no solo racing again

450X_FTW > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
10/29/2014 at 09:21

And I'm sure by the time I tell my grand kids the race course will have been 1500 miles long against 500 other bike racers and I did it in 10 hours haha

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:28

But of course! Maybe this is the start of your very own Herbst dynasty.

Rock Bottom > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:32

DO PIKE'S PEAK NEXT!

Seriously, I'll crew for you.

NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:37

I'm hoping to move out towards AZ from the east coast within the next couple years. This event and king of the motos during the king of the hammers event are on my to do list. I do several hare scrambles and enduros each year in the NJ state forest area but I'd love to try something with a new set of challenges to it.

450X_FTW > NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts
10/29/2014 at 09:40

I did a few hare scrambles in Michigan where I live, but NOTHING compares to desert racing. King of the Hammers from what I've seen in video is way nastier than any course out there. The equivalent of Erzberg Rodeo really

Crest > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:41

I am so proud of you even though i don't need to be. But see it's that determination that i admire more than anything. Congratulations man

450X_FTW > Crest
10/29/2014 at 09:42

Thanks mate. It was the best worst experience of my life

NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:44

I watched the very opening segment of king of the motos from last year and the number of people falling in the first rock section / quitting right there at the start was crazy. I'm sure I'll probably be hating myself when I finally do it lol. I've ridden some mild boulder fields in the blue ridge mountains in virginia and honestly I'd rather drag my bike out of a mud bog than deal with large rocks but it's one of those things where I want to do it just to say I did. I do some off roading too so looking forward to some out west wheeling as well.

450X_FTW > NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts
10/29/2014 at 09:48

Have you done Hatfiled McCoy yet? By far one of my favorite trail systems of all time

NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:56

no but just looked it up and that looks amazing. now I need to find some way or time to get down there

thebigbossyboss > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:56

Right, its the adreline that causes the hallucinations, that's what happened with the trucker too, all hopped up on monster or similar.

Anyways congratulations on your achievement. I would be quite proud if I was you.

William Byrd > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 09:59

There is some excellent Oppo content today! That's awesome, great story!

450X_FTW > NeedsmoreaftermarketXTparts
10/29/2014 at 10:01

Best. Trails. Ever. And all the towns are "atv/dirt bike friendly" so you can ride on any road without a license plate down there. They map out everything perfectly.

Rock Bottom > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:05

But you'll be able to laugh heartily and say "Back in my day we did that race without fancy pants fuel infection. And we didn't have terrain mapping radar in our helmets either, ya whippersnappers!"

Dusty Ventures > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:05

Hahaha. I don't blame you. Or your wife.

450X_FTW > Rock Bottom
10/29/2014 at 10:06

and they'll probably respond "oh desert racing? there's an app for that too"

450X_FTW > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 10:07

She was a nervous wreck several times. There was a good 4-5 hours where they didn't hear from me after I left pit 12. Pit 13 was way out in the boondoggles so they went to pit 14 like planned, but it took me forever to get from 12 to 14

bradleyjames518 > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:08

Incredible story, I race the occasional hare scramble and living in the Northeast I have ZERO experience desert riding. It is one of my goals as well to ride something similar, I love pushing myself and new adventures. Your story is inspiring, I'm glad you came away safe. Brraaaaaapp

Dusty Ventures > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:09

Pit 13 must've been Rattler this year. Yeah, that's the definition of remote out there.

450X_FTW > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 10:15

Rawhide. Way out in the middle of no where

Kinja'd!!!

Dusty Ventures > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:16

Yeah, that's what I meant. It's been three years since my last go and I've got the memory of a man twice my age. At least I got the first letter right ;)

450X_FTW > bradleyjames518
10/29/2014 at 10:17

I live in Michigan so desert racing was a whole new experience. I got hooked up with Baja Bound Adventures out in Cali. They do dirt bike tours through Baja Mexico with groups. The owner Tim Morton also has 20+ Baja 1000 finishes under his belt so he knows what he's doing. We did some pre running at the 2013 Baja 1000 just so we could get a taste of desert riding and it is a completely different environment than what I'm used to.

450X_FTW > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 10:18

Like I said I'm up for a team race if you're looking for partners

Dusty Ventures > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 10:30

Kinja'd!!!

I'm a cage-rager, I wouldn't trust myself to survive if I tried V2R on a bike. But hey, if you'd be interested in cushy suspension seats, a helmet fresh air system, conversation, and not noodle-fying your arms, I'd be game to pull the truck out for another go.

bradleyjames518 > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 11:12

For sure, I am used to riding in woods. I am hoping in the next 10 years I will achieve. Sounds far away, but we have a baby due in a month and things are getting put on hold for awhile...Still riding, but not competitively.

nermal > 450X_FTW
10/29/2014 at 11:15

Great story and write-up. Good work!

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 16:40

I wanna come! I'll be support. Although I'd really love to drive just a little bit.

Dusty Ventures > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
10/29/2014 at 16:55

I'm willing to rent out the seats. Just sayin

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Dusty Ventures
10/29/2014 at 17:09

Tempting. Maybe a future investment lol

450X_FTW > 450X_FTW
10/30/2014 at 08:33

@damonlavrinc Since you write a lot for lane splitter thought you would appreciate this as well

mini4me > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 13:22

Excellent story! Thanks for sharing. I cannot believe that video. Never having done this, how do you not just get run over by the trucks in that dust?

doodypie > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 13:26

DFL beat DNF all day long.

offyatindy > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 13:29

Great read and accomplishment! Thanks.

guppysb > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 13:32

Wow, great write up, and congratulations! I thought I was tough shit when I was mountain biking in the hills here in CA, with roughly 3 hours and 2600 feet elevation change. My legs and ankles were a bit cut up due to the sharp rocks. Not too many people out there know how hard technical riding is, and that pales in comparison to what you went through.

450X_FTW > guppysb
10/31/2014 at 13:35

We started at around 3000 feet, went up to 8000, average was around 5000. But when you crash at 8000 having to pick up that heavy bike was not an easy task

450X_FTW > mini4me
10/31/2014 at 13:37

When you see the trucks coming I get off the course, in a straight section, that way they can see me. You have to wait for the dust to settle before you ride again because a lot of times those trucks will race blind in the dust. If their GPS shows a straight line they will put their foot down and go in a straight line with no sight. Never pull off to the outside of a turn to let them pass. Their 800 hp trucks literally throw boulders when going around corners

Kluckfab > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 13:58

What an awesome read, congrats on having so much fun and even completing the race. So question, what's next for you? Baja?

450X_FTW > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 14:03

Video of before the race. Nervous as all hell. I know I was because I pissed about 3 times before getting to the start and was talking a million words a minute

450X_FTW > Kluckfab
10/31/2014 at 14:08

Baja was my first taste of desert riding last year. I got in touch with Baja Bound Adventures who does tours for groups across Baja on dirt bikes. The owner, Tim Morton, has over 20 Baja 1000 finishes under his belt, several of those being podium finishes. We did 2 days of pre running the 2014 Baja 1000 course, covered about 300 miles total and it was a HUGE eye opener for me. Never ridden any terrain like it. Mostly hard packed dusty dirt roads with jagged rocks sticking up. While it was fun, I've learned that racing Baja is $$$$$. Just to enter the race for an Ironman is around $2500. For V2R the entry fee was 450, membership 50, transponder 100. Everything else is up to you. In Baja teams will spend weeks pre running the course to learn the sections so by the time race day comes the course is already destroyed. V2R the course is almost untouched because no pre running is allowed (federal land)

tekkblade128 > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 14:22

You finished last, but at least you finished. Tough race like that just crossing the line is a big deal.

icelandr > thebigbossyboss
10/31/2014 at 14:38

I can attest to seeing things from driving too long. Went back to North Dakota to help my dad with sugar beet harvest. Longest day for hours was 19.75 hours, and a majority was spent sitting in a semi driving. It isn't bad during the day, but running that long of hours as you approach midnight to 2am and there aren't any other trucks out there in the area we hauled from makes your mind wander a lot. Certain times I had to call it earlier than other drivers as I was starting to see things. definitely not cool in something weighing 34k empty.

th1npower > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 14:40

awesome write-up! congrats! ..how about a write-up on the bike?? *cheers!*

Lestonian > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 14:55

Reading this report made me want to do it even more. Its on my bucket list, and i plan to do it with my buddy from college. congrats

ME 4-12 > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 16:04

First or last, doesn't matter when your having that much fun. I would love to do something like this.

450X_FTW > th1npower
10/31/2014 at 16:14

2012 CRF450X I purchased it new as an overstock from a dealer in ohio for $6600. Then started to modify it until the total bill was around $11,500 including the bike

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

450X_FTW > ME 4-12
10/31/2014 at 16:16

Do it before you have kids, That is what my wife told me to do.

450X_FTW > Lestonian
10/31/2014 at 16:17

Do it. You will not regret it. There were a lot of first timers out there myself included. Plan a year ahead to make sure you are physically and skillfully prepared

ME 4-12 > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 16:21

Oh I plan on it. I have quite a large automotive bucket list that must be completed before children. Fortunately my wife is mostly ok with everything. She is willing to let me race my Miata and SV650 (haven't done either yet, preparing for both next summer).

450X_FTW > ME 4-12
10/31/2014 at 16:23

Start planning for a race like this at least 1 year in advanced. Can rent or build your bike, all depends on the budget. I'd say from start to finish, everything including, it cost me around $15,000. Abouut $11000 is from the bike build. Everything else was race fees, transportation, fuel, hotels, food etc

th1npower > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 16:37

awesome, thanks!

ME 4-12 > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 16:43

So basically $4k for the event. I'm sure you will continue to use the bike for other events and just basic screwing around on trails and MX courses so I wouldn't put its cost into the event (maybe put the cost of fork seals and tires into the event cost lol). You could probably lower the cost by buying an older bike and building it up. Thats why I love my SV, cost me $2k and while I have only put a new seat on it, you can put around $1k into just suspension and brakes and have a very good racer for both beginners and advanced riders.

Dirka > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 18:03

honestly 10 is super fast but 23 still shows that nothing can make you give up. You should still say 1500 miles and at least 500 other bike when you tell your kids though.

Dirka > thebigbossyboss
10/31/2014 at 18:08

Happened to me when I'd been up around 39 hours going from rural Italy to rural Vermont all in one trip, I saw ducks floating. I guess it was easier since I could look at them and know they were not real but still pretty messed up to see imaginary things in the road.

450X_FTW > ME 4-12
10/31/2014 at 23:41

Race entry - $450, BITD membership - $50, Baja Pits - $550 (includes fuel on race day and pit services). I drove across country from Michigan to Vegas, then had my wife drive my truck to Reno, drove home together, $1200 in fuel, plus hotels food.

For the bike, some things are a necessity. Oversized gas tank $250, really good lights (I went with Baja Designs squadron kit $650) good tires, if you want to avoid flats get Mousse Bibs they're a giant foam insert similar to a large runflat, those are $130 each. Suspension and controls setup, including a steering damper for the high speed stuff about $1500. Trail Tech Voyager GPS unit $300. Professional rider tool kit $350. It all adds up real quick. I wanted to make sure the bike had no chance of failing. Had spare shifter and clutch lever zip tied to my bike under the number plate. Break those during the race and you're SOL

navybluecorvette > 450X_FTW
10/31/2014 at 23:48

You are a WINNER in every sense of the word! Your story made me tear up.

WayDude > 450X_FTW
11/01/2014 at 01:21

Did you put a seat pad on or stock? I usually ride a Dakar, but I traded with a friend up in the mountains here in Utah and rode a Suzuki DRZ 450 for most of a day. My ass was so sore! I guess I am spoiled by the big cushy BMW seat. My brother took the Zuke to Mexico but put some sort of gel seat pad on it.

450X_FTW > WayDude
11/01/2014 at 10:12

stock seat cushion but you don't sit down much at all, just in the long straight aways when you get into a tuck. Standing up most of the time because of all the dangers that sneak up on you. Smack a nasty V ditch crossing or big boulder while sitting down and it wants to throw you off the bike

450X_FTW > navybluecorvette
11/01/2014 at 10:13

Thanks man. Before posting I was proofreading the article and made me tear up again

BlueSky > 450X_FTW
11/01/2014 at 13:58

Good ironman MC experience, glad you checked it off the bucket list.

The first year's V2R my fuel injected ATK started and finished with a 2 man team. It was an fantastic and enjoyable experience for 15 hours. I was fortunate without any falls. I have done Baja rides covering 7 to 10 days, 14 years in a row, so I agree its a riders dream down there.

Your write up makes me want to volunteer as a team mate. Let me know; I live in Nevada too. Keep going with your adventures.

BlueSky > 450X_FTW
11/01/2014 at 14:04

Good ironman MC experience, glad you checked it off the bucket list.

I did too during the first year's V2R my fuel injected ATK started and finished with a 2 man team. It was an fantastic and enjoyable experience, 15 hours. I was fortunate without any falls. I have done Baja rides covering 7 to 10 days over 14 years in a row, so I agree its a riders dream south of the border.

Your write up makes me want to volunteer as a team mate. Let me know; I live in Nevada too. Keep going with your adventures.

450X_FTW > BlueSky
11/01/2014 at 15:38

I'm definitely hoping to do it as a team for 2015. Especially since I've already done one race that I paced myself and rode just to finish, now I wanted to do it again but "race" it this time.

AssFault > 450X_FTW
11/01/2014 at 22:11

The mid race, on-bike pee is definitely an acquired skill, and much harder than most people would imagine. I finally resorted to just doing on on the starting line, a minute or two before the checkered, because it is so much easier. If I thought anyone noticed, I would pretend that my camelbak had leaked into my lap.

450X_FTW > AssFault
11/01/2014 at 22:38

There was probably 1 out of every 8 riders on the side of the start line at any given point taking a leak

John The Race Fan > 450X_FTW
11/02/2014 at 09:30

Major congrats, compadre.

I'm sure the emotional and mental triumph makes the physical pain worth it.

I read your story and wept a bit. I can only imagine the flood of emotion you felt receiving the finisher's pin with your wife there. I felt similarly at the end of Dust to Glory when Mouse McCoy made it to the finish after his solo ride.

On one hand, I'd say to put your finisher's pin behind glass after cleaning and shining it for presentation.

On the other hand, I'd say epoxy it to your helmet and wear it proudly on every ride, letting it revel in the wind, grit, grime and weather that you endured in earning it.

Either way... You earned it, buddy.

John The Race Fan > 450X_FTW
11/02/2014 at 09:37

Damn Kinja ate my reply, it appears.

Major congrats, compadre. I'm glad you made it safely. Your experience made me well up the same way as when I saw Mouse McCoy finish his solo Baja 1000 effort in Dust to Glory .

One one hand, I suggest shining up your finisher's pin and putting it behind glass to show off to anyone/everyone.

On the other hand, I think it's more appropriate to epoxy it to your helmet or fairing so that every ride it will get some exposure to the wind and the grit and the dust and the rain and everything else on the trail, much the same way you did in earning her.

Either way that pin represents something special.

And you earned it.

450X_FTW > John The Race Fan
11/02/2014 at 14:07

Thanks John. I took the pin and made my version of it in tattoo form. That way in case I ever do lose the pin I have this

Kinja'd!!!

John The Race Fan > 450X_FTW
11/02/2014 at 17:09

Epic.

Lestonian > 450X_FTW
11/03/2014 at 08:09

Planning for 2016!

ME 4-12 > 450X_FTW
11/03/2014 at 08:39

Great advice. Thanks a lot. I would have never thought about the spare clutch and shifter levers and one spill could take both out so very good idea to have a spare of each.

It will be a couple of years before I get to do something like this, but I look forward to it.

450X_FTW > ME 4-12
11/03/2014 at 08:46

Kinja'd!!!