Posts Tagged ‘Slavens Racing’

The Colorado 600 by Scott Bright

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

NOTE: This is article is by guest writer Scott Bright. He is well known in the Colorado off-road racing world, is a Rocky Mtn. Enduro Circuit (RMEC) race promoter, donates time and money to the organizations listed below, and is a stellar trail advocate.

Hello:

I hope that you got a chance to read the article about the Colorado 600 in the November 2011 issue of Dirt Rider.  Mostly because I got a picture and mention in the article!  Finally, after 22 years of racing and riding – I showed up in color in a magazine – for something other than my ripped and toned body.

Seriously, I hope you got a chance to see what some very important organizations are doing for YOU and YOUR riding areas here in the great state of Colorado!  First and foremost, this is not your Father’s AMA.  The AMA of today is all about protecting your right to ride, as well as preserving your kids’ right to ride.  If you are still hung up and peeved about how the AMA handles American racing on a local, national and world level – YOU ARE LIVING IN THE 1900’s!!  The AMA changed up its leadership and focus from the top down.  Rob Dingman, AMA president, is a man on a mission, and he has the support of the AMA Board of Directors.  Their mission in life is not to micro-manage the AMA Superbike racing scene, but to further motorcycle riding freedom amongst all who own 2-wheeled vehicles.  They purposely sold off and farmed out the racing components to those who are experts in those fields, so that the AMA could focus on what is important – You and Your Motorcycle!  Furthermore, the AMA is fully involved in protecting off-road motorcycling in your backyard.  What the AMA needs is YOUR SUPPORT!

Let’s rewind and take a look at some significant events in the recent months.  The Lead Law, does anyone really think that law was brought about by some do-gooders hoping to prevent injury to kids from ingesting lead?  Nope.  That law was an indirect attack from the Dark Side trying to get your kids to play video games throughout their childhood instead of growing up as dirtbikers who would support motorized recreation in their tax-paying and voting years.  After-all, if the Green Freaks can prevent your kids from riding while they are young, then they stand a better chance 15 years from now when its time to fundraise and elect people who would like to lock us out of Our Public Lands.  If the AMA did NOT have a single unified voice of 800,000+ members when walking up to Capitol Hill and demanding that this Lead Law be thrown it – the bad guys would have won.

Additionally, does anyone remember the Wild Lands Bill that was withdrawn on a Federal Level?  Do you know what the implications would have been had the Wild Lands Bill actually stuck?  It would have given a new tool to the Green Freaks to lock you out of your Public Lands with your motorcycle.  Do you think Salazar just woke up one morning in May and decided he didn’t want to do the Bill after-all?  Nope.  There was lots of pressure in DC, and you can thank the AMA and their membership (hopefully you) for applying it.  The Enviro-Nazi’s will stop at nothing to keep you and your bike out of ‘their’ public lands.  They will come up with new ways every year to try to attack our motorized rights.  If we did not have a Big Brother on a National scale looking out for us, we would be toast.  Are you an AMA member?

Make no mistake, the AMA is working for you and your motorcycle.  Again, if you hold some grudge about how the AMA handled to racing situation back in the day, you are totally missing the point.  What if……  the AMA had 8 million members?  How much of a chance do you think the Extreme-Enviros would have against a force that big?  Do you think we could actually get some currently CLOSED trails back open?  Do you think we could get a movement going on a National level that would designate federal funds to creating new trails instead of closing existing ones?  I am a proud AMA member, so is my wife, my son, my daughter, and I have pending apps for my 3 dogs, 2 cats and horse.  My parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces…   guess what they are getting for Christmas this year?  AMA memberships!

Moving on to a more local movement within the National one that we have just discussed.  COHVCO.  Have you ridden any single-track this year?  Did you know that COHVCO installed 162 gates on the entrances of single-track trails this summer?  I’ve ridden past at least 1/4th of them and I think its pretty cool.  The gate is made of 4” steel pipe, and is shaped like a V with a narrow opening at the bottom.  I’m sure you have seen them somewhere recently.  Its impossible to get an ATV or 4×4 past this gate.  COHVCO is doing this.  COHVCO is applying for grant money, getting it, and physically working to protect single-track trails in Colorado.  What more do you want?  John Bongiovanni and the entire crew at COHVCO are dedicated to preserving single-track FOR YOU and YOUR DIRTBIKE here in Colorado.  COHVCO is active fighting every piece of legislation that the Extremists throw at us.  COHVCO supports all types of motorized access to public land, motorcycles are a big part of that.  Are you a member?  How many millions of ATV’s and motorcycles are sold each year in the United States?  How many hundreds of COHVCO members are there?  What if more than 0.1% of motorcycle buyers were COHVCO members?  Motorized recreation opportunities would be EXPANDING rather than disintegrating here in Colorado.  Are you a COHVCO member?

So lets narrow it down a little further and look at something that is RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.  The Trails Preservation Alliance.  What’s not to love about an organization with that name?  That name describes you, it describes me, and it describes everyone that I see at each RMEC event.  The TPA is the organization that puts on the Colorado 600.  The TPA is a 501(C)3 organization that has the SOLE PURPOSE of protecting single-track on public lands in Colorado.  Your donations to the TPA are Tax Deductible.  Did you hear that?  You can write off a donation to the TPA on your taxes.  This is a No Brainer.  Through donations from supporters, the TPA has won 3 lawsuits this year protecting single-track in Colorado.  Did you have any idea that your trails are being attacked by the Extremists?  The TPA does, and they are on the fore-front of protecting those trails for you.  What have you done for the TPA this year?

I am a proud supporter of the AMA, COHVCO, and the TPA.  I know what each of those organizations do for me and my family on a National, State and Local level.  Now you do too.  What are you waiting for?  www.ama-cycle.org, cohvco.org, www.coloradotpa.org, www.colorado600.org

The Colorado 600 is limited to 74 participants.  It sells out early.  If you want to participate in a most epic week of riding, and support organizations that are actively working to keep trails open for you, sign up.

As a RMEC Promoter, I will likely be offering discounts on entry fees at my events for those who show their AMA membership, and COHVCO membership, and TPA donation.  Avoid the rush and do it NOW!

Scott Bright

Member and supporter of COHVCO, Colorado TPA,  AMA, Colorado 600

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The Tales of Ali Baba and his 40 Thieves, ok sorry, and his wife and friends!

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011


In the fall of 2007, a friend that lives in South Africa, invited me to join him and his riding buddies on a dirt bike riding adventure to watch the Dakar Rally (previously known as the Paris to Dakar Rally) and ride parts of the race course in Morocco, North Africa. As time grew nearer, he and his buddies bailed out. I still wanted to go so I contacted 3 local friends (Jay, Johnnie, and Bob) and the trip was back on. I believe that it was New Year’s Day 2008 that I arrived in Marrakech, Morocco. Upon arrival at the airport I met some guys from Europe that were part of the ride group and they told me that the Dakar had just been canceled. Terrorists had killed some tourist and policemen in neighboring Mauritania and the promoters decided to cancel the event.

The first day in Marrakech we went in to the souks (market area) and like a fool I pulled out my camera thinking that I could sneak a shot of some women vendors. Muslims are superstitious about photographic images so taking pictures is offensive, especially to women. I no sooner had the camera out of my pocket when a Moroccan woman aggressively waved her index finger at me and said “no no Ali Baba”, so this is where the “Tales of Ali Baba” began for me. From that day forward everyday some Moroccan called me Ali Baba, then my gringo comrades found it humorous and Johnnie even talked about making custom Ali Baba graphics for my KTM.

Down but not out. We had options. The bikes were already rented (KTM 450s) and our guides were up for showing us a good time so the adventure was ready to begin. We spent 5 days riding dirt bikes in the Sahara desert and followed much of the Moroccan portion of the Dakar piste. Our host John and Su of Moto Aventures Tours (www.motoaventures.com) showed us all a great time and it was an experience of a lifetime that I wanted to share with my wife Sue.

Not long after our return, Jay and I discussed taking our wives to Morocco for a street bike ride. In the fall of 2009 we put together a plan to go there at the end of May in 2010. We purchased plane tickets, rented BMWs, and reserved lodging for the night of arrival. As luck would have it, the Icelandic volcano ash shut down airports in Spain and Morocco and we couldn’t go. We were determined to get there so we rolled our plans forward one year to May 2011.

Jay and Ethel decided to do a 3 week lap around Spain and Portugal, on a rented BMW, then take a ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco, travel 3 days south and meet us in Marrakech. Sue and I anxiously arrived at the airport May 23rd and were told that our flight was cancelled because of thunderstorms in Dallas where we had to catch our connecting flight to Madrid. After considerable effort by a very kind American Airlines ticket agent, we were re-booked to fly out the next day. We made it to Dallas on the 24th, got on our connecting flight plane, sat in it for two hours while mechanics were making repairs, and then we were told to immediately evacuate because a tornado was on its way. Back in the airport, Segway mounted police officers made everyone stand against the walls, away from the windows, while golf ball sized hail pounded the airport and luckily the tornado took a different route. A couple of hours later the pilot came out and announced that the plane had hail damage and the flight was cancelled.

While Sue was in line getting us a room voucher I found a quiet place to use my cell phone and called the AA ticket office. There were no flights, for several days, that could get us to Marrakech. Jay and Ethel were already there waiting for us and I was determined to get us there even if we had to ride a stinking donkey. I asked the agent to at least get us to Europe. I was sure that if we got that far I could find a connecting flight on a small regional carrier for the final leg. Finally the agent found a flight that would get us to Casablanca, Morocco. What the hell. Maybe Bogart (and maybe even Elvis) was still there. 

OK, plan B was in place; stay overnight in boring Grapevine, Texas, then fly to Madrid, Spain, then fly to Casablanca, then catch a train to Marrakech, then take a taxi to the Riad Saba (lodging). After what seemed like an eternity, we finally made it to Casablanca only to discover that we just missed the train from the airport to the main train station. The next train was in one hour and we had no idea when the train to Marrakech was departing so I started considering the stinking donkey once again. A man had approached us earlier about his taxi service and as we were looking at the train schedule board he once again asked if we needed a taxi. The joy of travel was wearing thin and we just wanted to get to the comfort of our Marrakech Riad so off we went in a 2 ½ hour taxi ride (it really wasn’t even a taxi but just a guy trying to make a buck with his family car). After stopping at a gas station, buying him a tank of fuel, paying off a police officer, and many stops to ask directions, we finally met up with our good friends Ethel and Jay Rose. Ethel had asked the riad staff to provide an evening meal. The excellent staff showed us our rooms, served an excellent meal, and it was then nighty night for two exhausted gringos.

The next morning we took a taxi, while Jay and Ethel followed, out to Palm Road (www.palm-road.com) . Jay looked (and must have felt) like Valentino Rossi following Casey Stoner through the corkscrew at the Laguana Seca Moto GP. Marrakech is one of the craziest places on the planet to drive. Although I kept asking the taxi driver to drive slow, he pinned it at every opportunity, dodging his way through zillions of mopeds, trucks, donkey carts, and the occasional old man crossing the street like he owned it. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by Reda Jebri, owner of Palm Road. The Palm Road compound was a welcoming oasis isolated from the Marrakech madness. Reda’s knowledge of Morocco’s back roads, sites, and lodging proved to be a valuable asset. He sat down with us and marked our map with a general guideline of where to go and where to stay. If you ever plan a motorcycle trip to Morocco, I highly recommend the services of Palm Road. Reda offers guided trips or you can rent BMWs from him, which is what we did. He provides excellent customer service and his bikes are very well maintained. We rented a new BMW GS650 (800cc) that purred like a kitten the entire trip.

After reviewing the route and loading our gear, Reda’s right hand man (sorry, I forgot his name) guided us to the edge of town and pointed us in the right direction. Finally, we were on the road. Our basic plan was to have no plan and no reservations. Each night we all discussed the next day’s possibilities and then Ethel, the meticulous map master, and Jay, the GPS guru, would chart our approximate route for the next day.

Day one; our plan was to head southeast over the High Atlas (12K) mountains to the Sahara desert on the other side of the mountain range. Our Riad Saba (www.riadsaba.com)  host suggested we stay at a Kasbah that is owned and operated by a French couple. We were looking for an alternate dirt road route when Jay spotted a car parked alongside the road and pulled over to ask directions. The two gentlemen in the car graciously offered assistance and then asked if we could give a note to a friend in one of the villages through which we would be passing. They explained that their car had a mechanical failure and they needed the friend to assist. About 45 minutes later we arrived at the village. These villages are inhabited by tribal Berbers and the housing is very basic. The houses are made with thick mud walls and flat top roofs constructed from timbers interwoven with sticks and topped with mud and rocks. The streets are dirt, not smooth manicured dirt roads like you might see in a rural Kansas town, but rough, rutted, rocky roads that have probably never been graded with modern machinery. Many of the houses are connected (like town homes) and they all look the same except for maybe a different color steel door.

We wandered around the village looking for the right home when a man asked if he could help. He told us that the man we wanted was around the corner visiting and that he would go get him. When Hamman arrived he insisted that we come in to his home and drink tea. The Moroccans consider it an honor to invite you in for tea and it would have been an insult to decline his offer. We sat on his carpets with pillows and drank tea while he showed pictures and told stories about his family that had over 400 camels and operated caravans across the Sahara. We all decided to rent “Lawrence of Arabia” upon our return to the US and Ethel was yearning for a camel ride.

After a little tea and conversation we were back on the road. It was a primitive road, definitely off the beaten path, up a rather barren valley to where we came across the next very small village and a small weather beaten sign pointing to the lodging. We wound our way downhill on a rough dirt road to a primitive parking area and were greeted by a jelleba clad, slipper wearing, weathered man with one tooth. I’m sure that 99% of Americans would have high tailed it out of there but this was quite typical for Morocco. Our wives followed this man as they worked their way through the maze of mud wall lined pathways to the Kasbah entrance while Jay and I stayed with the bikes. It quickly became our end of day routine that Jay and I would stay with the bikes while Sue and Ethel would inspect prospective lodging.

At one time, probably several hundred years ago, this was a very large Kasbah (fortress) but much of it had collapsed. I’m always amazed by peoples vision and fortitude. The French couple had somehow found their way to this remote tiny village, in a third world country, in the Saharan desert, in the middle of nowhere, made a purchase (how in the hell do you get title for such a structure), rebuilt a portion of the dilapidated Kasbah and turned it in to a very nice bed and breakfast (and dinner) lodging, Auberge Etoile Filante in the village of Ait Benhaddou. The adjoining palmeraie made for a mild evening climate as we dined on the deck and watched the Moroccan women harvest the hay crop late into the evening while Sue and Ethel admired our tall, dark, and handsome waiter whom they named Omar after the actor Omar Sharif. To their delight, there were a few more Omars along the way. These experiences are why we seldom make reservations.

We worked our way east across the Sahara with side trips to the Dades Gorge and the Todra Gorges with our eastern most destination being Erfoud and the famed Erg Chebbi sand dunes. From there we took a southern Saharan route to an oasis near Agdz then through the Anti Atlas mountains with stops in towns with interesting names like Foum-Zquid and Ta Ta and Tiznit on our way to the Atlantic coastal village of Mirleft, where we stayed in a fort, Maison d’hôte the 3 Chameaux, (www.3chameaux.com) built by the French in 1935.  Our room was previously the general’s quarters. FYI: The French occupied Morocco for 48 years.

After Mirleft we worked our way north along the coast through the bustling city of Agadir after which Jay said it would take a month to clear the diesel fumes from his brain and lungs. The fumes from diesel trucks, 1970s vintage diesel Mercedes 240D taxis, and smoky 2 stroke mopeds at times were overwhelming in the big cities. North of Agadir we stopped at an ocean side restaurant where Ethel finally got her camel ride. She persuaded Sue to join her.

We had a couple of relaxing days at La Casa del Mar (www.lacasa-delmar.com) in the fishing village of Essouria where Sue and Ethel bought some bling and spices. We had a little time to kill before heading back to the Marrakech madness so we headed southeast to the mountain village of Quirgane. It was a cross country trek in somewhat uncharted territory because much of it was not on the GPS software and was vague on the Michelin map. We got a little turned around at one point and a kind gentleman had us follow him for 25 miles to an intersection where he pointed us in the right direction. From there the scenery was incredible and the going a little tough at times. That area had recently received torrential rains that damaged the roads in places and left deep mud in other areas. When the mud got deep Ethel lost confidence in Jay’s mud riding skills and bailed off (must have something to do with the Mexico mud flop – don’t ask) so Sue held on tight while I rocketed past our fearless leader. At the end of the road we found an excellent auberge, La Bergerie, (www.labergerie-maroc.com) with individual chambers surrounded by spice and vegetable gardens with giant cactus.

Our trip wrapped up with a nice meal at a rooftop restaurant in Marrakech. Nothing better than a great adventure with good friends!

Regards,

Ali Baba

Here are links to our photo galleries.

Morocco #1 (Sue’s pictures)

Morocco #2 (Sue’s pictures)

Morocco #3 (Ethel & Jeff’s pictures)

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Rabbit Valley Digger – Ouch!

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

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Henry and his Model T

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

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Morocco Dunes

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Submitted by Jerome Lacroix

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New KTM Models On The Way

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010


Launching the revolutionary, brand new 350 EXC-F Factory, KTM puts down a new milestone in the Enduro World Championship in 2011. The newly developed factory bike claims no less than to be the most sophisticated and best four stroke racing Enduro ever. At the same time, it offers a preview of the upcoming E2 bike generation from Austria.


2011 990 Adventure Dakar Edition


2011 RC8 1190


2011 990SM


2011 125 Duke

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Motocross of Nations #3

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Ryan Dungey in the pits at the 2010 Motocross of Nations in Denver, Colorado.

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Motocross of Nations #2

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Marvin Musquin’s KTM 250 SXF in the pits at the 2010 Motocross of Nations in Denver, Colorado.

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Are you a Loud Idiot?

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

I didn’t say it. I should have. I wanted to. I’ve thought it many times when out riding, but it was Jimmy Lewis that coined the phrase “don’t be a loud idiot” in the July 2010 issue of Dirt Rider. Good job Jimmy!

As I’ve said many times before and will say many times again…..we are our own worst enemy. Every year I get invited to ride with someone or some group that I’ve never ridden with before so I always ask about the sound level/types of mufflers that everyone is using. I absolutely refuse to ride with loud idiots and I don’t want to show up and have a problem at the trailhead. When I ask “how loud is your bike?” I often get the response “my bike is not too bad”. To that I say bullshit. Not too bad is the same as not too good and that is just NOT acceptable. Loud bikes, especially 4 strokes, offend all other trail users and me. It pisses me off when some Neanderthal thinks that installing a loud muffler or pulling the insert out of his quiet muffler will give him that added horsepower that he needs to get down the trail. Well, unless you’ve recently won a National off-road event you probably can’t handle what you have, so dream on cowboy. FYI: Well known racer Shane Watts recently won the sportsman class at a GNCC with a DB Snorkel (84dBA) on a small bore KTM 200. He did it just to prove that quiet bikes can win.

If we don’t police ourselves we will continue to loose land access issues. So, I have to ask…..are you a loud idiot, or do you ride with loud idiots, or when you meet one on the trail do you talk to them about their loud idiot ways? Please ride a quiet bike and ask and persuade your friends to do the same.

Jeff Slavens

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Ride with Slavens & Help Colorado Trails

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010


Come ride the Colorado 600 Trail Awareness Symposium with Jeff Slavens and other experienced Colorado trail guides. Don’t pass up this rare opportunity to show your true colors by helping keep open Colorado and Utah trails while experiencing excellent single-track and dual sport routes in this little used and absolutely gorgeous area of southwest Colorado.

The Texas Sidewinders Motorcycle Club is sponsoring and the AMA is sanctioning the Trails Awareness Symposium Workshop, a fund raiser and educational event to benefit the Colorado Trail Preservation Alliance. I will be supporting this with all my resources and will be one of the primary guides taking riders on some my favorite single track and dual track trails in Colorado.

This 5 day invitational only event will give participants the option of riding gnarly single-track or milder dual sport routes. You can alternate between guides and pick what type of riding you prefer each day. I recommend that you bring 2 bikes, DS and trail. All bikes must be quiet, will be sound tested (94dBA), and must be licensed and insured.

Each day will start with a free breakfast and rider’s meeting, then off to the trails or DS routes with the day ending back at the lodge for some beverages and BS. One free evening BBQ and a Friday banquet will be included.

Come join me and help support our sport.

Jeff Slavens

For more information, click HERE.

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