Sandblast Rally, Feb 9th

[R.Markus]

Packmule wanted me to give a heads up to anyone who may be interested.

NASA Rallysport and Rallymoto are having a race in Cheraw, SC this Saturday, the Sandblast Rally.

If you live close, it would probably be worth your while to go check it out. If you don't, you can follow along with call ins from the competitors (one of which is me  ) at www.rallyraido.net.

For those who don't know what this is, it is the same as rally car racing on closed roads with navigational sections (transits) between the race stages. Last year NASA allowed motorcycles for the first time. This year there are (I think) 52 motorcycle entries, including four motorcycles from the Dakar.











...and now th bike that'll be in last place this year   :

[DogBoy]

That is so freaking cool. I can't wait to hear the call-ins and read your report.

Good luck.  

[traveler]

Best of luck to you. Looks like a blast.

I've attended rallies (SCCA) in the past and they're fun to watch, but not particularly spectator friendly. You have to move around a lot to get to different viewing areas. Never seen bikes doing it, which should be most interesting.

Hope you beat the 4-wheelers.

[photomd]

Give 'em hell.  

[PackMule]

Hey Guys, here's RMarkus' first call-in to RallyRAIDio.net.  Post copied from ADVrider (anyone know how to embed a player here?)

==========================

RMarkus kicks things off with a call from Thursday morning after arriving in Cheraw.  A few problems trailering the bikes, but nothing like what Seth S would experience later in the day... :uhoh


Having made the trek south from Illinois, RMarkus finds himself in the curious position of being in the middle of a riding Nirvana with no where to turn a wheel -- rules prohibit riding in the area for 90 days prior to competition! :lobby





Direct download the MP3: http://media.libsyn.com/media/rallyraidio/RMarkus1a.mp3


More to come!

=================================

Check in at http://RallyRAIDio.net for updates, or subscribe to the RSS feed at http://RallyRAIDio.net/rss for instant delivery.  We're also listed on ITunes, though the direct RSS will work better with the frequently-updating calls.


The dedicated ADV thread can be found here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309319


Enjoy!

[DogBoy]

Thanks Nate.  

[PackMule]

Thanks Nate.  

You're very welcome, DB!  Thank Mark, though -- I'm just the messenger...  


Here's his second call, with a bit of drama:

======================

RMarkus calls in again -- His buddy Radic (sp?) had a big off during the shakedown/practice stage.  Both the bike and he are questionable for tomorrow... (but a great story told by Mark!)


:lurk



Direct Download: http://media.libsyn.com/media/rallyraidio/RMarkus2.mp3

[Lawn Dart]

Win - Lose - Draw:  that's a helluva way to spend a day!  

[R Doug]

That looks like a fook'n blast!  Good luck and keep us posted.

[R.Markus]

I forgot to add in that second call that the shakedown stage was absolutley the scariest 1.7 miles I've ever ridden on a motorcycle. Now I only have 70 more miles like that tomorrow with 130 transit (navigation) miles.

Radek just told me he wasn't going to race tomorrow.. .It is by far the best decision he could make. He's going to be my service person and ride with the Adventurer's Workshop team's pit crew.

[Capirex]

Cheers dude.  Good ruck.  

[Mookie]

Sounds crazy awesome, stay safe(ish) and good luck  
Sucks to hear about Radek's concussion - probably a good idea not to race the day after getting one.

[Krismark]

I'm really sad I can't be down there to watch Mark race. I had made commitments to work this weekeend prior to my knowledge of this race (a girl at work had surgery this week) and I couldn't take the time off.  


I would love to be able to watch the race tomorrow, experience the race atmosphere, and give him a big victory kiss at the finish. I can't have that, but hearing him on the Rally RAIDio is pretty cool. Too bad there's no live video coverage available.



Everybody wish him luck and a safe race tomorrow. I'm sure he'll treat you all with a nice juicy write-up when he returns!  

[JonS]

Boy, I'm envious! It looks like so much fun. Knock um dead!

[PackMule]

No word from R.Markus so far today, hopefully everything is still rolling well for him.  There's been a fair bit of carnage (to the bikes, mostly) so far today, according to the call ins. http://RallyRAIDio.net

[PackMule]

R.Markus gives us a post-race wrapup after an incredible first RallyMoto.  He gives new meaning to "finishing on fumes..." :rofl

Well done! :clap


Direct download: [url]http://media.libsyn.com/media/rallyraidio/RMarkus3.mp3

[DogBoy]

Just listened to the wrap up from Mark. Congratulations on finishing. Sounded like a tough but rewarding event.  




Packmule thanks for hook-up with RallyRAiDio.net. Its so cool to get fresh reactions from the competitors.

[PackMule]

Boy, I'm envious! It looks like so much fun. Knock um dead!

In Anger

[Gaolee]

That looks like insanity, and the best possible insanity.  Best of luck and I am looking forward to the write up.

[PackMule]

There are about eleventy billion great pics here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6283052&postcount=39

 

[R.Markus]

This is the best one.  

[kurtw]

Nice Job, RMarkus! Is there a writeup?

[stk0308]

A most excellent adventure.  So where's the write up?  And when's the next one?  

[R.Markus]

A most excellent adventure.  So where's the write up?  And when's the next one?  

I just got home at 0300, be a little patient.   I'll try to start it today.

I came in 29th overall out of 51, not too bad...and not the 50th place out of 51 I was expecting.  

I feel like I got run over by a couple of trucks right now, though. I guess you're actually supposed to be in shape to do this kind of stuff.

[Tyrroneous]

That's awesome!  

[Gar]

My the KTM HardParts Leatt Brace looks downright sexy on R.Markus.  

[DogBoy]

OMG! A Gar sighting. Makes me wonder if we'll see Cooter or their love child B'ham.

[Gar]

Ah, but are you sure it's me? the post count is so low.  
what up dog?

[R.Markus]

I can't thank you enough for letting me borrow the brace. I won't race without one now after having used it. Too much can go wrong too fast. I blew two cormers hard, one of them was just because the tape was down and the road continued straight, but the other one had me in the woods at about 40 MPH.   Luckily the forest wasn't too thick and I just looped around and kept going.

[PackMule]

OMG! A Gar sighting. Makes me wonder if we'll see Cooter or their love child B'ham.

I didn't think there were any oldtimers with fewer posts on the new system than me.  

[PackMule]

I can't thank you enough for letting me borrow the brace. I won't race without one now after having used it. Too much can go wrong too fast. I blew two cormers hard, one of them was just because the tape was down and the road continued straight, but the other one had me in the woods at about 40 MPH.   Luckily the forest wasn't too thick and I just looped around and kept going.

R.Markus, the best place to get a Leatt is from riderdown.org.  

[Gar]

Hell, I had to re-register today. I know I was on here not too long ago, maybe 3-6 months. And I had all my old post count then too. Ah well.

[R.Markus]

I finished the race report...It's here.

[DredheadV2.0]

Ah, but are you sure it's me? the post count is so low.  
what up dog?

I'd recognize that face anywhere.  All I have to do is squint a little and I can see the Elmo helmet.

WB Gar.