Author Topic: 2016 West Coast Baja - ENTRIES OPEN (Read 60638 times)

Camelman · « **on:** October 03, 2015, 07:41:11 am »

To ease the transition from other disciplines of racing into cross-country before one gets to the Amageza, Amageza Racing is contemplating adding a smaller event to the 2016 Amageza. This will be mandatory for anyone without any rally experience in the 18 months preceding Amageza as a prerequisite to entering Amageza. Also a way to get a 'Elite' starting number with the benefits. (Dakar-style) This should make it safer for newcomers to first get a idea what he is in for before doing Amageza. See it as climbing Table Mountain before Kilimanjaro.

The FIM actually have a name for a smaller cross-country style race, its called a Baja. From Page 5 of the FIM document 65.800.02_EN. The exact description is:

DEFINITION OF A BAJA
A Baja is a sporting event staged over varied terrain, normally over 2 days
plus a facultative prologue and in any case maximum 3 days of race, and
is intended to prove the skill and endurance of riders, and the reliability of
their machines.
The terrain consists of natural landscapes and usually not modified by the
organiser as follows and not limited to:
- Mountain, rocky sections
- Dunes
- Rivers, dry riverbed, mud tracks
- Open public road
- Natural vegetation, bushes, high grass, forest
- Asphalt road, off road tracks
- Terrain with snow conditions

The 2016 West Coast Baja has been approved by Motorsport South Africa. The SR's are available for download from the website.

The short and curly:

18 - 20 March 2016
Bikes, Quads and Side x Side's
Single event MSA licenses approved.
'Rally' or 'Lite' class.
Navigation: Rally = road-book + GPS Way-points, Lite = GPS Track with Turn-off's, Danger 2&3 as Way-points.
Fuel Range Required: Rally: 200 km, Lite: 100 km
Fastest overall will win a free entry to the 2016 Amageza Rallye, second 50% discount, third 25% discount. (*Terms and conditions apply)
Discounted entry fee's expire 1 December 2015

clutch · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2015, 07:54:11 am »

whitedelight · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2015, 07:55:45 am »

Nice idea Alex. But do you not think it will take as much organizing as the Amageza,even given it is shorter?
This could be cool from a spectator point of view. West Coast would be great as you could incorporate a lot of different terrain in a smallish area.
Good luck

Camelman · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2015, 08:11:04 am »

Quote from: whitedelight on October 03, 2015, 07:55:45 am

Nice idea Alex. But do you not think it will take as much organizing as the Amageza,even given it is shorter?
This could be cool from a spectator point of view. West Coast would be great as you could incorporate a lot of different terrain in a smallish area.
Good luck

Thanks Wd!

Theoretically it should be simpler to execute due the static bivouac. Its the moving bivvie that kills your budget and your marshals dead.
Being only two full stages, we could use some routes I have been aching to add, but due to distances could not include it in any Amageza.
You mention something I have been avoiding like the plague, spectators. For the SSS that's pretty straight-forward, but for the race, more difficult due to legislation regarding public gatherings, toilets and marshals. But it can be done.
I'm also waiting to hear what the result was regarding the ICO Rally Comp being tested now on the Baja Rally in Mexico. Which is a small ERTF-like device. If it works, and is cheap, we can test it on the West Coast Baja, and if successful, use it on Amageza.

Buff · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2015, 08:12:19 am »

Brilliant idea, I've been toying with this idea for ages, ever since watching the "Chasing Summer" series.
I'll be keen for sure, less leave required and hopefully less full rally type bike prep.

Geel Kat · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2015, 08:29:16 am »

Awesome idea

One challenge for a potential new entry would be to raise funds and have a bike fully rallye ready by March instead of October - not a problem, just a challenge

The spectator thing I find strange to say the least, to see a number of bikes flash by in one spot and you are done for the day to me makes sense for a photographer and personally I would rather look at the photos afterwards.

In my mind the places to be would be the start and finish to see and feel the vibe as the guys leave and return, but even that has its own challenges in managing and accommodating potential large groups of spectators.

Marshalling will be a breeze with one bivouac and circular routes (just make sure your sweeps are really as tough as they and their sticker kits claim to be before the race

)

Watching this thread with interest and anticipation...

Rooi Wolf · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2015, 10:24:54 am »

Brilliant idea!

Gives everyone a good chance to realistically see if we'd be able to enter the big one. Seperate the boys from the men..

Will definitely watch this space closely.

J3THRO · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2015, 11:11:03 am »

Great Idea Alex.

Just a concern about time and money though.

Most of the riders have to take off work for Amageza already for 9 days. For me being a contract worker that means I have to say no to contracts that needs to start two months or closer to the race to avoid having unfinished work come the race.
Another race also means more money with even less time to raise that money. I had to skip 2015 Amageza so I can get funds together for 2016.

Maybe make it mandatory for new guys that has never done a navigational rally and have no idea what to expect. As for myself I dont need any reminders on the level of vasbyt required to deal with extreme level of Amageza afkak.

I dont mean to sound negative at all. I cant wait for Amageza 2016.

Crossed-up · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2015, 01:33:07 pm »

Great!

I imagine that if you're already done one of the last Amagezas and proved your worth there, then there will be less pressure to enter the Baja. I also imagine that if this is the case some sort of combined seeding would have to be made. How will this work?

For many, if not most riders, it will only mean 2 working days leave.

whitedelight · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2015, 01:56:00 pm »

Quote from: Crossed-up on October 03, 2015, 01:33:07 pm

Great!

I imagine that if you're already done one of the last Amagezas and proved your worth there, then there will be less pressure to enter the Baja. I also imagine that if this is the case some sort of combined seeding would have to be made. How will this work?

For many, if not most riders, it will only mean 2 working days leave.

Or a Saturday and Sunday

BlueBull2007 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2015, 04:12:03 pm »

YEEEHAAA!!

Great idea Alexander. I would suggest a spectator zone in the bivouac. Always very interesting. Maybe at a start and finish of one stage if that can be managed.

aka.Goliath · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2015, 08:18:39 pm »

Well I'm in.

Cracker · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:34:16 pm »

I'm keen - busy negotiating to get another green machine for next years Amageza.

Surely using nav gear makes it a Rally, not a Baja, though?

BlueBull2007 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2015, 10:46:24 pm »

Its a shorter rally, is all.

Ruff · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2015, 06:20:11 pm »

This sound brilliant! I think it will do a lot for growing the Amageza by growing the sport as a whole.

Kobus Myburgh · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2015, 06:59:20 pm »

Subscribed - for a wannabe Amageza participant, this looks to be a great idea.

AlexRG · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2015, 09:08:41 pm »

Yes please! I'm in! Great idea Dark Vader!

My bike and it's rider have withdrawal symptoms... so it can't be soon enough!

zebra - Flying Brick · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2015, 10:20:21 pm »

...subscribe...

Subscribe...!

SUB-friggin-SCRIBE !

Scrat · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2015, 07:47:35 am »

Nice!!! Awesome Idea!

I love sand

Camelman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2015, 10:43:59 am »

One might try and see if its feasible to add a 'lite' class.

This class:

will have a slightly different route
navigate by GPS track only (Danger points will be GPS WP's)
Will require a fuel range of only 150km