2016 West Coast Baja - ENTRIES OPEN

[Scooterbike]

 

[Kawaki]

West Coast Baja: 18-20 March 2016
Amageza Rallye: 05-12 November 2016.

[MissM]

Oh fok.

Am in.

Guess I'll be seeing lots of Atlantis in the months to come.

The heat is going to be insane on the West Coast!

[Geel Kat]

The heat is going to be insane on the West Coast!

Perfect Amageza test 

[Cracker]

what I like is, I can get to test an Amageza bike if it's ready by then OR take a plastic and have a proper jol - without spending a gazillion rand.

Licenses? What will we need for both? National or club?

[Kobus Myburgh]

Hell it's a long way from Gauteng.  

Will have to make a plan though to get that KTM 640 to do what it's supposed to do.

[Mof]

 

[tgg]

Oh fok.

Am in.

Guess I'll be seeing lots of Atlantis in the months to come.

The heat is going to be insane on the West Coast!

so you will have light atgatt on

[Mike Adendorff]

Ooh yes,

I like this idea. Will stay tuned.

[Weedkiller - Adie]

BLEKSEM I LAAIK

I think the Baja type event might be more popular as 'the real' Amageza due to simple economics.
Less: Leave, entrance cost, bike prep, racing cost etc. etc.
More: FUN , FUN, FUN.

Some things that I noticed
1: How will the entry numbers look if the event is closer to Gauteng.  There are obviously more money, bikes etc. - I know Alexander is Cape based and it makes the planning easier, are there sand sections close to Gauteng except mine dumps?  

2: Looking at the Baja Mexico rally ( http://www.bajarallymoto.com/ ) They cater for DS bikes as well. This will mean a 'standard' 650 DS with E-Trex can give you the best fun ever. hell, you can actually ride to the event and back on Sunday.  
Rally Maroc also got 2 classes (FIM and enduro Cup.  Almost 95% 450cc bikes for both events.

3: I must say I did find the Baja Mexico '2015 Rule Book' very interesting and actually simple with full description of what it is about. (http://www.bajarallymoto.com/2015-rally.html )

4: The Rally comp looks quite interesting with the 'unlocking of waypoint penalty' option as well as radio rider track download. No need to hand the unit in.

5. The software they used for 'live tracking' was actually quite good. You could actually 'play' the trip.  They used the same Spot Tracker.

6. The support crew aslo had trackers and you could see how they 'race straight' to the refuel point.  (the entry fee included all race fuel)

Lastly, both Rally Marock and Baja Mexico is organaised by an 'Events company'  Amageza: 84 odd bikes, Maroc 70 odd bikes an a lot of quads/cars/trucks and Baja Mexico 45 bikes and a few quads.


From the Rockfox side we will use the Baja West Coast to further improve our rally products.

Baja Baja interested.

Bliksem, I actually can not wait.  Will have to start bike prepping a bit earlier though.  

Adie

[Andy660]

Im in , Put my name down , as a  Marshal , Scrutineer that is !

[Cracker]

BLEKSEM I LAAIK

I think the Baja type event might be more popular as 'the real' Amageza due to simple economics.
Less: Leave, entrance cost, bike prep, racing cost etc. etc.
More: FUN , FUN, FUN.

Some things that I noticed
1: How will the entry numbers look if the event is closer to Gauteng.  There are obviously more money, bikes etc. - I know Alexander is Cape based and it makes the planning easier, are there sand sections close to Gauteng except mine dumps?  

2: Looking at the Baja Mexico rally ( http://www.bajarallymoto.com/ ) They cater for DS bikes as well. This will mean a 'standard' 650 DS with E-Trex can give you the best fun ever. hell, you can actually ride to the event and back on Sunday.  
Rally Maroc also got 2 classes (FIM and enduro Cup.  Almost 95% 450cc bikes for both events.

3: I must say I did find the Baja Mexico '2015 Rule Book' very interesting and actually simple with full description of what it is about. (http://www.bajarallymoto.com/2015-rally.html )

4: The Rally comp looks quite interesting with the 'unlocking of waypoint penalty' option as well as radio rider track download. No need to hand the unit in.

5. The software they used for 'live tracking' was actually quite good. You could actually 'play' the trip.  They used the same Spot Tracker.

6. The support crew aslo had trackers and you could see how they 'race straight' to the refuel point.  (the entry fee included all race fuel)

Lastly, both Rally Marock and Baja Mexico is organaised by an 'Events company'  Amageza: 84 odd bikes, Maroc 70 odd bikes an a lot of quads/cars/trucks and Baja Mexico 45 bikes and a few quads.


From the Rockfox side we will use the Baja West Coast to further improve our rally products.

Baja Baja interested.

Bliksem, I actually can not wait.  Will have to start bike prepping a bit earlier though.  

Adie

On your first point, Adie, we don't have sand in GP - but we've got rocks, lots of them, millions ...........
And next door we've got KZN with bigger rocks, jungle and rivers
And even closer we have Lesotho - with the biggest rocks in the world 

which is why we like the Cape - your rocks are tiny - like tar 

On a serious note, it is unfortunate for those of us far away - it's not economically viable to travel so far for a 2 day ride. A 2 day ride in the Cape is a 6 day trip for me, maybe longer.

So you've either just got to 'suck it up', or not go at all - hopefully I'll be able to do the former ............. 

 

[Camelman]

The less densely populated a area is, the easier it is to race. There are wicket terrain to race all over SA, but due to the population (Gauteng most densely populated) it gets difficult. This means long liaison's before you get to the Special Section. Not saying it impossible, just difficult. Ie: Permission from at least 30 land owners per stage.

The West Coast- Northern Cape is sparsely populated, has little to no fences and even less gates. I know the area pretty well in the block, Garies, Sutherland, Kakamas, Springbok so permission is very likely as I have being dealing with them for 5 years.

The venue I have in mind is between 700km to 1700km from the major cities. Durban being the furthest. Still closer than Morocco though! 

[Weedkiller - Adie]

On your first point, Adie, we don't have sand in GP - but we've got rocks, lots of them, millions ...........
And next door we've got KZN with bigger rocks, jungle and rivers
And even closer we have Lesotho - with the biggest rocks in the world 

which is why we like the Cape - your rocks are tiny - like tar 

On a serious note, it is unfortunate for those of us far away - it's not economically viable to travel so far for a 2 day ride. A 2 day ride in the Cape is a 6 day trip for me, maybe longer.

So you've either just got to 'suck it up', or not go at all - hopefully I'll be able to do the former ............. 
 

It is actually something I always wonder about. Why 'must' a navigation rally be mostly on sand tracks and dunes.  It is ultimately a flowing navigation event. (and not rocky)

BUTTTTT  I don't care if it is closer to Cape Town as it is closer for me  

Baja Baja nice

Adie

 

[Bill the Bong]

If it was not sand and dunes then anybody could do it

[AlexRG]

West Coast Baja: 18-20 March 2016
Amageza Rallye: 05-12 November 2016.

Baja dates sound good! :-)

Amageza dates not so:

A November rallye has the benefit of more daylight, BUT whether it's in the Northern Cape, Botswana or Namibia it will be extremely hot... The 2015 one was already hot in the day being in September, sure the morning starts were freezing cold but after the 1st hour or so it was pleasant. One can manage the cold by adding a layer of clothing, but one cannot escape the heat.

Also, if the Amageza want to attract potential international pro riders & teams to use it for a Dakar prep it will be too close to the Dakar itself (by then the bikes should already be on a ship)... even too close if any SA rider is doing Dakar. November will also be very close to the Roof of Africa.

A mid month rallye might also be easier for a few guys as the first week or so of any new month is crucial if you have a business or work in the corporate world etc. and you have to wrap-up month-end and reporting etc.

Just a humble thought ;-)

[Cracker]

Hot, it might be - but at least we'll be riding in sand 

[Bill the Bong]

West Coast Baja: 18-20 March 2016
Amageza Rallye: 05-12 November 2016.

Baja dates sound good! :-)

Amageza dates not so:

A November rallye has the benefit of more daylight, BUT whether it's in the Northern Cape, Botswana or Namibia it will be extremely hot... The 2015 one was already hot in the day being in September, sure the morning starts were freezing cold but after the 1st hour or so it was pleasant. One can manage the cold by adding a layer of clothing, but one cannot escape the heat.

Also, if the Amageza want to attract potential international pro riders & teams to use it for a Dakar prep it will be too close to the Dakar itself (by then the bikes should already be on a ship)... even too close if any SA rider is doing Dakar. November will also be very close to the Roof of Africa.

A mid month rallye might also be easier for a few guys as the first week or so of any new month is crucial if you have a business or work in the corporate world etc. and you have to wrap-up month-end and reporting etc.

Just a humble thought ;-)

It is 40* C in Upington right now.  This weekend it will be 28*C.  Unfortunately luck plays a role, last year in November during Amag it was actually nice and cool.  I'd rather face heat than riding in the dark.

[MaxThePanda]

I've ridden the Pela area twice in mid-summer. Last December, just after Amageza on some pretty similar routes, and February last year. It was brutally hot both times, and if one is suffering and stuck in soft sand it's a near killer... but the point of rally is to be booming along at speed, right?, so I can't see November as being such a bad call. The west coast sand is all quite close to the sea and much cooler.

HTFU FFS!

 

[Rickus]

  I might just have to dust off the 950 for this March event......if the big bike will be allowed to enter....