The series finale is here! Round nine is hosted by the Checkers Motorcycle Club, a club known for putting together creative loops that will test riders of all skill levels. This is a motorcycle-only event. Youth riders will race on Saturday, and Adults will race on Sunday.
On Saturday night, Trick-or-Treating in the pits is back! Turn your pits into a haunted house, bring some candy, and get your costumes out! There will also be a Pro autograph signing in pit row from 5 to 6 p.m.
Fresh off of his win at round seven of the AMA National Hare and Hound Championship in Lovelock, Nevada, just two weeks prior, Off-Road Support/ TBT Suspension rider Jacob Argubright maintained his momentum by winning round eight in Lucerne Valley, California. With the Pro-class points chase at an all-time high this season between Argubright and Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson, the excitement is also at an all-time high as we head into the last banner drop of the 2019 season. These two have had back-and-forth finishes all year, leaving us to wonder: Who will win the season finale and, most importantly, the 2019 National Hare and Hound Championship…?!
Things to Know
Youth racing, Saturday’s sign-up, Adult finish are and the pits will be located at Anderson OHV area off Camp Rock Road. The Adult start and Sunday’s sign-up will be located off of Boone Road on Sunday morning.
The Checkers will have a van near sign-up on Sunday at Means Dry Lake to haul gas cans and attached and/or labeled supplies to the pits at Anderson Dry Lake. Deliver your fuel during sign-up hours, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Look for the checkered flag. There will be a “Checkers Pit” at the Anderson Dry Lake pits for those who need pitting assistance. They can stage their fuel before heading to the start, if needed.
Saturday
Race 1: Pee Wee – $30
Race 2: Youth – $40
Race 3: Youth – $40
Sunday
Race 4…
Pro/ Pro 250cc/ Pro Women – $100 (50-percent payback)
All other classes: $60
Other Fees
All racers must have a Moto-Tally Transponder, which costs $10 and is required and must be placed under the helmet visor; existing Moto-Tally strip is okay to use if in good condition. Moto-Tally transponders typically last for multiple years if maintained properly and are compatible with any series that also uses Moto-Tally scoring.
There are no membership fees, no camping fees and no gate fees.
If you do not have a National or local District 37 number on your bike, you must purchase a temporary number, which is available at registration for $10 and good for one event only.
All racers must have up-to-date AMA memberships. These will also be for sale at sign-up – $49 for annual fee or $20 for a day pass.
Schedule
Saturday
Registration: 7 to 9 a.m.
Tech Inspection: 7 to 9 a.m.
Race 1 – Pee Wee: 9:30 to 10 a.m.
Race 2: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Race 3: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Youth Trophy Presentation
Registration and Tech Inspection: 2 to 5 p.m.
Pro Autograph Signing in the pits: 5 to 6 p.m.
Halloween and Trick-or-Treating in the Pits: 5 to 7 p.m.
Sunday
Registration: 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Boone Road.
Tech Inspection: 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Adult Race: 10 a.m. (riders’ meeting 15 minutes before, located on the start line).
Adult Trophy Presentation: AMA number-one plates presented by Erek Kudla.
Racers of the Checkers MC Check Chase can expect to cross vast open valleys, dry lake beds, technical trails, rocky obstacles and fun, flowing sand washes. The region does not typically see much moisture leading up to the event, and riders can expect dust if there is no rainfall.
Johnson Valley is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver. It is punctuated by steep, red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valley, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Elevations range from 4,600 feet at Hartwell Hills to 2,300 feet at Melville Dry Lake. Vegetation consists of creosote scrub, annual grasses, wild flowers and Joshua trees.
Johnson Valley offers a riding opportunity for riders of every skill level. The southeast portion of the riding area offers a large mass of hills known to the rock-crawler world wide as the “Hammers.” This area is for Experts and has gained the attention of off-roaders in recent years through an event called “King of the Hammers” – Experts only need apply. North of the Hammers offers a quality riding experience for Novice and Intermediate riders and some small dune-riding experience. There are two car/ truck courses for racing in the north central and western portions of the valley. Anderson Dry Lake on the western boundary of the area is used for casual riding for Intermediate and Novice riders. It is popular with off-roaders. The butte boasts areas with small rolling hills for the Novice, rocky ridges for the more experienced riders, and huge rock structures for the rock crawlers, and it is a poplar place for motorcycle Trials events. The 96,000-acre off–highway vehicle riding area has something for every rider at every skill level. Approximately 53,000 acres of Johnson Valley is a shared-use area with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center located in Twentynine Palms, California.
Since 1951, the Checkers have been the dominant force in AMA District 37 desert racing. They’ve won numerous club championships, and many number-one plate holders have been members. The Checkers have a long and glorious history, and some of the men who have worn the black-and-white colors read like a list of off-road greats: Al Baker, Dick Miller, Gene Hirst, Tim Smith, Al Rogers, Red Ludford, Bobby Ferro, Gene Ferro, Bob Ewing, Kenny Knudson, Eddie Mulder, Dusty Coppage, Max Switzer, Jack Johnson, Doyle Fields, Steve Holladay, Wayne Cook, J.N. Roberts, Whitey Martino, Ron Sloan, Don Bohannon, Bill Saltzman, Mike Burke, Bill Postel, Steve Kirk, Dan Smith, Cliff Thomas, Jeff Wright, George Walker, Chuck Stearns, Eddie Pierce, Howard MacCasland, Darrin Cartwright, Chuck Pettigrew, Terry Davis, Smokebomb Gaetz, Mike Mulconery, Rich Thorwaldson, Ted Lapadaikis and Bob Heron – the list goes on and on, and we have no doubt left out numerous names.
Directions
From Los Angeles, San Diego or Orange County…
Take I-15 North toward Victorville.
Exit at Bear Valley Road, turn right.
Follow Bear Valley Road for 12 miles.
Turn right onto CA-18, follow for 13 miles.
Turn left onto Camp Rock Road.
Follow race signs for specific directions to the race site.
From Las Vegas…
Take I-15 South toward Barstow for approximately 154 miles.
Exit 183 for CA-247/ Barstow Road, turn left, continue for 33 miles.
Turn left for CA-247 S, continue for 13 miles.
Turn left onto Camp Rock Road.
Follow race signs for specific directions to the race site.
See the flyer below for more information…