Five go to Spring Break Buggy Blast

It’s cold, as I slide out of bed, and fling open the curtains of our hotel room to be greeted by a sunny vista. (It was raining as we departed from Manchester). The mountaintops are covered in snow, and I fumble with the controls to get the heater working, ahhhh, WARMTH !

Slowly, the group, Garry Box, Sam Eaton, Matt Hurrell, Neil Wallis-Tennant, & I, begin to assemble in room 6101, ready to amble down for breakfast.

As the lift doors open, we are greeted with Ting,Ting,Ting,-- Bong, Bong, Bong,-- Ker-chunk, Ker-chunk, Ker-chunk !

Oh ! I forgot to mention that we are staying at the Primadonna Casino Resort and the ‘Bandits’ clang away non-stop. Our hotel’s called ‘ Buffalo Bill’s ’, well this is America!

So here we all are, having breakfast in the Wagon Master coffee shop, in a Wild West setting, with folks stuffing coins into bandits, and it’s only 8.30am !!! Bizarre !!! I look to my left and see Dean Jordan, Freeman, and friends already tucking in.

We manage a quick round of hello’s, and introductions, and Dean manages to tells us about Jeff Howard’s bust wrist, and the story to go with it, before the food arrives. We spot a few other faces, during breakfast and I get the directions to the Lakebed entrance and the Lotto Mini-Mart, so we can pick up provisions on the way.

So it’s back to our rooms to pick-up the kit, chuck it in the back of our Chevy Astrovan 4WD, (Vroom, Vroom) and of to Ivanpah Dry Lake.

Not much of an entrance really, more a break in the barbed wire fencing. We bump across a few dry streams, and then follow the route to the parking site. (Of course being Brits we stuck to the posted 30mph limit)

Whoooa this is fun ! We just took off over one of the humps! Why is everyone asking me to slow down ??

(I can’t see a damn thing through the dust the vehicle ahead is throwing up. I don’t let on, though I have a sneaky suspicion they’ve guessed, by the look of terror on their faces!!!) We reach the parking area. ( Big sigh of relief, from around me ) We pull up, jump out and take in the view.

It’s BIG ! Well of course it’s big, that’s why we’re here. That and the weather. The light is just so intense in the desert, even though the temperature is only 15°C / 60°F. It’s time for the first event ! The buggy building scramble.

“Oh Shit ! I’ve dropped a nut”. “Who’s got the tyre pump?” “Has anyone seen my…” “ I’m sure I packed it ?”

Then it begins to rain ! I know what you’re thinking. Every kite event always seems to have a lousy weather bit in it !

Luckily the Marquee ( Translation for US residents = Big Tent) was half set up, so we sought refuge, and took the time to get aquatinted with Fran Gramkowski, the organiser, along with his son Fritz.

Another face I recognised loomed into view, the one and only Eric Brackenbury, from Canada.

Fran informed us that this was in for the day, so we decided to cruise into Las Vegas, ( Known locally as ‘Lost Wages’)

On the way back, around 3.00pm, the weather improved dramatically as we approached the hotel. So we shot off back to the Lake, to find everyone out in their buggies.

Kites out, buggies retrieved from the Marquee, and we’re awayyy! We manage about ½ Hr buggying, as the sun sets around 5.00pm’ish and it goes dark quickly.

Obviously, it’s packed with ‘Bandits’, Keno, is a back to front version of Bingo, Blackjack tables, Roulette, and the dice game Craps. (Who in their right mind calls a game ‘Craps’ ?)

As well as the coffee shop there is Miss Ashley’s Boarding House Buffet, Baja Bar & Grill, plus a McDonalds, Pizza place, Chinese, Deli sandwich shop, and a couple more we never got too, in the Ghost Town.

Going hungry is never a worry in the U.S, which was a comfort to Garry, as it always seemed to prey on his mind (“But Garry, we’ve just had breakfast !”)

Many more meaningful expressions, and cultural pursuits, ensued, but I don’t want to overexcite our younger readers !

A large U.S. flag, on top of the fake concrete mountain, of the Adventure Canyon ride became the focus of our attention every morning. It was our trusty wind speed indicator, and could instill glee or gloom at a glance. Even the pace of breakfast was influenced by the Flag !

They were going to run the 50m Enduro race, but the poor winds defeated that. By 3.00pm though the wind picked up. 4m Predator and I’m out cruising. We travel over to the far side of the lake, near the Interstate 15 Highway, and race back towards camp. Now this is more like it !

Ivanpah’s surface is quite varied; not the snooker table smooth of El Mirage, but with rutted car tracks, rough areas, hard metal posts, and bits of metal scrap strewn around. This is supposed to be a protected wilderness area ??

I’m following a couple of guys, who are moving a bit, and as they gybe, I decide to race them back. Downturn the kite, feel the power, kick up some dust, and blast away !

They’re both on smaller kites, and I’m having such a good time, that I haven’t noticed the wind picking up.

I’m cruising right on their axles, when I feel a lift, and yea, I’m standing on my footpegs !!!

“Now if I work this right, I can still steer the buggy, and drop back into the seat.”

This was what I was thinking, as I lay in a crumpled heap, kite released, and buggy overturned !

I clambered to my feet, did I tell you my left buttock ached, and saw that someone had caught my Pred. (Thanks Bob )

I walked over to retrieve my kite, looking like John Wayne with chronic jock itch !

When I got back to our Van I noticed that my T-shirt was ripped and sticking to my left shoulder. Did I mention that my left buttock ached and I had a colourful left shoulder road rash !

Friday was a quiet day for me, “ I’ve got a hell of a bruise on my left buttock, by the way !”

1. Johan Versluit- No 51. Netherlands.	Kit – Modified P. Lynn Buggy / 4.2 C-Quad. (20 laps completed in 2Hrs 40min)
2. Eddy Petranek- No 110. Idaho.	Kit – P.Lynn Desert Racer / Quad XL.
3. John Beun- No 52. Netherlands.	Kit – Libra V-Max / Libra Bora 5.0m.

We also got interviewed by a Discovery Channel TV crew, collecting stuff for the next Extreme Machines, and Matt was filmed doing his fancy stuff.

There was a big cookout in the Marquee that evening, with loads of food, and plenty to drink.

This was the best social gathering of the entire week. The really frustrating thing about the Spring Break Buggy Blast, is it’s difficult to get together with the other buggiers, in the evening, as there is no place to really meet. (photo no3)

By now we had noticed, back at the hotel, a lot of people wearing Wild West clothing. At first we thought they worked for the casino but there were dozens of them now.

Sheriffs’, U.S. Marshall’s’, U.S Cavalry officers’, & women folk in ‘Little House on the Prairie’ get ups.

Oh! I see, they’re here for a Shooting competition! Using antique Western firearms, Colts, Winchesters, Sharps and Remmingtons.

Now I can sort of see the fun in dressing up to shoot at the competition, but these folks walked around, dressed up, day and night.

It’s a little weird having dinner next to Gen. Custer, Wyatt Earp & Doc Holliday !

So we decided to get into the spirit with them, and dressed for dinner in our Knee pads, Elbow Pads, and Helmets. No! we wore trousers and T-shirts. This was no time for a naked buggy ! What do you think we are stupid ?

Only Joking !!! Had you going there for a minute ! (But we thought about it !!!)

Saturday

Saturday was warmer, 68°F/20°C no wind, sit around and chat, with Fran, Fritz, Corey, Dean, Freeman, Jason Robbins, Kurt & Linda Anderson, a couple of the Dutch guys & of course Eric, kind of a day.

We met up with Peter Hugger and his son, that evening, to fill our faces at Miss Ashley’s Buffet.

Sunday’s mornings Flag check, raised our spirits, quick breakfast, and in the Van.

Garry had made sure that we could not get lost, as he had a GPS system, which are amazing, but the display looks like a demented mouse on an Etch-a-Sketch ?

As I said before, there’s even more junk lying around here, as we work our way past the mining evaporation ponds, with the surface looking and sounding like bran flakes !

We are out of sight of the camp, and negotiating more brush. The surface is also soft in places, but it’s really quite and peaceful.

The wind seems to be less reliable in this area, and we decide to stop for a rest, before heading back.

Time for a pee ! It’s times like this that you keep an eagle eye for snakes, and scorpions !!!

It’s 360° blue sky, the mountains are sun bleached, we’re wearing sunglasses, and Garry’s got a flat tyre !!

So the plan is, I buggy back as fast as I can, rob a wheel from Neil’s Libra buggy, hop in the Van, and go back for Garry. Right !

Reality is, it’s a long hard slog, upwind back to camp. In the meantime, Garry has been walking ( unbeknown to me ) nearly as fast as me, so by the time I get the wheel and set off in the Van, Garry has reached the edge of camp, and is chatting to Corey Jensen. I’m now speeding to save my buddy from the perils of dehydration, snakes, scorpions or being molested by weirdo desert people, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Oh ! no ! he’s collapsed ! I’m thinking. To cut the story short, I find Garry back at camp. I’m feeling guilty, he’s just feeling thirsty, and a little miffed. Sorted !

Now while our little drama had been unfolding, Fran has decided to run a series of 5 races. The 3 best scores to count.

Neil was unfortunately scuppered in the first race, when he came into the pits to change kites. Someone had borrowed it !

By the time I reached the Marquee, all interested parties were awaiting the results. Dean Jorden, Steve Bateman, and Matt to name a few. Matt had managed a storming set of races, and came in 2^nd overall. This was later amended, due to a disqualification, to Matt being awarded 1^st.

( We still need to really celebrate Matt !!) (drinks all round at Berrow 2000 perhaps ? IM)

Later that afternoon we had a laugh when we tagged on to Matt, for a chaotic ‘follow the leader’ session. Followed by a night in Vegas.!!!!!

The wind was so-so. Many folks had set of home. We sat around and chatted and helped to finish off the Tequila.

This is a great event, and we’ve all had a good time. Eh! fellers what do you think about this, for an idea………..?

Five go to Spring Break Buggy Blast

Ivanpah, March 2000

Saturday