OPENROADS RALLY 2019
Ever wonder if you've got what it takes to do the Dakar?
Wish you could get into off-road competitions, but have no idea how to start?
Now is your chance.
This year we will hold the first OpenRoads Rally – an affordable adventure rally for amateur riders.
Challenge yourself, meet friends for life and learn loads about adventure rally riding.
UNTIL THE FUN BEGINS!
There are only 350 tickets IN TOTAL
EVENT SCHEDULE
friday 18th oct
4pm-8pm: Registration and scrutineering
8pm: Event briefing and opening ceremony
9pm: Road book training workshop.
10pm: Special guest presentation: First Aid
Bonfire and good chats
saturday 19th oct
7am - 4pm: OpenRoads Challenge
Midday: Free lunch
12pm-4pm: Beginners training (TBC)
6pm: Debrief & secret group reveal
Presentations, live music, stalls
sunday 20th oct
9am: Enduro Challenge (TBC)
11am: Games (TBC)
Midday: Closing ceremony and prizes
2-4pm: Depart for home!
ticket information
$70
OpenRoads Challenge + free lunch
$30
General Admission
$30
Weekend Camping Pass
$35
Single bed in dorm (per night)
dates
Friday 18th October – Sunday 20th October 2019
Gates open Friday at 4pm
location
Blores Campground
474 Weir Rd, Tinamba VIC 3859
how it works
Navigate your way past checkpoints in the bush using our digital road book (expensive equipment not required). Each checkpoint you miss will deduct points.
Checkpoints are allocated points, depending on their difficulty. You will accumulate individual points and secret group points.
There are three routes, each route taking between 2-4 hours. There is a mandatory 1 hour stop for lunch, where you will return to camp for free lunch and to re-fuel or repair your motorcycles.
The OpenRoads Challenge starts at 7am and finishes at 3pm on Saturday 19th of October.
This event is for beginner to intermediate adventure riders and beginner dirt riders. The route is designed to be challenging on adventure bikes. If you are an advanced rider and bring a light dirt bike, you will find the route fun, but easy. We suggest you handicap yourself and bring the heaviest bike you have!
We will have a ride-out from Melbourne on Friday the 18th of October which you can join. Otherwise, it is a surprisingly nice ride down the M1 to Moe, then a beautiful road from there to the campsite. Total time is under 2.5 hours from Melbourne. Wildlife is active from dusk until dawn on this route, if you are riding, plan to arrive before dusk.
There are three seperate routes.
The first route is dedicated for beginners and will see you traverse easy gravel and graded dirt roads. You have the option to take extra routes off the main track to accumulate more points. This route should take a maximum of four hours to complete.
The second route is beautiful, steep and includes washouts. This route should be taken by intermediate adventure riders or riders on light motorcycles. Duration is between 2-3 hours.
The third route consists of river crossings, steep inclines and declines and washouts. This route should be taken by intermediate adventure riders or riders on light motorcycles. Duration is 2-3 hours.
You can take all or any of these routes to accumulate points.
The difficulty of these routes will vary depending on the weather. We have tested the routes in rain and snow and found the tracks to be slippery. In these conditions, you will be advised to fit your motorcycle with aggressive off-road tyres to assist on slippery ascent and decent.
Absolutely. We have designed a route just for you. This route will introduce you to the feeling of graded surfaces like dirt and gravel. If you would like an easy, controlled environment to improve your skills we recommend you participate!
While we can't help you judge your skill, we can provide some guidelines that will help you choose the right route for you.
If you have never ridden a motorcycle off-road you are a beginner. If you are a beginner and you bring a motorcycle 140kg or higher, you should start on our beginners course. After this, you can decide if you want a bigger challenge. If you are a beginner and you bring a light dirt bike, you can start on the intermediate routes.
We judge you to be an intermediate to advanced off-road rider if you can confidently turn on dirt, break on slippery surfaces, pick your motorcycle up, balance over uneven rocky surfaces and ride through water crossings.
Yep! We want you to bring your partners and friends along for the ride. If you are bringing a pillion rider, we recommend you take our beginners route. If you are an advanced rider, you can bring a pillion on all routes, but be aware it will be challenging to break and accelerate on steep sections and clear washouts confidently. If you want to bring a pillion, we suggest you ride our beginners route together and then try our intermediate routes on your own.
You can bring any motorcycle as long as it is fitted with enduro tyres. Bikes completing our intermediate routes must have suitable suspension and clearance. If you are a beginner, we recommend bringing a light adventure bike or dirt bike, and if you are an advanced dirt rider, we recommend you bring a heavy adventure bike.
Your motorcycle must be safe to ride and will be checked by the scrutineer upon registration and start line.
If you don't have a suitable motorcycle you can book one for the weekend through OpenRoads (subject to availability).
You will need a mobile phone holder attached to your handlebars to navigate using our road-book. You will need a USB charger, or chargeable battery pack, if you anticipate completing all three routes to ensure you maintain battery on your phone. You will need a camel pack or backpack to carry water during your ride. Your bike needs to be fitted with enduro/off-road tyres.
It is mandatory to wear an approved helmet at all times when riding your motorcycle during the event. A protective motorcycle jacket, pants, boots and knee protection (soft or hard) must be worn to participate in the OpenRoads Challenge and Enduro Challenge. You will be checked at the starting line.
TBC but if you have a smaller range than necessary, you can opt to drop fuel at manned checkpoints.
You can download our road-book app on your phone or print out the road-book in advance. If you are printing the road-book you will need to contact us in advance. More details on the road-book set-up shortly.
If you get lost and have signal you can open up Google Maps to direct you back to camp. If you do not have signal, you can try using offline maps which you have downloaded in advance (maps.me app). If neither of those options help, backtrack to the last manned checkpoint or stay where you are. We have logged your exit time and will know to look for you if you don't return within the allocated window.
Complete guide on what to do will be posted up closer to the event.
If you break down, when it is safe to do so, move your motorcycle so it does not obscure the track. Stand in a safe position on the side of the road and flag down another rider for assistance. They may be able to transport you to a manned checkpoint or go and get help. Alternatively, if you have reception, you can call or message our support team.
When it is safe to do so, we will help you retrieve your motorcycle and you can try repairing it at camp.
You can do as little or as many routes as you like. The more routes you do, the more checkpoints you will earn. You should judge your fatigue, hydration and skill level to determine whether you are fit to ride another route.
Yes. Cut off time for OpenRoads Challenge is 9am, so arrive with enough time to register and complete scrutineering.
You can purchase a camping pass for the weekend ($30) or book one night in a shared dormatory for $35 per person per night.
AMA clubs is our insurance provider. By signing up with a free membership that activates insurance for you to attend our event.
You can get a refund for your ticket if:
• You planned to hire a motorcycle through OpenRoads and there was none available, or none that suited your needs. You must have contacted OpenRoads about motorcycle hire before purchasing your ticket.
• You have exceptional circumstances such as illness or injury which prevent you from attending.
Please contact jessica@openroads.cc for all refund enquiries
IIn the event of postponement (i.e. due to severe extreme weather) OpenRoads Rally will organise an alternate date, at the next earliest practical time, subject to the availability of the site from landowners and registration money will be carried forward.
Yes. All entrants must hold a current motorcycle licence and have a registered bike. You will need to bring your licence and proof of registration.