Words and photos by Seth Fargher, formerly of JRi Shocks
DuneFest 2015 brought thousands of ATV and UTV enthusiasts to Winchester Bay, Oregon, from July 29 through August 2. The week featured sand drags, custom machines, vendor displays, the Show ’N Shine, a charity auction and two dramatic Polaris RZR backflip attempts by Marc Burnett.
Our trip to the Oregon Dunes, however, started with an adventure of an entirely different kind.
A Rough Start to the DuneFest Road Trip
Whoever coined the phrase “Someday we’ll look back on this and laugh” probably never broke down in the Nevada desert. If they had, they probably hadn’t been operating on four hours of sleep after spending six hours flying across the country.
Our DuneFest adventure began when I picked up my coworker at 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 25. The plan was to fly to Las Vegas, climb into our West Coast support vehicle and head north to Oregon with enough time to settle in before the event.
Everything went according to plan until the van’s engine shut down on Interstate 15 outside Las Vegas. A cloud of white smoke and an oil-soaked engine made the situation clear: our plans had changed.
After two hours of conversations with roadside-assistance representatives and towing companies, I headed out to pick up a rental truck. Meanwhile, our off-road market manager, Tony Cuva, rode back toward Las Vegas in the tow truck.
By 7 p.m. we were finally back on the road, about five hours behind schedule. We did not need to move into the booth until Tuesday, but we had hoped to arrive early enough to enjoy the dunes before the event became busy.
Arriving at Winchester Bay
We reached Winchester Bay on Monday evening and checked into the Winchester Bay RV Resort. The campground was close enough to enjoy DuneFest but far enough from the event grounds to provide some peace and quiet. The downside was that UTVs could not be driven inside the RV park.
Tuesday was vendor move-in day. As companies began arriving at the expanded vendor area, we set up beside the main stage in the new Vendor Camp.
Vendor Camp was one of the changes introduced for 2015. The concept placed participating companies close to spectators and allowed vendors to camp near their displays, encouraging more interaction after the main vendor area closed.
Because JRi supplied shocks to Arctic Cat, the manufacturer provided a Wildcat X and Wildcat Sport for our display. We finished setting up early enough to take the machines into the dunes for a short ride before the week became hectic.
DuneFest officially opened Wednesday, although attendance and activity increased substantially as the weekend approached. On Wednesday evening, Polaris hosted a barbecue celebrating its recently announced 2016 model lineup.
UTV Racing and Sand Drags
The sand drag strip stayed active throughout the week, although UTV participation was relatively limited. The drag racing was still entertaining, with everything from high-powered quads to unusual machines taking a run down the strip.
The sand motocross track did not attract the crowds it had in previous years. Several UTVs competed in the Side X Side Showdown, and one machine ended up on its roof, but the racing was inconsistent throughout the weekend.
It would have been interesting to see manufacturers become more directly involved through a UTV shootout or manufacturers’ cup. With personalities such as Robby Gordon and RJ Anderson closely associated with the sport at the time, the potential was certainly there.
An Expanded Vendor Row
Vendor Row used a new layout for 2015 and appeared to include more companies than in previous years. Instead of a single aisle with booths along each side, organizers created two aisles and four rows of exhibitors.
RV displays occupied much of the center section, but the event also included familiar off-road companies such as SSV Works, Pro Armor, GMZ Race Products and Rugged Radios.
Show ’N Shine UTV Builds
The Mod Quad Show ’N Shine continued to be one of DuneFest’s biggest attractions. Classes included King of Bling, Best ATV, Best UTV and Utility. Even the machines entered in the Utility class were far removed from ordinary farm vehicles.
Standout builds included a General Lee-themed RZR XP 1000 with the familiar horn, a 9/11 tribute RZR and Kalani Korn’s Hawaiian Punch-themed XP 1000.
Kalani’s RZR was equipped with JRi shocks, so we may have been slightly biased, but the level of detail throughout the build made it a legitimate contender. The judges agreed and awarded it the top prize in the UTV class.
We also took the opportunity to photograph the RZR in the Oregon Dunes. The red and blue color scheme stood out against the sand, green coastal vegetation and Pacific Ocean backdrop.
Even without paddle tires and while operating in two-wheel drive, we captured a collection of images that reflected the unique riding environment found along the Oregon Coast.
Marc Burnett Attempts a RZR Backflip
The ATV freestyle team seen in previous years was absent from the 2015 event. Dirt bike riders still performed a strong show, but the biggest attraction came Saturday night when Marc Burnett attempted to backflip a Polaris RZR XP 1000.
Burnett had reportedly practiced the maneuver using a foam pit in Southern California. For DuneFest, he brought a specially designed ramp and attempted to complete the backflip onto an actual dirt landing for the first time.
A dozer crew spent much of Saturday constructing the landing. A little after 9 p.m., Burnett approached the ramp for his first attempt. The RZR rotated off-axis and landed across the slope before rolling onto its roof.
After inspecting the machine and determining that it was still drivable, Burnett returned for a second attempt. He came off the throttle too early and again landed on the roof.
It was not the result anyone wanted, but Burnett emerged without a serious injury. The RZR’s roll cage also appeared to survive both impacts remarkably well.
The First RZR XP Turbo Charity Auction
Immediately after the backflip attempts, attendees had an opportunity to bid on a new 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo. Polaris donated the first example sold in the United States to the DuneFest charity auction, where it brought more than $27,000.
Other auction items included a set of JRi RZR XP 1000 shocks, a Rugged Radios communication system, Axia Alloys accessories, apparel and sand tires. Proceeds from the auction benefited charities in the Winchester Bay area.
Bon Jovi tribute band Steel Horse closed the event with a concert that continued until around midnight.
Final Thoughts on DuneFest 2015
Between the breakdown in the Nevada heat, the long drive and operating from a rental truck with limited supplies, DuneFest 2015 tested our patience. Once we arrived, however, the welcome from the Pacific Northwest off-road community made the trip worthwhile.
Despite several organizational changes, DuneFest remained an important gathering for ATV and UTV enthusiasts. The combination of open-dune riding, racing, custom builds, vendors, entertainment and the charity auction made Winchester Bay one of the most memorable sand events of 2015.
