With the world famous Dakar Rally rapidly approaching, it can be hard for us mere mortal adventure riders to not daydream about racing at the highest level. Small rally raid events are as close to the Dakar as most of us will ever get but even then the cost involved can be prohibitive.

Recently Rally Pan Am announced a FREE Rally Navigation School they are offering, with the aim of getting more American Rally Raid fans involved in the sport.

The rally school will be held in Pahrump, Nevada (Exact location to be released at a later date.), with training geared towards novice and intermediate navigators. Dakar Rally veteran Scott Bright is heading up instruction that will include a mixture of classroom and field exercises.

The training is set to begin Friday evening with an orientation covering assembling, marking and loading of roadbooks. Saturday will kick off with a short classroom session followed by roadbook navigation riding the rest of the day and all of Sunday. Navigation Instructors will be on course, offering tips and feedback in real time. All told, 280 miles of routes are laid out through some of the best scenery and challenging terrain Southern Nevada has to offer!

Instruction will include:
• How to follow CAP (compass) headings.
• How to read tulips (Lexicon).
• How to recognize danger spots.
• How to mark a roadbook.
• Setting up and loading a roadbook.
• How to get lost, and how to find yourself!

For this class, both man (or woman) and machine are expected to be prepared and self-sufficient. Navigation equipment is required including: a roadbook holder, backlit adjustable odometer and a digital compass. All of which are offered as a rental package by Rally Management Services. Some form of GPS tracking device (inReach, Spot Etc.) is also mandatory for participation. Bikes must be street legal, desert ready, with at least an 80-mile range. Both camping and hotel accommodations are available with the intent of creating a bivouac atmosphere.

This is an exciting opportunity for aspiring racers and casual enthusiasts alike. Typically, a two-day rally navigation school of the same caliber could set back participants at least $1,000 and may not have the same industry support. Rally Pan Am has really gone out of their way to make this event as accessible as possible with rental navigation equipment available from Rally Management Services and sponsors on hand with special offers for participants.

The event is coming up soon, running January 12-14th, and spots are limited to eighteen riders on a first come first serve basis. So make sure you get registered quickly! We take our hats off to Rally Pan Am for offering this free rally navigation school. They are a single-minded organization with the intent of allowing interested riders the opportunity to come and see what rally raid is all about. Hopefully you can attend!

For more details and registration information go here.

Author: Spencer Hill

“The Gear Dude” has been fueling his motorcycle addiction with adventure since first swinging his leg over a bike in 2010. Whether he’s exploring his own backyard in the Pacific Northwest or crisscrossing the United States, Spencer is always in search of scenic off-road routes, epic camping locations and the best gear possible. He began writing shortly after taking up two-wheel travel to share his experiences and offer insight with his extensive backpacking, camping and overland background.