In brief: Desert 100 dirt bike race returns to Odessa
The Desert 100 dirt bike race will return to Odessa on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers are welcoming hundreds of riders who will camp in a Lincoln County rancher’s range land for the weekend of festivities in the scablands.
The event has brought race lovers and dirt bike enthusiasts to compete in the off-road race and other events since 1969.
The Desert 100 course is a 50-mile loop that some competitors run once while some go make the second lap after a pit stop for gas.
About 400 to 500 riders compete in the spring race each year, according to the Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club’s website.
ATVs are not permitted to participate in the Desert 100 because of land management regulations.
In addition to the Desert 100, the weekend will feature:
• The Family Poker Run, geared to recreational riders.
• The Ironman Poker Run, similar to the family course but adds extra mileage and contains more technically challenging sections.
• The Dual Sport Poker Run, similar to the family and ironman courses but designed for dual sport bikes. The event features two courses – the longer “enduro” course for more nimble motorcycles, and the “adventure” course, designed for larger adventure style motorcycles.
The Family, Ironman and Dual Sport runs will take place on Saturday. The Desert 100 race is set for Sunday.
Info: stumpjumpers.org.
Fundraiser for mule deer
The Mule Deer Foundation’s Spokane Chapter will hold its annual fundraising banquet Saturday with dinner starting at 6 p.m. at Mukugawa Fort Wright, 4000 W. Randolph Rd.
The foundation’s Washington chapters have put nearly 150 percent of the money they raise at chapter banquets directly into on-the-ground project because of matching money from the national organization, state coordinator Dan McKinley said.
The foundation is dedicated to preserving mule deer habitat and boosting muley populations that are dwindling in many areas of the west despite being prized by wildlife viewers as well as hunters.
Most recently, the foundation provided funding to state wildlife managers for projects such as re-seeding habitat charred by last year’s Carlton Complex fires, donating robotic deer decoys to wildlife police for curbing poaching and supporting researchers with funding and volunteer help.
Info: muledeer.org.
Bike Swap gears up
The Spokane Bike Swap is set for Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Spokane County Fair and Expo Center to help cyclists buy or sell bikes on consignment as needed to upgrade or keep the right wheels underneath them.
People selling or donating bikes should register online at spokanebikeswap.com and check in on Friday, 3-8 p.m.
Saturday admission is $5. Sunday admission is $5 for two people. Kids 12 and younger get in free both days. Prizes are being offered both days, especially for early arrivals.
The Bike Swap is especially fitting for families trying to keep fast-growing kids in the saddle. Kids who buy used bikes get free helmets while supplies last.
The swap also features three free clinics:
• Bike laws/Commuter, Saturday, 11 a.m.
• Mountain Bike Basics, Saturday and Sunday, noon.
• Bike Maintenance, Sunday, 11 a.m.
The Bike Swap is a money-saver for cyclists while serving as a fundraiser for the Spokane River Centennial Trail.