Stumpjumpers Desert 100 celebrates 50
Racers from all over the Pacific Northwest during the pre-race meeting of the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 on April 3 in Odessa. In the race, participants race either 50 or 100 miles with checkpoints along the way.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Hundreds of racers participated in the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 on April 3 in Odessa. Race organizers estimate that more than 1,500 people participated in the race overall.
Racers file in to head to the starting line of the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 on April 3. More than 8,000 people are expected to have attended the races associated with the event that occurred over the weekend.
Across the horizon were riders lined up for the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 on April 3. It is the biggest single-line start in motorsports with riders kicking large plumes of dust up off the desert floor of the Columbia Basin.
Riders in the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 braved the sagebrush and dust of the rangeland just west of Odessa on April 3. The event celebrated its 50th year this year, with a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The rough terrain of the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 was so dry that visibility was sometimes low due to the dust kicked up by the hundreds of riders on the course.
Trails of dust were left behind each of the riders participating in the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 events on April 3 in Odessa.
The Stumpjumpers Desert 100 and Desert 50 saw over 1,500 riders participate on April 3.
The 100-mile course of the Stumpjumpers Desert 100 in Odessa normally takes riders over three hours to complete, officials said.
ODESSA — The 50th annual Stumpjumpers Desert 100 was held over the weekend just outside of Odessa. The event drew thousands of people to watch and participate as well as plenty of dust.
The event, an annual dirt bike rally featuring six separate races, has had many homes since it began in 1970. Originally in Mattawa from 1970 to 1983, it then moved to Vantage from 1985 to 2002 before coming to its current location in Odessa in 2003. This year’s event took place this past Saturday and Sunday.
According to the 2022 race program, the Desert 100 is the largest event of its kind in the world and has the biggest single-line start in motor sports.
Tate Matherly of Enumclaw said he has been involved in off-road dirt bike racing his whole life and attending the Desert 100 since the ’80s. Due to this, Matherly has made many connections with riders and organizers of the event so he comes out to support them and reconnect. Matherly also owns a racing series in Washington called Northwest Off-Road Championship Series.
Matherly said the motocross community is close and welcoming, part of why he has a passion for it.
“Off-road motorcycling is a very tight-knit group. It's people that go down the road that have a dirt bike in their truck and when they see another bike they're gonna wave just because it's like a bond thing. There's a camaraderie that can't be that can't be replaced. I mean, everybody here will help anybody at any time,” he said.
Matherly said that dirt biking is something hard to quit once you get a taste of it. He also noted that since this event is one of a kind when it comes to the single-line start, spectators will not see anything like it anywhere else.
Tom McIntosh, race co-chairman, said he believes around 8,000 people attend over the course of the weekend.
“We couldn’t do this without the town of Odessa and the community around us,” said McIntosh.
He added that all involved are volunteers and they do it because they love it.
“This is tradition and look at the pleasure that we give to everybody. I mean, how can you not like this,” said McIntosh.
He said they love motorcycles and love the sport and that is why they are all there. He admitted he became emotional when the racers started lining up because he was relieved to have the event after waiting so long. The pandemic canceled the 50th anniversary that was originally planned for 2020.
Race results were not available by press time. Results will be published once received.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
