Wild West Hare Scrambles bring racing to Pioche this weekend

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Off-road motorcycle racing returns to the Pioche area this weekend as the Nevada State Racing Association brings Round 2 of the Wild West Hare Scrambles to Lincoln County on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The weekend begins Friday evening at the Overland Hotel & Saloon in Pioche, where racers can check in, complete helmet scans and enjoy live music from 5 to 7:30 p.m. A raffle is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., followed by the AA class draw for starting positions at 8 p.m.

Racing begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with Micro Mini and Junior Novice competitors taking on a half-mile course.

The big bikes take over at 9 a.m. for three laps of a 22-mile course. Riders will start two at a time, side by side, with pairs leaving at 30-second intervals.

Mini racers return at 12:30 p.m. for three laps on an 11-mile course, followed by a bonus sprint race for all big-bike classes at 2 p.m. The final race will send riders individually onto the 22-mile course at 30-second intervals for one lap against the clock.

Along with championship points, racers will be competing for cash payouts. The AA class features a $5,000 purse in the morning race, with $2,500 going to the first-place finisher. An additional $1,000 will be divided among the top three overall finishers in the afternoon sprint. Select mini classes will also compete for first-place payouts ranging from $50 to $100.

Saturday’s racing will take place approximately 13 miles north of Pioche near the Bristol Wells/Sunnyside turnoff. From Pioche, spectators should travel north on U.S. Highway 93 and turn west onto Bristol Wells Road. The race pits are approximately one-quarter mile from the highway.

Organizers are asking racers and spectators to pay close attention to parking restrictions because of limited space in the pit area. Vehicles may park only on the south, or left-hand, side of Bristol Wells Road and must leave an access lane open for traffic.

Families coming only for the 8 a.m. race are asked to park in the designated area along the roadway rather than entering the pits, helping keep space available for competitors arriving for later races.

With categories for young riders through experienced competitors, Saturday’s Wild West Hare Scrambles will bring a full day of off-road racing.