Deus ex Machina presents the IN DUST WE TRUST Festival

Apr 30, 2019

Deus ex Machina presents the IN DUST WE TRUST Festival The Deus family descends on the Johnson Valley, California for a one of a kind Dirt Bike, Art, Music and Film Festival They arrive to this desert from around the world. Friends and family united over the bond of riding. Over the years, the Minchinton family’s Mad Max-style compound in the Johnson Valley desert has become something of a legend, but most of the 100+ campers arriving here had yet to experience it for themselves. They would not be disappointed. A truckload of cold Olympia beer, crafted Madre Mezcal and mouth watering BBQ from Café 247 is there to welcome them as they unload bikes and get settled. A place this unique takes a moment to absorb. Deus maestro Dustin Humphrey and brand ambassador Forrest Minchinton have been dreaming of this day for years. All those fireside nights out here during shoots for films like Painted in Dust and Death Rides A Horse… even those couldn’t do it justice. But now that the concept of the “Swank Rally” had been proven around the world at prior Deus festivals, it was time to let loose up on the WMW ranch. What’s a Swank Rally, you ask? The race was the brainchild of the Deus Italian brothers, who were on hand to enjoy it here this weekend. The concept is simple. You hit a stopwatch, race a 3.2 mile course, and see who gets the best time. Forrest, who grew up riding these trails, laid out the course and would, of course, be the man to beat. But with experienced desert riders like Micah Davis, Allen Brown, Jason Haines and Lyon Herron on hand, it was going to be serious business. In the vintage bike division, it became clear fairly quickly that the guys to beat were going to be Micah Davis, Ayrton Sieja and Nick LaPaglia. Each threw down laps under the 5-minute mark. But in the end it was LaPaglia on his 1972 CZ 250M that claimed the fastest lap. “This is the style of riding I grew up on,” said Nick, “so this is just fun for me.” With temperatures rising in the desert sun, it was time for the Open Class races. While the rally was enjoyed by beginners and intermediate riders, a crew of seasoned desert riders were putting on course in how it’s done right. Forrest Minchinton was right near the top, but he bowed out because he had designed the course. Micah Davis set the bar high on a Deus x custom Yamaha 450 (more on that bike to come), only to be taken out by Murrieta’s Nick LaPaglia, who seemed so comfortable with his 4:52 course record he opted out of his second ride. Then Huntington Beach rider Connor Steel turned up with the best lap of the day, a time of 4:47. For the last ride of the rally, LaPaglia put his helmet back on, pushed his bike to the starting line, and disappeared into a cloud of dust. When he ripped back into the starting box, his time was a blistering 4:42, leaving him the winner of both divisions of the inaugural US Deus Swank Rally. Special thanks to our sponsors of the event - Yamaha Motorcycles USA, Olympia Beer, FMF, GoPro, Bell, Biltwell, Acerbis, Motocutz, Metzeler USA, BK inc, Minchinton Surfboards, Zing inc. Images by Harry Mark, Monti Smith, Niki Cram, Caleb Keller, Fernando O. Cepeda, Jason No, Gabriel Herrera

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!