Garden Isle Grand Prix

Sep 17, 2021

We all know the Hawaiian Islands are an amazing destination. A glorious place boasting beautiful beaches, picturesque valleys, and more than its fair share of unreal natural beauty. Filled with resorts of all kinds, golf courses a plenty and rife with all manner of opportunities for leisure. An archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets and seamounts loosely gathered together and plonked smack bang in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean.

What you didn’t know, that you really want to know, is how we got the invite to go race our 40+ year old dirt bikes at the 68th Annual Garden Isle Grand Prix on the island of Kauai… It all came about from an out of the blue call, one of those calls where we had no other choice than to say yes, leaving us to figure out the logistics!

To really cement the deal, our pal Greg Tomlinson (lovingly known as “GTeee” shot some photos across an ocean front motocross track. We couldn’t help but reminisce of the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm in Bali and the golden years we’d had on our very own ocean front motocross Shangri-La. This was what our dreams are made of and so yes of course we were in!

GTeee organized a shipping container to arrive in Huntington Beach, California. He got together twenty something of his pals and their vintage iron and rubber, loaded them in the container and shipped them off across the Pacific Ocean. Three weeks later found our motorcycles and us on the island of Kauai. Mai Tai’s and Margaritas in one hand and a throttle or a can of petrol in the other, we’d arrived.

Upon checking into our hotel some departing friendly neighbors insisted that we take their beloved blender that they had purchased on their trip. Now a blender may seem an unusual item to purchase on vacation, but we, like our neighbors before us, knew how to put it to good use. We had twenty something vintage racer friends with a penchant for adult beverages. The stars aligned, as there happened to be a generator on hand at the track, there was also this massive cooler full of ice and we’d brung the right supplies. Wasn’t long before our post race blendies became the talk of the track. No better way to cool down in the tropical heat after fanging around that majestic sea side track than with an ice cold Margarita or Pina Colada. Ahhh, the simple things in life…

We raced, we laughed, we made new friends, and we drank more than a few cold ones. Aloha and stoke was shared by all and we all walked away with one hell of a good time in the bank.

Finally, it came time to say our goodbyes, the bikes were loaded back into the container and off to the mainland they went. Actually, they haven’t arrived yet, but hopefully they will be here soon. No worries! (I suppose, we should have read the fine print, especially the bit about washing off all dirt before shipping back… (oops)

We have to say a huge thank you to GTeee for bringing us Haole’s together and introducing us to Rick Hurst, his family and all of the crew at the Club Moto Kauai, to whom we offer a massive thank you all for having us. Just so you know, we are already making plans for the 69th Annual Garden Isle Grand Prix!

...are you coming too?

Rider: @forrestminchinton
Photography: @mounce

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!