Willem Avenant Racing

Once the adrenaline fades, the fire burns down, and the fatigue finally washes out under a long hot shower… the rally blues set in. That’s when I start to reflect.

Every race, every rally, every event has its own character. And SoCal Rally, “Fight Club” to those who know, has always had something special about it.

It’s been called the Burning Man of rally in the U.S. It’s raw and creative, every stage designed and written by a different author, every roadbook with its own personality. It keeps you honest and keeps you thinking, forcing you to adapt all the time.

We always talk about the machines, the navigation, the riding… but what actually stays with you are the people. The conversations. The shared moments. The stories that somehow get better every time they’re told.

With the constant pressure of land closures and access getting tighter, there’s been talk that this might have been the last SoCal in its current form. It was important for me to be there, to close the loop.

What stood out most, though, was the number of new faces. New energy coming into the sport.
I don’t know what the future version of SoCal looks like, but I really hope this isn’t the end. Even if it evolves into something different, the spirit of it deserves to carry on.

Huge respect and thanks to everyone behind it. So many North American rally riders, and Dakar riders, have come through this event. It’s left a lasting legacy.

And it’s definitely left its mark on me.

Thanks Dan, Taylor, Andrew and everybody else who helped over the years.

Sometimes I step back and realize how special and beautiful our sport really is.

In the desert you’ll find people from completely different walks of life. Different countries, different cultures, different beliefs… many of us would probably never have crossed paths in normal life.

Yet somehow motorcycles, a sense of adventure, and the need to push the limits, bring us to the same place!!!

When we put on our helmets, propelled by the force of the engine, feeling the acceleration, and taking the risks, we are chasing freedom. None of the other stuff matters anymore, not where you’re from, what you do back home, or what language you speak.

In a time where the world feels uncertain and divided, I’m always reminded that sports and motorcycles still has this simple ability to bring people together.

And somewhere between the navigation notes and the long days in the desert, friendships get forged that last far beyond the politics and uncertainties of our time.