BikeBound sponsors Good Times Racing Family’s Mint 400 “Bajarley”…
This weekend is the 55th running of the Mint 400, the “oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America,” held each March in the treacherous foothills outside Sin City, Nevada.
“The Great American Off-Road Race” draws more than 500 race teams in 50+ classes, hailing from 25 different states and 15 countries. It includes a massive parade of race vehicles down the legendary Las Vegas Strip, a two-day festival on historic Fremont Street, and two days of the most grueling off-road racing in the USA.
For 2019, bikes were reintroduced to the historic race. As if the 120-mile race course weren’t brutal enough, several of our friends have leapt at the opportunity to run the Hooligan Sportsman class, eschewing purpose-built dirt bikes for modified Harley-Davidson Sportsters!
Last year, we featured the Mint 400 Sportster from “Mark The Butcher” of Rusty Butcher Racing — a 2003 Sportster running CRF450 forks, custom-built Racetech 16.5″ rear shocks, 21/18 Excel rims, S&S Cycle 1200 kit, Rekluse auto clutch, and a 5-gallon tank courtesy of Carducci Dual Sport.
“We were the first Harleys to line up when the Mint 400 brought bikes back to this race in 2019. This race is a major ‘badge of honor’ to finish on a Harley just because the race takes the bikes out faster than you would believe. ” -Mark Atkins, Rusty Butcher Racing
For 2023, we stepped forward to help sponsor the Mint 400 racing campaign of our friends at Good Times Family Racing as they put their “Bajarley” Sportster on the grid in the Hooligan class.
“Thank you to @bikeboundblog for featuring our bike on your page / in your blog and your generous donation to our 2023 @themint400 and other Harley Hooligan desert racing adventures.”
Built from a 1995 883 Sportster, the Good Times Family “Bajarley” sports a Honda CRF450 front end with Race Tech internals and Scotts Performance steering stabilizer, Race Tech 17.5″ Piggyback rear shocks, a custom Dubya USA 21″/18″ wheelset, a Stealth Pipes HHP (Hoops High Pipe) exhaust system, custom skid plate and rear sets, and much, much more.
The Bajarley has finished the Mint 400 twice now, placing 5th in 2021 and 3rd in 2022. What’s more, rider Rich Silva (@richsilva221) returned after an early crash in the 2021 Bitwell 100 to take 3rd place in 2022.
This year, Joey Elms (@dirtthrower) and Dougie Darrah (@dfresh69x) will be riding the bike, while Rich and crew support the effort from the pits.
We’re wishing a safe, fun ride to the whole team. Follow the “Livestream” of the motorcycle classes at themint400.com/live/, and make sure to follow our friends at Good Times Family Racing and Rusty Butcher Racing on the good ole ‘gram!
Follow the Riders / Builders
Good Times Family Racing
@goodtimesracingfamily
@richsilva221
@dirtthrower
Rusty Butcher Racing
@rustybutcherracing
@markthebutcher
@nobigdealhill
