FACTORY MOTOCROSS VACATIONS
The Ultimate Motocross Vacation Service
INTRO
Up until a month ago I had always wanted to take an epic motocross vacation, but never had. Part of that stems from the fact that trips take a lot of planning, time, and money. That said, there is something invigorating about getting out of the local scene and making new memories.
Perhaps you can relate; Over the years I’ve learned that trips don’t always turn out like I thought they would. Like the time I was 18 and during our summer break, my friends and I decided to bolt on an impromptu road trip to the world famous landscapes of southern Utah. Note that this was before cell phones. My friend “borrowed” his mom’s minivan, we raided our fridges with enough food to last us for three days (hoping it was enough), found a paper map, and scraped together whatever cash we could get our hands on, which according to our high school math was enough gas money to get us there and back (we thought).
Five hours later we were at our first site, atop a remote mountain enjoying breathtaking scenery. Before heading off to our campsite for the evening, my buddy needed to take a deuce which quickly exposed the fact that our half-baked scheme left us without any toilet paper. Ultimately, my friend had to hide himself amongst the curtain of trees and attempted to use the surrounding natural resources as makeshift toilet paper. Apparently nature’s resources aren’t Charmin soft. This was the first of several issues we encountered on the trip, including thousands of dollars of damage to that poor minivan that apparently wasn’t meant to go off-roading.
Fortunately, thirty years later, I am equipped with more wisdom, so I was confident I could pull off an impromptu trip better than when I was 18.
THE GOAL:
Share an epic experience with my son, build memories, spend quality time together, and enjoy the great outdoors on a few of the most iconic tracks in So-Cal.
THE PLAN:
5 days total. Two days traveling, three days riding.
THE PROBLEM:
I don’t own an enclosed trailer and the hotels won’t let you keep your bike in the room, so I didn’t have a place to store my bikes
I didn’t have a place to stay
With only three days to ride, and since I had never ridden any tracks in California, I didn’t know which tracks to ride based on our skill level and daily weather conditions.
THE SOLUTION:
To solve my dilemmas a friend of mine recommended I contact Luc Santos, Founder and Owner of Factory Motocross Vacations (www.factorymxvacations.com).
Within 10 minutes Luc solved all of my problems listed above. The great thing about Factory MX Vacations (FMXV) is that they offer a range of services that are all customizable to your individual needs and each of their solutions are designed to lessen the stress of doing a Moto trip while maximizing the Moto experience.
Options range from simply having a place to sleep and store your bikes, all the way up to epic white-glove, full-service Moto packages that include accommodations, bike rental and transport to the local tracks or races.
If you choose to rent their bikes during your stay, you will not be disappointed! The fleet of Factory MX Vacation bikes are dream-spec and are meticulously taken care of and perfectly prepped. To get more detail on each of their services, be sure to visit their website.
THE LOCATION:
I have visited California dozens of times for work and family vacations, and every trip has been synonymous with large crowds and traffic. However, once I got to FMXV I didn’t experience any traffic until I left to come home. The FMXV house is centrally located in Temecula, which is within 15-40 minutes from world class tracks like Pala, Perris, Cahuilla, and Elsinore.
What makes FMXV exceptional is its picturesque location within the secluded Temecula foothills, tucked deep in the vineyards and terraced orchards. FMXV’s unique location provides one of the most secluded, quiet places I have visited in quite some time. Complete with it’s own onsite orchard, swimming pool, and hot tub, it’s the perfect place to rest and recover after a full day of immersing yourself amongst the revving bikes at the track.
THE EXPERIENCE:
Luc was as gracious as they come; the perfect ambassador to the Moto community. This was my first time taking a Moto trip to California, and Luc was more than willing to help as much or as little as I wanted.
In addition to giving me insider tips and recommendations on where to go and when, he kept an eye on the quick-changing weather, and even provided us with alternatives if the weather ran interference on our original plans.
Note that you will likely be sharing the house with other Moto enthusiasts, which I really liked. Everyone quickly became friends, but in all honesty I never really saw anyone except for a little bit in the morning and evenings. Most of the current FMXV clientele come from overseas, and I really enjoyed getting to know them.
BIKES
If you want to simply arrive with your gear, you can take advantage of Luc’s full-service options. The FMXV bike fleet includes a 125, and several 250 and 450 four strokes. Every bike is meticulously maintained, and look like they just stepped off the showroom floor, complete with aftermarket exhausts, wheels, titanium hardware, and more. FMXV will make you feel like a factory pro, even if you aren’t one. It’s also a cool way to experience bikes from different makes, models, and engine size.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do yourself a favor and find a time on your calendar to do a Moto vacation. Even if it’s not California, I think there is a lot of value in having fresh experiences in new locations. Don’t be like me and put it off for too long. I wish I had looked into this sooner. But this is part of the reason I am writing this article; to give you the nudge you need to experience an unforgettable and rewarding Moto-vacation.
My son and I will forever remember this experience. It was amazing in every way possible.
I was fortunate to find availability on such short notice; FMXV is generally sold out or with very limited availability. Do yourself a favor and reach out to Luc and see what custom MX vacation is right for you. You’ll be glad you did!