THE 9TH ANNUAL DIRT ORCAS SUMMER CLASSIC
August 22nd – 24th, 2025
In conjunction with Gerbing Heated Gear, REVER, Jefferson County Ciderworks, and Sun and Fun Motorsports, and I am pleased to announce the 9th Annual Dirt Orcas Summer Classic.
The event will take place Friday evening August 22nd through Sunday morning August 24th, 2025.
The Summer Classic is a wonderful adventure motorcycle experience that involves camping and riding on mostly dirt Roads and gravel through Eastern Iowa. The route is tailored to take riders through some of the best scenery and riding in the area. We also have a fantastic raffle, great food and drinks, and a showing of the latest Backcountry Discovery Route documentary feature on an outdoor movie screen.
There will be water crossings and ample dirt under our tires, but this track will be doable for all adventure bikes with at least 50/50 tread.
Look forward to multiple days riding and camping. We cover over 300 miles miles, passing through areas with historical significance, while traversing scenic and sometimes challenging terrain. True adventure riding. The route will be challenging but rewarding.
We will meet Friday evening for registration, dinner and a screening of the latest BDR documentary films.
Saturday will be a big day of riding. Working our way North from Bentonsport to Sun and Fun Motorsports in Iowa City for lunch. Continuing on to our camp site in the afternoon.
Sunday morning we will continue riding towards Dubuque, where the event will officially come to a close. However, this will also keenly position riders right near the start of the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail or NE Iowa’s Driftless area.
This effectively links riders from the great riding in Missouri through to the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail start. Creating a super pathway for Midwest adv riders from Lake Superior to the Ozarks. All of which offer excellent riding.
This is a rain or shine event so the alternative “road ride” that makes it a lot less challenging if we have poor conditions (Hello 2019!) will be the back up plan if the B-Roads are impassable.
Email dirtorcas@gmail.com to secure your spot. Event cost is $125 per person.
Registration:
*Preregistration is required. Event will be capped at 50 riders. Email dirtorcas@gmail.com for instruction on how to secure your spot.
**Tent camping is included with registration, but for those interested in upgrading to a more conventional experience, the historic Mason House Bed and Breakfast is available Friday night and cabins at The Eden Valley Refuge are available on site for Saturday. Please note B&B lodging and for the cabin rentals, lodging will be paid by individuals and is not included with registration.
*** A support truck can be made available to specific medical items but plan to carry your own camping gear and tools.
$125 event ticket includes Dirt Orcas rider pass and .GPX, event sponsors stickers pack, raffle entry, two nights of tent camping, two camp breakfasts, lunch at Sun and Fun Motorsports, two dinners, complimentary ciders from Jefferson County Ciderworks, and a Backcountry Discovery Routes Movie premier ticket.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday 5pm – Bentonsport, Iowa : Rider registration, welcome party, dinner, and the South East BDR Feature Documentary Film Screening. Camping fees are included with registration, but for those interested in upgrading to a more conventional experience, the historic Mason House Bed and Breakfast is across the street. Here is the link to make your own reservations for Friday night August 22nd.
Saturday 7:30 am – Coffee and a light breakfast will be served
8am – The group will begin our adventure ride from Bentsonsport to Iowa City. The GPS trax will be available to everyone as a .gpx file or in the REVER Ap. The ride typically works best if everyone can break into small groups and be self sufficient.
1PM – Arrive at Sun and Fun Motorsports in Iowa City. They will provide us with lunch, while we check out new models from BMW, Triumph, Honda and others.
3pm – We will start the ride towards Eden Valley Campground.
6pm – We will arrive at the campground just off the route. Dinner will be served. Jefferson County Ciderworks fantastic hard cider will be available. Again, camping fees are included with registration, but for those interested in upgrading to a cabin, there are 2 cabins and a bunkhouse available on site. Here is the link to make your own cabin reservations for Saturday night August 23rd.
7pm – Raffle drawing will commence and great prizes from our sponsors will be distributed to the winners.
8pm – A campfire will be built for riders to enjoy and recount the best moments of the ride.
Sunday 8am – A minimal camp breakfast will be served at the campground. There is also a convenience store about 5 miles away along the route when we depart in the morning.
9am – The ride will continue on a scenic gravel and paved route north to the Iowa / Wisconsin Border near Dubuque. The event will officially come to and end here, but take note, the ride ends just a few miles from the beginning of the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. I highly recommend continuing your journey North if you have never experienced the Trans Wisconsin.
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