We blew into Winchester Bay on a lazy Thursday afternoon at the invitation of Joe Mirvis of the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce. Backed by a small army of volunteers and assistants, Joe organized Dunefest 2009 and in a few days turned the very small, Oregon towns of Reedsport and Winchester Bay into very much larger towns, with thousands arriving for the event.Driving down Salmon Harbor Boulevard, which grants access from the North to the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area, we passed through a series of checkpoints and traffic control points into the event site. Workers stopped traffic to allow quads and other sand toys safe passage over the road that snakes its way through the dunes.
Quad barrel racing was a huge...
Quad barrel racing was a huge hit at Dunefest 2009 with some of the more intense action. Dunefest organizers created classes for kids, women and men.
The week-long event, which seemed a bit long upon hearing of its duration, was actually a welcomed surprise. Five days definitely lends a leisurely more vacation-like pace to the event. Though there is plenty happening each day, there is opportunity to wind down on the beach or just cruise the dunes.
An aspect of Dunefest that sets it apart is mélange of other things to do on the Oregon coast. It's very easy to base yourself at one of the many campgrounds near the event and explore the mountains, rivers and beaches of Western Oregon. From whale watching or fishing to ripping it up in the sand, there is more than enough to entertain a family or crew of friends for a week.
We would have liked to have seen more street legal off-road toys out there (like some fullsize trucks!) but this specific event caters more to vehicles with a green sticker. That doesn't mean you can't go invade and have a great time in your 4x4! Maybe next year's event will have a bunch of OFF-ROAD readers taking over Dunefest in trucks! And if not during Dunefest, the Oregon sand dunes are open all year long for you to visit
 The sheer area dedicated to...  The sheer area dedicated to Dunefest 2009 was impressive. This aerial shot only shows you about half or less of the entire space with a vendor area and more camping still out of the frame! |  Dunefest organizers placed...  Dunefest organizers placed most vendors of the event on a large paved parking area. There was no shortage of great food along side plenty of go fast bits to buy for your sand toys. |  A visit to the sand drag area...  A visit to the sand drag area was worth while each day just to see what new class of people or toys might be waging war in side by side races. |
 With the field open to just...  With the field open to just about anyone who could meet the technical and safety requirements the starting line of the sand drags became somewhat of a centerpiece to Dunefest 2009. Here, two drivers wait for a green light. |  Aside from contests of horsepower...  Aside from contests of horsepower and skill on two or four wheels, there were also other more inclusive contests as well. The tire toss was another way to walk off with some nice swag. |  The rapid gain in popularity...  The rapid gain in popularity over the last several years of UTVs has spawned a massive aftermarket with all kinds of parts to purchase. Even better, we see them included in all kinds of races as well. UTVs participated in sand drags alongside more traditional off-road toys. |
 Women lined up after the kids'...  Women lined up after the kids' class and proved beyond a doubt they weren't afraid to eat a little throttle-driven sand themselves. |  Spectators thickly lined both...  Spectators thickly lined both sides of the drag strip. With so many quads in close proximity, it was only a matter of time until someone strayed through the banner and took out the timing equipment! Luckily, no harm was done and drags picked up after a brief pause. |  To call upon the spirit of...  To call upon the spirit of the horse drawn version of this event, event sponsor Coke Zero created impromptu "cowboy hats" for competitors to fix upon their helmets. |
 The men's class of barrel...  The men's class of barrel racing was surprisingly sparse compared to the number of entrants for kids and women. This guy was rocking a cowboy hat and a horse head on his quad though! |  Between, the many events taking...  Between, the many events taking place around and on the main stage of the event, this was certainly the place to hang out for most of the week. Here, crowds keep a safe distance from freestyle riders, hucking themselves through the air at center stage. |  WGAS riders from all over...  WGAS riders from all over the US teamed up to give Dunefest visitors a great show both at night and during the days. This always drew a lot of attention. |
 The WGAS crew was at Dunefest...  The WGAS crew was at Dunefest for a few days enjoying the sand and wowing the crowd. FMX riders gave shows each day to event participants drawing big crowds. |  Possibly the favorite spot...  Possibly the favorite spot to play was immediately near the Dunefest event site. Banshee Hill provided many photo ops and contests. |  The small town of Winchester...  The small town of Winchester Bay plays host to this event each year with the population and traffic swelling for the week. |