2008 Mini Cleanup 1 – Barstow, CA – 03/16/2008

It’s been two years since Clean-Dezert has been to Barstow. Hoping to continue the tradition that started with Clean-Dezert’s inaugural cleanup in December 2006, the group returned to begin a series of mini cleanups scheduled to coincide with the 2008 desert racing season.

The strategy: Rather than organizing only one large cleanup during the year, Clean-Dezert hopes to establish a consistent presence in the offroad and, more specifically, the desert racing community.

Racing enthusiasts themselves, Clean-Dezert founders Adam Filbin and Ray Regno recognized the challenge that might arise with scheduling a desert cleanup the same day as a race or even on an off weekend. Adam plans to enter his truck into a number of races this season, and like many other racers, every weekend is key in properly prepping the race truck for race day. In addition to that, rising gas prices may make the long drive for many wouldbe volunteers an expensive ordeal, especially if they frequent the races as well.

These challenges in mind, Clean-Dezert has teamed up with the local BLM Field office and is trying a new appraoch to desert cleanups by organizing short (2 hours in duration) mini cleanups scheduled to immediately follow select racing events throughout the 2008 racing season. Along with the usual cleanup advertising, Clean-Dezert will also be promoting the cleanups at race contingency and tech inspection. The group hopes that by setting up a community cleanup the day after a race, they will be able to leverage the needed manpower for the cleanups by recruiting people who are already in the desert to attend the races as well as increase the awareness of land issues and the growing problem of illegal dumping.

Depending on the success of these mini cleanups Clean-Dezert also hopes to use these cleanups to build momentum for a another large cleanup at the end of the year. In the future, Clean-Dezert aims to expand their mini cleanup schedule to include every scheduled offroad race in Southern California.

Quick Recap of today’s Mini Cleanup:

~25 volunteers

Volunteers were able to retrieve illegally dumped items along Outlet Center and the 247 as well as pickup a substantial amount of small items scattered by the wind.

This was a great turnout on such short notice. The BLM supplied a dump truck to haul the collected refuse, and the items retrieved well exceeded the truck’s capacity. We are definitely expecting an even larger turnout next time around and are hoping to be able to get a larger receptacle. =)

We were also able to sell a number of Clean-Dezert tshirts, stickers, and raffle tickets for our post cleanup raffle. 25% of all proceeds will be donated to CORVA to help keep our deserts open.

Special thanks to MORE Racing for allowing us to promote the event at contingency. Also, thanks to 1450-ORG, DezertTV, BTF Fab, and all our volunteers for coming out to help. Thanks also, to all our raffle sponsors, and most especially, a big thank you goes to Rose and Jaime at the Barstow BLM for helping us with the trash disposal.

Until next time, KEEP IT CLEAN, KEEP IT OPEN!

-Ray