#16 Tumu Rock - West Wardsboro, VA, USA

Tumu Rock is an avid adventure motorcyclist who has had his stories published in Dual Sport News (now known as ADV Moto), the District 37 Newsletter, and the American Motorcyclist Magazine. He began motorcycling as an infantile 27 year old while living in NYC. Instantly hooked, he began dreaming of racing in Dakar before he could even kick the ass end of his bike sideways the dirt. He cut his teeth racing in the East Coast Enduro Association aboard a KTM 640 and took great pleasure in using the factory-equipped horn any time he had an opportunity to pass someone in the woods. It really freaks people out in an enduro when a horn and a blinker are actually functional, let alone used! 

         In 2002, Tumu participated in the Alcan 5000 which was the first year that motorcycles were accepted into the rally. Though it was a TSD rally and not an outright race, he managed to navigate and maintain the correct course and speed using a calculator, a piece of paper, and handwritten notes that he made each night of the 9-day 5000 mile rally. This was in stark contrast to most of the competitors who were using a GPS and an enduro computer. Oh, and he was riding a KLR in a sea of BMWs. He managed to ride his way into first place overall until a wheel bearing failure at the end of day 4 forced him to skip one stage and caused him to incur the maximum penalties for the day. In spite of this setback (and a 400-mile round trip during the "rest day" to purchase parts off of a KLR owner's private bike), he finished 4th overall and 2nd in his class. 

         Since moving to Vermont in 2003, Tumu's racing took a back seat to Trumystic, a band that he and his wife have spearheaded since the late '90s. With the band they toured the USA and on occasion, Tumu was able to pack a KDX 220 in with the band gear in order to get some riding in while on the road. 

         With the announcement of the Baja Rally de Motos, Tumu became giddy with excitement at the chance to race in a roadbook navigation rally that is actually taking place in North America and jumped at the opportunity. Since registering for the race, he has spent countless hours in the garage working on his bikes to repair the damage that is inevitably inflicted upon them when a Samoan weighing in at an eighth of a ton throws them around in the dirt. Tumu is shooting for a top 30 finish in the inaugural Baja Rally de Motos. 

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