Desert Racing Heritage Meets Campfire Culture
Quick answer: In Dust We Trust is a three-day desert motorcycle festival on December 11–13, 2026, at Mojave Ranch in Johnson Valley, California. It’s built around The Mojave Classic, a desert scrambles-style race with vintage and modern classes, plus camping, film screenings, live music and vendors. General admission is $40 (ages 10 and up); kids under 10 get in free.
Some dirt bike events are trade shows with a beer garden. In Dust We Trust looks like the opposite: a desert race with a party wrapped around it, staged in Johnson Valley, the patch of Mojave that the organizers call “the birthplace of desert racing.” If you’ve ever wanted to chase ribbons across a dry lake bed in the morning and swap lies around a campfire at night, mark December 11–13 on the calendar and start hunting for your warmest sleeping bag.
The festival is pitched as a homage to legends like Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith, and it brings together riders, racers, filmmakers, artists and brands for a weekend of racing, riding, film and music. In the organizers’ words, it’s “the best damn party in the desert.” We’ll be the judge of that, but the schedule makes a convincing opening argument.
In Dust We Trust 2026 at a Glance
| Event | In Dust We Trust (featuring The Mojave Classic race) |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday–Sunday, December 11–13, 2026 |
| Location | Mojave Ranch, Johnson Valley, California (turn off Highway 247 at Swanee Road and follow signs) |
| Organizer | MOJAVE MC LLC; race format developed with the National Hare and Hound Association (NHHA) |
| General admission (non-racer venue access) | $40, ages 10 and up; free under 10 |
| The Mojave Classic race entry | Price TBA here (see official ticket page); includes general admission |
| VIP camping (Mojave Ranch) | $300 per camper or RV, camping space only, no hookups; admission or race entry still required |
| Race classes | Novice (2 loops, approx. 40 miles), Intermediate (3 loops, approx. 60 miles), Pro/Expert (4 loops, approx. 80 miles), Vintage (2 loops, approx. 40 miles); event site also lists Adventure Bike, Run What Ya Brung and Hooligan |
| Schedule highlights | Fri: arrival, open desert riding, course preview, films, campfire. Sat: vintage, Run What You Brung, ADV and Hooligan racing; communal dinner, live music/DJ. Sun: all modern classes; event concludes |
| Listed sponsors | Triumph, Monster Energy, FMF Racing, 805 Beer, Born Free, For Those Who Sin, The Peelers |
| Official website | industwetrustfest.com |
The Mojave Classic: Old-School Desert Scrambles
The racing centerpiece is The Mojave Classic, and the format is pure throwback. Developed with the National Hare and Hound Association, it uses a mass start and a ribbon-chasing, roughly 20-mile lap course. Riders loop back through the pits each lap, which keeps the action close to spectators instead of disappearing over the horizon for an hour.
The organizers promise open desert terrain, technical sections, high-speed lake beds and dedicated spectator viewing zones. Distance scales with ability: Novice and Vintage riders run two loops (about 40 miles), Intermediate runs three (about 60 miles) and Pro/Expert runs four (about 80 miles). The festival homepage also lists Adventure Bike, Run What You Brung and Hooligan classes, so yes, that tired-but-willing big-bore twin in your garage may finally have a purpose.
Housekeeping for racers: you must be at least 18, register the actual rider, bike and class, sign releases in person at check-in, and attend the mandatory riders meeting. Entry fees are nonrefundable for voluntary withdrawal, DNS/DNF or disqualification, except as required by law. Final class details and schedule will be published with registration.
The Weekend Schedule
Friday, Dec. 11: Arrival and Community
From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., it’s camp setup, open desert riding, a course preview, sponsor activations and product demos, plus race and event registration. The food court opens in the evening, followed by a welcome dinner, campfire gathering, outdoor film screenings, music and storytelling that runs late.
Saturday, Dec. 12: Racing and Culture
Race check-in starts at 6:00 a.m. (coffee is served, mercifully), with a rider briefing at the stage. Desert racing runs from 10:30 a.m. for all vintage classes, Run What You Brung, ADV bikes and Hooligan. Vendor Row is open, and sponsor demos run through the afternoon. That night brings a communal dinner at the MojaveCOOP, live music or a DJ set, campfires and night riding.
Sunday, Dec. 13: Racing and Departure
Another early check-in and rider briefing lead into desert racing from 10:00 a.m. for all modern classes. The event wraps up in the late afternoon.
Tickets, Camping and What It Costs
There are three ways in. The Mojave Classic race entry includes your general admission, so racers don’t need a separate ticket. The event site does not publish the race entry price in its public page text, so check the official ticket page for current pricing. General admission (non-racer venue access) is $40 for anyone 10 and older; kids under 10 are free.
VIP camping inside Mojave Ranch costs $300 per camper or RV, not per person, and puts you close to the Mojave Coop, food court, live stage and festival activities. It’s camping space only, with no hookups, and everyone in your rig still needs a race entry or general admission. Sites are first-come, first-served once you’re in.
The budget option is the traditional desert-race approach: dispersed camping on surrounding BLM land, arranged on your own and subject to BLM rules. Wristbands are required inside the fenced festival grounds and are picked up at will call at the entrance gate with a photo ID. Ticket sales are final except as required by law, per the event’s refund policy.
Pack Like the Desert Wants to Beat You
Because it does. The organizers warn of cold nights, wind and dust, with winter temperatures in Johnson Valley that can drop below freezing. There are no hookups, no supplied water and no showers, though portable toilets will be on site. Bring drinking water, warm bedding, layers, a windproof jacket, sunscreen, a headlamp, a camp chair and trash bags, and stake your shade structures down like they owe you money.
The event is billed as family-friendly, and leashed dogs are welcome in the campground. RVs, trailers, camper vans, overland rigs and tents are all fair game. Food and beverage vendors will be on site.
Who’s Behind It
Both In Dust We Trust and The Mojave Classic are owned and organized by MOJAVE MC LLC, with the race format developed alongside the NHHA. The event lists a Huntington Beach, California, contact address and takes inquiries at [email protected]. Sponsors shown on the official site are Triumph, Monster Energy, FMF Racing, 805 Beer, Born Free, For Those Who Sin and The Peelers. Brands interested in a Vendor Row booth or partnership can reach the festival team through the site.
Triumph’s presence makes sense; the brand’s desert-sled DNA runs straight back to McQueen’s TR6 days. If that history is your thing, read our 2026 Triumph Scrambler 900 first ride and our 2026 Triumph Bonneville T100 review, or browse more off-road coverage in our dirt bikes section.
Why It Matters
Desert racing built a big chunk of Southern California’s motorcycle identity, and events that bring that culture to newcomers, vintage collectors and hooligan-class misfits in one place are rare. In Dust We Trust is aiming to be both a race and a social event that preserves the heritage while making room for what comes next. If the execution matches the pitch, December in Johnson Valley could get a lot dustier, and a lot more fun.
FAQ
When and where is In Dust We Trust 2026?
December 11–13, 2026, at Mojave Ranch in Johnson Valley, California, off Highway 247 at Swanee Road.
How much are tickets?
General admission is $40 for ages 10 and up, and free for kids under 10. VIP camping is $300 per camper or RV. Race entry includes admission; check the official site for its price.
Do I have to race to attend?
No. Spectators, friends and families are welcome for the racing, bikes, music, films and camping.
What is The Mojave Classic?
A desert scrambles-style race developed with the NHHA, using a mass start and a roughly 20-mile loop, with Novice, Intermediate, Pro/Expert and Vintage classes.
Are there showers or hookups?
No. There are no hookups, supplied water or showers; portable toilets will be available.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash in the campground at all times.
