Virginia City Grand Prix 2021 — The 50th Anniversary
October 2021. The 50th Anniversary of the Virginia City Grand Prix. Cold, rainy, muddy, and absolutely unforgettable. If you weren't there, you missed something special.
A Race with 50 Years of History
The Virginia City Grand Prix is one of the most storied off-road motorcycle races in the American West. Since its founding in 1971, the VCGP has drawn riders from across the country to tackle the rugged terrain surrounding Virginia City, Nevada — steep hillclimbs, loose rock, unpredictable weather, and a course that has humbled some of the best riders in the sport. Reaching the 50th anniversary was a milestone worth celebrating, and the racing community showed up to do exactly that.
An October Race — A COVID Disaster Story
The VCGP is traditionally a spring race, held in April/May. COVID changed that. The 2020 race was lost entirely to the pandemic, and the 50th Anniversary in 2021 was rescheduled to October — a one-time shift just to get the race back on the calendar after the long pause. It was the only time the VCGP has ever run in the fall, and the October weather in the Virginia City hills made sure everyone knew it.
Cold and rainy — the kind of day that separates the committed from the casual. But honestly, after a year and a half of canceled events and closed gatherings, nobody was complaining. People were just glad to be there. That energy — the relief of finally being back together, doing the thing we love — was palpable all day.
Cold, Rainy, and Worth Every Minute
What struck me most was the community. An incredible group of men and women riders, everyone pulling together to help everyone else — pushing bikes, offering gear, cheering on strangers like they were teammates. That spirit is something you don't find everywhere, and it's one of the reasons the VCGP has lasted 50 years.
Showing the Brand to a Whole New Crowd
For VCMCo., it was an opportunity to get in front of a whole new group of people — off-road riders, race fans, families, and the kind of hardcore enthusiasts who travel hours to watch a hillclimb in the rain. I met an incredible number of terrific people that day. Froze to the bone doing it, but worth every minute.
Standing there in the cold watching riders attack that course, I remember thinking: this is exactly the kind of event VCMCo. should be part of. Virginia City is in our name. This race is part of Virginia City's identity. It felt like home.
Congratulations to the Riders
Congratulations to the winners and everyone who finished — in those conditions, crossing the line was an achievement in itself. And to those who didn't make it up the hill or didn't make it to the finish line: there's always next year. The VCGP doesn't get easier, but neither do the riders who keep coming back.
And They're Doing It Again
At the time I wrote this, the announcement had just come that the race would return in April 2022 — a slight shift from the traditional May date as the event found its footing again post-COVID. The October 2021 running was a one-time exception, and the race has since settled back into its spring schedule.
I remember writing "we shall see if it works out for us to be a part of them" — cautiously optimistic, not wanting to jinx it. It worked out. We've been part of it ever since. The Virginia City Grand Prix is now one of the events we look forward to most every year, and the VCGP community has become part of the VCMCo. story. Five years on from that cold, rainy 50th anniversary, we're still here — and so is the race.
See you on the hill.