It all began with the registration of the 169-plus participants and their rigs.

On October 20 of this year, 169 off-road desert racers, fans, crews, friends and others, descended upon Stoddard Valley for a day of fun to help clean up trash that had accumulated in the area.

Early in the day, a few people went out to the race course and pit areas looking for trash, the first one back was, Kreg Donahoe. He went out specifically to scout areas to clean; he went to Start/Finish, Hodge Road and behind Slash X Café and came back with a much smaller load than his first load last year. He told us, there isn't much out in the OHV area, you might send volunteers towards Barstow College. So he and some others with pre-runners and race vehicles kept searching the race course and other areas, but didn't get much at all.

The MDR Class 11 king of 11 Brothers Racing was on hand with their Op Clean Desert rack.

To help make this year fun, we also gave out prizes for the most unique or funniest item found. Junior and Poolman, who drove out for the weekend from AZ, found this prize winning item (right), a Dumping Prohibited sign complete with shot gun blasts.

Robert Stapp found a cardboard cut out of roundy-roundy racer Larry Pearson still intact.

From all accounts, the trash collected was from illegal dumpings from businesses and home owners. This sign was found among the debris of one such trash pile.

CORE won for the largest group in attendance, an award sponsored by Vegas Valley 4Wheelers.

We had a lot of help from MD racing and the 11Bros Racing, who teamed up with Guy Evans to take out a lot of trash.

The Largest load went to MD racing and "Big Matt."They took approx most of the 26.7 tons that went directly to the dump.

In total, the two teams took 23.4 of the 26.7 tons of trash directly to the dump.

Many families, such as the one here, lent there hand to clean the place they love best, the desert.

One of our volunteers followed a person who had a truck full of trash that was apparently planning on dumping in the desert. The volunteer got their license plate number, took it to Slash X, which handed it over to the BLM.

JC Andrews brought along his kids to help haul trash and teach them a thing or two about caring for the desert.

Some people described the pride the felt as they crested a hill and looked down into a valley and saw it full of people who were working together to pick up trash. A feeling of solidarity swelled over them. They felt like there were a part of something bigger than themselves, something that truly gives back to the sport. It was something to see: families with their kids, teaching the importance of keeping the deserts clean.

Here's Kritter Khris' winning load of fridges. His Toyota is using the bump stomps as shock absorbers, but the desert is now clean because of it.

After a full day of cleaning, successfully filling three dumpsters and taking 26.7 tons of trash to the dump, it was time to relax and celebrate. Time for the "Trash Bash at the Slash!" CORDR paid for everyone's meals at and the Slash X kicked down for the free beer. After drawings and awards, The Desert People Movie was shown.

Much of the wast found in the desert was recyclable appliances. So, they were set aside in the own dumpsters and sent off to be recycled.

On Monday, the disposal company told him that there was a pile of trash next to the dumpsters that the driver did not pick up. He drove back out there to find a mattress and box spring, dresser, night table and 4 bags of grass clippings. He took these to the dump and it cost a whole $6.00 to dump. CORDR had discussed possibly purchasing a roll off and placing at the S/F area, but we think we all know who would use it in the end.

Rose, left and Mike, right, of the BLM, help out Paige Donahoe in organizing the event. Take a look at the long list of contributors below, who all did their part in keeping the desert clean.

CORDR will continue to help the racing community as we feel that holding a clean up helps get us all together to work towards a common goal. It's fun! Many people initially think it is going to be hard work, and they'll get dirty, but when they are done and have done something great for racing, they then got to hang out at the party afterwards; then they realize, it's fun and that is when they begin making plans for next time.

Many are fighting for the racing areas, but simply don't know what the future holds. So if you can, get out there with your kids, and enjoy a day of giving back.