Buggy Roundup 13 Recap: The Dumont Weekend We’ll Be Talking About Until Next Year

Every December the crowds thin out, the air cools down, and the dunes seem to slow everything down just enough to remind me why I fell in love with Dumont in the first place. Buggy Roundup lands right in that sweet spot, two weeks after Thanksgiving and about two weeks before Christmas, and it’s always a weekend I look forward to more than anything else in the season.

Buggy Roundup didn’t start as a big deal. Thirteen years ago, I’d be out at Dumont, spotting the same sandcars over and over, thinking, I know that car, but I don’t know the owner. Everyone recognized each other’s rigs, waved to each other on dune rides or when passing each other’s camp, and that was it. I thought it would be cool to pick one weekend where all the sandcar guys could camp in the same place, ride together, and actually get to know each other. It was just a simple idea, but over the years, it’s grown into what it is today, a weekend where the community comes together, old friends reconnect, and new friendships form, all centered around the dunes and the sandcars we love.

This year was our 13th annual Buggy Roundup and it did not disappoint. A few early arrivals showed up Wednesday to claim camp. By Thursday morning, most of us had set up in our usual spot across from Bathroom 10. This day was all about getting settled in, checking out rigs, catching up with friends, and meeting a few new faces. By late afternoon, the itch to ride hit, and we set out for a sunset ride, finishing on Sunset Hill just as the light started to fade.

Friday we kicked things up a notch with dual group rides, something new this year. Justin from Sand Cars Unlimited led a group south while I took another group north. The goal was simple, give everyone room to run and a chance to ride closer to the front. It mostly worked, though a few random buggies appeared mid-ride and added a little chaos, just enough to keep things interesting. Both groups ended up at Comp Hill. Some guys pulled wheelies, but most were just happy to stop, chat, and hang out. That’s really what Buggy Roundup is about, the rides are fun, but the real reason everyone comes back year after year is for the camaraderie. We’ve built something that goes beyond just showing up at the dunes, it’s a community of sandcar guys who share the same passion, who mostly just support each other and have respect, swap stories, give advice, and just enjoy hanging out together. After Comp Hill, we headed back to camp for the traditional buggy weigh-in, no prizes, no competition, just a chance to see what your car weighs and talk a little crap with friends who get it. Friday evening ended with another sunset ride, always the best way to chase the last light across these dunes ending at the North Pole.

Saturday morning started with our tradition of Sandcars & Coffee, a great way to kick off the day. This year brought over 100 sandcars together with the unofficial number was something like 106.

After a little breakfast and coffee, we rolled out for the main group ride. Over 100 cars roared south, passing by Tim and Kawai taking some action shots of everyone, then carved the face hills, looped north, and finished at the Dumont sign for a group photo. Not the cleanest photo in the world, but that’s not the point.

Doug led a slower-paced ride north, and although we had talked about our plan ahead of time, the two lines of buggies still ended up coming together. I had to get creative, picking some interesting lines over rough razorbacks that had been jacked up by the recent rain. With that many cars running together, it’s amazing just to watch the line stretch out across the dunes. Looking back at the endless snake of buggies as it winds through the sand is impressive, almost mesmerizing. The group rides aren’t really about speed, there’s no way to hammer down with that many cars, but we managed to have fun at a good pace, even with the chaos. It’s just so cool seeing the dunes come alive like that!

The afternoon brought the raffle, with prizes both donated and purchased, including an impressive custom clock made by my buddy Gary, the chrome buggy hitch plug, and a really cool 13th Annual Roundup trophy built by Alex and Sergio, the Monster Jack guys. The clock features the Buggy Roundup logo set inside some transmission gears, a really cool piece of art, and the chrome hitch plug has become a fun tradition, passed around each year to someone new. Theron Merrill scored the clock and hitch plug, while Michelle and Terron took home the 13th Annual Roundup trophy. Energy was high, everyone was laughing, and the raffle was a fun way to bring everyone together in the afternoon and give away some fun prizes.

After the raffle, we didn’t waste any time and headed out for one final sunset rip, finishing on Sunset Hill like always. The light was perfect, the dunes were quiet, and it was a great way to soak in the weekend before heading back into camp. That night, Leonard helped us get a huge bonfire going, and Allen kept feeding it firewood all night, making it almost comically huge, forcing everyone to back up from the intense heat. We added a little something new this year with bourbon and s’mores, which went over better than expected, and of course, a couple of the late-night fire jumps went from being a joke to something that had to happen. We built a ramp out of firewood and an old table, and Ryder nailed it while Brian barely made it on an ATC. It was pretty funny, and luckily nobody got hurt. Later on, for those who stuck around the fire, we handed out popcorn, a little treat to cap off the night.

At the end of the weekend, it all comes down to the people who show up, the community we’ve built, and the energy everyone brings. Each year, old friends reconnect, new friendships form, and the dunes feel alive in a way that only happens when we’re all out here together. Thank you to everyone who came out and made BRU 13 exactly what it is, a weekend full of laughs, chaos, and memories we’ll be talking about until next year. Can’t wait to see you all at BRU 14 next December! Best trip of the season! And for those who know...what's the first rule of Buggy Roundup?  

Photos by Tim...

CLICK HERE FOR TIM'S GREAT PHOTOS FROM BUGGY ROUNDUP 13

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