MADRAS part DEUX: City Slickers

Gamblertown changes every year just FYI, that's kinda the whole thing.

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS STILL (it's fun and you get swag): https://schedule.planhero.com/events/cb62a93fc/2026-gambler-500-volunteer-sign-up

Park in your campsite... need to go somewhere use your legs. Anyone driving recklessly in camp will be asked to leave.

You don't need a cheap car, just come, have fun, see the bands, make friends, and witness the spectacle...

Camp is on grass this year, no fires but its much less dusty; (propane rings are okay). Make sure you have 2 extinguishers, 5 gal of water and a shovel, and keep on high alert.

Don't drink and drive, camp is city property you can get a DUI.

REGISTER

2026 Gambler Preview "dirty detes" video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-nDGCDTrO4

Getting to Gamblertown (stay on trails and off private land):

1.  "Pavement is Lava":  start at home and navigate to camp in Madras using as little pavement as possible, with 5,000 participants you will run into groups along the way.

2. North Valley Start from Conversion Brewing in Lebanon (HERE) Saturday June 27th (or on Casual Friday the 26th) ROLLING STARTanytime between 7am-12pm waypoints will be posted outside brewery.

ONCE YOU'RE HERE....

Madras Meander (short):

OnX folder: HERE

44.66291, -121.14789

44.68419, -121.24013

44.6104, -121.23848

44.56218, -121.26218

44.52529, -121.21022 optional food stop/gambler specials

44.49442, -121.15978 swim

44.58889, -121.17625 optional food stop/gambler specials

44.66293, -121.14762

Tumalo Pipeline (pop down to Bend say hi):

OnX folder: HERE

44.28762, -121.33658

44.28047, -121.35221

44.28832, -121.36025

44.29267, -121.38620

44.27046, -121.39711

44.27329, -121.38424

44.26504, -121.38416

44.26478, -121.35584

44.27266, -121.34360

44.23716, -121.34552

44.20331, -121.32430

Food trucks:

44.14715, -121.33140

Bang revvies outside expo:

44.23838, -121.1863

The Devil’s Butthole "it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll"

(Pack heavy you may be spending the night out here 8-12 hours)

OnX folder: HERE

43.70382, -121.47734 gas and snacks

43.4111, -121.19791 Hole in the ground (enter on E side)

43.37296, -121.06637 Fort Rock (stretch your legs)

43.00003, -120.76081 (swim)

43.34692, -120.386 (dunes)

43.33293, -120.67602 (short walk to Crack in Ground, cool)

43.52067, -120.86443 (amazing cave, cool)

43.81605, -121.00302 (the way back/end)

Smokey's Gambit

download Sons of Smokey app

chasing down moving waypoints while you collect trash and bring back to camp... this is the way

BUCK BUTTE BASH Sat 6/27 noon-4pm

44.6098, -121.04836

Looking for harder trails/OHV?: Cline Butte https://g.co/kgs/p78HXdb

DOWNLOAD THE SONS OF SMOKEY APP

TO MARK AND FIND TRASH/ABANDONED VEHICLES

DO NOT TOUCH HAZARDOUS WASTE OR BRING TO CAMP (needles, biohazard etc)

Schedule: Gates open Friday and Saturday 8am (close noon Sunday)

• Nation's biggest public land cleanup all weekend

• Greatest car show on Earth all weekend

• Music starts around 6 pm Fri/Sat

• onsite food vendors

• RC car shenanigans hosted by 911 motorsports (crawlers, jumps, short track)

• Greatest group of people you'll ever meet

• Visit Great Basin Distilling on your way in and out of town to the North:2063 NW St Andrews Dr, Madras, OR 97741

• Sunday Gambler Hangover Migration meetup at Ratskeller in Governemnt Camp they have our new beer on tap: 88335 Governemnt Camp Loop, Government Camp, OR

• Looking for lakes to cool off?

  • Lake Simtustus: https://maps.app.goo.gl/izvA8MknxcG61uDp7

  • Haystack Resevoir: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LzFKafCSNRDd6uFw9

• wanna play golf? Desert Peaks is next door, call for a tee time (541) 475-6368

  • https://desertpeaksgolf.com

NEED IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO?!!? check out madras events calendar... HERE

TRACK SCHEDULE

SEE HOOPTIEX.COM for details on HX racing

small engine racing free with admission to Gamblertown

Minibike heats Friday 2-4pm, Saturday Enduro

Gokart heats Friday 4-6pm+, Saturday Enduro same time

212cc or smaller, cage, helmet and restraints required (must pass tech to race)

*motors more than 212 can run but not eligible to win

NEED CAR PARTS? theres an O'Reilly in town

If you haul an abandoned car or truck to camp off of public land document where it came from with before and after pics/location I will comp your trailer registration at OG please send pic of car and location where you found it to thegambler@gambler500.com

Volunteer signups: https://schedule.planhero.com/events/cb62a93fc/2026-gambler-500-volunteer-sign-up

Background on grassroots gamblers: https://www.gambler500.com/post/guide-to-making-a-gambler

*PARK AND PARTY... NO PARTY LAPS or dangerous camp behavior this is especially important this year

"GAMBLERTOWN" opens Friday, June 26th at 9 am and closes Sunday, June 29th at noon.  We still recommend camping Friday night in smaller groups along the way if you're not into crowds (and dust) and want to do it how we did when it started. Saturday night is the big party.  Redeem at the gate for a wristband, and if a vehicle pass is purchased, receive a vehicle sticker for your car to access the camp.  

Yes, a stock Toyota Corolla can make it, yes, support rigs are welcome, yes, you and your friends can come in your capable late model rigs, have fun and help people out.  We love fun, crazy cars regardless of value; we hate rules, don't make us make more.  We love everybody, hate litterbugs, leave your egos behind, park and party, ZERO vehicle shenanigans in camp, keep off-road shenanigans at OHV areas.  Safety is a primary concern and everyone's duty to keep each other safe.

1.  This is not a race.

2.  There is no $500 rule, cheaper cars win Scepter so no way to cheat with $$$

3.  We are the world's largest and competitive trail cleanup, bring trash bags but we will have dumpsters for disposal.

4.  You are responsible for your actions, same legal standards apply as any other day.

5.  Don't be a dick.

Remember the goal is to reach any of the destinations using as little pavement as possible "pavement is lava" drive safeas you be sharing and interacting with thousands of other gambler cars.  The best challenge is navigating stock 2WDcars over backroads that trucks and SUVs wouldn't have a problem with but you'll find plenty of challenges for built rigsalong the way.   

Dowload Sons of Smokey

As always, we are stewards of the environment and the communities we pass through.  We have huge dumpsters onsite as we host the largest trail cleanup in the world during the event. Please snap a pic of the debris you collect along your journey and post pics to Instagram tagging @thegambler500 and @sonsofsmokey along with the hashtag #sonsofsmokey. We will be selecting winners for most debris, biggest debris, shooting pit cleanup, and more.  Please include a fire extinguisher, first aid, food, water, tools, plus all essentials for overland travel.  

The Competition:  

1.  The Gibby and Gault Trophy:  This award has been handed down year after year to the team that most embodies the Gambler spirit.  The cheapestcar, the coolest people, helpful on trail etc.

2.  Stewardship:  Every gambler picks up litter and trail trash along the way, if we’re going to have fun we’re gonna help.  Snap a picand tag us on Instagram @thegambler500 @sonsofsmokey #sonsofsmokey and we’ll be selecting 5 teams to receive awards fromour sponsors.