DirtVenture 2022 Q4

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BEST IN THE DESERT RACING ASSOCIATION

Best In The Desert Racing Association Founder Casey Folks Co-Owner / CMO Bryan Folks Co-Owner / CEO Daryl Folks Event Coordinator / Race Operations Manager Interior Megan Phillips Marketing Director Jordan Cochran jordan@fletchermonroe.com Media Directors Donald Fall email: donaldf@fallads.com Russ Turner email: russt@fallads.com DirtVenture Magazine Publisher / Advertising Sales Fall Advertising email: donaldf@fallads.com phone: 619-742-9977 Editor Don Fall Content Mgr. / Creative / Design Russ Turner Editorial Contributor Mike Ingalsbee On The Cover Cayden MacCachren put together a dominant performance at the 2022 King Shocks Laughlin Desert Classic.

Photo provided by Bink Designs Best In The Desert, BITD and DirtVenture are registered trademarks of Best In The Desert Racing Association ©2022 Best In The Desert Racing Association

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Vito Ranuio capped off a great year by sealing up his UTV Pro Turbo Class Championship at the World Hare & Hound Championship.

Photo by HighRev Photography

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2022 ISSUE Q4 / DECEMBER

IN THIS ISSUE 8

VIEW FROM THE RIDGE - Bryan Folks KING SHOCKS LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC:

12

MOTORCYCLE, QUAD & UTV CLASSES

30

CAR & TRUCK CLASSES

46

WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP

62

2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS

74

A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R

86

UNDER THE HELMET - A Conversation with Open Pro Motorcycle Champs Hayden Hintz and Trevor Hunter

104

SAFETY FIRST - Never Overlook Your Safety Gear

108

IN THE KNOW - New Products You’ll Want to Check Out

Photo by RnR Photos

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DirtVenture 7

A MESSAGE FROM BRYAN FOLKS

Photo by HighRev Photography

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As I look back on our 2022 season, I’m reminded of just how fortunate we are to get to celebrate the year with the incredible Best In The Desert racers, fans, and people I work with every day.

Off-road racing has been my life, my entire life, ever since my dad, Casey, ingrained in me how awesome the people involved in this sport are to be associated with. My brother, Daryl, and I have started to put our own touch on our organization, and I want to assure you, as we move forward to an exciting 2023, we’ve taken all we learned from our dad, added some significant personal touches of our own, and have crafted a magical year of competition in 2023.

We know racers have a choice of where and who to race with, so I say thank you for choosing Best In The Desert. We work very hard to create challenging racecourses that consume your every thought as you traverse some of the toughest terrain in North America.

My brother and I have been behind the wheel and holding on to handlebars for years, so we recognize what’s exciting, what’s fun, and what challenges you want and need, and we deliver. I wanted to express my sincere appreciation to the racers, fans, sponsors, volunteers, and staff

who have helped Best In The Desert maintain our position as the premier off-road racing experience. 2022 was an exciting year for Best In The Desert with powerful events, live stream coverage, and growth throughout the organization.

Highlights of the past year included our multiple race events in Arizona and Nevada and widely viewed CBS Sports Network broadcasts. In addition, Streaming produced by Jetwerx, and the vastly increased exposure our series experienced, was advantageous for you and the sport.

When you choose to race with Best In The Desert, you get the Best of all seasons for racing. We couldn’t wrap up the year without thanking the many, many people who have supported Best In The Desert in 2022.

A big thank you to all our sponsors who provided not only their financial support, but attended the races and worked diligently with racers to make their experience with Best In The Desert a positive one. Hundreds of volunteers and our friends at the BLM helped us maintain a managed environment for racers, their crews, their families and the sponsors at every event. We sincerely appreciate every one of you! See you at the races in 2023. Enjoy this latest issue of DirtVenture.

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By Mike Ingalsbee The second to last race of the season in the Best In The Desert series for the Motorcycles, Quads and UTVs was held in Laughlin, Nevada. The course has a dual personality. The desert section has changed a lot over the years, but still follows the same basic trails and washes. The infield section however is always different. The large flat area of the infield gives Best In The Desert a blank canvas to construct the short course section any way they choose.

The desert section is rough, but fast. The infield is twisty with jumps and sand that gets deeper and looser with every lap. No

matter how many times a racer has been to Laughlin, they are guaranteed to find something different each time.

Unlike a point to point desert race, you must run the same 17 mile course on two consecutive days. That gives you a second chance which is either good or bad. A win on day one is great, but you have to follow it up on day two when the course is even rougher. Those who are vying for championships have to deal with racers who are hungry for a win and willing to gamble. Nobody can play it safe. It’s always a fast-paced race with no room for error.

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs

Chris Leaming flew to the UTV Laughlin Leap win.

Photo by RnR Photos

The first to hit the dirt were the 4 wheeled competitors in the famous Laughlin Leap held Thursday night. The leap was instituted during the very first Laughlin race back in the 1990’s.

Back then the leap was part of the race course. Drivers could go off the huge jump, or take a bypass. It was a big fan favorite and most of the top racers took the leap. Best In The Desert brought it back as a special event in 2018 at the UTV worlds. This year’s UTV winner was Chris Leaming who sailed 115 feet for the top spot.

On Friday morning, the UTV youth classes hit the track. Best in the Desert does a great job of getting the next generation of racers out learning their craft, and having fun while

they’re doing it. The kids race in the infield section of the course so they can keep track of everyone. The kids love to race so you have to keep an eye on them at all times. If they took a wrong turn out in the desert, they could end up in a different state. If you ever get a chance to watch them race; don’t miss it. These kids are amazing and some have become top champions like Seth Quintero, Mitch Guthrie, RJ and Ronny Anderson, and many others. One day you will be able to say you saw them race before they were famous.

Youth winners included Jacob Williamson, Declan Shields (who won two different classes), George Llamosas who is always fast, Paxton Schendel and Dexter Warren.

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs

Tanner Thompson 170 Pure Stock 5-8

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Paxton Schendel 570 Production Stock Photos by Dirt Nation

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Declan Shields 170 Super Stock

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George Llamosas 1000/RS1

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs

The team of Hayden Hintz and Trevor Hunter took the Open Pro victory.

Photo by Dirt Nation

David Broderick and Luke Reynolds grabbed second Open Pro. Photo by Dirt Nation

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The bikes get the first chance to race on both days. Staging was at 6:30am with racing at 7:00. Some motorcycle racers are specialized. They race in the desert or maybe motocross is their specialty. Many have raced several disciplines including Grand Prix and Hare and Hound. Trevor Hunter, who won the Open Pro class onboard a KTM with his teammate Hayden Hintz likes Laughlin because, it reminds him of Grand Prix racing. “Fast paced Grand Prix suits my style,” says Trevor.

“It is kind of scary running on day two after the trucks make

deep ruts in the turns. You have to pick your lines well and be heads up because of the big holes and square edges. We did that and won both days.”

Second in Open Pro went to the Husqvarna team of David Broderick and Luke Reynolds.

Jeremy Newton finished in third place on his KTM. In the Open Expert class, Honda swept the podium.

Defcon Motorsports took the win with riders Gage Mathews, Carson Kay and Corbin Eatherton. Finishing in second place was the Honda team of Travis Dillon, Robert Glines and

Third Open Pro went to Jeremy Newton.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Gage Mathews, Carson Kay and Corbin Eatherton nailed down the Open Expert win.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs

Zach Myers took the Ironman Pro win and his two-day total combined time was fifth best overall for the motorcycle classes.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Jeffrey Row. Third place belonged to Brock Collins and Corbin Gonzalez.

The podium finishers in both classes all finished on the lead lap. You would think that the Ironman Pro riders would be at a disadvantage as they are used to going for the long haul however that wasn’t the case. Winner Zach Myers ran 10 laps on his KTM in 03:09:57.767.

That was fast enough to take 4th place overall. Second place Jarrett Curley would have been right behind in 5th overall on his Honda. Third place in the Ironman Pro class was Colton Scudder on a KTM.

Jarrett Curley, second Ironman Pro. Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic

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Off Road

2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs

No. 423 Zachary Hayward took the start in Quad Expert but had to hand it off to his teammates to continue for the class win.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Everyone will agree that winning is the greatest feeling ever, but for Quad Expert winner Zachary Hayward it was painful. He found out after Vegas to Reno that his wrist was not only sore; it was broken. He was unable to train and would only run one lap before handing his ISH General Contractors Honda over to his more than capable teammates Ismael Hernandez and Christopher Avalos. They ran 9 laps in 03:14:30.269 to take the win. “Yeah, so it was just one lap, right?” said Hayward. You really can’t do a ceremonial start here. I broke my wrist at Vegas to Reno. I didn’t know I broke my wrist; not until a few weeks later. It was just a small tip over. I didn’t feel injured. We still decided to show up.

I did one lap just to get the points and those guys took over; they killed it.”

Ismael Hernandez and Christopher Avalos took the 423 to victory.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 VEGAS TO RENO - MOTORCYCLES & QUADS

Brayden Baker swept Saturday and Sunday for the undisputed Trophy Unlimited victory.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Bruce Binnquist took the top spot in UTV Pro Turbo on Saturday.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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“Mad” Max Gordon grabbed the Pro N/A win on Saturday.

Photo by RnR Photos

The UTVs were split into two groups for racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Group C contained UTV Pro NA, and UTV Trophy Unlimited classes.

Group D included UTV Pro Turbo, UTV Super Stock, and UTV Sportsman classes. Starting order was based on points standings after Vegas to Reno.

That gave preference to those in the championship hunt, but after the first lap everyone is in the dust of someone else. Only the lead car on lap one gets any relief. Even when they water the course, it dries out quickly due to the wind, the sun, and the cars doing multiple laps. It was quite windy on Saturday which is great for clearing the dust, but it depends on the wind direction. If it’s blowing directly down the course, there is no relief. If it gets very windy, it will make its own dust, no race traffic required. You get both dusted out, and sand blasted for no extra charge.

Some drivers are really good in the dust. They somehow muster the courage to push hard; often due to a great co-driver they trust to call out the turns accurately. Drivers get most of the credit, but off-road racing is a team sport. Drivers have to trust their navigators, and also their cars. Those who realized victory on Saturday included Brayden Baker in UTV Trophy Unlimited, Max Gordon in UTV Pro N/A, Bruce Binnquist in UTV Pro Turbo, Mitchell Alsup in UTV Super Stock, and Eric Murphy in UTV Sportsman.

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2022 VEGAS TO RENO - MOTORCYCLES & QUADS

Top Pro Turbo contenders Vito Ranuio and Dustin Jones battling for position.

Photo by Justin Brown Photo

In the Pro Turbo class, Vito Ranuio was up 27 points on Dustin Jones who had only a two point lead over Jason Murray. Ranuio finished fourth on Saturday, Murray sixth and Jones was ninth. The number crunchers are going to have their work cut out for them. Second place on Saturday in the UTV Pro Turbo class behind Bruce Binnquist was fast guy Joe Terrana; Kolton Hustead was third.

On Sunday the finishing positions changed, and the times for most were

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Josh Row notched the overall Pro N/A victory for the weekend.

Photo by Dirt Nation

The overall win in the Super Stock class went to Mitchell Alsup.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - MOTORCYCLES, QUADS & UTVs Joe Terrana rallied to the Pro Turbo overall victory.

Photo by Dirt Nation

predictably slower. One position that didn’t change was the number one spot in Trophy Unlimited class. Brayden Baker won both days to take the undisputed overall win in class and Group C. Ryan Piplic finished behind Baker for second, and Cody Bradbury was third. Kaden Wells would not be denied.

He won the Pro N/A class with Josh Row second and Max Eddy third. In Group D,

Joe Terrana won the Pro Turbo class with Kolton Hustead second and Bruce Binnquist third. Mitchell Alsup was another perfect driver in UTV Super Stock with back to back wins giving him the overall in his class. Other overall winners were Josh Row, Joe Terrana, and Kaden Isabella in Sportsman.

Kaden Isabella claimed the overall win in Sportsman Rally.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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By Mike Ingalsbee Truck drivers haul for a living, and so did a pair of racers in the truck classes at the Laughlin Desert Classic. Both young men had a perfect weekend of racing.

Cayden MacCachren took the top qualifying spot on Thursday in the Trick Truck class as did Conner McMullen in 6100. MacCachren out qualified the veteran BJ Baldwin and the surging Robert Johnson who were second and third fastest of the Trick Trucks. Connor McMullen was the fastest of the 6100 trucks ahead of Chase Barbieri in second, and Joe Herling in third.

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Cayden MacCachren left the rest of the Trick Truck field in his dust all weekend long.

Photo by HighRev Photography

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

From qualifying to two days of racing, Conner McMullen completely dominated Class 6100.

Photo by Justin Brown Photo

These two racers would go on to totally dominate the weekend of racing. They did a clean sweep by qualifying first, and winning both days to take the overall win in their respective classes. Laughlin is a two day event with the driver who has the lowest combined time from both days taking the win. It’s a fast paced affair that leaves no room for error.

Cayden MacCachren has been winning races and championships in his UTV, and is now transitioning into the trucks. Considering the challenge posed, you would think he would have shown up with a carefully

prepped truck ready to be pushed to the limit.

That wasn’t the case. After Rob ran a 400 mile event in Mexico, and then Cayden took the truck to a second place overall during a very rough 300 mile race in California, Cayden and his famous father Rob decided to bring the truck to Laughlin and see if it would live.

It was a test for a burgeoning driver to see if he could successfully manage a well-worn truck. I guess he passed that test with flying colors. Not only did the truck have a lot of miles on their prep job, but it’s a small block powered truck made for a long desert race, not necessarily a quick, multi-lap sprint race.

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

Other big block powered trucks would have an advantage.

I just happened to speak with Rob when they pulled into the infield on Thursday before qualifying. He said like any father he has been passing along what he has learned in racing to Cayden. He said it seems that Cayden is not listening every time, but when the situation calls for it, he responds perfectly, and it makes Rob very proud.

This is not good news for the competition. Rob is referred to as the G.O.A.T. by many, (greatest of all time) and now there are

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BJ Baldwin’s second place finish was good enough to seal the 2022 Trick Truck Class Championship.

Photo by HighRev Photography

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

two of them. They both share that quiet confidence that comes in handy in the desert.

Off-road racing is a constant test of splitsecond decisions. Being calm and collected is a huge asset. Cayden has the demeanor and the skills to excel.

Cayden had to contend with a bunch of hard charging veterans in his class like defending champion Kyle Jergensen, Robert Johnson, Sterling Miller, Dale Dondel, Andrew Myers, and BJ Baldwin to name a few.

Baldwin would finish second while wrapping up another championship and Nic Whetstone was third on the weekend and second to BJ

in the Trick Truck championship standings.

Another dominating performance by a young driver was that of 21 year old Conner McMullen. He also took the top spot in qualifying and then won both days for the overall win. Conner was putting the wraps on a 6100 class championship as well. He did however have an excellently prepped truck to race. His Brenthel prepared truck has taken him to two victories and three podium finishes out of four races this season. He finished second at Vegas to Reno by just over one minute. “Our goal this year was for it to be a learning curve and then step it up next

Jon Largent took home the Class 6200 win.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

Preston Brigman took the top spot in Class 1000 .

Photo by Bink Designs

season,” said Conner. “Fortunately for me, I got the hang of it in the first couple races.

It wasn’t automatic, but I did get the hang of it right away. I started understanding the truck, how it drives, and how it works. We set up the suspension to my liking and then we were showing up to races expecting to be on the podium or to win; we won in Parker. We always race to win. Taking the championship was just a bonus.” Tanner Currier finished second to McMullen and Tracy Poole was third.

The 6200 buggy class is similar to 6100 as it has an engine limit but everything else

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is pretty much unlimited. It’s a fun class for those who don’t want to spend as fast as those in 1500. Nick Carolan has been running his 6200 car in class 1500 a couple times this season just for the competition. He gets kudo’s for going against the bigger engines this season. At Laughlin he had someone his own size to race against. Jon Largent, who was also in an Alumicraft, got the win, Carolan finished second.

The class 1000 cars are always a crowd favorite. They have limited motors and unlimited suspensions. They are typically light weight cars that take a lot of skill to drive. Not

The Baja Class win went to Chris Schweers.

Photo by Justin Brown Photo

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS Off-Road racing legend Dave Shoppe earned the Class 8 victory.

Photo by RnR Photos

that the cars are ill handling; it’s just the level of the competition in the class. You have to keep the throttle buried at all times regardless of the terrain. The cars are so evenly matched that driver skill and commitment usually determines the winner. Preston Brigman had

a stand-out weekend like MacCachren and McMullen. He qualified first, won the class, and secured the season long points title. Talk about results. Michael Taylor finished second and Tom Coons was third.

The new crop of drivers are definitely Robert Thomasson took the Jeepspeed Outlaw class win.

Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

The Jeepspeed Challenge class win went to Bruce Raub.

Photo by RnR Photos

making a name for themselves in off-road racing but don’t count out some of the older guys. Dave Shoppe and Todd Wyllie showed up in their class 8 trucks and threw down in Laughlin. Dave is 78 years young and has many class 8 championships to his name.

Todd is only 57 but it seems like he has been around forever. Those of us who watched the

big class 8 trucks in their heyday will never get over the sound of those big V8 engines or the incredible action they were capable of. Some of the greatest off road racers of all time battled in class 8 before the trick trucks ever existed. It looks like Dave still has a few tricks up his sleeve as he took the win. Todd was an unfortunate DNF. Garth Owens nailed the Jeepspeed Trophy class win.

Photo by RnR Photos

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2022 LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC - CARS & TRUCKS

Laughlin has always been a different kind of race. It’s part short course and part desert race. It lends itself to racers who aren’t afraid to hang it out. The short distance forces everyone to go all out, and the harsh terrain is not to be taken for granted. What Cayden MacCachren did was unusual and pretty incredible. Starting with a fully prepped race vehicle, only a few laps run at a typical Laughlin race has put many teams on the trailer. Cayden proved his skills behind the wheel.

It will be interesting to see what he does next season. Will he get snatched up by a team? Will he show up in his own truck?

What class will he be racing in? If he races in 6100 will he and Conner McMullen battle it out all year? McMullen wants to win back to back championships like he did in class 1000. Will we see a class 8 resurgence in 2023? I can’t wait until next year to learn the answers to these questions.

“2022 Rookie of the Year” Nic Whetstone held on for third in Trick Trucks for the weekend.

Photo by RnR Photos

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Dylan Elliott leaped to the Ulimited Car Class win.

Photo by RnR Photos

Laughlin infield “short course” action.

Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic

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Trevor Hunter (pictured) and Hayden Hintz are a tough team to beat. The duo clinched their third straight series championship at the World Hare & Hound Championship.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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By Mike Ingalsbee Hare and Hound racing got its name from the old practice of hunting with dogs.

The hare is out front blazing the trail, while the hounds follow in pursuit. In hunting, the dogs typically wear the hare down and catch their prey. At the Best in the Desert World Hare & Hound Championship the hares finished first in both the bikes and the UTV classes. It is every rider for themselves at this Hare and Hound; One Man, One Machine, One Way. Those who raced together as teammates during the season were on their own. This worked to the advantage of the hare that got away while the hounds were busy banging bars.

DirtVenture 47

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2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP Dalton Shirey ran away from the field to become the World Hare & Hound Champion.

Photo by Dirt Nation

The hare turned out to be none other than Dalton Shirey, earning his second Hare & Hound Championship this season. Everyone knows you can’t let him check out at the front. “The Hare and Hound in Tonopah was great this year,” said Shirey. “It was a bitchin course with all the singletrack; it was really fun. I just wished my hands were warmer. I cut the fingers off my gloves to let the sweat

drain out, but it made my hands cold. It was a smooth ride from start to finish; never had a wheel on me. I think I won by 8 minutes? I blew a couple turns so I could clean it up, but it was a great day.”

Finishing second was Trevor Hunter who had a serious battle with his otherwise teammate Hayden Hintz. “It was a little frustrating, but I guess the result was not

DirtVenture 49

2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP

Trevor Hunter finished second.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Open Pro Jeremy Newton finished third overall.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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too bad,” says Hunter. “It started out rough when my bike wouldn’t fire. I got off the line way back. I made a bunch of quick passes to get up in the top 5 or 6. I was behind Zach Meyers for about 20 miles until he let me by; that was really nice of him. I caught up to my teammate Hayden who was battling with Jeremy Newton for the season points championship.

Jeremy missed a turn so it was an easy pass, but then I got lost. I was on the UTV course. Jeremy and Hayden both got past me. After 10 miles I caught both of them so it was wheel to wheel with all of us for 10 to 15 miles. Jeremy got Hayden and then I got Jeremy while dicing in the trees. Both of us got lost and then he got out first. It opened up so I was in his dust. I caught him and we went bar to bar for 5 miles.

I was able to get by and build a gap but I had no chance of catching Shirey. I had a lot of fun. I liked the mix of technical with the high speed.”

Jeremy Newton finished third overall behind Trevor Hunter.

Brandon Krause was fourth place and Hayden Hintz came in fifth. It was enough to clinch the championship. He lost the battle, but won the war by 9 points. Sixth through ninth place overall were all winners. Sixth overall was Ironman Pro winner and nice guy Zach Myers. Seventh place overall was

2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP

Iron Pro winner Zach Myers took sixth overall.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Steven Machado was the Open Expert class winner.

Photo by Dirt Nation

Open Expert class winner Steven Machado followed by Over 30 Pro winner Robby Brockman. Rounding out the top ten were Dan Lick and then Robert Glines who were second and third in the Open Expert class.

Women’s champ and season points champion

was Kimberly Loppnow who finished twelfth place overall. The bike racers were treated to some nice singletrack at this race; something that everyone who rides on two wheels cherishes.

The UTV race turned out to be very similar.

Kimberly Loppnow sealed up another class championship with her Women Expert win.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP Dustin Jones was second across the finish line but claimed the overall UTV win on corrected time.

Photo by HighRev Photography

Vito Ranuio’s third place finish was good enough to seal the deal on his 2022 Pro Turbo Class Championship.

Photo by Bink Designs

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Unlike the mass start of the bike race, they lined up according to the points standings.

The fastest were all out front with eventual season points winner Vito Ranuio leading the way. He would play cat and mouse all day with Dustin Jones all day. “The championship points affected our strategy for the race,” said Ranuio. “I prefer to race to win, but when you are leading for a championship, sometime you have to give up a win. We were first off the line; Dustin started behind us. We started to see his dust so we picked it up a little, but we weren’t really pushing hard. I started to go into full race mode but my co-driver brought me back down. He said let’s just concentrate on that championship. At Laughlin on day two I almost flipped the car I was running

so hard. The Tonopah course was fun, but it was narrow and hard to pass. It was good to start in front. Dustin ran a good strategy.

He knew he could just follow us and win on corrected time. One thing that was strange was how clean the car is. I had no dust all day so the car looks spotless. Our goal for next season is to win races now that we have a championship under our belts.”

Dustin Jones crossed the line second, but closed the gap on Ranuio enough to take the win on time. “The course was fast and fun, but it had a lot of gotcha’s,” said Jones.

“It was the first time running this course for everyone so nobody knew what to expect.

Usually we go a little harder. We are willing to tear up a car if it means a win. We were not

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Bruce Raub 2022 Laughlin Desert Classic Jeepspeed Challenge Class Winner

Photos by RnR Photos

2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP

really in the championship; Vito would have had to DNF for that to happen. We pushed him a little to drive harder, but it would have been no benefit to pass him. He wasn’t holding us up; he was running a fast pace, just not an all-out pace. Anytime we would get close we were on the horn, and making a lot of dust trying to get in his head. We leaned on him all day long. It’s nice to put a stamp on the season with a win. That’s what everyone will be thinking about until next year.”

Joe Terrana also managed to sneak up a couple spots but unlike Ranuio and Jones, had tons of dust to contend with. “We caught up to Murray and was stuck in his dust from

mile 40 to 130,” said Terrana. “It was just too rocky to go off the course for a pass. When he blew a belt, we got around him. It was frustrating, but it was a real fun course. It was super fast and flowing. We won in Laughlin so we were hoping to win back to back.

Everyone has been very nice to us this year and we have learned a lot. We plan to run the same schedule next year, but in a brand new Lonestar Racing car. I only have one year in the sport now, but I live in the desert so I feel right at home. My co-driver Jason Montes has taught me a lot too. He also races with the Herbst’s and has a lot of experience.”

Joe pushed hard in the last 10 miles to finish Joe Terrana fought through the thick dust to take second overall.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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Photo by RnR Photos

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2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP Michael McFayden took the Trophy Unlimited class win and fifth overall.

Photo by Jeff Waldaias Photos

second overall and second in Pro Turbo class behind Jones. Vito Ranuio was third, Jason Murray fourth and Colton Gubler rounded out the top five.

Fifth place overall and the winner of the Trophy Unlimited class was 2021 rookie of the year Michael McFayden who is just 16 years old. He debuted a brand new car in Laughlin, but had a crash so he was racing his old car. “We just ran our own pace all day,” said McFayden. “The two minute intervals meant no dust for most of the day. We caught the car ahead of us at mile 30, then Blais at mile 100 after the lake bed. Our race went super smooth with no issues. I really liked the fast fire roads. I think some good luck was bound

to happen after all the problems we had at Laughlin. If we didn’t have the crash at Laughlin it would have taken a lot of hands to get the car ready in time for this race. My first race in a UTV was in Parker last season but I have been riding quads and bikes since I was young. Jumping into racing was definitely difficult, but we figured it out. My goals next year will be to get some wins and then maybe jump up into the Pro Turbo class.” The top six overall were all Can Am’s.

Second place in Trophy Unlimited and seventh overall was Ryan Piplic. He was the top Polaris in the field. Piplic got a wellearned second place, but was going for the win. “Our result was not as good as

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2022 WORLD HARE & HOUND CHAMPIONSHIP

Seventh overall, Ryan Piplic finished second Trophy Unlimited.

Photo by Dirt Nation

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we hoped,” said Piplic. “We started off at a good pace; with good flow. We caught a rock between a rear caliper and the wheel. We chose not to stop for repairs so we pushed through with no brakes. It was disappointing, but we made the best of it. The course was not the typical long straight shot.

There were a lot of fast, flowing turns; a driver’s course. It reminded me of the Silver State 300 without the trees. It was a lot of fun. There was a dry lake bed, a lot of rocks and some

Mitchell Alsup took the Super Stock class win.

Photo by Dirt Nation

silt but not like when we run after the trucks. I liked the two minute gaps.”

Strategy came into play in Tonopah, but all out speed was also a factor. The Hares might have finished first, but the hounds were hot on their tails. With everyone having such a great time, next year’s race will probably have a bunch of hounds lining up to race. We’ll have to wait and see how that goes.

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Car/Truck Grand Champion Conner McMullen Photo by HighRev Photography

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The 2022 Best In The Desert race season marked another great year of exciting and super-competitive racing. Best In The Desert sincerely thanks all the racers, in every class, who chose to compete in our events this year. We worked very hard to create racecourses that were challenging, fun and memorable, and appreciate all the racers for joining us year after year. With a required minimum number of events each season for racers to compete in, not all classes saw a champion crowned for 2022.

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2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS BJ Baldwin - Trick Truck Champ Photo by HighRev Photography

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Conner McMullen - Car/Truck Grand Champion and Class 6100 Champion Photo by Justin Brown Photo

In the highly contested Trick Truck Class, BJ Baldwin had an outstanding year as he took the class win in three out of four races to capture the Trick Truck Series Championship.

In the 6100 Spec Truck Class, Conner McMullen turned a dominating series of performances throughout the year into his first Class 6100 Series Championship.

His overall points total also rewarded him as the Car/ Truck Grand Champion.

Preston Brigman completely controlled

Preston Brigman - Class 1000 Champion Photo by HighRev Photography

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2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS

Sean Berryman - C/T Stock Full Champion

Photo by Dirt Nation

Class 1000 all year long as he ran away with the Class Championship.

Sean Berryman earned the C/T Stock Full Class Championship, while Chad Hall took the C/T Stock Mid Class Title. Scott Biehl finished a very competitive year of racing by capturing the Class 1700 Jeepspeed Challenge Championship.

The UTV classes once again had the highest entry numbers throughout the year.

At the end, Vito Ranuio took top honors in UTV Pro Turbo, edging out Dustin Jones by only 17 points.

In the UTV Trophy Unlimited, Dan Fisher earned the Class Championship.

The UTV Pro NA title went to Josh Row for back-to-

Chad Hall - C/T Stock Mid Champion

Photo by Dirt Nation

Scott Biehl - Jeepspeed Challenge Champ

Photo by Dirt Nation

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Vito Ranuio - UTV Grand Champion and UTV Pro Turbo Champion

Photo by Dirt Nation

back Series Championships. Mitchell Alsup finished up the year as the UTV Super Stock Champion.

In Motorcycle Competition, Hayden

Dan Fisher - UTV Trophy Unlimited Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

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Hintz and Trevor Hunter captured their third consecutive Open Pro Series Championship.

Breyland Hellebrand grabbed the 399 Pro Title. Robby Brockman took the Over-30 Pro

2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS

Josh Row - UTV Pro N/A Champion Photo by Dirt Nation

Mitchell Alsup - UTV Super Stock Champ

Photo by Daniel Noble Photography

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2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS

Championship. The Ironman Pro title went to Zach Myers. Other Motorcycle Class Champions were Travis Dillon, Open Expert; Vance Allen, Over-40 Expert; Paul Palmer, Over-50 Expert; Ethan Drake, Lites Expert; Taylor Baker, Ironman Expert; the Kimberley Loppnow-led team took Womens Expert; and finally, Rick Adair, Ironman Amateur.

Not to be left out, David Ham persevered throughout the year to earn the 3-Wheel Expert Championship.

This year’s champions won’t have very much time to celebrate as the 2023 season is just around the corner and the championship drive starts again when the Best In The Desert adventure continues.

Rider of record Hayden Hintz and teammate Trevor Hunter rode to their 3rd consecutive Open Pro Title Photo by Dirt Nation

For a full list of point standings go here: https://bitd.com/point-standings/

Breyland Hellebrand 399 Pro Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

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Robby Brockman Over-30 Pro Champ

Photo by Dirt Nation

Zach Myers - Ironman Pro Champ

Photo by Dirt Nation

Travis Dillon- Open Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

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2022 CLASS CHAMPIONS

Paul Palmer - Over-60 Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

Vance Allen - Over-40 Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

Ethan Drake - Lites Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

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Taylor Baker Ironman Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

Rick Adair - Ironman Amateur Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

Kimberley Loppnow - Womens Expert Champ Photo by Dirt Nation

David Ham - 3-Wheel Expert Champ Photo by Jeff Waldaias Photos

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A CLOSER LOOK:

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The new 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine delivers 700 horsepower and 640 lb.-ft. of torque.

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A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR R

Raptor R is the Ultimate Raptor After more than a decade spent braving harsh conditions and conquering massive desert dunes over three generations of offroad trucks, Ford unleashes the new F-150® Raptor R™ – the fastest, most powerful, most extreme high-performance off-road desert Raptor yet.

All three generations of F-150 Raptor have been inspired by the extreme desertracing trophy trucks that compete in the Baja 1000. Designed and engineered by Ford Performance, the 2023 F-150 Raptor R is the closest yet to delivering this type of performance.

“Raptor R is our ultimate Raptor,” said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer.

“When customers experience Raptor R in the desert and beyond, it will make the hairs on the back of their necks stand up – and they’ll love every second of it.”

The Heart of Raptor R The heart of Raptor R is a new 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers 700 horsepower and 640 lb.-ft. of torque to give it incredible desert-running power. Ford Performance enlisted the most powerful engine in its lineup – previously seen in the Mustang Shelby GT500® – optimizing it for Raptor-level off-road performance and Built Ford Tough® durability. The result is the most torque-dense supercharged V8 yet in a production pickup.

Ford Performance recalibrated this V8 engine’s supercharger and installed a new pulley to optimize its power for off-road use, increasing torque delivery at the low-end and mid-range. These changes help Raptor R offer more performance at the speeds where customers spend most of their time driving.

To maintain the extreme off-road durability the Raptor brand is known for, Ford Performance

Check out the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R reveal video.

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From extreme high horsepower race engines to powerful stationary engines for industrial use and everything in between, Total Seal® can take care of all your piston ring needs.

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A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR R

upgraded the original engine’s exhaust manifolds to a cast stainless steel design, including a unique oil cooler and filter, plus a deeper oil pan enabling it to tackle aggressive grades while keeping the engine oil cool.

To help the engine breathe better, air intake volume is increased 66% via a wider air intake inlet and a higher-flow, higher-efficiency conical air filter.

Built Ford Tough to Conquer the Desert F-150 Raptor is about more than going fast – it must conquer brutal off-road environments. Its capability and durability comes from more than a decade of Ford expertise in engineering and torture testing high-performance trucks. Ford Performance upgraded the base truck’s transmission and driveline to help ensure Raptor R can smoothly handle what this V8 can throw at it.

Raptor R delivers a 10-speed SelectShift® transmission with improved calibration. The

truck features a new front axle with a more robust, higher-strength carrier casting and an aluminum-ribbed structural cover to manage the powertrain’s added torque, as well as a unique larger-diameter aluminum driveshaft.

A new, specially tuned torque converter with heavy-duty turbine damper and fourpinion rear output assembly makes the truck even better equipped to transfer torque and provide a smoother powertrain feel when driving both on- and off-road.

Drivers get even more control over how their Raptor R expresses its additional power, courtesy of a unique dual exhaust system with a true pass-through muffler and active valve system, with modes for Normal, Sport, Quiet and Baja. These can be adjusted in the MyMode™ feature, allowing drivers to customize multiple settings – including drive, steering, suspension modes and others – and save one as a single mode easily accessed with the press of the “R” button on the

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A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR R

steering wheel.

If the heart of Raptor R is the supercharged V8, the soul remains its incredibly capable suspension. The five-link rear suspension features extra-long trailing arms to better maintain axle position on rough terrain, a Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs – all optimized for outstanding stability while traversing desert terrain at high speeds. Advanced FOX Live Valve shocks are tuned to balance ride quality and roll control on- and off-road. These electronically controlled dampers use suspension height sensors and other sensors to monitor terrain conditions independently, hundreds of times a second, while adjusting suspension tuning accordingly. Wheel travel of 13 inches in front and 14.1 inches in back facilitates Raptor R’s ability to traverse sand and rocks with outstanding capability.

“We’ve heard our customers demanding the sound and power of a V8 back in Raptor,”

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said Widmann. “That’s not something we were going to rush. This supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is the ideal fusion of high-density power paired with the third generation Raptor’s all-new rear suspension and shocks to deliver a one-two punch that goes far beyond the sum of its parts.”

Each drive mode is tuned to account for the added power of the supercharged V8, including an optimized Baja mode for maximum performance and control in highspeed off-roading. A 5% increase in the front spring rate helps maintain comfortable ride quality, while Raptor R boasts class-leading* 13.1-inch ground clearance and standard class-exclusive* 37-inch tires straight from the factory for improved obstacle clearing.

up a notch, with unique styling that further drives home its supercharged capability. A larger, more aggressively styled power dome on the hood sits nearly 1 inch taller than on the base Raptor, helping extract warm air from underneath. Iconic F O R D grille, bumpers and fender flares painted black underscore its menacing looks.

“Raptor R is visually designed like a desert predator to catch the attention of Raptor customers and off-road enthusiasts,” said Tom Liu, Raptor R lead designer.

“There are details big and small – from the more aggressive hood air extractor to the Code Orange ‘R’ badges - that visually

Iconic Raptor Styling Taken to the Next Level The most powerful Raptor yet takes the off-road truck’s purpose-built design legacy

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A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR R

communicate next level off-road performance under the Raptor R banner.”

Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange accents include a unique “R” badge on the grille, power dome and tailgate. A special

graphics package on the rear fenders feature a unique design that mirrors the harsh, cracked desert earth, reinforcing the type of environment Raptor R is built to conquer.

That aggressive feel carries over to a black

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A CLOSER LOOK - 2023 FORD F-150 RAPTOR R

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interior. Standard Recaro® seats sport a combination of black leather and Alcantara® suede – cleverly placed for added grip when the terrain gets nasty. Genuine carbon fiber adorns the doors, media bin door and upper parts of the instrument panel, featuring a unique tri-axial weave designed to convey Raptor R’s combination of performance, toughness and durability.

Like the rest of the Raptor family, Raptor R comes standard with a suite of smart technology to make off-roading easier.

Trail Turn Assist** allows drivers to shrink their turning radius on tight turns and go even further off-road. Ford Trail Control™ – think cruise control for off-roading – lets drivers select a set speed and steer through challenging conditions while the truck handles throttle and braking. Trail 1-Pedal Drive allows

customers to control throttle and braking with just one pedal to make extreme off-roading like rock crawling even easier.

Keeping you connected is a standard 12 inch touch screen with SYNC® 4 technology, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. Raptor R also benefits from Ford Power-Up over-the-air software update capability‡. These wireless updates can offer improvements throughout the vehicle – from the SYNC system to enhanced quality, capability and convenience upgrades that improve the ownership experience over time.

F-150 Raptor R will be available in eight color options, including new Avalanche and Azure Gray Tri-Coat exterior paint offered on the Raptor lineup for the first time.

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Hayden Hintz and Trevor Hunter just wrapped up their third Open Expert class championship in a row. We wanted to go under the helmet with these two to see what makes them such a strong team.

Mike: How did you guys get connected as far as the team goes?

Hayden: I’ll start then Trevor can pitch in. We’ve known each other since we were kids. We grew up racing together. We’ve always known each other and our families have known each other forever. Back in 2019 I needed a partner for Parker and it was getting pretty close. It was about a week or two before, I don’t really remember the exact time, but I was also buying a bike at that time; just a week before Parker. I was scrambling for a partner and a bike. Trevor happened to be racing the previous year at Vegas To Reno so I thought why not ask him. And he was all for it.

He hadn’t really done too much of this, but he’s ridden everything.

Here we are three years later.

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A Conversation with Three-Peat Open Pro Motorcycle Champs Hayden Hintz and Trevor Hunter

By Mike Ingalsbee Photos by Dirt Nation

Shown above: Hayden Hintz on the left, Trevor Hunter right.

Main photo: Hayden Hintz on the move at Vegas to Reno.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

Mike: What’s your take, Trevor?

Hayden: We knew each other since 5 or 6.

Trevor: Yeah, pretty much that is how I remember it. Hayden called me over New Year’s. Of course, Parker was the next weekend after Hayden called me. I wanted to ride at least the first race with him and see how it went from there. I was a little nervous, but I said, why not? I’ll try something new and something different. We raced one week later and then we’ve just kept going from there.

Mike: Sounds like you guys meshed pretty quickly. You said you grew up together. Were you just acquaintances or friends?

Mike: So, I guess like most racers you grew up on motorcycles?

Trevor: Friends, right? Yeah.

Hayden: So, you should hear the Tonopah stories every time we go there.

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Trevor: Yeah, pretty much.

Mike: I’m assuming again that maybe your families were desert families.

Trevor: Yeah, they’ve been racing together in the desert since the 70s or 80s. They’ve all been racing desert and Best in the Desert for a long, long time.

Mike: Is that something you want to share?

Or is that an inside joke?

Mike: Does that make it easier, or are the speeds so much higher, it’s about the same?

Hayden: It’s just a joke. Every time we go, we hear the same old stories from racing Tonopah back 30 years ago. It’s just good old stories of them racing back then, you know, at the same locations.

Hayden: The new bikes definitely make it safer. They put a lot of R&D and engineering into them. It’s the same with aftermarket parts. When you fine tune a little bit after that, they’re pretty stable for two wheels; once you get going at a high speed. I feel pretty safe; I Mike: What do you think about the technology mean we have a few old bikes that I haven’t now compared to what they were racing on? ridden in quite a while. You can definitely feel the technology difference. From the frame, to Trevor: Quite a bit different. Much better, skinnier rim sizes, to electronics on the bike, faster, yeah it’s definitely much better. Our fuel injection, you know, everything feels so bikes today work pretty good; they are much safer. Some of those old bikes, you designed for what we’re doing. know, back when the 500’s started coming out in the 80s and 90s, those guys were Trevor Hunter rinsing off at the Silver State 300.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

going just as fast as we are on a bike that is probably not as safe. I think we’re getting to that point where it’s safe for the speeds we’re going. There are situations where it does get out of hand or whatever, but it’s controllable.

When you see some of these rally bikes go racing; that’s a lot of weight to be thrown around, but they’re pretty stable as well.

Mike: Interesting. You want to expand on that Trevor?

Trevor: I agree with all of that about the 500’s and stuff. They probably went just as fast if not even faster, but suspension has gotten better and the handling is better today.

22 BWRC Dirt Venture Mag Q1.indd 1

Everything’s better nowadays. Helmets and riding gear have all evolved for the speeds that we’re going. I think it’s definitely safer and much more comfortable to go fast than it was back then.

Mike: Trevor, what about navigation? What kind of navigation do you guys run? Is it piped right into your helmet?

Trevor: We both don’t run anything.

Sometimes we get a helmet radio, but that’s only at some of the races. Sometimes it even works. Other than that we have no GPS or anything like it at all. We rely on the markings.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

Mike: Wow, you too Hayden?

Hayden: When it comes to navigation, we go the old school way. There are ways you could put a GPS on your handlebars since we have quite a few electronics on the bike; including the battery that would power it. But we don’t really see the need. You don’t have a co-driver telling you where those corners are. You’d have to take your eyes off of what you’re riding to look at it. I don’t see it being very helpful. In some situations, I almost see it being more dangerous looking at a navigation device on a bike while trying to navigate or

trying to ride at high speeds. The old school way of following ribbons seems to be the best. Best in the Desert does a pretty good job on the high speed stuff because of the trucks. They have to give them a lot more braking time. We get away with the old school method of just following the markings.

Mike: Wow, as an old school guy that really warms my heart.

Hayden: We do run a radio on a few races; the longer races in particular. It’s so we can talk to the crew without having to stop.

Hayden Hintz taking on the Laughlin Desert Classic infield course jumps on the way to victory.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER Trevor Hunter taking taking his turn on the Laughlin Desert Classic course.

Mike: During the race, are you talking to them, or are they talking to you more often?

Hayden: We have to get that figured out.

Between bike noise, earbuds and the helmet, radios are just funky. We haven’t really dialed it in. We’ve had a few situations where it didn’t help and then a few situations where it did help. We’re still trying to dial it in to where either the rider only talks, or the crew only talks. The back and forth on a bike is just

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too much.

Mike: You feel the same way, Trevor?

Trevor: Yes. Most of the time I don’t really want or need someone in my ear when I’m racing. I may be interested in the gap to the rider ahead of me or behind me if that’s possible, but other than that, I don’t really need a whole lot of talking. Mainly I use it if we have a problem with the bike or something

we can let them know earlier. Getting tools ready or whatever we may need in the pit.

Mike: I’ll start with you, Hayden, what kind of crew do you run when you’re racing together as a team?

chase crew. For the longer races like Silver State or Vegas to Reno we have stationary pits. They just hang out in the pits. They give me splits and give me gas and whatever else I need. Trevor has his separate crew as well.

Mike: Who’s on your crew, Trevor?

Hayden: For the past three years, it’s been the same exact crew. Every once in a while, Trevor: It’s mainly just my Dad. Sometimes I’ll have one or two extra people come, but it’s my brother will come out or my mom every usually my dad, and my girlfriend. They’re my once in a while, but mainly just my Dad.

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Cheers to Best in the Desert.

From the best on the River.

Welcome back racers and race fans. After the thrills of the competition, kick back and relax or keep the excitement going. With entertainment, casino gaming, dining, luxurious spas, outdoor activities and more, in Laughlin, it’s easy to have a good time, no matter what speed you prefer.

UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

Mike: So it’s a family affair, that’s pretty cool.

I think that’s pretty common in desert racing.

Trevor: Yeah, very common. Heaps of fun to spend some time out there.

Mike: You’re both second or maybe third generation racers?

Mike: I’ve talked to a lot of guys that are sidelined with little nuisance injuries; they hurt their hand or, bruise their ribs, something like that. Not that that’s minor, but I would assume that trying to stay healthy is a big part of racing.

Hayden: Yeah, it’s a huge part. When you miss a few months that takes you out of the Trevor: Yeah, I’m third generation, I guess championship. And then that’s it for you. If you’d say. you have a resume stacked up you might be good for the next year. If you don’t, that might Hayden: I’m third generation as well. have been your golden year and you threw it away. We’ve been fortunate to be healthy. The Mike: Everybody says that motorcycle racers past few years there have been minor injuries are the best because they learn to read the like you’re saying, but nothing that will make terrain. How much of that is a desire to go fast us miss races or anything like that. We’ve and how much of that is for self-preservation? been pretty fortunate with that.

We’ll start with you, Trevor.

Mike: Trevor, do you have stuff you do during Trevor: Like, all the time. I’m more into selftraining to stay limber or build your cardio; preservation than going fast. Going that things like that? speed you want to be heads up and know what’s coming. You don’t want to get hurt or Trevor: Well, not a whole lot to stay limber crash going that fast. But at the same time and flexible; at least as much as I should. I you’re racing to win and to run as fast as we ride a bicycle almost every day and run a little can. It’s close, but maybe a little more selfbit and do upper body workouts, but nothing preservation. For me, I like to keep it on two crazy. Just enough to stay strong, fit and wheels and keep it safe and walk away from competitive. You have to, to run with all those every race if I can. guys. It’s definitely key to stay in shape for a long series and long year like we have.

Mike: I’m sure it’s similar for you, Hayden.

Mike: Hayden, you were the rider of record Hayden: Yeah, I agree. I’d rather finish every for the team; does that mean that it was your race and walk away than be carted away. It bike that you guys were racing on? is a super fun sport, but there are dangers to it, obviously. Taking every precaution you can Hayden: Not necessarily. In some scenarios, while doing it is what we always try to do. the rider of record does mean that. But in

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

Hayden Hintz making time on the Laughlin Desert Classic infield.

all honesty, we just did that the first year because I needed to sign up and I didn’t have a partner yet. After we won the number one plate, I believe you cannot transfer it to anyone, even if he was my teammate. It’s kind of been a just leave it as is thing. We haven’t really talked too much about it. The bike situation has been a 50, 50 on bikes every year. The first year it was actually my father’s bike, and Trevor’s father paid for half; I’m not 100% sure. We sold the bike at the end of the year and made some money but it wasn’t too big of a deal. The second year we actually got picked up by a team and got a bike to ride for the year. That wasn’t too bad. It was pretty nice to ride a bike that wasn’t ours. At the end of the year things were working out so we ended up buying that bike. That’s the bike we

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raced on this year; for most of the year.

Mike: Correct me if I’m wrong, but at Tonopah weren’t you on a Yamaha, Trevor?

Trevor: I was on the Kawasaki but at the last one we raced a Yamaha.

Mike: So, you guys aren’t necessarily brand loyal; until they start paying you? Whatever works, right?

Trevor: Yeah. Luckily I do some testing for an online media source. I kind of have a stable of bikes at certain times that we can use if it’s available. If a bike would be a good fit for the race... If I have one in my garage and it’s ready to race, and we thought it’d be a good

bike for that specific race; we take them out.

We usually do pretty good on them.

a tough game with motorcycles and trying to find support for racing.

Mike: Wow, that sounds awesome. So what are you guys planning on next year; you coming back for another round and going for another championship?

Mike: I’ll start with you Hayden, what was your favorite race this year?

Hayden: We’re trying to figure that out. We haven’t heard too much from manufacturers, so we’re still waiting. We would definitely like to, but between work and budget wise, it’s gonna be a tough call.

Mike: What do you think Trevor?

Trevor: Yeah, pretty much whatever happens.

Hope we can come up with something but it’s

Hayden: This year Silver State was pretty fun. We had some problems, but the course was fun. I enjoyed the Silver State course as always.

Mike: That course is so diverse. The sections through the trees seem like it would be a roller coaster ride.

Hayden: Yeah, that one is definitely a bit different than most of the races that you do on the West Coast.

Hayden Hintz wide open at the Silver State 300.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

Mike: What about you, Trevor? Do you have a favorite from this season?

Trevor: I’d say Silver State or Tonopah. At Silver State we struggled with some bike problems and I struggled with my riding that day. But of course, it’s still fun. The motorcycle only race had some slower sections and more technical sections. That is always fun to do; more like traditional motorcycle racing.

Mike: Do you guys have any good stories from some of the races or miraculous fixes that you did out in the boonies? You know, did you whittle a piston out of a mesquite branch or anything?

Hayden: We actually had a pretty adventurous year. I’ll start with Parker, where we ran the full course. We’ve never ran that total course I believe, or possibly it was years ago. The bike was always able to go a certain mileage before that race. We were pretty comfortable that it would go the mileage, but I ran out of gas. And it was at the first race of the year. I think it was a combination of me trying to bypass the pit and all the sand washes that we haven’t ridden before.

Trevor: This year for me; Silver State was probably the most eventful. It was a super close race for the lead the whole time.

Towards the end of the race I came across a road crossing, during a speed section luckily, where someone didn’t open the gate. I ran

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straight into the barbed wire fence and got stuck in it. I got passed while I was trying to get the bike out. It was kind of a disaster, but could have been a lot worse. If I was going faster I would have got hurt. That’s probably the most eventful one for me.

Hayden: We were leading up to that at Silver State. We were first bike on road. I left pit three and about a quarter mile out of pit three, I didn’t hit a barbed wire fence, but I came across one that was not open yet. I had to stop, hop off my motorcycle, open the fence, get back on and go. I got to the pit where we were planning on swapping the tire to give Trevor a fresh one because we were first bike on road. But the second bike was right on us so we didn’t have much time. Trevor had to scramble out of the pit which I think is why he wasn’t riding too comfortable. I’m not 100% sure because we never really talked too much after that race. There is frustration in that kind of stuff. That’s what piled up the first three bikes and left Trevor behind after he hit the barbed wire.

Mike: Trevor, how do you recover mentally after that, it must have really blown your mind.

Trevor: Yeah, I was pretty frustrated just with all the mistakes I was making before that. In the moment, I thought it was my fault; that I must have gotten off the course or something; it was my mistake that caused me to hit the

Trevor Hunter in thick dust while battling his otherwise teammate Hayden Hintz at the World Hare & Hound Championship.

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UNDER THE HELMET - HAYDEN HINTZ & TREVOR HUNTER

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fence. At that point I just told myself to just relax, stop making mistakes, you can get hurt. I kind of held back a little bit from there to the finish just to be safe. I was wearing a GoPro so I saw on the video that I wasn’t really in the wrong; that gate should have been opened and I went where I was supposed to. After the race, I felt a little better about myself. But still, I was making a lot of mistakes all day and that’s kind of one of the bigger ones that I wish wouldn’t have happened but it did.

Mike: Nobody’s perfect, right? Everyone’s gonna have a bad day once in a while, hopefully as teammates you guys can prop each other up. Is that the case? You ever have that situation where it’s just not your day and you can’t wait to hand the bike off.

Hayden: I would say that’s just about every race.

One race I do halfway decent and Trevor’s like, “oh, I felt like crap.” Then the next race I felt like crap and Trevor is like “I felt good” so it’s always a battle.

Mike: Well, I wish you guys’ good luck next season because it’s really interesting talking with you and entertaining having you race with Best in the Desert.

Hayden: Thanks, thank you for all that you guys do as well.

Trevor: Thanks Mike.

Trevor Hunter tackling the challenging terrain surrounding Tonopah, Nevada at the World Hare & Hound Championship.

Hayden: Thanks, thank you for all that you guys do as well.

Trevor: Thanks Mike.

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NEVER OVERLOOK YOUR SAFETY GEAR

By David Nehrbass

Typically, racers get to enjoy a little bit of down time in the winter season between Best In The Desert races. This is when you get to do a good tear down and inspection in your vehicle’s components in anticipation of that green flag in January of 2023.

Often overlooked is your safety gear on your race vehicle and the items you wear in the vehicle.

In this issue we will talk about some of required safety items that each and every competitor is required to wear or have on their vehicles for

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each and every race. Don’t get caught in the tech line scrambling for equipment only to realize it may have expired and doesn’t meet requirements.

SCR1.1 Requires helmets certified under either SA2015 or SA2020 standards. No other certification is allowed as a substitute. The helmet must also be in good shape.

We have all heard of the superstition of throwing your new helmet to the ground to keep you from crashing, but the reality is once a helmet has had an impact with a hard

SAFETY FIRST

object, the structural integrity of the helmet is compromised. Cracked helmets, or cracked foam in the interior means it is time to order that new helmet regardless if the helmet still shows certified.

SCR1.2 If for the Motorcycle, Quad and Crazy 3-wheel racers. Snell M2015/M2020 are the recommended helmet however, DOT FMVSS218, ECD ECE22-05, and BSI6658 Type-A with BSI sticker are accepted by BITD Tech. Open Face Helmets are not acceptable.

Like helmets used in vehicles above, regardless of the year of certification, if the helmet has damaged interior or exterior, it is no longer good enough for your brain.

Do you have an old or damaged helmet?

If it is just collecting dust, please consider donating it to our team for training. In addition to practicing for our team, several of our team members teach courses to various first responders and broken helmets are a great

teaching tool for hands on practical experience on things to look for.

SCR2.1 Covers Fire Suits and other recommended undergarments. How old is your suit? How often do you wash it? Does it have any tears, rips or worn areas? These are the first things to consider every time you put that suit on. Then look at the date. Every properly labeled SFI suit has a date. Typically, 3.2a/5 suits, like those required of all BITD vehicle racers, will expire within 5 years. If you are an active racer that washes their suit after every race, don’t wait until that time as every wash will start to loosen the threads on your suit and eventually decrease its fire protection levels. SFI A/5 suits can’t typically be recertified and are done at the end of their life date.

It is very important to note that undergarments are critical of the success of your fire suit. Nomex or other fire-retardant garments are essential for you not to get burned. Furthermore, synthetic blend undergarments are 100% forbidden and not allowed. These garments while designed to help cool you in the heat, melt very quickly when heat is applied and have and will cause more damage than the initial fire.

SCR5 All vehicle occupants must use a SFI rated 38.1 Head and Neck restraint. This restraint is good for 5 years from time of manufacture and can be recertified by any number of manufactures at the end of their service life. It is important for you all to be familiar with your device and inspect it each and every race as well. Any rough edges or fractures in the composite or carbon fiber can

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SAFETY FIRST

result in the device failing and not doing what it is built to do.

SCR35 On the BITD Rulebook covers Seat Belts. Seat Belts are required to carry a SFI16.1 or 16.5 label and must be replaced or recertified every two years. Seat belts are one of the items on your vehicle that are often overlooked even by seasoned racers.

Making sure that your belts, buckles, locks and mounting hardware, as well as mounting locations are structurally sound, is critical for you to not only be comfortable in a race vehicle, but not get hurt in the event of a roll over. Make sure you ensure the mechanisms are functioning properly and not bent. And always make sure any new people in the vehicle understand how they operate, how to adjust and how to get out of them in a hurry.

and recertified every two years by a licensed company. Window nets are critical to make sure you stay in the vehicle when you need to, and just as critical to make sure you can get out when you need to.

Fire Extinguishers – Ok everyone knows the fire extinguisher requirements for every vehicle. But when was the last time you had every one of your extinguishers inspected?

I recently saw an inspection tag on an extinguisher dated 2015. That means it’s been 7 years since it was officially checked.

Dry Chemical extinguishers pack down to the lowest point when they are subjected to bouncing race cars. At a minimum, dry chemical extinguishers should be shaken up, tapped on the bottom with a dead blow to stir up the chemical, and gauge inspected to make sure it still is pressurized. Ever year at a minimum, even if the vehicle didn’t race, they should be replaced, or reinspected by a certified company. This goes for your pit extinguishers as well on board all of your chase trucks.

Make sure you take time to familiarize yourself with all the rules in the Best in the Desert Rulebook for your class. If you aren’t in compliance, then make sure you get with Santa to make sure it arrives in time to have you ready to race the 2023 Best in the Desert Racing Association events. Hope to see everyone next year!

SCR36 Another critical area of your personal safety is Window Nets. SFI 27.1 rated window nets are the only nets allowed within Best in the Desert. These nets must be removed

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IN THE KNOW All-New 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty Pickup Takes Heavy Duty Triple Crown with Best-In-Class Towing, Payload and Power • The all-new 2023 F-Series Super Duty is unrivaled among heavy-duty pickup trucks with the best towing available for every trailer type and maximum available towing of 40,000 pounds, best-in-class maximum available payload of 8,000 pounds, and 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb.-ft. of torque from the new high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel • F-250, F-350, F-450, and Tremor package each give customers the capability they need to get any job done with new features like 360-Degree Trailer Camera Package and Onboard Scales for enhanced towing and hauling confidence Click for more Information: ford.com/trucks/super-duty/2023/

KC Cyclone V2 Off-Road’s Favorite Accessory Light The KC Cyclone V2 LED Accessory Light uses a multi-functional compact design delivering 600 lumens of flood beam output and is incredibly bright. Originally designed for Off-Road Racers as an interior dome light, the Cyclone LED light has evolved into an allpurpose light for an infinite amount of lighting applications. The Cyclone’s compact sizing at 2.2” diameter and shallow height of 0.53” provides plenty of light wherever you need it most. Pick from Clear, Diffused, or Amber.

• Clear, Diffused, or Amber Standard Options • Red, Blue, or Green Replacement Lenses • Magnetic Mounts available • Surface and Flush mounts available • IP68 Rated Waterproof Die-Cast Aluminum Housing • Sold Individually or in Six Packs Click for more Information: kchilites.com/lights/series/cyclone.html

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Total Seal® Offering SPEEDiagnostix Oil Analysis Kits Whether it’s a track day, race or just a road trip, drive with confidence. SPEEDiagnostix provides the expert used oil analysis that allows you to know you are good to go.

Because motor oil travels all through your engine, analysis of the used oil can tell you what’s happening inside the engine without having to take the engine apart. Formula One teams analyze their oil at the racetrack, and SPEEDiagnostix runs the exact same tests that the Formula One teams use. You can get your results in either 3 days or 6 days.

From engine wear to fuel dilution, oil analysis provides powerful insight into the health of your engine and the performance of your oil, and you don’t need a PhD to understand the results. Each SPEEDiagnostixoil analysis report is color coded and written in plain English. If you can navigate a stop light, you can read a SPEEDiagnostix report.

As a piston ring manufacturer, Total Seal sees the impact of fuel dilution in motor oil everyday, and they highly recommend analyzing your oil.

Click for more Information: TotalSeal.com

New CAM LOCK™ Sockets Merrick Tool has announced the release of their all new CAM LOCK™ sockets. According to the company, this patented technology is the only gripping impact socket on the market, and its three-piece socket set with grip, remove, and release any lug nut - including chrome-capped lug nuts. No more ripping off caps or hammering stuck lug nuts out of your socket after removal! CAM LOCK™ sockets will NEVER round off a hex nut or bolt, and if the hex is already rounded, it will still grip it! In addition, if the chrome capped lug nut is swollen and distorted, the CAM LOCK™ socket will actually reshape the hex and leave the nut better after gripping than before, saving time, money and frustration.

At the SEMA Show this year Merrick Tool announced the expansion of their product line with a range of sizes to be added. While they are currently offering the 19mm, 21mm, and 22mm, you can expect the complete mechanics socket set in both standard and metric ranging from 8mm to 24mm and from 1/4” to 1”. You can order your set today at merricktool.com!

Click for more Information: merricktool.com

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OFFICIAL APPAREL

Gear Up and Go! SCAN TO PURCHASE

SCAN TO PURCHASE

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OFFICIAL APPAREL

EVENT SHIRTS SCAN TO PURCHASE

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112 DirtVenture

As another Best In The Desert race season draws to an end, it’s time to reflect on the great adventures that were had.

Photo by Justin Brown Photo

ISSUE Q4 PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Bink Designs

Daniel Curiel Photographic Daniel Noble Photography Dirtfocus.com Dirt Nation

Haitham Bell

HighRev Photography

Jordan Lord - Move Media Jeff Waldaias Photos Justin Brown Photo RnR Photos

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The updated 2023 Best In The Desert race lineup is composed of legendary favorites, plus some new events to fill the calendar and further solidify Best In The Desert as the premier off-road desert racing series in North America.

February 3-5 ~ KING OF THE HAMMERS Johnson Valley, CA | Classes: Trucks – Cars - UTVs

February 24-25 ~ GOLDEN STATE “250” Includes UTV Youth Series Event California City, CA | Classes: Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

April 20-22 ~ SILVER STATE “300”

Alamo, NV | Classes: Trucks – Cars - Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

May 18-20 ~ AZ “150”

Kingman, AZ | Classes: Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

August 16-20 ~ VEGAS TO RENO

Nevada | Classes: Trucks – Cars - Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

October 12-15 ~ LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC Includes UTV Youth Series Event Laughlin, NV | Classes: Trucks – Cars - Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

November 9-11 ~ UTV LEGENDS CHAMPIONSHIP Includes UTV Youth Series Event Lake Havasu, AZ | Classes: Motorcycles – Quads – UTVs

“Life is an Adventure. Come live your adventure with Best In The Desert!” ~ Casey Folks For information contact: Best In The Desert Racing Association • (702) 457-5775 • Website: www.bitd.com • Email: bitd@bitd.com