SNORE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: RACING IN DARKNESS
ISSUE 8 VOL 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MORE FREEDOM CUP AT GLEN HELEN RACEWAY
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AUGUST 2021
The Voice Of Off-Road Motorsports
+ TECH: WHAT FAN IS BEST FOR YOU? + THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC
BLOCK PARTY: KEN BLOCK UNVEILS TROPHY TRUCK
NEW UTV RULES RELEASED
$6.95 USD
QUALITY. SAFETY. TEAMWORK. INTEGRITY. COMMITMENT. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE SINCE 1991
TABLE OF CONTENTS REGULAR DIRT>
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WORD NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
11 NEW RIDES 14 DIRTWORLD
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16 CAPTURED 20 KIDS KORNER 62 CHAPPY’S PIT STOP 63 CALENDAR
FEATURES>
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22 COVER STORY: LIGHT UP THE NIGHT 27 CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS
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28 M.O.R.E. FREEDOM CUP
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40 BLOCK PARTY: KEN BLOCK’S NEW TROPHY TRUCK
32 THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC 38 HOW TO MARKET: WHY BRANDS SPONSOR
44 NEW UTV RULES RELEASED 50 SILK WAY RALLY
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54 RED BULL ROMANIACS
TECH> 58 THE SCIENCE OF FAN TECHNOLOGY Publisher Contributing Photography DirtSports Inc. Shaun Ochsner Lordstown Motors Editor-In-Chief La-Chelle Halliday Silk Way Rally Shaun Ochsner Amanda Fonferek Rivian Associate Editor Dave Arnold Ford Motor Co La-Chelle Halliday Red Bull Nikola Motors Sales and Management HRD Marketing General Motors Dave Arnold Polaris Extreme E Contributing Editors Stellantis Media Chris James Honda Nicole Dreon Steve Hanson Printed at: Sutherland Printing Alex Striler FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA DIRTSPORTSWORLD
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DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 3
WORD TRADE-SHOW SEASON IS ON THE HORIZON HOW WILL COVID RESTRICTIONS AFFECT YOUR SHOW?
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e are just around the corner from the crazy fall trade show season. Many in the industry know what I am talking about. You probably have already been contacted to buy your booth space today. Sand Sports Super Show, Off Road Expo and of course SEMA. The Sand Sports Super Show is taking place at the Orange County Fairgrounds in September. Unless you are geographically challenged, you know that is located in California. One of the most restrictive states in the nation. It’s no surprise here, the new rule for gatherings of 5,000 or more people includes either a
negative COVID test within 72 hours or proof of vaccination. Off Road Expo will be subject to the same restrictions when it opens at the Ontario Convention Center in October. Currently there are only indoor masking requirements for Las Vegas. SEMA has not yet announced how they will address COVID restrictions. Every event is asking for the usual social distancing and sanitizing of hands. With the new “Delta Variant” spreading across the country, we could see a whole new host of restrictions in time for the fall show season. That may not bode well for the industry.
Shaun Ochsner Editor-In-Chief DirtSportsWorld
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NEWS Supercross Releases 2022 Schedule
The 2022 Supercross Schedule is out and it looks like a normal season schedule. The opening round was moved to Arlington, Texas this year due to COVID restrictions. Traditionally the opening round is held in Anaheim, California. A1 is back on the calendar for 2022. The series also makes a return to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as well as Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Seventeen Rounds are planned with the final event being held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also, back for Supercross is the highly popular FanFest which features an expansive outside footprint of all of the team rigs and pits. Fans can get up close and personal with their favorite rider or team.
Fire Burns at Can-Am Mexico Plant BRP has resumed operations at its Juarez, Mexico facility after a large fire burned in a storage yard. BRP manufactures Can Am sideby-sides at the facility. The manufacturing facility itself was not damaged. All workers were safely evacuated. The fire broke out on Saturday, July 17th. Something reportedly exploded at the facility. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles as Mexican authorities worked to extinguish the fire. Several UTVs burned and were
unsalvageable. BRP says the units that were lost represent six days of production and dealers and customers can expect delivery delays while the plant catches back up with production. The fire is under investigation. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 5
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
Legacy Racing Releases 2022 Schedule The Legacy Racing 2022 Schedule is out. The series is adding events for 2022 after hearing from racers and sponsors. The series kicks off 2022 as the first race event of the year in Pahrump with the Desert Showdown. Racing in Laughlin is finally on the schedule with the Nevada Hare Scrambles. Also, back by popular demand, is the Baja Nevada event, this time run on a single day with over 650 miles of race course. The series will also head to Primm next year for a Stateline Shootout. That event will feature two days of racing.
2022 RACE SCHEDULE DESERT SHOWDOWN January 5-9, 2022 – Pahrump, NV Cars, Trucks, UTVs
Point to Point race, approximately 250 miles Pre-Run January 5
HARE SCRAMBLES February 4-6, 2022 – Laughlin, NV Motorcycles, Quads
Loop race, approximately 100 miles
BAJA NEVADA May 4-7, 2022 – Nevada
Cars, Trucks, UTVs, Motorcycles, Quads
Point to Point race, approximately 650 miles, Single Day
GOLD RUSH June 23-26, 2022 – Virginia City to Tonopah, NV Cars, Trucks, UTVs, Motorcycles, Quads Point to Point race, approximately 300 miles
STATELINE SHOOTOUT September 8-11, 2022 – Primm, NV Cars, Trucks, UTVs
Loop race, approximately 120 miles.
DIRT REBELUTION October 7-9, 2022 – Cedar City, UT Motorcycles, Quads, UTVs
Loop race, approximately 200 miles
BATTLEGROUND November 10-13, 2022 – Jean, NV
Cars, Trucks, UTVs, Motorcycles, Quads Loop race, approximately 250 miles
Tanner Foust to Race Extreme E Series for McLaren Tanner Foust is the latest driver to jump on the Extreme E bandwagon. Foust is one of the most popular and successful world rally cross drivers. He has been tapped by McLaren to race one of their Extreme E vehicles. McLaren announced in June, it would field an Extreme E team for 2022. A female teammate has yet to be named by the team to join Foust. “To be able to race for McLaren is every driver’s dream and the opportunity to compete for the team in this innovative and imaginative racing series 6 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Legacy Racing Association 702-595-8979 – Info@LegacyRacing.net – LegacyRacing.net
makes it even more special. The concept is unique and the challenge compelling. It will enable me to draw on all my experience and skills, while being part of a positive cause addressing key issues for our planet and society,” said Foust. Meantime the Extreme E series has secured a venue in Italy to replace the fourth round of racing that was originally scheduled for Brazil and Argentina. Extreme E was forced to cancel due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Island X Prix will be held October 23-24th in Sardinia, Italy.
ORMHOF Announces the Class of 2021 The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame is ready to induct the class of 2021. Forty nomination packets were received for consideration. A select committee of industry professionals then review, evaluate and eventually vote on the inductees. This year’s inductees include Steve Kelley, Spencer Low, John Marking and Tim Morton. Steve Kelley helped SCORE and Sal Fish establish rules in the early days of the series. Spencer Low is known for his development of mini-trucks. Low was also a Nissan factory
driver for twenty years. Low passed away in 2019. John Marking spent 28 years at Fox Racing Shox, designing and manufacturing shock absorbers. Tim Morton has been serving off-road racers through his company, Baja Bound Adventures. Morton has dozens of wins throughout Baja on a motorcycle. The inductees will be honored at a ceremony at on October 30th in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel & Casino. Inductees from 2020 will also be honored since a ceremony was not possible last year due to COVID restrictions.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 7
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
Yamaha Celebrates 4 Million Units Assembled in the USA Yamaha has reached a historic milestone, assembling 4 million units in the United States. The company celebrated with the assembly of a new 2021 Wolverine RMAX2 1000 side-by-side. The vehicle was assembled at the Newman Factory in Georgia earlier this month. Yamaha has invested over $380 million dollars into US manufacturing, making Newman a state-of-the-art facility. It expands over 280 acres with 1.3 million square feet to manufacture products. The Newman plant produces Yamaha’s line-up of ATVs, sideby-sides, golf carts and personal watercraft. Yamaha employs over 4,000 people in the US.
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NEW PRODUCT
Jeep Continues to go Extreme with An All New Xtreme Recon Package
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eep continues to update the popular Wrangler. The Xtreme Recon Package was announced at the recent Chicago Auto Show. With the Xtreme Recon Package, you can get 35-inch BF Goodrich KO2 all-terrain tires for any model of Wrangler straight from the factory. The tires are mounted on 17-inch by 8-inch bead-lock wheels. Jeep also updated the crawl ratio on the Rubicon Wrangler. An industry first, 100:1 ratio will be available as part of the new package, straight from the factory. Finally, the swing gate on the Jeep is reinforced as well. The Jeep factory will also tune the shocks on the Jeep as part of the package, and you get a 1.5-inch factory suspension lift.
“As an icon built around 80 years of unmatched 4x4 capability, the Wrangler has always pushed the limit of what a Jeep can do off road, and the new Xtreme Recon Package with 35-inch tires straight from the factory pushes that limit even further,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President, Jeep Brand North America. The Xtreme Recon Package retails for $3,995
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Performance Products
PERFORMANCE IS OUR MIDDLE NAME! CBR Performance Products Inc has a number of years of hands on experience from Motocross Racing, UTV Racing, Road Racing and Off-Road Racing. Many Teams and/or individuals who use CBR products are winning championships and seeing podium finishes. www.cbr-performance.com
NEW RIDES
Honda Releases Lighter and Faster CRF250R
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onda has redesigned its popular winning Motocross bike for 2022. As always, Honda engineers welcomed input from its riders which this year include Jett and Hunter Lawrence. The all-new model features several engine and chassis changes. Performance on the engine was boosted to produce more low-rpm torque. The result is a broader power band. Weight was also cut on the engine in addition to using lighter components on the exhaust system. The exhaust port was straightened with a single header and muffler. That alone saved eight pounds on the motorcycle. It now weighs in at 229lbs. Power
has been increased by 20 percent. The valve timing was revised as well. The weight savings increase durability and agility of the Honda CRF250R. Riders can accelerate in corners easier. The motorcycle is more competitive than ever according to Honda engineers. The Honda CRF250R will retail for $8,099.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 11
NEW RIDES
Polaris Announces 2022 Line-Up
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he 2022 line-up from Polaris is out and here is what has changed. RZR XP models now have an in-dash trickle charging port. This streamlines battery service. Polaris also added more accessories to the Pro XP including a Rockford Fosgate Stage 5 Audio Upgrade Kit. The kit comes with a 400-watt powered 12-inch sub woofer and 100-watt speakers to help you rock out to your favorite tunes on the trail. Pro Armor has a new Crawler AT tire along with two 14-inch wheel options for the RZR XP. The Pro-XP Premium and Ultimate models have new door inserts that protect riders from the elements. The RZR Trail premium model now has a “turf mode” which allows for tighter turning radius in switchbacks. To achieve this, turf mode unlocks the rear differential. In addition to the upgrades, the RZR XP Turbo is being replaced by the Pro XP Sport. The new model offers
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a significant increase in horsepower along with two more inches of increased suspension travel. The transmission is built stronger along with the front drive axles. An all new Polaris General XP 1000 Trailhead Edition has also been introduced. The sideby-side will be available in a two or four seat configuration. Built on the General XP Platform, the Trailhead edition has added features riders have been asking for. Ride Command is now available with a built in GPS navigation system. An 11-inch Pro Armor high output light bar increases visibility on the vehicle. A lock & rode adventure bed rack features molle sidewalls for attaching up to 50lbs of gear allowing riders to bring everything they need for a trip. Polaris also announced two new limited-
POLARIS 2022 LINE-UP
edition ATV models that include the 570-ride command edition and XP 1000 ride command edition. Both are loaded with the same ride command technology found on the side-by-side models. The ATVs also have larger tires, LED lighting and more storage space. Ranger and General models also get a new Rhino Rack for 2022. This exclusive partnership with Polaris brings more storage configurations to the vehicles. The rear bed and roof rack free up space in the cab. There are also a whole host of accessories and mounts for tools, tires and other cargo items available for the Ranger and General. Finally, for the youth, The RZR 170 is being replaced by the RZR 200 EFI. Features include ride control, allowing parents to limit speed and monitor youth riding habits all controlled via the ride-command app. Parents can also set geofencing perimeters, controlling where their youth goes. Polaris built this side-by-side with youth safety in mind. Two helmets are also included with the purchase of the RZR 200. Polaris continues to set the bar of off-road recreation higher by listening to their customers and building innovations into the next generation of vehicles. The new side-by-sides can be ordered at dealers this fall. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 13
DIRT WORLD
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midnight special
midnight special
It’s getting tougher to pass tech these days.
Always be nice to the race officials.
freedom cup
midnight special
Be aware of the monsters in the night.
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midnight special
Finally, proof pigs can fly!
One of the coolest wrap jobs we have recently seen.
THE WORLD IS A DIRTY PLACE
midnight special
The off-road golf kart taxi
freedom cup
MORE just added a miniopen class.
freedom cup
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO I think we found our new pit support truck
SEND US YOUR CRAZY PHOTO OUT IN THE DIRT AND WE MAY FEATURE IT HERE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE. YOUR PHOTO WILL BE PUT TO A VOTE. THE BEST PHOTO WILL WIN A WINCH-2-GO FROM SUPERWINCH. SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO: Dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 15
CAPTURED Flying Exploder: Noah Quantrell flies his Ford Explorer nicknamed “The Exploder off a jump at the M.O.R.E. Freedom Cup. Photo: Shaun Ochsner
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CAPTURED Just a little mud: Anthony Hernds takes advantage of mud puddle in his 1300 buggy at the M.O.R.E Freedom Cup. Photo: Shaun Ochsner
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KIDS KORNER
Hailey Berry | Age: 14 | Mod Kart
PRESENTED BY:
Photos Courtesy: Mod Kids USA
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and any obstacles along the way: A: My name is Hailey Berry, and I’m 14 years old. My family and I live in Canyon Lake, California. I’ll be racing the 530 Mod Kart in the second half of this season. I do Allstar Cheer at California Allstars in San Marcos and I’m on Cali Coed which is a level 6 team. The obstacles I deal with is being able to do both cheer and racing. Especially when schedules conflict. I love doing both! Q: What is it about Off-Road that brings you the most joy? A: The thing about Off-Road that brings me the most joy is the competitiveness and racing with my friends. I especially love that it brings my family together even though most of the time we are working on or fixing all our karts (my twin brothers Chase and Luke both race their J1’s). Q: What are your favorite tracks and Ultimate goal for 2021? A: My favorite track was Lake Elsinore but it closed, so now I love Glen Helen. My ultimate goal for 2021 is to get to know my new Mod Kart and be able to battle with everyone. Q: What are you going to change tomorrow to make yourself better than today? A: What I should say is patience, because I don’t have any of that:) But I also just need to keep learning and become a better driver. How does your school work help you in sports? A: School has helped me become more organized and manage my time. But it also gets me stressed out as I feel like I don’t have enough time to do all the things I need to do. Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? A: In 5 years I see myself finishing high school and ready to go to college on a cheer scholarship. I’ll be so excited to come home and continue racing Off-Road with my family, hopefully in a Pro Lite or who knows, maybe even in a Monster Truck! Berry Shout Outs: Mom, Dad, my twin brothers, Mod Kids USA, Hot Wheels, KICKER Audio, Grizzly Coolers, DWT Wheels, Streight Edje, Sparco USA, The Boat Guy, Battle Approved, MTRV8 Radio Control, Rugged Radios, Burn Fuel, and Jordan for making my stickers. 20 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Racing in the dark at the S.N.O.R.E. LightForce Midnight Special. Story and Photos by: Shaun Ochsner
COVER STORY
I
t is a Saturday in the middle of July. By noon, the temperature is already at a scorching 100 degrees. It is a typical unbearable summer day in the Nevada desert. As the day goes on and the sun climbs higher in the sky, so will the temperature. Late into the afternoon SNORE officials are barely arriving for the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts LightForce Midnight Special. Trailers loaded with race-cars are also slowly trickling into the main pit area located just to the east of the 15 freeway near the town of Jean, Nevada. Over at the nearby gas station, racers are loading coolers with ice, snacks and cold drinks. This is a race that will be run through the dark of night, through the Nevada Desert– taking advantage of the cooler nighttime temperatures.
bringing your “A-Game” to this event!
As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, temperatures began to cool. Pit activity was buzzing. Crews were making last minute Racing at night presents a whole new set adjustments. Double checking tire pressures. of challenges than racers are typically used Angling those all-important light bars. By to. The terrain looks completely different at 7:30pm temperatures were still in the nineties. night. Your forward vision is only as good With the sun missing, things weren’t as as the lights mounted on your car. Lighting technology has advanced over the years. In the scorching hot as it was earlier in the day. A early days, lights would cast shadows limiting quick drivers meeting was held to go over the your vision. Brighter LED’s allow the driver to normal rules of racing. Racers would not be see farther distances. Factor in dust and trying allowed to complete any laps after 2:45 in the to pass a competitor at night, you better be morning.
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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Below: Tough as nails- Every stock bug finished the Midnight Special. They were only required to do two 60-mile laps.
At least by 8pm, putting on a race suit was actually tolerable. Drivers and co-drivers still had to make sure they were well hydrated. Even at night, heat-stroke is a real possibility. As darkness fell across the desert the green flag for the SNORE Midnight Special dropped. The dimly lit moon reflecting off the clouds from recent monsoon storms was all one could see until the first vehicles came around the mountain, their headlights bouncing off various bushes and shrubs. In many cases you could hear the whine of the engines, but the lights made it tough to judge distance. One by one, racers headed out on their first lap, journeying out into the dark desert. For the next several hours, one had to rely on their lights and the navigator monitoring the GPS to figure out position on course. Of course, some of those vehicles succumbed to the punishing desert terrain. Even the officials sometimes had a hard time retrieving vehicles in the dark. Just trying to figure out where a broken-down vehicle Above: Kaden Wells secures another UTV win in was made it part of the exciting challenge of his Polaris RZR. recovery. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 25
COVER STORY
Up front, the number eight Unlimited truck of RJ Stidham was leading the Unlimited truck class. A couple laps later, an engine failure would end his night. As the night wore on, Elijah Kiger in the Coastal 6100 truck had the finish line in sight, taking the win with an overall time of 4 hours, 14 minutes and 55 seconds. Unlimited vehicles did four laps while the limited class ran three laps. Racers had seven and half hours to complete the 240mile course. Joe David claimed a win in Class 1. His competitor, Nicholas Carolan received the only penalty of the night for failing to stop/start at the finish line on lap 3. Mike
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Coulter won Class 10 and Chad Cummings took the victory in Class 12. Edgar Mendez was crowned the winner in the stacked field of 1600 buggies. Out of eleven starters, five did not finish the race. Kaden Wells grabbed another Pro Limited Side-by-Side win. Wells can be found behind the wheel of his number 1995 Polaris RZR almost every weekend. All four stock bugs finished with accolades going to James Hayward.
SHORT COURSE
CHAMPIONSHIP Story: Shaun Ochsner CONTENDERS Photos: Amanda Fonferek
I
t feels like a quick season for the Championship Off Road Racing Series. The opening round was held at Antigo just two and half months ago. The season finale will be held at Crandon International Raceway on Labor Day weekend.
Jerett Brooks is leading in the coveted Pro-2 class. His closest competitor is Cory Winner. Winner has managed to gain more season points than Keegan Kincaid who looked unstoppable at the beginning of the season. For Winner, it’s been all about consistency. Several top finishes have earned him the spot he is in now. Winner will need to keep Kincaid behind him at Crandon. All of the drivers will need to stay focused and earn top finishes at Crandon to lock up the season championship. A weekend sweep at Bark River helped CJ Greaves earn the points lead over Kyle
Leduc. Greaves has a 25-point advantage in Pro-4. In Pro-Lite, it will take some miracle wins to unseat leader Brock Heger. He has a 60-point lead over competitor Kyle Greaves. Heger is also enjoying a 47-point lead over in the ProStock side-by-side class. Rodney Van Eperen leads his son Owen Van Eperen by 17 points in the ProMod side-by-side class. The two Yamaha drivers won’t be leaving anything on the table when they arrive at Crandon. With Heger, CJ Greaves and the Van Eperen, Yamaha has an opportunity to dominate in both UTV classifications. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 27
DESERT RACING
Story and Photos: Shaun Ochsner
O
ne of the biggest advantages to racing at Glen Helen is there are no BLM permits or BLM rules. Glen Helen is private property and has much to offer. Mojave Off Road Enthusiasts hosted their annual Freedom Cup race over three days at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino.
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Glen Helen is known for its hill climbs and elevation changes. Trucks, buggies and UTV’s raced on some of the same trails used by some of the most famous motocross racers. Portions of the vet track and REM track were used to create a four and half mile course. Vehicles also raced on the short course track. All classes were afforded a qualifying session.
FREEDOM CUP
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 29
M.O.R.E.
In addition to the usual classes allowed in M.O.R.E. there was a “Run What You Brung” bracket challenge held under the lights on the short-course track. It was a “winner take all” purse. Rules included a structurally sound cage, 5-point racing harness and other standard safety items such as window nets or arm restraints. The bug classes also ran in the EMPI Triple Crown Race on the short course Saturday night. More and more racers are building bugs to compete in racing and this class is quickly gaining popularity again. There was plenty of racing over the weekend. By midday Saturday, crowds lined back of the property to watch trucks fly off the jumps. Drinks in hand were a necessity to combat the warm summer weather of San Bernardino. Spectators watched heat race after heat race. It was the same story on Sunday.
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FREEDOM CUP
Winners were crowned in the early evening. In the 1400 class, Saturday’s Heat 6 Winner was Corey Pratt. Pratt also won the fast lap award. On Sunday, Joser Herrera won the heat race. With combined results Herrera was the overall weekend winner. Tom Coons came away with the overall win in Class 10. He won Saturday’s heat round but finished third on Sunday. The weekend sweep went to Tim Craig in 1600, winning first place both days in his heat races. While only three 6100 trucks raced, Brandon Arthur took a win both days for the overall. Next up in the M.O.R.E series is the PCI Race Radios 300 in Lucerne Valley. September 25th. A 50-mile course is planned, and the course is expected to be fast and technical.
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DESERT RACING
THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC Does it have a place in off-road?
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Story: Shaun Ochsner Images: Courtesy Manufacturers
L
ike it or not, electric vehicles are here to stay. Battery technology has evolved or the last decade allowing vehicles to charge to faster and run longer. But the question is, does electric have a place in off-road? The Mint 400 has announced it is creating the first EV class after a flood of requests from vehicle manufacturers. SCORE has a Baja “E” class specifically for electric vehicles added to its rulebook. We have already seen several attempts at running an electric vehicle in off-road racing. Those attempts may not have gotten the desired end result the teams were looking for, but it is definitely setting the stage up for something bigger.
THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC
Lordstown’s Learning Curve
Ohio-based Lordstown motors showed up at this year’s SCORE San Felipe 250 with an electric “endurance” truck. The goal was to have the first electric truck complete the grueling desert race. Lordstown Motors quickly figured out their learning curve would be a lot steeper than they thought. After the first 40 miles, the team quickly recharged the truck’s batteries. As they pulled the data from the batteries it was discovered that the batteries were consuming power at 4 times the normal level. The course had 65 miles mountainous terrain coming up at 1,750-foot elevation. The team was only prepared for normal road conditions at 200-foot elevation.
Lordstown threw in the towel and pulled the truck out of the race admitting defeat. It was clear the engineers had underestimated the punishing San Felipe terrain.
The Electric Hammer
ABOVE: Kyle Seggelin modified and raced a Toyota 4Runner that ran completely on batteries at the 2021 King of the Hammers. Photo: Nicole Dreon 34 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Kyle Seggelin also built his own version of an electric vehicle and entered it in this year’s King of the Hammers. He took a 1986 Toyota 4Runner and added the powertrain from a Nissan Leaf. He had a 62Kw H battery in the truck. The team also had two 20-Kw H batteries as well which they charged in the pits with a generator. The batteries could be
swapped out on the truck in about seven minutes. Seggelin built sliders to remove the batteries. It was as easy as disconnecting cables sliding the old batteries out and sliding the freshly charged ones in. HammerKing productions added a special EV class for Seggelin to race in. Seggelin ended up a completing a modified version of the Every Man Challenge Course.
DOES IT HAVE A PLACE IN OFF-ROAD?
Take it to the Extreme The Extreme E Series has already completed two racing events this year, one in Saudi Arabia and the other in Senegal. The vehicle used is a fully electric Odyssey 21 SUV. Hydro electric generators are used to charge the batteries on the cars since Extreme E races are held in remote parts of the world. There is no electricity readily available to plug into.
Hummer is back...with Batteries In October 2020, General Motors announced it was bringing back the Hummer. Not just any version of the Hummer. The vehicle would be all electric. GM boasts their Hummer is one of the most capable electric off-road vehicles coming to market. The Electric Hummer will come in both a pick-up truck and SUV model. The vehicle can go zero to sixty in about
three seconds. The Hummer will have up to 1,000-horsepower. GM says the vehicle can go over 350 miles on a single charge. It also only takes 10 minutes to get a 100 mile charge off on the battery. Production begins this fall on the Hummer EV SUV. Trucks aren’t expected to be produced until 2023. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 35
THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC
Jeep Convenience The Jeep Wrangler 4xe has already hit the market. The vehicle features 470 lb.-ft of instant torque. It has 375 horsepower. Jeep says this vehicle can power through any obstacle its gas-powered Wranglers normally conquer. The Jeep 4xe has an electric front and rear locking differential. It is powered by a 17 Kw H lithiumion battery pack. While not 100% electric, the Jeep 4xe has a PHEV direct injection turbo engine. Jeep has installed several charging stations at some of the most popular trail heads across the country with many more planned.
The Failed NZT Nikola Motor Company built a prototype sideby-side called the NZT. The company boasted the side-by-side had 590 horsepower and 775 ft-lbs of torque. The NZT was expected to travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately, we probably will never see the NZT come to market. The powersports division has been closed after Nikola Motors Founder Trevor Milton was 36 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
DOES IT HAVE A PLACE IN OFF-ROAD?
was accused of fraud and lying to investors. The company stock shares quickly plummeted.
Rivian Runs Rebelle Rally Over at Rivian, the company has been promoting their electric trucks and SUVs. The R1T and R1S will be available
in 2022. Rivian built an overland version complete with rooftop tent and pull-out kitchen. The Rivian R1T was entered last October in the all-women’s Rebelle Rally, a seven-day off-road adventure where it withstood the rough terrain of the Nevada and California deserts. The Rivian will come with three battery sizes with the largest providing a range of 400 miles.
team from their San Felipe 250 experience. With most races 300-400 miles, we have yet to see a vehicle that will be capable of completing an entire race on one battery. Elon Musk has already been challenged to bring the Tesla Cyber Truck to the Baja 1000. If Musk accepts, he better have a lot of batteries charged and ready to go.
Lightning Fast Next year, Ford will begin producing the F-150 lightning truck. The truck has an estimated range of 300 miles. While most of the mileage estimates we have seen come from highway testing, off-roading requires more power consumption. Just ask the Lordstown DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 37
HOW TO MARKET
WHY BRANDS SPONSOR
Story by Alex Striler
M
ost teams have a deck they send out to all potential sponsors. The deck is put together with great action shots, information about past successes and future events, and it typically has a diagram of the race vehicle with several options of where a sponsor’s logo could be placed, depending on the level of investment. The team sends these decks to everyone with “marketing” in their title, and then waits for a reply that never comes. The problem with these solicitations is that they always tell brands, “This is how I’m going to get you exposure,” instead of showing, “What I can do to help you sell more products…” When courting a potential sponsor, you should first learn the company’s goals. Find out who their customers are and what those customers consider “value.” It is hard to sell a company something they don’t need. First find out what their customers want and then find a way to give it to them through your
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racing. Learn what industry the company is in, what the company’s market share is, what its distribution strategy is, whether the company is public or private, whether it has a parent company or if it’s a franchise, and where the company is in its life cycle. Then you can custom tailor a sponsorship to suit their needs. While not all companies within a market segment are identical, there are some general guidelines to follow. Food and beverage companies, like Monster Energy and Baja Jerky want sampling. Nobody buys food that they haven’t tried before. Show these companies how you’re going to get people to sample their products Retailers, like Target and Cycle Gear, want foot traffic into their stores or on online shoppers to browse their websites. Help them tell people about locations, hours, specials, and website URLs. Tool companies, like Makita and Carlyle,
WHY BRANDS SPONSOR
want hands-on sampling by do-it-yourselfers. Show how you’re going to get construction workers and mechanics to try out their tools. Some, like Snap-on Tools are looking for entrepreneurs who want to open franchises. Help them filter out potential Snap-on business owners. Equipment manufacturers, like Lincoln Electric and Miller Welding, want to prove their products’ functionality. They want to show potential buyers that professionals use their products, like fabricators who assemble chassis and weld their own race cars. Service companies, like GEICO and Quicken Loans, seek to explain the benefits of their offerings. Help them educate potential customers about products, prices, and how easy it is to buy them. Aftermarket parts companies and endemic brands, like K&N Filters and BFGoodrich, want to associate with winners so they can say their product helped the team win. They try to align with champions and teams who are frequently on the podium. Clothing, apparel, and accessory companies, like Dickies, Oakley, and Georgia Boot want to be fashionable and in style. They want popular athletes to wear their products so their
fans will copy. If you don’t normally wear a brand in your everyday life, don’t target them for sponsorship—you must be the market to be able to sell to them. Young companies want to tell everyone they exist. They need exposure. They also need help setting up new distribution channels and marketing in territories where they don’t currently reach. New companies have a lot to gain from sponsoring the right team. Mature companies, like Ford and AnheuserBusch, don’t need exposure—everybody in the world knows them. They also probably don’t need additional distribution, as they tend to be sold everywhere. They typically need to bring customers back that may have been lured away by competitors. Instead of offering exposure and opening new markets, help mature companies stay popular and demonstrate that they’re still relevant. What you send a company depends on the type of company it is. Don’t send a deck selling exposure to a company that everyone knows. And—just as important—don’t send a proposal when you should be sending a deck instead. There’s a BIG difference between decks and proposals. Decks get them interested and proposals close the deal. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 39
FRESH BUILD
BLOCK PARTY
Ken Block hosts a huge party at Papas and Beer in Mexico with Rapper Lil Jon to unveil new Geiser G6 Trophy Truck. Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos Courtesy of HRD Marketing
W
haaaat!!!!??? Okaaaaayyy!!!!???? Yeaaahhh!!!!???? In case you missed the massive “Block” party at Papas and Beer in Rosarito, Mexico last month, we have all the details and the pics to prove it. Rapper Lil Jon was on hand for Ken Block’s launch of the new Monster Energy Hoonigan backed Geiser G6 Trophy Truck. Block unveiled the truck in front of thousands of fans, popping bottles of champagne and fireworks. The unveil party was to announce Block’s team for the 2021 SCORE Baja 1000. Drivers include
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BLOCK PARTY
“The ultimate goal here is winning the whole Baja 1000.” -Ken Block
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 41
FRESH BUILD
16-year old desert prodigy Jax Redline and 2019 Baja 1000 winner Alan Ampudia. The Ampudia family owns the popular Papas and Beer nightclubs in Mexico, so it was only fitting Block did the unveil in Alan Ampudia’s backyard. “Most livery reveals are pretty boring and underwhelming,” said Block. “With the addition of Alan Ampudia to the team, it was only right we did this big and on Alan’s home turf.” Block will spend time in the United States getting ready for the granddaddy of all races– the Baja 1000. He has plans to race the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno with rally co-driver Alex Gelsomino. Block realizes he has a huge learning curve ahead of him and is trying to get as much seat time as possible. Block’s experience comes from rally racing. He has dozens of wins across
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several Rally series around the world. Block is going for the win and hopes his allstar cast of drivers will help him get there. Jax Redline has been racing in the desert for the last couple of years, only last year getting behind the wheel of a Trophy Truck. While he has yet to win in the premiere class, he has come close. Alan Ampudia and his brothers took the overall win in the 2019 SCORE Baja 1000 in their Four Lokos backed Trophy Truck. “There is no better feeling winning here in my birthplace,” Alan Ampudia said at the finish line in 2019. He is hoping to do it again with Block and Redline. The livery was designed by Mexican artist Ricardo Gonzalez. It matches the livery on his rally cars.
BLOCK PARTY
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UTV
UTV rules released Questions linger as BITD releases newly drafted UTV Rules for 2022
A
Story & Photos By: La-Chelle Halliday
change within the pages of the Best in The Desert’s (BITD) rulebook of UTVs began growing to fruition as the whispers grew louder over the years. Tales and rumors of frustration plagued the off road community as separate racing sanctions had different, sometimes conflicting, rules for UTV racing. BITD released their updated rulings on each UTV class to begin presiding over the off road entity starting January of 2022, allowing manufacturers and racers alike to make the necessary adjustments.
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Unfortunately, speculation was confirmed that the rulings of UTVs in the off road racing scene were again different amongst other sanctions. Diving deeper into the new release of guidelines, BITD has continued to be the dominate force leading the unmarked path into UTVs future in off road racing. As noted on the memorandum, the newly drafted rules were a culmination of UTV manufacturers, aftermarket companies, race teams and other interested parties who engaged together to collectively establish a new beginning to 2022.
UTV RULES RELEASED
Question: If I race in accordance with BITD’s new rules, can I race SCORE, or Legacy without changing my setup? Answer: Unfortunately, no. There are still small technicalities that could cause a penalization or disqualification if not altered. Best In the Desert (BITD) has shown tremendous improvement in UTV rules by fostering a leveled playing field within classes, along with a comprehensible distinction among class structures. By refining class nomenclature to ensure accurate descriptions BITD hopes to build upon the marketability of each class with names that add an “extra dimension of excitement about the type of UTV being raced,” commented BITD CMO Bryan Folks.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 45
2022 BITD Class Names: • • • • • •
BITD UTV Director of Competition Allen Rudd added, “It was clear that it was time for our sport to take the next step and it was important that whatever direction we took with the new rules that no one was penalized by the new rules. With the input we received from manufacturers, aftermarket companies and race teams, we think these are valid updates.”
UTV Sportsman Rally UTV Super Stock UTV NA Production UTV Trophy Unlimited UTV Open UTV Turbo Production
As we have witnessed first-hand the marvelous growth of the UTV class it appears a dire time to establish a unified cross-sanctioned standardization rather than continue along wavering, misguided as either a fresh driver, or misaligned pro. The struggles between the governing entities stem further back than UTVs however yet are currently elevated as the number of UTV racers each season multiplies. Currently, there is no standardization for the classification of UTVs across the vast array of organizations, which causes many racers to become frustrated and confused as the differences lie within the details. Where one sanction houses six distinctly separate classes, another will only be host to three. This wide range of class structure and over generalization keeps racers at bay when considering venturing across boundary lines to race in another organization adding not only race miles but media, partnerships, and an influx of vendor marketing to that event.
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UTV RULES RELEASED
Analyzing line by line of the BITD: Class 1801 UTV NA Production drafted rules for 2022, it shows SCORE: PRO UTV – N.A. BITD beginning to establish LEGACY: Naturally Aspirated fundamentals for each classified Suspension Battery Allowed in Rotary Molded Fuel UTV, adding detailed prerequisites Requirements Driver Area Tanks Allowed and outlining definitive items of disqualification, whereas in comparison, SCORE and Legacy, rely on generalized lists UNDEFINED of reference. Subtle variations are strewn between all racing UNDEFINED sanctions and full doctrine must be read prior to make the necessary Differential Stock Chassis accommodations. Small changes Operational Doors Used Required in a ruling could ultimately jeopardize clean slates by gaining stock a penalization from the ruling of BITD requiring a 20lb of pressure UNDEFINED while SCORE only mandates 18lb of pressure. Legacy has yet to ANY define a required tire pressure.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 47
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RALLY
HISTORIC SILK ROAD HOUSES RALLY RACING
Story by: La-Chelle Halliday Photos provided by Silk Way Rally
F
or nearly a decade, the ancient and historic Silk Road, famous for connecting China with western civilization through merchant trade routes, has housed a unique transcontinental rally competition. Gaining global recognition, it has become an independent stand-alone sports event associating famous sports personalities with an intense battle. Having started its history in 2009, the event was originally held on the initiative of President of Russia, Turkmenia, and Kazakhstan, with their personal participation in the prize giving ceremony. Beginning in 2019, Rally got official approval as a World Cross-country rally event for moto, and quad bikes along with original car and truck classes. Cross-country rallies are automobile competitions taking place along impassable
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and public roads tasking each crew, consisting of two people – a driver and co-driver (in truck crews – of three people, adding a mechanic), to pass the special stages as quickly as possible. It is the second longest competition lasting from 5 days and route lengths not to exceed 6500 km (4039 mi). Cross-country rallies are typically carried out in linear format, with no repetitive stages, increasing route complexity. Many bivouacs – a large caravan of technical vehicles in support of the rally – deploys ahead of the crews to await their arrival at the next special stage. With a hiatus in 2020 due to the global pandemic, Vladimir Chagin – Head of the International Project Silk Way Rally – promised competitors completely new regions as Silk Way welcomed Siberia and Altai region along with Mongolia and the indispensable
SILK WAY RALLY
Gobi Desert, every competitor eagerly anticipates. New routes would challenge competitors to test their skills, to prove their speed and discover a new rally alongside numerous competitors. Since its creation, the Silk Way Rally has been keen to encourage competitors, promote the presence of women in cross country rally and renew the discipline by attracting young talent. Again for 2021, race entry fees would be waived for all 100% female crews, as well as crews under 30 years of age in Car, SSV and Truck categories. forest paths and finally through the smooth and sandy Siberian forests. Shocking onlookers, Aussie newcomer Daniel Sanders (Gas Gas Factory Racing) started 10th after getting lost on the prior days stage. As the Aussie blisteringly fast enduro skills were put to the test in fast sweeping tracks through forests with mud filled ruts, the rookie come from behind to win the stage.
Day one started in Omsk at a military training ground where competitors had to travel roughly 670 kilometers to the first bivouac in Novosibirsk. The route of the first stage was among bumpy sand sections and solid soil tracks emitting difficult navigation on the first day. Stage one – Day one, allowed every competitor a shakedown before the rally officially got underway with Russian drivers starting strong on their home turf.
Women also took the lead in the Light Prototype class, Anastasia Nifontova and Ekaterina Zhadanova (Can-Am Maverick XRS), recovered themselves after a disastrous first stage to win over the Frenchmen.
Day two housed an ever-changing terrain from wide earthed roads followed by narrow DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 51
RALLY
After an emergency meeting amongst Rally leaders, it was deemed unsafe to continue the route into Mongolia forced by a corona-virus outbreak and a decision was made to use Russian selective sections to continue without crossing the border. The crews going forward would compete on a marathon stage from Gornoaltaisk to Kosh Agach, meaning on the third leg only racers would be authorized to repair their vehicles – where any assistance by service personnel is strictly prohibited. Day three - first part of the marathon stage, in the heart of the mountains, saw a change in the overall lead in the bike category with Ross Branch (Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official) was forced to retire from mechanical failure and the stage winner Austrian Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took his place as some car crews chose not to start the stage. At km 76, Andrew Short also ran into trouble losing almost 40 minutes after drowning his engine in a deep-water crossing. The classiest act of the day came from Dutchman Mitchel Van Den Brink by pulling out Bogdan Karimov, the latest recruit of the Kamaz-Master team, and Pascal De Baar, both stuck in a river crossing, the youngest driver of this Silk Way Rally 2021, perpetuated the spirit of solidarity that has always reigned in the heavyweight category. 52 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Snow-covered peaks of the Altai Mountains created the backdrop to Stage four which also marked the end of the marathon stage for all categories. The day’s special was lengthened by 30 kilometers but was mostly the same mountainous tracks as the day prior thus reducing the navigation element considerably. The Russians were unstoppable on this special stage and barring any lastminute incidents, seem to be assured of the final victory in the SSV category (T4). Since the start in Omsk, the brand new KamazMaster team K5 of Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmezianov has been setting the pace in the truck category, and if their team-mate Karginov, yesterday’s winner, had hoped to beat them, a river crossing put an end to those ambitions.
Back to the plains for the 5th and last stage of the Silk Way Rally 2021. Before mounting the final podium, at the bivouac of Gorno-Altaisk, at the foot of the Altai Mountains, the competitors had to cover the last 587 kilometers of this 11th edition, which was finally run entirely in Siberia and reduced to 5 stages due to the health emergency in Mongolia. While bikes overall leader Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was in a reasonably comfortable position, second and third places on the podium were both up for grabs. A situation that encouraged Franco Caimi (Hero Motorsports) and Daniel Sanders (Gas Gas Factory Racing) to charge hard over the last 109 kms.
SILK WAY RALLY
At the finish it was Sanders who won the special, his third of the rally, though this remarkable achievement wasn’t enough to grant him a place on the podium. Franco Caimi was even less rewarded for his efforts, missing out on second place by just 6 seconds! In the end it was experience that paid off, with ex-Dakar winner Matthias Walkner taking the overall +6:20 ahead of another impressive rally raid newcomer Skyler Howes. In the truck class, both Dmitry Sotnikov and Airat Mardeev were dreaming of adding a third gold medal to their trophy cabinet but in the end, it was SotnikovO, driving the new K5 generation truck who took the honors. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 53
MOTO
RED BULL ROMANIACS The most punishing enduro race on the planet
Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Courtesy Red Bull
R
ed Bull Romaniacs is a an enduro off-road motorcycle rally. It is held every year in Romania. Founded in 2004 by Martin Freinademetz, riders from over 50 countries participate in the five-day race. Freinademetz, who started out in action sports as a professional snowboarder, knew he had to put on a rally after seeing the Carpathian Mountains that surround Sibiu. Extreme Enduro racing became his second passion. The views of the mountains are breathtaking, and the terrain is the perfect challenge for the riders. The Red Bull Romaniacs has been known as the world’s toughest Hard Enduro rally. This year the event is also the fourth stop on the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (formerly known as the World Enduro Super Series). Some of the best athletes come to race this event including Taddy
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RED BULL ROMANIACS
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 55
MOTO
ABOVE: This is Cody Webb’s first Red Bull Romaniacs event.
Blazusiak, Graham Jarvis, Trystan Hart, Johnny Walker and Cody Webb. This is Cody’s first time running the event. Manuel Lettenbichler has won the Red Bull Romaniacs back to back in 2019 and 2020. This year he was once again back to defend his title. Jarvis has won the event six times, the most any rider has won.
event begins with time trials just outside of the Transylvania region in the town of Sibiu. Yes, Transylvania was made popular by the Dracula movies and some dub it as “the vampire region.” Riders expect the unexpected. The race is mentally and physically strenuous. Uphill’s are more difficult here than any other race. The rocks are larger than any other race.
Over the last eighteen years, the race seems to get more challenging and tougher for the riders and this year was no exception. The
Bikes take a beating on the Romaniacs course. Lettenbichler struggled out of the gate on the first qualifier. Wade Young took the top spot
ABOVE: Taddy Blazusiak struggles to push his bike up one of the punishing hill climbs. 56 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
in the qualifier. The first off-road day is grueling. The terrain features deep mud puddles that will suck in even the best rider. Basically, you are going to get muddy. The temperatures were cold on day 1 with a mist in the air. Jarvis got lost in the fog early on. Johnny Walker had the lead. Later in the day Jarvis quickly found his way running third on time. After five hours of grueling riding, Jarvis came out on top. On the second day, the course winds through elevations of 15000 meters over a 100-kilometer (62 miles) course. The riders also camp overnight before running a marathon stage the next day. Jarvis was first out on the trail but struggled early, running in second. The unthinkable struck him in the afternoon as he hit a rut on the course injuring his knee. Jarvis would have to pull out of the event shutting down any hopes for another title. That opened the door for Manuel Lettenbichler to take first place. Day three was a very early start for the riders. Length was 110 kilometers (68 miles). Riders were able to get more speed through several sections, keeping the competition tight. Manuel Lettenbichler claimed another win
RED BULL ROMANIACS
making his run for the event title look really good. The fourth and final day is the longest day of the rally with a 120 kilometer (74-mile) run. The riders are still exhausted from the last few days and need to do everything they can to keep their endurance and strength up. The course featured more twisted trees and punishing jagged rocks. Red Bull/KTM rider Manuel Lettenbichler was once again first across the finish line earning him a third Red Bull Romaniacs title.
BELOW: Manuel Lettenbichler celebrates his third consecutive Romaniacs title.
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TECH
The Science of Fan Technology What Fan is best for you? Story and Photos: Shaun Ochsner
Fans serve one purpose. To move air. The size of your fan depends on the volume of air you want to move. Fan blades determine the direction in which you want to move that air. In off-road racing, fans are used for cooling. Clint Barry over at CBR Performance knows a thing or two about fan technology. He has been pairing fans with his radiators since he started the business. When you order a radiator, depending on the size, application and placement, it 58 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
may have one to three fans attached to it. A Trophy Truck may have a large radiator with three large 16inch fans attached to it. A Trophy Truck is going to need a large cooling solution.
THE SCIENCE OF FAN TECHNOLOGY
Fan technology has evolved over the years as new materials are developed. Fan blades were made of metal. When hit with debris, the blades bent easily. The metal was also heavy adding weight to a vehicle. Today, CBR uses Nuova Brushless fans for many of their applications. The fans are manufactured by SPAL Automotive in the United States. The company has been manufacturing cooling products since 1959 with a lot of their products centered around automotive and racing. The NUOVA brushless fans are made of a high-density molded plastic material. The costs to manufacture these fans are less than those made of metal. As we discussed before, they are also lighter. Brushless fans can push more air or cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM, the more efficient the fan is. Their motors take less amperage which is extremely important in racing when you have a lot of performance parts pulling from your battery system. Basically, the brushless fan stars slowly. This is known as a soft start. As the fans gets moving it ramps up to speed. A variable speed can also be set on the fan putting you in control. Normally this is done via an ECU system on your vehicle and can be monitored by a Motec or AIM on your dash.
This module can control the fan’s temperature. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 59
TECH
Conventional fans are still popular in many applications. The drawback to these is they are one speed. You only get on or off. They also pull more amperage and you cannot control your cooling temperatures via the fan. Of course, if you need something that is always on at one speed, conventional fans are for you. Blade rotation on fans is important. While there is much debate on this, in an external radiator installation, you want the fans to pull fresh cool air in through the radiator. For an internal installation, you want to push the hot air out. The fan shroud is also set precisely to help pull air through the radiator. Curved blades are quieter than straight blades. The size of the blade also affects performance. Some curved blades however provide more surface area and can push a higher volume of air but are also subject to increased air resistance. The best choice is a curved paddle blade. The
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blades are larger and require a larger fan enclosure. They are perfect for delivering a large volume of air and still reduce noise. You may find this set-up on many of today’s unlimited race vehicles such as Class 1, Trophy Truck and Trophy Spec trucks.
CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
NOT MY PLAN Words: Steve Hanson
I
recently returned from a race with a fatality. Being at the crash site, I can say with certainty it was a scene full of broken hearts; from a navigator who witnessed the hit, a competitor that stopped to help, first responding medics that did not quit until the doctor told them and a bride-to-be who just made it there in time to say goodbye. Broken hearts and crushed dreams are what we were all left with. It was a real gut punch scene that leaves you full of questions and not many answers. That is how this year’s Vegas-to-Reno race ended for one family and several others at race mile eleven. When I prayed for the fallen racer that morning in the staging lane, neither of us had any idea that eleven miles later his life would come to an end. It is tragic events like this one that remind me how God intervenes when things are not going as we planned. The course takes a last-minute change, and our adventure is not lived out the way we desire. God shows up with a new action plan and we get to see Him work amongst the pain and anguish that often comes with a course change.
A competitor stopped and altered his plan of winning a race to help an injured racer. Overcome with compassion for the injured, he turned his fireproof pajamas in for a chaplain shirt. While facilitating the medics arrival, he was praying aloud for God’s mercy over the racer. Holding his hand, supporting him so he could breathe and consoling the injured racers bride-to-be as the breath left the fallen racer. Memories I would not wish on anyone, but he was right where God wanted him to be. 62 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
A handful of times now I’ve witnessed the lives of girlfriends and wives change with the devastating news their loved ones were lost. News that dreams would not be realized and a future that would not be seen. It is news that comes with so much weight it literally crushes a person. It is news that doesn’t get easier to give and I cannot imagine receiving it. All I can do was wrap my arms around them and say I’m sorry, it’s a feeling of inadequacy.
Isaiah 55:8-9niv “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Yes, it’s tough when our plans do not go as we like, but if we trust Him when life takes on trials and mysterious twists, He will see us through. It is not easy and its advice we must take ourselves. Cling to the truth that God really is in control of everything and surrender knowing His control of everything is good, loving and always leads to great ends. We are a project under construction to be more like Jesus. This process requires upsetting our schedules, our plans, and the way we think life should be. The only possible way to accept this is to submit and recognize His plan for our lives is to draw near to him; make getting close to Him a number one priority. My heart and my prayers go out to all who were at race mile-11. God speed. Follow @rfc_dirtsportministry
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS AUGUST
Ultra4 Black Hills Throwdown- Sturgis, SD August 6th
EVENT TO ATTEND Crandon World Championships
Best In The Desert Vegas to Reno August 11th-15th Championship Off Road- Bark River Bark River, MI August 14th-15th Off Road Nights Westfield North County Escondido, CA August 28th DP4 Lights Out Scrambles- Ridgecrest, CA August 28th
SEPTEMBER Crandon World Championships- Crandon International Raceway, Crandon, WI September 3rd-5th UTV Takeover- Little Sahara State Park Waynoka, OK September 8th-11th Best in the Desert UTV Legends Laughlin, NV September 9th-12th SCORE Baja 400- Ensenada, Baja, MX September 14th-19th
Considered some of the best short course racing in the world, the Crandon World Championships are back for the fifty second year in a row. The weekend of racing begins with the final points and championship races for the Championship Off Road Series. Sunday the gloves come off in all out battle to see who is the best short-course racer in the world. Every racer wants their name on the famed Crandon Cup. The racing action at Crandon never disappoints!
Sand Sports Super Show- Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, CA September 17th-19st M.O.R.E. PCI 300- Lucerne Valley, CA September 25th Legacy Racing Battleground- Primm, NV September 30th-October 3rd
Have an event for our Calendar? Send us an email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 63
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