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 Megan Phillips 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 Creative / Art Direction Russ Turner Editorial Contributor Mike Ingalsbee On The Cover Mitch Guthrie Jr. surprised the desert racing world by coming in 2nd overall at the JIMCO Silver State 300 in his RZR Pro R UTV, only 12 seconds out of first. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography 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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Alex Wacker out of Decatur, Texas, traveled to Nevada’s cattle territory and found himself powering through one of the seemingly endless silt beds along the very fast Silver State 300 racecourse. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography
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2022 ISSUE Q2 / JUNE
IN THIS ISSUE 8
VIEW FROM THE RIDGE - Bryan Folks
12
JIMCO RACING SILVER STATE 300 PRESENTED BY MAXXIS
42
HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK - Presented by Method Race Wheels
58
UNDER THE HELMET - A Conversation with Conner McMullen
76
A CLOSER LOOK - Herling Racing / Fusion Off-Road
84
SAFETY FIRST - It Takes A Team
90
IN THE KNOW - New Products You’ll Want to Check Out
Photo by desertracingphotos.com
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Optional features shown.
D IR T V E N T U RE R. T H E
F - 1 5 0
A L L - N E W
R A P T O R
Photos by Justin Brown Photo RnR Photos Dirt Nation
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A MESSAGE FROM BRYAN FOLKS
Photo by Justin Brown Photo
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It’s very exciting to look forward to our August event, as it brings back some great memories of my dad, Casey Folks, founder of Best In The Desert. The 2022 Method Wheels “Casey Folks”Vegas to Reno event is fast approaching, coming up August 10-13. I remember when my dad was creating his races back 23 years ago, he was talking about adding cars and trucks to his already successful motorcycle race. Knowing our father like we did, my brother Daryl and I asked him, “Why would you want to add even more logistics to an already tough event?” His response was typical of his enthusiasm for the sport. He said he wanted more people who were as excited and passionate about the sport as he was to have the opportunity to be able to participate in an event of this magnitude. He was confident he had the right people, the right connections and the right stamina to make this adrenaline-fueled event work for every class of off-road racer. He was right, as every Vegas to Reno race held over the last couple decades has proven to be the epitome of what he envisioned – a kick-ass race that is on the punch-list of racers from all over the world. More great news about Best In The Desert’s plans for V2R include the Time Trials event. Best In The Desert will feature an all new Time Trials Track located in Primm, Nevada, and will feature a full Live Stream production of the event. For the first time in BITD history, qualifying racers will run two racers at a time while still posting qualifying times. Another first, this year’s race will have a live update show that will stream on the BITD Facebook page for up-to-the-hour updates. Finally, this year’s race will feature two television shows that will air on CBS Sports Network. The shows will air approximately two and three weeks after the event conclusion, and then the shows will re-air back-to-back multiple times. Stay tuned to our Social Media for more details. The 2022 Method Wheels “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno race sign-ups are open. Don’t miss it. CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP
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The Best In The Desert Jimco Silver State 300 presented by MAXXIS brought everyone together for 300 miles of incredible terrain in remote South Eastern Nevada. The sixth Best In The Desert event of 2022, it was the second time the cars and trucks lined up to race this season. The motorcycles, quads, and UTVs have been running separate races so far. The long, spread out course near Caliente would provide the space needed to run all classes at the same event. The Silver State 300 includes features not found on most desert courses. It’s Nevada, so there are plenty of mountains, big valleys with dry lakes, and silt beds to contend with, but the mountains are steep, and covered in juniper trees. The roads are more like trails through the mountains. They are a tight twisty maze that challenges the skill of drivers and riders. Navigators not only have to keep their drivers on course, but also keep their equilibrium as they look at the GPS on the equivalent of an intense roller coaster ride. Probably the most unique features on the course are the flowing streams. Many competitors have had their race come to an end at the water crossings. The depth can be tricky to judge, and it’s just not something they typically have to contend with. Typical desert racing preparation does not include a snorkel. Story by Mike Ingalsbee Photo by Trent Noble
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LIGHTER. STRONGER. FASTER. In this exclusive Method Race Wheels photo and video feature we take a detailed look at the state of the art in unlimited off-road racing, a fire breathing all wheel drive truck capable of conquering any terrain at blistering speeds.
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Because of the remoteness of the course, registration, tech inspection, contingency, and qualifying all took place at the Primm Valley Resort & Casino outside Las Vegas; there simply are not enough hotel rooms in the race area to house everyone. The largest town around is Caliente which has a population of less than a thousand. I think there are more cows than people in the area. That’s another thing to be avoided on race day; the free range cattle. That fancy red riding gear you’re decked out in might be seen as an invitation to a grumpy bull. The bikes would be staged on the starting line by current points
standings, and classes 1000, 6100, 6200, 7200, 1500 & Trick Truck would qualify for starting positions on Friday. That’s when the cat was let out of the bag as they say. UTV racers Bruce Binnquist, and Mitch Guthrie Jr. had been working on a plan. They both entered their UTVs in Class 1500. That’s the unlimited open wheel class. They had asked the technical director beforehand if their cars would be legal, and the answer was yes; it is an unlimited class after all. It was a bold move as there were long fast sections of the course off the start, and they didn’t want the bigger, more powerful 6100 trucks to run them over Bruce Binnquist surprised all of the unlimited cars and trucks during Time Trials by posting the fourth fastest time, only 8 seconds behind pole winner BJ Baldwin in his Trick Truck. Photo by Dirtfocus.com
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2022 SILVER STATE 300 Mitch Guthrie Jr. was the other Pro Trubo UTV who challenged the Unlimited Cars and Trick Trucks at Time Trials setting the 7th fastest time. Photo by Dirtfocus.com
in the dusty conditions that were surely going to arise. The idea was to use the intervals allowed between starts in the unlimited class to run in clean air out front. They would run wide open, and not let the trucks catch them. From the beginning when UTVs started racing they were somewhat looked down upon by the other fast classes. They called them Golf Karts, and sneered at them. At first, it might have been a valid critique. They were small, and slow to be honest. Since racers got their hands on them, and thanks to the
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manufacturers having a horsepower war, they are now highly developed, and capable of triple digit speeds. Binnquist and Guthrie are two of the fastest, so it was going to be interesting. It set the event, and the internet abuzz. TIME TRIALS Results of qualifying had Trick Trucks in the top three. The veteran racer (it seems strange to call him that), BJ Baldwin was in the top spot, with Robert Johnston in the
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In the combined Trick Truck and 1500 Class Time Trials, BJ Baldwin laid down the fastest time of the day to capture the pole starting position. Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Justin “Bean” Smith put down the fastest lap for Class 6100. Photo by Justin Brown Photo
Chattanooga Whiskey truck second, and then defending champion Kyle Jergensen in the Brenthel AWD truck third. Fourth place was none other than Bruce Binnquist in his Geiser Brother’s built CanAm. Mitch Guthrie Jr. took the seventh spot in his Polaris Pro R. Cole Barbieri in a traditional 1500 car took the fifth spot. Then Sterling Miller in a Trick Truck, Guthrie as mentioned, and the rest of the top ten were all Trick Trucks: Whetstone, Olliges, and Wacker. Class 6100 was led by Justin “Bean” Smith, Connor McMullen and Bear Nunley. The stage was set for the race the following morning.
The Class 1000 cars also qualified for starting positions with Preston Brigman taking the top spot for Saturday’s race. Photo by Dirtfocus.com
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Husqvarna’s Skyler Howes raced to the Open Pro and outright overall win. Photo by Dirt Nation
THE MORNING SHIFT The motorcycles lined up at 5:15 am which meant they had to get going early; it takes a couple hours just to reach the starting line from Las Vegas. Being first off the line, at least they would have less silt to deal with. As more vehicles go over the ground, it begins to loosen up. It creates pockets of silt that are the consistency of baby powder. Depending on recent rains, the ground can start out hard packed, but by
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Jeremy Newton and Jeff Trulove took second Open Pro. Photo by Dirt Nation
David Broderick and Luke Reynolds grabbed the win in the Open Expert. Photo by Dirt Nation
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Danny Cooper pulled off the Over 30 Class win. Photo by Dirt Nation
the end of the day it’s 3 foot deep in powder. Despite having some hardpack, it still gets dusty. The water crossings can be refreshing, but getting wet can also cause a lot of discomfort. Soggy boots can cause blisters, and wet gear can steam you like a lobster in a boiling pot. For most, they would be too focused on going fast to be bothered. That was the case for Open Pro motorcycle and overall winner Skyler Howes. The Husqvarna Factory Racing rider completed the course in 5 hours and 12 minutes; beating the fastest
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Jarrod Wheeler, Janten Reber and Treyden Beard teamed up to take the 300 Pro win. Photo by Dirt Nation
unlimited car class finisher by 10 minutes. He was followed by a pair of KTM riders, current Open Pro points leader Jeremy Newton, and Hayden Hintz. They also beat the cars and trucks on time. 4th overall bike was 1st place in Open Expert class, David Broderick on a Husqvarna. Open Pro Cory Skaggs rounded out the top 5 overall on a Honda. Other motorcycle racers of note include
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Danny Cooper finishing first place in the Over 30 Class and seventh overall; Jarrod Wheeler earning the 399 Pro Class and finishing eighth overall; and Zach Meyers winning the Ironman Pro Class and finishing ninth overall. The quickest in the quad classes was Brett Greenhold who rode his Honda to the Quad Ironman Class win and finished a respectable twenty-second overall.
2022 SILVER STATE 300
Zach Myers rode to the Ironman Pro victory. Photo by Dirt Nation
The team of Alan and Jason Romans was the Quad Expert winner and first quad to finish. Photo by Dirt Nation
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2022 SILVER STATE 300 BJ Baldwin was first off the line and stayed in front physically the entire race. However, lurking in the dust behind him were two racers on a mission to shake things up at the finish line. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography
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THE SURPRISE ENDING I’m certain BJ Baldwin has no trouble waking up in the morning thanks to his sponsor Black Rifle Coffee, but the 4 wheeled classes didn’t even leave the line until 11:00 am. Since they were running the course in the opposite direction this year, the first part of the course was very fast. It was here that many thought the trucks would gobble up the UTVs, but it didn’t happen. The generous twominute gaps between cars at the start allowed the front runners to run in clean air; nothing was holding them back. Unfortunately for Kyle Jergensen, he suffered down time in the early going. His team toughed it out, and got him back in the fight, but he was the last Trick Truck to finish after over nine hours on the course. Second off the line, Robert Johnston also had a problem; rolling the truck in a spot that was difficult to access. He recovered to finish fourth in class behind Steve Olliges, and Sterling Miller. Another top contender to have bad luck was Turbo UTV class competitor Phil Blurton. Blurton’s M.O. is to run away with it at the front of the pack. When his tracker showed zero miles per hour for an hour, you knew it was not good. He suffered a rare DNF.
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
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First overall for the four-wheel vehicles was former motocross racer Cole Barbieri in his Class 1500 unlimited car. This marked the first time a car has won the overall in recent memory for the 4 wheel classes. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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2022 SILVER STATE 300 Mitch Guthrie Jr. turned in an incredible performance in his RZR Pro R to take 2nd overall, only 12 seconds behind Barbieri. Photo by Trent Noble
Despite his best efforts, and even after crossing the finish line first, BJ Baldwin did not win the overall. Instead he was beaten on corrected time. Two cars had a lower elapsed time than BJ’s, and they were only 12 seconds apart. First overall was Cole Barbieri in his Class 1500 unlimited car, the first time a car has won the overall in recent memory, and
even more surprising was Mitch Guthrie Jr. in second overall. Mitch was in contention for the overall until the final miles of the race. The twisty sections through the mountains gave way to wide open plains where Barbieri’s car had the edge. While Guthrie could maintain 110 miles per hour or so in his Polaris, Barbieri’s big V8 was capable of at least 10 to
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Justin “Bean” Smith battled to the 6100 Class win and 4th overall for four wheel vehicles. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography
Preston Brigman captured the Class 1000 win and 6th overall. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography
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Brent Fox finished three minutes behind “Bean” to take 2nd in Class 6100 Photo by Justin Brown Photo
20 miles per hour more on the top end. Both the 1500 class cars were able to maintain high speeds throughout the course. Barbieri said he was using the cutting brake, and still banging his rear wheels on the outside of every turn through the twisty stuff. Guthrie was surprised that the trucks never caught him, but said the split times were pretty much the same where the trucks should have been faster. What about Binnquist you may ask. He suffered electrical problems, but is optimistic
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Steve Olliges took the 2nd podium spot for the Trick Trucks and 12th overall. Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic
because he thinks they finally have all the bugs worked out, and he’s looking forward to Vegas to Reno. Will the UTVs be allowed to run in 1500 going forward? We will have to stay tuned, but Mitch Guthrie Jr. doesn’t think so. “The 2 minute gaps up front allowed us to run our
own pace in clean air,” said Mitch. “I think we could have similar results at Vegas to Reno, but I think Best In The Desert is working on a rule change to prevent this from happening again.” The Silver State 300 presented the perfect conditions to try out their scheme, but the safety factor needs to be addressed. The
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2022 PARKER 250 UTVs
UTVs are immensely outweighed by the big trucks, so it’s best to keep them separate as much as possible during a race. The UTVs may get even faster and start running up through the ranks to challenge for the overall, so things will get interesting. However, the big trucks and unlimited buggies will use their power and strength in the rough stuff to maintain their supremacy when it comes to overall wins. They aren’t going to just let the Golf Karts play through.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MIKE INGALSBEE Mike Ingalsbee has covered just about everything that burns fuel or throws dirt for over three dec-ades. His writing and photography has been published in books, magazines and on websites around the world. His work includes features, Interviews, race coverage, tech articles, web content, and advertising literature for commercial clients. He started as a crew member for off road racing teams, and then worked as a design engineer in the automotive aftermarket before becoming a full time journalist.
Dave Shoppe drove to the Class 8 win in his truck that pays homage to the days when Class 8 ruled desert racing. Photo by Dirt Nation
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Vito Ranuio took the UTV Turbo Pro win and respectable 19th overall. Photo by Justin Brown Photo
Max Eddy got the UTV N/A Production victory. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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Mitchell Alsup took the top spot in the UTV Super Stock Class. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
Chris Blais won the UTV Trophy Unlimited Class and recorded the third fastest overall time. Photo by RnR Photos
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2022 SILVER STATE 300
Chad Hall won the Mid-Stock Class. Photo by RnR Photos
Chad Biehl Scott Hall won tookthe topMid-Stock honors inClass. Jeepspeed Cup. Photo by Dirt Nation
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Method Race Wheels introduces the video series “How To Drive A Trick Truck” with Justin Lofton. As the title suggests, in this series professional racer Justin Lofton breaks down what you should know about driving a race truck. Everything from transmissions to cornering, we’ve got you covered. If your dream is to get behind the wheel of a race truck, this is a good place to start! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel here: @methodracewheels
Photos provided by Method Race Wheels
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Mitchell Alsup took the class win in Pro Super Stock. Photo by Dirt Nation
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE ONE: INTRODUCTION If you’re new to this space, you might be asking who is Justin Lofton and what qualifies him to teach anybody how to drive a Trick Truck? Justin Lofton is a three-time Mint 400 overall champion, 2009 ARCA champion and grew up right outside of Glamis—the ultimate offroad destination in California. In this episode Justin goes over the basics; what exactly offroad racing is, the different kinds of classes you would find in an off-road race and a quick breakdown on his race truck also known as Bad Co.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE TWO: SAFETY GEAR Safety first! In this episode Justin Lofton talks about the essential safety gear when operating and racing a Trick Truck. This includes everything from race suits to gloves and everything in between.
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EPISODE THREE: DRIVETRAIN AND SHIFTING One last topic before we jump in the driver’s seat—we’re talking transmissions. Justin goes over the differences of manual and automatic transmissions.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE FOUR: STARTING THE TRUCK Justin goes over everything you need to do before you hit first gear, like a physical walk around your Trick Truck and familiarizing yourself with the gauges and controls you have inside.
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EPISODE FIVE: CORNERING We all can drive in a straight line (hopefully), but what happens when the race course throws some corners your way? In this episode Justin Lofton goes over cornering techniques and tips.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE SIX: ROUGH STUFF When it comes to rough terrain the capabilities of the modern Trick Truck are amazing. However, that doesn’t mean you can hit the desert at full speed all the time. Knowing the altitude changes and how big the holes you are inevitably going to encounter will determine how fast you can go.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE SEVEN: SPEED We’ve covered cornering, we’ve covered the rough stuff, now let’s talk about speed. Justin Lofton goes over what you should know when you’re hitting 150mph on a lakebed.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
EPISODE EIGHT: IT’S GETTING DUSTY With speed comes catching up to other racers. Grab your microfibers and your tear-offs, it’s time to learn how to drive in the dust. See how to make that pass and how to do it safely.
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EPISODE NINE: INTO THE NIGHT The penultimate episode. The last thing we go over before we talk about winning is driving at night and the different light set-ups you might need. White versus amber, cornering lights, and the mindset of racing at night.
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METHOD RACE WHEELS - HOW TO DRIVE A TRICK TRUCK
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EPISODE TEN: WINNER WINNER You’ve made it to the finale! Now that you have a number of new skills in your pocket and are basically a pro driver, what do you do on the podium? When that time comes when you win, there are a few things you should know. Now that you’ve learned the basics of a Trick Truck, shifting, safety, cornering, speed, driving in the dust, driving at night, and how to handle yourself on the podium, it’s time to hop in the driver’s seat! Just remember what your professor of racing, Justin Lofton, taught you and you’ll kill it on the course. Check out all episodes and additional photo galleries here:
methodracewheels.com/howtodrive
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A Conversation with Conner McMullen By Mike Ingalsbee
Conner McMullen is one of those racers who can step into anything, and be fast. That comes from his many years of racing experience. He is a second generation racer who grew up in the sport, and knows as much about what makes a race car work, as he does how to hustle one around the desert, or a racetrack. He currently competes in the 6100 truck class.
Race photo by Justin Brown Photo
Conner McMullen photo by Dirt Nation
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
“It’s amazing how much class 10 teaches you about being fast. You can’t slow down. You have to have the right RPMs to make sure you don’t lose time coming out of the corner. You can’t afford to lose even half a second in any corner.” Photo by Dirt Nation
Mike: Conner, how long have you been racing? I turned five years old, I got my first Trophy Kart. I started doing all the Whiplash series races for a few years, and then we switched Conner: I’ve been in the off road industry since I was about five years old. I’m 21 now. It over to the Lucas Oil Short Course series. I did that until I was about 16. So really, all revolved around my dad, Kevin McMullen. my whole life has been around the Trophy He’s been doing this off-road racing for 35 Kart stuff, the short course, then all the years. He and I own a business together, off-road stuff. When I aged out of that at working on off-road race cars, doing prep 16, I transitioned over into the desert. Now stuff. Basically, my entire life revolves around my addiction has risen 110%. You know, off-road racing, 24/7 365 days a year. When
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I absolutely love being in the desert. It’s a whole lot of fun. Mike: That’s interesting. I was going to ask you, if you like short course better or desert and why. Conner: Short course gave me a huge stepping stone in my drivability. Short Course teaches you so many different aspects of
driving, on how to corner with speed, and learning how to set the truck up. There’s a bunch of specifics that short course teaches you. The desert has its own dynamic and driving styles and stuff, but you implement short course driving style into your desert driving style. That’s why you see Brock Hager, Brock Dickerson, Christopher Polvoorde and all of us short course guys going fast in the desert. It gives you that edge and that drive
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
to be able to go out into the desert and have that 110% on edge, push the whole entire race mentalty. If you are doing it right, saving the equipment, treating it right, you’ll be there at the end of the race and always be on top of the box. My personal opinion is that I love the desert, I love the longevity of the race, and you get to race a whole lot longer. You really get to test your skills on keeping the car alive, you know, being there, every single race. Being on top of the box and being there consistently. Like I said, I love the desert.
Plus, I think it’s fantastic that by the time you were able to drive on the street, you were already a veteran racer. Conner: Right. It’s definitely a crazy thing to think about. I transitioned my skills from the desert to the street. It’s kind of cool to be able to say, you know, this is what I do, out in the desert, tell them how I race; even though I wasn’t even old enough to have a driver’s license.
Mike: When you switched over to the desert, Mike: Some desert guys who haven’t raced was it something you just picked up right short course; they don’t really understand that away? momentum in the turns like you’re describing.
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Conner McMullen shown at the 2019 Silver State 300 as he drove his Alumi Craft buggy to the class win on his way to the 2019 Class 1000 Championship. Photo by Dirt Nation
Conner: No, I would say it took me about two or three years to really get the hang of it and understand the terrain, how to read it, where to hit stuff, how to hit bumps, you know, where to take the whoop sections out. There’s just a bunch of stuff that you have to get used to. It takes quite a while to get adjusted and used to something that different; having enough seat time and being comfortable with it. It takes a lot of time and
dedication to be able to really get on your peak game. It takes a few years to get used to the rhythm. I started in our three seat prerunner down at Rocky Point. And I did that for about three years and got used to the car, how to shift, how to run the desert. From that class I jumped into class 10 I think during the 2018 season. It took me about a season or a season and a half to get used to that. After I got used to it, man, we just started
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
dominating and dominating and winning all kinds of races and being up there with the overall 6100 spec trucks, and the class ones, the trick trucks. We were talking a minute ago about momentum, and speed. It’s amazing how much class 10 teaches you about being fast. You can’t slow down. You have to be in the right gear, every single corner that you take. You have to have the right RPM’s to make sure you don’t lose time coming out of the corner. You can’t afford to lose even half a second in any corner. I think that class definitely has made me into a whole other driver. Mike: How difficult was it to go from doing
loop races to a big point to point where you never see that same turn twice? Conner: It was different. It took me a while to adjust to it, but once I started doing it, I’m just like, man; this is so much more fun. I enjoyed it so much more. I enjoyed that whole short course atmosphere, but definitely doing the desert stuff, and learning that dynamic, it was just a whole lot more fun and a better experience for sure. Mike: What part of racing do you like the best? Some people like to go fast. Some people enjoy the super technical stuff. Others just thrive on the competition thing, you know, Conner McMullen swept the two-day 2020 BlueWater Desert Challenge to earn back-toback Class 1000 Championships. Photo by RnR Photos
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Scott Biehl - Silver State 300 Jeepspeed Challenge winner
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
they just want to win. What do you think really drives you the most? Conner: Honestly, there’s a whole bunch of it. When we go to races, our key mindset is we’re there to win, no matter what, no exceptions. That’s our mindset, every single race we go to. But I think the thing that drives me the most about it obviously is being there, the crowd the competition, you know, all
that’s amazing to be around. For us it’s a huge family thing. We’re there to have fun with all of our guys that volunteer and spend their time to help us out. We like having good relations with all the racers and the teammates. We just love the atmosphere. The atmosphere definitely drives us; it brings us back doing whatever it takes to get as many people out there. I think it’s super cool to have all these people come out and experience this type of
In 2021 Conner stepped up to V8 power and dominated Class 6200 at the Laughlin Desert Classic for the weekend victory. Photo by Bink Designs
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
racing; it’s just so unique. Desert racing is so unique because of how much time it takes. I like how the mechanics work on the car, the car itself, it’s so interesting. All I do is work on race cars, and then I race, so I get to really appreciate this equipment all the time. Mike: So you do your own work on the car. Does that give you confidence when you’re racing, knowing that you put it together and you know how it works and you know how much punishment it’ll take. Conner: 100%, but I think the coolest thing in the world is being able to work on other people’s cars. When a car comes to our shop, every single car that comes through our shop, no matter if it’s a desert car, road race, whatever it is, whatever transaxle, whatever comes through here, we treat everything as if it’s our own. And I think that’s one of the key reasons we’re so successful and why everybody wants to come to us. It’s because we treat everything with respect, and we treat everything like it’s our own. The prep work that we do, me and my Dad, along with all the guys here at the shop, we have a lot of confidence. We take the time to do it, right. We don’t slack on anything; we don’t second guess; we just do everything right. That’s how it’s supposed to be done. It’s cool to being able to see all these guys go out there and do really good and win races and championships on our equipment; on our prep. The hard work that we do to make these guys successful after they’ve done so much to be successful; it’s very rewarding. Mike: So how does that affect your strategy
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Conner McMullen moved into the 6100 ranks this year and drove his Brenthel Industries truck to the Parker 425 class victory. Photo by Jason Zindroski, HighRev Photography
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VP’s new Trophy Truck fuel provides more power and better detonation protection for endurance-style racing. Formulated for off-road desert racing, Trophy Truck is exceptionally stable under high operating temperatures.
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
“Going from a buggy to a truck, you’ve got way more wheel travel, you’ve got bigger tires, bigger shocks, everything’s just huge and massive and so much bigger.” Photo by Daniel Curiel Photographic
when you’re coming up on a car that you prepped? You know he’s not going to break it, so how do you get around them? Conner: Right? It’s definitely, you know, you have to treat them with respect. You know, I think that goes for everybody. You can’t get all crazy and hit him. You do your little taps and stuff like that but, you know, my Mojo is I treat everybody with respect on the race course. I hate, even if it’s not our guy, smashing into people and doing all this different stuff. There’s going to be hard racing going on; stuff’s gonna happen, but it’s all in
a good state of mind. We race hard. If there’s someone behind us, pushing us, you have to pass them. Just keep it clean and it’s all good racing. Mike: I’ve interviewed a lot of racers over the many years, and a lot of the super-fast guys will tell me that nerfing somebody and making contact actually slows you down. Conner: If you’re getting frustrated, you’re beating yourself up, and you’re beating the equipment up trying to do that. That’s where I feel like it’s going to slow you down
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN
a whole bunch. You’re not going to be able to gain that much time. The longer you stay behind them and mess with them, the more you potentially do something to ruin their car or yours. It just causes a whole other set of circumstances and conflict. You have to learn how to get around quickly, and smoothly. Mike: So now you’re in a truck. How do you like the truck compared to an open wheel buggy like a class 10? Conner: It’s a huge transition. I still have my buggy. I still run my buggy at certain races, but being in a truck now, it’s the ultimate. Going from a buggy to a truck, you’ve got way more wheel travel, you’ve got bigger tires, bigger shocks, everything’s just huge and massive and so much bigger. It’s amazing the stuff you can hit and let the throttle out and just, you know, mash through stuff like big whoops. You can just carry so much more
Not every race goes as planned. Such was the case at this year’s Silver State 300. Conner still managed to get back in the race for a finish. Photo by Trent Noble
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speed in a truck than you can in a buggy. There’s stuff in a buggy where you’re gonna be a bit lighter, you’re gonna be able to carry more speed through this corner or the soft stuff because it’s not going to want to dig in much, there’s not as much wheel spin, and with buggies you’re gonna get beat up a little bit more than when you’re in a truck. I love both worlds. I love being in a truck. I love being in a buggy. I think, for me, I’ll always be a buggy dork. That’s what they call us guys. I love it. We definitely can perform very good in a buggy, we can perform very good in a truck and I just I believe whatever we’re in, we can definitely perform really well. Mike: A truck has that incredible suspension under you. How does that affect your feel for the vehicle? In a buggy you can feel every single thing. When you get in the truck and you have all that suspension absorbing it, does that take away with from your feeling the
At the Silver State 300, Conner McMullen just missed the top 6100 qualifying spot by just a tick over one second. Photo by Justin Brown Photo
course with the truck?
yeah, there’s a lot of stuff going from truck to buggy. There is still some stuff you just have to slow down for or you’re gonna yard sale the thing.
Conner: Yes, and no, you’ve definitely got a lot more suspension in the truck, so you can hit stuff a lot harder. In a truck, the bigger stuff gets smaller and in a lot of ways. You can just Mike: I’ve heard that in a truck when you hit it and you’re like, oh, man, that’s crazy. crash or you lose it, by the time you figure out The truck will just blow through that stuff. But that you’re crashing it’s already too late. That
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UNDER THE HELMET - CONNER McMULLEN “Our goal is to focus and learn this 6100 truck as much as we can. I’m really comfortable in it now.” Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
Conner: Our goal is to focus and learn this 6100 truck as much as we can. I definitely Conner: It takes a lot of time to be able to get got the hang of it super quick. I’m really used to how fast you can hit stuff and how comfortable in it now. We’ve gone over a lot to drive it the right way. There’s definitely a of stuff, we’ve done a lot of adjustments, right and a wrong way. If you’re gonna go out suspension, the tuning stuff; we’ve done a with the mentality that I’m in a truck and this bunch of stuff to the truck to fit my driving thing’s got so much suspension and stuff, I ability and to be able to perform better. It’s can hit anything out there. You’re going to end definitely going a whole lot better than we’d your day pretty quick. expected. At 100 plus miles per hour, you have to get that stuff correct and on point. It’s Mike: You’re in a 6100 now, what’s your 100% necessary for the car ultimate goal? and for your own safety as well. doesn’t sound like a good feeling to me.
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A CLOSER LOOK: By Mike Ingalsbee You might have seen the Herling Racing logo on the BITD website or in DirtVenture magazine or noticed their pair of 6100 trucks with the colorful graphics and wondered who they were. Well, Herling Racing has been around for quite a while. Just like any of their projects at Herling construction, it is built on a strong foundation. In building that foundation, they did not start at the top. Jerry Herling began as many did; racing motorcycles. He then switched to 4 wheels in the 3100 pure-production class which was basically a stock SUV. From there, they competed in class 3000 with a TrophyLite. Currently they campaign the pair of 6100 trucks, one piloted by Jerry Herling and the other his son Joe. At Vegas to Reno, they will have a third truck driven by Rick Herling. That sounds like a lot, but their race team also includes much more than the 6100 trucks. Their love for off road racing extends to the next generation and beyond. The team also includes the Women’s Motorcycle team of Kimberly Loppnow and Krista Conway. Polaris UTV Racer Robert Campbell competes under the Herling Racing banner as does Maddie Wedeking, Cash Shaleen, and Macy McBroom in an RZR 170. Their latest addition is the new 4100 class truck of Reed Shaleen. The 4100 truck is the product of collaboration between Herling Racing, and Fusion Off-Road which Jerry Herling is
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Herling Racing prep shop located in Lake Elsinore, California.
Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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A CLOSER LOOK
Jerry Herling in his Class 3100 at the 2009 BITD Henderson 250. Photo by mikesracephoto.com
part owner with Brian Shaleen. I talked to Operations Manager Jim McBroom about Herling Racing. Jim has been racing with Jerry Herling since 2008. Mike: So you have raced in all those different classes. It sounds to me like you
really love off-road racing and have no thoughts of stopping. Jim: No; no thoughts of stopping. I’m the director of operations so I oversee all of Fusion; the fab shop, the full builds. We have two separate facilities. We have the fabrication shop and then we also have the Jerry at the wheel of his 6100 truck at this year’s Silver State 300. Photo by Daniel Noble
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A CLOSER LOOK
Herling Racing’s Women’s W1 Motorcycle team of Kimberly Loppnow and Krista Conway. Photo by Trent Noble
prep and install shop. Mike: How long has Fusion Off-Road been in existence? Jim: We just had our 20th anniversary. 2001 is when the company was founded by Brian Shaleen. UTV N/A Production Class racer Robert Campbell.
Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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Mike: Tell me about the new truck design. Jim: The new truck that we have is actually a turbo four cylinder truck; it’s called the T4. We’ve actually dedicated a class specific to that vehicle; the 4100 class. Mike: Something tells me you’ve used
Fusion Off-Road fab shop.
Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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A CLOSER LOOK
everything you’ve learned racing all those other types of vehicles to come up with this design. Jim: That’s exactly right. The goal is to make an affordable truck that’s competitive, and fun to drive. 6100 was supposed to be that and then it just you know, got crazy. This is a much smaller motor package, and 37 inch tires versus 40s so you can go with a little bit smaller shock package; just to help keep the cost down. Mike: What kind of power plant is it running? Jim: So there are two options. It’s a 2.7 liter Chevy, turbocharged motor or the same thing with a Ford. Mike: That sounds like a lot of fun. Jim: Yeah, they’re awesome. With the Chevy engine you get an eight speed transmission. With the Ford, it’s a 10 speed The new Fusion Off-Road T4 driven by Reed Shaleen. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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transmission. You can run either as a full automatic, or you can shift it. Mike: Can you use paddle shifters? Jim: Yes, that’s an option. Mike: Wow, that sounds like a blast keeping the turbo motor in the power band with all those gears. What about the body design? Is that something that you did proprietary, or does it mimic any of the manufacturers? Is it modeled after a Ford or Chevrolet or anything? Jim: We developed our own specific body for it. It’s a Fusion; our own mold. It does not mimic any truck. Mike: I’m familiar with what you typically build and I think they always look really cool. Jim: Thanks, this one is probably the coolest so far. We actually scaled up an RC truck body. It’s really awesome looking. It’s not like any other truck. It has bedsides doors
A CLOSER LOOK
gets fed. It’s usually pretty challenging up to a week before the race; figuring out the sleeping arrangements, the pit plans, the logistics, the vehicles, and the trailers. There’s a lot that goes into it. It’s worse when I’m driving too, but we have a great crew, and great volunteers that help us out. Once it comes down to the race, everybody knows what to do. We’re typically put together a week before our testing is done and ready to roll. We still have to rely on a lot of outside vendors for things
like magnafluxing, transmission rebuilds, torque converter rebuilds. So you are at the mercy of those shops to get your parts back in time. We are pretty religious about our spare packages so we have options if a part is delayed. I usually don’t think that much about it but now that I’m talking about it, I guess it’s kind of crazy what we do. Everyone loves it, and everyone gets along. It’s like a big family at Herling Racing.
Joe Herling at the recent Silver State 300. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography
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IT TAKES A TEAM
By David Nehrbass
A little different topic for this edition of “Safety First “will focus on one of our teams. Motorsports Safety Solutions is made up of nearly 60 active team members that range from Retrieval Specialists to Physicians. Each of them has a significant value to the off-road industry and what they bring to each event they work. Today we will focus on our most experienced team on our team: Rescue 11 – Karl and Nancy Hartmetz Karl and Nancy have been
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involved in off-road racing since its early years. Karl started in 1972 as the sport of off-road racing was starting to boom. Nancy got into the sport a few years later in 1977. They weren’t just fans of the sport, they were active in the building, prep, and racing of some of the sports greatest teams and race cars including time with people like Bill Stroppe, and Rod Hall. After decades of racing and chasing in the sport, Karl and Nancy, joined up with Motorsports Safety Solutions in 2010 when we started our relationship with Best in the
Come for Best in the Desert. Come back because it’s Laughlin.
Laughlin is proud to support another year of Best in the Desert and to welcome all the racers and fans. After an exciting day of kicking up dust in the desert, come enjoy dining, gaming, entertainment and more against the stunning backdrop of the Colorado River. Plan your trip at VisitLaughlin.com.
SAFETY FIRST
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Desert. They were essential to our success in Parker based on their knowledge and contacts in the Parker area. As long time Parker residents, they helped us get to know the people, the locations, the roads and locals we needed to be successful in a new area. With Karl having years of Fire Department and EMS knowledge and Nancy’s decades of medical experience, they were an instant fit for our team. Rescue 11, as they are known operate a generation 1 2010 Ford Raptor. This truck has been places Ford never dreamed of when they came out with their extreme offroad vehicle. They have helped thousands of racers from being stuck, broken, rolled over or
22 BWRC Dirt Venture Mag Q1.indd 1
injured. Their truck is not only equipped with medical equipment, fire suppression gear and extrication tools, but is very well supplied with tools and supplies to repair broken race cars. Karl’s first hand knowledge and experience of race vehicles and decades of experience put him in that rare “never give up” old school group of racers that can rig vehicles with band aids and duct tape long after others have given up. Nancy, however, offers the most critical skill at every event. Affectionately known by our team as the Keebler Elf, while Karl preps the truck, she preps the cookies! Not only does she make sure staff and volunteers get a little baggie of cookies, but each team recovered in
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SAFETY FIRST
the dirt gets a bag to ease the pain of off-road defeat. Every racer has their “Favorite” race and on our team, it is no different. We all have races we can’t wait for as the schedule comes out. For Karl and Nancy, it is the Parker races. As residents there they love the atmosphere that the Parker races bring to the community. Having been part of the original Parker 400 days and every Parker 425 since it started with Best in the Desert, these events will always sit a little higher on their memories with them. When asked what their most memorable Race experience was since they got into the sport, this is what Karl had to say: “In 1978, I was working for Bill Stroppe and had given my two weeks’ notice because Nancy had gotten an internship at the Hospital in El Centro. The team had just gotten back from the Baja 500, and I was returning pit equipment and supplies to local teams we teamed up with. I was on my way to Torrance
to Parnelli’s shop when Stroppe suddenly jumped in the truck with me (ODD!). Once I got on the freeway, he asked if the reason I was leaving was to move in with Nancy? Keep in mind Bill was OLD SCHOOL and VERY by the BOOK! When I told him yes, he then asked if we were going to get married? I admitted we had considered it. He then proceeds to TELL me that since there was a race in a couple weeks in Vegas (THE SILVERBIRD HOTEL short course race) and if we wanted to get married, he would pay for our wedding. Long story short, we got married at Circus Circus (Stroppe and Mel Larson were buddies). Stroppe paid for the wedding and dinner for everyone at the wedding.” PS. The guest list was kind of impressive too. Bill Stroppe, Willie Stroppe, Rod Hall, Jim Fricker, Gale Pike, Jamie Martinez, Judy Smith and Brad Stoffer.
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IN THE KNOW
ridefox.com/tacoma
METHOD Race Wheels 305 NV Titanium The iconic Method 305 NV is now available in our previously-limited Titanium finish. Available in 5, 6, and 8 lug options. Titanium - Matte Black Lip • Solid A356 aluminum with T6 heat treatment construction • Iconic 12 window design with debossed METHOD logos • Street-Loc V.1 lip with undercut simulates true beadlock wheel • Replaceable MRW lip bolts with optional colors available • Push through center cap with embossed METHOD logo • Flush cap appearance options available • Industry’s best lifetime structural warranty • Strong 2500 lbs. to 3640 lbs. load ratings with HD 4500 lbs. applications available Click for more Information: methodracewheels.com
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Rugged Radios R1 Handheld Radio with Digital and Analog Business Band
BETTER BY DESIGN The new digital workhorse is here; Rugged R1 Handheld radio! Whether it is a race team, job site, security force or workforce, this handheld will keep your team connected. With singles to six packs this radio can expand to meet your needs. Featuring a standard 2-pin connector, there is an incredible array of existing accessories available from lapel mics to headsets to car harnesses - you name it. FEATURE LOADED • An Easy-To-Use Keypad and Interface • Customizable Channel Preset Buttons • Compatible with Most Business Radios, Regardless of Brand – Including the V3, RH5R, & more! • Powerful 5-Watt Transmitter • Optimized Receiver • Versatility of DMR/Analog Cross Compatibility • Vast Accessories, Extended Range Antennas, XL Batteries, Mics and Headsets Click for more Information: ruggedradios.com/blogs/news/r1-handheld-radio-andaccessories-for-any-environment
Rugged Radios MAC Air Helmet Pumper System Stay Cool and Breathe Easy with Rugged Radios MAC Air Helmet Pumper system! Whether you’re desert racing in Baja, blasting through sand dunes, cruising a dusty fire road, or hitting the short course track, our MAC Air helmet pumper is a must-have for comfort and dust control. The MAC Air Pumper high-volume housing utilizes a proprietary designed, high-static pressure fan. This combination gives the MAC Air Pumper more pressure and more volume than any other helmet pumper currently available! The MAC Air takes helmet air pressure and air volume to a new level. From start to finish, the MAC Air is built to perform. 2 Person Starting at $225 4 Person Starting at $245 Click for more Information: ruggedradios.com/blogs/news/stay-cool-and-breathe-easywith-the-mac-air-helmet-pumper-system
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IN THE KNOW KC FLEX ERA® 3 - COMPACT and POWERFUL The KC FLEX ERA® 3 is a high-performance LED light in an iconic triangle-shaped housing packed with 3,672 lumens. Packed with incredible technology such as a bright Amber LED Backlight and the ability to customize the beam pattern and bezel color in less than a minute, the FE3 lights are perfect ditch lights and front bumper lights on your UTV or truck. • Easily changeable beam pattern lenses (Spot or Combo) • Gold, Blue, Black, and Red bezel options • 3,672 lumens per light at 40W each • Signature FLEX Aesthetics and housing design • Includes covers and full wiring kit Click for more Information: kchilites.com/flex-era-3-2-light-system.html
WESTIN XTS Front Bumper The XTS Front Bumper from Westin is an attractive, winchcapable upgrade that enhances both front end protection and functionality and features a low profile winch mount to improve air flow. It provides maximum strength and durability by employing a lightweight 10-gauge steel shell combined with a solid 4-gauge center section capable of accommodating most recovery winches up to 12k lbs. The XTS Front Bumper adds welded mounting points for recovery. The XTS front bumper is fully compatible with factory sensors and capable of adding either an angular or round bull bar (sold separately) for added grille protection and styling. It also provides a wide variety of auxiliary lighting mounting points and features a durable textured black powder coat finish with an e-coated base coat, backed by a 3-year warranty. Includes all necessary mounting hardware for a hassle-free installation. Click for more Information: westinautomotive.com
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• • • • • • • • tensortire.com
METHOD Race Wheels 414 UTV Bead Grip With a style inspired by our original Method 401 UTV wheel the all new 414 UTV Bead Grip® combines iconic looks with our patented Bead Grip technology for all types of riding in all terrains! Numerous sizes available in multiple offsets. Offerings in both 4 lug and 5 lug fitments. And an all-new Gloss Graphite finish, the new 414 has you covered.
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Matte Black | Gloss Graphite • Patented Bead Grip® technology engages tire bead for increased grip at low tire pressures • Solid A356 aluminum with T6 heat treatment construction • Iconic 12 window design with debossed METHOD logos • Aggressive safety hump on bead seats further prevents de-beading • Reinforced inner lip taken from MRW race wheel increases strength • Snap-in center cap with embossed METHOD Bead Grip® logo • Super strong 1600 lbs. load rating Click for more Information: methodracewheels.com
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OFFICIAL APPAREL
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Racers will now be setting their sights on the METHOD RACE WHEELS “CASEY FOLKS” VEGAS TO RENO race coming up August 10th–13th. Photo by Justin Brown Photo
PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Bink Designs
Daniel Curiel Photographic Daniel Noble Photography Desertracingphotos.com Dirtfocus.com Dirt Nation
HighRev Photography Mikesracephoto.com RnR Photos
Trent Noble
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THE EVENT THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE GREATEST OFF-ROAD RACING ASSOCIATION
TRUCKS - CARS - UTVs - MOTORCYCLES - QUADS
ESERT D E H T BES T IN H T I W E V ENTUR D A R U LIVE YO Wednesday, August 10: Event Expo, Contingency, Tech Inspection and Rider / Driver Registration Thursday, August 11: Time Trials for Trick Truck, 1500, 6100, 6200, 1000, 7200, UTV Production Turbo and Open Pro Motorcycle • Full Live Stream Time Trials Coverage • Live Update Show will Stream On the BITD Facebook Friday, August 12: Race Day Two 1-Hour Post Race Television Shows Airing on CBS Sports Network Approximately Two and Three Weeks After the Race For information contact: Best In The Desert Racing Association • (702) 457-5775 • Website: www.bitd.com • Email: bitd@bitd.com
