RJ ANDERSON WINS ANOTHER CRANDON CUP
ISSUE 9 VOL 1
The Voice Of Off-Road Motorsports
OCTOBER 2020
N I A G A S E K I R T S J R E H T INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BAJA 500: BIG WIN SOUTH OF THE BORDER
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+ FUN IN THE SAND AT OCEAN CITY JEEP WEEK + ULTRA4 AREA BFE BEATDOWN
MASTERPIECE OF METAL: WILSON’S NEW WINNER
CHAMPIONSHIP OFFROAD CROWNS SEASON CHAMPIONS
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WORD
RIDING SEASON STARTS THIS MONTH! Halloween weekend marks the start to the traditional desert “riding season.” For the last several years, Polaris has taken over a small portion of the dunes for their annual Camp RZR event. Polaris owners from all over flock to the Imperial Sand Dunes known as “Glamis” for the event which features group rides, vendors, giveaways and live entertainment. This year’s Polaris Camp RZR event has been canceled, but that won’t stop hundreds of OHV enthusiasts from heading to Glamis, Halloween weekend, just as they have done in the years prior to the Polaris event. The Imperial Sand Dunes at Glamis are open and managed by the federal government. Laws at the dunes are enforced by the Bureau of Land Management. Over the years, BLM has cracked down on DUI and speeding as well as a whole host of other things they see as violations, so my advice is use extreme caution out there. The popular Oceano Dunes OHV area remains closed to vehicular traffic and camping. So far there has been no update on when the dunes will be re-opened. Vehicle traffic has been restricted here since the beginning of the pandemic. It is managed by California State Parks. The Oceano Dunes is the only place in California where you can actually drive on the beach. There are plenty of other areas to play in the desert and camp. Temperatures are cooling off which means its time to dust off those dirt-bikes, quads and UTV’s and get out there and ride! Shaun Ochsner Editor-In-Chief Dirt Sports World
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TABLE OF CONTENTS REGULAR DIRT>
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WORD
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
8 NEW PRODUCT
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DIRTWORLD
61 CALENDAR 62 CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
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FEATURES>
12 TRADITIONS CONTINUE AT CRANDON
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23 SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP SURPRISES 30 BAJA 500: BIG WIN SOUTH OF THE BORDER
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34 YOUNG GUNS: PRO-LITE PRODIGY 38 ULTRA4 AREA BFE BEATDOWN 46 WILSON’S CLASS ONE WINNER
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52 OCEAN CITY JEEP WEEK
TECH>
39 HOW TO PROPERLY WIRE SAFETY BOLTS Contributing Photography Publisher Shaun Ochsner DirtSports Inc. Eric Minks Editor-In-Chief Ford Shaun Ochsner Sales and Management Chris Ramey Steve Hanson Dave Arnold LaChelle Halliday Contributing Editors Amanda Fonferek LaChelle Halliday Eric Minks Steve Hanson Harlen Foley Chris Ramey Email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com Dave Arnold Website: www.dirtsportsworld.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA DIRTSPORTSWORLD
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DIRTSPORTSWORLD
DIRTSPORTSWORLD
NEWS Troy Lee Team to Run GASGAS Motorcycles in 2021 The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Team will run GASGAS motorcycles in 2021 for both their Supercross and Pro Motocross Championship Teams. The announcement came as GASGAS unveiled their 2021 Motocross bike line-up. The TLD team currently runs KTM models.
the first time the company has competed in Supercross and Outdoor Motocross. GASGAS has been known for their championship winning Trial bikes.
GASGAS has three new motocross bikes. The MC 125, MC 250F and MC 450F. This will be
Crandon International Raceway and Jamey Flannery Trucking Team Up to Donate Police K9’s Crandon International Raceway and Jamey Flannery Trucking have teamed up for a unique donation. The track and trucking company are donating two police drug enforcement K9’s to the Forest County Sheriff ’s Department. Crandon International Raceway has operated as a nonprofit club, pouring millions of dollars back into the local community. The donation was inspired by the loss of two K9’s at the department. K9 Leroy passed away after two years of service to the department. A second K9 named Mek is officially retiring in October after eight years’ service to the department. The German Shepherds can cost the department $18,000 each. “This facility and our history are built on the contributions of so many people in the past 51 years,” said Crandon President Cliff Flannery. “With the help of Jamey Flannery we were able to provide our Sheriff ’s Department with a contribution that will help this community for years. Giving back is a big part of our mission at Crandon International, and keeping that tradition alive in 2020 is a great feeling for all of us.” DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 5
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
Polaris Partners with Zero Motorcycles to Develop Electric Orv’s
Polaris has signed a 10-year partnership with Zero Motorcycles. Zero develops electric powertrains and technology. The partnership expands Polaris commitment to manufacture electrified vehicles, offering an electric vehicle option across all core product segments by 2025. The Polaris program is called rEV’d up.
“Thanks to advancements in power, pricing and performance over the last several years, and with customer interest surging, now is the right time for Polaris, with Zero Motorcycles as a key strategic partner, to implement our rEV’d up initiative and aggressively accelerate our position in powersports electrification,” said Scott Wine, chairman and CEO of Polaris. “Zero Motorcycles’ pioneering electrification experience, proven leadership, and electric powertrain technologies are unmatched in the market. We believe this transformative partnership will enable us to leapfrog technological hurdles around range and cost while providing a tremendous speed-to-market advantage – an instant offense. Leveraging the strengths of our teams and a shared culture of innovation and passion for this industry, Polaris and Zero will collaborate to shape the future of powersports.” The partnership helps elevate the Zero Motorcycle brand. Polaris will have access to Zero’s technology, hardware and software to help develop the vehicles.
Sara Price Launches Burn Fuel Brand
Off-Road racer Sara Price has launched her own brand, Burn Fuel. The brand is operating as an online retailer selling merchandise such as hats, shirts and other material goods. The Burn Fuel brand is built on passion and more than just burning gasoline. Price got her start racing motocross and X-Games before she moved to four wheels competing in Best in The Desert, SCORE and the Rallye Aicha Des Gazelles in Morocco. Price was recently named as a driver for the new Xtreme-E Series on the Chip Ganassi race team. ‘’I couldn’t be more excited to help connect and inspire a whole community of driven and passionate people. Burn Fuel is proof that If you can dream it, you can achieve it’’ said Price.
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Polaris RZR Announces 2021 Dakar Team For the first time, Polaris is announcing a factory-backed RZR Dakar team. Polaris will be sending three of their drivers to the 2021 Dakar Rally with full team support. Craig Scanlon, Kristen Matlock and Wayne Matlock have been announced to the team. The team will make their Dakar debut in the SSV class. The Matlocks and Scanlon will campaign the 2021 Polaris RZR Pro XP. In addition to the three talented drivers, Darren Skilton will manage the team. Skilton has more than 25 years’ experience at Dakar. Polaris is also bringing along experienced navigators Sam Hayes, Max Eddy and Keith Redstrom. Kristen Matlock is just coming off a huge win at the SCORE Baja 500. “In the world of offroad racing, getting the chance to participate in the Dakar Rally is an opportunity of a lifetime, and we are humbled to be part of RZR’s inaugural group of racers,” said Wayne Matlock. “We are thrilled to be backed by this industry-leading team and an incredible
army of sponsors to help prepare us and our machines for this endeavor.” The 2021 Dakar Rally will be held January 3rd, 2021 through January 15th, 2021 in Saudi Arabia.
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NEW PRODUCT
A Look at the Ford Ranger Tremor Off-Road Package The Ford Ranger has always been a favorite vehicle for off-roaders to customize. The 2021 FX 4 trim level Ranger is already capable off-road with its many features. Ford has now introduced the Tremor Off-Road Package for the popular mid-size truck. The Tremor Off-Road Package starts with a lifted suspension and redesigned front knuckles. The package comes with 32-inch General Grabber A/TX all-terrains mounted on custom 17-inch Magnetic-painted wheels. For those keeping score, that’s 9.7 combined inches of ground clearance. You also get FOX 2.0 mono tube dampers with rear piggy reservoirs and hydraulic rebound stops that are custom tuned for pavement driving and movement over some of the most punishing terrain in off-road. A multi-leaf rear spring setup enables increased wheel travel. Recovery tow hooks can be found front and rear. A frame-mounted steel front bash plate and underbody skid plate protect vital components underneath the truck. There is also a rear-locking differential with a custom terrain management system that include four drive modes plus the proprietary Trail Control. Accessories such as winches, lights and air compressors can easily be added and connected to the six-switch auxiliary power bank. 8 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
FORD RANGER TREMOR OFF-ROAD PACKAGE
Special badging is also added to the Ranger with an optional hood and body graphics package. The Tremor Off-Road Package is available on mid XLT and high Lariat series 2021 Ranger trucks with the SuperCrew 4x4 configuration. Pricing for the Tremor Off-Road Package starts at $4,290 MSRP. Production is slated to begin at Ford’s Wayne, Michigan assembly plant early next year.
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BIG CRANDON
DESERT CLEAN-UP
We couldn’t agree more!
Say what?
LOORRS WHEATLAND
DIRT WORLD
Howdy, partner
DESERT CLEAN-UP
BIG CRANDON
After Chucky got married, he has been hiding out in the desert.
BIG CRANDON
Eye protection recommended
Is lawn mower racing a new class at Crandon?
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THE WORLD IS A DIRTY PLACE
BIG CRANDON
BIG CRANDON
The “fanny pack” is making a come-back
Is that a European chase truck?
DESERT CLEAN-UP
BIG CRANDON
Ridin dirty with the G-Wagon
Thanks for the reminder
BIG CRANDON
SU BM YO IT U PH R OT O SEND US YOUR CRAZY PHOTO OUT IN THE DIRT AND WE MAY FEATURE IT HERE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE. Email to: Dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com
Introducing the happy hat ladies
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S N O I T I D TRA N O D N A R C AT CONTINUE
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rj anderson wins second consecutive crandon cup story and photos: Shaun ochsner
COVER STORY
N
ot even a worldwide pandemic could cancel racing at Crandon International Raceway. The venue has been hosting races for 51 years without interruption, and this year was no exception. While events around the world have been rescheduled or all-out canceled, the Labor Day race weekend continued a longstanding Crandon tradition. Camping spots were sold out like usual. Hand sanitizer and social distancing measures were in place on the normally packed hill. Masks were recommended but not required. The weekend of events kicked off with a private party at Jamey Flannery’s lakeside residence along Metonga Lake. The night’s entertainment included country recording artist Joe Nichols. The downtown Crandon Parade began on time at high noon as usual
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TRADITIONS AT CRANDON CONTINUE
The parade saw its usual tributes to the history of Crandon International Raceway. Dozens of race-ready vehicles drove in procession to the track to kick off the afternoon of racing with the sportsman classes. Saturday’s event was a point race for the inaugural season of Championship Off-Road. In the Pro-Light class, Cole Mamer grabbed the holeshot in Turn One and never looked back! BELOW: Nitro Circus star Travis Pastrana was The Pro-2 class saw a full field. Cory Winner behind the wheel of a Pro-2 during the weekend. was back behind the wheel after getting injured
ABOVE: An injury sidelined Cory Winner at the first race of the season.
during qualifying of the opening Championship Off Road Rounds at ERX Motorsports Park. Also behind the wheel was Nitro Circus Star Travis Pastrana, who campaigned a Pro-2 from Carlson Motorsports. Amid all of the chaos, Jerett Brooks let everybody know west coast racers had the Crandon track dialed in.
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COVER STORY
The most eventful race of the day was in the Pro-4 class. Racing got off to its usual start. A few laps into the race, Jamey Flannery got underneath Bryce Menzies causing Menzies to fly through the air in a spectacular crash. Just a few laps later, Johnny Greaves earned crash of the day while racing hard with Kyle Leduc for the lead. Greaves hit a rut just before turn one, losing control of the truck, rolling over several time in a heart stopping crash. Fortunately, the safety team got to him quickly and it was determined Greaves would be ok. The truck suffered major damage. Kyle Leduc went on to win the race. The final race of the night saw the Ultra4 vehicles hit the track. The race started well past 8pm, so racers had to use their lights. Ultra4 racers are used to racing in the dark. Running through the woods of Crandon International Raceway, there are plenty of dark spots. One wrong move and you may
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end up off track into a tree. For Bailey Cole, his wrong move came when he submerged his vehicle into a pond. Cole was able to quickly get out and the car was later recovered. Miraculously, the vehicle started right up. The rest of the field flew by Cole running up a custom rock garden and back out onto the short course track. Loren Healy took the victory.
TRADITIONS AT CRANDON CONTINUE
ABOVE: Doug Mittag kicks off the day of World Cup Racing with a win.
The final day of racing at Crandon is what everyone looks forward to. The Crandon World Championships. It’s a big payday! The winner gets a large check, a brand-new Polaris RZR 1000 and of course a World Championship Ring. The Pro-2 World Championship event kicked off with Jerett Brooks battling hard with Doug Mittag. Brooks ended up pulling off the track with a mechanical issue. This left Rob MacCachren to chase down Mittag, but in the end it wasn’t enough and Mittag took the victory.
settled, Cenni pulled off the track leaving the 3rd podium spot open for Cole Mamer who got his feet wet, racing his first weekend in a Pro-4. Cole Mamer was back out front in the ProLight Cup race, but a mechanical issue would end his race early. Rookie Zach Szymik found the front of the pack and stayed there. Szymik pulled off his first Pro-Light win. Winning at Crandon and getting that championship ring made the win extra special for Szymik.
In the Pro-4 cup, Kyle Leduc was untouchable. CJ Greaves was putting the pressure on Leduc but with 2 laps to go, Greaves crashed ending the race for him. Behind both Leduc and Greaves, RJ Anderson and Adrian Cenni were locked in a tight battle for 2nd. When the dust
RIGHT: Zach Szymik celebrates his first career Pro-Light victory. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 17
COVER STORY
The final event is called the Crandon Cup. This race runs much like a UFC championship fight. The only difference is everybody is in the ring for the fight. Pro-4 vs. Pro-2. Pro-2 starts first. Seconds later Pro-4 roars through turn one. It doesn’t take long for Pro-4 drivers to catch the Pro-2’s. The skill here is those 4-wheeled drivers have to navigate traffic to make it to the front. They have limited amount laps to get there. In the final laps, RJ Anderson was in a familiar groove running out front with what was left of the rest of the field chasing him down. Anderson won the Crandon Cup event in 2019 and he was back for another victory. When asked how he did it, Anderson said “we kept it cool and saved the truck for when it mattered. So pumped!” Many drivers have won the Cup multiple times, there is an extremely short list of drivers who have back to back wins. RJ Anderson now joins that exclusive club.
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ABOVE: RJ Anderson poses for a photo with sponsor and legend Walker Evans. Walker also has back to back Cup wins.
Menzies Crandon Crash: Bryce Menzies goes for a wild ride after contact with Jamey Flannery during the Pro-4 event at Crandon. Photo: Shaun Ochsner
CAPTURED
Greaves Heart Stopper: Johnny Greaves involved in a heartstopping crash rolling several times while leading Pro-4 at Crandon. Greaves was ok. Photo: Harlen Foley
IN MY OWN WORDS
25 YEARS LATER
DAVE ARNOLD’S RETURN TO CRANDON
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s far as short course racing in the Midwest, there is one place that comes to mind. That’s Crandon¬– a.k.a. “The Big House” where short course off-road racing was born over 50 years ago! Growing up on the West Coast, I was exposed to a lot of off-road through motocross and off-road racing at Glen Helen through the hills as well as desert racing in Baja, and of course the Mickey Thompson Stadium Series, which actually introduced me to true short course! The story truly begins 25 years ago when my grandfather was the CFO for Borg Warner. Basically the man that controls the money. He told me about a deal that they were doing back in Crandon, Wisconsin which involved putting together the Borg Warner Cup. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 21
RETURN TO CRANDON 25 YEARS LATER
Making the decision to do the pilgrimage back to Crandon 25 years later was an exciting proposition. Upon arriving in Appleton and a scenic 2-hour drive to Crandon, anticipation grew in my mind about what has changed. Arriving at the track, things started to look familiar. The barn where we picked up our passes gave me the first glimpse that things have stayed the same.
As Friday came, I watched the parade in downtown Crandon. It was great to see all the people out in the town, especially under the circumstances that our country is in right now. Seeing all the race vehicles lined up along Main street brought some normalcy back to my mind. There were the same historic buildings lining downtown as the race procession headed to the track. The amount of people that lined the parade route gave great growth to a city of less than 2000 in population. Other than a few boarded up businesses, life seemed pretty bad seat in the house. normal in downtown. How great is it to sit on a grassy hill under Upon entering the track, my heart and mind was blue skies surrounded by a green forest with chocolate cake dirt for the racers to tear it up! pleased to see that everything looked how I remembered it, other than a few buildings with At that point I knew I was home and in my a new coat of paint! People still sat with their happy place! chairs set up elbow to elbow on the grass hill. One thing for sure, it’s nice to see that things sometimes don’t change! If you’re a fan of It was as if life was back to normal. Looking up at turn one, there are the new grandstands, short course offering I highly suggest you make the pilgrimage to “The Big House” at which added to the viewing for the folks that least once in your lifetime! bought the grandstand tickets. There isn’t a 22| DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
SHORT COURSE
Season Championship Surprises
Championship Off-Road holds final race of the season and crowns champions.
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Story by: Shaun Ochsner Photos by: Amanda Fonferek
he inaugural season of the Championship Off Road Series is in the books. The season proved to be successful, even with a few minor rescheduling issues amid the chaos of this year’s COVID pandemic. Championship Off Road was able to get all of their rounds of racing in. The points battle was tight in almost all of the classes. The final two rounds of racing were held at Crandon, just a few weeks after the annual Labor Day event. The series threw in a twist. Night racing. Neither Championship Off Road or Crandon had ever hosted a night race. Rain made for some slick conditions and challenges for racers. Kyle Leduc has held the top spot on the podium at all but three rounds. CJ Greaves was the only Pro-4 driver to replace Leduc. Despite CJ’s efforts, Leduc earned 223 total points earning DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 23
CHAMPIONSHIP OFF-ROAD
him the season championship. Leduc made the decision earlier this year to run the full Championship Off Road season after Lucas Oil dropped the Pro-4 class from its schedule. The Pro-2 points battle was tight. Keegan Kincaid and Kyle Kleiman went into the final weekend at Crandon with just 7 points separating each other. Kleiman battled for the lead during the Saturday night event with Mickey Thomas. The slick rainy conditions made it tough for Kleiman who also made contact with Ryan Beat during the race, doing everything he could to get up front. Kleiman took second keeping rival Keegan Kincaid behind him. The next day Kleiman was victorious, winning the race. Kincaid ended up in third. Kleiman had earned enough points to secure the championship.
RIGHT: Kyle Kleiman celebrates a hard-fought season championship in the Pro-2 class. 24 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP
There was also a tight point battle in Pro-Light. Kyle Greaves started out the season, sweeping the first two weekends. Carson Parrish broke Greaves winning streak at the second ERX event in mid-August. Greaves rallied back to his usual spot on the podium just a day later. West coast racer Cole Mamer came out with a big win at Crandon, Labor Day weekend.
Greaves had to settle for 11th after colliding with other trucks on the track. At the final Crandon weekend, Greaves championship hopes slipped away after breaking a tie rod during Saturday night’s race. Sunday Greaves again did not make the podium. For rookie John Holtger, staying focused and consistent was the key. Holtger spent several rounds in either 2nd or 3rd on the podium. His luck turned around at the final event with a big win. That win earned Holtger just enough points to pass Greaves for the championship. A very nice surprise to end the season!
Rookie John Holtger’s first career ProLight Crandon win earned him enough points to win the season championship. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 25
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Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Arizona Triple-Header story and photos: Shaun ochsner
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he Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series hosted their second triple-header of the season in Chandler, Arizona. The event was held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Daytime temperatures in Arizona at this time of the year still reach into the 100’s. Since there were no spectators allowed at the event, Lucas Oil opted to run races in the cooler morning hours. Parts of the track were redesigned early in the year with the help of Pro-4 racer Kyle Leduc. Unfortunately for Leduc, the series would drop the Pro-4 class and Leduc would not get the opportunity to race at Wild Horse Pass. The track was run in reverse, a first for the venue. It took some getting used to by the racers to figure out the jumps and table tops. Some paid the price of the steep learning curve in practice with a few spectacular crashes. Some crews worked throughout the night for the Round 6 early start. With no spectators, the races on the schedule started earlier than posted. The first Pro race
LUCAS OIL OFF ROAD RACING SERIES
of the day was Pro-Lite. Christopher Polvoorde started out front but would cause a caution early in the race with a broken throttle cable. The victory went to Brock Heger. In Round 7, Heger was back out front with Cole Mamer in 2nd. Heger led the race wire-to-wire. Mamer finally got his victory in Round 8. Heger had to settle for ninth. In Round 6 of Pro-Buggy, Matt Brister was out front. Elliot Watson was right behind putting huge pressure on the leader. Brister ended up getting a right rear flat allowing Watson to snag the lead and the victory. In Round 7, Brister was back out front. Watson made an early move for the lead. Brister attempted to regain the lead but was not successful. With 3 laps to go, Brister had another tire go down. Watson also took the victory in Round 8 giving him six consecutive wins and a second weekend sweep.
ABOVE: Matt Brister and Elliot Watson battle hard for the lead in Pro Buggy. 28 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
ABOVE: Brock Heger took wins in both Round 6 and Round 7. BELOW: Cole Mamer broke Heger’s winning streak in Round 8.
ARIZONA TRIPLE-HEADER
The Round 6 Pro-2 race saw Jerett Brooks lead wire to wire and take a victory. In Round 7, Ryan Beat was out front. Doug Mittag put a huge amount of pressure on Beat, almost stealing the lead. Beat held Mittag off for a major win in the class. In Round 8, Brooks was back in the top spot on the podium. Myles Cheek had a weekend sweep in Production UTV. Cheek has been on the podium at every single round and leads the points standings over Brock Heger.
Jerett Brooks won Rounds 6 & 8
Ryan Beat celebrates a hard earned victory.
Myles Cheek has consistently been on the podium at every round. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 29
BAJA 500
BIG
WIN
South of the Border for Dan McMillin
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ravel restrictions and the COVID-19 Pandemic caused the 2020 SCORE International series to come to a grinding halt. SCORE had been set host four events all along the Baja Peninsula this year. The first event to be held in San Felipe had to be postponed a week into the pandemic as countries and economies shut down. Dates for the San Felipe 250 were moved and eventually canceled. Dates for the Baja 500 traditionally held in Ensenada also had to be moved several times as travel restrictions were continuously extended.
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Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Daniel Curiel
SCORE International finally made the decision to host the Baja 500 in San Felipe along the sea of Cortez. The dates were finally approved by the local government and the race was on. A 493-mile course was laid out, starting in San Felipe, going north towards Mexicali before turning back south. Many teams were still on the fence about traveling and racing south of the border. BF Goodrich pulled their normal
pit support operations banning its employees from going into Mexico at the risk of contracting COVID-19. The teams that did race, saw big dividends. SCORE held its usual qualifying session for Class 1, Trophy Truck and Trophy Truck Spec. Top qualifying honors went to fan favorite, Robby Gordon. Gordon’s “Unicorn” Trophy Truck would be first off the line on race-day. The Baja 500 had a different look and feel this year. Because of COVID restrictions, contact with the Baja population was limited. Registration, tech and contingency were held in a secure location at the El Dorado ranch. Typically, contingency activities are much like a Mexican fiesta with vendors, race teams all partying down the Malecon. Access was extremely limited and masks along with social distancing were required elements.
RACE REPORT
ABOVE: Robby Gordon was the top qualifier. He started out front in clean air leading the race for several hours.
On race-day, Robby Gordon shot out into the desert and held the lead for the first couple of hours of the race. Tim Herbst was hot on Gordon’s tail just seconds behind in the #19 Trophy Truck. Gordon would eventually lose some time, changing a tire. Herbst took the lead. Gordon got back on the gas, passing Tim Herbst. Mr. Herbst wasn’t having any of it and made another pass for the lead bringing the truck to San Felipe first over the finish line. The drama wasn’t over there as officials still needed to review tracking data.
ABOVE: Dan McMillin finishes physically in second. He wouldn’t learn of his Baja 500 until the next morning after tracking data was reviewed DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 31
SCORE BAJA 500
ABOVE: Santiago Creel, 34, from Mexico City took a victory in the Trophy Truck Spec Class.
Once the dust settled, Herbst would receive unspecified penalties. The overall win was awarded to 32-year old Dan McMillin. McMillin, driving a 4-wheel drive Mason Motorsports built Trophy Truck finally got a win. McMillin spent months racing against his younger brother Luke who took stateside wins. McMillin shared driving duties with Justin “Bean” Smith. “We tried to go fast when we could go fast and just save the truck when we had to do it. Our goal here was to get a good spot for the SCORE Baja 1000 and it looks like we’re there. We played it smart and hopefully we start the SCORE Baja 1000, the granddaddy of them all, on a good spot,”
said Smith at the finish line. The win puts the McMillin trophy truck first off the line for the Baja 1000 in November. Cody and Brian Parkhouse grabbed a Class 1 victory at the Baja 500. Kristen Matlock won in the Pro UTV class and Santiago Creel from Mexico City took the win in the Trophy Truck Spec Class. With the upcoming Baja 500 in November, racing is back– South of the Border.
ABOVE: Kristen Matlock on her way to a ProUTV win in her Polaris RZR XP Pro 32 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
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
YOUNG GUNS
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MADIX BAILEY
PRO-LITE
PRODIGY A
t just 16 years old, Madix Bailey has some big shoes to fill. Both his dad and grandfather are off-road racers. Brandon Bailey raced the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in the Superlite class. Both Brandon and Scott Bailey still race today, together in the desert. Madix Bailey started racing in the Junior 1 Trophy Kart class at 5 years old in the Lucas Oil Regional Series. Madix moved up to the Junior 2 class and finally the competitive Modified Kart class. Madix struggled in the class trying to make the elusive podium and even more elusive season championship. It was enough for him to stop racing and take some time off.
STORY: SHAUN OCHSNER PHOTOS: SHAUN , When racing is in your blood, it’s impossible OCHSNER & ERIC MINKS not to get behind the wheel. Today, Madix is
YOUNG GUNS
in his rookie season of ProLite. A little older, a little smarter, he has quickly become one to watch this season. Madix has been out front leading the field at a couple races and found himself on the podium at every round. All of that consistency has put Madix second in the championship points standings at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. He sits nine points behind leader Brock Heger. Madix says he is still chasing his first win in the Pro-Lite class. The name on the door of his Pro-Lite says it all: “Madman” To familiarize himself with the truck, Madix did some testing in the off-season and ran a couple of regional events. Madix says racing with the fastest drivers can be nerve-racking but says drivers like Brock Heger and Cole Mamer drive a clean race and he has fun battling with them on the track.
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Racing for Madix doesn’t stop at short-course. He can also be found in the desert in a class 10 buggy. Madix is learning the ropes of the desert program. It’s completely different for him. If there is a problem, it’s just Madix and a co-driver. There are no hot pits to
MADIX BAILEY
drive into and fix a flat tire. The nearest mechanical support may be miles away, so Madix and co-driver need to be on their game to fix the problem in the middle of nowhere. He says he also needs to learn to pace himself. Madix looks forward to the future. He is in contention for rookie of the year in Pro-Lite. Madix has his sights set on a championship in the class next year. One day he hopes to move into the Pro-2 class. Madix inspiration comes from legends such as Carl Renezeder and Rob “Fig” Naughton. Madix wants to race at Crandon next year. He jokes about his RC car World Championship. Madix wants to win a Pro-Lite race at the legendary race track. He also has his sights set on a Baja 1000 win. There are plans to share driving duties next year with his dad and grandfather. Three generations of Baileys all working towards a Baja win.
“I am so stoked we are doing this well.”
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ULTRA4
Area BFE Delivers Beatdown on Ultra-4 Racers
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midst the chaos entrapping the world, a cloud of dust rises above the mountain ridge just 16 miles south of Moab, Utah. With the rising sun cresting over the red rock, the harmonization of engines penetrates the crisp September air as the Ultra4 Beatdown begins to commence. The race, having been moved from Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno,
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STORY AND PHOTOS: LaChelle Halliday Nevada to Moab only a few short weeks prior, marks the opening and first official use of Area BFE, Moab since its original closure in 2018. The past two years Area BFE has taken on a new look as a culmination of friends, family and multiple volunteers began the excruciating and daunting task of cleaning the off-road park. Huge washouts from mother nature
AREA BFE BEATDOWN
proved to be a continual struggle as they were repaired continuously despite previous efforts. Volunteers cleared the dead pinion trees while collecting trash and nails from burnt pallets that scattered the property to ensure a safe reopening. Thus, showing the elevated interest and determination from the closely-knit collection within the offroad community. Ultra4 is a worldwide series of off-road racing and the driving force behind the toughest one-day off-road race on the planet: King of the Hammers. KOH evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer to more than 300 teams competing in front of 35,000+ in person fans, and nearly 500,000 watching online. Due to this incredible success, KOH officials
officials created the Ultra4 Racing Series with seven races throughout the country. Each of the seven races stands as a qualifier for the yearly King of the Hammers race as drivers compete in a wide variety of terrain ranging from endurance desert racing to intricate short course racing and finally the technical and widely known competition style rock crawling. Currently, Ultra4 contains 8 races in the US, 4 races in Europe, 1 race in Australia, and an exhibition in China taking place on both public land and private property around the world. Qualifying took place late afternoon Friday September 18th beginning with class 4600 scrambling off the line to gain any advantage each competitor could obtain. 2020 KOH winner Jesse Haines accelerated through the ¼ mile course with a fully custom suspension on his diesel operated crawler succumbing to a quick 1:46 qualification time placing him into the pole position. The evening continued to showcase the power each competitor was holding caged within each vehicle as each driver took on the short course to ensure a decent starting position. The Can-am UTV class of 4900 was graciously attended by legend “Showtime” Jeremy McGrath as he battled the heavy dust throughout the trails landing a solid DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 39
ULTRA4
5th in qualifying with a 1:12 time. Only allowed once per season, Cole Clark was requested to race for James Cantrell as he was unable to attend due to mechanical issues but could host a fill in driver to collect points for the championship. As the sun began to fall beneath the hillside, the unlimited class sped through the quarter-mile one by one with the fastest qualifying time of 59 seconds held by self-built IFS car #19 Paul Horshel. Jeff Mckinlay, in the #34 single seat IFS Jimmies car, was the first to tumble down the rock front, laying on his side as he attempted to beat Paul Horshel’s unbelievable time. Although no vehicle, no matter builder, sponsor or driver could beat the infamous 59 second qualifying time each unlimited build took their hand to compete in the next days race.
Race day never comes early enough when you ask off-road enthusiasts. After a few hours slumber or shot-gunning a can or two of monster before the sunrise, it was finally the day we all had been anticipating. Looking out across the red rock formations to the buzzing from the starting line, this was going to be one hell of a race! Jesse Haines was the first to enter the course trudging his stock class vehicle through the hills, climbing uphill against rock formations larger than the 35-inch tires mounted to his chassis. The desert already had proved to be a challenge as the KOH winner, who led the first two of three laps, dropped back struggling to finish the final lap to ensure a finishing position. Haines succumbed to a 3rd place
RIGHT: Cole Clark celebrates a UTV win at the Area BFE Beatdown. ABOVE: Mark Welch slides into second place at the finish
finish while Josh Atteberry snuck in by taking 1st place. Following the 4600-stock class, engines began to growl as the 4900 UTV class lined up ready to challenge the desert. Cole Clark zipped off the starting line as the first UTV 40 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
AREA BFE BEATDOWN
on course leading the 16 competitors behind him, including Travis Zollinger who was 9th to come off the line. The desert abuse was being felt by each driver including legend Jeremy McGrath as his UTV was deemed a DNF at only 21 minutes into the race. Clark, who was racing for James Cantrell, battled through the 4 laps continuing to keep his pole position, ultimately landing himself on top of the podium. Zollinger fought to overtake each competitor as he rounded each lap of the course, eventually passing two UTVs marking him as the 7th finisher from the class. High noon marked the start of the Legends and Modified classes in a joint side by side endurance race with Cade Rodd leading the chaos through 5 laps around a mangled and abused course created from the previous races. Cade efficiently navigated his #4807 car through the tribulations set in front of him to deliver a steady run planting him center stage as the 1st place leader for the 4800 legends class. Following Cades path through the dirt, and joining him on the podium was Cody Young and Matthew Trebino who on an earlier lap ran out of fuel just before the finish line. His co-driver hurriedly ran to the designated hot pits, snatched the fuel can, dragging
it back to the silent broke down car, sadly sitting in the dust sprayed by passing teams. Once refueled Trebino scurried off to contest the time lost on the course passing teams to quickly regain his ultimate 3rd place finish. The 4500 Modified class saw its own trials during the 5 laps as Dan Fresh, Shawn Rants Sr. and Kenneth Goodall dashed through the brush, and across the rocky bed of boulders that lay in their paths. Dan, finishing 1st, completed the laps in ample time ahead of his competitors even when he lost his lockers on lap 3 and had to winch himself off the Greenday trail. Unlike most of the competition Fresh didn’t succumb to a flat on his Falken tires.
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 41
ULTRA4
dragging it back to the silent broke down car, sadly sitting in the dust sprayed by passing teams. Once refueled Trebino scurried off to contest the time lost on the course passing teams to quickly regain his ultimate 3rd place finish. The 4500 Modified class saw its own trials during the 5 laps as Dan Fresh, Shawn Rants Sr. and Kenneth Goodall dashed through the brush, and across the rocky bed of boulders that lay in their paths. Dan, finishing 1st, completed the laps in ample time ahead of his competitors even when he lost his lockers on lap 3 and had to winch himself off the Greenday trail. Unlike most of the competition Fresh didn’t succumb to a flat on his Falken tires. As the smaller, slower classes began making their exit from the gruesome battleground, a rumble began to shake the ground. It was now time for the big boys to come play in the sandbox. Leader of the pack, Paul Horschel, bolted from the starting line, skidding through the first turn, up the rock face and into the abyss before the dust settled among those looking for a good chase. The battle for a podium position was intense showcasing the true battle between man and machine
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against the treacherous intricate goat trails winding along mountains, through the thickest underbrush finishing out across the ridge line down the rock face crawling through countless ruts and holes. With 800 HP the unlimited class one by one sped through the course, leaving fans puckering as they watched each driver face the downward climb off the ridge to the boulders below shifting each car off camber pulling each vehicle toward the depths of an overturn. 3-time KOH winner and Offroad Hall of Fame legend, Shannon Campbell shot off like a rocket maximizing the distance between those following in chase behind him while his son Waylon bounced through
AREA BFE BEATDOWN
ABOVE: Raul Gomez takes second place finish. BELOW: JP Gomez took the victory in the coveted 4400 class.
while his son Wayland bounced through the mountain side trailing in his fathers’ footsteps. Bailey Campbell, the third member to the Campbell Monster empire, currently expecting first daughter with fellow racer Bryan Crofts, was unable to race therefore the #35 car was graced by the presence of Ryan Miller. Using every inch of horsepower Miller ran a smooth run pushing the limiter every chance he had. Unfortunately, Miller, Wayland, and Shannon all succumbed to a beatdown from the unforgivable desert Moab had to offer the seasoned racers. Flying though the channels between the trees, bothers JP and Raul Gomez, battled car for car only in true competition with each other throughout the 40 miles of course finishing both on the podium. Though Horschel put up an outstanding flawless run finishing 2nd sadly wasn’t enough to challenge the Gomez brothers who finished 1st and 3rd. When the unlimited top 3 finishers were interviewed, JP was asked who was to thank for getting him to this top finishing spot. Raul, laughingly raises his hand jokingly insisting his 3rd place finish led to his brothers’ overall win showing all of us that even competing against one another, brothers, and family rises to the top above all else to pull each one of us through the ruts and hills life throws our way. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 43
MASTERPIECE OF METAL
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WILSON’S NEW WINNER
The Jimco Hammerhead Class One Buggy STORY AND PHOTOS: SHAUN OCHSNER
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ilson Motorsports has always been known as a top-notch racing organization. With longtime crew chief Mike Stapleton running the show, the team has an impressive resume of wins and championships at every major desert racing series. To be successful in off-road racing, you need the best equipment. Jimco is known for building winning race vehicles. Their “Hammerhead� build basically takes the modern features of a trophy-truck and puts them into a lightweight winning mid-engine Class One build. Wilson Motorsports then took the vehicle and made some of their own changes to adapt to their driving styles. They know what works and Stapleton is the man in the shop with the knowledge to help guide the team to the finish line.
The Hammerhead Class One has a mid-engine design with the transmission in the rear. This helps balance the weight of the vehicle. This design helps the vehicle handle tight turns on the race course better. It is powered by a 775-HP Wiks racing engine. 48 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
JIMCO HAMMERHEAD CLASS ONE
ABOVE: The Hammerhead has 2.5 King coil-overs with beefy 4.0 King Kong bypass shocks in the front and 4.5 King Kong’s in the rear. LEFT: The fill location for the 72-Gallon fuel tank is uniquely in the front. The tank can be filled from either side of the vehicle. Both driver and co-driver can visually see when the fueling has been completed.
ABOVE LEFT: ID Design front hubs are found on the Hammerhead. The upper and lower arms were designed by Jimco. The vehicle has 24-inches of travel up front and 23-inches of travel in the rear.
ABOVE RIGHT: A Fortin R11 5-Speed transmission can be found in the rear connected to 35 spline axles. Dual starters are mounted on the car, ready to go at all times. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 49
Lighting is provided by Vision X. The front lights are Vision X’s cg2 LED light cannons. Inside the cockpit, both driver and codriver have access to a Motec electronic monitoring system. The co-driver also has a Lowrance HDS 9-inch GPS to view waypoints along the race course. A whole host of buttons on the console can control lights, pumps, fans, hydration systems, and more on the vehicle.
BUILD SHEET Vehicle: 2020 Hammerhead Class One Builder: Jimco Racing Power Train: Wiks Racing Engine Drive Train: Fortin R11 5-Speed Trans axle Suspension: King 4.0/4.5 Bypass/2.5 Coil-Overs Steering: Lee Power Steering Box/Pump/ Reservoir Exterior: BF Goodrich KR3 40-inch tires, Method Wheels, Vision X Lighting Interior: Motec Dash, Lowrance HDS-9 GPS, Carbon Fiber Impact Racing Seats, Momo Belts, Pumper, PCI Race Radio 50 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Fun in the Sand at
OCEAN CITY JEEP WEEK story by: Brad Hoffman Photos by: Livewire Events
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cean City Jeep Week 2020 was the most difficult and the most rewarding event we’ve ever done, all at the same time. The coronavirus pandemic became the reason that most major events here in Ocean City ended up being canceled. Jobs were lost, the nation was shut down, and life as we all knew it was on hold – and possibly never the same. But our goal was always the same: to make 52 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Ocean City Jeep Week happen safely and prudently for the thousands of Jeep owners who needed this event, and with public health as our absolute main focus. Back in March, when the public health crisis truly took over, it was day-to-day whether we’d even get to host our event, because State and local governments were cracking down on big public gatherings. We had opened
registration as usual the previous November, and we locked in sponsors and vendors. All the details were in place to have the best Ocean City Jeep Week ever. Then, things really hit the fan. COVID-19 became a nationwide outbreak seemingly overnight. Most major Jeep events across the county either were canceled or rescheduled, stopping vendors and venues in their tracks.
OC JEEP WEEK
We continued to monitor the situation and stay confident. May and June came and went with no changes; lock downs were still in place and the infection counts continued to rise. Our local officials advised us to stay the course – so we did. All the while, our partners and participants called nonstop. Vendors and participants questioned whether Jeep Week would even happen. But we exuded confidence, and our path forward was slow and steady. We knew it would be a challenge, but we created a plan to execute the best event possible. Our team prepared a new game plan that would follow state mandates and embrace ABOVE: OC Jeep Week Promoter Brad Hoffman uses strict COVID-19 protocols. We stayed in a bullhorn to speak to Jeepers during the beach crawl. close contact with everyone involved, and they felt the confidence. We understood some vendors might get left behind because of their corporate bosses instituting stringent do-not-travel mandates.
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FUN IN THE SAND
Our silver lining was that Ocean City Jeep Week, by its very nature, is already a sociallydistanced event. Still, for every one of our event elements, we needed to put extra public health precautions in place. It took a lot of effort but we pulled it off, so people could safely enjoy what we affectionately call the “ultimate Jeep vacation.” If you’re not familiar, Jeep Week here in Ocean City has a little something for everyone. Each morning we offer Jeeps a three-mile sunrise beach cruise down our spotless Ocean City shoreline, right along where the waves break. Drivers enjoy our exhilarating sandy obstacle course, carved right into the beach itself, with rousing obstacles that are almost like a roller coaster ride in your Jeep. Our Jeep Jam event features both a relaxing trail ride and our extreme obstacle course, featuring boulders, pits, logs, and tires to climb. Our municipal convention center is Jeep Week HQ, the gathering point for registration, our show and shines, and vendor village.
As the event drew closer, our confidence translated into solid registration from participants and vendors alike. The team prepared for a different but successful event. We all pulled together to make it the best it could be! But, in the back of my mind, would there be a spike in the infection rate that would mean canceling the event? Could the city tell us to call it off? A lot of stress married with a lot of needed confidence was the recipe to guide this event in 2020. The Jeep community needed this to make their worlds seem normal again. We all needed it to feel normal again. Of course, some of the evening events we’ve had for 11 years would have to be canceled, but the heart of Jeep Week needed to keep beating. We
ABOVE: Nick Wagner proposes to girlfriend Savanna Getz at OC Jeep Week.
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OC JEEP WEEK
We never lost sight of that. With the event around the corner during the last weekend in August, hiccups came at us left and right. The night we were stuffing participant envelopes with OC Jeep Club volunteers, the power went out in our office; we used cell phone flashlights to get by until the electricity came back on. The KICKER Sand Course took shape with the help of Delmarva Jeep Events, with Jeff Pruitt doing his magic on the sand. Jeep Jam was tightened up and prepped by Chris Cropper and his team at CC Customs. Months and months in advance, my core team ¬– Beau, Brian, Matt, Denis, Korey, Billy, Will, Doug, John, Karen, Gail, Nobe, Jaabar , Jorge, George – and the rest kept Jeep Week on track in the uncharted waters of a pandemic. But Jeeps can go conquer a lot of obstacles, and so can their owners! Jeeps started showing a week early for the event. We weren’t allowed to have anything happening indoors, so we created our Vendor Village outdoors for brands like KICKER, PSC Motorsports, Bartec, 12th Street Embroidery, i.g. Burton Berlin Jeep, CC Customs, Trick Trucks, Falken, Steinjager, the Marines and the Army, Audio Works, General Tire, Joe’s Jeep Jungle, American Sound Bar, Quake LED, Wild Child Customs, Topless for Tatas, and more. We filled the convention center parking lot with Jeep clubs like Ocean City Jeep Club, ESJA, Infidel Jeepers, Delmarva Jeep Events, and many more. Other vendors who couldn’t show because of corporate COVID policies, like Alpine, Westin, Jones Junction, Under the Sun Inserts, Affordable Offroad, Mickey 56 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Thompson and several others, they all still showed us support with giveaways and some event funding. They came through and we’re still grateful. Finally, after all the stress, the added safety precautions, and the event setup, we had our confidence at an all-time high. Jeep Week was up and rolling down the beach with the event’s anchor, the Beach Crawl, where 300 Jeeps per day take a “sandy carpet ride” each day at sunrise. Joy and excitement were palatable as the Jeeps exited the parking lot at Jolly Roger Amusement Park and headed onto the sand – you could feel the excitement it in the salt air!
FUN IN THE SAND
On Sunday, I even got to ride down the beach in Jeff Pruitt’s Jeep Gladiator, followed by a Jeep Kaiser pickup by Rick Disharoon of The Metal Shop, sponsor of the Sand Course. I blasted “Born in the USA” as people waived along the way. It was a touching moment. The Jeep community showed up big time – more than 1,500 registered, so it was just a small dip from 2019. We re-worked the KICKER Sand Course and had a perfect 10-foot tall mound placed in the shadow of the Ferris Wheel over the Jolly Roger Pier – a perfect photo-op memory maker for the participants. Jeep Jam opened and the Jeeps wheeled along the fun and challenging course. Our capable Jeep Jam volunteers made sure everyone was safe while wheeling. We even got to have a kick-off event at Alley Oops, a local gaming parlor and restaurant here in Ocean City. I want to thank each and every person who contributed to making the show successful in these trying and difficult times: the Mayor and Council of Ocean City for believing and trusting that we would run a safe and
well prepared event. My wife Mary Pat and daughter Molly for putting up with the long days and nights away during the planning and execution of OCJW 2020. In the end, that’s what it’s all about, doing it for the family of Jeep owners who so needed this event to give them a feeling of normality in a very outof-the-ordinary year. We stayed committed, confident, and made a plan to adjust due to COVID. We did it for the Jeeple People and I think they really appreciated it. My reward was the smiles on the participants faces and thanks they expressed during the event.
ABOVE: Metal Shop owner Ryan Disharoon behind the wheel of “Saigon Shaker” takes time for a photo with promoter Brad Hoffman.
The 2021 Ocean City Jeep Week is scheduled for August 26-29. Registration opens next month. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 57
TECH
How Properly Safety Wire Bolts S Words and Photos: Chris Ramey
afety wiring bolts correctly is very important! You want to keep tension on the bolts, so they can’t back off. This is especially important on steering rack bolts. Normally the bolts get torqued and shouldn’t come loose, but safety wiring the bolt is a precautionary back-up measure. Your vehicle causes a great amount of vibration at full
Step 1- Install your bolt, tighten it, then torq it. 58 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
off-road speed and you don’t want a bolt vibrating loose. We all know that can cause a whole host of problems we don’t even want to think about. Here is the correct way to safety wire steering rack bolts. Step 2: You will need .0320 safety wire, pair of needle nose pliers, wire cutters and safety wire pliers
HOW TO PROPERLY SAFETY WIRE BOLTS
Step 3- Cut a long piece of safety wire. Stick the safety wire through one of the pre-drilled holes on the bolt. Wrap the wire as if you were trying to tighten the bolt.
Step 4- Take the wire and put tension on it to tighten the slack up. Lock your safety wire pliers to the wire and start twisting.
Step 5- Stop a little short with twisting wire so you can stick the wire through the other bolts hole.
Step 6- Pull wire tight again and start twisting. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 59
TECH INSTALL
Step 7- Take wire cutters and cut the leftover safety wire off. Make sure you leave a small amount to fold over.
Step 8- Take a pair of needle nose pliers and fold over left over safety wire.
End Result- You now have perfectly secure bolts with added safety wire in the event the vehicle experiences vibration. 60 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS october UTV World Championships- Lake Havasu, AZ October 7th-11th UTV Takeover- Boxcar Hill Campground, Coos Bay Oregon October 7th-11th
EVENT TO ATTEND MOAB 4X4 EXPO
SNORE Battle at Primm Primm, NV October 9th-11th Curt LeDuc Swap Meet- Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, CA October 11th UTV Takeover Sand Hollow State Park, Hurricane Utah October 21st-25th BITD BlueWater Desert Challenge, Parker AZ October 22-25 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Rounds 9,10 & Challenge Cup, Glen Helen Raceway, October 16th-18th Ultra 4 National Championships- Crossbar Ranch, Davis, OK October 23rd Moab 4x4 Expo- Moab, Utah October 28th-31st
november
Call it the reboot of Easter Jeep Safari, but not just jeeps. The Moab 4x4 Expo features all things 4x4. UTV’s, trucks and jeeps. The event will be held at the end October and features celebrity trail guides, vendors at the arena with all of the latest off-road product, vehicle demos and much more. Set in Moab, Utah, there are plenty of 4x4 trails to play on.
Lucas Oil Regional Series SOCAL Rounds 5 & 6 San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Victorville, CA October 31st-November 1st. Lucas Oil Regional Series Arizona Rounds 3 & 4 Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ November 14th-15th SCORE Baja 1000, Ensenada, Mexico November 17th-22nd
Have an event for our Calendar? Send us an email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 61
CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
Today’s Sacrifice, Tomorrows Glory! Words: Steve Hanson
ACTS: 7:59-60 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, “Master Jesus, take my life.” Then he knelt down and praying loud enough for everyone to hear, “Master don’t blame them for this sin” –his last words. Then he died.
Just like in racing, as Christians we need to be deliberate. There is a process from start to finish that leads to victory. Victory is not automatic! The turning hour of a man’s life is when he nobly accepts suffering for something greater than himself. This noble willingness makes men out of boys, and women out of little girls. It is driven by a belief that some greater context encapsulates the suffering and gives it meaning. The cause becomes more significant than the suffering. Stephen is an example for us; he embraces it, endures the suffering willingly, patiently, and aggressively. He says bring it on and takes the hits! Stephen is a hero because he sacrificed his life so that others would know the true God. Not by knowing some do’s and don’t s like the Pharisees of his time, but knowing a relationship with the Son of God who died for us. Stephen’s death reminds us that: The decisions we make for ourselves die with us, but the sacrifices we make for others, live on. I encourage you to take the hit now like Stephen did for tomorrow’s glory. It has been said that: Personal sacrifices are the grinding wheel of sharpening character. A grinding wheel makes sparks fly when the blade is sharpened. The wheel causes friction, but the friction is what gets results. Fabrication is much the same: cutting, grinding, notching, smoothing out the burrs, and even polishing. It is all a long process, but the end result is well worth it. When you focus on the end result, all the grinding comes easy.
We are creatures of the moment because we are creatures of the flesh. Any good marketing campaign entices us to buy it NOW. They are not about sacrificing other things, save up and then go to the store. No, the campaign is about how you deserve it, you are entitled, do not wait buy now! The Christian life is a life of NOT YET. There is a guarantee of a future payout, a promise that calvary is coming, a definite delivery date of the dream. Staying focused on that makes taking the hits today much easier. We can endure a great deal today for God’s dream to be realized in our life; training is more about endurance than quickness. We are called to endure a great deal and sacrifice experiences, moments, and seasons for a future payout. Why? Because endurance through sacrifice was Jesus’ character and expression. A road to glory is paved with sacrifice, such as the road through Baja, or the road to a championship season. The good news is God is not asking us to sacrifice and take hits now just for the sake of taking it, He has an incentive plan. MATTHEW 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” October 11th I am holding a fundraiser out at the Curt LeDuc swap meet. You do not need to be present to win so please purchase a raffle ticket here: www.teamrfc.org or call the office 480.507.5323. $5ea or 5 for $20. Follow @rfc_dirtsportministry
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