OFF-ROAD 1 LIVE !

LIVE Shortcourse from Glen Helen So-Cal OFFROAD

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:13:07 PDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE START OF LARGE PRODUCTION AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION

VEGAS TO RENO 2011 Begins Wednesday August 17, 4 PM

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:15:21 PDT

Festivities For The Event Begin Wednesday, August 17,

Right Here On OFF-ROAD LIVE!

VEGAS TO RENO 2011 Economic Impact

A race through the Nevada desert isn't top of mind for Northern Nevada special events, but the annual Best in the Desert race from Beatty to Dayton packs hotel and motel rooms throughout Reno and Carson City, event organizers say.

Peggi Gold, president of Rope Marketing in Reno, says organizers already received more than 150 entries for the 550-mile race, which includes more than 900 crew and 400 volunteers. An entourage of several thousand racing fans is expected to follow the off-road race route as well.

Gold has booked nearly 1,000 rooms on Friday and on Saturday for race participants and fans at the Grand Sierra Resort, and last week she was still scrambling to book additional rooms at other hotels.

The one-day race begins at 5 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 and ends when racers cross the finish line at Dayton Events Center. An awards ceremony expected to draw 900 people is scheduled for Aug. 20 at Grand Sierra Resort.

“As they come through this area, many of the motels in Carson City are sold out,” Gold says. “A lot of people also book their own rooms so we have no way to track them. This (event) brings a lot of money to the hotels.”

Casey Folks organized the first Best in the Desert race in 1996. The route, which includes part of the Pony Express Trail, starts at 2,500 feet in elevation and climbs to heights greater than 9,000 feet. The event has grown to include race teams from across the U.S., as well as Spain, Montreal and South Africa.

Folks says the economic impact of the race is in the millions of dollars, and many small communities, such as Mina and Beatty, experience a huge jolt in taxable sales. The average truck team, he says, spends about $50,000 to participate in the race.

“We are impacting rural Nevada like they have never been,” he says. “If you put a line of support vehicles on the highway, it would be a solid line from Beatty to Tonopah. There are at least 3,000 support people following the event, and it is a huge financial impact to Nevada. It is a big industry, and it brings a lot of dollars to Nevada.”

OFF-ROAD LIVE!

OFF-ROAD LIVE! This Weekend, National Powerhouse at the TORC Races at Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR COUNTRY!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:35:57 PDT

LIVE WEBCAST July 22-23 on
OFF-ROAD LIVE!

Charlotte Motor Speedway is best known for hosting NASCAR’s All-Star race and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, but the facility’s dirt track will be the center of attention this coming weekend. Friday, July 22nd and Saturday, July 23rd TRAXXAS The Off Road Championship (TORC) series brings door-to-door “short course” off-road racing to North Carolina. Immensely popular in the Midwest and West Coast, short course racing is the equivalent of supercross, but with 800-horsepower trucks sliding through the corners instead of motorcycles.

Never one to shy away from mixing business and pleasure, Baja Champion Gear by National Powerhouse, will be visiting the company’s Mooresville facility and also racing in the marquee Pro 2WD class. Baja Champion Gear was purchased by National Powerhouse last month. National Powerhouse, the leader in Off-Road products since 1951, acquired not only Baja Champion Gear line but their strategically located facilities in Mooresville and San Diego, California. National Powerhouse has locations in “Gasoline Alley,” just 10 minutes away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the heart of NASCAR country in Mooresville, North Carolina.

National Powerhouse is extending a special $5 discount for those purchasing tickets in advance for Friday and Saturday’s action packed event, but be warned that even just one exposure to short course racing can cause permanent addiction. Bring your NASCAR hard card for $10 tickets at the door. Don’t have a hard card? Simply click on the link at TORC's website and enter the discount code TORCX to purchase discount tickets ahead of time.

If you want to purchase tickets at the gate, simply print out the image below and bring it with you to save $5 off regular ticket prices.

Those who are unable to attend the TORC race are invited to visit National Powerhouse's Mooresville facility where you can view and test fit their full line of broadcast facilities.

While this will be OFF-ROAD LIVE's first TORC race of the season, they have competed in the entire Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) in short course and SCORE International’s desert racing series which is most famously known for the legendary “Baja 1000″. OFF-ROAD LIVE's desert racing teammate, Steve Xmorai, currently leads Mexicali 500's marquee Pro 2WD class in points having won all the races thus far this season.

Both Xmorai and OFF-ROAD LIVE! will be in the pits at Charlotte between races, where fans will have the opportunity to see their race vehicles up close and talk to the drivers about the latest product offerings from National Powerhouse. “We will have our Baja Champion products on display in our pit, such as seats, race suits, and our newly introduced head nets for short course off-road racing,” Xmorai confirmed. “Being in the heart of NASCAR country we will also have the latest pit gear, helmets, and harnesses at the race as well.”

Weekend Race Results

In the best PRO 4 class finish in the history of the Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, Johnny Greaves (Monster Energy/Toyota/Maxxis) and Ricky Johnson (Red Bull/KMC Wheels/Mopar/Ram) made a whole mess of new TORC Series fans in the heart of NASCAR country, staging what amounted to a UFC fight in 4,000-pound, 900-horsepower PRO 4×4 short course off-road trucks on the Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway – a battle ultimately won by Greaves.

But the battle wasn’t over once the checkers flew as Johnson, on his way to the podium, got into it with the Greaves clan, then Johnson’s camp exchanged pleasantries with Greaves while he was on the podium. And while no punches were thrown by either party, this was as close to an Allisons/Yarborough Daytona ’79 NASCAR moment for the TORC Series has experienced in its first three years of racing.

“Love me or hate me, that was a hell of a race,” said Johnson, who literally LANDED on the roof of Greaves’ truck as he was trying to overtake his new rival. “And I imagine you’ll see Johnny pissed off a few more times this year. He’s the defending champion and I’m coming after him.” Greaves survived the all-out attack by the former AMA motocross champ and went on to beat Johnson to the checkers – recording the first win of the season for the defending TORC PRO 4 champion.

“I started out a little too cautious, didn’t want to break like on Friday night,” said Greaves. “I’d picked out a few fast lines and made the pass for the lead – and he (Johnson) used me like a pogo stick! But I’ll get a chance to pay the favor back – I guarantee that!”

Great racing going on behind the No. 1 and No. 2 racer with Scott Douglas (AMSOIL/BFG/MasterCraft Safety) and Mark Jenkins (Traxxas/BFG/AMSOIL) battling it out fender-to-fender until Douglas got the upper hand and hammered out the final podium spot.

Place	No.	Name	Laps	Adjust	Last Time	Fast Time	Fast Lap
1	22	JOHHNY GREAVES	20	0	43.076	42.268	12
2	48	RICKY JOHNSON	20	0	43.356	42.169	15
3	7	SCOTT DOUGLAS	20	0	43.751	41.668	8
4	25	MARK JENKINS	20	0	59.164	43.222	14
5	11	ADRIAN CENNI	20	0	46.058	43.575	3
6	83	STEVE BARLOW	10	0	43.974	43.162	9
7	47	MIKE JENKINS	0	0	—	—	—

PRO 2

The student got the better of the mentor at Saturday night’s PRO 2 main event when Bryce Menzies (Red Bull/KMC Wheels/Mopar/Ram) took Rob MacCachren (Traxxas/Mopar/AMSOIL/BFG) to the checkers, recording a wire-to-wire win – his first-ever win in his rookie year on the TORC Series – in the evening’s second contest on the Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Menzies, who broke while leading last night on the final corner prior to the last laps, was running a new motor after his team thrashed through an engine swap late last night and in the searing heat on Saturday. Menzies was pumped with his team’s effort and the overall performance of his Mopar-powered Ram 4×4. “Mopar and Ram got us out front and we were able to lead the whole race,” said Menzies, who won the Oakley Bomb award for the fastest PRO 2 lap on the night.

With Menzies well out front and in control of the race after the competition yellow, MacCachren and Chad Hord (BOSS Snowplows/AMSOIL/Nissan) locked into an epic PRO 2 battle for a number of laps before MacCachren caught Hord with a blitzing inside move at the end of the fastest portion of the track, slashing down the banked turn three corner into the infield and past Hord. Hord had foiled the move twice before, but on the third time with three laps to go MacCachren was able to make it stick.

“It was a pleasure racing with

Chad

,” said MacCachren from the podium. “We got together a couple times, door-to-door even, but I think we both raced clean. And I’m hoping the fans enjoyed it (to which the sizable Charlotte crowd answered with cheers).”

Friday night’s 2^nd place PRO 2 finisher, Scott Taylor (Miller Electric Welders), suffered some mechanical issues early and left the track. This left the door open for the third and final podium spot, which was snatched up easily by Hord.

Place	No.	Name	Laps	Adjust	Last Time	Fast Time	Fast Lap
1	7	BRYCE MENZIES	20	0	44.28	43.413	11
2	21	ROB MACCACHREN	20	0	43.778	43.76	17
3	9	CHAD HORD	20	0	45.493	42.185	17
4	10	GREG ADLER	20	0	46.086	44.169	13
5	15	MARTY HART	20	0	46.004	35.212	17
6	77	MIKEY VANDEN HEUVEL	18	0	48.762	45.273	7
7	4	JEFF KINCAID	16	0	44.157	43.583	7
8	30	ROBBY PIERCE	9	0	46.56	46.085	6
9	80	MIKE OBERG	8	0	46.365	44.598	4
10	8	SCOTT TAYLOR	2	0	01:01.1	47.699	1

PRO Light

For the second-straight night at Charlotte defending 2010 TORC PRO Light champion Casey Currie(Monster Energy/General Tire/Nissan) was on top of the Lights class, but a spectacular Triple Twisting Lindy/fireball crash by Samuel Hubinette (Traxxas/Mopar/AMSOIL/BFG) coupled with a rollover, spinout and mid-race hot pits visit by Andrew Caddell (Traxxas/Mopar/AMSOIL/BFG) had things about as interesting as they could in the night’s opening contest.

Caddell in particular put in one of the best performances of the year thus far in coming from dead last at the competition yellow to 2^nd place. “I got the lead, tried to set a pace. Tried to gap (the field) before the yellow and I hooked a rut there. Feel bad for my team … they gave me a great truck tonight.”

Even Currie was pumped for his rival: “For him to come back to second was a hard charger right there.”

But Currie was not to be caught, winning the Traxxas Maxx Lap award for the fastest PRO Light lap despite Caddell’s maniacal charge.

Rounding out Saturday night’s PRO Light podium was the #44 of Brad Lovell (AMSOIL/BFG/Torchmate), who scored his second podium of the season.

Place	No.	Name	Laps	Adjust	Last Time	Fast Time	Fast Lap
1	1	CASEY CURRIE	18	0	47.539	46.511	11
2	43	ANDREW CADDELL	18	0	47.099	46.656	13
3	44	BRAD LOVELL	18	0	47.932	44.09	14
4	5	TODD CUNNINGHAM	18	0	48.274	47.738	13
5	14	LUKE JOHNSON
6	8	MIKE PORTER	18	0	48.511	48.212	17
7	27	SHAUN MORRIS	18	0	48.736	48.382	13
8	4	JASON JANUSZ	18	0	48.994	48.202	13
9	33	CJ GREAVES	17	0	48.111	47.378	9
10	37	RJ ANDERSON	16	0	01:06.4	48.04	7
11	17	MITCH DORR	6	0	01:01.1	50.925	2
12	11	RANDY ELLER	5	0	01:04.6	49.969	3
13	77	SAM HUBINETTE	4	0	55.674	46.927	3
14	76	ANDY ZIPPERER	1	0	01:16.6	01:16.6	1

LIVE! From Charlotte all weekend, on OFF ROAD LIVE!

TORC PRO Light, PRO 2 & PRO 4 drivers to compete at a track Ricky Johnson envisioned when he helped found TORC in ‘09

When Red Bull/Mopar/Ram/KMC Wheels’ Ricky Johnson looked out over the Jeff Nordstrom-designed & built Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, track on The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway it was as if a longtime dream of his had come true for the off-road short course series he helped found in 2009.

In his adopted second home state of North Carolina, Johnson saw something the off-road stronghold of Baja California couldn’t offer – PRO-style TORC truck racing delivered to the masses right smack dab in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

“When I first walked up to the fence and looked out over Charlotte’s dirt track I was blown away. There, right before me, was the realization of what Mitch Covington, myself and the majority of drivers now competing on the TORC tour had dreamt about when we started this series,” said Johnson. “A true USAC/TORC, Jeff Nordstrom-designed track on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s dirt half mile, showcasing all of the series sponsors in a stadium setting that’s no doubt going to be packed this weekend.

“And packed with all kinds of new sets of eyeballs on our sport.”

USAC/TORC President Kevin Miller was equally pumped with TORC most ambitious move eastward in the series’ history, stating: “In addition to its impressive yearly lineup of events including NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, World of Outlaws battles, NHRA drag races and Late Model contests, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s TORC event positions short course off-road racing – the same racing as seen on TV in TORC’s Discovery HD program - right in the heart of motorsports central on the east coast.”

For his part Nordstrom, whose background weighs heavy on building motocross tracks, “gets it,” according to Johnson when it comes to, in essence, building a stadium motocross (aka “supercross”) track for 4,000-pound, 900-horsepower TORC PRO trucks.

“To me this is a motocross on four wheels,” said Nordstrom. “The track’s real jumpy, technical with launcher jumps and rhythm sections. It’s got two mogul sections instead of one, including one built into the outside of the oval – something we’ve never done before. All the drivers I spoke with that saw the track are pumped to get out there. And it’s going to be real exciting for the fans.”

Also ... if you’re in town be sure to check out the Traxxas TORC Charlotte Motor Speedway pre-race party, Thurs., July 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, 13230 Carowinds Blvd.

TORC/CMS event info

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Dirt Track When: Friday and Saturday, July 22-23 Time: Gates open at 3 p.m., qualifying begins at 4 p.m., main event opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. Remember, your NASCAR card holders get in for TEN BUCKS!!!

OFF-ROAD LIVE!

Rebel Summer Weekends

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:03:00 PDT

MASTERPULL USA 500 New Title Sponsor! Arizona Classic '12 Announcements, LIVE Off-Road LIVE! Tonight at 4 PM PT and 7 PM ET Much Much More!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:38:57 PDT

MASTERPULL USA 500 Names TOP Sponsor HERE! All the details YOU WANT about the race. Robbie Gordon Off-Road in September and LOORS results from UTAH! ARIZONA Classic '12 Announced

CLICK HERE FOR THE START OF LARGE PRODUCTION AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION

OFF-ROAD LIVE! Announces Arizona Classic Desert Race Events for Centennial Celebration

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:41:37 PDT

OFF-ROAD LIVE! Announces the 2012 Arizona Desert Race Centennial with other events and the race goal or 'Finish Line', Phoenix gets in on the act. Daily. AWESOME!

The Arizona Classic '12 Series of events over the next year, will give fans all over the globe, a glimpse into the desert off-road racing past.

Just like in the day, 1912, Arizona was a territory, desert off-road racing, in its most original earliest form, other than chariot racing in Egypt, was based on speed.

OFF-ROAD LIVE! will run the original route and racing fans are invited to participate in all the free events. Vintage racers, racer stories and the drama in the desert will all be here, for the 'Arizona Classic '12, on OFF-ROAD LIVE! Stay tuned!

SAN DIEGO 500 Summer 2011 Motivate Your People Today! OFF-ROAD RACING!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:47:19 PDT

The San Diego 500, Summer 2011!

If this race doesn't motivate your people, nothing will. Off-Road Racing, Orienteering and your choice of third challenge.

Surf, Golf or Iron-Man. In San Diego, on your schedule. All of the Team Building and Motivation benefits of San Diego and the bigger business results from your people!

Call Today to Get Results! sandiego500@gmail.com

LIVE! Off-Road LIVE! SoCal 250 from Plaster City USA May 13 & 14

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:28:55 PDT

OFF-ROAD LIVE! Tonight at 4 PM PT & 7 PM ET Last Weeks GREATEST HITS & Ed Waldheim (CTUC) and John Stewart (Cal4x4) & Ron with (ECORS)

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Tue, 03 May 2011 07:01:31 PDT

Baja Racing News LIVE! Celebrates 6 six years of Live Baja Racing ONLINE!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:03:17 PDT

Baja Racing News LIVE! Celebrates 6

Six Years of LIVE Racing From Baja Mexico! Gary Newsome will attend the Thursday Papas & Beer Party in
Ensenada Baja MX

Monster Mike will meet with fans in Los Angeles, for details call 619.251.9486

FREE Hero Cards, T-Shirts & Posters! CLICK HERE FOR THE BUD EKINS CELEBRATION BRN ATTENDED AND BROUGHT TO YOU FREE & LIVE! CLICK HERE FOR THE SPIRIT OF BAJA WE REP!

Baja Racing News RADIO LIVE! Monster Mike Announcement

LIVE ! MINT 400 2011 BJ Baldwin WINS 26th Annual MINT 400

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:26:45 PDT

CLICK HERE FOR FINAL MINT 400 2011 Race Results

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=cf53c859eb" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;MINT 400 2011 LIVE!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

We Are LIVE ! Desert Off-Road RaceCast From
Las Vegas Nevada

LIVE! Schedule

RaceDay Today!

Saturday 26 6AM

Genuine Official RAD-RaceCast

The Original Race Webcast From Vegas!

4th YEAR IN A ROW!
Check Out Our RaceCast Archives!
LIVE! 2010 LIVE! 2009

LIVE! 2008 BIG RaceMap from '08

NO-HOLDS BARRED UNLIMITED DESERT OFF-ROAD ACTION, GUARANTEED!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:29:45 PDT

LAS VEGAS SUN STORY:

Freshly minted desert race

Organizers hope to restore luster to a classic of yesteryear, the Mint 400 off-road race

LAS VEGAS SUN FILE

The Mint 400, which is being revived this week after a 20-year hiatus, started at the old Fremont Street casino of the same name in 1968. Billed as “The Great American Desert Race,” it ran for more than 20 years and served as the backdrop for Hunter S. Thompson’s novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

By Brian Hilderbrand

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 | 2 a.m.

After 20 years, desert race returns (02-18-2008)

Mint 400
Who Won: Past and present look at Las Vegas' Mint 400(03-11-2008)

Not every aspect of the original Mint 400 is being revived by Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts, the volunteer off-road racing group that is putting on this weekend’s event.

The original incarnation of the Mint 400 included the “Mint 400 Girls,” a group of attractive young women employed to promote the race. An annual contest held to select the winners, the brainchild of former Mint Hotel and Casino executive KJ Howe, was among the most popular prerace events and drew entries from around the world.

Among the notable personalities who served as Mint 400 Girls were Vanna White of “Wheel of Fortune” fame, “Wonder Woman” Lynda Carter and former Playboy Playmate and actress Linda Vacarro.

This year’s race will not feature any such contest but SNORE officials said they may have one for future races.

Howe, who also served as the Mint 400 race director in the ’70s and early ’80s and was a regular competitor, said he plans to race a lap in this year’s event.

CHRIS MORRIS

LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU

Tech inspection for the Mint 400 in 1968 was held on Fremont Street. The prerace event drew thousands each year, but race organizers this year were not granted permission to use the same space, which is now covered by the Fremont Street canopy.

“In some circles, the ‘Mint 400’ is a far, far better thing than the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals all rolled into one.”

— Hunter S. Thompson, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”

With apologies to the Baja 1000, now considered the granddaddy of off-road races, the Mint 400 quite possibly is the most famous desert race in the world. At least it was, during its run from 1968 to 1988.

In addition to serving as the backdrop for Hunter S. Thompson’s groundbreaking novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” the Mint 400 was the event for serious racers from all disciplines as well as actors, entertainers and even astronauts. During its heyday, the race attracted Indianapolis 500 winners such as Parnelli Jones, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears, off-road racing pioneers Mickey Thompson, Walker Evans and Ivan Stewart, actors James Garner and Steve McQueen and astronaut Gordon Cooper.

The brainchild of Norm Johnson, the former publicity director of Del Webb’s Mint Hotel and Casino, the Mint 400 annually drew tens of thousands of spectators (estimates ran as high as 100,000 some years) to Fremont Street for tech inspection — much to the delight of local businesses.

Now, 20 years after its demise (the race foundered for several years after 1988 under a different name and sponsor before folding), a local volunteer group of desert racers has copyrighted the “Mint 400” name and this weekend will attempt to recapture the spirit of the original event.

But is that possible? Johnson, who dreamed up the race in 1967 as a publicity stunt for the Mint, thinks it is.

“I think it’s fabulous, I really do,” Johnson, 75, said. Now an artist and an open-road racer, Johnson is serving as a consultant for Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts, which is putting on the race.

Contrary to popular belief, the Mint 400 was a hit even before Thompson’s novel appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971. A review of the inaugural race in National Speed Sport News by longtime motor sports journalist Chris Economaki gave the race instant credibility.

“He actually proclaimed it a classic in its own time,” Johnson said, adding that the race ballooned in the second and third years. “I think it was around the fifth year that we had 400-some entries.”

The original Mint 400 started at the end of Fremont Street and ran through the desert from Las Vegas to Beatty and back. Subsequent races were started in the desert north of where Floyd Lamb State Park now sits, at the old Mint Gun Club, and took various routes around the valley. This year’s Mint 400 will be contested on a 96-mile loop in the desert east of Interstate 15 between Jean and Primm, over some of the same terrain used by Mint 400 races in the ’70s and ’80s. And, like the original version of the race, this year’s event has been a hit with off-road racers who no doubt are drawn by the mystique of the Mint 400 name — even though the race has been dormant for two decades.

“The response to this has been beyond what we expected,” said Ken Freeman, a member of SNORE’s board of directors and a competitor in this weekend’s race. “We had expected about 160 to 180 entries and we’re going to end up with about double what we were looking at.”

Freeman’s group must cap the number of race vehicles at 325 in accordance with Bureau of Land Management guidelines and he said he expects to have a full field when the green flag drops at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The only thing that bugs Johnson about the Mint 400 revival is that tech inspection Thursday and Friday won’t be held under the Fremont Street Experience canopy — the original site before there was a canopy — but will be conducted instead on Fremont Street east of Las Vegas Boulevard.

“Downtown wouldn’t allow them to line up where they originally lined up,” Johnson said. “They’re going to make them line up down in the old section. If they wanted to bring the race back, they should be able to do it the right way and the city should allow them to be downtown.”

Freeman said the group’s plan to hold tech inspection on Fremont Street originally was met with resistance from downtown businesses — in part because of last year’s Vegas Grand Prix street race that shut off access to much of downtown during Easter weekend.

“We got it across to them that this was a traveling car show, basically, and that the fans were going to be there and it was not going to block anything off and the race doesn’t take place here,” Freeman said. “I guess they had a bad taste in their mouth from the Las Vegas Grand Prix (but) we’re going to bring people here and it’s not going to hurt the access at all. Once that was figured out, they came onboard.”

And, with that, a legend was reborn. Courtesy Las Vegas Sun

OFF-ROAD LIVE Coverage of the MINT 400 begins Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Steve Olliges and John Swift Racing Report 2011 Best In The Desert

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:09:09 PST

Olliges & Swift Racing Report

The No. 28 BFGoodrich / MasterCraft Safety Unlimited Truck of Steve Olliges and Jonathan Swift bested a field of 11 other competitors last weekend to take the win at SNORE’s Battle at Primm in the premier Unlimited Truck class and second overall. Jonathan Swift, son of racing legend and Ford Rough Riders driver John Swift, drove on Saturday and put the team’s new Geiser Brothers truck second in class, erasing any doubts about whether he inherited the racing gene from his father. “Our MasterCraft Safety 3G suspension seats and Impact! by MasterCraft harnesses kept me secure over the rough course and really let me focus on just driving the truck,” Swift commented after the race.

Olliges took over driving duties of the BFGoodrich / MasterCraft Safety Truck on Sunday and continued the consistent pace set by Swift. “Our Fox Shox 4.4-inch bypass shocks worked perfectly right out of the box!” Olliges exclaimed. The 12-mile course at Primm is notoriously rough and crowded, but Olliges was able to work his way through traffic and pick off his competitors one by one. “We didn’t have any flats from our BFGoodrich tires and Trailready beadlock rims,” an enthusiastic Olliges remarked. “Everything clicked this weekend.”

The next race for Olliges is Best in the Desert’s Silver State 300 on April 29-30, where he will once again team up with Jonathan’s father John Swift. The duo previously won the Silver State 300 in 2008 and intends to keep the BFGoodrich / MasterCraft Safety No. 28 winning streak alive.

Olliges & Swift Announce Best IN The Desert Plans

For those familiar with desert racing’s rich history, the names John Swift and Steve Olliges are instantly recognizable. John Swift was an original member of the legendary FORD Rough Riders factory team, racking up an impressive list of wins against competition like Ivan Stewart and Rick Mears, while Olliges joined the team four years later.

For those familiar with desert racing’s rich history, the names John Swift and Steve Olliges are instantly recognizable. John Swift was an original member of the legendary Ford Rough Riders factory team, racking up an impressive list of wins against competition like Ivan Stewart and Rick Mears, while Olliges joined the team four years later in Class 8S.

Olliges and Swift are not content to just talk about the “good old days”, on the contrary they are still making history.

For 2011, the duo will team up for the entire Best in the Desert schedule and select SCORE International and SNORE races in their new No. 28 BFGoodrich / MasterCraft Safety (Unilimited) Trick Truck.

Swift and Olliges’ last win together was in 2008 at the Silver State 300, so the duo is not unfamiliar with being at the top of the podium. The new BFGoodrich / MasterCraft Safety truck will debut on February 6th at the Parker 425, BITD’s season opening race for 2011.

Coincidently, this is the same venue where Swift and Olliges last raced together, finishing 2nd in the Trick Truck class in 2009. “Steve and I have very high expectations,” John Swift recently commented. “We are racing for the season championship.” The task will not be easy, with a record number of Trick Trucks slated to run in the Best in the Desert series this season.

To help reach their quest for victory , Olliges and Swift are armed with their new Geiser-built Ford Trick Truck with the distinctive retro paint job laid over the latest in cutting edge desert racing technology, including 39-inch BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires damped by huge 4.4-inch racing bypass shock absorbers.

No detail was overlooked on this new truck, right down to the No. 28, the same number used by John Swift on his Rough Rider Ford Ranger in years past.* Motivation for the Geiser Trick Truck comes from a Dougan’s Racing Engines-prepped Ford backed by a bulletproof Rancho Drivetrain transmission.* Inside the cockpit, a host of MasterCraft Safety products, including 3G suspension seats, six-point harnesses, and window nets keep Steve and John safe at race speeds.

“There are a lot of tires involved in desert racing now, and I think that the competition and exposure is great,” explained Olliges. “For us the choice to run BFGoodrich tires was an easy one.* From the history of the Ford Rough Riders on BFGoodrich, to Frank DeAngelo’s association with that program. Plus BFGoodrich has supported desert racing for decades and they have more wins than all other tire manufacturers combined. We hope to add to that impressive win list this season.”

Steve Olliges and John Swift are sponsored by:

BFGoodrich• MasterCraft Safety• Fox Racing Shox• Trailready Wheels• Team Ford

About Steve Olliges: Olliges last won BITD’s Trick Truck championship in 2007 with his good friend Wayne Lugo. Steve has over 30 class wins and seven series championships to his credit in the Best in the Desert and SCORE International racing series. In 2000, Olliges partnered up with fellow Rough Rider Rob MacCachren to win the Best in the Desert Series championship in a Class 7S Ford Ranger Edge. What began as a one year agreement to race Ford’s newly launched Ranger evolved into a five year partnership culminating in three championship titles. The two teamed up again to race the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in 2009, showcasing Ford’s factory-built desert truck.

Steve has been loyal to Ford throughout his entire racing career, and owns and operates the highly successful Team Ford dealership in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information visit www.teamford.com

About John Swift: Swift was introduced to the excitement of desert racing by his father Ray back in the ’60s when the sport was in its infancy. By 1984 John was already in the seat of his own race truck and well on his way to success. John’s weapon of choice was the Ford Ranger platform, which he used to win both the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in Class 7 in 1989. John Swift’s success continued as he piloted his Ranger to another Baja 500 win in 1991, the year he joined the Ford Rough Riders. John claimed three successive Class 6 titles for Ford piloting his iconic Ford Explorer, making him the winningest driver for the Ford Rough Riders factory program. For more information about the Swift Racing legacy visit www.swiftrace.com.

Federal Government Expresses Support of Motorized Recreation (GASP)

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:37:44 PST

(Pictured) Ken Salazar, Stuck on the Dunes

Freed from the confines of Washington, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Sunday kicked up his heels in the California desert, where he raced across undulating dunes in a souped-up sand rail.

And, perhaps as a reminder of the gridlock he left behind on Capitol Hill, Salazar's vehicle became mired in the sand as he attempted to surmount a steep dune.

The daredevil antics were driven by a serious intent: to reach out to a constituency often antagonistic to federal officials and their management of public lands in the West. To that end, Salazar and Bob Abbey, director of the Bureau of Land Management, toured the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area on a busy holiday weekend.

Get the monthly that has L.A. talking. Subscribe to Los Angeles Times Magazine at a special introductory rate.

The pair came to mend political fences by stressing that motorized recreation fits into the Obama administration's vision of "America's Great Outdoors," a conservation and health initiative rolled out last week that is heavy on land preservation.

"When we talk about the great outdoors, this is the kind of recreation we are talking about, " Salazar told a group of off-road enthusiasts, raising his voice to be heard above the deep rumbles and high-pitched whines coming from fleets of "sand toys" racing past near the town of Glamis.

That message of inclusion is seldom heard here, a 160,000-acre BLM-managed recreation area for Jeepers, dirt bike riders and dune buggy drivers. Also known as Algodones Dunes, the area for years has been the focal point of legal wrangling between off-roaders seeking to keep acreage open and environmentalists demanding protection of the dunes' sensitive plant and animal species.

The Imperial Sand Dunes also carry the lingering reputation as one of the most dangerous off-road recreation areas in the United States. Thanksgiving weekend gatherings draw more than 200,000 people and have led to homicides, traffic fatalities and mass arrests.

Bill Jones, president of the American Desert Foundation, which promotes safe and environmentally conscious off-roading, said the "criminal element" that used to run roughshod has been largely driven out.

"There were just a bunch of guys out here who thought laws didn't apply to them," Jones said. "There were areas that were very dangerous. It made families stay away."

Even so, with an estimated 85,000 revelers over the Presidents Day weekend, officials said, there were multiple medical emergencies — a few requiring helicopter evacuation— and arrests for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence.

Still, it was a far cry from Thanksgiving 2001, when two people were killed in separate crashes, one person was shot to death and a park ranger suffered minor injuries when he was run over. There were 70 arrests and 200 medical emergencies at that event.

The 200 square miles of sculpted bowls and sandy flats draws 1.3 million visitors a year, a significant economic engine in struggling Imperial County. That brought local officials out on a cold and blustery day to buttonhole Salazar and Abbey for more funds to better manage the vast area, which on busy weekends is patrolled by federal and county law enforcement.

"I compare this to Yellowstone" National Park, said Jack Terrazas, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors. "We have 25% of their visitation but only 3% of their budget."

Salazar urged the officials to speak to their congressional delegation, explaining that the BLM's budget and other conservation and recreation funding sources were under assault from Republican cost-cutters in the House of Representatives.

The group remained noncommittal but gave Salazar credit for making the trip to the middle of the desert.

"If they are sincere, then that's great news," said Bon Ham, Imperial County's chief lobbyist. "But I've read the 'America's Great Outdoors' plan, and I have to tell you, there's not much in it about motorized recreation."

The Original Release:

OFF-ROAD LIVE! BULLETIN Salazar Supports Off-Road Recreation

(02-22) 06:15 PST El Centro, Calif. (AP) --

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has gone to one of Southern California's most popular off-road spots to assure dune buggy enthusiasts that they fit into federal conservation plans.

Salazar and Bureau of Land Management chief Bob Abbey toured the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area during the busy President's Day weekend. Salazar raced over the dunes in a sand rail.

The Los Angeles Times says Salazer and Abbey stressed that motorized recreation fits into the Obama administration's vision of America's Great Outdoors, a conservation and health initiative rolled out last week that is heavy on land preservation.

The 160,000-acre federally-managed recreation area has long been the focal point of legal wrangling between off-roaders seeking to keep acreage open and environmentalists demanding protection of the dunes' sensitive plant and animal species.

___

Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F22%2Fstate%2Fn061535S60.DTL

OFF-ROAD LIVE !

SUPER PARKER 425 OFF-ROAD LIVE ! RACECAST Saturday, February 5, 2011

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:37:20 PDT

IN THE PHOTO: Joe Weining (left) and Jesse Jones (right) were the top team in the three-lap classes in the 2010 BlueWater Resort & Casino/Best in the Desert Parker 425, which was run Feb. 5. They're joined by BITD President Casey Folks (center). Jones hold the Manny Esquerra Valor Trophy, which is presented each year to the overall winner. Pioneer photo/John Gutekunst

Exciting racing at the Parker 425

By John Gutekunst

The day started cold but the weather turned warm for the BlueWater Resort & Casino/Best in the Desert Parker 425 off-road race for cars, trucks, and rails held Feb. 5 in Parker.

At the awards ceremony Sunday morning, Best in the Desert Racing Association President Casey Folks said 212 vehicles started the race, and just over half of them, 116, finished it.

Folks said the race was very exciting, with the leads in many classes changing times several times. He said there were several classes, which were so close, they couldn't go by who crossed the finish line first to determine a winner. They found someone who had started later than the first one across the line actually had the better overall time.

He stated there were three accidents during the race. The first was a collision involving three trucks near milepost 100. The others involved rollovers near milepost 1. There were no serious injuries in any of the accidents.

Taking the top spot in the three-lap classes were Jesse Jones of Litchfield Park and Joe Weining of Tucson. They drove No. 76 in the 1400 Pro class, A Ford, to a time of 7:32:41.

Jones and Weining also received the Manny Esquerra Valor Award as the top overall performers in the race. The award was named after Manny Esquerra, who drove the Parker race for many years and won his class several times prior to his death in 2008.

Placing second overall in the three-lap classes was were BJ Baldwin, Bobby Baldwin and Sandy Stewart of Las Vegas and Steve Covey of Henderson, Nev. Driving No. 96, a Chevrolet in the 1400 Pro class, they came in with a time of 7:41:52.

Troy Herbst of Huntington Beach, Calif. and Tim Herbst of Las Vegas placed third overall as they drove No. 49 in the 1400 Pro class, a Ford, to a time of 7:49:11.

Also in the three-lap classes was Trent Beaver in No. 8105. He placed 66th overall and second in the 8100 class with a time of 11:21:14. His co-drivers in his Ford included Brad Makrdichian, Kevin Davis and Jim Beaver.

Parker's Ron Gibbs teamed with Kelly Kraiss of Lake Havasu City and Trevor Gard of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., to place 76th overall and 19th in the 1500 class. They brought their custom rail No. 1579 in at a time of 12:09:35.

Richard and Jim Madison, also of Parker, placed 79th overall and sixth in the 1100 class. They brought their Lothinger in with a time of 12:59:57.

The top performance in the two-lap classes came from Jeff Coan and Jon Krellwitz of San Dimas, Calif. and Skyler Gambrell of Fontana, Calif. They brought No. 1753, a Jeep, in at 7:41:22.

Placing second in the two-class racers were Jayson Strachan, James Burman, and Ryan Upthegrove of Heber City, Utah and Kyle Gervais of Park City, Utah. They brought No. 7132, a Ford, in with a time of 8:08:58.

Blake Henn, Tyler Henn, Freddy Paris and Dave Elliot finished third in the two-lap classes with a time of 8:10:28. They drove No. 7140, a Ford.

The top local finisher in the two-lap classes was the team of John Nelson and Tianna Parker. They placed 13th overall and seventh in the 1700 Pro class in No. 1758, a Jeep. Their time was 9:57:00.

Parker residents Ronald Welch Jr. and Anthony Honadick placed 18th overall in No. 5105, a Volkswagen "Baja Bug." Their time was 13:44:30. They also placed first in the 5100 class as the only Baja Bug in the race.

Folks thanked the event's sponsors, including the BlueWater Resort & Casino, Ford Motor Co., and General Tire.

OFF-ROAD LIVE! The SUPER Parker 425!!!

Desert Off-Road Race From Parker Arizona

"King Of Baja 2010 Winner" Jesse Jones destroys the SUPER Parker 425 2011 field, to OVERALL todays desert off-road race with the Best In The Desert Racing Association.

The SUPER PARKER 425 RESULTS REPORTS

As They Come In>>>

A report from Corry Weller, "The new Ford Trophylite (#6029) owned by Mike West (BBQ Island), driven by me, Mike and Richard Cassey took 2nd - not bad for the truck being finished the day before, no track time and no seat time for several of us drivers!"

The SUPER Parker 425 HEADLINES

Yesterday marked the first race of the season for Best In The Desert Racing Association in Parker, AZ. Coined for the first time, the "SUPER" Parker 425, by OFF-ROAD LIVE! staff, the huge event had 212 starters!
The desert was filled with race vehicles pushing the limits to what they are capable of. Today, the desert was filled with hulks of broken desert racing dreams
-Jesse Jones passed a crashed Andy McMillin and a 0 MPH Rob Mac to take the win today. Jones won in a "new" truck, rather, it was his pre-runner for the Baja 1000 from 2010, last year, with the Primm Race winning Dougans engine, under the bonnet.

- Sam Berri performed well, even after losing 3rd and 4th gear halfway through the race.

- BJ Baldwin’s co-driver Jonny had to take over driving duties after BJ came ill.-Chad Ragland finished the race to place second across the finish line for Baldwin Motorsports

- Andy McMillin was tied for first on adjusted time, when he crashed, "put his truck on its side", causing damage that ended his race.

- There were 17 Geiser Trophy Trucks entered. A total of 35 at the start line.

- Sam Berri’s new nickname is now “Qualifying Killer”.

- Robby Gordon reportedly out of race due to a hole in the radiator.

- Camburg Racing lost some time off the start after a Class 1500 car rolled in front of them and they tried to push them off the track, getting stuck. Big babies.

-Yokomama Tires Cameron Steele, quit after the start line due to "old tires".

Crashed Out Of The Race Report>>>

Andy McMillin Runs Out Of Talent:

""Here's what happened. Tied on time with Rob Mac, at mile 137 on lap 2 I missed a 90 degree right hand turn on a fast road. Instead of trying to make the turn, I drove over the berm and into what I thought was open desert. Instead it was a 15 foot ditch. The Motec in our truck says we went from 93mph to 0 in a quarter of a second. I'm sore but I'll be fine.""

Pictured right: Jessica McMillin crashes at Laughlin race just weeks ago. McMillin's number 1, she signals.

CLICK HERE FOR SUPER Parker 425 RACEWEEK OFF-ROAD LIVE ! COVERAGE FROM January 31-Friday, February 4, 2011

100 Years Of United States Naval Aviation

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:36:32 PST

Join OFF-ROAD LIVE ! This Saturday in San Diego

for the 100th Year Celebration of Naval Aviation

CLICK HERE for the LIVE! Reporting of the biggest display of air power since the Air Force Events at Edwards Air Base, celebrating their History on the desert dry lake bed at Muroc, California.

OFF-ROAD History is closely tied to the history

of the United States Military and our common push of valor and technology. San Diego Bay on Saturday, February 12 will witness, hundreds of military water & aircraft in celebration!

CLICK HERE FOR A STORY ON THE NAVY IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERTS, TODAY

CLICK HERE FOR A TECH UPDATE THE NAVY

OFF-ROAD LIVE !

PARKER 425 2011 RaceWeek LIVE! From Parker Arizona

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:38:58 PDT

CLICK HERE ! CLICK HERE! CLICK HERE!
FOR THE LIVE RACECAST SAT. FEB. 5

OFF-ROAD LIVE! The SUPER Parker 425!!!
WEBCAST SCHEDULE
FOR THIS BIG RACE WEEKEND!

Saturday, Raceday Starts 6 AM MT
First finisher Expected at 2:30 PM MT

OFF-ROAD LIVE ! From Parker Arizona Contingency Replay

Robby Gordon will be LIVE! at the Parker Texaco at 12 Noon to 1 PM RIGHT NOW! GO GO GO!
The Desert Racing Sights & Smells fills Western Park with vendors and visitors, it’s a town-wide yard sale in Bouse, and the BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 is expected to be one of the biggest yet, bringing tens of thousands of racers and the desert racing fans with it.

Contingency is underway at BlueWater Resort & Casino, with hundreds of race vehicles lining up for inspection ahead of tonight’s mandatory driver’s meeting in the Concert Hall inside. Streets, parking lots and desert areas around the Resort are packed, vehicles of all kinds parked in every available spot.
Robby Gordon (pictured above) signing autographs at Parker Texaco

Jesse James (pictured below) said today he wants to go full-time

in his desert racing activities. 'Kat Von D', Kat Von D, his current squeeze,

is also in town taking in the 2011 Parker 425 here in Arizona.

Fans who want to visit should expect a lengthy walk from the nearest available parking spot (though it may be worth driving to the valet to find out if they have room first).
Inside BlueWater Cinemas in front of the North Parking Lot, Tuba Art Films’ ‘Battle of the Best’ is playing for free, along with food including burritos available from concessions out front.
Below, Danny Beaver rides a Parker Motor Company race truck through inspection. Both Jim & Trent Beaver are expected to be racing.

Good Afternoon Race Fans! It's warming nicely now, here in Parker!

OFF-ROAD LIVE ! is covering the race festivities here in Parker Arizona, to bring you the Contingency and Technical Inspection, of this 38th running of the Parker 425.

The Parker 425 is a Historic Desert Off-Road Race.

OFF-ROAD LIVE ! will supply the fans of off-road recreation today and RaceDay on Saturday LIVE-ONLINE streaming coverage of ALL the action.

NOW! at the Blue Water Resort & Casino and Saturdays race coverage will commence at 6 AM Saturday morning

with LIVE screaming unlimited power trucks flying off the start-line at 7 AM

MORE PICS FROM CONTINGENCY

OFFICIAL PARKER 425

PIC PAGE CLICK HERE

Corry Weller Racing Story Breaks! First Time In A Truck!

Riot Racing Photo Gallery CLICK HERE

Team Dog Food Pics CLICK HERE

OFF-ROAD LIVE!
WEBCAST SCHEDULE
FOR THIS BIG RACE WEEKEND!

Friday, Feb 4, ALL DAY COVERAGE
Contingency From the Blue Water Resort

Saturday, Raceday Starts 6 AM MT
First finisher Expected at 2:30 PM MT

FINAL PARKER 425 2011 Press Release

TOP Qualifying Results Thursday:

1. Sam Berri 5:27.848
2. Andy McMillin 5:30.707

3. Robby Gordon 5:30.729
4. Ray Griffith 5:31.365
5. Josh Daniels 5:32.311

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE! PARKER 425 2010 RACE

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE! PARKER 425 2010

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE ! PARKER 425 2009

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE ! "Uncle Max" Replays

LIVE! NOW! FROM PARKER ARIZONA

Parker 425

Official Race Map

Official Webcast

Tracking Coverage

Parker 425 2011 RaceWeek Began Monday, January 31

More than 200 of the worlds best off-road racers have signed up for the 2011 running of the Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker 425. This marks the 40th year that the city of Parker has hosted an off-road race along the great Colorado River. 

A record breaking field of 34 Trick Trucks are entered that reads like a who's-who of the most renowned truck racers in the country. Some of the competitors who will blast off the starting line in the middle of downtown Parker, Arizona for the first real long distance desert race of the 2011 season include defending champion B.J. Baldwin, Robby Gordon, Andy McMillin, Rob MacCachren, Jesse Jones, Steve Sourapas, Steve Olliges, John Swift, Rick D. Johnson, Mark Weyhrich, Jason Voss, Jesse James, Tim and Troy Herbst, Jerry Zaiden, Steve Strobel, Greg Nunley, Marc Ewing, Jimmy Nuckles, Ed Stout, Shawn and Steve Croll, Rick Thomas, Scott Whipple and Cameron Steele. 
Many of these same truck racers are some of the 23 that have already signed up to compete in Best In The Deserts $131,000 Trick Truck Challenge Cup which gets under way with this event.
The weekend gets started off on Thursday with the high speed action of the traditional Best in the Desert Time Trials, where the starting order is determined for the two fastest classes, Trick Trucks and Class 1500. The drivers of 34 Trick Trucks and 39 Class 1500 cars will try to put the best lap time down and claim the Team Ford Pole Award. The winner will also take home $1,000 in cash from Steve Olliges, owner of Team Ford Lincoln in Las Vegas.
Following Time Trials, the race trucks and cars will be escorted to the center of town for the 2nd annual Parker Downtown Experience. Last year thousands of Parker area residents, racers and fans gathered for the afternoon with live bands and a collection of the worlds fastest and most technologically advanced off-road race vehicles on display.
Contingency gets underway Friday morning in the north parking lot of the Blue Water Resort & Casino. Thousands of spectators and race fans are expected and will have the chance all day long to get up close to the race vehicles and drivers as they weave their way through the hundreds of manufacturers and vendors set up on display.
At 7:15 AM Saturday, the real business of the weekend gets underway when the first race vehicle blasts off the starting line on California Ave. in the middle of downtown Parker. Every racer will be on equal ground, including returning champions, as their quest for the season class championships begins. Back this year is the fan favorite and hugely popular Parker Python, a special 9-mile infield section of exciting jumps and switch-backs that weave through the middle of the main pits.
Also this year, the overall race winner will again be presented with the Manny Esquerra Valor Award. This is a very special honor and a tribute to Mannys legendary contribution to the sport of off-road desert racing.
The 2011 Blue Water Resort & Casino PARKER 425…If youre a racer, you dont want to miss being part of the battle of the best. If youre a race fan, you dont want to miss the exciting adventure. The Parker 425 is very spectator friendly with 3 designated viewing areas.

But if you cant make it to the race, use your phone or personal computer experience desert off-road racing LIVE! on 
OFF-ROAD LIVE! http://www.off-road1.com/ 
and catch the live desert off-road racing action on the BIG WWW via the internet. 
Or tune into the Lucas Oil broadcast of the race a week later, February 12th on the Versus network.

Casey Folks, Director of Best in the Desert stated, 2011 will be a great year for Best in the Desert competitors with our recently announced $131,000 Trick Truck Challenge Cup, multiple contingency dollars up for grabs and our new national TV broadcast package produced and sponsored by Lucas Oil. Folks continued, No other off-road race organization has a program like Best in the Desert. Ive always said, either lead or get out of our way, and we intend to keep Best in the Desert in the lead!
Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company official truck, General Tire official tire, Lucas Oil official oil, VP Racing Fuels official fuel, KC HiLiTES official light, John Deere official UTV, KTM official motorcycle, FabTech – Official Suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, PCI Race Radios, Azunia Tequila, and Sportsman Cycle Sales"
______________________________________________________________________

Justin Lofton to make his Parker 425 debut Saturday, February 5
Testing, Desert Race Fill Lofton's Time Before Daytona
Justin Lofton has spent the last two days testing in Florida with his Germain Racing team, readying for the start of the upcoming NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season on February 18th. Following his final run on Friday afternoon, Lofton will head to Arizona and transition from his No. 77 Toyota Tundra to his No. 1577 Class 1500 Buggy for this weekend's Parker 425.
"I am so excited to run this race this weekend. It is always a blast to race in the desert. It is something I will never stop doing. I have too much fun with it," Lofton said.
Lofton last raced off-road in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge a few weeks ago, having led day one in Class 1, and was well on his way to the win during the second day's run before a broken spindle on the last lap dashed his hopes.
This weekend the 24-year-old will split seat-time with his father Bob, who has over 20 years of off-road racing experience and numerous class wins of his own, including the Baja 1000. The duo will take turns behind the wheel of the Buggy, with Bob wheeling the first two laps and Justin completing the final 150 miles.
The Best in the Desert Racing Association's Bluewater Resort and Casino Parker 425 runs on Saturday.
In 2004, Lofton earned the Best in the Desert Class 1000 championship and Rookie of the Year honors.
Following his desert run, Lofton will head back to Florida for Speed Weeks, followed by his debut behind the wheel of the No. 77 Lofton Cattle Toyota in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 on Friday, February 18th.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Robby Gordon To Make Appearance At Parker Texaco On Friday

"Making his first appearance in the Parker 425 since 2008, Robby Gordon will be racing among some of the top off-road racers in the country.  Along with Gordon, the impressive field of 34 Trick Trucks includes BJ Baldwin, Andy McMillin, and celebrity custom motorcycle builder, Jesse James, just to name a few.  Marking the 40th year the city of Parker has hosted the off-road race, The Blue Water Resort and Casino Parker 425 is the second stop on the Best in the Desert Racing Association’s 2011 schedule.

Robby Gordon knows how to win at Parker.  Finishing first in the 2006 Trick Truck division in the HUMMER H3 that had just returned from the Dakar Rally in Africa, Gordon ran on 300 horsepower less than his competitors.  “Winning the 2006 Parker 425 was fun!  I had just returned from the Dakar and ran the same race vehicle we did in the Rally.  To outrace the competition with less power was pretty awesome,” says Gordon.
The No. 77 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Chevy 1500 will be touting new sponsor, Bud Light, on the quarter panels this weekend.  “We’re happy to have Bud Light with us for the Parker 425.  It’s a partnership that we struck with our new distributor for SPEED Energy in the Arizona markets.  We just signed a deal with Romer Beverage and are excited about the new channels of distribution this will have for SPEED Energy.”
The weekend began on Thursday with the BITD “Time Trials”, determining the starting lineup for the Trick Trucks and Class 1500.  The driver to put down the best lap will claim the “Team Ford Pole Award,” which Gordon has unofficially claimed.  The race vehicles will leave the starting line on California Avenue in downtown Parker on Saturday morning to begin the 425 miles of desert racing at its best.
Robby will be making autograph appearances throughout the weekend at the SPEED Energy souvenir trailer."

Parker 425 brings in thousands of people

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Joan Travis

It will be a flurry of activity when the Best in the Desert/BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 racers, support teams and fans converge in this off-road race capital of Arizona.

More than 200 entries have signed up with the familiar names of off-road racers Tim and Troy Herbst, John Swift, Rob MacCachren, Andrew and Scott McMillin, Larry Roeseler, Steve Sourapas and Robby Gordon in the Trophy Truck class. Also in the class are Parker’s Jim and Trent Beaver.

Last year’s race was cold, windy and some rain fell. The course was tough, only 82 out of 239 entries finished. The overall winner was BJ Baldwin, who will defend his win Saturday. Baldwin also received the first Manny Esquerra Valor Award.

Manny Esquerra was a Parker resident and a legendary off-road racer. He died during the 2008 Parker 425. Esquerra was inducted in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in August 2008.

Parker 425 activities will begin Thursday and conclude Sunday.

The second annual Parker 425 “Downtown Experience” is set for 1 to 8 p.m. Drivers in the time trials will have a Show and Shine from 1 to 3 p.m. on Arizona Avenue. Fans get meet the racers and their crews.

A street party will begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Joshua Street Mall. The street party will include live music by the band Highway 95, the Soroptimists will set up its River Diva Bar, and Gene Price Motorsports will have its NASCAR Racing Team on site.

There also will be food vendors, a children’s balloon bounce and a 4x4 jeep stack.

Results and time trials party will be at BlueWater Resort & Casino’s Dig Lounge.

On Friday, driver registration will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Car and truck contingency and technical inspection will be at the north BWRC parking lot.

At 6:30 p.m., there is a mandatory drivers and pit crews meeting. Casey Folks, BITD race director, urges drivers to be on time.

Early Saturday morning, car and truck staging will begin at 6:15 a.m. At 7 a.m., police escorts will leave and head for the start line in front of the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce building at 1217 California Ave.

The race starts at 7:15 a.m., and the after-race party will be at 8 p.m. at the Dig Lounge at BWRC.

The weekend will end after the Sunday awards presentation. It is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the BWRC bingo room.

A temporary Bureau of Land Management public land closure in La Paz County is scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5, 38th annual running of the Parker 425 off-road race.

The closure is in effect from 2 p.m. Friday, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Areas subject to this closure include all public land; including county maintained roads and highways located on public lands that are located within two miles of the designated course.

The closure is to help ensure public safety and prevent unnecessary environmental degradation during the permitted running of the Parker 425.

In a BLM press statement, “There will be designated spectator areas just as in past years so people can enjoy the races,” said BLM Lake Havasu Assistant Field Manager

for Recreation and Visitor Services Mike Henderson. “Spectator safety is a heightened concern. The Bouse #2 area is closed this year, but the Bouse Y area will remain open with the spectator area moved 100 feet back from the racecourse. People will still be able to see and enjoy the racers. The five-mile long spectator area along Shea Road outside of Parker is above the race course and protected with a post and cable along the bluff will be open as well.”

Henderson added, “The Parker Races are an important tradition to the community and public. We’ve had a perfect spectator safety record for 37 years and we intend to keep it that way.”

The racecourse and closure areas descriptions, restrictions, and maps of the designated racecourse are available in the Pioneer special insert in today’s edition.

Best In The Desert Racing Association has three other off-road races in Parker. The THR Motorsports Parker 250 was Jan. 7 and 8.

The Epic Racing BlueWater Gran Prix is held May 13 and 14; and the BlueWater Desert Challenge is held Oct. 14 and 15.

The financial impact of the Parker 425 in the Parker area is in the millions of dollars. All motel/hotels have been booked for months.

According to surveys conducted by Parker Tourism Director, Mary Hamilton “I surveyed on both sides of the River, there are 482 motel/hotel rooms, 3,317 RV sites and 172 other types of rentals that include mobile homes, travel trailers, park models and kitchen cabins. I know the numbers are actually higher. I started surveying in December for the Parker 250 and 425. We are now at the point where we are referring to local business RVs 4 Less for rentals.

Hamiliton added, “Of the realtors in the area, only three handle short term rentals for events such as the Parker 425. Robert Gory Realty has 20, David Plunkett Realty has about 14 and Betty Hunter Realty has about 40 rentals during the winter and those rent to winter visitors. She has about four that are available for the Parker 425. All three offices have waiting lists for cancellations.”

________________________________________________________

Parker Motor Company /PMC Racing News Release

"In the Arizona desert, the search of victory during round one of Best in the Desert Racing Association’s five round series continues for PMC Racing.

PMC Racing will be looking to carrying momentum over from their 2010 victory at the inaugural BITD BlueWater Desert Challenge late in the year to help weather a storm that has kept them from finishing the Parker 425 the last two years.

PMC Racing took advantage of Best in the Desert’s pre-run two weekends ago and returned home with high hopes of success. “The pre-run was very successful and we came away from it with more knowledge to help our team strategize for the race. The course is still fast in some portions as it has been in the past, however some sections are definitely rougher then they have been in the past and these sections are the ones that will change the outcome of the race,” commented Trent Beaver driver of record for PMC Racing’s #8105 stock full.

The PMC Racing team has been hard at work since the BlueWater Desert Challenge performing ground up race preparation on each truck to start the 2011 season off with great success for both trucks. As preparation for both trucks finish up this week, PMC Racing will then put the trucks through a hard testing session trying to simulate race conditions before starting their final preparation before the race.

Race weekend for PMC Racing will start on Thursday, February 3rd when Jim Beaver driver of record for the PMC Racing Ford Trophy Truck #15 will take on a field of over 50 of desert racing’s best in hopes of putting the PMC Racing Trophy Truck in the pole position for that weekend’s race. Friday, February 4th is a resting day for the team and also gives fans a chance to mingle with the drivers during technical inspection and contingency. The 2011 Parker 425 will start at day break on Saturday, February 5th and will run into the early morning hours of February 6th before concluding with awards presentations on February 6th as well.

PMC Racing would like to thank all of their current sponsors for their continued support: Parker Motor Company, Ford Trucks, KC HiLites, Ringer’s Gloves, Goodyear Tires, King Shocks, Reily’s Race Wire, MSD Ignition, Mogi Trans., Penn Neon Sign, NAPA Auto Parts, and Carrillo Farms.

About PMC Racing

PMC Racing was founded by the late Marion Beaver and has compiled race wins in both unlimited hydroplane boat racing and off-road racing. Currently, Marion Beaver’s son Dan Beaver heads the operations of PMC Racing and fields a two-truck team in off-road desert racing. PMC Racing spans three-generations of race drivers and Dan’s two sons, Jim and Trent Beaver are currently filling the driving duties for PMC Racing. With multiple race wins to PMC Racing’s credit, their passion for off-road racing has never been stronger.

PMC Racing

www.TrentBeaver.com
www.JimmyBeaver.com

______________________________________________________

Best in the Desert Announces $134,000 Trick Truck Challenge Cup

With the 2011 BlueWater Resort Parker "425" just days away, Casey Folks, always the leader in programs, awards and challenges for desert racing, has just pulled another coup for the Best in the Desert off-road racing community. 

Folks announced today, "To date, more than 23 of the best Trick Truck teams in the world have signed up for an exciting new racing challenge we just created - The Best in the Desert $134,000 Trick Truck Challenge Cup. That's right - one hundred and thirty thousand dollars paid back 100% to the racers. Most of the leading Trick Truck teams from all over the world have already signed up to participate in this exciting inaugural program for 2011. The coveted Trick Truck Challenge Cup Trophy will be awarded at the end of the year to only One Team."

Here are the details.. 

1) Each Trick Truck team must pay $5,000 before the BlueWater Resort Parker "425"
2) The $5,000 is 100% paid back to the Trick Truck class
3) 10% of the $5,000 will go towards the year-end Trick Truck Challenge Cup Bonus Money.
4) The Challenge Cup money will be paid out 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place, per race for five (5) races. $12,000 to first $6,000 to second $3,600 to third ($21,600 Per Race!)
5) The Year-End bonus money will be paid out 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place.
6) Only the trucks that sign up for the Trick Truck Challenge Cup by the BlueWater Resort Parker "425" are eligible for the challenge cup money.
7) Additional Sponsor Funds dedicated to an additional Bonus Money payout at year end includes:


1) Jesse Jones - $5,000
2) TSCO - $5,000
3) Jimco - $2,000 - plus an additional $2,000 bonus if a Jimco truck wins 1st Overall year-end
4) Geiser Bros. - $2,000 - plus an additional $2,000 bonus if a Geiser bros. truck wins 1st Overall year-end
5) MasterCraft - $2,000 - if the Trick Truck Overall year-end Winner is running MasterCraft seats

Racers Signed up as of 1-18-2011

1) Steve Sourapas #6
2) Jesse Jones #76
3) Kevin McGillivray #56
4) Steve Olliges & John Swift #28
5) Jerry Zaiden #75
6) Rick D. Johnson #71
7) Mark Weyhrich #9
8) Rich Voss #35
9) Steve Strobel #94
10) Greg Nunley #10
11) Marc Ewing #68
12) Jimmy Nuckles #48
13) Craig Potts #59
14) Ed Stout #13
15) BJ Baldwin #1
16) Shawn Croll #32
17) Steve Croll #33
18) Tim Herbst #19
19) Troy Herbst #49
20) Lloyd Sproule #65
21) Charley McDowell #72
22) Rob MacCachren #30
23) Rick Thomas #53
24) Scott Whipple #95

Folks continued, "No other off-road race organization has a program like the Best in the Desert Trick Truck Challenge Cup. As The American Adventure Continues, watch for more exciting announcements for 2011. I've always said, either lead or get out of our way and Best in the Desert is in the lead!"

Recognized by racers and fans alike as the best-run off-road racing series in America, stay tuned to Best In The Desert at OFF-ROAD LIVE ! off-road1.com for more details. Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company - official truck, General Tire - official tire, Lucas - official oil, VP Racing Fuels - official fuel, KC HiLiTES - official light, John Deere - official UTV, KTM - official motorcycle, FabTech - Official Suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, PCI Race Radios, and Sportsman Cycle Sales

CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS EVENTS

CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS COMPETITION 1

CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS COMPETITION 2

CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS BLUE WATER EVENTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2009 PARKER 425 RACE




OFF-ROAD LIVE !

Photo Page For The 2011 Parker 425 OFF-ROAD LIVE !

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:33:46 PST

2010 Pictures, Note the First Photo of the set, the Infamous Parker Python Area