Showcasing in grand fashion just how thrilling off-roading can be, Sunday Strolls tests the courage of these four fearless athletes, each with little-to-no side-by-side experience, as they ride shotgun with Anderson while he pushes the limits of a near-stock RZR Pro R around the Los Angeles County Raceway Motocross (LACR) track in Southern California. With nearly a mile of track to work with, Anderson is in full “send” mode, backing his RZR Pro R into hairpin turns, flying through whoops, and grabbing tons of air* off the track’s multiple table-top jumps. With talent fully wired for audio, the Pro R outfitted with multiple GoPro cameras, and a total of nine cameras around the track, including hand-held cameras, drones, and a camera-equipped RZR XP 1000 – not a single “oh crap” moment was missed. 

“Sunday Strolls is what we live for – to introduce new people to side-by-sides and demonstrate exactly why so many riders around the country eat, sleep and breathe off-roading,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President, Polaris RZR. “This was an extremely fun series to bring to life, as we connected world-class athletes from various genres who all share a passion for living life at full speed. Our four guests walked away with an entirely new perspective on the thrilling experience that a RZR, and side-by-sides in general, have to offer.” 

Debuting today on the Polaris RZR YouTube channel, the complete Sunday Strolls publishing schedule is as follows: 

August 16: Chad Johnson 

Chad Johnson, aka “Ochocinco,” is a retired pro football wide receiver and four-time All-Pro. Ochocinco was widely known for his outgoing personality, but highly respected as a fearless receiver always willing to cross the middle of the field, despite the wrath countless receivers faced from hard-hitting defensive players. 

*Do not attempt. Professional driver. Closed course.

August 23: Rose Namajunas 

Arguably the toughest MMA fighter in the women’s strawweight division, “Thug” Rose Namajunas is a two-time champion and current #1 contender. In 2017, as an underdog, Namajunas defeated the undefeated strawweight champion via knockout. In 2021, Namajunas re-earned the title and became the first female fighter to regain a championship belt. 

August 30: Roy Jones Jr. 

Roy Jones Jr. is a former professional boxer and five-time world champion. Currently a commentator for nationally televised boxing events, Jones Jr. is the only boxer in history to begin his career in the light middleweight division and go on to win a heavyweight title. His grit and determination earned him a silver medal as the youngest boxer on the 1988 men’s U.S. Summer Olympics team. He’s highly regarded as one of boxing’s greatest champions and true legends, willing to step into the ring with any competitor throughout his illustrious career.  

September 8: Chad Mendes 

Most known as a fierce featherweight MMA fighter, Chad “Money” Mendes has competed in a variety of combat sports, including collegiate wrestling and bare-knuckle fighting. With a career MMA record of 18 wins and five losses, Mendes is a proven competitor with an unrivaled willingness and aggressive tenacity to step up to any fighter in the octagon. Mendes is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys bow hunting and fishing. 

With the launch of RZR Pro R, Polaris changed the game for high-performance, Wide Open side-by-sides. Featuring unrivaled power, strength and control, the Pro R packs the industry’s most powerful engine ever put into a stock side-by-side. The naturally aspirated ProStar Fury 2.0L, four-cylinder engine puts out a class-leading 225 horsepower. Its commanding 74-inch stance delivers rider confidence, while selectable ride and handling modes, and the industry’s most sophisticated suspension system, DYNAMIX DV, provides exceptional control and comfort. 

To learn more about Polaris RZR and to stay up to date on testing and demo opportunities, visit RZR.Polaris.com or join the conversation and follow on Facebook®, Instagram®, YouTube® and Twitter®.

About Polaris

As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. With annual 2020 sales of $7.0 billion, Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER, RZR and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and deck, cruiser and pontoon boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com.

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“It’s awesome to be the back-to-back champion at King of the Hammers,” said Can-Am Racer, Kyle Chaney. “That was one of the toughest races I have ever done. We broke a winch and I thought our day was done, but we ended up working out of it and coming through. It was awesome and I feel great!”

HIGHLIGHTS of the 2022 Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers:

• Chaney finished with a time of 4:26:02.193
• H. Miller finished with a time of 4:46:33.753
• Wolff finished with a time of 4:58:05.775
• Only about 30 of the 124 entered UTVs finished the race in the nine-hour time limit
• Can-Am once again proved why it is the brand of choice for performance drivers

In addition to the outstanding performance from Can-Am drivers in the UTV PRO Modified Class, Can-Am driver, Cody Miller, finished in 8th position in the 4400 Unlimited Class race on Saturday, Feb. 5. Miller took his Can-Am Maverick X3 up against fully modified vehicles that are not limited by tire size, engine or chassis design. Despite overwhelming size differences between the UTVs and the unlimited class vehicles, C. Miller put up a fight with his impressive top 10 finish.

2022 also marked the first year for the King of the Hammers Can-Am UTV Grudge Match. In this format, the top 20 finishers of the UTV competition are invited to compete in a 4-lap race held on the UTV qualifying course. Can-Am team racer, Brian Deegan, and co-driver Terry Madden crossed the finish line in first place. 

Now available at Can-Am dealerships worldwide, the 2022 Maverick X3 is built to perform. It is a race-proven off-road vehicle that will take you further, no matter if you are tackling your local trails, throwing sand in the dunes, or preparing for the next big race. For more technical details and product specs, as well as information about the complete MY22 lineup of Can-Am Off-Road vehicles, visit https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/.

About BRP

We are a global leader in the world of powersports vehicles, propulsion systems and boats built on over 75 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Our portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive products includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Alumacraft, Manitou, Quintrex boats and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft. We complete our lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel business to fully enhance the riding experience. With annual sales of CA$6.0 billion from over 130 countries, our global workforce is made up of more than 14,500 driven, resourceful people.

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The Grand Prix of Canada presented on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit is a must for thrill-seekers and for those who gravitate in the global F1 jet-set. Drivers, however, take the opportunity to come several days in advance to do activities away from the paddocks and away from the cameras.

This year, the driver of the HASS F1 Team, Romain Grosjean, was determined to discover what we have the best to offer in terms of accommodations. Plus, why not make business fun and explore the ATV trails that make us famous worldwide.

Auberge du Lac Taureau was the ideal destination for its heavenly setting in the heart of a majestic environment. Boasting complete facilities and being one of the finest destinations in Quebec, this address is an ideal resort for a distinguished guest. This place is also world-renowned for the quality of its hospitality, comfort, and gastronomy. Finally, the location is also a major hub for recreational vehicle enthusiasts: Lac Taureau allows navigation for watercraft by its large extent, it also has many snowmobile trails during the winter period and countless ATV trails are nearby for our greatest pleasure.

The French-Swiss pilot, Romain Grosjean, took advantage of his first moments off the plane that had brought him to Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to board a helicopter bound for Saint-Michel des Saints in Lanaudière, Québec. In less than an hour by air, we were able to make the first contact with this world-famous pilot. Needless to say, it is sometimes intimidating to meet someone with such notoriety. During the first moments, we quickly noticed its very happy and friendly character. He was very glad to be with us and to enjoy a change of scenery out of the ordinary.

This introduction was followed by a hearty meal and a period of relaxation to assimilate the time difference caused by his overseas trip. Nevertheless, his excitement could be felt because he was aware of the UTV ride that awaited him the following day.

After a good night’s sleep and a nice breakfast at the inn, we were ready to attack the trails aboard our vehicles. Our guides, Jean-Raymond Proulx and Mario Morin were pleased to accompany us and to take care of the safety aspect of the ride. For the occasion, the power sports dealer Mathias Marine Sports had taken care to prepare a suitable vehicle for our professional driver. A Polaris RZR 1000 turbo developing an impressive 168 hp was made available for his introduction to this activity. Romain admitted this was his first experience aboard this type of vehicle. Moreover, he has no experience in rally type races. Therefore, we expected a period of adaptation from him. This adaptation was, however, of very short duration. His great experience behind a steering wheel allowed him to become very familiar with all the aspects of driving a side by side vehicle.

The maintenance of the surrounding trails of Auberge du Lac Taureau is provided by the Matawinie ATV club and we aimed during this ride to visit the dam at the origin of Lake Taureau. We encountered all kinds of trail conditions: mud, sand, rocks, water, and dust. Some of those trails were fast straight lines while others were winding and tortuous. In short, it was a good mix to demonstrate to our guest the trails we can enjoy during our ATV activity in the summer season. His smile was proof of his appreciation of the moment. His mocking side also came up several times when crossing some muddy holes, for his personal amusement and also to impress us he had fun to splash his co-driver. Our guides proposed several stops at enchanting places to allow us to exchange with Romain about his appreciations of the moment.

The lunchtime was also an opportunity to see the extent of the dam and the ingenuity behind this construction. We tasted a meal specially concocted by the Auberge du Lac Taureau for all participants of this ride.

Time was an issue, however, as we were expected for a nautical activity at the Inn, so we decided to go the other way back to where our next outing was waiting for us. The return ride was just as exhilarating for everyone and our guest showed us just how fast he can be behind the wheel, regardless of the machine.

Romain admitted he intends to repeat the experience as soon as the opportunity arises. We hope his visit in our trails will make him a global ambassador for our organized trails system. Who knows, the ATV activity in Canada could be a destination of choice for international tourism if we regularly charm celebrities as our new friend!

The post Romain Grosjean F1 Driver and UTV Enthusiast! appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Over the 4 day period several Special Edition models were unveiled and added to the 2018 line-up. The Special Editions were designed based on real users’ feedback on needs specific to the way they ride and where they ride. Three special edition hunting units were unveiled including a tribute to one of the early CFMOTO models dubbed the Moose. This anniversary addition is featured on the CForce ATV lineup. The two other hunting editions are the ZFORCE and UFORCE models that can be purchased with Morning Dew water-dipped epoxy camo only available in Canada or winter camouflage depending on your needs. Next up for the special editions is the new ZFORCE Super Sport! You will be able to order the SS editions with either as an 800 or as the new 1000. The SS model comes with front and rear bumper, rock sliders, spare tire and mount, light bar and more!

Along with releasing the Special Editions the Dealer Conference introduced the new Wind Zone brand to the dealers, partners and media. CMI Motors CEO Mark Rivers explained the Wind Zone brand the best, “Wind Zone is a life style brand that is more interested in where you go, why you go, how you go and what you do when you get there instead of just the product that gets you there.”

The new CEO has a vision and passion for CMI (Canadian Motor Imports Inc) and CFMOTO Canada that is truly unmatched. Mr. River’s goal is to work with the Dealers as partners in a system that will fulfill the passion, the purpose, the reasons people ride, the why people ride, how people ride, where they ride. Mr. River’s joined the CMI team last November and quickly discovered that they had an emerging little brand that had withstood all of the challenges of the Chinese stigma. He saw the opportunity for the company to compete and to become more and more important to their dealers by focusing on the dealers needs and success.

Mr. River’s push to drive camaraderie and passion for the CFMOTO and Wind Zone brands was very evident by the structure and program he and his team put together at this years Dealer Conference. Monday was the arrival day and the event was kicked off with Meet & Greet Hors D’oeuvres at the Ontario Camp of the Deaf. This gave staff and key partners a chance to meet dealers and chat with them about the future. Carl Patoine and his wife (CMI co-owners) Helene addressed the group with a proper welcome speech and announced Wind Zone and CFMOTO Canada’s new ambassador, musician Larry Berrio.

Larry Berrio is a country rock musician from Sudbury, Ontario who has a true passion for motorpsorts. Larry has been the ambassador for Ontario Tourism for a number of years and will now be promoting CFMOTO in all his tourism related videos and articles. CFMOTO and Wind Zone dealers are also able to book Larry and the recently unveiled Wind Zone trailer for upcoming shows and events at their dealerships or any location of their choice. Larry will also be hitting the road next summer on a cross-Canada tour (dates TBD).

Wind Zone is built around the idea of an exciting life style that is filled with amazing and memorable moments. The 2017 CFMOTO and Wind Zone Dealer Conference was exactly that. Monday started off with an evening Meet & Greet where new dealers, long time dealers, staff and partners were able to interact, eat food and enjoy the beauty of the Bob Rumball Camp of the Deaf. The Camp is situated on hundred of acres of private land that includes a very private lake.

Tuesday morning saw presentation and the introduction of the Wind Zone concept. The CEO Mark Rivers pushed the new concept as extremely vital to the success of the CFMOTO Brand. He explained that the business model of the past is broken and today’s opportunities for more riding experiences is extremely vast. Those in attendance were instilled with a deep understanding of the Wind Zone business case and Mr. River’s stressed how it will lead to the most profitable dealerships in the powersports industry. During the lunch break the final Special Edition unit was unveiled. Along with requesting Larry Berrio and the Wind Zone trailer dealers will also be able to bring in the brand-new BBQ Collector’s Edition UForce! Just like its name suggests this Special Edition comes with a BBQ for all your meal time needs. However, as an added bonus it also boasts a full-sized smoker, hot and cold water, cooler and umbrella to keep the hot sun off your favourite BBQ Pit Master! The BBQ Collector’s Edition is currently following the Wind Zone trailer to all of the dealer events across Canada and has been a huge hit with staff and customers alike.

After everyone was fed the Wind Zone Adventure Tour began. The attendees were split into three large groups, handed the keys to CFMOTO ZForces and UForces and headed out on the tour. With three main stops along the breathtaking trail that paid homage to the Muskoka area and the Canadian Shield the attendees were in for a treat. At the Peninsula stop attendees were greeted with their first sight of the Hunting Special Editions and had the opportunity to ask questions and take photos. The next stop dubbed the Lookout gave everyone the chance to mingle, learn about one of CFMOTO’s key partners, Replay XD and get a closer look at the new 1000 ZForce. The final stop had two parts. The first was a demonstration by Canadian ATV Safety Institute (CASI) qualified safety instructor Davie Millier from Canada Rides. Mr.Millier discussed the importance of safe riding and the best steps to take to ensure you get to keep riding injury free. The second half was a walk-around demonstration by Kevin Cullen and Yves Gagne on how to showcase a unit to potential clients.

After the Wind Zone Adventure Tour attendees were treated to an amazing culinary experience by the famous Chef D. During the day Chef D and his team created an Earth Oven: an earth oven is a pit in the ground used to trap heat and bake, smoke, or steam food. All aspects of the meal were cooked with this method in some way. The steaks were first smoked for 2 hours and then finished directly on the bed of coals in the Earth Oven. The lamb chops, beer-can chickens and bacon wrapped chicken breasts were also smoked and finished on make-shift grills made from stumps of wood. The corn was roasted in the fire and even the vegetables had cooked from the heat of the coals. The only part of this cave-man era feast not done on or in the Earth Oven was the pig on the spit which was cooked nearby. After a delicious feast the attendees were entertained by the musical talents of Larry Berrio and his band from the Wind Zone trailer itself. With a great mix of his own original material and covers of everyone’s favorite songs the night rocked away much toe everyone’s delight.

Wednesday morning was much like Tuesday with more presentations including the introduction of the Just Ride product line extensions. As part of the Wind Zone business model a new opportunity for customers to purchase ride packages will be offered at CFMOTO Dealerships across the country. This will give people who don’t have the storage space to purchase their own units, those who only ride a few times a year (like hunting trips) and those who don’t want to commit to purchasing one for any other reason. This is a great way to keep riding with very little effort. The rest of the day was spent enjoying nature, chatting with partners who had set up displays outside, paddle boarding with P.I.N Up Boarding and the opportunity to go on a fishing expedition with Canadian Angler Hall of Fame Inductee Patrick Campeau. Wednesdays dinner was an ode to the waters and featured Earth Oven cooked salmon, fresh oysters and beautiful fresh salads.

Thursday was an easy day of enjoying the outdoors with everyone having the opportunity to revisit the outdoor experiences from Wednesday afternoon or just relax by the water’s edge before heading home. After four days of the best summer weather to hit the Parry Sound area, mouth-watering food and inspiring presentations attendees were all in agreement; this was definitely a Dealer Conference filled with Wind Zone moments.

The post 2017 CFMOTO Wind Zone Dealer Conference appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

This relatively new sport of four-wheeled fun has been an easy transition from our background in racing and freestyle motocross. The capabilities of these machines are mind-blowing while still keeping the occupants safe with roll cages and harnesses. Concept Distributing lives and breathes the UTV race scene and is constantly pushing to get Canadian racing to the next level. Keeping everyone safe on and off the track while offering an extreme racing experience for all levels of riders is a positive future we see for Canada.

Testing Concept’s products at the track is a great way to show our customers our quality control at work! With Concept’s race team winning a staggering number of races, countless podium finishes and multiple season championships there’s no denying our legitimacy. But what else can we do to show that we go above and beyond? How about watching team leader Al McBeth #357 take one of our custom built Polaris RZR S to the next level by breaking a world record with it!!

Al’s personal race car this year is a heavily modified 2015 Polaris RZR XP 1000. Cage/doors/chassis, roof, nerf bars, radius rods, bumpers and billet grill all built by Concept Distributing, full HOLZ Racing Suspension set up with custom valved WALKER EVANS 2.5” shocks on all 4 corners. METHOD Race Wheels, TWISTED STITCH suspension seats, MUZZY EXHAUST, CBR Radiator, RHINO Axles, DRAGONFIRE Seat Bases and Fuel Controller and a benchmark ECM Reflash just to name off some of the upgrades. This vehicle was built to be strong, safe, and win races as well as to take a run at the UTV distance world record! Al’s love for jumping and experience in the air made him the preferred candidate to tackle the record jump.

This all began up at Concept Distributing’s test facility up in the mountains of Abbotsford BC. Canada. Starting out as a simple dirt track, the facility has grown to one of the most extreme side-by-side test locations in the world. Multiple ramps and dirt jumps of every size and angle will push any machine to the limits and keep drivers on their “a” game. As the UTVs become more capable, the test grounds become more extreme… and what a great way to test Concept’s products! So when we designed the setting for the record jump, once again things had to change. It took over 4 months of patiently awaiting BC’s scattered weather to permit enough workdays to get the job done. Gathering resources, chopping trees and moving a lot of dirt could not have been done without the overwhelming support of Concept’s family and friends!

The first day of testing went smooth until a small miss calculation had Al’s rear wheels catch the edge of the landings safety deck almost flipping him end over end! The impact ended up breaking the engine’s oil pan and the day was done. The next weekend, back with a new pan and some upgraded HOLZ Racing engine mounts, Concept Distributing’s custom built Polaris RZR XP1000 sailed over the ramp to touch down at 181 feet breaking the UTV distance world record! But the goal was 200 feet, so we continued on. The ramp was now at a 130 foot gap and the run-in was turning into more of an “s” curve then a direct shot to the take off. The shocks were starting to bottom out hard and the engine was beginning to bounce off the rev limiter on take off. So once again back to the drawing board. A new run-in was built, the landing was extended, shocks were completely redone and the clutch was tuned accordingly. The following weekend the stage was set. After a brief warm up and the vehicle once over on some test runs, Al held his foot to the floor and launched the Polaris RZR to touch down at 198 feet surpassing the UTV distance record he had just set the week before!

Due to the shape of the property and the massive area needed to perform a jump of this size, the run-in to the take off ramp had been less than ideal from the start. As the ramp got moved further back, there was now less than a 250 foot run-in after a sharp 90 degree turn from the road. The Polaris RZR, still running a stock engine with only an upgraded exhaust system, tuner and ECM reflash was now maxing out for speed on the short run-in, and the landings were becoming dangerously close to flat. Ecstatic about now having the record, but disappointed on not reaching the 200 ft. goal, the realization that we had now outgrown our facility was on us. Al got back into his RZR, headed to the launch area and proceeded to consecutively hit 7 more 180 foot jumps. The professional camera crew that had come to document the event was thrilled with the opportunity and pounced on capturing every angle in awesome HD footage from helicopters, drone cams, ground crews and on-board cameras.

Not 24 hours had passed before AL was on route to check out a new, bigger jump location. The support Concept has received, the feedback we have got and friends we have made surrounding the making of this jump has been mind blowing. Concept Distributing will continue to push the limits of the UTV world to the next level. A new location is already locked down and goals have been set for Concept’s next ground breaking event. To describe it as bigger and better is an understatement. We’re just getting started!

Concept Distributing would like to thank everyone involved for all their support. Without them, none of this would have happened. Concept would like to give a special thanks to Holz Racing Products, Polaris, Sea to Sky Motorsports, Alder Steel, “famous” J Puddifant, Jay Poole, Tom Kettering, Mitch Crone and Mennan Landscaping.

We would also like to thank Jeremy Deichen from Loaded Gun Productions, Brad Freisen and crew – Josh Knepper, Levi Allen, Al Dupuis – One Eye Productions, Anastasia and Mark-Sugarshark Productions, Mason Mashon and Cody McNolty for helping capture this event!

Article: Concept Distributing / Photos: Levi Allen, Cody Mcnolty and Mason Mashon

The post Behind The Scenes Look At Concept Distributing World Record Jump appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

Hundreds of lifted trucks towing large trailers stacked with UTVs, as well as huge campers and motor homes start to come into the park as early as Tuesday. Before the opening event on Wednesday, the hills of the Mud Creek Park are covered with off-roaders who have staked out their claim for the week’s event. On Wednesday, High Lifter Products fires off the action with the show and shine competition. This gives garage based UTV builders a chance to show off their creations in the hopes that they would be voted as best of show. This also means they would take home the prize money for their blood, sweat and tears. Many very exotic rides showed up in the vendor area this year, including one extremely large Polaris RZR4 with a V8 race engine powering it from the rear. The details were amazing and it left us staring into the steel tubing for ideas. This rig wasn’t the only large scale ride though, as the Polaris Ranger recovery rig with Hydraulic steering, known by most as the rescue vehicle for the racing events and owned by High Lifter, was also in attendance. There was even the Awesome Polaris Sportsman Ace 1000, affectionately called the “Spider Monkey”.

Speaking of the Polaris Sportsman ACE known as “Spider Monkey”, High Lifter’s own engineers and fabricators hand built this custom rig as an ongoing tradition to wow the crowds at the event. Every “lift” part from high clearance a-arms and on in this machine is actually a catalog item from High Lifter products own book. The engine however was a little more than. stockish. The Polaris Prostar XP 1000 engine had been shoehorned down between the fenders out back where the 570 used to reside and frame cutting as well as tube steel was involved to make it work properly. They even removed the typical independent suspension out back and dropped in a custom mount to accept the trailing arms from the same XP RZR platform. Quite the marvel for sure and one we found it hard to walk away from.

Many fine SXS’s lined the vendor road at the front of the park on Wednesday to show and shine and then take part in the Audio Formz Mud Jam. These competitors show up each year with machines ranging from $5000 and up and it’s simply amazing to see where people can stuff another pile of cash into the fenders.

When the racing officially began on Thursday, it was down at the Obstacle course and I wish I had been in the room when HLP started dreaming up just how they would torture all of the competitors in this event. From one single seemingly small mud puddle (obviously positioned to wet the unsuspecting entrants tires) straight into huge logs right off the start and a tire garden to maneuver through each driver had two timed runs as if once wasn’t hard enough. Throw in a mud bog and even buried cars right after two huge rolled hay bails and it added to the entertainment. The SXS’s had only one seemingly tough obstacle though and that was the massive twin round bails of wheat straw that awaited on the lower third of the course. After a few attempts it was nothing but a speed bump though. One very excited racer even jumped the last hill as if he just couldn’t get enough.

We have attended this event for many years now and the flooding received by Texas over the few weeks leading up to the event had made the park and its big mud holes serious contention for those who dare dive in. The small rivers and flowing streams were raging and some would succumb to the flow without realizing what they had dropped into. But despite the water levels and deep mud, the regular schedule of events would keep the over 11,000 visitors busy and most would find themselves digging deep in the trails around the property.

If you had a dream test your mud riding skills in contest, then you have a chance to do this several times during the week. The S3 Powersports sponsored Endurance challenge was held down on the highline and it was to be a true endurance challenge. This stretch of water separated by a main high bank road tests riders each year on surviving the long trip down and back with at least one machine and two riders. This is always a sight but this year it was made especially tough with water levels rivaling any year we’ve seen to date. The first step choked many ATV guys out right off the bat and the driest yet slowest ride was in a six-wheel floatation machine by our friends at ARGO. A small Trolling motor might have sped these guys up a bit but kudos for their persistence as it took them all the way out and back. Unfortunately these guys were the only “SXS” team involved.

As the day rolled on, we headed up to the mudda cross track which had been revamped for this year’s event schedule. High Lifter had taken out the regular straight-line mud bog racing this year in favor of trying an ATV/UTV MX exhibition on Saturday. This left us with the Mudda Cross on Friday afternoon and the competition in the RUV/UTV class was vicious. There was one specifically interesting Arctic Cat Wild Cat driven by Michael Poolman. This big cat showed up and gave all of the spectators as well as fellow racers a jaw dropping 1.5 laps of extreme racing. Unfortunately when you try to tame that much kitty it has to left off steam. There is no word on just what happened to the power plant but for the first time in a Wildcat this racer bumped fenders with top teams in the RUV class. If the motor had held on just a few more turns this AC Wildcat would have made even more of a statement. Other wild racing rigs included a twin turbo Can-Am machine that looked super impressive but something wasn’t jiving in the engine department and it failed to live up to the whirling hype.

For the final official event on Saturday, the promoters of the HLMN had brand new event or exhibition and one that may very well become a regular event at the mud nationals. An ATV/UTV MX exhibition brought people from all over the park to a small four-acre section right in the center of the action. Although there were only three starters in the UTV class it was a sight to see for sure. I think the regular UTV drivers never thought that launching a huge 1400-pound machine could be so tough. This High Lifter sponsored Polaris RZR driven by Conner Bowlin took everything in stride and drove to a win, launching each jump like a pro.

With the 2015 High Lifter Mud Nationals in the books, it was time for us to head up into the food corral and grab some great southern Cajun food and a huge lemonade to wash it all down. This year’s event was a success and we plan to head back in 2016 for even more crazy fun in Texas.

HLP is looking straight into the eye of their next big event called the Quadna Mud Nationals. If you want to find out more information about this and other High Lifter Products, check them out on the web at Highlifter.com

The post High Lifter Mud Nationals 2015 appeared first on UTV Planet Magazine.

But the Mint 400 is much more than just a brutal off-road race… it’s a spectacle! It began this year on the Wednesday leading up to the race with the massive 100-car vehicle parade down the world famous Las Vegas strip. There’s nothing cooler than seeing 100 off-road cars take over a 3-lane road for nearly a mile, and there were quite a few UTVs in the mix. Everybody on the strip took notice. On Thursday the fun continued with driver autograph sessions, the famous Miss Mint 400 Crowning Ceremony, and then the KMC Wheels Pit Crew Challenge, which saw the best mechanics in off-road battle against each other for cash and prizes. Nearly 10,000 people gathered for these awesome festivities. On Friday, the largest “contingency” and tech inspection in the industry took place. We’re talking 12 MASSIVE square blocks of off-road manufacturers, OEMs, and tons of after market parts suppliers. The Pro Armor Mint 400 UTV Showcase was THE place to be, and on display was a custom 2014 Polaris RZR XP1000 Mint 400 edition vehicle that looked amazing. All 350 race vehicles were slowly pushed down the 12 block contingency and inspected for safety – and as the sun faded into the West on Friday night it was clear this was going to be one heck of a race.

At the Mint 400 the UTVs compete in the “Limited” class race early in the morning. They run a total of two hundred miles or two complete laps. While some complain they want the full 400 miles – the challenge is that it would take 8-10 hours, and force those able to make it that far onto the course with the “Unlimited” trophy trucks that weigh in at 6,000 plus pounds! Not safe. Not on the most grueling and challenging racecourse in North America! Those who have raced the Mint know that this course deteriorates quickly and with each mile it begins to really take its toll on driver AND machine. Bent wheels, flat tires, blown shocks, roll overs, smashed a-arms, blown engines, failed drivelines, and much more were all part of this year’s race. No one came away unscathed! Racers funneled their way into “main pit” in Jean, NV from 3-5am. By 6am the normally quiet Nevada Desert was buzzing and gleaming with the flashing blue and amber lights from a gigantic field of racers. Engines idled, dust stirred, camera flashes popped, and red start lights turned to green. Casey Folks, director of the Best In The Desert series, (of which The Mint 400 is a part of) sent racers rocketing off into the dark, two at a time, side by side, in thirty-second intervals. The chaos of the start line quickly gave way to the battles in the desert!

To give an accurate play-by-play run down of everything that happened during this race would take an entire magazine to cover! With two hundred miles of racing spanning just over four hours, the overall lead changed in the Pro UTV Class at least a dozen times. There were a few times that the lead changed 2-3 times in a matter of minutes. One thing was clear from the start of the race: Branden Sims of LoneStar Racing and his #1913 Polaris RZR were ready to do battle. Fresh off a King Of The Hammers podium finish, Sims charged HARD to the front of the pack early and looked like he was going to check out completely at one point. At mile marker 50, the factory Polaris racing teams of Jagged X Racing, and Coastal Racing were seen in a heated struggle for second place. The #1934 of Scott Kiger was leading the pack of UTVs when he got stuck in a deep sand berm. Brandon Schueler in the #1919 made the most of his opportunity, passing both Kiger and the #1931 of Matt Parks. Parks also made his way around Kiger, but made the smart decision to let him back in front a few miles later, choosing to save the car for a push later in the race. Meanwhile, the (2013 Pro-UTV champion) Brandon Schueler who started in 28th position, surgically worked his way through the field, moving into third physically
after passing the #1916 of Cody Nygren near mile marker 63.

The rough course and aggressive driving were already leading to problems for some race teams. The #1918 of Cognito Motorsports had a frustrating morning, with an early flat. Meanwhile at the end of lap one, a long pit stop from the #1913 Branden Sims allowed 2013 Mint 400 champions Coastal Racing to take the physical lead, and Mark Holz quickly put the pedal down for Coastal. Sims and Schueler were definitely not ready to concede, and chased hard after the #1934. A devastating mechanical issue forced Holz to pull over and hand clean air back to Branden Sims.

The #1926 of Jason Fraser made some serious moves early on, and at the end of lap one held the overall lead on corrected time! A clean second lap would put Fraser in great position to take the win over Sims and Schueler. At race mile 115 a quick pass on the short paved section of the course put Brandon Schueler first on the road, but by no means could he relax. A solid pack of racers pushed within striking distance, including the #1931 of Matt Parks and the #1918 of Justin Lambert. Marc Burnett in the 1905 Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick laid down a blistering first lap and was suddenly in the mix as well. Any slip-up by the front-runners would have resulted in a lead change. Branden Sims surged back to the front temporarily, but a flat tire dropped him back to third overall, as #1926 Jason Fraser and #1919 Brandon Schueler made their way past him.

It looked as though Fraser was going to run away with the win, but as he approached race mile 170, his rear left wheel ripped of the car suddenly and he skidded to a halt on the side of the course. Brandon Schueler quickly raced past him to the lead position with Branden Sims hot on his tail, eager to make a name for himself in the stacked Pro-UTV field. Marc Burnett pushed forward right at the finish as well, hoping to catch Schueler on corrected time. But the seasoned champion would not let this one slip away! Schueler edged out Burnett by a mere eight minutes for the win! Burnett took second. And Branden Sims finished eight minutes after Burnett for a solid third place finish.

Honorable mentions include Matt Parks driving in place of Craig Scanlon in the 1931 jagged X / Polaris RZR. (Scanlon was recovering from a nasty concussion sustained while snowmobiling a few weeks before the Mint.)

Matt raced the 1931 Jagged X / Polaris RZR into 4th position overall, separated by just under thirty-seconds from the 5th position Can-Am of Murray Motorsports, who won the 2012 Mint 400 the first year UTVs were allowed to race. This year was slightly different as brother Jason Murray was still recovering from a severe injury to his hand suffered in February’s King Of The Hammers race. Despite battling without Jason in the car, Derek and the entire team managed a very respectable 5th place, keeping Can-Am in the mix and proving once again that the Maverick is not to be overlooked in competition. Scott Martinez, driver of the 1951 John Deere RSX helped create the 850 class for the smaller engine UTVs to compete in. In the second race for this new class, two Kawasaki’s reached the top four spots, with first place going to David Lyttle in his brand new 2014 Kawasaki Teryx-4. Scott drove the 1951 Monster Seal / John Deere to 2nd place and Joanne Gonzales would claim 3rd in her 1952 Rowdy Dog / Polaris RZR. Jeff and Terry Kary piloted their #1981 Yamaha Rhino SR1 to a first place finish in the SR1 class.

Congratulations to the 2014 Mint 400 UTV Finishers:

1. Brandon Schueler / Blake VanDeLoo #1919 Jagged X / Polaris RZR – 4:08:55
2. Marc Burnett / Fernando Flores #1905 Monster Energy / Can-Am Maverick – 4:16:23
3. Branden Sims / Jacob Carver #1913 LoneStar Racing / Polaris RZR – 4:24:22
4. Matt Parks / Keith Redstrom #1931 Jagged X / Polaris RZR – 4:24:48
5. Derek Murray / Monty Aldrich #1917 Murray Motorsports / Can-Am Maverick – 4:33:52
6. John Melvin Jr. / Tim Jewett #1912 Polaris RZR – 4:41:58
7. Brett Ferrell / Michael Gilliland II #1922 Team South / Polaris RZR – 4:42:54
8. Brian Bush / Brian Kozar #1911 LoneStar Racing / UTV Inc. / Polaris RZR – 4:52:41
9. Lance Chournos / Aspen Chournos #1929 Rally On The Rocks / Arctic Cat Wildcat – 4:55:46
10. (1st SR1) Jeff Kary / Terry Kary #1981 Yamaha Rhino SR1 – 5:07:39
11. (1st 850 UTV) David Lyttle / Victor Herrera #1963 Kawasaki Teryx – 5:09:25
12. (2nd 850 UTV) Scott Martinez / Joyce Humerickhouse #1951 Monster Seal / John Deere RSX 850i – 5:13:59
13. Jason Fraser / Mark Sundberg #1926 Polaris RZR – 4:14:44
14. (1st Sportsman) Rob Usnick / Kyle Usnick #1999 Yamaha Rhino Rotax – 5:14:46
15. Lacretia Beurrier / Chris Moore #1924 DragonFire Racing / Can-Am Maverick – 5:25:06
16. (3rd 850 UTV) Joanne Gonzales / Jeremy Marshall #1952 Rowdy Dog Racing / Polaris RZR – 5:28:01
17. Christina Perkins / Kent Perkins #1946 Perkins Dirt / Polaris RZR – 5:28:35
18. Cory Sappington / Tyler Dixon #1904 Dezert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick – 5:28:56
19. Renee Hudson / Denise Hall #1959 Parker Oil / Kawasaki Teryx – 6:13:31
20. Scott Kiger / Mark Holz #1934 Coastal Racing / Polaris RZR – 6:14:17
21. Brian Thomas / Holly Thomas #1938 Polaris RZR – 6:27:00
22. Michael Lansky / Jim Sharp #1920 Avid Racing / Can-Am Maverick – 6:34:49
23. Jeff Scolman / Denise Scolman #1945 Brightside Racing / Polaris RZR – 6:38:39
24. (850 UTV) Jeffrey Tremino / Ben Husband #1960 Polaris RZR – 6:50:50
25. Levi Gilkison / Bryce Gilkison #1947 Brightside Racing / Polaris RZR – 6:55:04
26. Justin Lambert / Justin Sheakley #1918 Cognito Motorsports / Polaris RZR – 7:22:45

 “Visit UTVUnderground.com for the official Mint 400 UTV highlight video. To see the big boys race, watch The 2014 General Tire Mint 400, presented by Polaris on Sunday July 6th at 2pm Eastern on NBC as part of the Red Bull Signature Series. For more information visit themint400.com or facebook.com/themint400“

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Starting as a big gathering of friends, the event known around the world has brought a Shreveport Louisiana company to the forefront. Scott Smiths dream of simply lifting his Utility ATV to get in the deep stuff has exploded and with it has formed a following that Twitter could only dream of! We had the chance to attend the High Lifter Mud Nationals and we have good news, it was muddy!

Starting the week off right we rolled into town to see and hear the sights and sounds of Mud Nationals coming to life. The showcase of extreme machines in the vendor area kept us in amazement for a few hours. There were big UTVs and small UTVs as well as some ATVs but one thing they all had in common was the individual fabrications and craftsmanship. Starting with High Lifters own mad creations we starred into the fender wells of the giant Polaris Crew. This behemoth has long been a staple in the arsenal of company rigs to be seen at the event and with one other Polaris as its possible trump card. The machine affectionately known as “Teeter Totter” is the fabricated high riding mini monster truck that is powered by a dirt track race car engine. When this beast fires off you can hear its distinct rumble and quite frankly it is chilling to watch the big footed monster roll past.

However these two machines are not in the contest of “show and shine” as that might be a little bit of a disadvantage for others in the contest. The real contestants were treated to an S3 Power sports build dubbed the “Show Stopper” as well as a second S3 machine built from a Polaris Ranger Crew with a diesel power plant and militarized clothing. Other entrants included a couple of hijacked SXS machines that seemed to have more hydraulics than a crab boat. The Maverick by Can-Am seemed to be a favorite starting point for most home fabricators and one more deep orange and black machine was also worth a second look. It wasn’t long before the contest had closed for votes on the best machine and even though we didn’t find out the real winner in each class until Saturday we can let you in on the actual UTV class winner. It was a very colorful LSU themed carriage built from the popular Can-Am Maverick four-seat machine. This bright tiger striped purple and yellow Can-Am took the top prize of five hundred dollars. Then it was on to the sounds of High Lifters Mud Nationals!

The Audio Formz sound system contest woke up every thing with ears and bounced the decibel limits to the tune of 120 plus. Many different styles of sound could be seen here but it was the more unlimited classes that really gave us an ear full. With the requirement of roll cages in the industry there were plenty of places to mount the big well-illuminated speakers. Each entrant had a chance to back into the “sound booth” to give the best mix of musical noise they could muster and it was worth the price of earplugs to keep our sanity. These machines basically had a complete automotive style audio system installed into their side by sides to jam out with. Obviously you really needed to have a couple of different classes as money could out compete design and so High Lifter split these guys into UTV and Unlimited classes. Taking home the top prize for the UTV class was Cody Alvey and the unlimited award would go to a very excited Michael Sharp. This is one contest that seems to grow each year and with a mix of country, rap and some blues blaring in the wind at Mud Nationals there will no doubt always be something to listen too!

High Lifters Mud Nationals event as a whole has been evolving every year with promoters mixing in something new every few years. The Massimo Obstacle course was born into the list of competitions last year and is quickly becoming a favorite. This trip around a spot of land about an acre in size gives the best of the riders a chance to show their diversity in skill. The obstacles range from huge logs to rocks, a tire garden, mud bog and even crushed cars. This adds excitement to the show and what a show it is. Although it seemed there were more ATVs competing, there had been a couple of adventurous UTV owners taking a shot at the track. Speed and agility can be considered key in this race as each contestant needs to at least try the obstacle for it to be counted. Seth Russell finished on top riding his Can-Am ATV but one guy in his Polaris RZR gave it one heck of a charge despite the thunderous storms that had moved in as the event got underway.

They say rain makes mud and this is true, but it also almost caused a panic in Jacksonville Texas during this particular HLMN, as it became apparent that it was a serious downpour that even Dorothy would have had to call home about. Strolling around the grounds (almost 4000 acres or there about) you never know what you will see and it was no surprise to find stuck machines all over the park. Most would pack it in for the night as the winds began to really pick up.

Racing is a big part of the festivities at the High Lifter Mud Nationals and for Friday morning the skies had cleared to allow the show to go on. It was time for the buddy run down the eight-mile long course known as the High Line. This course has been named the Caleb Moore Memorial high line to help remember a racer who had been taken from this earth in a snowmobile stunt gone wrong during the X-Games.

The race lay’s out like this, two bodies and two machines or two riders on one machine. However it shakes out, you and a riding partner have to make it back to the start/finish line together on at least one machine. You would think a big side by side would have the advantage but what most didn’t realize was there were serious deep holes out through the pit. After the racing had ended here racers stacked back into their rigs and headed to make any repairs needed to get ready for the straight line bog. This test pitted two and three UTVs next to each other and with a flash of the green light the gas pedal hits the floor and it is all on at that point! Some of these big UTVs even use nitrous oxide and lots of it. The engines can be heard ripping up and down violently and some event shut off with a loud bang to prove the destruction inside the cases. Serious money goes into these engines and it doesn’t take but one to many pushes to the go juice to expose the crank and rods. Racers like Steve Hittle with Team Gorilla Axle powered by Can-Am had good luck in the deep muddy pit. The three top positions were held by non other than the Can-Am Maverick. Final racing resumed on Saturday in the Mudda Cross race. This is a circle of deep water and mud that allows drivers to practice going left. Even though some went right. Making up to three trips around the big course gave each racer a chance to pass or be passed and with the final race the top three were awarded cash and trophies. Shane Dowden made it known that he was going to be hard to beat and took the top honors for the Polaris Mudda Cross. Steve Hittle would be right there in second and Brian Haughton made a solid third.

It was now time to settle in for some music and crawfish as the week was almost over. Saturday night was full of good tunes and good food with friends. So if you are ever out in the Jacksonville Texas area about the end of March, make your way out to the Mud Creek Off road park and get to know what serious muddin’ is all about. Heck, you may even run into a famous celebrity as they are known to wonder in unannounced from time to time.

For more information on the High Lifter Mud Nationals, www.atvmudnationals.com

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In the racing community however, the city of La Tuque is best known for “12 hours of La Tuque endurance race”, which today has grown to be the biggest off-road event in Canada. This year marked the 13th edition of the race, which was held from the 15th-18th of May 2014. The 12 hour endurance race hosts a wide range of off-road race competitions; QUAD, SIDE-BY-SIDE, ENDUROCROSS, PITBIKE and EXTREME CROSS but for this article I will focus only on the SIDE-BY-SIDE competition.

This year saw the biggest participation in the SIDE-BY-SIDE category with 22 teams entered in the race. The SIDE-BY-SIDE category is a 2-hour race, which takes place over 2 days. The SIDE-BY-SIDE category is divided into the following classes: OPEN 600-850, OPEN 851-1000, STOCK 600-850 and STOCK 851-1000. Although there are 4 distinct classes, all teams participate at the same time and are scored according to their lap times in respected classes. The winner of each class is determined by their cumulated times over the 2-day period.

Saturday morning the teams got a chance to run practice laps on the track and qualify for start positions for the first leg of the race that would be held later in the afternoon. The weather on Saturday morning was miserable, raining and cold. However, this didn’t stop the pilots from scoring good race times and all qualified for the first leg.

By the time the first leg of the race rolled around on Saturday, the weather had greatly improved and the conditions were perfect as the pilots lined up for the start of the first leg. Almost immediately at the start of the race, #1 Derek Murray from Can-Am X-Team experienced a real bad rollover, happy to report that besides some bumps and bruises, Derek was all right. Can-AM X-Team dominated the race in the OPEN 851-1000 class while CFMOTO Racing was dictating the pace in the OPEN 600-850 class.

During the first leg of the race, #5 Yani Desjardins and #11 Martin Horik from Can-Am X-Team really put on a show for all the spectators with some fierce battles and some action packed moments.

By the end of the first leg, here where the leaders: OPEN 600-850, #52 Jason Thorne, OPEN 851-100 #5 Yani Desjardins, STOCK 600-850 #29 Francis Villeneuve and STOCK 851-100 #555 Davik Ivichek.

Sunday morning finally rolled around and once again all the pilots lined-up for the final leg of the SIDE-BY-SIDE race. The race immediately exploded in action and once again, #5 Yani Desjardins and #11 Martin Horik from Can-Am X-Team where in a heated battle. In the OPEN 600-850 category #52 Jason Thorne and #26 Ken McDonald where assaulting the course in an intense confrontation between 2 pilots from CFMOTO RACING.

Midway into the final leg, #5 Yani Desjardins damaged a rear CV joint and #11 Martin Horik grasped this opportunity to take the lead and never looked back. Meanwhile #26 Ken McDonald assault on #52 Jason Thorne and finally got the best of him and #26 Ken McDonald took and held the lead. In the STOCK 600-850 and STOCK 851-1000 both pilots #29 Francis Villeneuve and #555 Davik Ivichek held the lead throughout the entire race.

22 teams entered this grueling race and only 10 teams crossed the finish line. We would like to congratulate not only the teams that reached the podiums but all the participants.

FINAL RESULTS

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