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Getting ready for King of the Hammers 2010 UTV Race

2009-12-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

I am in the final stretch on a UTV build for the 2010 King of the Hammers UTV Race that will be held in Johnson Valley on February 11, 2010.

Pit Bull Tires has stepped up to the challenge and is proud to be the Title Sponsor of the UTV King of the Hammers race and is offering up a first place purse for this stand alone race of $5,000.

Last year, five vehicles competed in the desert and in some of the most extreme rock crawling environments. This year, the course will be a little longer, a little harder, and will utilize some of the King of the Hammers rule book which includes no spectator help, only competitor help.

Here are some specifications on our 2008 Kawasaki Teryx:

2009 Engine and Harness - Kawasaki
Frame & Roll Cage - Roggy Enterprises
Exhaust - Muzzys Performance
840cc Big Bore - Muzzys Performance
Long Travel Shocks - Fox Racing Shox
Power Steering - Unisteer
Steering Rack - Unisteer
Long Travel Kit - Funco
Aluminum - MFS
UHMW Skid Plate - Factory UTV
Fuel Management - MSD Ignition
Clutch Kit - Dalton Industries
Clutch Cover - Dalton Industries
Two Seat Radio & Intercom - Rugged Race Products
Radiator - Griffin
Fuel Cell - Summit Racing
Seats - Beard
Harnesses/Restraints - Simpson Racing
Rear View Panoramic Mirrors - Axia Alloys
Window Nets - Simpson Racing
Fire Suit - Simpson Racing
500W Stator Kit - Side x Side Customs
LED Lights - Rigid Industries
Battery Isolator - Black Rhino Performance
Kwik Jak - Baja Designs
Winch - Warn
Winch Fairlead - Custom Splice

More Details about the race:

On the cover of Side x Side Action Magazine

2009-08-31T20:58:00.001-07:00

I made it on the cover of another Side x Side Action Magazine this month. That is a blue Polaris RANGER EV (electric vehicle) that I am driving at the Polaris R&D facility in Wyoming, Minnesota during their 2010 press intro.

I traveled to the Polaris event with Mike Lasher of Side x Side Action Magazine, and that is how I ended up on the cover.

The RANGER EV is a pretty unique vehicle. It is definitely not like your run-of-the-mill golf cart, but it does run on batteries. Polaris introduced the value-priced, Midsize RANGER 400 and the company’s first electric vehicle, RANGER EV. Both of these units share the same, smaller, two-seat chassis, that fits in the back of a pickup truck, with many of the hardest working, smoothest riding features of their full-sized counterparts: On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive with VersaTrac, Independent Rear Suspension, heavy duty front end protection, high ground clearance and the longest suspension travel in their class.

More info on the 2010 Polaris RANGER lineup.

Headed to Henderson for Vegas to Reno Race

2009-08-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

I am headed to Henderson, NV today to cover the Vegas to Reno off-road race.

"Live" Coverage of Vegas to Reno The Long Way will be available starting Wednesday at Contingency, Thursday-Saturday through the pits and nightly updates, and wrapping it all up in Reno at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday.

"Live" is in quotes since we are going to be in the boonies most of the day and cell service and wireless internet are pretty sketchy.

We'll be in Henderson on Wednesday AM taking pictures of all the UTVs during contingency. Then each night we will be uploading photos from the days event. Live updates on Twitter as cell service allows.

A few different ways to get "current" reports and see photos:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/utvguide -quick status and a few pictures

UTV Weekly.com: http://utvweekly.com/index.php/2009/08/live-coverage-of-bitd-vegas-to-reno-utv-race - nightly photo galleries and race day overview

UTV Guide: http://www.utvguide.net/trip_report_vegas_to_reno_2009.htm

Should be interesting. 3 days of racing. 996 miles.

Schedule:
Wednesday - Contingency
Thursday - Beatty to Tonopah
Friday - Tonopah to Hawthorne
Saturday - Hawthorne to Dayton
Sunday - Awards Ceremony

Muzzys Performance Products On Board to Build Race Teryx Engine

2009-07-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

I made a trip over to Infineon Raceway today and met up with Rob Muzzy of Muzzys Performance Products. Rob and his crew at Muzzys are going to take our 2009 Kawasaki Teryx EFI V-Twin engine that we are going to use in our Race Teryx Project and do a couple of performance modifications for us. Stay tuned as we decide how big to go!

Rob Muzzy is the USA's most successful motorcycle racing team manager. For 25 years he has run successful Kawasaki bikes in an assortment of circuit racing, road racing and motocross, winning 19 major titles in total. In the last few year's, Rob has got on board with the UTV Market, and Muzzys now builds exhaust and performance products for Kawasaki Teryx, Polaris RZR and Yamaha Rhino.

Muzzys Performance Products is based in Bend, OR and can be reached at: 541-385-0706 or on the internet at: www.muzzys.com.

Race Teryx is getting a major overhaul!

2009-07-09T18:09:00.001-07:00

Our Kawasaki Teryx that we use for racing has gone under the knife for some major surgery. Bob at Roggy Enterprises has taken it down to the minimum in order to build it up right.

Plan is to set it up for King of the Hammers, a little short course racing with VORRA and maybe some desert too.

Follow along with the build at:

http://www.utvguide.net/teryx_race.htm

Here is what the Teryx looked like for the 2009 King of the Hammers UTV race:

http://www.utvguide.net/teryx_koh_project.htm

Are Sport UTVs destined to go the way of the Honda ATC?

2009-05-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

By Jon Crowley, www.utvguide.net

I was just interviewed by a free lance reporter who is writing an article on the Yamaha Rhino and I got to thinking about sport UTVs. Are Yamaha Rhinos, as well as other sport UTVs headed in the direction of the infamous Honda ATC three-wheeler from back in the 1980’s?
If you remember way back when in 1982 (it really isn’t that long ago), Honda introduced the ATC 200 Big Red. The ATC was a great machine, but as popularity exploded, so did the accident rate.
The increase in accident levels lead to an investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 1986, CPSC statistics suggested that most accidents were due to improper rider behavior that ignored manufacturer warnings. No inherent flaw was found in the three-wheel design.
Honda’s owner’s manual and product warning labels stressed the importance of preper operation to its customers. Through a national industry safety campaign, there was a 33 percent decline in recorded CPSC injury statistics between 1984 and 1988.
Nevertheless, in 1988, ATV manufacturers entered into a 10 year agreement with the CPSC. Under the agreement ATV manufacturers made a $100 million commitment to expand safety programs. Additionally, even though three-wheel ATC sales were dropping off, manufacturers agreed to stop distributing ATCs in the U.S.
If history is bound to repeat itself, the sport UTV is headed in a similar direction as the ATC three-wheeler. The Yamaha Rhino is currently the biggest target, and Yamaha has worked out an agreement with the CPSC to “repair” existing Rhinos. Yamaha is facing an onslaught of lawsuits from users that for the most part have tipped their vehicles over and have been injured or killed.
From what I have seen in reviewing many of the accidents that I see reported in the newspapers, a lot can be blamed on users not following manufacturer guidelines for proper use. For example, here are the two most recent accidents that happened in May 2009:

The accidents are tragic, that is for sure. But if you look past the inflammatory reporting you will find that in both instances, many guidelines were completely ignored that would have either prevented the accident or surely lessened the severity.

In the case of the 13 year old boy, he was not wearing a seat belt, he is under 16 years old, the Rhino was new (lack of experience), he was not wearing a helmet and there was no adult supervision.

With the father that died in the roll over, the Rhino was carrying one driver and 5 children as passengers in a two person vehicle. No one had seat belts on, and the father was carrying his one year old son on his lap.

If I am reading the tea-leaves correctly, I can see that improper use of sport UTVs will soon affect all of us. Will the CPSC step in and limit how powerful side x side vehicles can be? Will helmets become mandatory equipment just like they are in California for ATVs? Will manufacturers be forced to add even more safety equipment? Do you get the point?
All of these lawsuits and the bureaucrats at the CPSC are going to force manufacturers to limit how much fun we can have in our beloved UTVs. That is the sad truth.

Here are a few guidelines to remember to help keep you safe in a side x side vehicle:

Always wear your seat belt
Always wear a helmet
Don’t drink and drive
Keep arms and legs in the vehicle at all times
Abrupt maneuvers or aggressive driving can cause rollovers – even on flat, open areas
Learn the limits of your vehicle and your driving ability
Children under 16 should never drive a side x side vehicle

Beyond following the guideline provided by vehicle manufacturers, use some common sense and take responsibility for your actions. Just because you have an accident doesn’t mean there is a problem with the vehicle and you should be owed a lot of money.

A quick Memorial Day ride

2009-05-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Went on a last minute ride up near Iron Mountain (Pollock Pines, CA area) on Memorial Day. I just had time to set up a flag on the RANGER HD before heading out on the trails. We also had a Polaris RZR S and a Kawasaki Teryx on the trail.

2009 Polaris RZR HD - Long Term Review

3rd Annual UTV Rally - Moab Utah

2009-05-15T05:53:00.001-07:00

Having a great time in Moab at the 2009 UTV Rally. Lots of great people, some very cool UTVs, nice cross section of vendors and incredible trails & scenery.

Day one we did Cliffhanger. Day two was Moab Rim. And today we are taking on Pritchett Canyon.

More Photos: 3rd Anual UTV Rally Photo Gallery

Headed to the 2009 UTV Rally in Moab

2009-05-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Left on Monday night from the Sacramento area to get part way to Moab. Trail runs start on Wednesday so I wanted to get there Tuesday and not drive all 13 hours in one shot.

On this trip, I decided to go light and nimble. Just the truck with the Kawasaki Teryx on the UTV Rack. Staying in a motel in Moab, so this will allow me to roam around a bit more.

All seemed well on the drive until I got a call from my wife Teresa at about 8:30pm. I was 4+ hours into the drive and almost to Winnemucca when she called. She said she had some bad news. I figured one of the cats had died or something along those lines. Instead she tells me the bag will all my clothes in it is still sitting in the laundry room where I left it. Crap!

Too far to go home, and with only the clothes on my back we scrambled for options. I found a Wal Mart in Winnemucca and bought enough clothes, etc. to get me by for a few days. Then Teresa took and box up my stuff and Fed Ex'ed it out for next day delivery. I won't get it until Wednesday (keep your finger's crossed), but that isn't so bad. Bill for the overnight was $100. Ouch!

Later on on Tuesday, the check engine light came on (2005 Ford F250 Diesel). Ugh. Not sure what it is, but everything seems to be running fine. Hopefully it is something minor.

More pictures later. Be sure to check out all of our pictures at:

http://www.utvguide.net/trip_report_utv_rally_2009.htm

Great UTV trip to the Pine Nut Mountains

2009-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

My son and I had a great trip riding around the Pine Nut Mountains near Gerdnerville, NV las weekend.

We took our Kawasaki Teryx and joined up with friends that had another Teryx, plus a neighbor brought out our Ranger HD demo unit. We probably drove about 60 miles on Saturday and made it out to Slater's Mine near Mt. Siegel before turning around. A little bit of snow going around Mt. Siegel made us pick a new route, but the Lowrance Baja 540C GPS came in handy for that.

More pictures and info:

Pine Nut Mountains Trip Report

Tough times hit one big of the biggest Powersports Magazine Publisher

2009-04-29T10:47:00.001-07:00

Source Interlink Media files for Chapter 11 Reorganization

Bonita Springs, FL., April 28, 2009 - Source Interlink Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SORC), one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences and a leading distributor of DVD's, CD's, magazines, video games and books today announced that it has reached a restructured agreement with its lenders to eliminate $1 billion dollars of existing debt and privatize the company.
Under the agreement, the company's lenders will cancel nearly $1 billion of the company's existing debt and provide approximately $100 million in additional liquidity. Source Interlink, in agreement with its lenders, will pay all of its vendors in full and on time if they agree to maintain current credit and payment terms. To facilitate the restructuring, the Company filed a lender-approved pre-packaged Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Company anticipates it will emerge within 35 days.

Some of the more popular powersports magazines that Source Interlink Media publishes include:

Motor Trend
Hot Rod
4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility
4Wheel & Off-Road
Four Wheeler
JP Magazine
ATV Rider
Dirt Rider
Off-Road

With more than 75 publications, 90 Web sites, 400 branded products, 65+ events, and TV and radio programs, SIM is the largest provider of content to enthusiast communities interested in automotive, action sports, marine and other niche activities. For more information about the Source Interlink reorganization go to: www.SourceInterlink.com.

A little short course UTV race for UTVGuide.net

2009-04-28T13:17:00.001-07:00

Decided to race our Kawasaki Race Teryx at the VORRA short course last weekend. What a blast! The VORRA short course races are held at Prairie City SVRA near Sacramento. There were only three UTVs that raced, but it was pretty comptetitive nonetheless.

We were able to capture the last laps of the 1st and 2nd moto of the races and have them posted up on YouTube:

I now have the race bug and plan to race the rest of the VORRA short course races, and may try out a few of the desert races this summer.

UTVGuide.net's Teryx is Teryx of the Month

2009-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Our Project Teryx is the winner of the 1st Teryx of the Month contest on TeryxForums.net for April 2009. The voting came down to the wire, but we squeeked out the win by one vote. Thanks to everyone that voted for us.

Be sure to check out www.teryxforums.net to see our Teryx, and if you have a Teryx worthy of being Teryx of the Month, be sure to post up a picture on their forum.

America's Sue-Happy Society Costs Us All

2009-04-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

I recently read another news article about two new lawsuits against Yamaha (Yamaha faces two suits over Rhino rollovers). Litigants say the incidents occurred because the Yamaha Rhino was "not stable" and "lacked necessary safety features."

Our sue-happy country is spiraling downhill, and it makes me sick.

Predatory lawyers know they can file ridiculous lawsuits against product makers and blackmail them into huge cash settlements, even in cases in which a user has ignored common sense. The United States is the most litigious nation in the history of the world and it is costing us all dearly. With all of these lawsuits, the cost for a manufacturer to do business in the United States is absurd.

Billions of dollars in litigation costs is passed on to consumers, insurance premiums have skyrocketed as everyone scrambles to cover their behinds, astronomical settlements depress corporate earnings and stock values, and many companies are too scared to even build certain products like UTVs because the vehicle is more likely to attract lawsuits.

Even after a manufacturer decides to build a new product, they must spend an inordinate amount of time to cover themselves with warning labels like “Caution: Coffee is hot.” Wake up Ameria! Coffee is supposed to be hot. The rest of the world must just laugh at how pathetic the United States has become.

I sure hope that ordinary, hard-working Americans can take back our country and put some common sense back into the way our government operates, because this "me first" society we are living in makes me worried about the world my kids are going to live in.

Arctic Cat Prowler 1000 Aftermarket Products Looking Up

2009-04-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Arctic Cat Prowler hasn't enjoyed the aftermarket acceptance seen by the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx until recently.

With the introduction of the 2009 Prowler 1000 XTZ, Arctic Cat has put itself in the running for a slew of aftermarket goodies like long travel kits, roll cages, bumpers and lots of billet.

Arctic Cat Prowler Buyer's Guides:

UTVGuide.net has added a few buyer's guides for big aftermarket Prowler products:

Submit your products:

If you manufacture long travel kits for the Arctic Cat Prowler, and are interested in being listed on our buyer's guides, please send us an email.

A link to www.DuneGuide.com and www.UTVGuide.net from your website is always appreciated.

Other Arctic Cat Resources:

UTV Industry News:

While other off-road vehicle sales have slowed, the side x side market segement is still growing. New products are introduced on a daily basis and our UTV Industry News page is where to find them. If you are a manufacturer and have a new product, please send your press releases to jon@utvguide.net.

Cheerleading coach that posed with my Teryx is fired

2009-04-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

Carlie Christine (aka Carlie Becker) posed for some photos with the UTVGuide.net's Project Teryx last year. Now she is making some news...

Carlie Christine was recently fired as a cheerleading coach at Casa Roble Fundamental High School near Sacramento after some girls didn't make the squad. It turns out that Carlie was featured as Playboy's Cyber Girl of the Week (photos NSFW), for the second week in February 2009.
Parents of the girls who did not make the squad then made copies of Christine and dropped the pictures on the principal's desk. Christine was then fired from her position.

More coverage:
High School Cheer Coach Fired After Posing Nude
Scorned Cheerleaders Rat Out Heroic Playboy Model
Playboy Model Carlie Christine Fired By Casa Robles High School ...

Playboy Cheerleader Carlie Christine Nude Photo Scandal (photos NSFW)
Project Teryx - More pictures of Carlie (and my Teryx)

Yamaha "repairs" the Rhino

2009-03-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

As I am sure you have all seen on TV and all over the web during the last year, the personal injury lawyers have been all over the Yamaha Rhino.

Now word come out today that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Yamaha Motor Corp. is announcing a free repair program to address safety issues with all Rhino 450 and 660 model off-highway recreational vehicles.

How crazy is this world we live in and where is the personal responsibility in today's society?

And the "drama induced" media isn't helping either. They are slobbering all over that the Rhino was involved in 46 deaths. What about the fact that almost all Rhino customers are operating the machines without any report of incident?

This voluntary repair program is ultimately directed at the 0.04% who have had issues (and the majority of them weren’t wearing seat belts, helmets, etc.). Why should Yamaha be responsible for buying an owner a new helmet? It says right on the dash that riders should wear a helmet. If a rider choses not to, that isn't Yamaha's fault.

Whether you realize it or not, what this means to all of us consumers is more expensive UTVs, that are over-burdened with safety stickers and can't perform as well as they should because some nitwit doesn't know how to drive.

I can see it now. The CPSC is soon going to require everyone walking down a sidewalk to wear a helmet because we may trip over a curb. The United States is getting pathetic, and off-roaders better wake up and do something about it or we will have no where to ride, and nothing but a CARB approved lawn mower to ride on.

Yamaha Repair Campaign Announcement:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/Rhino_Owner_Info_309.aspx

2009 Side x Side Shootout

2009-03-30T12:55:00.001-07:00

Side x Side Action Magazine has uploaded their Side x Side Shootout video for the testing we did in January.

Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_nQpsigAK0

I was one of three drivers at the shootout.

Check out the next few issues of Side x Side Action Magazine as all the different side x side vehicles are compared.

More pictures from the 2009 UTV Shootout:
http://www.utvguide.net/trip_report_utv_shootout_2009.htm

Testing out Fox 2" Triple Adjustable Shocks on our RZR S

2009-03-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

I am down at the Dune Tour in Glamis and I am hooking up with Fox Racing Shocks to test out a set of 2" triple adjustable shocks on our RZR S. Should have the shocks installed in a few hours, then it's time to hit the dunes.

Tomorrow, I am hooking up with Joey from UTV Underground to do a full review of the RZR S and these new factory replacement shocks.

Fox 2.0 Piggyback RC2 Shock Review

More Polaris RZR S Information:

Great UTV trip to Sand Mountain

2009-03-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a great father & son trip to Sand Mountain, NV. The pictures above are my son jumping off the RZR S in Super Bowl.

More pictures from the weekend:

http://www.utvguide.net/trip_report_sand_mtn_march2009.htm

Made it on the cover of another Side x Side Action Magazine

2009-03-05T20:51:00.000-08:00

Yours truly has made it on another cover of Side x Side Action Magazine (April 2009).

The photo was shot during the 2009 Side x Side Shootout held at Glen Helen. We tested 18 different UTVs over three days and I was one of the drivers.

Look for several different articles over the next few issues as they cover different market segements.

UTVGuide.net's stable is full of UTVs

2009-03-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

The UTVGuide.net stable is pretty full of UTVs right now. From left to right we have a demo unit from Polaris (Ranger HD), our Polaris RZR Buildup, our Kawasaki Teryx Buildup, our Kawasaki Teryx Race Project and another demo unit from Polaris (RZR S). It is very awesome to have such a variety of UTVs ready to be driven. This really gives us an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of each vehicle that can only be gained by using them for more than a day at a media event.
Check back often as we take these different side x sides to events all over the west. If you see us out on a ride or at a race, stop by and say hi and check them out first-hand.

We plan to bring two of these UTVs (not sure which yet) down to The Dune Tour at Glamis on March 20 - 22. And we just returned from King of the Hammers with out race Teryx and demo RZR S.

Long term evaluation for the Polaris Ranger HD

2009-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

We are happy to have teamed up with Polaris Industries on a long term review of their new Polaris Ranger HD. Our plans our to use the Ranger HD for some work around the yard and at a neighbors ranch. We will also do some trail rides to see how versitile this UTV is.

With power steering and self leveling shocks we are excited to see how the Ranger HD performs.

You can follow along with our review at:

http://www.utvguide.net/polaris_ranger_hd_long_term_review.htm

Polaris Ranger HD Specifications:

http://www.utvguide.net/polaris_ranger_hd.htm

UTVGuide.net's Teryx crosses the finish line in the 2009 King of the Hammers UTV Race

2009-03-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

UTVGuide.net and Roggy Enterprises built up this 2008 Kawasaki Teryx to compete in the 2009 King of the Hammers UTV race.

The race course traversed about 50 miles of whoops, lake bed, sand hills, and extreme rock trails in Johnson Valley OHV area.
In a race that saw lots of breakdowns, the Kawasaki Teryx driven by Bob Roggy and spotter Jon Crowley crossed the finish line and could have kept going. Truly a testament to Teryx and the components used to put modify it for the race.

The Teryx is UTV of the Month for February 2009. Check out more pictures here:

http://www.utvguide.net/utv_of_the_month_february2009.htm

Our sponsors for the race were:

Seats - TeryxGiant.com
Seat Bases - SDR Motorsports
Harnesses/Restraints - Simpson Racing
Window Nets - Simpson Racing
Fire Suits - Simpson Racing
Rear View Panoramic Mirror - Axia Alloys
Roll Cage - Roggy Enterprises
Doors - Roggy Enterprises
Bumper - Roggy Enterprises
Fire Extinguisher Mounts - Motorsports2
Steering Wheel and Quick Disconnect - Hart's Rhino Motorsports
Horn Kit - Side x Side Sports
Shocks/Springs - Side by Side Racing Products
UHMW Skid Plate - Roggy Enterprises
Rock Skids - Roggy Enterprises
Beadlock Wheels - ITP
Tires - ITP
CDI - Dynatek
Exhaust - Muzzys
Jetting - Hart's Rhino Motorsports
Clutch Kit - Dalton Industries
Clutch Cover - Dalton Industries
Clutch Kit Installation - Hart's Rhino Motorsports
Winch - Warn Industries
540C Lowrance GPS - Side x Side Outfitterz
GPS Mount (Roll Bar) - Side x Side Outfitterz
Two seat mobile radio & intercom - Rugged Race Products
Radio/Intercom Mount - Side x Side Outfitterz
Parker Pumper Mount - OMF
Gloves - Shocker Glove