SCORE Journal

ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE LED Lighting Technology In BaJa Racing By Mike Vieria Long distance Baja racing became the laboratory for off-road lighting manufacturers to create products that can illuminate farther, resist trail abuse, and incorporate specific design features that make them smaller, lighter and more efficient. Most of today’s off-road lighting equipment uses LEDs with advanced beam patterns from custom designed optics and reflector technology. This offers racers and off-road fans an abundance of advantages such as higher light output with lower power demands, allowing the ability to add more lights for safety, without adding stress on the vehicle’s battery, alternator, and electrical system. Improved lens technology also allows off-road LEDs to illuminate specific areas around the vehicle, so drivers can now see farther in front, as well as the sides of the road to avoid collisions with nearby objects. LED lighting also offers racers illumination for the vehicle’s underside, critical when changing tires, or making repairs in the dark. With the many advantages of using LED off-road lighting, SCORE has updated some of its lighting rules that will add another layer of safety for two and four-wheel racers. According to Dan Cornwell, SCORE’s Technical Director, all Sportsman class vehicles, and Class 11 vehicles will be required to run a blue light. “The blue light is meant as a safety feature for some of the vehicles starting a race at the back of the pack,” says Cornwell. “For example, a SCORE Trophy Truck may break down and after some repairs, can get back onto the course after the Sportsman and Class 11 racers have already gone onto the course. The blue light will indicate that this is a slower moving vehicle and they can avoid a collision.” In addition to this lighting change, SCORE is also implementing additional lights for motorcycle and quad racers, starting at this year’s 51st SCORE Baja 1000 race. According to Cornwell, riders will be required to wear a flashing red LED either on the helmet or backpack to give them more visibility on the course. In addition to these changes, SCORE is also looking into requiring high and low-beam lights on sections of a race course that is on a local highway. “This is a safety aspect for other drivers on the highway, to not be blinded by a race vehicle approaching them in the opposite direction,” says Cornwell. With the many new changes in technology, and the fact that LED lighting is used in both off-road racing and recreational environments, we’ve collected some of the latest lighting options from top lighting manufacturers to showcase what’s available. VISION X www.visionxusa.com ADV ADVENTURE SERIES LED LIGHT CANNON ADV Adventure Series LED Light Cannons from Vision X Lighting are available in an 8.7-inch size, putting out 14,980 Lumens, or a 6.7-inch size generating 8,560 Lumens. Each uses Iris Reflector Technology and Elliptical Optics to create a Combination/Driving Beam providing long, wide field of illumination perfect for winding trails or open terrain. The lamps also feature a halo ring that can be used as a Daytime Running Light or as a near-vehicle pit or camp light. The 4-inch deep aluminum housings allow for easy mounting in limited spaces, while the brackets are powder-coated steel and feature 45 degrees of adjustment. Snap-on polycarbonate covers offer protection in clear or can change the beam color to red, amber, blue. Pricing starts at $379 each for the 6.7-inch and $499 each for the 8.7-inch ADV series. Also available in kit form with two lamps, wiring harness, and lighted rocker switch. CG2 LED LIGHT CANNON The CG2 LED Light Cannon Series comes in four sizes and seven models for outstanding power and versatility. Available in 8.7, 6.7, 4.7, or 3.7-inch diameters, with either a Long-Distance Single-LED or Multi-LED Full Beam design, with the most powerful version producing up to 18,000 Lumens. Advanced optic and reflector technology put the light where you need it, and cutting-edge circuitry and aluminum heat sink design ensure maximum light output for sustained periods of use. Housings and connectors are constructed to withstand the toughest conditions, and polycarbonate covers not only allow you to change the beam color, but also the light pattern to suit your specific needs. Single lamp pricing starts at $149 and ranges to $749. Also available in two-lamp kits with wiring harness and switch. VISION X www.visionxusa.com XPL CHASER LED LIGHT BAR The XPL Chaser LED Light Bar provides multiple lighting functions for running and brake lights, solid or flashing amber light, and white back-up or cargo light. The lamp is just 2-inches tall and is available in 28-inch or 35-inch length with universal side mounts. Priced $369 to $429. CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 MOUNTS Vision X now has three new Bolt-On Light Mounts for the Can-Am Maverick X3. A welded and black powder-coated rack to mount six 4.7-inch CG2 Light Cannons on the cage sells for $249. A Shock Tower light mount allows mounting of a 12-inch light bar to the existing shock mounts retails for $39. There’s also a set of mounts which allow you to attach a 40-inch XPR Series Light Bar inside the cage rails for $49. Vision X Racers: Wilson Motorsports Class 1 6.7-inch Light Cannons Eric Hustead Trophy Truck 6.7-inch Light Cannons Mark Murrell of Fire Guys Racing Jeepspeed Light Cannons RIGID INDUSTRIES www.rigidindustries.com REFLECT LIGHT/MIRROR The Rigid Reflect combines advanced LED forward lighting and a fully adjustable side mirror in one. Originally developed for UTV and Powersports applications, the Reflect is a great solution for any off-road vehicle. Side-shooter optics provide a wide beam of light for cornering and drifting, built-in amber LEDs on the outside edge can be used as turn signals or running lights. Light and mirror are independently adjustable. Mounting clamps allow easy installation to roll cage tubing. MSRP is $499.99. CHASE TAIL LIGHT The Chase LED Rear Facing Light adds safety and functionality for UTV, buggy, or other off-road vehicles by combining reverse, courtesy, strobe, running, or brake lights into a single compact package. A halo of colored LEDs around the perimeter can be used as a strobe for racing and chase applications, or a running or brake light. The center portion is a 715 lumen rear white reverse/area light, while a 168-lumen downward-facing courtesy/cargo light adds even more versatility. Mounts to 1.75” or 2.00” tube, or to any surface with the supplied L-bracket. The Chase Light comes in red, amber, or blue perimeter lighting, with a black aluminum housing. Priced at $229.99. RIGID INDUSTRIES www.rigidindustries.com REAR-FACING HIGH-LOW LED LIGHTS High-Low Dual Function Rear Facing Lights provide full power, high visibility light in red or amber for use as a braking or warning light, and a 20 percent power lower intensity illumination for use as a running light. A switch allows selection of high, low, or off modes. These lights are available in different shapes and sizes, as well as surface or flush mountings for just about any application. Sold in pairs with wiring, switch, and mounting hardware. Prices starting at $249.99 per pair. Rigid Racers: BJ Baldwin Trophy Truck using RDS 54-inch PRO, D-Series Driving PRO, E-Series Amber PRO Brenthel Industries Spec Trophy Truck using E-Series Spot/Hyperspot Combo PRO, RDS 54-inch PRO, Q-Series PRO Driving, A-Series Cool White Craig Scanlon PRO Turbo UTV using SAE D-Series PRO, D-Series Amber Spot PRO, E-Series 40-inch Combo PRO BAJA DESIGNS www.bajadesigns.com LP9 PRO (photo LP9 Pro) The LP9 PRO from Baja Designs utilizes 9 forward-projecting LEDs to produce 11,025 Lumens, and six LEDs in their Integrated Peripheral Technology to generate an additional 1,140 Lumens of light to the sides for a 200-degree spread of usable light. Available in a Combination or Spot Beam, and in white or amber. The housing uses Directed Duct Cooling which allows air to travel through, front to rear, to maximize cooling. Lamp features High, Low, and Daytime Running Light modes. The Standard model LP9 is perfect for a wide range of off-road use, while a special Racer Edition features a tighter beam pattern for longer range illumination. Prices start at $599 each. ONX6 LIGHT BAR The OnX6 Light Bar is designed to meet your needs for both distance and cornering. It’s available in white or amber, and in 10-inch, 20-inch, 30-inch, 40-inch, 50-inch, or 60-inch lengths. Different series of the OnX6 Bar is designed for different types of use with models specifically for high-speed racing applications, higher light output, dual sectional control, and curved models to match the lines of your vehicle. Constructed with a rugged aluminum housing with stainless steel brackets and hardware, and a hard-coated polycarbonate lens. Prices range from $429.95 to $2249.95, depending on size and type. BAJA DESIGNS www.bajadesigns.com DUAL XL MOTORCYCLE RACE LIGHT The Dual XL Motorcycle Race Light is the brightest LED motorcycle on the market today with 9,800 Lumens. It utilizes High-Speed Spot reflectors as well as wider driving/combo patterns to put light where you need it in racing conditions. It also features a 50% dimming mode. Housing is aluminum with stainless steel hardware and brackets. Priced at $874.95. 30-INCH REAR TAIL LIGHT BAR The 30-inch RTL Bar combines the function of running light, brake light, cargo light, and warning light into a slim package. This rear-facing light is available in two configurations to provide safety on the trail for recreational enthusiasts, or for racers out on the course. It uses an aluminum housing with stainless steel hardware and brackets and measures 32.125” x 2.15” x 1.5”. Available with red and amber segments with white cargo light or blue or green warning lights. Prices start at $424.95. ARB www.arbusa.com INTENSITY LED AR32 ARB’s Intensity LED AR32 Series lamps use an array of 32 Surface Mounted LEDs on a removable circuit board in 9.5 inch round housings to produce 8200 raw lumens. Available in either a spot pattern with a 10-degree beam spread or a flood pattern with a 20-degree beam spread. Engineered to withstand the toughest vibration and dust conditions, the lights use pressure die-cast aluminum bodies with stainless steel mounting hardware and polycarbonate lenses. The ARB Intensity AR32 is submersible to a depth of 10 feet. MSRP is $763. INTENSITY LED AR21 The Intensity LED AR21 Series is a more compact version of the AR32. It uses 21 Surface Mount LEDs to generate 6950 raw lumens and measures approximately 7.25 inches in diameter and 8.25 inches high. The AR21 is available with the same spot or flood beam choices as the AR32 and uses the same advanced technology to achieve resistance to rugged conditions as the larger AR32. MSRP is $511. HELLA www.myhellalights.com RGB LED VALUEFIT NORTHERN LIGHTS Hella Valuefit Northern Lights is a new range of auxiliary lights using RGB LED technology to change the color and intensity of the lamps. Light bars are available in five sizes ranging from 8-inches to 50-inches, with 12 to 96 LEDs, and offer thousands of custom combinations of color and intensity with a maximum of 4,700 Lumens. Housings and brackets are aluminum and lenses are polycarbonate. The operation can be controlled by Bluetooth remotely via Smartphones with the LEDble App. The Hella Valuefit Northern Lights LED series with the color changing technology also includes small rocker ambient lights, cube spotlights, and a controller that allows up to eight lights to be connected. Pricing is TBA. PIAA www.piaa.com QUAD CUBE PIAA’s Quad Cube lights use Quad Reflective Optics to increase the reflector surface area, improving the output of light over more conventional designs to provide long distance as well as foreground coverage. Available in either a spot or flood pattern, it uses 4 3-watt LEDs. The compact Cube is just over 3 inches in height, depth, and width to fit just about any type of vehicle, and may be mounted from the bottom, top, or rear. Designed to deliver outstanding quality and durability at an affordable price, individual Quad Cube lamps carry an MSRP of $69, while a kit with two lamps, wiring harness, relay, and switch is priced at $159. PIAA www.piaa.com QUAD SERIES LIGHT BARS The Quad Series Light Bars use Quad 3D Reflector Optics to maximize light coverage for long range as well as foreground areas and are offered in spot or combination patterns. These lamps use two rows of 3-watt LEDs and are available in 12-inch, 20-inch, and 30-inch lengths with outputs ranging from 72 to 180 total watts. The Light Bars are less than 3.5 inches in height and depth. Kit includes one lamp, wiring harness, relay, and switch, and are priced at $129 for 12-inch, $179 for 20-inch, and $279 for 30-inch. RF SERIES LIGHT BARS PIAA RF Series Light Bars use Reflector Facing Technology (RFT) to harness and control all the output of the LEDs as compared to more traditional forward-facing LED light bars. This allows the RFT lamps to provide more light from less power, while providing beam control so exceptional that most of these lights are SAE approved for road use, or as PIAA says, “race performance in a street-legal package”. Available in driving, hybrid, or fog beam patterns in white or yellow color. Sizes are 6-inch, 10-inch, and 18-inch, which can be put together end to end for a custom length, longer bar. Prices include one lamp, wiring harness, relay, and switch at $299 for 6-inch, $399 for 10-inch, and $599 for 18-inch. SOURCES: ARB www.arbusa.com Baja Designs www.bajadesigns.com HELLA www.myhellalights.com PIAA www.piaa.com RIGID Industries www.rigidindustries.com Vision X www.visionxusa.com

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