SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal - November 2018

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Dirt And Dunes The 2018 Sand Sports Super Show Brings Out The Best In The Powersports Industry By Dan Sanchez Photography By Dan Sanchez While September typically marks the end of summer, it’s a time when off-road Powersports fans look forward to the Sand Sports Super Show. This year it was held September 14th through the 16th at the Orange County Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California, where SCORE fans, UTV enthusiasts and even some SCORE racers could experience the newest vehicles and aftermarket equipment that is inspired and tested from Baja racing. In partnership with the American Sand Association (ASA), the Sand Sports Super Show’s goal is not only to showcase the latest components that can turn a stock UTV into a race capable, desert machine, but to also keep OHV access available and to promote responsible off-roading by uniting and informing the off-road community. A Close Look At OE Vehicles Getting the off-road and sand sports community to the event never seems like a problem, as thousands of visitors gathered throughout the weekend to see the best the powersports industry has to offer. One of the draws is being able to see the latest vehicles that UTV manufacturers are offering. One example is the continuing evolution of the Polaris RZR. The Polaris RZR is the official UTV of the SCORE World Desert Championship Series and over the years, has undergone many changes due to the vehicle being one of the most winning UTVs in SCORE. Visitors could see the company’s new Polaris RZR XP Turbo S 4, the company’s latest four-seater performance vehicle, as well as its RZR RS1 single seater UTV that SCORE fans is sure to see crossing the finish line first, in future races soon. Yamaha had its 2019 model YXZ 1000R on display that features a new front-end as well as changes to the vehicle’s brakes, gearing, transmission and roll-bar, all designed for a smoother ride and better visibility with improved performance. Can-Am also had numerous race vehicles on display from many of its sponsored race teams, as well as some of its 2019 model UTVs including the Maverick X3 that visitors could sit in and see close-up. Textron also showcased updates to its Robby Gordon edition UTV that includes a wider stance and Baja ready accessories. In addition, Textron also featured its 2019 model Wildcat XX LTD, that features a Bimini roof and redesigned bumpers and a 130 horsepower 998cc engine that’s naturally aspirated. Competition-Ready Upgrades For All Almost everything visitors could see on many of the OE’s race vehicles on display were also available from aftermarket manufacturers attending the show. One of the most popular upgrades is seat and harnesses. Those interested in upgrading their UTV’s seats had a wide choice of colors and fabrics from manufacturers such as Momo, Hunter Safety Products, PRP, Sparco and more. These types of seats offer more support than those from the factory, plus they provide more cushioning and can be used with racing harnesses for improved safety when traveling at high speeds. Suspension upgrades are also a big part of upgrading your UTV, and the Sand Sports Super Show had all of the top suspension manufacturers showcasing everything from upgraded control arms, longer trailing arms and high-performance shocks, all items that can give your UTV greater suspension travel, control and a smoother ride during high-speed runs across the dunes or desert. Wheel and tire manufacturers such as BFGoodrich, Raceline Wheels, Tensor, OMF Wheel, Maxxis, STI, HiPer Technology, and more, offered visitors the latest in traction capability and technology to upgrade their vehicles. Some of the wheels that caught the attention of SCORE Fans, were Raceline’s Double Beadlock RT Ripper 333, and Slasher 350 wheels. These feature the company’s unique Double Beadlock technology that’s available with a variety of backspacing and center configurations and for a variety of UTV and VW buggy bolt-patterns. OMF had its new HPO-2 wheel, a modular racing beadlock design with a positive offset, and the company’s FL-1.0 beadlock wheel that is available in matte black and Bengal red. HiPer Technology also showcased its lightweight UTV beadlock one-piece wheels that are growing in popularity with UTV enthusiasts. Electric UTV Introduction With so many accessories and upgrades to see at the Sand Sports Super Show, one could have easily missed the Nikola display toward the back of the fairgrounds. This all-electric power UTV features a 125-kilowatt-hour battery pack, giving the vehicle a 150-mile range. The Nikola NZT was one of the electric vehicles that visitors could ride, and utilizes one motor for each wheel, and features 3.0-inch diameter shocks and an upgraded suspension that gives the vehicle 20-inches of wheel travel. SCORE’s Influence Found Everywhere There’s no doubt that SCORE racing has a big influence on the Powersports market, and as a result, many racers and teams were present at the Sand Sports Super Show. In the Vision X Lighting area, fans could see the Wilson Motorsports Class 1 vehicle in full race-ready mode, while racer inspired UTVs from SCORE Champions like Rob MacCachren and Robby Gordon, were also on display. While the SCORE UTV classes are extremely popular, the Sand Sports Super Show makes it obvious as to why they are the fastest growing class in recent SCORE history. With new vehicles that feature more power and improved suspension capabilities, these vehicles will soon reach the speeds of Class 10 vehicles. For SCORE racers, UTVs are still some of the most affordable methods to race, and while manufacturers like Polaris, Can-Am, Textron, and Yamaha continue to support racers, there’s no end in sight as to what these vehicles will accomplish in the near future. SJ

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