SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal - February 2018

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

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First Look: The Polaris RZR RS1 Polaris’ Single-Seater For Those Wanting To Race BaJa Ironman Style By Dan Sanchez SCORE fans might recall looking back at historical photos and seeing single-seater Honda’s and Chenoweth buggies compete in Baja. But most haven’t seen single seat vehicles competing at this level for at least a couple of decades. While the idea of a light, fast and capable vehicle isn’t new, Polaris may have just given UTV competitors a reason to look back and reconsider at the advantages of riding solo with its latest Polaris RZR RS1 side-by-side. For those racers who really want to push their limits, Polaris’ new RZR RS1 is a single occupant vehicle that is lighter and just as capable as the rest of the RZR line of UTVs. The design of the RZR RS1 was to make it more nimble, lighter and ultimately faster on rough terrain than a larger and heavier two-seater. With this, Polaris kept the performance and balance to optimum levels, starting with the driver in the center of the vehicle to optimize its center of gravity and offer the driver greater visibility and balance. The ergonomics from this 64-inch wide UTV comes from the company’s involvement in racing and thus designed a new steering position that also provides more room for better arm and leg movement for the driver. The RZR RS1 is also equipped with a new brake system with the option of a traditional single-foot or two-foot rally operation. The RS1 comes with Polaris’ Pro Star 1000 High Output engine. The four-stroke DOHC, Twin-Cylinder engine produces 110 horsepower, providing plenty of power for its 83-inch wheelbase. A rear-mounted dual-fan radiator adds extra cooling and according to Polaris, the drivetrain is taken from the RZR XP Turbo models. It’s also hardened, something the company learned from its racing experience and applied it to the RS1 for added durability. The R1’s suspension is nothing short of what one would expect from the RZR line. It’s the same as the RZR XP 1000, featuring front A-arms up front and long trailing-arms at the rear. These are controlled by Walker Evans 16-position, 2.0-inch shock absorbers up front, and 2.5-inch units out back. Coupled to a set of 29-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires, the RS1 has plenty of wheel travel, 16-inches front, 18-inches at the rear. The steering is also electronic and according to preliminary test drives, makes the RS1 feel very nimble in all types of terrain. Considering the RZR RS1 uses many of the RZR components, modifications and accessories will, for the most part, work on this vehicle. Then take into consideration that the base price around $13,999 is very affordable, and it’s likely more teams will be competing with this vehicle. Perhaps SCORE fans will begin to see race-prepped RS1’s during the 2018 SCORE season. If so, the drivers will have to be experienced enough to challenge the tough Baja terrain on their own. Perhaps they can take some lessons learned from racers like Bobby Ferro, Mark Stahl, Bud Feldkamp, Malcolm Smith and Ivan Stewart, to understand what it means to race true “Ironman” style. SJ Polaris RZR RS1 Specs Engine: ProStar Turbo H.O. 4-Stroke, DOHC, 110 HP Drivetrain: Automatic PVT transmission, On Demand AWD/2WD Chassis: RZR Platform with 83-inch Wheelbase, 64-inch Width, 13-inches Ground Clearance Suspension Front: Double A-arm, Walker Evans 2.0 Needle Shocks, 16-position adjustable, 16-inches of travel Suspension Rear: Trailing-arm, Walker Evans 2.0 Needle Shocks, 16-position adjustable, 18-inches of travel MSRP: $13,999

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