BITD / General Tire MINT 400 UTV Race.....RACERS PLEASE READ

[1910RLEARD]

it is funny you bring up BJ. he was able to get up at 4am to run his truck in the morning at the BWDC this year as a 1800 series truck. (now that is another BS topic to talk about later.) all the big guys got there ass's up to run in the 1800 class just so they could get the course on there GPS.
so yes i think they can get up and race early.

 

[Darryl89]

it is funny you bring up BJ. he was able to get up at 4am to run his truck in the morning at the BWDC this year as a 1800 series truck. (now that is another BS topic to talk about later.) all the big guys got there ass's up to run in the 1800 class just so they could get the course on there GPS.
so yes i think they can get up and race early.

Not sure they would want to be up that early before the Mint though...
I'll ask him if Joey doesn't

 

[JoeyD23]

The Mint UTV and Limited vehicle race will consist of 3 - 92 mile laps. Roughly 300 miles There is the potential for another 11 miles per lap. UTVs will go off early in the morning as is standard. The race is in Jean and will use a lot of the Henderson course but will run opposite directions and use some stuff that UTVs have never seen. Unlimited race will begin at a designated time meaning all vehicles from race 1 will need to hurry to complete their laps or be forced to pull off and call it a day.

Casey is adamant about the safety of the race and does not want to risk bottle necks or accidents combining the 2 races.

We are having some great discussions. UTVs are at the Mint boys!!! Get ready for an awesome week of events starting on Wednesday of that week. I am pumped to see UTVs rolling down Fremont for tech!!

 

[Darryl89]

Sounds like a reasonable compromise.
92 mile laps will make it easier for pitting.

Thanks Joey.

 

[rupert14]

300 miles is better than 92. Great job. Now lets see....... 300 miles at 105 mph ........ hmmmm

 

[JoeyD23]

I spent the entire day in Vegas, on my way home now at almost 9pm. Sat in Mint related meetings all day with the likes of Mad Media, Casey Folks of BITD, and many individuals from Las Vegas representing various hotels, boards, and members of the community. I can tell you this, The Mint 400 will be the BADDEST off-road desert racing event held ALL YEAR! The Party, the Racing, The exposure, everything is going to be next level.

I can also tell you that UTV's are not a stepchild, we are very respected and wanted and there was a reason I was invited to sit in on these important meetings. I want you to know that Matt Martelli of Mad Media and his brother Joshua Martelli also of Mad Media have our backs through and through. Heck, even Casey Folks said he thinks its about time he starts to read the Underground! He was very receptive to some of the things I brought up in regards to UTV guys wanting to receive the same treatment as all BITD racers in terms of track length, being able to finish a full race without a GP style ending, and tech/contingency. It was all good stuff going down today. If you can only race one race all year this is now the one to be at!

Get those UTV's ready for a fun season, and make sure you budget the funds cause your gonna need help pushing your UTV's down FREMONT STREET THIS YEAR!!!! HELL YEAH, UTV's are part of the Fremont Parade!!!! Print those hero cards, posters, and stickers and get your press on!

Also, UTVUnderground will be providing a live scoring and timing page for the UTV race this year. In partnership with our sister site Race-Dezert.com we will be doing the same live coverage page as them just ours will be geared for all of you!

LETS DO THIS!

 

[JoeyD23]

Oh and I better throw this out. If we want to race full courses then we better all be FAST out there! I talked a good game for us! lol I laid the gauntlet down between UTV's and other limited vehicles! CASH MY CHECK BOYS AND GIRLS! Lets show them how fast we really are. Prep those machines, finish the races, and kick some butts!

 

[Darryl89]

Awesome work Joey...
WooHooo...it's on....

 

[rupert14]

Oh and I better throw this out. If we want to race full courses then we better all be FAST out there! I talked a good game for us! lol I laid the gauntlet down between UTV's and other limited vehicles! CASH MY CHECK BOYS AND GIRLS! Lets show them how fast we really are. Prep those machines, finish the races, and kick some butts!

Let's get those DSR1 cars done and show them what we can do!! YAHOOOOOOO

I can't wait for the new UTV's to throw down some times better than some of the buggy classes.

 

[dmurray]

Well done Joey. Your representation is appreciated. This will be an exciting race and the 3 laps should make for some good racing. Now to get some tv time for the UTV class???

 

[1910RLEARD]

JOEY GOOD WORK. I HOPE I SPEAK FOR US ALL WHEN I SAY YOU ARE THE MAN.. WE ALL APPREICIATE YOUR HELP. WOULD NOT MISS "THE MINT". LETS GO UTV'S OWNER'S. LETS GET THOSE MACHINE TOGETHER AND ROCKIN FOR FREMONT STREET.
IT SHOULD BE LIKE AT THE BAJA 1000 CONTIGENCY ROW. IT WAS CRAZY WE WERE ALL PASSING OUT STICKERS AND SIGNING STUFF. IT WAS AWESOME FOR A NOBODY LIKE ME..
THANKS AGAIN JOEY

 

[Bajaxp]

Thanks Joey!
The Mint is going to be epic! I predict that 30 UTV's will show up. Shouldn't be much harder than what we are doing in Parker, mileage-wise.

 

[The Governor]

Joey, your efforts are very much appreciated, I know I missed it. I did not catch the date of this event. And the amount of entry fee. Again, Thank you for being there to voice our opinions.

 

[HDRA1]

Guess I better start pre running this weekend. I hope we go threw beer bottle pass and down threw the Lucy grays.

 

[dirtlover]

I like your idea Ricky.... Let those big boys get up at O'dark thirty and start way before the UTV's.. It would be great but the course would be one hell of a ride behind them... I think thats how it should be done anytime they race with us. They always stress at the drivers meeting how the big dogs need to honk and give a warning before blowing by and almost running our butts off the course.

i got a idea joey. what if the utv's start after the second lap of the trucks. that way they will not be behind us at any point pushing for position. they start in the moring at 6am and we start at about 10am. as for the cars/trucks that break down and we pass. which will be minimal they are not fighting for position so they wont run us off the road(hopefully).

 

[JoeyD23]

The trucks are in their own race so UTVs don't have to worry about being ran up on.

 

[redraven38dd]

So Joey, did Casey Folks reduce the number of laps for the Parker 250 before or after your positive meeting? One comment I heard was that Casey doesn't like UTV's to get in the way of the trucks but there are no trucks at this particular race. If Casey starts to read this then maybe he can comment. There are other racing associations who don't reduce the laps because of trucks, but then the drivers of the trucks in those associations don't treat UTV's like step children either. Any thoughts from any other racers?

 

[dmurray]

The UTVs have raced 2 laps at the Parker 250 as far back as I am aware. The main reason is to keep finishing times similar to the bikes. Its more of a scheduling thing. The 2 laps is what Casey had lined up all along. I know that they keep us on a tight schedule this race because the awards ceremony is on Sat afternoon and the trucks are pre running Sunday. As we all get faster and more reliable, we will see more miles at races. Casey truly appreciates the UTV class, and our voices are heard. That is why Joey was able to get us more miles at the Mint, and why UTVs are racing the Mint for the first time this year!!!! UTVs will not have the slowest times at the 400!!!

 

[Bajaxp]

The UTVs have raced 2 laps at the Parker 250 as far back as I am aware. The main reason is to keep finishing times similar to the bikes. Its more of a scheduling thing. The 2 laps is what Casey had lined up all along. I know that they keep us on a tight schedule this race because the awards ceremony is on Sat afternoon and the trucks are pre running Sunday. As we all get faster and more reliable, we will see more miles at races. Casey truly appreciates the UTV class, and our voices are heard. That is why Joey was able to get us more miles at the Mint, and why UTVs are racing the Mint for the first time this year!!!! UTVs will not have the slowest times at the 400!!!

Totally agree Derek...great post!

 

[JoeyD23]

So Joey, did Casey Folks reduce the number of laps for the Parker 250 before or after your positive meeting? One comment I heard was that Casey doesn't like UTV's to get in the way of the trucks but there are no trucks at this particular race. If Casey starts to read this then maybe he can comment. There are other racing associations who don't reduce the laps because of trucks, but then the drivers of the trucks in those associations don't treat UTV's like step children either. Any thoughts from any other racers?

The Parker 250 was never discussed as our business was surrounding the Mint 400. However I can assure you that Casey does not look at UTV's as a stepchild class. It may appear that way but as others have mentioned in this and other threads, things like giving UTV's more laps and more time come with lower attrition and finishing races faster and faster. Until then UTV's will be lumped in somewhere between ATV's/MX/and 4wheel limited.

May I ask what other racing associations you are referring too in terms of not treating UTVs like stepchildren?