The many classes of desert racing

"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures) 02/18/2014 at 16:50 • Filed to: off road

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93

Despite popular belief it isn't just "trophy truck" and "buggy"

EL_ULY > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:52

0

I'll admit that I had no clue. Thanks for sharing buddy :]

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:52

9

truck buggy truck truck buggy
truck buggy buggy truck truck
truck buggy truck buggy buggy
truck truck truck truck buggy

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:52

0

Watching the livestream last year, I would definitely have to agree.

It was legitimately hours of just different classes at the starting line. Bricks were shat.

SkarTisu > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:53

0

I now want to get into off-road racing so I can participate in a class known as "King of Hammers"

For Sweden > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:56

3

There's Class 11 and Class 5. The rest is traffic.

Dusty Ventures > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 02/18/2014 at 16:58

2

It's really insane how many competitors there are. The first time I went to a drivers meeting at a desert race it was in a Vegas hotel/casino ballroom, standing room only. Easily a thousand people in the room. When we started the race we started two hours after the first truck left, because that's how long it took to get to us.

puddler > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:59

5

No point in mentioning these bats, I thought. Poor bastard will see them soon enough.

crowmolly > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 16:59

8

It's not the mint 400 without two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers . . . and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:00

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I completely believe that. I had that livestream running all day, and including the motorcycles it was at least 12 hours of just didn't classes taking off from the starting line.

Dusty Ventures > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 02/18/2014 at 17:01

0

In fairness that's because for the Mint they run multiple races. The limited classes are in the morning, the unlimiteds in the afternoon. Plus it's a multi-lap race, so you get cars coming through the start/finish as many as four times. It's not 12 hours of constantly starting cars ;)

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:07

1

I saw so many different vehicles it was impossible for me to tell what was the same vehicle again lol.

MtrRider > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:15

2

Further, the Baja 1000 isn't the only race. It's not even the only race in Baja.

Not all desert racers are Bro stereotypes (although the stereotype exists for a reason).

MtrRider > SkarTisu 02/18/2014 at 17:16

1

KOH requires vehicles built specifically for KOH if you want to finish and be fast. A desert racer couldn't even finish the course.

MtrRider > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 02/18/2014 at 17:16

5

Truggy

tromoly > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:45

1

I need to save that image, it's a royal pain in the butt to explain to people that every truck that runs Baja is not a "Trophy Truck".

I know it's said in Dust to Glory , but what class do the near-stock Beetles run in for the 1000? I can't think of it off the top of my head.

Ser8ed13 > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:50

0

What happened to 1450 class?

Stef Schrader > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 17:58

11

Needs more CLASS 11!

pdthedeuce > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 18:12

1

all I see in that pic is trophy trucks and buggies ... am I missing something ?

I kid, I kid ...

JEM > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 18:13

2

Wait wait wait....

THERE ARE TWO JEEP CHEROKEE CLASSES!?!?!?

TWO!??!

Dusty Ventures > JEM 02/18/2014 at 18:46

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Yep. Basically it's Jeepspeed and open Jeepspeed

Dusty Ventures > SkarTisu 02/18/2014 at 19:11

2

The King of the Hammers class is a special class added recently so these crazy high speed rock buggies can run the more traditional desert races. The class is named after the crown jewel event of rock racing, the King of the Hammers off road race in California.

Dusty Ventures > Stef Schrader 02/18/2014 at 19:14

1

Weirdly there haven't been enough people looking to race class 11 in the BITD events for the sanctioning body to add it as a class. Anyone who wants to run an 11 car can enter it in class 1800, which allows EVERYTHING

Dusty Ventures > tromoly 02/18/2014 at 19:14

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Class 11

Dusty Ventures > Ser8ed13 02/18/2014 at 19:15

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That's a class in MORE and SNORE. It's more or less the equivalent of class 1800 in BITD

Widget_Master > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 21:50

1

Too many classes in my opinion. If you have so many classes, there will be far fewer vehicles that you're actually racing against.

Blondude > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 21:56

0

I knew there were several classes but... Jeep Speed 1 and Jeep Speed 3? WHERE'S JEEP SPEED 2?!?

Eric Sean Delaney > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 21:57

2

Needs more KAMAZ.

Blondude > MtrRider 02/18/2014 at 22:01

4

AWWWW YISSSSS!!

The Herbst Truggy was the ish back in ATV Off Road Fury 4.

d3v > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:07

22

Raph is looking at this now and wondering why it isn't upside down.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:07

4

Thank you for this guide good sir.

MtrRider > Blondude 02/18/2014 at 22:08

1

Man they need to come out with more of those games. They need to make them more realistic too. But I do miss spending hours/months on MX vs ATV Unleashed.

XJguy > JEM 02/18/2014 at 22:08

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Because Cherokee.

Dusty Ventures > Blondude 02/18/2014 at 22:16

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Defunct

Dusty Ventures > Widget_Master 02/18/2014 at 22:16

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True it's an issue with some of the lower classes, but with 200+ cars showing up to each race not as much of one as you might think.

Blondude > MtrRider 02/18/2014 at 22:17

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I have MX Unleased, MX vs. ATV Unleased, MX vs. ATV Untamed on two consoles, and all six ATV Off Road Fury games. I may have a bit of an obsession with off road racers.

Oh, and Nordic Games is coming out with a new MX vs. ATV later this year. My fingers are crossed it lives up to the previous games.

GR1M RACER : Wrong Most of the Time > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:19

5

What class does the Olds Grabber qualify in?

Blondude > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:21

0

But... but... continuity...

y u do dis 2 me sanctioning body of off road racing?

Dusty Ventures > GR1M RACER : Wrong Most of the Time 02/18/2014 at 22:26

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Off road cars raced in the former class 6 (or what would have been class 6000 using BITD numbering). Unfortunately the class no longer exists.

tromoly > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:27

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Those are the most hardcore guys out there. The shot from Dust to Glory where they show a Class 11 Beetle plopping through a whoop section where a few minutes before a Trophy Truck had blitzed through shows just how diehard and awesome Class 11 guys are.

nobody > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 22:32

1

SIGN ME UP!

Don't actually. A 45 minute race in one of these is more than enough battering. I can't imagine 400 miles.

Dusty Ventures > nobody 02/18/2014 at 22:39

1

I did a 5 hour stint during Vegas to Reno, I felt ready to do another 5 hours. Then again I was full of adrenaline and wasn't driving a lifted golf cart ;)

theBKA > crowmolly 02/18/2014 at 22:41

5

Watch out for bat country though.

OTE_TheMissile > Widget_Master 02/18/2014 at 23:20

1

Even the guys in the low turnout classes, they'll still say it was just as worth it to race them vs. the course.

Maxaxle > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 23:25

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Insane!

472CID > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 23:25

3

In some circles, the Mint 400 is a far, far better thing than the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals all rolled into one

Maxaxle > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 23:25

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Less insane?

Maxaxle > Dusty Ventures 02/18/2014 at 23:25

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This looks like my kind of buggy. Or maybe the 1100.

MegaDust Racing > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 00:05

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That's our 5-1600 race car.. www.megadustracing.com looking forward to racing the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in 2014

Dusty Ventures > Maxaxle 02/19/2014 at 00:30

1

Or more. Depends on how you look at it

Dusty Ventures > MegaDust Racing 02/19/2014 at 00:31

1

Nice! You bought P-Diddy's pumpkin!

Dusty Ventures > Maxaxle 02/19/2014 at 00:33

1

Class 2000 is (arguably) the most affordable. 1.6L VW engines, limited suspension, ridiculously light. You just sorta bounce over everything.

zz383mero > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 00:34

1

What class is this guy in?

Dusty Ventures > zz383mero 02/19/2014 at 00:35

2

Used to run class 6 when that was the car class. Now it runs NORRA races in the historic class

MtrRider > Blondude 02/19/2014 at 00:52

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I've got at least 5 across PS2, PS3, PSP and Wii. Off road racers are tons of fun, although about as realistic as Mario Kart is to driving a kart.

MtrRider > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 04:06

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It's amazing how much of a beating you can take out there and want to keep going.

sucksqueezebangblow > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 02/19/2014 at 04:56

0

If you like what you see, check this out,
http://www.wideopenbaja.com/Reno/reno-neva…
Class 10/1000 vacation to the biggest little city in the world!

John The Race Fan > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 07:10

1

Class 5 rules!

Although I doubt they would name it "Orlove Class", since it's debatable whether he has any class.

John The Race Fan > MtrRider 02/19/2014 at 07:12

1

By the same token, a dedicated rock-crawling rig may be able to finish the KoH course, bout could never be competitive because of the high-speed sections.

Xedicon > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 08:01

2

JEEPSPEED YEAH!!!

Filmlandgrab > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 08:52

0

No Class 11? I friggin love Class 11.

Jim is one of KFCs secret ingredients > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 09:30

1

Definitely an item on the bucket list. I need to do a desert race.

Stef Schrader > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 09:44

0

This...this makes coco sad. :'o(

E30Joe drives a Subaru > MtrRider 02/19/2014 at 10:42

0

Bruck

zerogspacecow > nobody 02/19/2014 at 10:54

0

How can you do a 45 minute race? Off road/desert racing seems intriguing to me, but I know nothing about it. Is it something you can do in an Xterra just for kicks?

Spectre6000 > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 11:06

1

I think (as an air cooled VW enthusiast) it's pretty damn awesome that out of this melange of testosterone fueled man-mobiles, 4 whale classes are entirely old air cooled VWs. It's a tough crowd to hang with, and the fact that what is essentially an economy oriented city car is able to hang and even has classes of its own! The same platform is capable of respectable quarter miles, looking incredibly sexy (thinking of the Karmann Ghia), achieving a livable 60 mpg, hauling cargo as a work vehicle, and serving as a competent daily driver! Says a lot for the platform! I can't think of a single other vehicle platform that's as competent and versatile.

DeltawingGothamDeserves > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 11:38

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Only class you need.

nobody > zerogspacecow 02/19/2014 at 11:42

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It was with the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix. I did a UTV race that was 3 laps or 45 minutes. Definitely not for an Xterra.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > sucksqueezebangblow 02/19/2014 at 12:19

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Holy amaze-balls you have given me a new vacation to plan for...

I need this in my life.

Froggmann > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 12:46

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So they have thrown the 40 year old class system completely out the window... WTF BITD?

BTW Class 1/2 1600 Veteran here.

SSurfer123 > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 12:53

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So can I just show up in my F150 and run Class 8100? Where can I find the definition of the classes?

Froggmann > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 12:58

1

From what I have seen as a cursory check BITD fees have gone completely through the roof. On top of what it already costs the average team to go racing (Prep, Hotel, Fuel, Tires) an Exuberant fee will easily "weed out" budget racing teams in the 6, 9 and 11 classes.

OTE_TheMissile > Spectre6000 02/19/2014 at 14:05

1

It's not just the Class 11, 5, and 5-1600s either, matter of fact a LOT of the small buggy classes in offroad racing are based around some combination of a VW Beetle engine and/or front & rear suspension, just with a custom buggy chassis in between. The Bug has very deep roots in the desert

MtrRider > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 15:30

0

It seems like the Raptor would be a homologation vehicle built for just this. Wouldn't one just clean this class up?

my car smells like crayons > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 15:36

0

You forgot "bike" and "quad".

Dusty Ventures > my car smells like crayons 02/19/2014 at 16:36

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No bikes or quads in the Mint 400

Dusty Ventures > MtrRider 02/19/2014 at 16:39

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Not really. You're allowed to adjust spring rates, improve the motor (so long as the block and heads are stock), improve the transmission (so long as it's from the same manufacturer), and use any shocks you want in the stock class, that helps level the playing field a lot. That said, F-Series trucks as a whole are still pretty much considered the way to go in the 8100 class, though that's largely because Ford is the only manufacturer offering contingency money.

Dusty Ventures > Froggmann 02/19/2014 at 16:51

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I'm not so sure. Prices are pretty much on par with SCORE's entry fees (slightly lower in fact), and as a stateside race overall expenses are reduced. There's no need to buy Mexican insurance, for example, or Mexican phones/international cell plans. Hotels in Vegas are dirt cheap. Etc etc.

Dusty Ventures > SSurfer123 02/19/2014 at 16:53

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For starters, no. Like any professional race series you at the very least need a roll cage, safety belts, race seats, and a few other bits to keep you from dying a fiery, crushing death. As for rules, rules be here

Dusty Ventures > Froggmann 02/19/2014 at 16:55

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You mean the system SCORE/Baja uses? Sal Fish told BITD he'd sue them if they used the same system. Sal also said he'd sue them if they called the top level trucks "Trophy Trucks," so in BITD they have to call them "Trick Trucks" instead.

Dusty Ventures > Stef Schrader 02/19/2014 at 16:58

1

Think about it this way, class 1800 allows class 11s to run for $1,000 less

Dusty Ventures > Jim is one of KFCs secret ingredients 02/19/2014 at 16:58

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It's a hell of a lot of fun :) Love it

Dusty Ventures > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 02/19/2014 at 17:01

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Yeah, there's a few organizations like that out there. VORE and Zero 1 Odysseys offer the same thing but with trucks

MtrRider > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 17:03

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Thanks, it's impossible to find the full rules online. I thought the improved suspension geometry on the front would give it an advantage in travel if a arms can't be upgraded.

Dusty Ventures > MtrRider 02/19/2014 at 17:06

1

Actually it's easy to find the full rules online :)

Froggmann > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 18:51

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Doesn't mean much, IIRC the reason smaller organizations got together is because SCORE and some of the older groups started charging over 1K a race while La Rana, Fudpucker and others were charging a couple to a few hundred a race.

Froggmann > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 18:54

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Sounds like a Sal Fish move, claim something is a trademark when it's been common vernacular since the 70's across just about every organization out there.

my car smells like crayons > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 19:09

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So it's not really the resurrection of the Mint 400, then.

Until the bikes are back, I shall call it "the Mint(y) 400"!

Dusty Ventures > Froggmann 02/19/2014 at 19:18

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True. But it's SCORE where class 11 is most famed for competing, and even now they get a half dozen or so entries for Baja, so if BITD is cheaper than SCORE then logically speaking odds are it's not the entry cost keeping the class 11 cars away.

Dusty Ventures > Froggmann 02/19/2014 at 19:19

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As it turns out "SCORE Trophy Truck" is actually a registered trademark

Froggmann > Dusty Ventures 02/19/2014 at 20:14

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I was referring to classes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 16. TT in retaliative terms is still a new(er) concept.

Dusty Ventures > Froggmann 02/19/2014 at 21:04

0

Ah, yes. It was kinda messed up

Stef Schrader > Dusty Ventures 02/20/2014 at 12:53

1

Clearly, I need to hurry up and buy a Beetle.

noise > GR1M RACER : Wrong Most of the Time 02/20/2014 at 15:54

0

best class


We need a class that not only allows, but encourages old dictator beige mercedes and big-tired rolls royces pimped out for safaris