Off-road racing

Off-road racing is a form of motorsports consisting of specially-modified vehicles (including cars, trucks, motorbikes, and buggies) racing in off-road environments.

Off-road racing
A Mitsubishi Pajero racing in mud in Bulgaria
Characteristics
Mixed genderYes
TypeOutdoor
Presence
Olympicyes
ParalympicNo

North America

Desert racing
2007 Baja 500
Main article: Desert racing

Desert racing began in the early 20th century.[1] An early racing sanctioning body in North America was the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) co-founded in 1967 by Ed Pearlman.[2] The first event was a race across the Mexican desert, south-eastwards through most of the length of Baja California, originally from Ensenada to La Paz.[3] The event was first called the Mexican 1000, and it later became known as the Baja 1000.[4] The event is now sanctioned by SCORE International.

Most desert races are set up on government recreational land and have tracks that run anywhere from 25 to 1000 miles. Various classes of vehicles run a different number of laps depending on the size of the engine or the set-up of the suspension system. Currently, there are several smaller series. One of the most popular is the Best in the Desert series, which is known for the Vegas to Reno race (the longest off-road race in the US with the 2009 Vegas to Reno race measuring 1000 miles).[5]

The Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast (MORE) series started in 1997 as a small, family-oriented race series. MORE uses tracks set up on desert land in the Barstow and Lucerne Valley regions of the Mojave Desert in California.[6] Mojave Desert Racing series has drawn many competitors from the now defunct CORR races.

On August 14, 2010, a modified Ford Ranger pickup truck, racing in the MDR sanctioned "California 200", careened off the track into a group of spectators, killing eight, and raising questions about the future of off-road racing on public lands.[7]

Short course racing
Main article: Short course off road racing
Johnny Greaves racing his Pro 4 trophy truck at Crandon, Wisconsin

Short course off road racing is held on a circuit of less than five miles (such as Crandon International Off-Road Raceway). The races involves left and right turns of various radii, jumps, and occasional washboard runs and gravel pits. Another format made popular by the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group was called stadium racing, where off-road racing vehicles were used in a temporary off-road racetrack constructed inside a stadium. The U.S. Off Road Championship Series was held by Pace Motorsports in the late 90s and shown on TNN Motor Madness.[8] In 2012, Robby Gordon created the Stadium Super Trucks, an offshoot of the Micky Thompson Entertainment Group; after racing primarily in stadiums and off-road courses during its inaugural season in 2013, the series has since placed more emphasis on asphalt tracks like street circuits and road courses.[9]

A simpler, shorter track format is popular at many county fairs, and is called Tough (or Tuff) Truck competition. These tracks are ordinarily much shorter and feature individual, timed runs.

During the 2010s, there were two major organizations promoting short course off road racing in the United States. The TORC: The Off Road Championship, derived from series racing in the Midwestern United States, promoted races in Eastern, Midwestern, and some Western venues before cancelling all events in 2018.[10][11] The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) focused on promoting events mainly on the West Coast until its closure in 2020.[12][13] Both series featured professional off-road drivers and race teams.

There are also several grassroots organizations, one of the longest-tenured being the Mid America Off Road Association, which promotes short course off-road racing in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Other formats

The general idea of off-road racing can also extend to include hillclimbing or any other form of racing that does not occur on a specified, paved track. The Frozen Rush features off-road trophy trucks racing on snowy ski slopes.[14] Among drivers, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the oldest and most popular hillclimbs in the United States.[15]

New Zealand

In New Zealand, off-road racing runs its own class structure and has a multiple-round national championship. Its flagship event, the two-day, 1000 km Taupo 1000, is a stand-alone international endurance race which is currently held every other year. The event started life in 1992, as the "made for television" Bridgestone 1000 and was the first Offroad Endurance Race in New Zealand to include teams from Australia, New Zealand and the USA. That event was won outright by Les Siviour of Australia driving a Class 6 Nissan Patrol, for Team Nissan. The most successful and popular racer in the sport's history in New Zealand is multiple outright and class national champion Ian Foster of Henderson, Auckland. At the height of his career he had amassed 21 back to back wins, driving for Team Tamiya in an Unlimited Class 1 race car built by Cougar Race Cars. Ian was one of the co-founders of the sports national organising body, known as ORANZ.

Europe

In Europe, "off-road" refers to events such as rallying, autocross or rallycross, while desert races and rally-raids such as the Paris-Dakar, Master Rallye or European "bajas" are called Cross-Country Rallies. Beach racing events are also held predominately in northern Europe.[16]

In Scandinavian countries, "off-road" racing can refer to a type of motorsport known as Formula Off Road, which involves driving extensively modified vehicles through a difficult course up an uphill terrain.

Australia

Australian off-road racing has a similar format to North America, involving various classes of highly-modified vehicles with differing level of engine and physical restrictions racing anywhere from 20-600 kilometres usually over a weekend. It differs in format to North America due to its high use of private land and class restrictions. Multiple series currently exist in both national, state and club forms, often decreasing in track and weekend-total length down that order. Two organisations individually cover and organise the majority of events, them being Motorsport Australia and Australian Auto Sport Alliance; these separate organisations involve licencing, permits, funds handling and timing in their roles, among many more.

Classes

Off-road vehicles in Australia are organised into classes to organise and improve competition. The below information is according to the specifications of Australian Off Road Racing Australia. The first class is the 'Pro' or 'Unlimited' Class, buggies and truggies limited to an engine capacity of 6000cc, inclusive of adjusting factors due to turbo charging or other correction factors. These are generally the fastest cars in events. Next is Class 1, or 'Pro-Lites', them being buggies and truggies having an engine restriction of 3500cc naturally-aspirated. After that is Class 2, commonly known as Super 1650's, are buggies and truggies with two crew members and sport an engine restriction of 1650cc naturally aspirated, inclusive of correction factors. Next is Class 3, a more uncommon class of buggies and truggies with two crew members and an engine restriction of 1330cc inclusive of correction factors. After that is Class 4, involving automobiles that comply with the Wild 2WD technical regulations and are limited to an engine capacity of 6000cc, inclusive of correction factors. Next is Class 5, involving two-crew automobiles complying with the Power 2WD technical regulations and limited to an engine capacity the same as Class 4. After that is Class 6, two-crew automobiles that comply with the Super PRV technical regulations and are limited to an engine capacity between 1201cc and 2050cc, inclusive of correction factors. Next is Class 66, similar to Class 6 but limited to 1200cc naturally-aspirated. After that is Class 7, two-crew automobiles that comply with the Stock 4WD technical regulations and are limited to an engine capacity of 6000cc, inclusive of correction factors. Next is Class 8, including automobiles that comply with the Super 4WD technical regulations and have an engine capacity of 6000cc inclusive of correction factors. Finally is Class 10, buggies and truggies that comply with the Wild 2WD technical regulations and are limited to an engine capacity of 2500cc naturally-aspirated.[17]

The most popular Off-road race in Australia is the Finke Desert Race near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. It involves a 460km-long race to the small community of Aptula (Finke) and back again, racing alongside what was the Old Ghan railway for a large portion. Many years after its inception in 1976, it now boasts media coverage and a large field contending for the title of the 'King of the Desert'.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Early off-road history". Web.archive.org. 2004-11-01. Archived from the original on November 1, 2004. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  2. "A Reformed NORRA Creates New Mexican 1000 Rally: Off-Road.com". www.off-road.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  3. "Ed Pearlman – Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame – ORMHOF". ormhof.org. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  4. Archived July 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Vegas to Reno 2017 Race Report". Dirt Rider. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  6. "Finding a Place to Race Off Road Sanctioning Body - Off-Road Magazine". Four Wheeler. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  7. Willon, Phil (20 August 2010), "U.S. agency suspends off-road events organized by promoter of deadly race", Los Angeles Times
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxU8cSAkhg
  9. Baker, Matt (March 11, 2017). "Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: Life after NASCAR leads Robby Gordon to Stadium Super Trucks series". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  10. "Lucas Oil supports off-road series to replace TORC". Tire Business. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  11. "Lucas Oil Fills Void With New Off-Road Racing Platform". Lucas Oil Fills Void With New Off-Road Racing Platform | Performance Racing Industry. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  12. "About the Series | Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series". www.lucasoiloffroad.com. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  13. "Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series to be discontinued". Racer. November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  14. Scott, Evans. "Red Bull Frozen Rush 2014". Motor Trend. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  15. Jeff, Jablonsky. "Pikes Peak Hill Climb Racing Is the Best Race No One Knows About". Thrillist. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  16. "Enduro du Touquet". letouquet-holidays.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  17. "AORRA – Australian Off Road Racing Association - What is Off Road Racing?". AORRA – Australian Off Road Racing Association. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  18. "About Us - Contact, Business, Media, Membership, Sponsors, Volunteers - Tatts Finke Desert Race". finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
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