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  • The California 300 rocked Southern California

    Off-Road racing returns to the birthplace of off-road culture

    The California 300 Off-Road Race stormed into Barstow, CA for its inaugural event this October, bringing major desert racing back to Southern California for the first time in 23 years. The field of hundreds of competitors and thousands of fans descend upon the high desert for three days of off-road racing action, camping, and fun without incident. The off-road festival at the Official Start / Finish Midway was the center of all the race action and featured tons of off-road brands vending and displaying their products as well as food and beer vendors. The main stage showcased the tough and brave race finishers and was the central hub for racing information and updates. The off-road festival at the Start / Finish Midway was conveniently located just east of the intersection of Lenwood Ave and Arbuckle St. just off the I-15 freeway.

    Pre-race festivities began the Saturday prior with the California 300 Desert Clean-Up presented by Clean-Dezert followed by The California 300 Poker Run. Hundreds of off-road enthusiasts turned out and removed over 10 tons of illegally dumped trash from the beautiful Stoddard Valley OHV area, while Poker Run participants got a chance to see the brutal 68 mile racecourse up close. Pre-running for the 300-mile race started Tuesday, October 11th through Wednesday, October 12th for registered racers. The California 300 officially opened to the public on Thursday October 13th at 8am with the opening of the Midway and Start /Finish area, located off Lenwood Road. An action-packed qualifying session started at 10:30am and featured over 60 racers attempting to earn top starting positions on an eight-mile qualifying course. Racing began on Friday, October 14th at 7am beginning with Short Course UTVs, followed by a stacked field of Limited Class racers. Saturday kicked off at 7am with multiple rounds of youth UTV racing including 170, 250, 570, and 1000, the racing culminated with the ultra-competitive fire breathing Unlimited Truck classes!

    The massive field of over 200 race teams included dozens of car, truck, UTV and youth classes. The California 300 attracted some of the top off-road racers including Steve Olliges, Mitch Guthrie Jr., Branden Sims, Kristen and Wayne Matlock, Ryan Piplic, Doug Mittag, Ronnie Anderson, Justin Lambert, Bruce Binnquist, Mike Cafro and Carson Wernimont to name a few. UTV racers competed through the weekend for extra fame and glory as the eighth annual UTV World Championship was folded into the inaugural California 300 this year. Guthrie and Sims would finish first and second overall in Friday’s Limited Race after a closely-matched battle all race long. Other top names in the sport like Cafro, Lambert, Sierra Romo, and Chris Blais would also take class podiums or victories and add their names to the storied history of UTV World Championship podium finishers.

    Fans on hand for Saturday’s Unlimited race, meanwhile, saw a thrilling fight between two names expected to pace the sport for years to come. Top Unlimited Truck and overall qualifier Cayden MacCachren would do battle with the top qualifying Unlimited Truck SPEC entry of Troy and Dustin Grabowski all race long. MacCachren led the first three laps and posted the fastest lap overall in his first start in the truck that has carried his Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame father, Rob MacCachren, to so many victories over the years. But a late charge from Troy Grabowski, who took over from his brother Dustin for the final two laps of the race, proved to make all the difference; the Grabowskis would take the overall victory by just two and a half minutes at race’s end.

    “Hundreds of racers and thousands of fans came out and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside with their families. We are thrilled with the turnout. We are stoked to have desert racing back front and center in Southern California. This is the birthplace of off-road racing culture as well as the home for the off-road racing industry,” stated California 300 CEO and co-owner Matt Martelli. “I have no doubt that this race will grow quickly to be the one of the largest events in motorsports, creating tens of millions of dollars in financial impact while becoming an accessible showcase of off-road racing in spectacular fashion.”

    Barstow, California has a rich tradition of off-road racing dating back to 1971 with the first “Fireworks 250” race which ran for fifty-one years. It has always been a vital and important location for testing, recreation, and racing. After promoting the Mint 400 successfully for more than a decade, The Martelli Brothers and their team are thrilled to have brought a major desert off-road race back to Southern California, the mecca of off-road racing, for the first time in more than two decades!
    Thank you to all of our California 300 sponsors who’ve supported us since day 1:
    Rugged Radios, King Shocks, Polaris, Rockford Fosgate, UBCO, Vision Wheel, Kawasaki, VP Racing Fuels, Maxxis Tires, Jimco Racing, Clean-Dezert, Assault Industries, Site Solar, Camburg, Belching Beaver Brewery, Surface Sunscreen, Heat Wave Visual, Catalyst Distribution
    About The California 300The California 300 is a new world-class off-road desert race built to showcase the best off-road racers on the planet. The inaugural, multi-day event launches October 13-15, 2022 in Barstow, CA and will feature a desert cleanup, multiple days of prerunning, a public poker run, an off-road festival, and two days of spectacular off-road racing on a fast, technical and punishing 70-mile race course. For more info on The California 300 go to thecalifornia300.com.
  • Competitiors, King of the Hammers Info Starts Now!

    Competitiors, King of the Hammers Info Starts Now!

    Hello Competitors,

    Many of you have heard about the programs we put into place to return money back into your race programs. They’re explained more below and on our website, check them out and let us know what you think. All the competitor programs we talk about are for any competitor in any class, during King of the Hammers, Desert Challenge and King of the Motos – no exclusions!

    We recently welcomed our first KOH Rookie Class to the ranch and it was a great reminder of why we do what we do. We are excited about our future, KOH and beyond.

    See you on the lakebed,

    Dave 

    Numbers and Registration!

    It’s here! Competitor registration is OPEN NOW, on phase one of our new website, KingoftheHammers.com! Although we’ve opened our site for you to see and begin using now, this is just the beginning of what it will become over the next few months. An extensive FAQ section even the most seasoned racers can learn from, all competitor information in one centralized location, easy-to-use navigation and more. Check back often as it evolves!

    Head over to the new website and request a number if you need one here. We have compiled a definitive list of number assignments, and are using a database to request numbers, rather than it being a manual process. If you have an issue obtaining or confirming a number, please email Info@KingoftheHammers.com. Review the steps to register and the information you need here. 

    $$$ – Competitor Payback Program – $$$
    King of the Hammers believes we should be helping make racing more affordable for competitors, so we’ve found a way to put dollars back into your race program through the Competitor Payback Program! When you register, participants (formerly called spectators), are able to select your name from a menu and you receive $10 of each ticket sold, paid by check to you monthly! You do not need to do anything special to be enrolled, it’s automatic upon registration for KOH 2023. This is a great time to market yourself and your team while collecting a check for it! Read the details here. 
    Team T-Shirt Program – More $$$ Back to You!

    In-line with the Competitor Payback Program, we’re excited to utilize the relationships we have built as a company to help competitors offer merchandise and brand your race team, while helping put money back into your race program. We will produce and sell your custom shirt on our online store, and you receive $15 back per shirt sold of your art! You may take advantage of this opportunity in registration, there is no cost to enroll, only your set-up fee (art fee if applicable). Shirt sales end November 30, 2022, so register and get your art taken care of right away to maximize the amount of time your shirt is available for sale. Read all the details on our website here.

  • BFGoodrich Racing revs up for 2021 Baja 1000

    BFGoodrich Racing revs up for 2021 Baja 1000

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 15, 2021 ― BFGoodrich® Tires looks to defend its SCORE International Baja 1000 title at the 2021 race, starting in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, on Nov. 18.

    Focused on claiming its 32nd overall SCORE Baja 1000 win, BFGoodrich Tires is hoping for another winning performance like the one Luke McMillin and Larry Roeseler provided in 2020. Starting in Ensenada and ending in La Paz, this year’s course will be 1,227 miles long. The tire maker will be looking for its 99th overall SCORE Baja victory, with former class winners at the wheel for several teams.

    Showing their continued commitment to desert racing, BFGoodrich will award $40,000 in contingency money to the overall 4-wheel winners of the race if they are using BFGoodrich tires. 

    The BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A® tire is celebrating its 45th year racing in the Baja desert.  After launching in 1976, the BFGoodrich® Radial All-Terrain T/A® had its first SCORE Baja 1000 class victory the next year with Frank “Scoop” Vessels driving a Ford F-100 in Class 8. It is on this peninsula where BFGoodrich discovered a proving ground for its tires. The results of the tests, and the entrance into Baja desert racing, led to an off-road motorsports program that’s second-to-none.

    An ongoing strategy for BFGoodrich Tires over the course of four decades of desert racing remains its support for the widest range of classes in SCORE Baja racing. Last year, BFGoodrich claimed nine class wins at the SCORE Baja 1000; over the course of the last five years, the brand has achieved 66 class titles.

    Storylines for the 54th Running of the SCORE Baja 1000:

    New Alliances:

    For the first time in any off-road race, Rob MacCachren and Luke McMillin will come together and form a dynamic team to take on the peninsula run. MacCachren, a 2011 Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee, will be looking for his fifth overall Baja 1000 title. McMillin is hoping to defend his 2020 title in the McMillin Racing Trophy Truck®. 

    “I’ve looked up to and raced against Rob for a long time,” McMillin said. “Not only do I believe our dedication and will to win is unmatched, but I also believe our racing approach is similar. Picking a Baja 1000 partner is always a tough decision because you want that person to match your dedication and passion to win. Rob was an obvious pick, and it helps that I truly believe Rob is the greatest off-road racer of all time.”

    MacCachren sees a similar driver in McMillin and his racing style.

    “Luke reminds me a lot of myself in his passion for continually striving to be the best,” MacCachren said. “I’m honored to be part of the McMillin Racing Team for the 2021 Baja 1000, and I know that we are going to make every effort possible to be the fastest Trophy Truck to La Paz.”

    During the race, the McMillin/MacCachren Trophy-Truck® will be running BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® KR3 tires. Since launching in 2016, Baja T/A KR3 tires have been a part of three overall SCORE Baja 1000 victories, and an additional five SCORE race wins.

    Steele and Arciero Team Up

    Cameron Steele, the 2018 Trophy Truck® winner of the Baja 1000, will be teaming up with Ryan Arciero, who won the inaugural Baja 400 in 2019. Arciero, coming off an overall victory in August’s Best In The Desert “Vegas to Reno” race, will try to take that momentum from Nevada all the way to La Paz. This team will also have the support of Rhys Millen and Bobby PeCoy, creating a team of four drivers rotating between two Desert Assassins Ford Trophy Trucks®.

    Dakar Rally Winner Makes His Way Back to Baja

    Australian Dakar Rally Champion Toby Price will make his way across the Pacific Ocean to join Bryce Swaim in the Trophy Truck® Spec class. Price’s last SCORE race took place at the 2019 Baja 1000 with Nasser Al-Attiyah in Jesse Jones’ Mason Trophy Truck®. He has won five Australian Off-Road Championships (AORC), and two Dakar Rally victories in the motorcycles category. Swaim has two Trophy Truck® Spec class wins in the SCORE Baja 500 and finished second at the 2017 Baja 1000. 

    2020 Trophy Truck® Legends Look to Repeat

    Jimco Racing CEO Robbie Pierce, defending champion of the 2020 Baja 1000 Trophy Truck® Legends class, will race with Greg Adler in the Jimco racing truck. Adler, who is the CEO and President of Off Road Warehouse (ORW), first raced the Baja 1000 in 1990. 

    Family Affair for the Herbst and Dean Teams

    Race fans will be able to watch up to six different Herbst athletes in this year’s Baja 1000. Brothers Tim, Troy and Ed have 14 SCORE victories between them. Troy and Ed own 11 career wins in SCORE Trophy-Truck, and four of the 20 season championships. Tim owns three Baja 250 victories. Their third driver, Pat Dean, earned a Baja 1000 victory in 2018 co-driving with Cam Steele. Additionally, brothers Pierce and Thor finished second in the Trophy Truck® Spec class in 2020’s Baja 1000. Their cousin, Riley, who normally drives in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will join them in the truck to keep the Terrible Herbst racing tradition alive.

    Unparalleled Race Support

    In addition to providing tires to various SCORE Baja 1000 competitors, BFGoodrich Tires continues to offer its leading pit and communications support teams in eight locations across the racecourse. This massive undertaking involves more than 150 off-road enthusiasts and volunteers who donate their time to help make the race an overwhelming success. 

    Follow along during this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 with race stories, images and videos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires.

    About BFGoodrichTires

    BFGoodrichTiresis dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 50 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrichdelivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high-performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrichand see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, www.BFGoodrichRacing.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires.

  • Warn Industries Acquires Fab Fours

    Warn Industries Acquires Fab Fours

    Clackamas, OR (August 4, 2021) – Warn Industries today announced the acquisition of substantially all of the business and assets of Fab Fours, Inc., a leading manufacturer of fabricated mounting solutions for trucks and Jeeps.

    Fab Fours’ product offering includes various metal fabricated truck and Jeep bumper and accessory options. The company was founded in 2004 and is known for its vision, innovation, and willingness to take risks by developing polarizing concept vehicles like “Kymera” and award winning products including the “Grumper” combination grille and bumper, which has received multiple awards, including the “Showstopper” award from SEMA.

    Kyle Shiminski, Vice President & General Manager of Warn Industries, stated, “With last year’s acquisition of Factor 55, the recent acquisition of Fabtech, and now Fab Fours, Warn continues its strategy of aligning around premium brands while focusing on operational excellence. We are humbled by our customers’ loyalty and dedication to each of our brands and we are proud to continue our focus on designing and manufacturing in the United States. We have such a talented team that collaboratively works to enhance our offerings across each of our brands. We have long admired the Fab Fours brand and the growth and recognition that Greg and his team have achieved. We are excited to welcome Greg and the entire Fab Fours team to the Warn family.” Fab Fours will operate as a division of Warn Industries.

    Fab Fours’ products are designed, tested, and manufactured in South Carolina by a workforce that puts its heart and pride into every product.

    Greg Higgs, owner and CEO of Fab Fours, Inc., commented, “We are truly excited to bring Fab Fours into the Warn family. We have built a loyal customer base around great products and now we can combine them with Warn’s offerings. Our products complement each other and our talented resources across the businesses do as well. Aligning our businesses will help us all grow stronger together, and we look forward to introducing innovative new products to our customer base.”

    Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    About Fab Fours
    Fab Fours, Inc (www.fabfours.com) is a leading manufacturer of fabricated mounting solutions for trucks and Jeeps. Their product offering includes multiple different metal fabricated truck and Jeep bumper and accessory options. Fab Fours’ products are recognized as a premium offering in the off-road, fleet, and general purpose segments. With headquarters in Lancaster, South Carolina; Fab Fours’ products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States.

    About Warn Industries
    WARN (www.warn.com) is the world’s most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. Warn Industries designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersports vehicles. Warn Industries is headquartered near Portland, OR.

    Warn Industries also includes Factor 55 (www.factor55.com), a manufacturer of highly-engineered rigging hardware, and Fabtech (www.fabtechmotorsports.com); a producer of premium suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. The Factor 55 and Fabtech brands complement the Warn portfolio of premium branded, best in class, products that customers have come to expect.

  • Warn Industries Releases Bumpers for New Ford Bronco

    Warn Industries Releases Bumpers for New Ford Bronco

    New front winch bumper offers a rugged style, increased off-road capability, and added protection to Ford’s highly anticipated new SUV.

    WARN Elite Series Front Bumper with Grille Guard Tube for Ford Bronco. The bumper is also equipped with a WARN ZEON 10-S winch and Epic Shackles, and Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead and FlatLink E Shackle Mount.
    • New bumpers for Ford Bronco are WARN winch-ready, and accept most WARN mid-frame winches up to 12,000 lbs. (5443 kg)
    • Pull-tested to stringent specifications by WARN engineers
    • Bumper includes welded eyelets for shackles; ports for OE or auxiliary lights; off-road jack tabs
    • Two versions available: With or without grille guard tube
    • State-of-the-art powder-coated finish for long-lasting corrosion/UV protection. 
    Clackamas, OR (7/21/21) – Hot on the heels of the Ford Bronco’s highly anticipated debut, Warn Industries has released its Elite Series Front Bumpers for the hot new SUV. These rugged bumpers allow Bronco buyers to add a winch for vehicle recovery, add extra protection to guard against trail hazards, and make Ford’s new Bronco even more capable.
    Built For Life Off Road
    The WARN Elite Series Front Bumper accommodates a host of WARN mid-frame winches up to 12,000 lbs. (5443 kg) in capacity.
    The new Elite Series bumpers feature advanced geometry specifically made to increase approach angles and articulation further improving the vehicle’s off-road capability. Plus, they’ll accommodate oversized tires. The integrated winch mount is engineered and tested for the high stresses of winching. The mount will allow for mid-frame winches up to 12,000 lbs. (5443 kg) including the WARN® ZEON®, ZEON Platinum, VR EVO, M8, XD9, XD9i, 9.0Rc, and 9.5xp.
    For even more vehicle recovery options, the bumper showcases ultra-strong precision-welded eyelets to accommodate shackles. There are also integrated jack points for lifting the vehicle using an off-road jack. 
    Additionally, the Elite Series bumper has recessed light buckets for either the OE fog lights or aftermarket units. 
    Two Versions
    WARN Elite Series Front Bumper without Grille Guard Tube for Ford Bronco. The bumper is equipped with a WARN ZEON 10-S winch with a relocated control pack, WARN Epic Shackles, Factor 55 FlatLink E Shackle Mount, and Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead.
    Warn is offering these Elite Series bumpers in two versions: One with a welded-on grille guard tube, and one without the tube. The stout tube offers additional protection to the winch as well as an aggressive look. However, Bronco owners with the forward-facing camera will probably want to opt for the version without the tube. They’ll also likely want to use one of the company’s winch control pack relocation kits (for ZEON and VR EVO). The sleek no-bar bumper and winch control pack relocation will keep that camera free from obstruction as the factory intended.
    No matter which version buyers opt for, the Elite Series bumpers wear a state-of-the-art powder-coated finish with a five-step pre-treatment process and zirconium nanotechnology. This lets the bumpers stand up to rigorous 408-hour salt-spray tests and provides excellent UV protection to keep the product looking great for years.
    The new Ford Bronco is one of the most highly anticipated 4WD vehicles to be sold in recent memory. Warn Industries’ dedication to durability, quality, and innovation ensures the company’s Elite Series front bumpers will give Bronco buyers the features they need and a look to complement the rig’s rugged style. 
    About Warn Industries
    Warn Industries (warn.com) is the world’s most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. The company designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersport vehicles. Warn Industries is headquartered near Portland, OR. 
  • Warn Industries Acquires Fabtech Industries, Inc.

    Warn Industries Acquires Fabtech Industries, Inc.

    Clackamas, OR (June 1, 2021) – Warn Industries today announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Fabtech Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspensions for light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs.

    Fabtech’s product offerings include suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. The company was founded in 1989 as a custom fabrication firm specializing in racing suspension systems and Prerunner builds, cages, bumpers, and other products. Today, the company has over 2,000 SKUs in their portfolio and the Fabtech brands, which include Dirt Logic and Stealth Shocks, are recognized as premium offerings in the off-road and performance segments.

    Kyle Shiminski, Vice President & General Manager of Warn Industries, stated, “With strong brands and complementary categories to Warn’s truck, off-road, and overlanding segments, this partnership provides an opportunity to combine the premium brands of WARN, Factor 55 and Fabtech into a more all-encompassing solution for end-customers.” Shiminski added, “We have admired the Fabtech brand heritage and made in the USA mindset and are extremely excited to be able to align together. We look forward to working closely with the entire Fabtech team, and continuing their history of premium, innovative products while adding another premium brand to the Warn family.” Fabtech will operate as a division of Warn Industries.

    Fabtech’s products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States, and utilize proprietary technology to fully integrate vehicles’ electronics and sensors with their systems.

    Dave Winner, Founder and CEO of Fabtech Industries, Inc. commented, “We are excited to be part of the Warn Industries family, joining a company with highly-recognized, premium brands and a storied history. We are proud of what we have accomplished over our 30-plus year history, and we look forward to continuing our traditions, now as part of Warn and as such, being able to leverage resources available as part of a larger entity. We will continue to focus on developing innovative solutions for the off-road segment.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    About Fabtech Industries

    Fabtech Industries (www.fabtechmotorsports.com) is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspensions for light trucks and SUVs. The Fabtech product offering includes suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. Fabtech brands, which include Dirt Logic and Stealth Shocks, are recognized as premium offerings in the off-road racing and performance segments. Fabtech’s products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States, and utilize proprietary technology to fully integrate vehicle’s electronics and sensors with their systems. Fabtech is headquartered in Chino, CA.

    About Warn Industries

    WARN (www.warn.com) is the world’s most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. Warn Industries designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersports vehicles. Warn Industries is headquartered near Portland, OR.

    Warn Industries also includes Factor 55 (www.factor55.com), a manufacturer of highly-engineered rigging hardware for CLOSED SYSTEM WINCHING™, a technique that uses rigging comprised entirely of closed link hardware to provide an additional layer of safety when operating a winch. The Factor 55 product offering includes: winch line and splice-on shackles, fairleads, pulleys, vehicle recovery kits and bags, recovery straps, rope, and other specialty products. Factor 55 is headquartered in Boise, Idaho, and their products are designed and manufactured in Idaho.