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  • Warn Industries Introduces Epic™ Winching Accessories

    Built tough to live up to their name.

    Clackamas, OR (8/12/15) – Warn Industries, the global leader in winching products, is releasing a new high performance lineup: WARN® Epic™ Winching Accessories. Designed to complement the look of WARN winches, each top-of-the-line Epic accessory is carefully crafted to hold up under difficult winching situations. A multi-layered E-coat protects forged steel components from both corrosion and abrasion.

    WARN® Epic™ Winching Accessories

    Epic™ Winch Hook

    Forged from steel, the rugged WARN Epic Winch Hook not only holds strong, but also it stands up to wear and abrasion thanks to its E-coat finish. Its unique design even features a built-in beverage opener. Available in three sizes: For winches with capacities up to 5-, 10- or 18,000 pounds. www.warn.com/truck/accessories/epic_winchhook.shtml

    Epic™ Shackle

    The double tough, forged steel WARN Epic Shackle lets users connect the looped ends of cables, straps, and snatch blocks. The threaded pin allows easy removal. Abrasion-resistant E-coat finish means this shackle will stand up to wear for the long run. Available in two sizes: for winches with capacities up to18,000 lbs., or a smaller size for up to 5,000 lb. capacity winches. www.warn.com/truck/accessories/epic_shackle.shtml

    Epic™ Snatch Block

    Armed with a durable, corrosion-resistant E-coat finish, the Epic Snatch Block helps off-roaders get more out of their winches. Under proper use, this multi-purpose snatch block can effectively double the pulling power of any winch or change its pulling direction, without damaging the rope. It also helps to reduce heat buildup and amp draw during recovery. Accepts both wire and synthetic winch rope. Buyers can choose from units rated to handle up to 5-, 12- or 18,000 pounds. www.warn.com/truck/accessories/epic_snatchblock.shtml

    Epic™ Tree Trunk Protector

    WARN designed the Epic Tree Trunk Protector rigging strap to anchor a winch rope to a tree, and then protect the trunk from damage during winching operations. What sets the Epic Tree Trunk Protector apart is the premium nylon strap with encased red warning marker to indicate damaged webbing, plus the end loops reinforced with E-coated ring connectors to minimize wear and abrasion. Three sizes are available:  4” x 8’ rated to 30,000 lbs.; 2″ x 8′ rated to 14,400 lbs.; and 1″ x 8′ rated to 7,200 lbs. www.warn.com/truck/accessories/epic_treetrunkprotector.shtml

    About Warn Industries

    Warn Industries 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 has employees in and around Portland, OR, Livonia, MI, and the Netherlands.  www.WARN.com

  • Shipman Wins 1st ULTRA4 Race in Sturgis

    AUGUST 13th, 2015 – STURGIS, KY:  While ULTRA4 veteran Jason Shipman #4414 is no stranger to the podium, up until last weekend’s Sturgis Off Road Blowout a first place trophy had alluded him.  After a day of back-to-back racing action, in a short course format that included rocks, jumps and a narrow woods section,  Shipman emerged with his first ULTRA4 first place finish.  Clay Gilstrap #26 who was also on the podium last year in Kentucky took 2nd, and Sturgis’ own, Bill Baird #5252 claimed third after close battle throughout the race with Levi Shirley #81.

    More than 45 cars were in attendance representing the UTV Class, the 4500 Modified, the 4800 legends and the 4400 unlimited 4 wheel drive vehicles known as ULTRA4s. This was the 2nd race in the 4WD Hardware Eastern regional series. All classes qualified on Friday for their starting position in Saturday morning’s prelim races. The limited classes raced twice on Saturday in a prelim and a main event, and the 4400s raced a prelim, a semi- final and a main event. 21 cars took the green flag for the main event.

    Nitto National Championship points leader, Derek West#20 had been the man to beat all day. When the final race began, West jumped out to a quick lead with Shipman on his heels. Half way through the race, West experienced a mechanical failure that caused a roll in the narrow tree lined section of course, and Shipman was the first to emerge from the woods and maintained his lead throughout the remainder of the race with Gilstrap close on his heels.

    Sturgis saw some of the highest car counts to date for the limited classes in the 4WD Hardware Eastern Regional series..  Duane Garretson #26 took home the win in the 4500 modified class, with Lindsay Gilstrap #450, in 2nd, and Rob Matzell #4573 in 3rd. Interesting to note, the husband and wife team of Lindsay and Clay Gilstrap both took home 2nd place finishes in their respective classes.

    This was the first time that the 4800 legends class has raced west of the Mississippi.  Newcomer, Jeff Caudill #513 took home his first win in his first 4800 race followed by Robert  Daly #775 all the way from Silver Springs, NV, and another newcomer Richard White #4878 came in 3rd.

    Currently Derek West is leading for the Nitto National Championship in the 4400 class 120+ points ahead of Wayland Campbell #3, who is only 11 points ahead of Levi Shirley #81. ULTRA4 Rookie, Doug Jackson #61 has the lead for the 4WD Eastern Regional Series, and 2014 Nitto National Champion, Loren Healy #67 is leading the points for the Trail-Gear Western Regional series.

    HCR Racing sponsored a $1000 purse for the UTV Class, and 10 UTVs came out to race. Brian Strane #490 who also took home the win in Indiana lead most of the race followed by Paul Nagele #8 who also made the podium at Badlands. In 3rd place was local favorite and newcomer Tim Marshall #731.

    The next race in the Nitto National Championship is the final race in the Trail-Gear Western Regional series, the VORRA Fallon 250, August 28th and 29th in Fallon, NV. The final race in the 4WD Hardware Eastern Regional series is taking place in Arkansas at the Hot Springs ORV Park.  The final race in the series will be the Nitto National Championship taking place October 16th and 17th in Reno, NV.

  • Big Changes Coming to Best in the Desert in 2016

    unnamedFor the past five years, Best in the Desert has led off-road racing as the premier race series in the sport.  With entries growing each year, BITD has held strong to a six-race format with the addition of The Mint 400 in 2012.  However, their staples in the Parker 425, Silver State 300, Vegas to Reno, Blue Water Desert Challenge and Henderson 250 have gone relatively untouched in these years.

    Announced today by BITD Race Director, Casey Folks, in front of hundreds of media, sponsors and industry leaders, the 2016 Best in the Desert race schedule looks everything but standard.   Folks has spent years working to better not only Best in the Desert but the off-road racing community as a whole. Here’s a look at the new 2016 Best in the Desert Racing Association race schedule.   (more…)

  • MAMER MOTORSPORTS TAKES ON CARNAGE AT INAGURAL LOORRS BAJA RACE ROUNDS 11&12

    Cole Mamer and his team were prepared as they could be as they went south of the American border and pulled into the new Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series course at Estero Beach. The new course was located just miles outside of Ensenada, Baja California.

    LOORRS added in the new race course to this season race schedule and as many teams were nervous about taking the series to a new stop, Mamer Motorsports was excited for the change of pace, new fans and a new course to race the #35 Mamer Motorsports Pro-Lite on.

    It wasn’t long before the trucks were on the course running down four practices just in one day. The course provided the drivers with nearly a mile long of door to door opportunities to attempt a pass. The key to this course was to stay out of the dust, keep clean through the turns and keep on the gas you went through the rhythm section.

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    When race day came Saturday, fans were lined at the gate waiting in anticipation to see a new form of off-road racing that hasn’t been to Baja since 2002. The thrill of meeting new drivers, seeing crews work on the trucks and witnessing first hand the carnage that can go into short course racing had the fans on their feet all day.

    The Pro-Lite race was the second race of the day and Mamer had to line up at the back of the stacked class after qualifying didn’t go his way. This didn’t stop Mamer though as that green flag dropped he immediately made 3 passes right out of turn one. When a wreck on the first lap brought out a full course yellow the trucks had to restart the race and Mamer had to go back to his original starting position.

    The 15 trucks took on the restart and once again Mamer went for multiple passes and pulled it off, this time passing 4 trucks on the restart lap. This was great momentum for Mamer as he let the race come to him.

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    A dusty course didn’t distract the driver as he battled with Creed looking to take over the 6th place position. The 10 lap race was ticking down and once Creed crashed it moved Mamer up to that 6th place. He was on the tail of DeBerti as they were coming through the rhythm section when he found himself and DeBerti both getting sideways and with a quick reaction Mamer steered out of the way as DeBerti was spinning through the air and wrecking.

    Even though Mamer managed to avoid a major accident, his truck didn’t make it out alive as he fell to the back of the pack with broken front end of the truck. Mamer pushed through the rest of the race with a limp truck in 10th, but still was able to salvage some points.

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    Mamer rounded out the weekend with a 9th place finish in round 12 and will be heading to Reno, NV for rounds 13&14 sitting 10th in points. Reno will provide the racers with many elevation changes, high speed sections and one last chance to really fight for a higher points standing before they head into the final stretch of the season.

  • Dirt Will Fly as Yokohama Tire Digs in for Two Tough Races

    SANTA ANA, CA (Aug. 12, 2015) – From the dry desert heat in southern Nevada to sweltering humidity on the East Coast, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC) motorsports teams are ready to roll in two different race series: the Red Bull Global Rallycross (RBGRC) competition at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on August 15 and the Best in the Desert’s “Vegas to Reno” off-road clash, August 13-15.

    “These are two challenging races that will definitely prove our tires can compete in the most extreme conditions,” said Duane Sampson, YTC manager of motorsports. “At RBGRC, the track combines the technical variables of pavement, dirt and a jump into less than a mile. Vegas to Reno is a 545-mile desert battle fought over conditions that include everything from high-speed runs through the sand to low-speed cornering around boulders. Both races will clearly highlight the versatility and durability of our tires.”

    RBGRC blends the best of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition. Specially designed Yokohama ADVAN® race tires are the series’ spec tires fitted on all the heavily modified, 600-horsepower production-based cars.

    In the Vegas to Reno race, Yokohama technical partner and off-road veteran Cameron Steele will compete in an 860-horsepower race truck, which was completely rebuilt over the summer with extensive chassis upgrades, suspension modification and a new motor. All of this will be transferred to the ground on off-road-race-engineered 40-inch GEOLANDAR A/T-S® R tires.

    Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

    Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:

    www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp

    www.twitter.com/yokohamatc

    www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports

    www.instagram.com/yokohamatire

    Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire Care & Safety” section at www.yokohamatire.com.

     

  • Does My Battery Need Attention In The Hot Summer Months?

    You bet it does!  Reliable starting depends on battery care year-round.

    Wheeling, IL August 7, 2015 – Folks most often associate battery care with the cold winter months, when low temperatures make engine oil thick as molasses, degrade a battery’s efficiency, and make that first start in the morning a hopeful experience. And all of that is true.

    But some are surprised to learn that hot summer weather takes its toll on your battery’s ability to start your car as well. Penray, Inc. is a leading supplier of chemicals and functional fluids for automotive use. Their experts point out some surprising hot-weather issues that can affect a battery’s efficiency and starting ability. (more…)