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  • Baja Designs Racers Justin Lofton and Sam Berri Victorious at the 2015 Polaris RZR Mint 400 presented by General Tire

    The 2015 Polaris RZR Mint 400 presented by General Tire will undoubtedly go down in history books as one of the most competitive races in recent off-road history.  Fifty-one Trick Trucks and thirty-four Class 1500’s rolled in to Sin City ready to throw down on the brutal Best in the Desert race course.  After a momentary stoppage in the race due to a multi-vehicle collision, it was apparent that The Great American Off-Road Race would carry on past dusk, shifting the focus to visibility into the night.  With the help of Baja Designs Off-Road Performance Lighting, Justin Lofton, Sam Berri and Brett Sourapas were able to push until the end and secure the Overall Victory and 1st place in Class 1500 and Class 6100, respectively.

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    After making the move up from Class 1500 to the Trick Truck Class, Justin Lofton has proven his newly built Jimco Trick Truck can race with the best.  As if the deteriorating Mint 400 race course wasn’t tough enough, racers had to quickly shift to nighttime strategies after the first stoppage of a race in Best in the Desert history forced the race to push further into the night.  A Baja Designs OnX6 Racer Edition Arc Series LED Light Bar guided Lofton over the finish line after completing the 400 mile course in just under six hours, 7 minutes ahead of the 2nd place finisher Robby Gordon.

    “It’s pretty amazing,” Lofton said. “We set our sights on doing this and here we are.  This race is the one you want to win.”

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    Similar to Justin Lofton, Sam Berri also has a brand new Jimco Class 1500 built for the 2015 season which has been outfitted with Baja Designs OnX6 Racer Edition LED Light Bars and Squadron Pro auxiliary lights.  Berri ran a flawless race and was 1st to the finish line with an official time of 06:24:27.431.

    The mint 400 photography

    “My crew came together.  I couldn’t have done it without everybody who got involved in helping put this thing together and made it worth winning The Mint!” commented Berri at the finish line.  “Baja Designs played a huge part in this win, allowing me to keep my pace into the night and hold off Parkhouse hot on my tail.”

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    The list of accomplished Baja Designs racers with strong finishes at the 2015 Mint 400 doesn’t stop there.   Tavo Vildosola was a frontrunner the entire day and finished 5th overall.  Tavo finished the race just seventeen minutes off Lofton’s pace.  Dan, Luke and Andy McMillin also demonstrated the effectiveness of Baja Designs Lighting with 6th, 7th and 13th place overall finishes.

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    Hot off their win at the BITD Parker 425 earlier this year, TSCO Racing’s Gary Weyhrich finished with an impressive 8th place at the Mint 400. Baja Designs racers secured 8 of the top 10 positions in the combined overall rankings in addition to top tier finishes in Trick Truck, Class 1500 and Class 6100 placing Baja Designs in the forefront of the off-road lighting industry.

    Trick Truck Top Ten Overall Results with Baja Designs Lights:

    1st – #41 Justin Lofton
    3rd – #6 Sourapas Motorsports
    5th – #21 Gustavo Vildosola Jr.
    6th – #23 Dan McMillin
    7th – #83 Luke McMillin
    8th – #98 Gary Weyhrich
    9th – #1549 Sam Berri
    10th – #1532 Cody Parkhouse
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    Fourteen seconds separated Berri from Baja Designs teammate, Cody Parkhouse.  Parkhouse was fourth fastest at qualifying and went on to contest Berri as the two lead 1500 vehicles.  Terrain conditions combined with Berri’s pace was too much for Parkhouse, who ultimately ended up in second place in Class 1500.#6119 Brett Sourapas secured Baja Designs a third win at The Mint in the 6100 Class with his dominating 06:48:47.691 run, over twenty minutes faster than second place.  After winning the opening Best in the Desert race in Parker, AZ, this was Sourapas’ first finish at night in 2015.  With the help of the farthest projecting LED light bar in the industry, Sourapas is now 2 for 2 after winning the 2015 Mint 400.  Baja Designs advocates, #6103 David Kleiman and #6183 Jeff Terzo, rounded out the podium with 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the 6100 Class.

    About Baja Designs:

    For 20+ years Baja Designs (BD) has engineered revolutionary ways to stay at the forefront of motorcycle and automotive lighting. The first product developed was a Dual Sport kit that made a pure off road motorcycle minimally street legal. This intimate knowledge of motorcycle electrical capabilities led to a natural evolution to engineer the first HID motorcycle race light. Owner/Lead engineer Alan Roach and Product Development Engineer Stephen “Tex” Mitchell were avid Baja 1000 motorcycle racers who were able to fine tune a motorcycle’s limited light optics to maximize rider comfort, speed and safety. As a result, Baja Designs (BD) has won every professional and amateur motorcycle and ATV Baja 1000 class for over 15 years.

    As their engineers and racers advanced to truck and buggy racing, the next evolution began. The engineers quickly adapted their race winning HID motorcycle lights to their new race vehicles. With amazing speed, Baja Designs (BD) HID lights were adopted by the vehicle race community and could be found on the majority of Baja 1000 winning vehicles. In the process, Baja Designs (BD) engineers became well known as “The Scientists of Lighting” and were sought out by professional race teams to develop and aim their vehicle lighting.

    LED lights were the next natural evolution of lighting and Baja Designs (BD) was the first company to develop a forward projecting LED light bar that was introduced and raced in the 2005 Baja 1000. That original LED light bar has evolved into a line of the highest performing and race winning LED lights on the market.
    Revolutionizing industry leading lights is not just a job at Baja Designs (BD), but a lifelong passion for both their owners and employees. The Baja Designs (BD) product line is dedicated to being BRIGHTER, BOLDER, and BETTER, which is why they truly are “The Scientists of Lighting”.

    About Mad Media

    Mad Media (www.madmedia.com) is a San Diego based marketing and creative agency, with in-house film and television production. We craft authentic, culturally engaging brand messages, and deliver them across print, web, photography, and film platforms. Mad Media has been leading the online content revolution since 1995 producing major commercial, television, online content and viral film projects such as The Gymkhana Series and XP1K Series.

  • ICON Vehicle Dynamics 2015-UP GM Colorado / Canyon 4WD 1.75-3″ Suspension Systems

    The latest pickups to roll out of GM headquarters are the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon – both of which have since picked up the coveted title of 2015 “Truck of the Year”. Realizing the true potential of the new mid-size pickups, ICON quickly got to work developing a COMPLETE suspension system that delivers an entirely new level of performance to these vehicles. After hours of in-house research and development, ICON Vehicle Dynamics is proud to announce a lineup of 1.75-3” performance suspension systems for the 2015-UP Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon.

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    As soon as the new Colorado rolled into HQ, ICON engineers were eager to get it onto a lift to begin a complete analysis of the truck in stock form. The goal of this was to identify any limiting factors and weak points in OE components that could be improved upon while also looking for opportunities to increase wheel travel. It is during this phase of R&D that ICON aims to develop a truly vehicle-specific suspension system. Through a combination of CAD development, shock dyno study, and real world testing a selection of 2.5 Series coilovers and shocks, 2.0 Aluminum Series shocks, and a tubular steel upper control arm kit were introduced and organized into several stages that each deliver a unique level of performance to the Colorado (and Canyon).

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    ICON Vehicle Dynamics’ staged suspension systems offer 1.75-3” of total lift height, allowing for the fitment of larger and more aggressive wheel/tire combinations. Wheel travel has been increased by 25% over stock, which makes for a much more comfortable ride both on and off-road. ICON’s stage 1 system establishes a remarkable level of performance with quality components that include Eibach coil springs, FK Rod End bearings, and ICON’s signature manufacturing quality. As the stages progress ICON control arms, larger shocks, and additional technology are introduced to further increase the overall performance of the Colorado.

    ICON products are all proudly made in the USA at our Southern California based facility by a team of passionate off-road enthusiasts. With a reputation for quality, performance, and service, it’s clear that ICON Vehicle Dynamics is the top choice for performance suspension systems and shock absorbers for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

    KEY FEATURES

    • 25% increase in wheel travel over stock
    • Height-adjustable coilovers offer 1.75-3” of lift *
    • Vehicle-specific shock valving provides unparalleled ride quality
    • Eibach coil springs guaranteed for life against sagging or breakage
    • FK Rod End bearings for extended longevity and minimal deflection
    • ICON shocks are completely revalveable and rebuildable
    • Remote reservoir option and CDCV (Compression Damping Control Valve) adjuster available
    • CDCV (Compression Damping Control Valve) allows for quick adjustments to compression characteristics of the shocks to provide the perfect ride across any terrain – all without a single tool
    • ICON tubular upper control arm provides 1.6 degree caster increase for improved handling characteristics
    • 100% bolt-on system makes for a straightforward install
    • Made in the USA
    ( *Lift heights are based off of V6 4WD Crew Cab model )

  • Will You Be Attending Moab Easter Jeep Safari for the First Time with Your New to You Jeep JK?

    BFGoodrich Tires, Raceline Wheels and Poison Spyder Invite You to Spend the Day With Them On Wednesday April 1st

    It is never easy being a new comer to an event that has been established for years.  Especially when you have a relatively new or new to you Jeep JK.  Understanding the runs, the Jeep’s capabilities and the events can all be a bit overwhelming, especially at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari.  With that in mind, three companies have invited you to come and spend a full day with them.  Not only are you going to get to experience trails with some of the most professional drivers in the industry, be showered with gifts and food, but you will also get to hob-nob with them at a dinner party with a raffle prize valued at $6000 that you could win. (more…)

  • Yokohama Tire Corporation Shifts 2015 Motorsports Programs into High Gear

    SANTA ANA, CA (March 17, 2015) – Producing tires for a wide variety of racing disciplines – Red Bull Global Rallycross, sports car and off-road – Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC) 2015 motorsports season is ready to roll.

    “Yokohama prides itself on the breadth of our racing program and how it pushes our tire development,” said Duane Sampson, YTC manager, motorsports. “Our tires have to handle everything from road courses like Road America in Wisconsin to the rocky terrain of Baja, California to the rallycross course in Barbados.”

    For the full 2015 Yokohama motorsports calendar, go to http://www.yokohamatire.com/calendar_main/. Yokohama’s racing slate includes:

    Red Bull Global Rallycross

    YTC enters its second year as the exclusive tire supplier of the Red Bull Global Rallycross (RBGRC), with the series expanding in 2015 from 10 races to 12. RBGRC combines the best elements of rally, stadium, circuit and off-road racing, lending itself to harrowing stunts and wheel-to-wheel competition. Cars in the series are heavily modified from their street-going counterparts, packed with all-wheel drive, 600 horsepower and Yokohama ADVAN® race tires. Star drivers include 2014 champion Joni Wiman, Tanner Foust, Scott Speed, Bucky Lasek, Travis Pastrana and Nelson Piquet Jr.

    “The ADVAN tire we supply for RBGRC is a good example of our motorsport tire technology,” said Sampson. “Prior to Yokohama’s involvement, RBGRC ran bias-ply tires. Yokohama has since engineered a radial slick that could handle the rigors of extreme conditions that exist in the exciting racing format.”

    The series starts May 31 in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida.

    Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama

    Covering eight venues with 16 rounds, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama is the largest single-make Porsche series in the world. It features two classes of vehicles that race on YTC’s orange oil-infused racing slick, the ADVAN® ENV-R2™.

    Porsche GT3 Cup enters its seventh consecutive season with Yokohama as its exclusive tire supplier. Semi-professional and up-and-coming drivers compete in two car classes, Platinum and Gold. The drivers will compete on some of the best tracks in the U.S., including Circuit of the Americas, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca and NOLA Motorsports Park, a new venue near New Orleans, Louisiana, that has been added this season.

    The racing heats up March 18-20 at Sebring.

    Off-Road Racing: SCORE & BITD

    Coming off a third-place finish in the SCORE Trophy Truck division at last year’s Baja 1000, Cameron Steele and his Desert Assassins team return under Yokohama sponsorship for 2015.

    Steele, a two-time SCORE Person of the Year, runs race-engineered 40-inch GEOLANDAR A/T-S® R tires mounted on his 800-horsepower No. 16 Geiser Brothers Trophy Truck. The tires are designed to endure some of the world’s harshest terrains at speeds in excess of 120 mph. For 2015, the team will focus on the major desert off-road races in North America, including the SCORE Baja 500, SCORE Baja 1000, and the Best in the Desert’s Vegas to Reno.

    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 atwww.yokohamatire.com.

  • Choccolocco Mountain New Location for Southeast Dirt Riot Race This Weekend

    Dirt Riot Endurance 4×4 Racing Saturday March 21st Starting at 9am at Choccolocco Mountain outside Jacksonville, Alabama

    BLACKFOOT, ID    MARCH 16, 2015:  The Dirt Riot series will be at Choccolocco Mountain kicking off the Southeast Series, one of three new locations to the Dirt Riot nationwide race series.  Racing will start at 9am on Saturday March 21st with Pro Class qualifying, followed by multiple classes of racing until approximately 3:30pm when the top 3 drivers in each class will be awarded trophies and cash winnings.  The winners of each race is determined by the most number of laps completed in a set amount of time. (more…)

  • National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map Line Will Be Available on Avenza’s PDF Maps App

    Addition of Outdoor Recreation Maps Highlights Digital Options for Outdoor Enthusiasts on 100th Anniversary of National Geographic’s Cartographic Division

    TORONTO (March 17, 2015)—National Geographic Maps, celebrating 100 years as one of the most trusted names in cartography, will make available hundreds of maps from its Trails Illustrated line through Avenza Systems Inc.’s popular, award-winning PDF Maps app. The addition of these maps, the most popular outdoor recreation maps in North America, augments the PDF Maps app digital map database by incorporating trail maps from a world-renowned source. It also increases National Geographic Maps’ reach within the mobile consumer market, giving more consumers than ever access to the Trails Illustrated line. Trail maps from many of America’s most popular national parks have already been uploaded to the app, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains.
    (more…)