UTV's have a great showing at the Silver State 300

[AZ1000]

Duh, start them in the back of the cars, they'll show where they need to start at with the cars in time. But not where they do now.

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[Bolles]

This link has the 2011 V2R boradcast.. several filmed instances of the UTV issue discussed during the coverage. exactly what this thread discussion turned into.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sho...ght=vegas+reno

[Mark_Weyhrich]

Many of you may not have been around when Trophy Trucks (They weren't even called Trophy Trucks yet) were first introduced to our sport. They ran in Class 1 (Unlimited), but these trucks were so much bigger and more capable than the Class 1 cars of the day that these exact same discussions took place. This was before BITD existed. SCORE decided it was too dangerous to have them tangle with the Class 1's. This was one of the primary reasons a new class (Trophy Truck) was started. THIS WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. I can tell you that the Class 1 cars back then were bigger, heavier and far more capable than any UTV out there today.

One of the problems with the UTV's is that they HAVE become very capable machines. As some have stated, they are capable of fairly high rates of speed. This makes them throw up an incredible amount of dust, leading many TT and Class 1 drivers to believe they are catching someone they are competing with.

Because many TT and Class 1 drivers are capable and willing to drive in the dust, if a UTV is at the herein stated maximum speed of 84 mph, the closure rate is at least 20 mph. In reality most I have encountered are in the upper 40's to upper 50's, making the closure rate much more significant. Combine that with the fact that these vehicles are low, where the dust is thickest, and you have little to no reaction time to save lives; as several drivers have written here.

It is dangerous enough to go off-road racing. Do we really want to have adrenaline and ego fueled alpha males literally holding the lives of others in their hands? All for the sake of a trophy and some glory?

I would request that all Trophy Truck, Class 1 and UTV drivers send an email to, or call BITD to ask that something be changed. Casey has always proven to be a man who is willing to look at anything that makes sense.

[JoeyD23]

Many of you may not have been around when Trophy Trucks (They weren't even called Trophy Trucks yet) were first introduced to our sport. They ran in Class 1 (Unlimited), but these trucks were so much bigger and more capable than the Class 1 cars of the day that these exact same discussions took place. This was before BITD existed. SCORE decided it was too dangerous to have them tangle with the Class 1's. This was one of the primary reasons a new class (Trophy Truck) was started. THIS WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. I can tell you that the Class 1 cars back then were bigger, heavier and far more capable than any UTV out there today.

One of the problems with the UTV's is that they HAVE become very capable machines. As some have stated, they are capable of fairly high rates of speed. This makes them throw up an incredible amount of dust, leading many TT and Class 1 drivers to believe they are catching someone they are competing with.

Because many TT and Class 1 drivers are capable and willing to drive in the dust, if a UTV is at the herein stated maximum speed of 84 mph, the closure rate is at least 20 mph. In reality most I have encountered are in the upper 40's to upper 50's, making the closure rate much more significant. Combine that with the fact that these vehicles are low, where the dust is thickest, and you have little to no reaction time to save lives; as several drivers have written here.

It is dangerous enough to go off-road racing. Do we really want to have adrenaline and ego fueled alpha males literally holding the lives of others in their hands? All for the sake of a trophy and some glory?

I would request that all Trophy Truck, Class 1 and UTV drivers send an email to, or call BITD to ask that something be changed. Casey has always proven to be a man who is willing to look at anything that makes sense.

Great post!! The last 2 sentences says it all!

[fishd00d]

Many of you may not have been around when Trophy Trucks (They weren't even called Trophy Trucks yet) were first introduced to our sport. They ran in Class 1 (Unlimited), but these trucks were so much bigger and more capable than the Class 1 cars of the day that these exact same discussions took place. This was before BITD existed. SCORE decided it was too dangerous to have them tangle with the Class 1's. This was one of the primary reasons a new class (Trophy Truck) was started. THIS WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. I can tell you that the Class 1 cars back then were bigger, heavier and far more capable than any UTV out there today.

One of the problems with the UTV's is that they HAVE become very capable machines. As some have stated, they are capable of fairly high rates of speed. This makes them throw up an incredible amount of dust, leading many TT and Class 1 drivers to believe they are catching someone they are competing with.

Because many TT and Class 1 drivers are capable and willing to drive in the dust, if a UTV is at the herein stated maximum speed of 84 mph, the closure rate is at least 20 mph. In reality most I have encountered are in the upper 40's to upper 50's, making the closure rate much more significant. Combine that with the fact that these vehicles are low, where the dust is thickest, and you have little to no reaction time to save lives; as several drivers have written here.

It is dangerous enough to go off-road racing. Do we really want to have adrenaline and ego fueled alpha males literally holding the lives of others in their hands? All for the sake of a trophy and some glory?

I would request that all Trophy Truck, Class 1 and UTV drivers send an email to, or call BITD to ask that something be changed. Casey has always proven to be a man who is willing to look at anything that makes sense.

By far the best post in this thread!!

[michael_loomis]

positive note if you went off times of 1900 top 5 finishers and averaged that time we should be some were around 8000 and 6000 race vehicles. and both those class got to do 3 laps at the mint 400. So i say bring it let us start mid pack of classes So we can race with you guys. Ex parker 450 screw the 250 sorry i ment the 150 for us 1900 guys. i want to be in the big races cost the same and we get more miles.

Won't work, because those averages will drop once they are on a chewed up course.

Duh, start them in the back of the cars, they'll show where they need to start at with the cars in time. But not where they do now.

Exactly. Sure, they will have to battle and earn what they feel they already deserve, but it is much safer than having the slow guys in the class ran over by bigger, heavier, faster cars.

[Nessy]

Many of the UTVs are still older models and arent capable of those speeds so that is being generous with your numbers and are most likely the ones that seem to be getting in the way.It would definetly be safer if you can get Casey to do it although wont this be an issue in loop races?

[timmymo]

Im adding a new sticker to the back of my RZR "you just got passed by a golf cart" lol

And the front of the TT the sticker should read FOURrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:-) :-) :-)

[jaggedx]

Well Matt, I bet you are glad you started this positive energy thread. LOL

While some may not approve, It looks like the UTV class is here to stay in BITD. No matter what enyone debates here the fact is that the UTV class has become a much more viable class in the last several years. Much of this is attributed to the attention that the manufactures are giving the sport. Three major MFG's support UTV desert teams as well as many product manufacturers. Desert Racing is a glory sport for everyone, no doubt! It is also a very dangerous sport. Which we accept.

Casey is in a tough spot when it comes to the number of classes that race with BITD. Each class has a some specific needs and wants. The UTV's for the most part have been content to race wherever Casey deems appropriate. in some races this works perfectly but in other races this is not neccesarily the case ( Silver State, and V2R in particular).

I will not argue the fact that it is not a safe situation when 100+ classes catch UTV,bike or Quad entries. The fastest in these classes usually don't have to contend with this issue however I believe we need to look at the classes as a whole. There are stragglers in every race. These are the vehicles that pose the biggest safety hazard.

I am sure that someone has made Casey aware of this problem.

I would like to go on record as a team racing 3 UTV entries this year, that we are okay starting behind the Bikes/Quads or starting behind the Cars/Trucks. Either way, I don't really care. if we start behind the Cars however I would ask that our overall class times be considered and that we get moved up accordingly. I don't have an answer for the bike & quad guys. I know that Casey will probably not start them behind everyone else because of the condition of the course.

There is never just one answer to make everyone happy and I do not speak for the entire UTV class but I will say that all in all, these guys are good, responsible , fun racers. Who definately deserve to be in the same arena as all the other classes.

Too bad everyone can't have their own million acres of open desert then they could pick who they wanted to play with.LOL

[fishd00d]

Well Matt, I bet you are glad you started this positive energy thread. LOL

While some may not approve, It looks like the UTV class is here to stay in BITD. No matter what enyone debates here the fact is that the UTV class has become a much more viable class in the last several years. Much of this is attributed to the attention that the manufactures are giving the sport. Three major MFG's support UTV desert teams as well as many product manufacturers. Desert Racing is a glory sport for everyone, no doubt! It is also a very dangerous sport. Which we accept.

Casey is in a tough spot when it comes to the number of classes that race with BITD. Each class has a some specific needs and wants. The UTV's for the most part have been content to race wherever Casey deems appropriate. in some races this works perfectly but in other races this is not neccesarily the case ( Silver State, and V2R in particular).

I will not argue the fact that it is not a safe situation when 100+ classes catch UTV,bike or Quad entries. The fastest in these classes usually don't have to contend with this issue however I believe we need to look at the classes as a whole. There are stragglers in every race. These are the vehicles that pose the biggest safety hazard.

I am sure that someone has made Casey aware of this problem.

I would like to go on record as a team racing 3 UTV entries this year, that we are okay starting behind the Bikes/Quads or starting behind the Cars/Trucks. Either way, I don't really care. if we start behind the Cars however I would ask that our overall class times be considered and that we get moved up accordingly. I don't have an answer for the bike & quad guys. I know that Casey will probably not start them behind everyone else because of the condition of the course.

There is never just one answer to make everyone happy and I do not speak for the entire UTV class but I will say that all in all, these guys are good, responsible , fun racers. Who definately deserve to be in the same arena as all the other classes.

Too bad everyone can't have their own million acres of open desert then they could pick who they wanted to play with.LOL

Very cool to hear from one of the guys who IS going 84MPH in a UTV that they will be content starting where their class times are averaged in. I really believe that is the best solution and glad to hear you guys agree with that!!