july 2nd 1988

[HDRA1]

well it has been twenty years since we lost one of the founding fathers of the sport we truly enjoy Walt Lott. and i know there are alot of the members on this forum that knew my grandfather and others that have no clue on who he even was but for me, i would love to hear some stories that some of you might have of walt and the HDRA days or earlier so lets hear them good bad or oh my god what the hell...

thanks
lucas

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[pdailey]

well it has been twenty years since we lost one of the founding fathers of the sport we truly enjoy Walt Lott. and i know there are alot of the members on this forum that knew my grandfather and others that have no clue on who he even was but for me, i would love to hear some stories that some of you might have of walt and the HDRA days or earlier so lets hear them good bad or oh my god what the hell...

thanks
lucas

I didn't know your grandfather Lucas, but knew many who did. He was a pioneer to the sport and will always be missed.

[DA Rhino]

Walter B. Lott:



Walt Lott’s contributions to off-road racing are varied and numerous, but probably the single, most important, contribution was his dream and successful effort to extend off-road racing beyond the regional level and gain “greater national recognition and corporate involvement” through sponsorships and, ultimately, television coverage. [Las Vegas Review Journal, July 1998] He was also instrumental in taking off-road racing from the recreational level to a professional sport by developing competition rules and different classes. Some of the classes have evolved over the years, but many have remained virtually unchanged since off-road racing humble beginnings in the late 60’s.

Walt began his off-road career by offering pit support for friends who were racing in Baja, then did some racing himself, including as copilot with his daughter Londa in the 1969 Mint 400 and eventually became an active organizer of off-road racing events. In the spring of 1967 Walt and his family trailered a sand rail to the dunes outside of Beatty, Nevada, with family friend, John Herda. That Saturday was the beginning of his interest and Walt’s enthusiasm spread to other men in his group of acquaintances. As interest in this hobby grew, so did the desire for competition. Twenty-seven “dirt enthusiasts”, including Lott, met at Herda’s Sawdust Saloon on July 15, 1969, [DirtSports Magazine, March 2006], and founded SNORE (Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts), which recently celebrated its 38th anniversary.

Walt served as president of SNORE in 1973 and 1975. He also served as the chief race steward and eventually organizer, for Del Webb’s ‘Mint 400 Desert Race’ (1971-1988), which grew into the richest, largest and most successful off-road race in the country. He was responsible for enforcing the rules, securing all the permits, laying out and marking the course, staffing volunteers and, of course, cleaning the course afterward.

Walt branched out to promote his own events, using different venues and different formats to promote the sport. There were lap races of varying distances, night racing and a 24-hour endurance race, all developed to give the racers new challenges in the sport. After creating the Oasis Racing Association (1972) in partnership with Pete Simon, owner of the Oasis Casino in Jean, Nevada and the Western Racing Association (1974) which would come to be known as Walt’s Racing Association, Lott founded the High Desert Racing Association (HDRA) in 1976. HDRA promoted a series of 5-6 desert races around the southwest and from 1981-1984 promoted the “Coor’s Off-Road Series”, featuring short course events in Southern Nevada, Mesquite (Texas), Colorado Springs, Phoenix, El Centro and Glen Helen (Devore, CA).

In 1985, Walt and Sal Fish worked out a deal to combine the HDRA series (4 events) with the SCORE International series (4 events) to create one major points championship series and one competition rulebook. The HDRA/SCORE Desert Series brought increased entries and sponsorships to both organizations and unified the sport of off-road racing into one major sanctioning body.

Walt’s quest for national recognition of the sport he loved became a reality two years before his death, as regular shows on ESPN. The satellite up linking of results after each event and the national syndication of off-road features, enabled off-road racing to find it’s way into living rooms in every corner of the country.

Walt died on July 2, 1988 at Checkpoint #4 during the Fireworks 250 off-road race in Barstow California doing what he loved to do!







The second inductee in the Competition: Off-Road Racing category, Walt Lott, is one of the founding fathers of off-road racing. A man of great vision, perhaps his single, most important contribution was his dream and successful effort to extend off-road racing beyond the regional level and gain “greater national recognition and corporate involvement” through sponsorships and, ultimately, television coverage. In July of 1969 Walt joined with a group of friends and founded the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE), a non-profit association of off-road racers who have organized races in the southern Nevada area for the past 38 years. Walt served as President of SNORE in 1973 and again an 1975 and also served as the chief race steward and eventually organizer for Del Webb’s Mint 400 Desert Race (1971-1988), which grew into the richest, largest and most successful off-road race in the country. In 1976 he founded the High Desert Racing Association (HDRA) and promoted a half dozen races each year around the southwest. In 1985, Walt joined with Sal Fish to combine the HDRA series (four events) and the SCORE International series (4 events) to create one major points series competing under one set of rules. The HDRA/SCORE Desert Series brought increased entries and sponsorships to both organizations and made it possible for Walt to realize hi dream.




DAR

[racecodriver]

I met Walt a few times. Didn't know him that well but I appreciate what he has done for this sport. Some of the youngins here dont know or don't care but I do. I am teaching my Son to care as well.

I was at the race shooting for Trackside the day Walt passed. I remember hearing it all go down on the radio. Weatherman was calling for radio silence as he still often does when there is a situation.

That was a sad day.
We lost a great man that day.

[deano]

grandpa "walt" was basically the "B.M.O.C." (big man on campus) -- (lukie, you should be real proud of your grandfather) - d-no

[DA Rhino]

grandpa "walt" was basically the "B.M.O.C." (big man on campus) -- (lukie, you should be real proud of your grandfather) - d-no

The Walt Lott Tee Shirt!





DAR

[deano]

The Walt Lott Tee Shirt!





DAR

gggeeeeeeeeeee, that doesn't "look " like lucas at all ?? (nice finds glenn-g-son)

[pdailey]

gggeeeeeeeeeee, that doesn't "look " like lucas at all ?? (nice finds glenn-g-son)

I was thinking the same thing. LOL

[DA Rhino]

Do you think Lucas got his BBQ skills from Walt when he was just a little Luc?



DAR

[Old School 8]

I considered Walt Lott a Pal. During the 1981 HDRA Desert Series, (my first year of racing) I recall Walt personally calling me a home (at my parents house !) to ask me if I was going to come to the next race. That was over 25 years ago, and a lot of races under my belt. But in these last twenty five years I cant think of ANY other race promoter, that actually cared enough to call me on the phone.

The last time I saw Walt, was at the Mint 400 race, right before the race he passed away at. We sat together at a table at registration, and we had a good 15 minute visit. Our sport had a great loss in Walt Lott's passing.