RENO, NV (Feb. 15) – All types of racing is starting and it’s time to preview the off-road series. With few exceptions this is the 4-wheel type.
Big news last November put a cloud over the sport as Lucas Oil announced it was ending their Off Road Series. That series is why Wild West Motorsports Park was built as Lucas Oil put a bunch of money into its construction.
However there are rays of sunshine as other series are moving to fill the void. One of them is the Valley Off Road Racing series as they are moving to fill the gap.
In addition to the regular schedule there is a championship within the series championships. There is a Triple Crown consisting of three Nevada races where motocycles and quads will race.
The season begins next month with a short track race at the Glen Helen track in Southern California. Then the series moved to Wild West Motorsports Park in June followed by a race at Prairie City.
The desert series is four races starting at Hawthorne in April then going to Yerington in May followed by another race near Fallon. Finally it ends the weekend of September 3 to 6 outside of Yerington.
In addition there are a pair of UTV/Tuff Truck events that bookend the season for American Valley Speedway in Quincy. The first is in mid-April with the next at the track in late September.
Currently there has been so much interested registration for the Hawthorne 250 is now open. For further information please check www.vorraracing.com or see their page on Face Book.
Another series is NorCal Rock Racing, which is a regional partner to Ultra 4. Their six race series is split between Prairie City and Nevada.
Last year they visited both Wild West Motorsports Park as well as 95 Motor Sports Complex. Have to see where they go this time as the Fernley track still hasn’t released its 2021 schedule.
For further information please check either their Face Book page or to go www.norcalrockracing.com.
Another established series is Ultra 4. In fact the series started a couple of weeks ago with the annual King of the Hammers, a week long speed fest in the Southern California desert.
The national series goes across the county including a visit to Mexico. While not shown on this schedule they have a national event at Wild West Motorsports Park scheduled for October 15. It’s a wild event that draws huge crowds.
Dave Cole, who heads Hammerking Productions has teamed up with short course director Lee Perfect to fill some of the gaps left with Lucas Oil’s departure.
The result is the Great American Short Course series that will be four races, two in the spring with two in the fall. The venues will be close to major metropolitan centers.
For further information about Ultra 4 please check www.ultra4racing.com. Great American Short Course website is being developed and it will be www.greatamericanshortcourse.com.
Another series ready to start its season is Best In The Desert. They get rolling this coming weekend with the Tensor Tire Parker 250 down close to Parker Arizona.
It begins on Thursday and goes until Sunday the 21st although Saturday will probably the main race day. This event is for motorcycles, quads and UTV’s.
From there it’s racing, with a summer break due to the heat until the weekend of November 4 to 7 when the final race is run. This year’s Maxxis Tires “Casey Folks,” Reno to Vegas event is on the weekend of August 11 to 14.
For further information, including the classes that will run in the event please check the website at www.bitd.com.
Score International is an all Mexico series that has some classic off-road races in Baja California. The series begins with the San Felipe 250 on the weekend of April 14 to 18 then on the weekend of June 9-13 it’s the Baja 500.
Next race isn’t until September 14 to 19 when the Baja 400 is run. And the year ends with the 54th annual Baja 1000 the week of November 15 to 20. Unlike last year it’s the classic point-to-point event starting at Ensenada and ending in La Paz, Baja Califonia.
For further information please check the website at www.score-international.com.
That’s a wrap for the preview articles. As the weeks progress more and more green flags will wave and starting gates drop as 2021 gets roaring along.
Be sure to attend some of these live events. There is nothing like actually experiencing the sound, color and speed of live racing.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• On Tuesday from 2 until 3 p.m. Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air. The show can be heard on 1060 AM or on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm.
The Face Book page carries the show live and on an encore Sundays. Co-host Emily Cook is a young racer working her way up and is always looking for sponsors. Her site is www.emilycookracing.com and one can buy merchandise that will also help her racing efforts.
SPONSOR LIST:
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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue. Please let them know you heard about them through this site.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Another sponsor is fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book covering from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
