Sometimes a person’s skills, as well as their business allows them to chase their personal dreams.

Mark Levrett is the owner of Mark One Metal Works and while metal fabrication is his business his passion is off road racing. Like many he was exposed to racing at a very young age.

Mark Levrett sits in his office at Mark One Metal Works.

“My love of fabrication started because of my love of racing off-road and motocross,” he said. “I started racing motocross at the age of 5 in the 60’s. My dad raced off-road buggies when it was just starting back in Indian Dunes and the Mint 400 when it was just starting. And that’s when I caught the bug for that.”

He worked his way up and raced motocross professionally in this area and in Northern California.

“My dream was always to get in the off-road world and fabrication just became part of that,” he said. “I kind of gave up motocross in the late 80’s and transitioned into jet ski racing, did that for 10 years until, say ’96 then got into go kart racing out at Stead for a year. Then I got back into bikes racing Vet Expert for several years.”

From there he took a break to build a house. Up to that time he had a transmission shop, which was sold in 2006 and then his friend John Harrah asked if he’s drive a car in the Baja 1000.

“So that actually turned into employment for two and a half years as I ran his fabrication shop at Speed Technologies,” he said. “Then I went to work for a company called Torchmate and they build C&C Plasma Tables and I ran their production department for two and a half to three years. Then I decided to start my own thing because it’s always been a passion of mine and it also leads to the off road racing world.”

The result is Mark One Metal Works, the business he currently owns and operates.

When asked what his business does he answered, “We do everything. We’re more diverse than anybody in this area. My tagline is “from Railings to Race Cars.”

The company will do everything from doing hot rods to building railings for somebody’s house to architectural things like one recent project was a sign for the outside of a hair salon.

“I love it all, that’s the key. I don’t look at one thing and go, ‘oh I hate that,’ I love it all,” he said.

Mark Levrett stands by the UTV he races at VORRA events.

Through all this Levrett races an UTV and his last race was this past summer at the VORRA short course race. He also was the co-driver for Randy Ryckebosch when they raced a Metal One fabricated UTV .

This week he was fine tuning the Ryckebosch UTV as it will be raced at the Parker, Arizona GMZ UTV Winter Nationals this weekend. In addition to the UTV the event also has places for both quads and motorcycles.

The first shakedown race for Rickebosch’s UTV was this past fall in the Fallon 250. At that time Levrett rode as the co-driver so he could be sure of what the car was doing and where any improvements might be needed.

Levrett and assistant Rusty Wise stand by the UTV they fabricated for Randy Ryckebosch to run in off road races.

The off road sport is changing and asked what trends he sees Levrett said, “”There’s a huge trend right now in the UTV world. Years ago, in 1985 I got into jet ski racing and it was going crazy, everybody and their brother wanted a jet ski. For 10 years it was a crazy, crazy sport to be in and I see UTV’s there right now.”

He feels the UTV classis growing, “because you average person that wants to go racing can afford it.” And, unlike other racing vehicles, a person can go down to a dealership and finance the purchase.

Since they aren’t sold as racing vehicles Levrett explained it takes quite a bit of modification needed to get a stock UTV ready for competition. Among the things are race legal cages, bumpers and other items to make these machines really ready for racing.

So far Best in the Desert and SCORE are the only two sanctioning bodies that mandate fuel cells for these machines. While it might be a bit complicated to add one of these the result is improved safety but on the downside, it adds to the cost of modifying a UTV.

There are also UTV that’s are purpose built racing machines, the really don’t look anything like their stock cousins and many compete in the Ultra 4 series.

Here is an example of a UTV Mark One Metal Works is fabricating.

When talking about the one he built for the Ryckebosch’s he said, “There’s not much left on it that’s still stock Polaris chassis wise. There are parts of the stock chassis that have to be utilized per the rules of SCORE and Best In The Desert.

Some are the lower tubes that go under right under the front driveshaft, the stock shock mounts have to be retained even if they aren’t used. He added that some companies are coming out with suspension kits that, while the shock mounts are retained, the shock are in different locations.

Right now he’s sees much growth in this class. “It’s going to be crazy for, I’m guessing the next five to 10 years.”

He also feels the increasing popularity of off road and extreme type sports has to do with Monster Energy and Red Bull because those companies have targeted the younger crowd for their marketing in extreme sports.

Although the costs will probably increase he hopes manufacturers will try to limit the increases so the average person can still get into the sport. Right now a UTV is the most cost effective way to get into off road racing.

Looking back over the past year and reflecting on the business he said, “My goal is to be a leader in the off road industry and in the Reno/Sparks area. To grow my business, to be known as a quality, honest business.”

And with the new-year starting Levrett is looking ahead to what 2017 will bring.

“Things are going really good,” he said. “I grew up as a transmission man, had a transmission shop for 15 years then transitioned into being a fabricator which has been a passion of mine since I was 12-years old. I’m fortunate to be able to do this.”

Mark Levrett’s passion, skills and business have allowed him to chase his dream of being involved with off road racing..

For further information about the services Mark One Metal Works offers please check their website at, www.markonemetalworks.com.

If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.

Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are on the site.

We now have four very appreciated sponsors that are helping support this site.

The newest is familiar to anyone in the riding lifestyle. It’s PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno.

Good food, great place and they have Bike Night every Wednesday. For further information please check their website at, www.pjandco.net.

Concours Body Shop, owned by racer and race supporter Gil Grieve, is a business doing quality repair work on cars and trucks.

The business is located at 240 Telegraph Street in Reno and their website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.

If you are into karting or want the most cost effective way to start racing then check out Nevada Kart Sport, our only full service kart shop in this region.

They are located at 1220 E. Greg Street in Sparks and their website is, www.nevadakartsport.com.

Into riding or racing a motorcycle? If so Reno Motorsports is for you as they have a full service shop as well as about anything a rider could want.

They are located at 964 Terminal way, by Mill Street and their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.

Have a business targeted toward the motorcycle or motorsport demographic? Well we are looking for more sponsors. You can contact us either through the comment section of the site or our Face Book page.