We’re in Utah at Polaris’ introduction of its 2015 off road lineup featuring the 900 RZR and RZR Sport, 570 ACE and Sportsman XP 1000!
Best in the Desert’s Henderson 250 is the last BITD race of the year and would determine who would take the UTV championship this year. On the ATV side, Team UXC Racing would line up to make history with their Scrambler XP 1000 EPS.
Jagged X’s Brandon Schueler in the No. 1919 RZR XP 1000 had the championship on the line with a small point cushion of just 13 points. Given the Henderson 250 is a “double points” race, anything could happen.
When the dust cleared, Schueler would finish second giving him enough points for his second consecutive BITD Championship and the sixth over his career! Schueler would get edged out in the race by Scott Kiger and Mark Holz in the No. 1934 Coastal Racing RZR XP 1000 who would finish the series in a respectable second place.
Jagged X’s Craig Scanlon in the No. 1931 RZR XP 1000 would come into the race in sixth place with a very-close points race separating third through sixth place. Scanlon would take a hard-fought third in the race to catapult him into a third place finish in the series, giving RZR a 1-2-3 finish for the 2014 race season.
On the ATV side, Team UXC Racing would head into the race ahead by one point and would need the win to make history. Michael Swift started the race on the Scrambler XP 1000 EPS and battled with the competition in foggy early morning conditions.
Swift would set a blistering pace and have a six-minute lead when he handed the Scrambler off to Don Higbee. Higbee, who would continue to pull away from the second place ATV, would take the win and help Team UXC Racing make history, once again, by showing the Scrambler’s capability against conventional sport quads in desert racing.
The BITD Expert Class Championship would be the third championship for Team UXC Racing. In November, the team would finish the Baja 1000 to take the SCORE championship, and team member Chris Robinson also would win the TORN Championship aboard the Scrambler XP 1000 EPS.
“Polaris would like to congratulate our Best in the Desert teams for an incredible 2014 race season,” said Donna Beadle, off-road race team manager for Polaris. “Along with RZR continuing to dominate in the UTV Pro class, it was awesome to see first-year Team UXC Racing show both the ability and durability of the Scrambler XP 1000. We are looking forward to 2015!”
Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2013 sales of $3.8 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER and RZR side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles. Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian Motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small electric/hybrid powered vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris Engineered parts, accessories and apparel, Klim branded apparel and ORV accessories under the Kolpin and Cycle Country brands. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PII, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at polaris.com.
You may have noticed on our Black Devil Maverick project that we equipped it with a Lowrance Elit-5 GPS system. It is more than just some cool tech stuffed into the dash.
The Elite-5m HD Gold includes many of the proven features recently launched with the highly successful Elite-7m HD and comes pre-packaged with Navionics Gold cartography and a high-resolution, 5-inch color display.
It also boasts a highly accurate, built-in GPS antenna plus a detailed U.S. map featuring more than 3,000 lakes and rivers and coastal contours to 1,000 feet. THe Navionics Gold chartcard feature U.S./Canada/Alaska and Bahamas coastal, Great Lakes and major Canadian lakes detail.
There’s also a page selector menu with quick access to all features using one-thumb operation and its multi-Window Display lets you quickly choose from pre-set page layouts including a three-panel view-while-still-viewing live charting.
Check out lowrance.com for more info and CLICK HERE to vote for the BLACK DEVIL MAVERICK again today!
We hope you’ve been following our coverage of the What Would You Do To A Maverick contest and have been submitting your dailiy votes for the BLACK DEVIL MAVERICK!
If you’re unclear on the inspiration for this build, take a quick look at this short video that gives a closer look at this battalion.
It’s truly amazing what the men of the 1st special service force accomplished.
Click woobox.com/nodn4g to cast your vote for our Black Devil Maverick and help us pay tribute to the men and women who fought to protect our freedom!
#WWYD2AM
We’re down in West Virginia riding the Hatfield McCoy Trail system aboard Honda’s new from the ground up 2015 Foreman Rubicon featuring independent rear suspension, and dual clutch transmission.
DirtTrax Television Co-Host Luke Lester evaluates Polaris’ fully-loaded Ranger XP 900.
Achieving a milestone more than 65 years in the making, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced production of its 300-millionth motorcycle.
The milestone bike is a Honda Gold Wing produced at the company’s Kumamoto Factory in Japan. Honda will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic Gold Wing in 2015.
Honda began mass production of motorcycles in Japan in 1949 when it built the Honda 98cc Dream Type-D. Today, Honda produces motorcycles, ATVÂ’s and side-by-sides at 32 plants in 22 countries, including two plants in North America.
“This incredible milestone is the result of the millions of customers who have placed their trust in Honda and we would like to thank all of our customers, associates, dealers and community partners in North America for helping make it possible,” said Bob Gurga, Vice President and Manager of Motorcycle Division for American Honda. “Now, we are focused on the future and the ways that we can harness the challenging spirit of Honda associates to create new joy for Honda customers.”
In 1958, Honda introduced the Honda 50, known globally as the Super Cub, which would go on to revolutionize the industry. This iconic bike paved the way for Honda’s expansion into the U.S. in 1959 and Canada in 1969. The Super Cub, which has sold nearly 90 million units globally since its inception, was the focus of a mid-1960s advertising campaign, ‘You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda,Â’ that played a major role in the transformation and growth of the U.S. motorcycle market.
In the 1960s, Honda became the best-selling motorcycle brand in the U.S. and the world, leading to the establishment of Honda of America Mfg. and the company’s first U.S. production facility, the Marysville Motorcycle Plant.
The plant, which opened on September 10, 1979 in Marysville, Ohio, produced both motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) until 2009. Production of ATVs has since shifted to Honda of South Carolina Mfg. (HSC) in Timmonsville, South Carolina.
Since the start of production in 1979, Honda has manufactured more than five million power sports products in North America using global and domestically sourced parts. Today, HSC manufactures FourTrax ATVs and Pioneer side-by-sides and engines, while the Honda plant in El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico, produces motorcycles.
Furthermore, the research and development of Honda ATVs and side-by-side vehicles for both local and global markets is now being led by a team of engineers at Honda R&D Americas – with Powersports R&D operations in Los Angeles, Ohio and South Carolina.
The successful startup of motorcycle production at Honda of America Mfg. in 1979 was soon followed by the auto production at the Marysville Auto Plant in 1982. Motorcycle production continued in Ohio until 2009 and planted the seeds of manufacturing expertise that has led to many Honda facilities across North America.
Today, Honda operates 17 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides, power equipment products and the HondaJet light jet.
Honda now employs more than 39,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with the capacity to produce upwards of 4 million Honda products each year, including two Powersports plants producing motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides each year. In 2013, 94 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants manufacture 11 different models, including four passenger cars and seven light trucks. Honda also operates major research and development centers in the U.S. that fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers.
For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.
Here’s a full background on our custom Maverick X DS Turbo that commemorates the end of the 2nd World War and pays tribute to an elite battalion of Canadian and American soldiers infamously known as the Black Devil Brigade! #WWYD2AM
Vote for The Black Devil Maverick at: woobox.com/nodn4g
2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
When we were approachedby Can-Am to compete in its #WWYD2AM competition we came up with an idea to build an awesome Maverick X DS Turbo that would commemorate this important anniversary by paying tribute to a unique battalion of elite solders infamously known as the Black Devil Brigade.
Just as the 2015 Maverick X DS Turbo is the first of its kind, the 1st Special Service Force Battalion was the first of its kind, comprised of a select group of Canadian and American soldiers, it formed a truly Cam-Am fighting unit.
Our goal for the build was to emulate a World War II Jeep in general feel while maintaining all the performance and comfort offered by the Maverick X DS Turbo AND increasing its cargo hauling capabilities. Like a WWII Jeep, we wanted our Maverick to be an impressive performer on more than one level.
We contacted North America’s most renowned Jeep restoration company, Willy’s Acres who collaborated with TerraTech Off-Road to build our Maverick X DS Turbo, code named “The Black Devil”.
We started by crafting a Willy’s Jeep style bed on the back to increase cargo-hauling capacity and give us a place to mount a spare tire along with Scepter fuel cans.
Many Jeeps during WWII were equipped with heavy machine guns and our Maverick is no different. Two M249 light machine guns are utilized with one pivoting on a roof top mount and operated by a gunner in the rear-bed and the second weapon is pivot mounted on the right side and operated by the passenger.
Snorkels were added to the CVT and air intake for deep-water scenarios and we mounted a set of ITP Black Ops SD Series beadlock wheels wrapped with ITP’s Ultra Cross R Spec Tires.
Additional modifications included full doors, Aluminum roof, rock sliders and A-arm skid plates from CanAm, custom PRP GT S.E Seats, UTV Inc intrusion and bush bar along with their front mount plate for the Warn ProVantage 4500lb winch and GPS dash plate to house our Lowrance Elite 5M GPS system built into the dash.
To ensure best visibility at night we mounted Rigid Industries RDS 40-inch curved Spot LED light bar along with a directional spot light mounted to the front bumper. Modifications were finished off with grab handles a custom roof rack and whip antenna.
We turned to Mario Designs and motosportwraps.com for the graphics that incorporate elements from many aspects of WWII. From recruitment posters to military vehicle badging to the actual Devils Brigade crest, all of the graphics have special meaning and pay tribute to this unique group of soldiers.
Click woobox.com/nodn4g to cast your vote for our Black Devil Maverick and help us pay tribute to the men and women who fought to protect our freedom!
One of the great things with off-road vehicles is that you can travel to remote areas that would otherwise be unaccessible.
Being prepared for your adventure involves a lot more than spare parts and extra fuel.
You need to account for worst case scenarios as well and being equipped to call for an emergency outside of cell service areas can be vital.
That’s where the SPOT Satellite messenger comes into play. The new Gen3 is the next generation of the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger providing a critical life-saving line of communication using satellite technology.
SPOT Gen3 also offers enhanced functionality with more tracking features, improved battery performance and more power options including rechargeable and USB direct line power.
SPOT is part of an award-winning product line that provides an affordable and vital line of communication with friends, family and emergency assistance on any outdoor adventure.
Key Features include:
– Extreme Tracking – The features of Unlimited Tracking, but with the added ability to vary the track rate down to every 2 1ÂŽ2 minutes. Perfect for pilots and ultra-outdoor competitors.
– Motion Activated Tracking – SPOT Gen3 sends tracks at a chosen rate for as long as the device is turned on and moving.
– Longer Battery Life – Approximately twice as long as previous SPOT devices with new power options including 4 AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92), 4 AAA Energizer NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH12), or Line Power with a 5v USB connection.
For more information visit: international.findmespot.com
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