Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers, brothers, Hunter and Cody Miller, notched three overall wins and five total podiums at the 2013 Oklahoma Gold Rush event near Tulsa, Okla.

The Louis Powersports / Can-Am racers each recorded a win with their Maverick 1000R X rs side-by-side vehicles. Hunter won the UTV XC race, while Cody Miller took the overall in the UTV Super Moto event.

“Hunter and Cody Miller had an outstanding weekend in Oklahoma, winning three total classes and showcasing the versatility and capabilities of the Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side vehicle,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am.

The 18th Annual Oklahoma Gold Rush was held Nov. 1-3 at The Hallett Motor Speedway in Jennings, Okla. The event hosted both ATV and UTV cross-country and Super Moto events.

The ATV and UTV XC events were designed similar to Grand Prix-style events, complete with wooded sections, technical terrain and a shorter asphalt sector. The Super Moto races were roughly eight laps in length and featured an asphalt course with a small dirt segment with a couple smaller jumps.

In the UTV XC event, Hunter Miller and co-pilot Johnny Hale started in fourth place, but gained one spot once they hit the asphalt section on lap one. Hunter was roughly a minute down at this point in the race.

From there, he pushed his Can-Am Maverick, reeling in the leader after each lap. Finally, on the final turn of the race, Hunter took an aggressive line and made a pass for the victory. Chase Snapp, piloting a Can-Am Commander, finished second behind Miller.

“My Maverick was dialed in and worked great for the entire race,” said Hunter Miller. “It really shined in the woods and rough spots and was a big advantage on the track’s pavement sections. I just kept driving hard each lap until I caught the leader with roughly 200 yards or so remaining. I then drove aggressively through the last turn, made a big pass, and came away with the UTV XC victory.”

Riding their DS 450 ATVs, Hunter and Cody went 1-2 in the ATV XC race at Gold Rush. However, Cody Miller also earned an overall victory, winning the UTV Super Moto with his Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs. He also earned third in the ATV Super Moto event.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the ’13 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. (HSC) is among America’s safest companies, according to EHS Today, a publication that promotes environmental, health and safety in the workplace. HSC was among 16 companies that received the award for 2013, which was presented today during a safety conference in Atlanta, Ga.

According to EHS Today, the safest companies demonstrate employee involvement and support from management, while also providing innovative solutions to safety challenges and reporting injury and illness rates that are significantly lower than the average for their industries.

They also place prevention of safety incidents as the cornerstone for safety through training programs and by integrating safety into their corporate culture.

“Our associates work hard every day to manufacture quality products safely, and without their efforts this accomplishment would not have been possible,” said Honda of South Carolina President Brian Newman. “I am honored that we have been named one of America’s safest companies. We will continue to work together as one team to ensure our facility remains one of the safest in America.”

The 16 companies receiving the award represent diverse industries, including public infrastructure construction, textiles, facility maintenance, oil and gas, mining and manufacturing. Employment also ranged widely, from approximately 100 to nearly 70,000.

“Companies named to EHS Today’s list understand the symbiotic relationship between safety and productivity, profits, morale and employee retention,” said Sandy Smith, editor in chief of EHS Today. “The marketplace is demanding that companies be sustainable, and they should be considered sustainable only if they protect their most important asset — employees.”

Companies receiving the award will be profiled in the November issue of the magazine.

HSC began production of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in July 1998 with a workforce of approximately 200 associates. The initial $30 million, 200,000 square foot ATV manufacturing plant was the beginning of Honda of South Carolina’s significant growth in Florence County. In fall 2000, operations expanded to add engine production to the plant.

Today, HSC employs 900 plus associates in its 655,000 square foot facility that now represents an investment exceeding $308 million. With the flexibility to produce many different types of powersports products, associates at the Timmonsville plant currently manufacture Honda ATVs and Side-by-Sides (SxS) for North American and Global markets.

William Yokley and his Coastal / Polaris / CST / Yoshimura /Yokley Racing Holz-built RZR 900 took the GNCC “XC1 Modified” UTV Championship for fifth consecutive year with Yokley’s teammate, Scott Kiger finishing the season in fourth.

RZRs proved to be a dominant force in the class taking the top five spots for the season, including Yokley’s nephew, John Yokley, taking second in his Big Country Powersports/Yokley Racing RZR 900.

Yokley finished out the season at the Ironman with a fifth in the “XC1 Modified” class and fifth overall, after breaking a rear axle, but had enough series points to seal the championship. Kiger also had mechanical issues and had to be conservative with speed and finished in fourteenth.

“We would like to congratulate Yokley on his fifth championship,” said Donna Beadle, race team manager for Polaris. “The Yokley/Coastal Racing team has incredible dedication to the sport of side-by-side racing and the championship was, once again, well deserved.”

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 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 small 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 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 and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts. 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 www.polaris.com.

Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers notched six class wins, swept the morning 4×4 podium and wrapped up several championships at the 2013 AMSOIL Ironman Grand National Cross Country series finale in Indiana.

The JB Racing / Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs team, comprised of Tim and Julie Farr, won the XC1 Modified UTV class at the finale for its first overall of 2013.

Can-Am Commander pilot Logan Gastel won his class at the DWT Pure 400 race to earn the 2013 AVE Racing Pure series SxS Pro Production 1000 class championship.

“Can-Am racers had a fabulous finish at the GNCC series finale, winning six classes, including the XC1 UTV Pro class by JB Racing’s Tim Farr. Winning the overall at Ironman was a great way to cap our first GNCC season with the Maverick 1000R,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “I applaud Can-Am 4×4 pilots Bryan Buckhannon, Michael Swift, Kevin Trantham and Forrest Whorton on their GNCC 4×4 championships and also Logan Gastel and Aaron Juarez for their 1-2 finish in the Pure racing series.”

Ironman GNCC

JB Racing / Can-Am Maverick 1000R pilot Tim Farr won the XC1 Modified class and UTV overall at the AMSOIL Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind.

It was the first victory of the season for Farr and his wife / co-pilot Julie, but the second overall win for the JB Racing / Can-Am team. Farr, starting from row three, held the lead after the first lap and rode a steady race to record his first win with the Maverick 1000R in 2013.

He won by more than 40 seconds over second place and finished the year in sixth place overall in the XC1 UTV class. The NC Powersports / Performance East / Can-Am teams of Stuart Weeks and Devon Steedley also recorded top 10 XC1 class finishes in Indiana.

“The JB Off-road Can-Am team rallied, and put us in the best Maverick we’ve raced all season. It was fast, handled great and ran flawlessly, allowing us to come from a third-row start and lead every lap to take the win. It was a perfect finish to the season and a huge confidence and momentum builder going into 2014,” said Farr.

Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc U2 class racers Michael Swift and Rob Smith came into the Ironman GNCC finale separated by just three points. The two resumed their battle in Indiana. After riding in second place after the first lap, Swift (Team UXC Racing) took over the lead on lap two and never looked back.

Swift went on to post his eighth U2 class victory of the year and win by three points over Smith (BNR), who took second. Kevin Trantham, who tallied 12 wins in a row in his 4×4 Lites championship run, also made the 4×4 podium.

“My Can-Am Renegade 800 X xc performed its very best today at final round of GNCC. We claimed our sixth national championship. I would like to thank BRP and all my 2013 sponsors for a great season of racing,” said Swift.

Outlander 800R and 4×4 Open class champion Bryan Buckhannon (ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am) completed his perfect season, winning all 13 races this year. During his podium presentation, Buckhannon announced he would no longer compete full time on an ATV.

“Winning every round this season really shows the reliability of the Can-Am, and I couldn’t thank my mechanic, Charlie Johnson, enough,” said Buckhannon. “I’m super excited about committing myself 100 percent to racing the Maverick next year.”

Senior 4×4 (40+) Can-Am racer Forrest Whorton piloted his Outlander 4×4 to second place at Ironman to earn the class championship. Can-Am pilot Terry Whiteside won the class. Cory Bartlett, who was racing a Can-Am for the first time, won the 4×4 Novice class.

PURE 400

Murray Racing / Can-Am Commander 1000 X pilot Logan Gastel won the SxS Pro Production class and took second in the SxS overall at the DWT Pure 400 held in California City, Calif., to earn the 2013 championship. Gastel was joined on the podium by Murray Racing / Can-Am racer Aaron Juarez, who took second.

The Pure 400 consisted of two separate 200-mile races and offered three SxS classes. Gastel finished third in his class during the first 200-miles session and trailed Juarez and another racer going into the second session. However, Gastel won the second session and edged Juarez by three points, 193-190, for the class victory. His win, and four other podium finishes, propelled Gastel to the Pro Production class title.

“We have managed to come out on top in points with our 2012 Can-Am Commander. It has been a long, tough-fought series for my team,” said Gastel. “For the 2014 Pure series, I would like to return to defend our title in our new Can-Am Maverick.”

For more information on Can-Am racing, the ’13 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, visit www.can-amxteam.com.