DragonFire Racing Kawasaki BOB
| DragonFire Racing is based out of Mesa, Arizona and recently expanded with franchises in Havasu, AZ and San Diego, CA. With over 10,000 square feet for production in their Mesa facility, they deliver 25-30 turnkey vehicles a year and more than 100 Side X Side cages. They have everything from accessories to motors to complete UTVs in stock. If you need a new vehicle for the weekend, they have one. If you need a motor for the race, they have one of those, too. Their services include fabrication, paint, performance upgrades, and protection. Owner Todd Romano has been in the business since 1998. He purchased his first Side X Side in 2004 – and immediately began modifying it. Over the years, he has learned a lot about how to get the most out of a UTV, whether it is by adding performance upgrades (such as engine work or suspension) or routine service and maintenance. One of the biggest mistakes he sees with Side X Side owners is that they often don’t have proper safety gear. “They don’t always have the right equipment,” says Todd. “They tend to overload them, overdrive them, and jump them stock as if they have long-travel. It’s dangerous and expensive.” When he’s talking to new Side X Side owners, he recommends that they invest in safety and suspension first, then performance.Like a lot of the engineers in the Battle of the Builders, the guys at DragonFire Racing like working with the Kawasaki Teryx because it has such a strong platform, which makes it easy to start modifying. One downfall they find with the Teryx is that the stock coils don’t put out enough spark to burn off the cylinder completely, causing a post-fire detonation or backfire through the intake. The solution, says Todd, is to rework the intake, CDI, and jetting. Once this is done, “don’t hesitate to do the hot coils. It makes all the difference in the world. They smooth out and hiccup in the midrange, and perform flawlessly.”When they were done with their build, they were most satisfied with the overall power and handling. They went with the LT Suspension because it increased the stability and gave 16” of wheel travel. The setup comes with pre-tuned Fox or Elka shocks, boxed and plated Chromolly arms, and 300M axles. The riding experience was further improved with the addition of PRP Seats chosen because they are low-back suspension seats designed for comfort. With the improved performance and speed comes an increased need for safety, which is why they added 4-point harnesses to the seats.Somewhere between function and form are the ITP Terracross tires on 14” rims. They improve performance and handling, and look good doing it. A DragonFire custom cage is powder coated to match a flashy custom paint job because they like their Side X Sides to stand out from the crowd.The crew at DragonFire racing enjoyed the build project, particularly the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do with the Teryx. As Todd put it, “It was great to see the amazed faces of the Yamaha reps after they got a chance to drive it.” |
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