SXSA RHINO SHINES AT BITD RACE
The Side X Side Action Magazine Race Rhino participated in its fourth race this past weekend for the Best in the Desert Terribles’ Town 250 in Primm, Nevada. Beginning at sunrise, the car hit the starting line and ran better than ever before. The improved performance is a welcome change after blowing a motor at the Parker 250 earlier in the season.
Larry Lockman of Performance Rhino in Apple Valley, CA rebuilt the motor and the results are outstanding – and he claims he’s not done with it yet. It will be exciting to see what that means for future races.
In addition to the new motor, the Rhino received a touch up with some bodywork done by ATV Paint and Performance in St. George, Utah. The new plastics are a mix of bright colors and carbon fiber which makes the unit stand out on the course.
On race day, the Side X Side Rhino started in the ninth position, but quickly made up ground by passing three cars even before the 10-mile mark. Early morning sun and a series of broken down cars made the race feel more like an obstacle course. Nonetheless, the SXSA racers sailed through the first pit, beating the crew to the pit by almost 10 minutes, which set off several jokes about coffee before the next early morning race. Near the 45-mile marker, the team lost a tire in a rocky section, but co-driver Daryl changed the tire and got them back out on the course in short order. They raced into pit two, changed the spare tire, and took a splash of fuel to make sure they had enough to make it to the finish line. At mile 72, they broke both rear axles in a silt pit and had to radio the crew to send new axles. Unfortunately, the crew was already waiting at the finish line for them. The 8081 team delivered the axles instead and, after some trouble with a broken jack, both teams returned to the race course. Once the magazine team was on their way, they had a hard time keeping the right axle in place and, since they had removed the front differential, they had only one-wheel-drive. It was at this point that the team decided to call it quits, just 12 miles short of the finish line.
The Side X Side Action Race Team wishes to thank Best in the Desert and the UTVRA for putting on such an awesome race. They are looking forward to the Blue Water Grand Prix in Parker, Arizona over May 16th -18th.
They would also like to thank their sponsors: Side X Side Action Magazine, OMF Performance, Performance Rhino, ATV Paint and Performance, Walker Evans Racing, Pro Armor, Simpson, Maxxis, Tire Balls, Gear One, K & N, PWR, and PCI Race Radios.
Finally, they want to recognize the people who made everything possible, the Pit Crew: Bill, Tim, Matt, Pete, Gary, Brent, Brian, Natina, Melissa, Janice, and Marsha.
