 | | Factory drivers like Greg Foutz will be doing "R&D" for the manufacturers out on the course. Can a basically stock truck withstand over 2000km of pure hell? We're gonna' find out! |
Miles to go before they sleep It's not hard to appreciate the punishmentthat off-road racing can dish out to both vehicles, and their drivers. The wash-outs, ruts, and rocks the size of basketballs combine to inflict the kind of torture on men (and women!), and machines that would do Torquemada proud. Desert racing takes a special breed. You not only have to voluntarily subject yourself to this abuse, ya' gotta' like it - A lot. But after a few hundred miles, even the best of the best question just what it is that they're doing out there, in the name of "fun and adventure". Now, imagine "enjoying" this sunrise-to-sunset brutality, 6 days in a row. You're either insane, or signed up to race the longest off-road race to ever disturb American soil - The BITD "Nevada 2000". With the festivities covering July 8th, to the 15th, Casey Folks and the BITD crew are making off-road racing history, and taking both fans, and racers alike, on the ultimate off-road ride. Laid out in "Stages", much like the renowned Paris to Dakar rally, the Nevada will cover over 2000km around the Silver State of Nevada. From the rocks and washes of Las Vegas and Mesquite, to the sand and silt beds of Ely, to the mountains surrounding Reno, Elko, and the dry lakes of Tonopah, fans and racers are in for the full Nevada program, and then some!  | | Starting and finishing in Las Vegas NV, the Nevada 2000 carries on the long tradition of desert rats, and "Sin City". Home of the "Mint 400", and other legendary races, Vegas has long been a hotbed for off-road racing. |
Environmental Concerns While the desert of Nevada can be a very harsh and unforgiving place, it's also one of great beauty. Keeping it that way was first and foremost in the minds of both the promotor, and the regional offices of the Bureau of Land Management. Despite some minor obstacles along the way, Casey, and the BLM have laid out a course that will provide both the ultimate challenge for the racers, and the maximum amount of protection for sensitive areas of the environment. While we're no strangers to slamming the BLM hard when they deserve it, we're not above tipping our hats to them when they work together with off-roaders to make an event like this happen. We're sure that both Casey and the BLM met no small amount of resistance and red tape from the so called "environmental groups", and the mere fact that this race is one heck of a big feather in the BLM's cap. Over the years, Casey and BITD have made it a priority to ensure our race courses remain clean, and that's a big reason for the cooperation the BLM has shown. When you're out there, make it a priority to leave the areas you use as clean as you found them. That's one of the best ways to thumb our noses at the greens, and keep Nevada free and open to off-road racing for years to come. We got ya' Covered!  | | Trucks, buggies, quads, and bikes are making their way to Nevada from all over the world. Their goal? To test ther mettle, and "metal" against the harshest terrain in the continental United States. How many will endure? Time, and a smart throttle will tell the tale. |
For those of you not able, or fortunate enough to take part in Casey's off-road extravaganza, fear not. The guys from Off-Road.com will be on hand with start-to-finish coverage, stats, and standings updated daily. And, of course, our blowout "Nevada 2000" wrap up that'll be filled with hundreds of
photos, .mpg video, and a full account of why Nevada is still very much a part of the wild, wild west. In the mean time, keep an eye on these pages for news, updates, and more, as the premiere event in the BITD calendar draws near! The Nevada 2000. Like Casey says, it truly is
"The Off-Road Adventure of a Lifetime"!
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