ATV News Polaris RZR RZR rocks crowd at Extreme 4x4 event
Polaris Australia 
The Outback is an awesome, endless, unforgiving place. So vast
that emergency radios are your lifeline and the locals measure
distances by tanks of fuel. The tracks are so punishing that only a
real 4X4 will go the distance. Sounds like the
perfect place for a week long race then hey?
You drive for ages across the 190,000 acre Tumbua Station, near
Cobar in Outback NSW. You finally get used to the dust and the
rocks and the goats, and there it is, a makeshift basecamp for some
of Australia's keenest Extreme 4x4 enthusiasts. New for 2011,
Polaris RZR teams came along, forming a Side by Side class.
Over 6 days, the 4X4 Comp Trucks and the Polaris RZR teams
blasted across Tambua Station's endless rugged plains and along
punishing 4x4-only tracks. There were 3 main types of stages which
were mixed throughout the week.
Extreme Winching: Winching up otherwise
impassable ridges and washouts.
Navigation: No trails, just "bush bashing" to find
hidden markers with GPS systems.
Rally: Day and night stages belting along rough
4X4 only tracks. These were always a challenging combination of
dirt, dust, sand, rocks and washouts.
After three Australian Rally Championships and four Asia Pacific
Rally Championships with Subaru, Cody Crocker has taken on some
pretty scary terrain at incredible speeds.
"RZR Racing is just awesome fun. The sport is a lot more
affordable compared to elite level rallying and Extreme 4X4
motorsport," said Crocker.
"It is natural for some people to see it as a competition
between the RZR teams and the comp trucks. But that's not what it
was about," says Crocker. "The 4WD community and the Off Road
Racing community has been very welcoming, we just want a place to
go and have fun with our RZR!"
Despite there being two different classes, it was natural for
comparison's to be drawn between the two classes as these
completely different vehicles took on the Outback together.
Here were some of Crocker's comments about the various
stages.
Winch Stages:
- You need to invest $30k+ on a 4WD for it to go where a standard
RZR will go.
- The extra ground clearance on the new Polaris RZR XP helped us
climb much further than we could last year during climbs like the
Highway to Hell at Bulla and the winching stages at Tooborac
Victoria last year.
Navigation Stages
- With a top dollar winch and navigation device, I suppose an RZR
Team would have a shot at winning certain 4X4 Events outright. But
Polaris don't want 'cheque book racing' so can't see it being 'Comp
Truck vs RZR' these events. It's just about giving RZR owners
another way to have fun.
- A RZR can easily go where you would not attempt in a standard
4WD.
Rally Stages
- There was a pretty long rally stage on Day 5. We took just over
14 minutes, which was about 30 seconds faster than the fastest 4WD
Truck. It's just physics. RZR has the power to weight advantage,
allowing us to brake later and maintain faster cornering
speeds.
- The entry and exit angles are another advantage for the RZR.
With next to no overhang, a RZR can charge into some of the dips,
where the big trucks had to slow right down to avoid bottoming
out
General Comments
- Tambua Station's owner asked us plenty of times to leave the
RZR at his place until next year. That's always a good sign! We
easily got across terrain where he'd never take his tractors,
trucks or trail bikes. He'd probably pay for a RZR in a year or two
with the extra goats he could muster!
The welcoming spirit and generosity of the Off Road Racing and
Comp Truck community has been awesome at every event RZR owners
enter. We hope that RZR Racing can be a class at lots of events in
the future, RZR should actually help grow both sports. If it grows
like it has in the USA, then we will attract plenty of people.
Cody Crocker and Navigator Iain Hughes took the chocolates, with
Crocker's championship winning rally skills making the difference
on the longer stages. Phil Swindale and Scott Eyb from ARB Tamworth
took second, pushing the RZR teams all the way. Fellow NSW Team
Craig Hartin and David Manwaring placed third with consistent
scoring all week long.
Crocker remains undefeated in a Polaris RZR, having won in NSW,
SA and Victoria over the past two years. "It's all about helping
spread the word. I'm wrapped RZR racing has happened all over
Australia now." There are plenty of options now, but some
modifications to your RZR may be required depending on whether
CAMS, Cross Country Drivers Association (CCDA) or Motorcycling
Australia (MA) is sanctioning the event. Here are some RZR Racing
options:
NSW:
- CAMS governed KharnaCross events around Australia are now an
option for RZR owners to get involved with. Contact Ryan
Flanaganryan@snakeracing.com.au who
can let you know about regular RZR racing (rally-style)
opportunities around Sydney.
- The organizers of Cliffhanger will also welcome RZR owners at
their other events. Contact Rudi Paoletti navrun@navrun.com.au
North QLD:
- RZR owners regularly feature in CAMS sanctioned events
throughout North Queensland. Contact Brian Moohin (07) 4954 1705.
retreat@active8.net.au
NSW/QLD:
NT:
SA:
- SA is the home for the awesome Thumb Pump Desert Race (MA) and
other recreational opportunities: Contact Dave Hann 08 8353 2888
gotimeout@gmail.com
VIC / TAS / SA / WA:
- Contact the CCDA to register your interest in the SXS (Side by
Side) class at upcoming events. email info@ccda4wd.com.au
WA
- Have a blast in the dunes at CCDA endorsed RZR Challenge events
near Esperance. Contact Scott Higson scmscott@bigpond.com
Like the idea of racing a Polaris RZR? See your local Polaris
dealer to discuss your ideas. RZR Enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens
of photos at
http://www.holeshotimages.com.au/images/cl_uploads/polaris/polaris/index.html
Pic 1 caption: Crocker won several rally stages
Pic 2 caption Get up that? The final stage on day 6.
Pic 3 caption: Piece of cake. The basic Polaris winch did it's job
all week.
Pic 4 caption: Polaris' Cody Crocker approaching a winch point
For more information: 1300 654 142, www.polarisindusties.com.au
published 2/08/2011 |