2007 Yamaha HRT Rhino - Hard Charger

Everyone knows that Rhinos are one of the fiercest and revered animals on the planet, which doesn't surprise us when we find out that they are the same way on a racecourse. With their steady growth in popularity amongst people of all ages, virtually every off-road-racing sanctioning body has formed specific racing classes for these mighty vehicles. This month, we get up close and personal with the '07 HRT Motorsports-built race Rhino.

The race-ready garb on the outside is not the only modification to this race Rhino. In the cab, there is a full array of Black Rhino Performance/Auto Meter gauges, including a voltmeter and water-temperature gauge, a Black Rhino Performance race dash kit, dual 120dB PIAA horns, and a race-tuned Maier body kit.	A Black Rhino Performance 1/4-inch-thick 5052 aluminum bash plate fits between the bumper rails to help this Rhino push its way to the finish line. Additional protection is provided from a 1-1/2-inch steel-tube front bumper.	Inside the cab, race communications are handled via a two-way race radio that has been wired to fit inside a custom Dirt Bagz case. A push-to-talk (PTT) button has been attached to the rollcage for ease of use by the driver.
Rolling stock consists of 12x7 ITP T7 polished and powdercoated beadlock wheels wrapped with 205/80R12 ITP Holeshot ATR tires.	As in any form of racing, driver and codriver safety is of the utmost concern for the sanctioning body, which is one reason for the full 4130 chrome-moly rollcage and custom Simpson window nets. Additional safety items installed include custom MasterCraft race seats and Simpson five-point harnesses.	One of the greatest features of any race Rhino is the ease at which it can be transformed from stock to race-ready. Aside from the mandatory safety items required for competitive use, the only modification to the suspension system is a set of custom-valved F-18 iShock coilover shocks.
Have you ever wanted to race a vehicle? Maybe this is your way into racing. There are a lot less expenses to a vehicle this small, and the Rhino, though appearing highly modified, still has a very real and approachable price tag on it for the everyman.	The rear of the Rhino has been stripped of any unnecessary factory items and replaced with race-applicable items only. Routed through the cage and perched below the custom fuel cell is the custom Black Rhino Performance dual exhaust system. A 1-1/2-inch 4130 chrome-moly Black Rhino Performance rear bumper was fabricated and welded in place to protect the rear from other hard-charging Rhinos.