Editor’s Note: Submit your dirt to dirt@off-roadweb.com
Limitless For New Year’s
On December 31, 2011, Levi LaVallee and Robbie Maddison soared over 400 feet—including 300 feet of San Diego seawater—to set new world records for distance jumping on a snowmobile and motorcycle. It was all done thanks to Red Bull and its “Red Bull: New Year. No Limits” party the energy drink company throws every New Year’s Eve. For more “Red Bull: New Year. No Limits” events details and videos, visit www.redbullnewyearnolimits.com.
Lexus Wins SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Having endured a challenging 2011 off-road racing season, Joe Bacal brought his oven-fresh, factory-backed Lexus LX 570 to the 18th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge looking for a bit of redemption. After narrowly missing victory on Saturday “by one corner,” Bacal set a marker recently with an emphatic win in the Stock Full class against a feisty 2011 class champion.
Bacal had just completed the new LX 570, a badly needed replacement for his battle-scarred first-generation racer. It had virtually zero test time before the Laughlin races and Bacal faced a problem early on. But once the big LX cleared its throat, Bacal realized he had a very quick rig.
For more information and updates on Joe Bacal, visit www.controlamidchaos.com.
Red Jacket JK8
The cannon-equipped, massive Jeep JK8 built by VWerks for Will and Stephanie Hayden —owners of Red Jacket Firearms and stars of the hit Discovery show Sons of Guns—features a Mopar body kit and suspension, 40-inch tires, custom paint and a bed-mounted cannon.
Venchurs VWerks debuted the ultimate JK8 built for the Haydens at the 2011 SEMA Show. VWerks knew that the owners of Red Jacket Firearms needed a vehicle that had plenty of room for hardware, could tackle any terrain, and was packing some serious firepower.
This Red Jacket Jeep marks the debut of Venchurs VWerks, a specialty vehicle program that includes turn-key hero builds, accessories, and customized themed vehicles. In 2012, the Red Jacket Jeep will be available to enthusiasts and fans on a limited production basis. VWerks has more exciting vehicle builds planned for the coming months. For more information visit www.Venchurs.com or www.venchursvehicles.com
U.S. Automakers Coming Back Strong
General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Group LLC all ended the year of 2011 much stronger than pessimistic analysts had predicted, with 12.8 million vehicles sold in 2011—the best year for sales since 2008. It’s also worth noting that GM reclaimed the spot as top dog of world vehicle sales from Toyota.
Other notable automaker news: Kia is one of the fastest growing car companies in the world, with a 36-percent increase in sales in 2011 from the previous year.