Here at KMC, we have an enormous appetite for adrenaline. Pair our thrill-seeking tendencies with an undeniable penchant for competition and there is only one past time that will satisfy us: off-road racing. From amateur dirt track upstarts to internationally acclaimed desert showdowns, we thrive on providing the wheels to the inhumanly talented and boundary defying athletes that get behind the wheel. Here are a few of our favorite races that no matter where you’re watching you can still taste the sand, smell the fuel, and feel the chaos.
SCORE Baja 1000
Baja 1000 has become one of the most prestigious racing events in motorsports – claiming the throne as the longest non-stop, point-to-point race in the world. Located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, the race attracts drivers from around the globe to compete across unrelenting terrain and grueling weather conditions. Originally imagined in the 1960s by Bud Elkin as a way to test Honda dirt bikes, the Baja 1000 is now host to several classes of racers – motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, trucks and buggies and pins its competitors against each other for over 1,000 miles. The Baja 1000 is a true test of endurance, engineering, and mental fortitude – on average demanding 20-25hrs of racing to complete.
Why we like it: For us, the Baja 1000 is the pinnacle of off-road racing. It’s the true testament of man and machine. KMC does product testing with our athletes who race in the Baja 1000.
KMC victories: Bryce Menzies finished 3rd at the 2020 Baja 1000 after an intense 19+ hour battle. Apdaly Lopez scored a big win for RPM Off-Road and became one of the first Mexican natives to win the Baja 1000 in 2017.
Dakar Rally
Formed in 1978, the Dakar Rally is known as one of the most grueling off-road motorsport events in the world. The race is held over 13 days and spans a territory of over 9,000 miles of punishing terrains and conditions. The Dakar’s reputation for fierce competition from both racers and the elements is warranted – approximately 50% of drivers who begin the race do not finish. The race has also claimed over 70 lives since its inception in 1978. The Dakar Rally is made up of a variety of vehicle types – UTVs, ATVs, cars, motorcycles, and trucks all competing through sand dunes, mud, gravel, and rock on their rough road to a podium placement.
Why we like it: The Dakar Rally is hands down the most grueling off-road race, The Rally raid style racing makes Dakar super unique and sets it apart from other renowned races.
KMC victories: Casey Currie takes the win in 2020, being the first American to win on four wheels at the Dakar Rally.
BITD Vegas to Reno
Vegas to Reno is a 500+ mile race spanning the desert passages across the two cities and rightfully earning its reputation as the longest off-road race in America. Hosted by Best in The Desert Racing Association, the Vegas to Reno race includes a variety of competitive platforms, including motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, trucks, and cars. Drivers maneuver through a myriad of earth strewn obstacles such as dry lake beds, graded roads, and silt beds on their way to the finish line in Reno, NV.
Why we like it: V2R is in KMC’s back yard. This event is a chase race which makes it a full team effort! We get to see the true grit of our race applications and street applications on chase trucks.
KMC victories: Bryce Menzies was a 3 time back-to-back-to-back winner from 2018-2020.
