With more of the X Games 16 being staged at the LA Coliseum this summer instead of at its traditional home within Staples Center, organizers found themselves with a mega problem with their eight-story Mega Ramp.
In past years, Staples Center has provided elevator access for skateboarders pushing off from to the top of the 80-foot-5-inch-tall Mega Ramp. The Coliseum has no such vertical convenience, which left X Games organizers scrambling for a solution to their high-rise transportation problem.
Enter DragonFire Racing, which was approached by ESPN and CA Ramp Works and asked to build custom shuttle vehicles that could transport athletes up a 26-degree transport ramp. That’s a steep order — literally — for anyone to fill, especially on short notice.
With the games fast approaching, DFR consulted on the design of the 26-degree shuttle ramp, then we got busy designing two custom shuttle vehicles. We named these specialty vehicles “X Games Mega Ramp Shuttles,” and you’ll be able to see them at the event, on ESPN and in the pits all next week. The 16th edition of X Games gets underway Wednesday, July 28, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 1.
The two X Games Mega Ramp Shuttles are designed to carry two athletes at a time back up the steep ramp, and they can do it in a hurry. Because of the fast-paced nature of this event, it’s imperative that athletes are able to return to the top quickly.
We designed these two climbers as custom personnel haulers, each with a custom canopy cage, a custom rear-facing seat with a footrest and wheelie bar, a DFR Long Travel suspension system and a bicycle rack on the front. DFR engineers began work on the two custom vehicles on July 12, and put the finishing touches on the shuttles last Friday.
Just in time for X Games 16, which will again focus on extreme-action sports that will be telecast live to more than 382 million homes in 175 countries. Where’s the director? These two DFR shuttles are ready for their close up.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
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[...] Re: Can Am Spotted Quote: Originally Posted by bagman I got an email from Dragonfire saying they have something to do with those. DragonFire Racing Solves an X Games ‘Vertical Transportation Problem’ | Dragon Fire Racing Blog [...]
[...] Lots of big stars and big winners at X Games 16 this past weekend, with names like Jake Brown, Bob Burnquist, Rob Lorifice, Chad Kagy, Andy Buckworth and Steve McCann all making their way to the medal’s podium for the Big Air competition, thanks in no small part to DragonFire Racing’s Yamaha Rhino Mega Ramp Shuttle Vehicles. [...]