And as every racer knows, failing to plan is planning to fail — especially when it comes to Baja. By far the most prestigious and well-known style of off-road racing, these events brings racers together three times a year to take on the roughest, toughest desert race around.

For this year’s 25th anniversary MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, which was held March 11 to 13 in San Felipe, DFR was contracted to set up the pits and pre-run for Hawk Performance and Carlisle Motorsports. We built three of the sweetest Kawasaki Teryx’s ever to take on this challenge. And with more than 300 grueling miles of pre-running and only one flat tire, we think we accomplished what we set out to do.

The whole team at Hawk and Carlisle reported back with nothing more than big dusty smiles. DFR is dedicated to our racing, and we expect nothing less than perfection when we’re setting up for someone else. The downside to this race was that we didn’t get a chance to use all of the cool tools we arranged and organized for the trip. Next time for sure. Meanwhile, we can’t wait for the 500!

Here’s a list of our pre-runner features:

• DFR Roll cage with tire rack
• DFR High Back Racing Seats
• DFR 4 Point Harness
• DFR +6 Long Travel Suspension
• DFR by Yoshimura Dual Kawasaki Exhaust
• DFR Canister Intake
• DFR LED Light Bar
• DFR Quick Release Steering Wheel
• Custom Tool Boxes
• Custom Fuel Jug Carrier
• Lowrance GPS
• PCI Race Radio
• Parker Pumper

The way we figure it, when Kyle wins, everybody wins. DFR-sponsored driver Kyle Melville took first place in the SuperStock UTV class at the 2011 Cal City 100 last month on DragonFire Racing suspension and we were so stoked, we decided to celebrate the win by offering that same suspension kit to all of you — our customers — for a huge discount.

Just how huge a discount, you ask? How about a $559.99 savings on our Black Magic Polaris Ranger RZR Suspension Plus-6 Long Travel? This is a state-of-the-art suspension system that features lightweight chromoly-plated boxed A-arms, 300M axles and Fox coilover shocks. The suspension travel is more than 13 inches per kit and this is a replacement kit. It uses remote rear and front shock towers to bring you the proper shock ratios and structural support that you’ll need for the increased travel.

So, thanks again Kyle — for providing us with some pretty exciting rain-soaked racing in mid-February. The Cal City competition, which was produced by Alta Vista Events and is part of the Super Course Series, was a 100-mile race made up of four 25-mile laps. The win firmly established Kyle as a top contender in 2011.

And if you’re interested in joining Kyle in the winner’s circle and pick up the RZR Long Travel Suspension Kit for nearly $560 off the regular price, you should know that the deal is only available by phone. Call us at 1-866-926-6169 and tell whoever answers the phone that you’re interested in the “Kyle Melville Special.”

And there, smack dab in the middle of this four-day fray, were two DragonFire Racing-sponsored teams battling dozens of others for top spots in the final round of the Ensenada to La Paz desert series. We were joined by our racing partners from Industrial Tire Products (ITP), Carlisle Tire and Black Rock Wheels.

Team members Todd Romano (president and founder of DragonFire Racing) and Jack McCormick of Tempe, Ariz. — along with Dave Roberts, Bob Viau and John McCarthy — drove our Class 1 DragonFire-built Black Rock Chevy. The pair completed the entire race in their 700hp unlimited class racer, finishing ninth overall in the class with a time of 28 hours, 22 minutes and 42 seconds. Quite an accomplishment when you consider the rough conditions that resulted in many teams reporting in with a “DNF” (Did Not Finish).

Things did not go so well for our DragonFire Nessy UTV, which was south of the border with the intention of setting a new time and speed record in its class. That race team consisted of members Chris Koch, Steve Rone, Nick Summers and Nick Short.

The Kawasaki, Teryx-powered racing UTV was entered in the 1800 Class with two other vehicles attempting to set records. But Nessy got off to a bad start. Leading the race at the 180-mile mark, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) belt broke. That, coupled with a broken tooth on the starter gear (which actually broke the morning before the race), pretty much ended the day for the 1800 Class UTV. Nessy cars are so “torqued out” that sometimes a broken tooth is a part of the risk you take with so much horsepower.

The team scrambled to make repairs and barely made it to the starting line. They completed an impressive 100 miles through some of the toughest terrain around, but their efforts proved fruitless when the starter completely broke down and they were unable to continue. A heartfelt attempt with a heartbreaking result.

Once the adrenalin settled down, both teams congratulated each other for their efforts in this year’s Baja 1000. And we join in applauding Black Rock Wheels, ITP, Carlisle Tire and the staff and support team at DragonFire Racing for their efforts, as well.

For complete 2010 Baja 1000 results, visit http://www.score-international.com/488/news/Race_Results_From_Baja_1000.aspx.

And, don’t forget to mark your calendar now for next year’s two big Baja races:

43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 500
Ensenada, Baja, Mexico
June 3-5, 2011

44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
Ensenada, Baja, Mexico
November 17-20, 2011

DragonFire returns to Baja with our good friends from Industrial Tire Products (ITP), Carlisle Tire and Black Rock Wheels for the final round of the Ensenada to La Paz desert series that pits 300 vehicles from 37 states and 19 countries on a rugged 1,061-mile trek down the Baja peninsula.

And race coverage is available around the clock via the following links:

• Race Dezert: http://www.race-dezert.com/home/baja1000-live-coverage-12322.html
• TDCOM eViewer: http://vulcain.iritrack.net/irc/eviewer/baja1000/

We here at DragonFire are attempting to defend our UTV-winning streak, which would make this a fourth consecutive Baja title in a DragonFire Nessy UTV. Nessy, a Kawasaki Teryx-powered DFR racing car, will attempt to set a new speed and time record in the UTV class. And by checking into Race Dezert, you’ll be able to track the entire race as teams battle it out on the desert floor.

Just click on either of the links above and you can follow our UTV team (No. 1802 with team members Chris Koch, Steve Rone, Nick Summers and Nick Short). You can also watch Class 1 team members — Todd Romano, president and founder of DragonFire Racing, and Dave Roberts, president and CEO of Carlisle Tire — debut in their No. 114 DragonFire Chevy. The pair will co-drive their 700hp unlimited class car with the goal of winning their first overall SCORE International race.

For the first time ever, Race Dezert will feature an unofficial leaderboard displaying corrected times for race leaders. In addition, Race-Dezert team members will be stationed up and down the race course, with checkpoints every 100 miles, equipped with handhelds and reporting what’s happening at all stages of the race.

So if you’re at home or in the office — or even if you’ve joined the madness in Baja — you can find live updates, live video clips and news reports via RaceDezert. And, of course, look here for final race results next week.

The Nessy — the Kawasaki Teryx-powered DragonFire Racing car — has been prepped to continue its domination of the SCORE International Series and will attempt to set a new speed and time record for the UTV class by surpassing the speeds of all classes except Trophy Truck and Class 1 vehicles. The fact that the team has come so far is the result of the continued collaboration of Kawasaki, ITP, Monster Energy and of course, everyone who works here at DragonFire Racing.

In addition, the Black Rock Wheels Class 1 car will make its off-road debut at this year’s Baja 1000. DragonFire president and founder Todd Romano, as well as Carlisle president and CEO Dave Roberts, will co-drive the 700-horsepower unlimited class car, intent on winning their first overall SCORE International race together.

Let us know by leaving a comment here on the blog if you or someone you know is headed to this year’s Baja 1000. (Note: The 43rd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Peninsula Run – Ensenada to La Paz – takes place November 17-20, 2010, along a 1,061-mile course that starts in Ensenada De Todos Santos, in the Mexican state of Baja California, and ends in Baja California’s capital city of La Paz).

Driving his Dragonfire National Guard Polaris RZR UTV, Yokley crossed the finish line in second place during the May 22-23 GNCC premier off-road racing series, and now tops the chart with 50 points for the 2010 series. Yokley said his DFR motor and suspension kept him out front and ahead of the crowd all day long, adding he was able to get the hole shot and run a clean race.

Not to say there weren’t setbacks. At one point during the race he struck a tree and had to slow down his pace after breaking his Polaris factory steering rack. Dragonfire will replace the broken equipment with a DFR rack in order to prevent this from happening in the future. But even with a broken steering rack, Yokley was able to finish the race and take the series lead.

Yokley’s Polaris RZR UTV features a number of DFR parts and products, including:

• Black Magic + 4 Long Travel with DFR by Fox Shocks
• DFR racing seat and seatbelts
• DragonFire race cage with doors
• DFR’s 80 mm high-compression piston, cam, gasket and EFI computer

Meanwhile Yokley Racing ATV team rider Jarrod McClure finished 132nd overall and 13th in the XC1 Pro ATV class after suffering from mechanical issues. McClure got a good start, but before he finished the first lap, had issues with his air box, which allowed water and mud into his intake system. His day ended after only two laps.

William Yokley’s next GNCC race is scheduled June 5-6, 2010, in Millfield, Ohio.  Other races include June 26-27 at the Snowshoe Resort in W.Va.; Sept. 11-12 in New Berlin, N.Y.; Sept. 25-26 in Lafayette, Tenn.; Oct. 9-10 in Clairsville, Ohio; and Oct. 23-24 in Crawfordsville, Ind.

Larry Roeseler (Dragonfire Nessie UTV, (Monster Energy Kawasaki Dragonfire Nessie UTV)

• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• November 17-21: Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Reid Nordin (Monster Energy Kawasaki Dragonfire Nessy UTV)

• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Todd Romano (Monster Energy Kawasaki Dragonfire Nessy UTV)

• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• November 17-21: Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Hans Waage (Monster Energy Kawasaki Dragonfire Nessie UTV, Dragonfire Rhino UTV)

• May 22-23: Grinding Stone GP – Round 5, Canyon, Peoria, Ariz.
• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• July 3: Whiplash Desert Series – Prescott Valley Fairgrounds, Prescott, AZ
• August 7: Whiplash Desert Series – Cinders, Flagstaff, Ariz
• September 4: Whiplash Desert Series – Snowflake, Heber, Ariz
• September 26-26: Grinding Stone GP, Round 6, ET, Apache Junction, Ariz.
• October 2: Whiplash Desert Series – ACP, Buckeye, Ariz
• October 16-17: Grinding Stone GP, Round 7, Speedworld, Whittman, Ariz.
• November 6: Whiplash Desert Series – Firebird Lucas Oil Track, Chandler, Ariz
• November 13-14: Grinding Stone GP– Canyon MX, Peoria, Ariz.
• November 17-21: Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• December 4: Whiplash Desert Series – Speedworld GP, Suprise, Ariz.
• December 18-19: Grinding Stone GP– Round 9, Fountain Hills, Ariz.

Chris Konch (Carlile Tire ITP Dragonfire Nessie UTV)

• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• November 17-21: Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Dave Roberts (Carlile Tire ITP Dragonfire Nessie UTV)

• June 4-6: Baja 500, Ensenada, Baja Mexico
• November 17-21: Baja 1000, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

William Yokley (Dragonfire National Guard Polaris RZR UTV)

• May 22-23: GNCC Race at Somerset, Penn.
• June 5-6: GNCC Race at Millfield, Ohio
• June 26-27: GNCC Race at Snowshoe Resort, WV
• September 11-12: GNCC Race at New Berlin, NY
• September 25-26: GNCC Race at Lafayette, Tenn.
• October  -10: St. GNCC Race at Clairsville, Ohio
• October 23-24: GNCC Race at Crawfordsville, IN

Kyle Melville (Dragonfire RZR UTV)

• May 21-23, 2010: WORCS (Round 5), Milford, Calif.
• June 4-6, 2010: WORCS (Round 6), Anza, Calif.
• July 23-25, 2010: WORCS (Round 7), Olympia, Wash.
• September 24-26, 2010: WORCS (Round 8), Devore, Calif.
• October 15-17, 2010: WORCS (Round 9), Mesquite, Nev.

Here’s wishing all our riders the best of luck throughout 2010!

Finishing second was no simple task. With 60 miles to go to the finish line, Jack handed off the Kawasaki KX 450 to Todd, who worked hard to make up a 15-minute gap to the first place team of Warren Walcher, Eric Perry and Pete Prodromides. According to Todd, he was successfully closing in on first when he got trapped in the silt behind David Scott and Cody Mitchell’s PRO Quad. Long story short, Todd went from doing 60 miles per hour down to around 15 and could barley see anything in front of his bike.

At the end of the day, Todd and Jack fought a great battle on a course the traversed high elevation summits and allowed for some incredibly high speeds along the way. Of course, none of this would have been possible were it not for our sponsors, Kawasaki Team Green and Twisted Wrenches, along with everyone on our pit crew.

For Dragonfire, the Silver State 300 is a test race for the 2010 running of the Baja 500 and Baja 1000, and is a great opportunity for our team — which includes Jack McCormick and Todd Romano — to get a feel for the type of conditions they’re likely to encounter later in the year.

If you’re unable to make it out to Alamo, you can still catch all the action live online via the Best in the Desert Racing Association’s website or TrackingInternational.com, where you can follow along starting at Noon Pacific time this Friday, April 23.

Madness in the Mountains

Madness in the Mountains: July 8th-11th