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Morning Symphony: Desert Runners, Dune Racers And Dirt Huckers


Morning Symphony: Desert Runners, Dune Racers And Dirt Huckers

For someone who enjoyed a lot of motorsport activity during his years in Arizona, I didn’t do much with desert-style off-roading. Only a few years ago did I take part in any, actually, and that was on a press trip in a UTV. Fun, for sure, but a bone-stock Polaris RZR isn’t going to hold a candle to the long-travel suspension, screaming dirt missiles I keep picturing in my head. Growing up, names like Ivan Stewart, Rod Hall and a very young Robbie Gordon were the people I was reading about, and their trucks were the stuff of legends. Rams, Toyotas, Chevrolets, Fords, and rails of all types left one dreaming about screaming across rough desert terrain, not so much driving over it, but rather doing something between floating and low-level flight.

If you didn’t grow up watching TNN and playing Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off Road, and have exactly zero idea what I’m rambling on about, then all you need to do is to hit play below. Yeah, the sounds are amazing…happiness is redline in top gear while aimed at a dune…but watch the suspensions. Seriously, some of the at-speed suspension physics are nothing short of incredible. The rolling stock is moving all over the place and the cabin looks…well, calmer, that’s for sure.


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