Author: Cody Quattlebaum #33
2-13-21 MidEast Hare Scramble Race Report
We prepped for weeks leading up to the race, including a test day at Durhamtown 2 weeks before this race. We officially finished race prep and got the Rzr loaded on the night before the race, Friday at 7pm. We woke at ~5:30am Saturday to head out to the race. We immediately knew it was going to be a cold and muddy race when the forecast had rain all day the day before and during the race. We pulled into Deer Haven park in Union, SC for the race at ~11:30am with plenty of time to do a once over on the RZR and sign up for the 3pm race. We realized the mud and conditions were much worse than expected when we saw the ATV racers coming around the finish line throughout the day covered in mud and looking worn down.
While were waiting for the race to begin we made friends with PowerSports Carolina in the tent next door that had 2 racers entering in my class. Our two teams hung out for a few hours as we waited for the race to begin and worked together to figure out how to properly apply the number stickers and transponders for the race. They were just as confused with the event details as we were. I believe we would all agree that the event was great but none of us knew exactly when/what was going on as there was no real details or schedule handed out, the important thing is we figured it out together and we all got to the line up for race start.
We lined up at ~4:00pm as we waited for the UTV youth class to complete their race. At ~4:45pm the event announcer recited prayers for us all and we listened proudly to the national anthem with the American flag hanging high over the start line. Just as the national anthem completed the announcer counted down from 10secs and it was time for the 1st line, Pro class, to take off as they covered our line, 901-Open class, with a waterfall of mud. I quickly cleaned my goggles as the announcer counted down to 10secs again and the official waved the green flag for us to take off. I got off to a good start, not getting bumped and taking the inside line. As we hit the open field about 30secs later I could no longer see out of my goggles and was driving blind. I tore my goggles off my head and braced for the mud flying at me, blinding me again. I was able to blink my eyes and maintain speed, keeping a group behind me. As we got into the tight woods section I had 3 racers on my tail and traction was minimal. I passed the first victim of the course, a Rzr that had rolled over, and had to find a alternate route. At that point 1 racer passed and I still had 2 behind me. We raced further into the tight woods section and came to a hair pin turn, as I turned the wheel my Rzr kept moving straight eventually putting my driver side tire into a tree. It was at this point I saw the 2 racers behind me and suspected I was bumped into the tree. I was able to reverse and continue on with only 1 of the racers getting by. We came up to a rocky hill climb and I was poised to pass another racer but they were able to block me and keep me behind them. We exited the woods for a short time and I was blinded again, allowing another racer to pass. I kept fighting and got back into the tight woods section with some decent trails. I took a left line but the Rzr decided it wanted to go right putting me into more trees on the passenger side. At this point a spectator yelled “your driver tire is broken, its broken, you cant turn.” I was confused because I had slid onto my passenger side and hadn’t hit anything on the driver side since the beginning of the race when I was bumped.
At this point I jumped out and realized my driver side tie rod had snapped in 2, which I suspect was weakened by the 1st blow of the race when I hit the tree. I attempted a trail fix, with my wife going to grab tools and hose clamps but ultimately had to be towed out by hooking my winch cable a bobcat as he lifted my front end 4ft off the ground and received a DNF for the race. One of our new friends from Powersports Carolina finished and another was taken by the course early on as he destroyed his passenger side upper a arm. I believe about ~13/~20 UTV racers were able to finish the race under their own power. We winched the Rzr onto the trailer, cleaned up, dried off, and headed home with renewed focus.
I would like to think my wife for all her support before, during, and after the race. I would like to think all my friends and family that helped me make the race; Kevin Miller lending me an a arm and ball joint for the race and Kevin Deshong for helping me get my old axles out day before the race. I would like to thank my title sponsor and race team manager at Bandit OffRoad for all their support and belief in me and my dreams. I would like to thank all of my great sponsors for joining us on this journey; PRP, OGIO, Rough Country, Savage UTV, KWT Filters, Factor55, Trinity Racing, BFGoodrich, Krawl Offroad, Xtreme Rzr Performance, XPrite, and VP Racing. Ultimately we learned a lot, made new friends, and had a good time at our 1st event. We will rebuild and prepare for the next race on March 20th at Strange’s Ranch in Laurens, SC and hope you will all continue to follow our racing journey.
-Cody Quattlebaum Bandit Offroad Racing #33
banditoffroadracing.com 