Originally published March 17, 2011.
Jon Crowley opened the 2011 Valley Off Road Racing Association season with a clean sweep at Prairie City OHV Park near Folsom, California. Driving the Crowley Monster Energy Kawasaki Teryx, he won all three motos in the UTV 1000 class during the March 12–13 season opener.
The result gave Crowley and his Kawasaki team an early lead in a season that would include both short-course competition and longer Nevada desert races.
Three Motos, Three Victories
Prairie City’s approximately one-mile short course combined tight corners, fast sections and 10 jumps. Each moto ran for eight laps, giving drivers little time to recover from a poor start or an early mistake.
Crowley started the opening moto from the second row but worked his way into the lead before completing the first lap. Once in front, he maintained the lead for the remaining seven laps.
The second moto required a much later charge. After a poor start, Crowley followed the leader for seven laps before making the winning pass in a hairpin on the final lap.
He avoided that problem in the third moto by taking the holeshot and leading from start to finish. The three victories completed a perfect weekend for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team.
“My Teryx ran like a beast. With the Muzzys-built powerplant, it really pulled hard out of corners and on the long straights.”
Jon Crowley
Muzzys-Built Kawasaki Teryx Race Engine
Crowley’s race vehicle was based on Kawasaki’s original two-seat Teryx, but it was far removed from a stock recreational model. Its Muzzys-built engine had been enlarged to 999cc, placing it near the limit of VORRA’s 800–1000cc UTV class.
The additional power proved especially valuable when Crowley needed to accelerate out of Prairie City’s tight corners or make up time on the straights. Readers interested in the production machine behind the race build can see our 2010 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI overview and specifications.
Desert Suspension on a Short Course
The Teryx entered the event with its FOX shocks tuned primarily for desert racing rather than repeated short-course jumps. That setup caused the vehicle to land more nose-down than Crowley wanted, costing some time through the jump sections.
Crowley compensated by choosing good lines and using the Teryx’s power on corner exits and straightaways.
“We had the FOX shocks tuned more for desert racing. As a result, the Teryx tended to jump with the nose down a bit more than I wanted, which slowed me down a little. I made up the time on the straightaways, taking advantage of that 999cc powerplant.”
Jon Crowley
Following the opener, Crowley planned to work with FOX to refine the suspension before VORRA returned to Prairie City for the next short-course round in April.
2011 VORRA Prairie City UTV Results
Event: VORRA season opener
Location: Prairie City OHV Park, Folsom, California
Date: March 12–13, 2011
Class: UTV 1000
- Jon Crowley — Crowley Monster Energy Kawasaki
- Ricky Leard — Polaris
- Dave Lommori — Polaris
A Strong Start to the 2011 Championship
The Prairie City sweep gave Crowley a strong foundation for the rest of the VORRA season. His campaign later included a victory at the 2011 Fallon 250, an extended winning streak following the Hawthorne 225 desert race and a return to Prairie City with the VORRA championship still in reach.
These early UTV races also demonstrate how competitors adapted the compact first-generation Teryx for both short-course and desert competition. For the broader production-model story, see our history and evolution of the Kawasaki Teryx.
Photos From the 2011 VORRA Season Opener
The following photos capture the UTV racing action at Prairie City during the March 2011 VORRA season opener.
Some photos courtesy of Kathy Durrett and Dianne Bennett.
Crowley Off-Road Racing Sponsors
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green, Muzzys Performance Products, Pit Bull Tires, Simpson, Beard Seats, Funco, FOX Racing Shox, OMF, Tire Balls, Rigid Industries, Billet King, Factory UTV, UMP, MSD, Axia Alloys, Roggy Enterprises, Rugged Race Products, Wicked Bilt, Dalton Industries and Royal Purple.
