By Jon Crowley
Originally published November 28, 2016. This account reflects the vehicles, equipment, and trails as they were at the 2016 rally.
After the first SxS Adventure Rally in 2015, I knew I wanted to return. Sand Hollow State Park near Hurricane, Utah, puts sand dunes, scenic overlooks, and technical rock trails within minutes of the event headquarters. The 2016 CST SxS Adventure Rally gave me several days to explore that range of terrain with friends and fellow UTV enthusiasts.
Demo Rides at Sand Hollow
Manufacturers brought sport UTVs for guided rides that covered several miles of varied terrain. The 2017 Polaris RZR XP Turbo, Can-Am Maverick X3, Yamaha YXZ1000R, and an Arctic Cat Wildcat X with RG Pro suspension were among the vehicles on hand. It was a chance to see how the latest machines worked beyond a quick lap around the event grounds.
Plan B and Double Sammy
On the first day, I joined HCR Racing and D&P Performance on Plan B. Dean from D&P made the obstacles look easy in his Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport, while Damon from HCR brought a long-travel RZR XP 1000. I was driving our Gold Metallic RZR XP 1000, the machine I was preparing for the 2017 King of the Hammers UTV race.
Plan B offered a fun mix of lines, including tougher alternatives. After lunch, a few of us headed to Double Sammy, and the group grew to about 15 UTVs. This was my first complete run of the trail. Its close proximity to camp and steady run of obstacles made it my favorite trail of the trip. Damon also brought his long-travel Kawasaki Teryx, which found a tight spot among the rocks.
Milt’s Mile and a Night Run
On Friday I rode with SxS Performance and D&P Performance on Milt’s Mile, then returned to Double Sammy. Mike from SxS Performance brought his four-seat RZR XP 4. Later, we gathered a group for a night run on Plan B. Finding the trail, choosing a line, and handling mechanical issues all felt different after dark. I was too busy enjoying the ride to take photos of that run.
Testing Larger Tires on the Maverick X3 and YXZ1000R
Saturday gave me time to photograph a couple of tire setups. Craig from STI Tire & Wheel was driving a then-new Can-Am Maverick X3 on 32-inch STI Chicane tires. It spun the larger tires through the dunes without trouble during our outing, and I watched it on rocks to look for clearance issues. That experience convinced me that 32s were worth considering for an X3 demo vehicle.
Ryan from Raceline had fitted his Yamaha YXZ1000R with 30-inch Arisun Aftershocks on Raceline beadlocks. The combination suited the car visually, but the jump from its stock 26-inch Bighorns made first gear feel tall. At the time, Yamaha’s GYTR Torque Assist Gear Reduction Kit looked like a potential answer for that setup.
HCR Racing’s Long-Travel Polaris GENERAL
To finish the trip, I joined Damon from HCR Racing on Nasty Half to see the company’s long-travel Polaris GENERAL in action. The +5-inch-per-side setup added width and travel, and the car wore 30-inch Arisun Aftershocks on Raceline beadlocks. Both sway bars remained connected during our ride; disconnecting them could have given the suspension more articulation for dedicated crawling.
Seat Time in Our Gold Metallic RZR XP 1000
The rally also gave me valuable time in our 2017 Polaris RZR XP 1000 Gold Metallic Limited Edition. Its low-range gearing impressed me on Sand Hollow’s rocks. With safety equipment and a few upgrades still ahead, I left more confident about the RZR’s potential for the 2017 King of the Hammers UTV race. Read my Gold Metallic RZR rock-crawling review for more on the vehicle.
