By Cody Hooper
Camp RZR 2013 brought Polaris owners, racers, builders and industry personalities together for Halloween weekend in the Glamis sand dunes. The customer-appreciation event featured new-model demo rides, custom RZR builds, a massive group ride, RZR 170 racing and a closing fireworks show.
This was the second edition of Camp RZR and an early example of how Polaris was building a community around the RZR platform. Held in the Imperial Sand Dunes of Southern California, the event combined a vendor showcase with family activities and plenty of time behind the wheel.
RZR 170 Racing and Family Activities
The fenced Camp RZR compound hosted vehicle walkarounds, vendor displays and a mobile Polaris service shop. A large LED screen also played some of the year’s popular UTV videos.
Polaris invited professional racers, company executives and celebrities to compete in stock Polaris RZR 170s on a purpose-built track. Actor and RZR enthusiast Dax Shepard joined the competition and battled Joey D., but Polaris Off-Road General Manager Craig Scanlon ultimately earned the No. 1 plate.
The event extended well beyond racing. Polaris provided lunch for dune visitors, while children had access to bounce houses, arts and crafts, and other games. It gave the weekend a family-friendly atmosphere despite being surrounded by some of the most capable sport UTVs of the era.
RZR XP 1000 Demo Rides in Glamis
Polaris offered free demo rides in the recently introduced RZR XP 1000 and the new RZR XP 4 1000. These were not brief rides around a small demonstration loop. Participants followed a roughly 20-minute route from the Camp RZR compound to Oldsmobile Hill and back through Glamis Flats.
The arrival of the XP 1000 represented an important step in Polaris RZR history. Its appearance at Camp RZR gave existing owners an opportunity to experience the new platform in the dunes rather than simply viewing it in a dealership or static display.
Massive Camp RZR Group Ride
More than 40 customized Polaris RZRs entered the Camp RZR Show ’N Shine. The four primary judging categories were Best Paint/Graphics, Best Electronics, Most Extreme and Best in Show, with prizes supplied by companies throughout the UTV industry.
Before the winners were announced, UTV Underground led what was one of the largest organized RZR rides Glamis had seen at that time. Hundreds of vehicles lined up before charging into the dunes together.
The first major stop was Oldsmobile Hill, where spectators watched modified UTVs drag race up the dune while a Mad Media helicopter captured the action. The group then traveled to a large jump near Osborne Overlook, where drivers launched their RZRs for the cameras and crowd. Some reportedly traveled more than 80 feet down the back side of the dune.
Camp RZR 2013 Show ’N Shine Winners
Best Electronics
Henry Castro won Best Electronics with his 2012 RZR XP 900. Its custom dashboard incorporated an iPad for navigation and entertainment. The build also included a K&T turbo kit, ABF long-travel suspension, a TMW cage, King 2.5 internal-bypass shocks, an STM clutch, Triple X seats, Vision X lighting and a specialized UTV hood.
Best Paint/Graphics
Bert’s Mega Mall earned Best Paint/Graphics with its “Ice” RZR XP 1000. SDR Motorsports completed the custom build with a cage, doors, seats and harnesses. It was finished with a ProLine wrap and a color-matched HCR Racing long-travel suspension system.
Most Extreme
Tim Gantz won the Most Extreme category with an original 50-inch RZR 800 that had been extensively transformed. Its modifications included a turbocharged Yamaha Apex engine conversion, a custom suspension system that widened the car by 10 inches, and large King coilovers paired with secondary bypass shocks.
Gantz’s RZR narrowly defeated UTVGuide.net’s own SDR Motorsports-built “The Beast” Jagged X RZR XP for the award.
Best in Show
Johnny Angal took Best in Show with a gold RZR XP 1000 built by UTV Inc. The highly detailed car featured a custom cage, doors, color-matched suspension and a large sand-car-inspired rear wing.
RZR XP 4 1000 Media Ride
Camp RZR also served as the setting for the RZR XP 4 1000 media introduction. Editors from around the country were invited to Glamis, handed the keys to four-seat demo vehicles and encouraged to explore the dunes.
Read our original Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 review for more detail about how the four-seat machine performed in the sand.
Polaris Owner Support at Camp RZR
Polaris used the event to provide direct support to its customers. Owners could receive complimentary suspension tuning and repairs from company technicians, while RZR engineers and other Polaris employees spent the weekend answering questions and meeting riders.
The weekend concluded with a fireworks display that illuminated the dunes for approximately 15 minutes. Polaris also gave away a nearly new RZR XP 4 1000. Brent G. of Hesperia, California received the keys to the four-seat UTV as the final major surprise of the event.
Camp RZR 2013 demonstrated how quickly the RZR community had grown. By combining new-vehicle demonstrations, owner support, custom builds, group rides and family activities, Polaris created an event that was much more than a conventional product showcase.
More photos: View the original Camp RZR Halloween 2013 photo gallery on Facebook.
