Polaris brought Camp RZR to Glamis for the 2012–2013 New Year’s weekend, filling nearly 10 acres near the Glamis Beach Store with RZR displays, vendors and activities. For me, the trip combined a shakedown of our 2013 King of the Hammers build with the first opportunity to drive the new Polaris RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition.
Camp RZR Takes Over Glamis
Camp RZR provided a family-friendly gathering built around Polaris RZR owners and the rapidly growing sport side-by-side community. Companies and organizations represented at the event included FOX, ProLine Wraps, UTVUnderground, Dirt Theater, GoPro, Traxxas, Holz Racing Products, Jagged X, the American Sand Association, RideNow, Walker Evans Racing, High Lifter Products and Polaris Defense.
As if that were not enough reason to head to Glamis, Polaris also invited members of the media to pick up new Polaris RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition demo vehicles.
Shaking Down Our 2013 RZR XP
I arrived Wednesday night and planned to spend the first part of the trip driving our 2013 RZR XP. Polaris was scheduled to hand over the keys to the Jagged X Edition on Friday afternoon.
At the time, I was in the middle of a full build on our RZR XP in preparation for the 2013 King of the Hammers UTV race. The goal was to create a vehicle capable of surviving the rocks and open desert around Johnson Valley without turning it into a single-purpose race car.
The Glamis trip provided a useful shakedown. Sand can quickly expose cooling, clutching and suspension problems, while the open dunes gave us room to evaluate the car before taking it into the rocks.
While riding, I joined Tim from SDR Motorsports, Dave from Fullerton Sand Sports, Troy from UTV Off-Road Magazine, Wally from Side x Side Outfitterz, Bill and Matt from SxSPerformance.com, and Johnny from UTV Inc. Riding the dunes is always more enjoyable with friends from around the industry.
Jagged X RZR XP 900 First Ride
On Friday, the editors gathered at Camp RZR to receive the keys to the new RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition demo vehicles. I headed into the dunes with Cody Hooper from Dirt Wheels, Troy and Don from UTV Off-Road Magazine, and Wally from Dirt Sports.
We left Glamis Flats and worked our way through the smaller dunes toward Oldsmobile Hill. After stopping for photographs, we picked up the pace and continued to Osborne Overlook. I led the ride and had nearly as much fun watching Cody, Wally and Troy dice it up in the rearview mirror as I did driving the new machine.
The Jagged X Edition used the four-seat RZR XP platform and combined its longer wheelbase with additional power, electronic power steering, PRP seats and useful cargo capacity. That combination made it especially well suited to fast desert and dune riding.
Preparing the Jagged X Edition for the Dunes
The following morning, I added several accessories to make the new RZR more dune-ready. The first change was a set of STU Blaster paddle tires from Fullerton Sand Sports mounted on 12-inch OMF billet-center beadlock wheels.
The STU Blasters were my favorite sand tires at the time. The replaceable centers in the OMF wheels also allowed me to change the bolt pattern and use the same wheel-and-tire package on several different UTVs.
I also installed SSV Works side-view mirrors, an Axia Alloys panoramic rearview mirror, and an Axia Alloys fire extinguisher and mount.
Aaron from PRP Seats stopped by camp to see how the factory-installed PRP seats looked in the new RZR. We then headed into the dunes so he could spend some time behind the wheel.
Later that day, I rode with 2012 WORCS champion Ryan Piplic. He was interested in experiencing how the additional wheelbase and power worked in the dunes.
Early Impressions of the Jagged X RZR
The RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition was an excellent addition to the rapidly expanding Polaris sport side-by-side lineup. It was particularly well matched to the type of dune and desert riding I enjoyed.
It offered strong power, useful storage and aggressive styling, while power steering, PRP seats and additional legroom made it more comfortable during long rides. The extended wheelbase also produced a stable, predictable feel in the larger dunes.
For a more detailed evaluation, see our complete Polaris RZR XP 900 H.O. Jagged X Edition review.
Vehicles and Displays at Camp RZR
Camp RZR also provided a snapshot of the Polaris RZR aftermarket in late 2012. The displays ranged from dune and desert builds to mud machines, race cars and utility-focused RANGER models.
Looking Back at Camp RZR 2012
Camp RZR illustrated how quickly Polaris and the RZR community were growing during this period. It was the third Polaris press event I attended that year, at a time when many manufacturers held only one—or none at all.
Polaris was introducing new machines at a relentless pace, and enthusiasts continued responding. The Jagged X Edition represented an important stage in the RZR’s development: a factory four-seat performance model with equipment and styling influenced by one of the most successful teams in UTV desert racing.
Camp RZR grew well beyond this early Glamis gathering in the years that followed, but the 2012–2013 event captured the excitement surrounding the RZR XP 900 era and the rapid evolution of sport side-by-sides.
