2010 VORRA Fallon 250: Kawasaki Teryx Takes the UTV Win

By Jon Crowley

On July 17, 2010, I drove my #1965 Monster Energy Kawasaki Teryx to the UTV-class victory at the VORRA Fallon 250 in Fallon, Nevada. The fifth round of the eight-race Valley Off Road Racing Association season was its only night race, but darkness did little to cool the Nevada desert. Temperatures were still above 100 degrees when the green flag dropped at 6:30 p.m.

A Hot Start to the Fallon Night Race

The heat made the 250-mile desert race as much a test of durability and endurance as speed. I started first in the UTV class and steadily extended my lead through five laps, eventually finishing more than 40 minutes ahead of the second-place UTV.

“The key to our win at the Fallon night race was the power and reliability of our Muzzys-built 840cc Teryx V-twin engine. We were first off the line and steadily increased our lead for five laps.”

The modified 840cc V-twin gave my Teryx the power it needed in the open desert, but reliability was what brought it to the finish. The same race vehicle had to handle the sustained speed and rough terrain of VORRA’s desert rounds as well as the tighter, wheel-to-wheel competition of its short-course events.

My First VORRA Desert Victory

This was my first season contesting the complete VORRA schedule. I had already earned a short-course victory earlier in 2010, but the opening desert rounds had been more difficult. Fallon delivered the breakthrough: my first VORRA desert win and proof that one Kawasaki Teryx could compete successfully in both formats.

“This is my first season racing the full VORRA series, and after a win in the short course earlier in the year, we have had a tough time in the desert. I feel with this win, I got the monkey off my back and I am looking forward to the next few races.”

Rather than preparing separate UTVs for the two styles of racing, I used the same Teryx throughout the season.

“Unlike some other teams that run one machine for the desert and another for short course, I am running my Kawasaki Teryx for both.”

The Fallon result also tightened my UTV championship fight with Polaris RZR racer Dennis Jean, who finished third. The series had one more desert event—the Hawthorne 225—before returning to Prairie City for its final short-course rounds. I went on to win the UTV class at Hawthorne as well; read the complete 2010 VORRA Hawthorne 225 race report.

Tech Inspection in Fallon

Technical inspection was held at Stockman’s Casino on Friday evening. Five UTVs appeared in the results, with two Kawasaki Teryx race vehicles taking the first two positions and a Polaris RZR completing the podium.

Tech Inspection at Stockman’s Casino on Friday evening

2010 VORRA Fallon 250 UTV Results

The Kawasaki Teryx in Early UTV Racing

The Fallon victory came during an important period in sport UTV development. Introduced for 2008, the original Teryx 750 quickly became a serious racing platform. Teams modified its V-twin engine, suspension, chassis and safety equipment for desert racing while manufacturers and aftermarket companies learned what the emerging UTV category required.

My #1965 car represents that early era: a production-based, naturally aspirated two-seat UTV developed to survive both desert and short-course racing. For a broader look at how the platform developed, see our history of the Kawasaki Teryx.

Team Sponsors

My 2010 race program was supported by Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing, Muzzys Performance Products, Roggy Enterprises, Fox Racing Shox, Pit Bull Tires, Unisteer, Motorsports Fabrication Services, Funco, DragonFire Racing, Factory UTV, OMF, MSD Ignition, Dalton Industries, Rugged Race Products, Simpson Racing, Beard, Rigid Industries, Baja Designs, iTi Performance Motorsports, Billet King, UTV Inc., Tire Balls and Crowley Offroad.

Explore more UTV trip reports, UTV racing news and Kawasaki UTV coverage from UTV Guide.

Photos:

Two other UTV entries that showed up on Saturday