Mike Lasher’s Pro Armor Kawasaki Teryx Desert Race Build
Mike Lasher’s 2008 Kawasaki Teryx was built from the ground up by Side X Side Outfitterz for competition in the Best in the Desert racing series. With a purpose-built chassis, long-travel suspension, race-ready safety equipment and upgraded cooling, this early Teryx race build demonstrated the potential of Kawasaki’s original sport side-by-side platform.
Selected as the UTVGuide.net UTV of the Month for September 2008, the Pro Armor Kawasaki Teryx was developed for the demanding terrain and long distances encountered in desert racing.
Built for Best in the Desert Racing
Side X Side Outfitterz constructed the chassis around a 2008 Kawasaki Teryx for driver Mike Lasher. The build combined CST Performance suspension, Walker Evans Racing shocks and a complete collection of racing components from leading UTV and motorsports companies.
Protection came from Pro Armor skid plates and a front bumper, while ITP tires, OMF beadlocks and the long-travel suspension package prepared the Teryx for rocks, deep ruts and high-speed desert terrain.
The cockpit was outfitted with Simpson Racing seats and restraints. PCI Race Radios supplied the radio, intercom and GPS equipment needed for communication and navigation during long desert races.
Desert Racing Results
Lasher drove the Kawasaki Teryx to a third-place finish at the Henderson FabTech Desert Classic on December 5, 2008. He followed that result with a second-place finish at the Parker 250, held January 9–10, 2009.
Those podium finishes helped establish this Pro Armor Teryx as more than a showpiece. It was a functional desert race UTV capable of finishing near the front during the early years of organized side-by-side racing.
Side x Side Action Magazine also published an in-depth feature detailing how the race Teryx was assembled.
2008 Kawasaki Teryx Race Build Specifications
Chassis, Suspension and Protection
- Base vehicle: 2008 Kawasaki Teryx
- Chassis fabrication: Side X Side Outfitterz
- Skid plates and bumper: Pro Armor
- Suspension: CST Performance
- Shocks: Walker Evans Racing
- Shock covers: Hostyle Racing
Wheels and Tires
- Wheels and tires: ITP
- Beadlocks: OMF Performance
Engine Cooling and Fuel System
- Exhaust: HMF Engineering
- Radiator: PWR Performance
- Fuel cell: Fuel Safe
Safety, Navigation and Communications
- Seats: Simpson Racing
- Restraints: Simpson Racing
- Radio and intercom: PCI Race Radios
- GPS: PCI Race Radios
Body and Finish
- Paint: Wally World Designs
Matching Chase and Support Vehicle
The race Teryx was accompanied by a matching chase and support vehicle finished in the same distinctive Pro Armor team graphics.
Pro Armor Kawasaki Teryx Photo Gallery
An Early Kawasaki Teryx Desert Racer
Mike Lasher’s Pro Armor Kawasaki Teryx captures an important period in UTV racing history. In 2008, competitors could not simply purchase a factory-built desert race model. Teams had to develop their own chassis, suspension, cooling, fuel and safety solutions around relatively new production UTV platforms.
With two Best in the Desert podium finishes, this Side X Side Outfitterz-built Teryx proved that the early Kawasaki platform could be transformed into a competitive desert race machine.
