Iron County event brings together ‘best off-road racers in the world,’ attracts large crowds

Written by Alysha Lundgren
June 13, 2022

IRON COUNTY — Large crowds gathered at Three Peaks Oasis over Memorial Day weekend to watch the World Off-Road Championship Series featuring ATV and dirt bike races, and organizers say they hope to return next year.

Dirt bike racer at the World Off-Road Championship Series races, Memorial Day weekend, Cedar City, Utah, May 29, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The off-road series has been in business for 21 years, said race director Randy Perry, adding that he’s been running the organization for about four years. Perry is the CEO and owner of the group. He took over from its previous owner,  Southern Utah resident Sean Reddish in 2018.

Working with his father Roger “Homer” Hamel, Dave Hamil launched the race series after his brother Danny Hamel died in a motorcycle crash at Baja California’s Baja 500.

The Grand-Prix-style race was developed to invite champions from various series to bring together the “best off-road racers in the world,” Perry said. Three racing disciplines are represented at the series: motorcycles, ATVs, and side-by-sides. Due to a high number of entries, events are often hosted over two weekends.

As a family organization, many of the participants have grown up together, said Perry, adding that some children started at just 5 years old. He described the organization as his “hobby job,” and said he’s invested money and time into it because he loves being around the people he’s met.

“I call them my WORCS (World Off-Road Championship Series) family,” he said. “So many families that you don’t get to see all the time but when you see them, it’s just like … being in your own town.”

While a series race is hosted at a larger venue than a hometown track, Perry said he urges people to join in. The staff collects background on new entries, including other races they’ve done to determine the best placement for them at the organization.

The company operates primarily on the West Coast, through California, Arizona and Utah, but has plans to travel to Idaho, New Mexico and Washington, Perry said. They’ve had racers join from other countries, like Italy and Canada, as well.

Racer safety

Dirt bike racers at the World Off-Road Championship Series races, Memorial Day weekend, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Connor Moore, Cedar City News

Perry said the organization’s priorities are planning good events and racer safety. The organization partners with Firehawk Protection Emergency Management Services to cover most of its West Coast events.

At each event, there are about seven medics and, depending on the track’s size, eight to 10 sweepers patrolling the course at all times, said Perry.

Despite safety precautions, some racers do sustain injuries, Perry said, noting that while most are minor, occasionally a more serious crash will occur.

On May 29, a racer wrecked while riding the course and was treated by privately contracted paramedics before being transported by Life Flight out of the event. Perry said the organization’s staff had been in contact with the racer’s family about the racer’s condition.

Setting up at Three Peaks Oasis

The organization tries to host events in small towns and cities to inject money into those communities to benefit local economies as participants and attendees fill hotels, visit restaurants and refuel at gas stations, Perry said.

Over Memorial Day weekend, about 3,200 people gathered at Three Peaks Oasis, counting just race participants and their families. Perry said many others attended as spectators.

Owner of Three Peaks Oasis Russell Reber reached out to the organization about serving as the venue for the event, Perry said. Staff visited the site and determined the area could handle all attendees, and make room for the course and fire lanes. The location is also close to Cedar City and its accommodations.

Dirt bike racers at the World Off-Road Championship Series races, Memorial Day weekend, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Connor Moore, Cedar City News

The venue also provides access to water features, increasing the entertainment value for children and families, he added.

While riding, racers kick up dust, causing low visibility and increasing the chances of a crash, so watering the course is essential to keeping participants safe.

Additionally, when races are held near neighborhoods, watering reduces the dirt winding up on properties.

The course is built several weeks prior to the event under the purview of Dane Perry, assistant to the regional manager, track boss and Randy Perry’s son, according to their website.

A team of excavators and water trucks build the course before the entire crew arrives to set up banners and other decorations. Perry said the crew can work up to 80-90 hours during the event, watering and excavating the course.

According to the organization’s website, the course was more than 5 miles long, with lap times of about nine minutes.

“The WORCS crew built an outstanding track at Three Peaks Oasis as it would send the riders back and forth thru the trees with over 200 turns on the course,” the website states.

When setting up the track, Perry said the crew attempts to keep the area as natural as possible and avoid cutting down any trees. In this case, however, they were able to excavate the land with permission from Three Peaks Oasis.

If the race was held on Bureau of Land Management land, the crew would be required to restore the track to as close to its original state as required by BLM standards and checked by a Bureau employee. Crews grade the course and remove trash, said Perry.

“When we’re on federal land, it’s more intensive getting the whole racetrack cleaned up because it has to be back to (being) like we didn’t race there,” he said.

What’s next?

Dirt bike racers at the World Off-Road Championship Series races, Memorial Day weekend, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo by Connor Moore, Cedar City News

Perry said the organization’s staff are working on new, one-off events to launch in 2023 or 2024, where amateurs of all ages can drive side-by-sides on 27-30 mile loops alongside professionals.

Individuals can buy off-road vehicles without any training, which makes accidents more likely. Perry said he hopes the future events will educate people so they can safely participate in the sport. Additionally, he hopes to provide safety information and discuss different situations off-roads riders could experience.

Perry said he is hoping to return to Three Peaks Oasis in the coming years. Upon return, the crew will work to expand and alter the course to give participants a different race.

“I love the people up there,” he said. “Me and (Reber) got a great relationship and it seems to get stronger.”

To learn more about the organization and see who won at Three Peaks Oasis, visit the website here and watch the race highlight reel filmed by MotoEffeX here.

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!