R1T Desert Racer - next race, California 300 in Barstow, CA October 5th

[Frosty]

Hey everyone!

One more cross-post outside of my local OC and Los Angeles groups - we've got another race coming up with the desert race R1T -this time at the California 300 race in Barstow, CA on October 5th (our home race!)

This is the same truck that Gardner Nichols piloted to a record time at Pike's Peak in 2023, and is also was first EV to finish the Mint 400 race earlier this year in Las Vegas. The team is trying to set another first at this race, by being the first EV to run multiple laps at a desert race (making use of the RAN charger in Barstow, just three miles from the race course main pit and finish line).

How to share in the adventure:

Come out and play in the dirt before the race - Desert Cleanup and Poker Run on the race course site in Barstow, Saturday September 21st:

The desert cleanup is a Tread Lightly!-sponsored, all-volunteer event with great raffle prizes (10AM-Noon) - some of the drivers and trucks from the Rebelle Rally will be there as well:
https://thecalifornia300.com/desertcleanup/

The poker run is a pay-to-play 'adventurous' 74 mile fun run on the race course (9AM-4PM):
https://thecalifornia300.com/poker-run/

Hit the Off Road Festival at Tech and Contingency - Friday, October 4th (Barstow - 9AM-6PM) https://thecalifornia300.com/schedule/

Watch the race in person - Saturday, October 5th, 8AM-6PM in Barstow (for our EV Production class, and other Limited classes. The Unlimited vehicles run on Sunday) https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Watch from home: live race tracking, the event live stream, and the planned in-vehicle live video feed. (links to follow)

Camp out at the race! https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Volunteer for race or event operations! https://thecalifornia300.com/volunteer/

We'll post updates here and on the team Instagram ( @offgridevracing ) - tell your friends, and we hope to see you out at the race!

For you all, too - any truck specific questions you've got, post them up here and I'll answer as best I can - fire away!

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[MidnightRivian]

This sounds awesome and a great way to promote the brand. I enjoyed watching Pikes Peak hill climb.

 

[R1Sky Business]

Hey everyone!

One more cross-post outside of my local OC and Los Angeles groups - we've got another race coming up with the desert race R1T -this time at the California 300 race in Barstow, CA on October 5th (our home race!)

This is the same truck that Gardner Nichols piloted to a record time at Pike's Peak in 2023, and is also was first EV to finish the Mint 400 race earlier this year in Las Vegas. The team is trying to set another first at this race, by being the first EV to run multiple laps at a desert race (making use of the RAN charger in Barstow, just three miles from the race course main pit and finish line).

How to share in the adventure:

Come out and play in the dirt before the race - Desert Cleanup and Poker Run on the race course site in Barstow, Saturday September 21st:

The desert cleanup is a Tread Lightly!-sponsored, all-volunteer event with great raffle prizes (10AM-Noon) - some of the drivers and trucks from the Rebelle Rally will be there as well:
https://thecalifornia300.com/desertcleanup/

The poker run is a pay-to-play 'adventurous' 74 mile fun run on the race course (9AM-4PM):
https://thecalifornia300.com/poker-run/

Hit the Off Road Festival at Tech and Contingency - Friday, October 4th (Barstow - 9AM-6PM) https://thecalifornia300.com/schedule/

Watch the race in person - Saturday, October 5th, 8AM-6PM in Barstow (for our EV Production class, and other Limited classes. The Unlimited vehicles run on Sunday) https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Watch from home: live race tracking, the event live stream, and the planned in-vehicle live video feed. (links to follow)

Camp out at the race! https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Volunteer for race or event operations! https://thecalifornia300.com/volunteer/

We'll post updates here and on the team Instagram ( @offgridevracing ) - tell your friends, and we hope to see you out at the race!

For you all, too - any truck specific questions you've got, post them up here and I'll answer as best I can - fire away!

How technical is that course? .... asking for a newbie friend ?

 

[R1Sky Business]

How technical is that course? .... asking for a newbie friend ?

And is the 74 mile a continuous course or laps?

 

[Frosty]

@R1Sky Business - 3/10 on technical challenge, when driven at a sane pace. XXL hard pack whoops and ruts are the Barstow signature special, lots of embedded sharp rocks as well (ex-volcanic terrain), definitely need AT tires or better.

Good in-cab full lap from last year's Trophy Truck winner if you want to see the 10/10's pace in top class machinery (we run under half that pace):

74 miles is the single lap distance, we're running 2 laps.

 

[COdogman]

I think my spine is out of alignment after just watching 10 minutes of that video.

Good luck and thanks for sharing!

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I'm thrilled for you guys! I don't think you quite run a little under half the pace , but still it's awesome you guys are doing it. Nothing like watching a $1M Mason AWD Trophy Truck. Baja 400 in progress as we speak.....

 

[E_Monkey]

Hey everyone!

One more cross-post outside of my local OC and Los Angeles groups - we've got another race coming up with the desert race R1T -this time at the California 300 race in Barstow, CA on October 5th (our home race!)

This is the same truck that Gardner Nichols piloted to a record time at Pike's Peak in 2023, and is also was first EV to finish the Mint 400 race earlier this year in Las Vegas. The team is trying to set another first at this race, by being the first EV to run multiple laps at a desert race (making use of the RAN charger in Barstow, just three miles from the race course main pit and finish line).

How to share in the adventure:

Come out and play in the dirt before the race - Desert Cleanup and Poker Run on the race course site in Barstow, Saturday September 21st:

The desert cleanup is a Tread Lightly!-sponsored, all-volunteer event with great raffle prizes (10AM-Noon) - some of the drivers and trucks from the Rebelle Rally will be there as well:
https://thecalifornia300.com/desertcleanup/

The poker run is a pay-to-play 'adventurous' 74 mile fun run on the race course (9AM-4PM):
https://thecalifornia300.com/poker-run/

Hit the Off Road Festival at Tech and Contingency - Friday, October 4th (Barstow - 9AM-6PM) https://thecalifornia300.com/schedule/

Watch the race in person - Saturday, October 5th, 8AM-6PM in Barstow (for our EV Production class, and other Limited classes. The Unlimited vehicles run on Sunday) https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Watch from home: live race tracking, the event live stream, and the planned in-vehicle live video feed. (links to follow)

Camp out at the race! https://thecalifornia300.com/spectating/

Volunteer for race or event operations! https://thecalifornia300.com/volunteer/

We'll post updates here and on the team Instagram ( @offgridevracing ) - tell your friends, and we hope to see you out at the race!

For you all, too - any truck specific questions you've got, post them up here and I'll answer as best I can - fire away!

What tires and pressure you running?

 

[Frosty]

@E_Monkey - we were lucky enough to get ahold of an early BFG KO3 (stock size, 275/65-20) to run at the Mint; planning to run the same for Barstow.

35PSI hot, balanced between small bump absorption and pinch / rock resistance.

They're cactus proof, thankfully.

 

[Iamuwere]

Thanks again for flipping me back over at the Mint!!

 

[DCFC]

Might need some help from Rivian on making sure you can get a charger at Barstow. Barstow tends to get busy on the weekends with Vegas traffic.

 

[Thedude]

How does the race timing work with charging? Assuming the clock keeps running the truck is really only competitive with fellow EVs in the running? If that’s the case do you think a dual max would give the added capacity to compete without charging?

 

[Frosty]

@DCFC - yep, part of the challenge; don't want to delay anyone's travel either. Will likely setup a mini pit on the Del Taco side of the chargers.

@Thedude - correct, time keeps running (as of now), which means we've got a 45+ minute recharge pit time between laps, vs 30 sec - 2 minutes for the ICE cars/trucks to fuel.

In broad, overall timing strokes, we're not competitive with other classes, yet, but that's part of the point - learning what's possible with the stock platform, and coming up with ideas to make it faster / better for this use, as well as transferring what's learned to the production trucks to make them better too.

We've talked about the recharge time with the organizers, and they're considering a charging time allotment for EV's - we've been the only ones to enter and run so far, though, so it's all new.

And, on Dual Motor + Max pack for capacity - this truck already has a Max pack, and we prefer the quad drives for this work

 

[DCFC]

What would be an interesting twist was if the rules required equal energy usage... energy content of gas used in kWh vs battery consumption. Or some time of scaling factor. Finish time multiplied by energy consumption.

 

[DCFC]

Just had another thought. If the battery pack is running too hot during charging, you could spray water on the heat exchangers in the front of the truck to potentially help speed up charging.

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