Jeff Knoll shocked the off-road industry in March, 2011 when he announced he would be stepping away from the King of the Hammers (KOH), Ultra4 racing and Hammerking Productions, Inc. Now the largest off-road race in the United States, KOH changed the landscape of rocksports during the Great Recession, attracting 30,000 fans and participants to the desert of Johnson Valley, CA.
Now, almost three years after selling his interest in the series he helped create, Knoll has set off on his next adventure. In partnership with Wild West Motorsports Park, John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Knoll will build his vision to capitalize on the unique opportunities that northern Nevada has to offer the off highway vehicle (OHV) industry with a week long OHV festival.
The event will be centered at the Nugget Casino (which has been slated for a $50 million face lift over the next few years) and will be anchored around an unlimited 4WD and UTV short course rock race at the Wild West Motorsports Park, located 10 minutes from the Nugget Casino.
The week will kick off with an OHV Leadership Summit for OHV access advocates. Attendees will work on core issues that national groups face in the protection of motorized recreation. Hosted by the Off Road Business Association (ORBA), the event will be part of a bi-annual meeting schedule that includes this face-to-face meeting of the largest OHV associations in the United States.
Silver State Jamboree participants will be provided with a host of recreational opportunities that highlight northern Nevada. Fly fishing or floating the Truckee River, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, photography, UTV and 4WD trail riding are examples of the types of recreation available in the area. This event has nightlife, with OHV themed parties scheduled for most evenings in the Nugget Casino.
Included in the week's activities will be an invite only-test run of Knoll's new navigational challenge called RallyVenture. Designed for street legal vehicles, RallyVenture will put teams head-to-head against the clock using social media, GPS, maps and speed control. Twenty-five off-road industry leaders will participate in the OG version of Knoll's new motorsport challenge, which resembles a Cannonball Run for 4WD vehicles. The event is expected open to the public in 2015.
Anchoring the week's activities will be the first running of the HellsGate Grand Prix. Utilizing the unique geographical features of the Wild West Motorsports Park, this unlimited 4WD and UTV Short Course Rock Race will allow spectators to safely view the entire course from the grandstands. The course will be purpose-built to showcase the unbelievable obstacles that unlimited 4WD and UTV vehicles can conquer. In addition, the event will offer two days of racing, Friday, July18, and Saturday, July 19.
Qualifying races will be held Friday, with main events on Saturday. In an effort to limit down time during track maintenance, HellsGate Grand Prix will feature the first of its kind Downhill Deathbox Derby between off-road races. Participants will race home-built unlimited gravity vehicles down the steep slope of the Wild West Motorsports Park. Spectators are encouraged to participate in the Friday evening 4Wheel and Off Road Street Party on Victorian Ave. in front of the Nugget Casino. Industry show, race vehicle displays and an OHV Show and Shine will be some of the evening's activities.
Motorized recreation, coupled with northern Nevada's hospitality industry, make the Silver State 4 Wheel and Off-Road Jamboree a unique opportunity to build an off-road event like no other. Finally, an event the whole family can enjoy. Relax at the spa, have a drink poolside, take a Jeep or UTV trip, float the river, or just enjoy Nevada-style gaming. This event offers the perfect summer vacation.
For more information please visit Carreraperformancegroup.com
Contact Jeff Knoll; jeff@carreraperformancegroup.com.
Facebook: Silver State Jamboree
Please Visit: Wild West Motorsports Park
Host Casino John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino
For more information About Northern Nevada
