PORTLAND, Ore. - PIAA Corporation, a leader in Powersports lighting and accessories, has teamed up with the World Off-Road Championship Racing Series to host WORCS' first ever PIAA 8-Hour UTV/ATV Endurance Race, announced PIAA Powersports Business Unit Manager Gordon Robertson. The event will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2008, at Speedworld Raceway in Surprise, Ariz., and will feature racing for a variety of UTV and ATV classes.
In addition to brainstorming the concept for the inaugural race, PIAA will be the presenting sponsor, providing financial support as well as offering a lucrative contingency program that will encourage racers to use PIAA halogen and HID lighting products. And, since the race starts at 4 p.m. and finishes at midnight, having a PIAA-equipped vehicle will be a distinct advantage.
"PIAA is excited about helping this inaugural event be a success," Robertson said. "This is a great opportunity for us to show the ATV, UTV and Powersports industry that PIAA lighting products are indeed the best in the world, proven everywhere from the Daytona 24 Hour sports car race to the World Rally circuit."
While there are a handful of ATV endurance races held in the U.S. (such as the 12 Hours of ATV America each fall), the PIAA 8-Hour will be the first time an endurance race will include the wildly popular UTV classes. "UTV racers will have the opportunity to prove who is the fastest as well as the toughest," Robertson said.
"Everyone knows that WORCS races are the ultimate test of man and machine," explained WORCS owner Sean Reddish. "Teaming up with the industry leader in performance lighting and putting on an UTV- and ATV-only 8-hour endurance race was a perfect fit."
It will be a standard endurance event with teams racing non-stop for eight hours around a 5-mile loop that starts on the Speedworld motocross circuit then heads out into the Arizona desert. There will be separate overall winners for both divisions, UTV and ATV.
For UTVs, racing classes include Unlimited, Modified, Stock, and Ironman/woman; for ATVs, classes will be Pro A, B, and C; Women's Pro A and B; Veterans 30+; Masters 40+; and Ironman/Woman.
PIAA's contingency awards should inspire all competitors: Overall finishers will be awarded $1000 for first, $500 for second, $250 for third. In addition, each class winner will receive $250. To be eligible, vehicles must use PIAA HID or Halogen lamps and run PIAA decals
For entry and class information, plus rules and regulations, visit www.worcsracing.com , or call 435-635-1597. For details on all PIAA UTV and ATV lighting products, visit www.piaapowersports.com .
PIAA has been the acknowledged leader in innovative automotive and Powersports products since its founding in 1963. PIAA products, created in PIAA's Technical Design Center in Japan, are known for their visionary design, inspired engineering and quality components.
PIAA Corporation, USA is located at 3004 NE 181st in Portland, OR 97230, 503-489-6666.
PIAA will make the PIAA lamp kits available at a reduced price to competitors through Rocky Mountain ATV, a WORCS Series sponsor and title sponsor of this event.