By Juli Moore/Dirt-N-DunezPhotography.com
2021 UTV TAKEOVER OREGON
UTV Takeover Oregon for 2021 did not disappoint. Once again Coos Bay, Oregon, was filled with side-by-sides of all makes and models. Boxcar Campground was the epicenter of the event. UTV Takeover has honed their skills throwing huge sand events over the years, but Boxcar Campground is where UTV Takeover originally took shape. What truly started as a sand-family Thanksgiving cookout and ride weekend has turned into so much more. Each summer motorheads converge on Coos Bay for a week of fun in the sun and sand.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The name says it all—UTV Takeover. That is what happens. Enthusiasts fill the dunes with all types of sand toys but specifically UTVs. A large vendor row offered tons of parts and accessories, along with a good variety of food purveyors. UTV Takeover has something going on from dawn till dusk. With sand drags, hill-climbs, wheelie competitions, short-course races, ATC 70 Olympics and Huckfest, the days are packed full of entertainment.
2021 UTV TAKEOVER OREGON
Just to name a few, UTV Takeover not only offers competition options, it has treasure hunts, rock-and-roll bingo and tire-toss contests. New this year was a monster truck exhibition on the short-course track after the racing was over. To be honest, everyone turned into a kid when that thing fired up. There is something about pure horsepower and straight headers that just get your attention.
2021 UTV TAKEOVER OREGON
The who’s who of the UTV world showed up for this event, with big jump legend Al McBeth and Blake Wilkey, along with kid phenomenon Ruslan “Grease-Hands” Yankilevich, in attendance. Vendor row was bursting with everything from manufacturers offering demo rides and Packard Performance displaying their 500-horsepower drag UTVs.
COME FOR THE RIDE
The beautiful Oregon coast offers riders everything from open dunes to tight-tree trails leading to the beach where you can ride the shoreline for miles on end. A real must-do, or at least see, is the night ride. Scheduled each night at 9 from Boxcar Campground, it heads north roughly four miles across the dunes to Hauser. We are sure someone has a count, but we would venture to say at least 1000 UTVs participate every night, with the top 100 cars going full tilt from start to finish. They stop on the north end at Hauser sand access for a quick break of 10 minutes so everyone can rejoin the group and head back south to Boxcar Campground. With all the lighted whips and headlights at night, it looks like a giant ant trail coming across the dunes. It is truly a sight to be seen.
Whether you are a vendor or an attendee, you won’t be disappointed going to a UTV Takeover in your area. And, UTVs are not a requirement; plenty of quads and bikes of all styles show up with riders of all ages. Watch for a UTV Takeover event in your area. The 2021 schedule includes events in Virginia, Oklahoma and Utah.
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