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We’re pleased to announce the official details of the much awaited Land Rush 1000 event for this coming October. Those of you who have been following Raptor Expeditions over the past year have seen the wide variety of runs and location we have taken these trucks through, pushing the limits of what has previously been possible with a factory vehicle. As we cover more ground, more locations, and include more trucks, the desire for many owners to do “more” and push themselves “further” in the pursuit of the sport, has been the driving force behind the creation of these rally events.
This event will cover much of what many drivers consider their favorite runs and sections, all combined into a massive event that has proven itself to be not for the faint of heart. Our goal is to encourage each driver to dig deeper than they may have thought possible, and accomplish what most would never consider possible in just 2 short days, all under the watchful eye of the Raptor Expeditions crew. Read on, and find out what you will expect to encounter on this once-in-a-lifetime event that you will surely never forget!
For the first time ever, we are please to announce a new starting location, in Las Vegas, NV. We understand many spouses and friends may not be up for the challenge of the Land Rush 1000… so this gives owners the opportunity to participate on the run, while their friends or spouses can choose to relax in Las Vegas, where our route will conclude after day 2. So treat your wife to the pool, and treat yourself to the dirt, where you will reunite after 2 amazing days off road!
Day 1 – Las Vegas, NV to Indian Wells, CA
The route begins on Saturday morning, October 27th, at 5AM. Our early departure allows the group to make the much-needed progress towards our final destination for the night, Indian Wells, CA. As we exit Las Vegas on the west side of town, we will navigate a mixture of tight technical trails, which open up to an all out sprint down smooth graded roads as we trek through Sky Ranch Estates as we head southeast towards our crossover of the I-15 interstate. From there, the group will find themselves traversing the Cima Lava fields, where trails change color from red to black as we pass through some of the most beautiful scenery the Mojave Desert has to offer. From there, we will press on westward towards our first fuel stop for the day, in Baker, California, home of the world’s tallest thermometer!
As we leave Baker, we head northwest for a short leg before cutting west down a series of challenging power line roads. These power line roads are scenic, technical, fast, and slow, commanding the driver’s attention as the Co-Driver calls out all marked cautions on our way. From there, we find ourselves cutting southwest once we near the north side of Barstow, through a variety of wash roads and desert trails, on our way to Victorville, CA. A tight, narrow section of ridgeline trails will test the groups driving abilities and patience as we carve our way through the narrow trails heading south past Victorville. Windy roads suddenly change to wide open trail, as we are able to bring up the speed of the group significantly for the next small stretch, passing the Slash-X off-road café.
No run would be complete without a few whoops, would it? The next section will be a favorite for some, and a challenge for others, as each driver learns to drive over a variety of whoop sections in their Ford Raptors. The leg is short, yet many will appreciate what real trophy race trucks are truly put through, as we get a small taste ourselves! As we head past the west side of Johnson Valley, we will soon start the climb up the San Bernardino Mountains, on our way up to Big Bear. The trails leading up to Big Bear offer beautiful scenery of high desert forest, mixed with dramatic views of the valley below, and temperatures, which can be expected to drop 20 degrees or more from the valley to the peak of our journey. From there, we head down the east side of Big Bear, towards our next fuel stop in Joshua Tree, CA.
A short highway leg will take the group from Joshua Tree, to 29 Palms, CA where we hit the dirt once again for a section many drivers have claimed to be their favorite over the course of our runs. Between the challenging yet very enjoyable terrain, to the mine roads, color changing rocks, technical trail riding, and one of a kind views… it’s truly a leg to enjoy while it lasts. The Joshua Tree National Park provides a scenic stretch of highway which connects our last 2 legs on the way to our final destination for the night. Incredible rock formations, unique vegetation, and multiple photo ops litter the drive towards the northwest side of the park for our next dirt leg. From there, we start the breathtaking descent into the Joshua Tree fields, where we carve through low-lying roads surrounded by vegetation, eventually being led into the narrow canyon pass on the northeast side of the Palm Desert. The crew will lead each truck over a few small sections of rock crawling, where a spotter and crew members will ensure each truck safely navigates the rocky terrain on our way out of the canyon.
Finally, we find ourselves at our destination for day 1, Indian Wells, CA. Time permitting, a group dinner will be waiting for us as we check in, clean up, and prepare for a night of rest before the next day, which presents an equal challenge with even more miles planned for day 2.
Day 2 – Indian Wells, CA to Las Vegas, NV
Sleep? Who needs sleep? A 7AM departure means an early start, and hopefully well-rested drivers! The Monster Energy drinks will likely be flowing, as each driver prepares for another amazing day in the seat. We begin our day with a short drive down the Coachella canal roads. These dirt roads parallel the irrigation canals, which stretch from the Palm Desert valley all the way to Mexico. As each driver “carefully” navigates these canal roads, we eventually find ourselves on the infamous Bradshaw Trail heading due east towards Arizona. This trail was one of the original highways that gold miners and settlers used, long before paved highways existed! Stretching from the Salton Sea to Blythe, this trail will be enjoyed by all. High speeds, well-maintained dirt trails, wide washes, and very few cautions mean each driver can truly experience what this truck was designed for!
As we make fast work of this high-speed section, the group finds themselves in Blyth, AZ for a quick splash of gas before heading north towards Rice, CA. The road from Blythe to Rice is an old trail that has NOT seen much use in recent years. For this reason, the trails can be tight in a few places, adding to the challenge and testing each driver’s ability to analyze the cautions ahead. Soon, we pass a few odd sights as we head north, including abandoned homes, makeshift junkyards, and even some inhabited dwellings! After crossing a small mountain pass, the group will make GREAT time on our way to Rice, Nevada, on smooth graded dirt roads.
Soon we will be travelling from Rice, towards Needles, NV. This section includes more high-speed roads where we the group will make good time! After traveling north for a good distance, the trail will make a right turn (Northeast) towards Needles. This is a gas line road, which will take us up and over MANY hills in succession. If you can endure the relentless series of head-spinning hills without stopping, we will eventually be taking the trail along the highway and up to an onramp on the I-40, taking onto the highway and into Needles. We will once again be topping off our tanks, and then heading into Arizona!
The group will then take a short drive through town, and hit the dirt just after a power plant in Needles. This first climb up the hill is very soft and sandy. 4WD may be required when climbing this section! Those of you wanting more of challenge may want to attempt in 2WD… the choice is yours! After that, we will be crisscrossing under the power lines and over a few hills towards Oatman. There are some great views on this road, and eventually it will dump us onto the highway where we will take a right-hand turn to the East, into Oatman.
Oatman is an old western town, with wooden sidewalks and original buildings from the Wild West. The town is a very popular tourist destination, so driving through the main road will gather a TON of attention in our large group! Be careful for wild burrows that frequent the town, and walk down the streets. After leaving Oatman, we'll be taking a left turn onto another well-maintained road which will lead us back into Nevada, to Laughlin.
The sun will be setting soon (if it hasn't already) and drivers fatigue will be setting in as we travel into the night, the level of excitement and difficulty increases! The first leg will be an enjoyable high-speed narrow trail through a tight maze of joshua trees, before cutting north towards Searchlight. These wide open roads are perfect for the night, where our light bars and spotlights light up the night as the group roars across the desert, adrenaline soaring, keeping all participants awake for our final leg into Las Vegas. This last leg is mostly high speed, and has some VERY enjoyable twisty, yet wide-open roads where your drifting skills can be finely tuned! There are very few surprises on the trail, and we will once again be able to relax and make good time on this final leg into Vegas. After the trail comes to a head, we will be peeking over the mountain and into the neighborhoods of Henderson. From Henderson, we will regroup and travel as a group on the highway into Las Vegas.
We will stay in a group, and be traveling up the strip together to our final destination of the "Hard Rock Hotel" in Las Vegas. Some of the previous drivers will tell you, there's nothing like roaring down the strip with a dozen or more Raptors! We will drive to the Hard Rock Hotel where the Valet's will be waiting to take care of our trucks for the night. Depending on the time of our arrival, a celebration of sorts will commence, as we take a group picture commemorating our accomplishment.
Those participants wishing to spend an extra day in Las Vegas will be provided with admission passes to the “SEMA” convention starting on Tuesday, October 30th. This is a rare opportunity for many people, giving participants the chance to visit one of the biggest and best automotive conventions in the world! About the SEMA Show | SEMA Show
All in all, the Land Rush events are a one-of-a-kind experience that you truly have to experience to appreciate. From the pre-running and mapping, to the trail system that is planned, to the overall experience that each driver participates in… All will gain a new appreciation for the Ford Raptor. In addition, every driver will walk away with a better understanding of their truck, and of their own limits as drivers, all while building on their existing skills and forming new friendships.
