Longest off-road race in U.S. to roll through Nevada

Hundreds of motorcycles, buggies, trucks and ATVs will race across the Nevada desert in what's billed as the longest off-highway race in the United States.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday it is processing a special recreation permit for the General Tire "Vegas to Reno" race, a 30-hour, two-day marathon.

It begins at 5:30 a.m. Aug. 14 just south of Beatty and ends at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 in Dayton, just 15 miles east of Carson City.

The 545-mile race, now in its 19th year, is put on by the Best in the Desert Racing Association.

BLM officials said the race route will use a combination of maintained gravel, rough dirt roads and washes on public lands through Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, Churchill and Lyon counties.

There will be 14 designated pit locations along the way, which will be staffed by event staff and pit captains. The public can view the race at the start and finish areas, as well as at the pit and checkpoint areas.

So far about 100 motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle and 200 trucks or off-road buggy racers have signed up for the event.