Tragedy threatens to end off-roading

LOS ANGELES -- Fans of off-roading have seen the number of federal sites where they can speed and soar over the Southern California desert dwindle to a handful, mainly over environmental concerns.

Now, safety concerns threaten desert racing.

A federal review announced Monday into a weekend race accident that killed eight and injured 10 more in the Mojave Desert could prompt further restrictions -- or even spell the end -- of the sport, off-roaders fear.

"Whatever it takes to make it better," race promoter Lou Peralta said. "But we don't want to lose the sport."

A truck went off a jump in Saturday's California 200 race and crashed through spectators who had lined the course, immediately raising questions about oversight and safety at the races on federal land.

The Bureau of Land Management, which manages the portion of the desert where the race was conducted, will review all off-road vehicle events on federal land in the California desert for safety.

The BLM said the race organizer, South El Monte, Calif.-based Mojave Desert Racing, was responsible for safety. No one appeared to be home Monday at the address listed for MDR. Calls and e-mails seeking comment were not returned.

BLM rules require drivers to travel 15 mph or less within 50 feet of bystanders, but the requirement appears to be aimed at controlling general traffic in the camping and pit areas and not at competitors themselves.

MDR's permit allowed no more than 300 spectators for the event, but at least 1,000 people attended the free-admission event, and the California Highway Patrol estimated the truck was going 45 to 50 mph when it careened off the sand track.

It wasn't immediately clear how the BLM review would affect racing in other states, such as Nevada and Arizona. Several major desert races are run on federal land in Nevada, and the Best in the Desert series' Vegas to Reno race from Beatty to Dayton is scheduled to begin Friday. Casey Folks, who owns the Las Vegas-based series, was marking the 535-mile course Monday and was unavailable for comment. But the organization's website (bitd.com) indicates the race is expected to be run as scheduled.

BLM spokesman David Briery declined to comment in detail on steps the agency might be taking to ensure the safety of spectators in the aftermath of Saturday's accident or whether criminal charges might be filed.

The agency said it was open to "all options that would increase the safety of spectators."

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to comment.

Off-roading fans were abuzz Monday, speculating about what the accident could mean for a sport that draws thousands to the Mojave every year to ride dirt bikes, ATVs and buggies across the sand.

For the weekend race, huge crowds gathered to watch dozens of competitors race their trucks along a 50-mile track through the desert, circling the course four times in a bid for the fastest time. The event is part of the seven-race California Series staged near the Mojave cities of Lucerne Valley, Barstow and Ridgecrest.

The BLM permit allowed as many as 80 racers Saturday. It wasn't immediately known how many were racing.

Documents for MDR's permit indicate they pledged to have an ambulance on scene, had notified local hospitals of the race and had secured insurance, as required by the BLM.

Another race promoter, Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiasts in Barstow, met with BLM officials Monday to discuss the status of a Sept. 11 race planned for Lucerne Valley, the same area where the accident occurred. Officials said they wouldn't be able to tell the promoters the fate of the race until late next week, but the company is bracing for the worst, said Ron Matthews, the race director.

"This is very serious," he said. "This is going to change a lot of things."