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Continued from page 1 The testing process also includes races.
Coffel volunteered that High Lifter is an
accessory design partner with Polaris on the new
Polaris Ranger RZR. The RZR has competed in
events using a High Lifter 2-inch lift kit, High
Lifter Outlaw tires and wheels, a snorkel system
among other modifications. “We took it out into
a real-world competition to see how it stacked
up against the other bikes,” said Coffel.
The High Lifter facility also includes a
showroom where the company sells its products
and exhibits prototype products. “We exhibit
some kind of prototype that has never been seen
before,” said Coffel. Most recently visitors to
the showroom saw a “freak show” Polaris Ranger
RZR fitted with a 15-inch lift kit and 31-inch
Outlaw tires. “There is nothing else like it in
the world,” quipped Coffel.
The company has a network of 2500 dealers
around the world. Basically, the criteria for
being a High Lifter Products dealer is to have a
business that is in some way related to ATVs and
that business must make a very, very small
qualifying order. Coffel volunteered that an
owner of a florist shop once requested to become
a High Lifter dealer. “We joke about that now.
We say that only florist shops can’t be a High
Lifter dealer,” joked Coffel.
Maxxis Mudda-Cross |
The Mud Nationals for Business and Pleasure
To help in the marketing of High Lifter and its
products and to help the company get closer to
its customers, High Lifter produces the Mud
Nationals every year. The five-day event, takes
place at the Mud Creek Off-Road Park, a 3,500
acres facility in Jacksonville, Texas. The Mud
Creek Off-Road Park features rolling hills,
swamp land, river bottoms and dry areas. “If you
are a two-wheel driver, you can come and ride on
dry trails all week long and never touch mud. If
you’re a mud rider, you can come and ride in
muddy creek bottoms all week long and never
touch a dry trail. It’s a place where everybody
can ride,” said Coffel.
The first Mud Nationals took place in 2003
and were held in Long View, Texas.
The Mud Nationals includes eight
competitions. They are:
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Mud-A-Cross
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Dynojet Bad 2
Da’ Bone Competition
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Poker Run
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Kiddie Bog
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Team Gorilla
Run
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Super Trapp
Mud Bog
The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals Moose Utility
Division Mud Chic Shoot Out
The Mud-A-Cross is a mud race held on a
circular or oval shaped course with varying
depths of primarily water with a soft bottom.
Two or more ATVs at a time participate in
side-by-side elimination heats until the final
race for the winners. The course is primarily
muddy water. The depth is about 1-foot to 4-feet
at the deepest point and most of the course will
be 2-feet to 3-feet with underwater humps and
holes. Snorkels and extended vent lines are
recommended because the depth of the water can
exceed the height of the air intake on some
ATVs.
The Dynojet Bad 2 Da’ Bone is a competition
that rates the modifications done to an ATV.
Quad owners and their quads are present in a
booth and spectators come to them and view the
modifications done to the quad, get an
explanation of the modifications from the quad
owner, and ask questions of the quad owner
concerning the modifications. Then spectators
vote on the quad with the most impressive
modifications.
The Poker Run is a five station race. At the
completion of each station, the racer draws a
poker-playing card; and that card is punched. At
the end of the five-station race, the
contestants turn in their five punched cards
which are then reviewed by event staff. Winners
are determined by the poker hand of the five
cards. High hand wins and low hand wins. If
there is a tie, there is a high-card draw to
determine the winner.
The Kiddie Bog is a mud race for racers
between the age of 6 and 15.
SuperTrapp Mud Bog |
The Team Gorilla Run is a two-man cross
country mud bog/endurance race. Two team members
leave the starting line at the same time on
either two ATVs or one. Teams leave the starting
line in about one-minute intervals. Each team
must reach checkpoints and must receive proof
from the checkpoint station attendant that they
were there. When teams reach the halfway point,
they must turn and head back to the finish line
through a marked trail. The two team members
must finish the race on either two ATVs or one.
Fastest time wins.
The Super Trapp Mud Bog is a mud race along a
designated course. If any part of a racer’s ATV
crosses the designated boundary and thus goes
out of the course, that racer is disqualified.
The Moose Utility Division Mud Chic Shoot Out
is the women’s division of the Super Trapp Mud
Bog race.
There is no pre-registration to participate
in Mud Nationals events. Instead, participants
register at the event.
Last year’s Mud Nationals had a total of
12,400 participants, said Coffel. It is not a
spectator event. “The Mud Nationals is a
five-day cross between Woodstock, Sturgis, and
the infield of a NASCAR rally,” said Coffel.
According to Coffel, competitors from at
least three countries and 20 or so states
participated in last year’s Nationals. “People
travel from Maine and Alaska to be a part of the
event,” said Coffel.
High Lifter uses the Mud Nationals to get
more involved with its customers. “It gives us
an opportunity to see our customers every year
and for them to see us,” said Coffel. “It also
allows us to see our products at work in a real
world environment. It is also a great way to
increase business. The Mud Nationals is an
event. People come here as part of their
vacations. Also, when they get ready for the Mud
Nationals they will buy High Lifter
modifications and products for their ATVs. After
the event, they may need to fix something on
their bike; or they may want to improve
something and they buy High Lifter products that
do that.”
Company Website
Finally, the company has a website (www.highlifter.com).
The site includes information about High Lifter
Products, serves as a platform where consumers
can buy products, provides information about the
company’s R&D department, and also includes
forums and chat rooms for ATV enthusiasts.
Coffel noted that the forums have been live
for about six or seven years and provides a
communication tool for High Lifter customers.
There are about 25,000 active members. Forum
topics include:
Discussion of Nitrous Related Material
Riding Areas and Meet New People
Tech Questions
Member Photo Galleries
Club Talk
Visitors to the forums can also discuss the
upcoming or past Mud Nationals, find out how to
maintain and repair their ATVs, and get factory
information on ATVs made by Polaris, Arctic Cat,
Can-Am BRP, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha,
Recreational Utility Vehicles, sports quads,
etc. There are even classified ad forums where
you can buy or sell ATVs and/or ATV parts and
accessories.
It’s hard to believe that all of this started
with a hobbyist and the creation of a lift kit
in the backyard of a home in Shreveport,
Louisiana. However, thanks to fate, ATV riders
and racers can seek the help of High Lifter
Products for improvements to their ATVs and
participation in mud racing. So, if you’re not
afraid of a little mud, High Lifter can help you
get down and dirty.
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