ON DECK: Off-road racing is anything but boring

Since my good friend John Blabe saw fit to tell everyone how my stories about off-road racing put him to sleep, I would be remiss if I didn’t follow up with a word or two about … off-road racing.

The season gets into full swing this weekend with the Best In The Desert Parker 425.

This is a bruising, punishing race that is also a tradition with many racers, whether they compete in BITD, SCORE or another sanctioning body. Why? Because it’s Parker, baby! It dates back to the mid-1970s; it’s had as many as 500 entries; and it’s seen the likes of Malcolm Smith, Ivan Stewart, Parnelli Jones, Walker Evans, Rod Hall, Mickey Thompson and other greats give it their best, and succumb in the desert.

No doubt John has no clue who any of those guys are, but it doesn’t matter because I’m sure he’s already asleep.