XP1K
The new 2014 Polaris RZR XP1000 is the most powerful and advanced UTV to hit the market yet. With the launch of this machine, Polaris has completely reset the performance bar, and there is no better combination of fun and performance, especially for the price. We wanted to build on that platform and show the world how incredible the XP1000 is – so we created XP1K.
UTVUnderground.com and Mad Media tapped our friend, championship UTV and Pro-Lite racer RJ Anderson to pilot our 2014 Polaris RZR XP1K machines, and together we put down a dream list of stunts and tricks that we could stitch together into a single, over-the-top video.
We assembled an off-road dream team to build two RZR XP1K UTV’s, so that we could attempt the most fantastic and challenging UTV stunts ever filmed. Our RZR XP1K machines started out as bone stock 2014 Polaris RZR XP1000’s – and were built into race ready vehicles with the help of suspension master Randy Anderson (Walker Evans Racing), UTV racecar builder and racer Mark Holz (HOLZ Racing Products), engine and drivetrain guru Kevin Kroyer, (Kroyer Racing Engines), and Polaris RZR turbo expert Trey Lokey, (MCX-USA Turbos). We also got a ton of support from the technicians at Polaris – who were instrumental in helping us breathe life into these cars.
The location we picked for XP1K is called Eagle Mountain. It’s an abandoned iron mine just East of Palm Springs, California that has been used in several TV commercials and movies. Our video doesn’t feature futuristic killing machines (Terminator), but it was the perfect off-road playground to showcase RJ Anderson’s aggressive driving skills, car control, and the power and durability of the new RZR XP1000.
The goal of this project was simple. We wanted to share our love of UTV’s with the world.
We wanted to put YOU in the drivers seat, and let you feel what it’s like to smash the gas pedal and GO!
Who is RJ Anderson?
The next generation of professional off-road racers has been cutting their teeth racing in the Pro UTV class since the introduction of sport UTV models in 2007. RJ Anderson is the leader of that movement. He was the 2011 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS) Pro UTV Unlimited Champion, while also competing in the Pro-Lite truck class. He earned an astounding twenty-six podium finishes competing in LOORRS in 2011. That same year RJ was the named the TORC Rookie Of The Year and the TORC Pro-Lite Championship runner-up. A year later in 2012 he took eleven LOORRS podiums including five wins in the Pro Lite class, and was named the 2012 LOORRS Pro-Lite Champion and Dirt Sports Magazine Short Course Driver of the Year!
In addition to RJ's pro career at Lucas Oil, he is also the most feared competitor at the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) where he competes for Factory Polaris in the Pro UTV class. If the equipment holds up RJ wins and his record shows that winning and finishing on the box is not a problem! RJ's racing career has also made way for numerous stunt-driving opportunities. He has appeared on set for Polaris numerous times and most notably appeared in 2 of UTVUnderground's featured viral videos for Polaris in 2012, the Polaris RZR Tour Moto Track Takeover and RJ Anderson's Vehicle Breakdown filmed during the Polaris Camp RZR event in Glamis, CA.
RJ has been surrounded by professional racers his whole life, and is a student and friend of off-road race champion and living legend Walker Evans. RJ’s father Randy Anderson worked as Walkers crew chief starting in 1980, and soon after became a partner at Walker Evans Racing when it was formed. Randy Anderson is one of the foremost authorities in off-road wheels and suspension. RJ has the off-road industries best sponsors backing his race program and is indeed, the future of off-road racing. For more on RJ visit www.RJ37.com
UTVUnderground.com
The owner and founder of UTVUnderground.com is Joseph "Joey D" DiGiovanni. Joey lives and breathes UTV racing, dunning, rock crawling, mudding, and anything related to off-road and the UTV industry. Joey has built the UTVUnderground.com website into the most informative and entertaining portal for UTV action on the planet. The UTVUnderground.com forums boast thousands of hard-core UTV enthusiasts that swap stories, photos, and information on builds and mods. Joey played a pivotal role in the co-production and distribution of XP1K. He’s the UTV guru that worked with RJ and The Martelli Brothers to make XP1K as outrageous as possible.
The Martelli Brothers
The team of Matt and Joshua Martelli, aka “The Martelli Brothers”, have directed and produced hundreds of web films, dozens of commercials, TV shows, films, etc. They are best known for producing and directing the first three installments of the Gymkhana film series with Ken Block. Their cinematic creativity and hands on approach to film production is unparalleled. You won't see these guys lounging in a director’s chair - they are passionate about what they do, and they like to get dirty.
Mad Media
Mad Media is a San Diego based marketing and production group that has been producing authentic and dynamic print, web and film work for over twenty years in action sports, motorsports, and general automotive. They have won forty plus awards in the past two years for their commercial television work, viral video campaigns, and online content. Mad Media is the production team behind Gymkhana 1, 2, and 3 – as well as the annual Mint 400 off-road race coverage. They work closely with UTVUnderground.com on a variety of film and TV projects. The entire XP1K campaign including creative concept, design, print, merchandise design, pre-production, film production and editing, and distribution/activation was conducted from the Mad Media headquarters, with heavy input from Joey DiGiovanni and RJ Anderson.
About Polaris®
Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and small vehicles. Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com .
Safety First
Hey…don’t try this stuff at home…especially in a stock UTV! The XP1K videos and photos feature a heavily modified race machine on a closed course – driven by a professional, with a safety crew on standby. RJ makes it look easy. But trust us – theses are very dangerous stunts that should only be watched for fun. UTVUnderground.com, The Martelli Brothers, Mad Media, and all of our project partners remind you to always wear your seatbelts and a helmet when operating or riding in a UTV. We accept no liability whatsoever for injuries or vehicle damage incurred while trying to (stupidly) emulate or copy these stunts. Please do NOT send us pictures or video of you attempting your own UTV stunts. Refer to your owner’s manual for more information on safely operating your vehicle. Do not attempt.
Dedication to Rick Huseman
The filming of this project is dedicated to the memory of Rick Huseman. Rick was a professional off-road racing champion, and a great friend to all of us involved in the XP1K project. We had a plan in place before his untimely passing to film with him at Eagle Mountain – and we did so with his memory in our hearts. Rick was a true champion, and a man among men, and is survived by his wonderful wife and son. You will be missed but not forgotten. Race in peace brother. Rick Huseman (July 9, 1973 – October 16, 2011)
