PVT

TONOPAH — Casey Folks, president of the Best In The Desert Off-Road Racing Association, won approval of Nye County Commissioners Tuesday to hold the 14th Annual Vegas to Reno Race Aug. 20.

The event — billed as the “longest off-road race in the United States” — is 534 miles, beginning just south of Beatty and finishing near Dayton, east of Carson City.

Folks indicated to commissioners he did his leg work: getting approval of the Beatty Town Board; permits from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Highway Patrol; as well as agreements with Esmeralda, Mineral and Lyon counties.

Folks said he had a $3 million insurance certificate and talked with Nye County Public Works Director Dave Fanning and Tonopah Road Foreman Stretch Baker. Folks said he got permission from two private property owners: Bob Bottom, in Esmeralda County, and the Beatty Cattle Company.

David Spicer was hired to do road maintenance on the first 50 miles, he said.

County Commissioner Joni Eastley invited Tonopah Town Board member Horace Carlyle to speak, to verify that Folks met with that board as well.

Folks only wanted the waiver of a county requirement for a $50,000 bond.

“I’m only using one mile of Nye County roads and not even crossing any Nye County roads this year,” Folks said.

Commissioner Lorinda Wichman made the motion to approve the race, providing Folks met with Fanning, who wanted to know what road Best In The Desert would be using in Nye County.

There won’t be a pre-race fun run this year, Folks said. It’s also going back to a one-day schedule, he said.

Preliminary plans show that there will be 16 pit stops; the exact locations will be announced on the Web site www.bitd.com before the end of the month. The staging area is at the Aliante Hotel in North Las Vegas, 108 miles from the starting line.