Best In The Desert Looks Towards 2021 Off-Road Schedule

While Best In The Desert prepares for the final two events in the 2020 series, the Jagged X National Desert Cup Presented by Quantum Motorsports on September 25-27, 2020 and the BlueWater Desert Challenge on October 22-25, 2020, the organization is already looking ahead to 2021 to set new standards in off-road competition.

 

The 2021 schedule will feature a wide variety of off-road races including five races for cars and trucks, six races for UTVs and motorcycles, and five races for quads. Highlights include the 25th anniversary of the legendary “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno race to be held on August 11-15, 2021, the all-new UTV Legends Championships in Laughlin, Nevada tentatively set for March 24-28, 2021, and the return of the historic motorcycle classic World Hare and Hound Championship in Tonopah, Nevada on May 21-23, 2021. Best In The Desert’s 2021 season will also see the return of the Triple Crown Series which, combined with normal Best In The Desert payouts, will see event bonus purses exceed $600,000 in 2021. While the dates for races have been marked, Best In The Desert is still working behind the scenes to name title and presenting sponsors which will be announced at a later date.

The 2021 season will start off strong in Parker, Arizona in mid-January with the Parker 425 open to cars and trucks and will also feature a pre-run of the course open to the public. The Parker 425 is switching dates with the Parker 250 which will now be held in mid-February and feature UTVs, motorcycles, and quads. These legendary events are not only swapping places but will also launch the 2021 Triple Crown series for their respective classes.

The series will then head to Laughlin, Nevada on March 24-28, 2021 for the all-new UTV Legends Championship which will include poker runs and fun events for non-racers. Best In The Desert competitors in UTV, motorcycle, and quad classes will have another opportunity to battle for a championship title. The UTV Legends Championship will be a chance for racers to bring the whole family and introduce new friends to the sport to enjoy a week of roaring engines, swirling dust, and comradery.

 

Spring of 2021 will also be exciting with the return of the Silver State 300 starting just north of Alamo, Nevada on April 29-May 2, 2021. All eyes will be on the 300-mile point-to-point race as the winning title is a prestigious accolade with high stakes and huge payouts. One of the most notable events on the 2021 calendar is the World Championship Hare and Hound in Tonopah, Nevada on May 21-23, 2021 which will resonate with any true fan. The World Championship Hare and Hound was one of Best In The Desert’s first events in 1984 that solidified the organization as a true racing series. The motorcycle-only event will feature tough terrain that will give the best motorcycle riders worldwide a run for their money and bragging rights as World Champion of desert racing.

 

Summer of 2021 will end with the legendary “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno. 2021 marks the 25th year of the 500-mile race from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada. In honor of the silver anniversary, for the first time in the history of the event, the “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno will run “The Other Way,” starting in Reno and finishing in Las Vegas. It also marks the second round of the Triple Crown with payout bonuses in excess of $67,000. Off-road aficionados should be sure to put August 11-15, 2021 on their calendars for the 25th-Annual “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno.

 

Best In The Desert will finish the year strong with the Laughlin Desert Classic in late September and BlueWater Desert Challenge in early November, both challenging races with the BlueWater Desert Challenge being the final opportunity to win the Triple Crown which means there is serious money on the line.

 

Any Best In The Desert series year is an exciting one but 2021 will be even more spectacular. With a challenging but highly successful 2020 behind them, the organization is ready for the 2021 series; ready to bring back traditional classics, ready to celebrate the silver anniversary of founder Casey Folk’s favorite, and ready to move forward with a new trove of race organization experience.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

The ALS Association Nevada Chapter, a 501(c)(3) organization serving those with ALS throughout Nevada since 2004, has converted its annual dine-around event into a “dine-in” evening featuring entertainment, celebrated dishes, and signature cocktails at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

 

“Food is Art is one of our largest annual fundraisers, plus it is always a fantastic opportunity to connect with our community,” said April Mastroluca, Executive Director of the ALS Association Nevada Chapter. “In the absence of being able to get together to raise needed funds, we want you to have a terrific time enjoying food, drinks, and having fun while we share the importance of The ALS Association Nevada Chapter for people with ALS right here in Nevada.”

 

This year’s event will honor members of the ALS multidisciplinary team, made up of neurologists Dr. David Ginsburg from Roseman University and Dr. Jon McKinnon from Las Vegas Clinic, along with other clinicians who provide services to those with ALS at ALS Clinics in Las Vegas. Bryce Krausman,  owner of local eatery DW Bistro, will serve as the event’s emcee.

Participants will have the choice of preferred experience by purchasing packages which include essential items for an at-home gala such as ALS’ signature drink, elevated appetizers, sommelier-selected wine and flowers for a centerpiece. Guests will receive access to all recipes and video instruction for the dishes and drink preparations. Package sizes range from two to ten and add-ons including caviar are available. The grand package will include a chef to the guest’s home to create and serve six different hors d’oeuvres, a cheese board, ingredients to create the evening’s signature cocktail, plus two other cocktails, one bottle of champagne, four bottles of wine, two flower arrangements, and dessert.

Leading up to the event, anyone may participate in the Food is Art virtual silent auction at bidpal.com/FIA2020 beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and ending at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27.

 

The Food is Art event is organized by a committee led by Steve Arcana, COO of Golden Entertainment, Inc. “This event means so much to me and my family as my mother was taken from us as a result of contracting ALS,” said Arcana. “The time and passion committed every year is something that we are all very proud of, and this event wouldn’t be possible without the support of an incredible group of sponsors, volunteers and attendees.”

 

Food is Art sponsors include Golden Entertainment, Inc., UnitedHealthcare, SecretBurger and PodWorx.  In 2019, Food is Art raised more than $200,000. Ticket prices start at $100 and are available for purchase here. All proceeds will benefit the ALS Association Nevada Chapter. For more information on the event and the ALS Association Nevada Chapter visit www.alsanv.org.

 

 

For the second year in a row, Las Vegas Home Stager Gayle Novak’s very own brand of “magic” has awarded her the top honor from The International Association of Home Staging Professional (IAHSP) of BEST OF HOME STAGING – TRIFECTA – Staging Excellence, Client Care Excellence, and Industry Leadership. Novak, who has owned her own company, Enhance Your Home LLC, in Las Vegas for the past 13 years and has an A-Plus Rating from the Better Business Bureau, was the only Stager from Nevada to have won the award and was one of only 80 Home Stagers internationally to receive it among IAHSP’s 5000 members. Novak is nicknamed “The Residential Illusionist“ because when she appears, she has the ability to make both vacant and occupied homes “disappear” off the market within three weeks or less; some actually having sold in a few days.

Novak explains that Home Staging is the act of preparing a house for sale in a coordinated method using knowledge of real estate, home renovations, and creative design to attract the widest variety of buyers. Its goal is to create a warm, inviting atmosphere in the Seller’s house so that more Buyers want to purchase it. Even in this time of COVID-19, Novak, who wants to help the community as much as she can, is offering three different options for those wishing to sell their home during this difficult time of social distancing.

For those still living in their homes, the first option is called Enhance Your Home’s Regular Consultation. Working with Novak’s concept for occupied homes, which she calls the “3 D’s — Declutter, Depersonalize, and Décor Touchup, her team comes in and removes any excess furniture, accessories, and personal items and creates a Staged space.  The fee for these projects varies based on the work that needs to be done. The Second Option is a Virtual Consultation for Staging Your Home. Via the Zoom App, Novak and team meet the Seller and explain the importance of Staging and what her company can do. Novak then videotapes a “Walkthrough” of the house. Afterwards, she and her team create a step-by-step Staging Success Plan for the client. In this way, they can help the Seller Stage the home 1) by providing a Staging Success Plan, 2) by allowing the Seller to do the Staging on his/her own schedule 3) by still maintaining a safe social distance and 4) by offering the Staging plan at a low cost. The Third Option is for vacant properties and includes design and rental services. Novak and team create a Design Plan and bring in all the furniture, artwork, and accessories. They then remove everything when the house is sold. The fee for vacant projects varies based on the size of the house.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) cite the following statistics:  97% of Buyer’s Agents said Staging affects the Buyer’s view of the home (NAR);  Homes Staged prior to going on the market sell in 90% less time (RESA), and  56% of Seller’s Agents said Staging increases the dollar value of the home (NAR).

Novak is the only home stager in Las Vegas who holds an MBA and a Certification in Staging and Redesign as well as a Luxury Home Staging Designation. She is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), and has also earned the coveted designation of RESA-PRO. In addition, through RESA, she is also a Nevada State Accredited CE Instructor and is available to teach Continuing Education Classes to realtors every month both in person and via Zoom. She can be reached at 702-956-3838 or at [email protected].

 

A close friend, who I haven’t seen for a while, dropped me a note via our email connection. Not only is he a personal friend of this writer, but he has a ton of others who read this column. So, with his permission, I am letting all of you hear from Kirby St. Romain:

 

Well, gang, hope you had a great holiday weekend.

I’m outa here!