By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff
Nothing says summer in North Idaho like a weekend of camping in the great outdoors. It helps if there’s also the sweet sound and scent of high-octane, race-fueled offroad trucks in the air, and the chance to see those vehicles battle it out on a specialized five-part course.
A vehicle attempts lift off at the Purcell Trench Ranch in 2016. Photo by Blaine’s Offroad Videos.
The Fourth Mountain Havoc professional off-road vehicle competition is next weekend, June 8-10, at Mountain Mafia Entertainment’s Purcell Trench Ranch, located at 518995 N. Hwy 95 in Bonners Ferry.
Friday kicks off the festivities from 12-11 p.m. with an introduction to each truck and crew, as well as a tow test drag race. Saturday features a jump track, rock course and more, leading to food, drinks and prizes from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday wraps up the weekend with an “extreme course,” followed by an awards ceremony, all from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Mountain Mafia is Mac Miltz, Ben Spinney and Grey Whittier. They said Mountain Havoc is built around the concept that every truck has advantages and disadvantages. The fastest truck may not be the best on a climbing track, for example.
“The idea is to give them variety, so each competitor can showcase strong suits,” they said.
They also noted these aren’t your average mud bog rigs. Havoc features 20 of North America’s best off-road drivers and trucks.
“It is hard to peg exactly what these trucks resemble,” Mountain Mafia said. “Think Mad Max. Think Monster Trucks. Think 1,000-plus HP with nitrous. Think 50-plus-inch tires on military bomb-proof axles.”
Mountain Mafia isn’t just an off-roader’s brand, either. The company wants to be a brand for all outdoor enthusiasts. That’s something that will be highlighted on their upcoming show to air on the Velocity network. Velocity is a Discovery channel affiliate, and Mountain Mafia said it’s the largest automotive enthusiast network in the world right now. The show’s name stays true to the topic — “Mountain Mafia” — and it will air every Saturday after Thanksgiving from 8:30-9 a.m. until the start of the new year. After the episodes air, they’ll all be available on Amazon Prime.
As a result, spectators at Mountain Havoc can anticipate live filming during the weekend, and may even have a chance to see themselves on TV in a few months.
Mountain Mafia admitted the fact they’re working on their own TV show hasn’t quite sunk in.
“The best thing that puts us in the moment is when the event’s going on and we see our vision and all our hard work at that moment being put to the test,” they said.
Admission to Mountain Havoc is $30 for adults, $10 for ages 6-12 and children 5 and under are free. Day rate available Saturday and Sunday. Camping is free with admission.
There are no pets allowed at this event, and those under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Mountain Mafia prides themselves on being a family-friendly company.
Learn more on Mountain Mafia’s Facebook page, or by visiting www.mountain-mafia.com.
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