CASEY FOLKS
A RACING LEGEND
An avid off-road racing enthusiast and legendary competitor, Best In The Desert Founder Casey Folks wore many hats throughout his five-decade career in the sport—including competitor, promoter, land-use advocate, businessman, ambassador, friend, and father. He passed away on January 12, 2017, and his life was celebrated by countless off-road racing fans, business associates, his loving family, and his extended Best In The Desert family. His limitless passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the sport of off-road racing continue to drive everything we do at Best In The Desert.
A Racing Legend
A champion racer, Casey competed in nearly every type of off-road event throughout the western United States—including local desert races, hare scrambles, hare and hounds, and classics like Barstow to Vegas, the Greenhorn Enduro, and Mint 400. Internationally, Casey raced in the Tunisia Rally in North Africa, in over 30 races in Baja, and was the 1st rider to solo and finish the Baja 1000 on a motorcycle. From the start, Casey proved to be a tough and smart competitor. A sixteen-time MRAN Number 1 Plate holder, Casey and partner Tom Scales dominated the Southern Nevada racing scene with overall and class wins at the prestigious SNORE 250 and top overall finishes at the Mint 400 and legendary Barstow to Vegas Hare and Hound.. As his racing career progressed Casey dominated the Vet classes in Baja throughout the 80’s with racing legend Max Switzer as his primary partner. Competing at various times for both Husqvarna and KTM Casey’s racing career was long and productive and extremely competitive. The only thing that slowed Casey was his role as an off-road race promoter, where Casey ultimately focused all his competitive energies.
A Fearless Founder
Casey launched Best In The Desert in 1984, hosting the World Championship Hare and Hound and the Las Vegas 400, the two top professional motorcycle races of that era—ultimately building Best In The Desert into a powerhouse of off-road motorcycle racing. In 1996, he took Best In The Desert one step further by introducing the “Vegas to Reno” race and adding cars, trucks, and quads to the program. This was the birth of “The American Off-Road Racing Series” and “Vegas to Reno”, our flagship race which is now recognized around the world as the longest off-road race in the United States. In addition to Best In The Desert Casey also founded the Motorcycle racing Association of Nevada and its premier club the Groundshakers which are both still going strong today. Casey was a born leader and played pivotal roles in the championship careers of his sons Bryan and Daryl Folks as well as AMA Hall of Famers Scot Harden, Jack Johnson and Danny Hamel.
An Industry Leader
Casey served as the American consultant for the Incas Rally in Peru and was the race operation manager and event coordinator for the Nevada Rally, representing the Italy-based company “Acerbis Adventure.” A treacherous 1,900-mile motorcycle endurance race that crossed the entire state of Nevada, starting and finishing in Las Vegas, The Nevada Rally brought top national and international off-road racers to Nevada in August of 1993, 1994, and 1995. To date, it is the only official raid rally event ever held in the U.S. Throughout his time as an industry leader, Casey brought the same level of passion to his role as a promoter as he did to being a champion racer—constantly challenging himself to set even higher goals. He promoted the Nevada 2000: A Race Into The Millennium, a 2000-mile one-way race around the entire State of Nevada in 2000, and, in 2002, the Nevada 1000: The American Adventure Continues. He ventured into Parker, Arizona, with the Parker 250, Parker 425, BlueWater Gran Prix, and the BlueWater Desert Challenge—always seeking out new and exciting courses.
Tradition that Endures Today
Life was an adventure for Casey, and he brought contagious excitement and energy to everything he did. Casey’s goal was to breathe new life into the sport of off-road racing, create exhilarating off-road challenges, and showcase the sport of off-road racing in an entirely unique way. Casey Folks is a legend in the racing community and was a person you would be proud to call your friend. He invited everyone to live their adventure—just as he did every single day. Today, we are proud to continue the tradition Casey began—constantly working to garner excitement around off-road racing, take care of the land we enjoy, give back to the communities who welcome us, and build an exciting future for this incredible sport.