Segway 970 Takes On BITD Silver State 300
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
Team 970 Race Recap - Jacob Zuccone & Sam Rode
"What an honor it was to be the first team in the world to compete in an off-road desert race—part of one of the most renowned racing series in the United States—behind the wheel of the all-new Segway Super Villain SX20!"
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
What an incredible race. The nerves were high at the start, with the weight of this groundbreaking moment on our shoulders. But all the hard work, the sleepless nights, and the preparation over the past month were finally behind us as we sat on the starting line, ready for battle.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
We had a game plan: run a conservative pace due to the limited test time before race day. But the second that green flag dropped, all the pressure melted away. We were locked in, focused, and determined to bring the Super Villain to the finish line—just 300 miles ahead.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
The first 150 miles were spent getting a feel for the car—how it handled, how it reacted, and how we functioned together inside it. My co-driver Sam and I worked on syncing up our communication and learning the limits of the vehicle. It wasn’t until after Pit 3, in the faster sections of the course, that we started to push a little harder. The open terrain allowed us to stretch the legs of the Super Villain, and while we never hit our usual race pace (wanting to ensure a clean finish), we did reach a top speed of 101.8 MPH before Pit 4—an impressive feat considering the car was bone stock apart from mandatory safety modifications.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
By the second half of the race, Sam and I had really found our rhythm. Our cornering was sharper, our callouts were spot on, and we even made a few clean passes. Leaving Pit 6 with just 25 miles to go, it all started to feel surreal. We were so close to finishing something truly historic.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
Crossing that finish line was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. We had built this car on a brand-new platform, and after 300 brutal miles, it crossed the line without a single issue. That says everything about the quality of the Super Villain SX20 and the effort our entire team poured into this project.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
A massive thank you to Segway Powersports and Segway Factory Racing for the incredible opportunity. We’re already looking ahead to the BITD Vegas to Reno race in just three short months.
Photo Credit: Harlen Foley / @harlenfoley @dirtnationmag
To everyone who helped us along the way—Evolution Powersports, EVP.MOde, Freiday Racing, Rugged Radios, PRP Seats, HPR, Metal FX, MAXXIS Tires, DRT Motorsports, Zuke Designs, Proline Wraps, and Star Stream—thank you for keeping us connected and competitive.
And a special shoutout to our pit crew and our families—your support means the world to us!
