Dave Mason Jr. Proclaims His Love for the Big House of Crandon
Performance
Motorsports
Motorsports fans know they need to be in Indianapolis for Memorial Day weekend. Fewer enthusiasts know about getting to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for Labor Day weekend.
That’s where you can join tens of thousands of fans for the legendary short dirt course known as The Big House. Crandon International Raceway - opens in new window or tab., the venue’s official name, is the last stop on the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road season. At 1.5 miles, it boasts the highest speeds of the series.
Photos: John Willie/JW Power Media
We were there this year for the 53rd annual World Championship Off-Road Races. The legendary weekend attracts top teams and drivers from around the world. Teams come out to race their UTVs, buggies, and trucks. There are also race classes for kids.
The talent is top-notch, represented by Pro 2 or Pro 4 classes, as well as desert, rally, drift, circle-dirt, and rock crawling.
Meet Dave Mason Jr.
Photo: John Willie/JW Power Media
Racing is often a family tradition. Dave Mason Jr., a second-generation champion off-road racer, drives a Pro 2 truck—a 750 horsepower, two-wheel-drive race truck built on a standardized racing chassis. Mason, a second-generation driver from Encinitas, Calif., is sponsored by eBay Motors.
Photo: John Willie/JW Power Media
Mason Jr. said:
My dad started racing in 1986. He went to his first race in Riverside, California, and became addicted as soon as he saw it.
Mason Jr. started racing in a trophy kart when he was 12. He progressed through the ranks by competing in limited buggy and pro buggy classes. When he’s not competing in his Pro 2 for the short course season, he’s racing his Class 1 desert off-road buggy in Baja Mexico.
Photo: John Willie/JW Power Media
Mason Jr. described the skills you need to drive the nimble, lightweight Pro 2 trucks:
The Pro 2 two-wheel drive class is a finesse class. You are not really hammering it and driving it super hard. You’re not just throwing it into the corners at full throttle. It’s about using the momentum through the corners to go fast and then trying not to break traction and spin the tires coming out. You have a lot more power than you can use coming out of a corner.
The Land Rush
Photo: John Willie/JW Power Media
The first turn of any motorsport venue is usually action-packed. But the Potawatomi Turn 1 at Crandon is a must-see. The race starts with a land rush. Imagine 10 or more vehicles lined up, launching at the same time and hitting over 100 mph heading to the first dusty corner of the track.
Mason Jr. said:
My crew chief Steve Barlow told me, ‘Just don’t lift. No matter what, just keep rolling through the corner even if you’re mid-pack and getting mudded out. Just don’t lift because you’ll get run over. The people behind you are standing on the gas.’
Photo: Andy Noggle/Noggs Photography
Despite not being able to see anything through the dirt, Mason Jr. held the throttle down. He was fourth coming out of the turn.
Mason Jr. said:
There is no other thrill like it.
Crandon Is an Experience
Photo: Andy Noggle/Noggs Photography
To kick off the weekend, Crandon’s main street shuts down for a parade. The small town’s avenues are lined with race vehicles.
Spectators can walk the pits, getting an up-close look as crews prepare vehicles for the rigors of the course. Families can snag a dump truck ride around the course or try their hand at R/C car racing.
For this one weekend, at night, Crandon doesn’t feel like your average small town. Live bands provide musical grooves. Families gather around flickering fires at their campsites.
Photo: Aaron Guell
Just when you think Crandon can’t deliver anymore, it does. While walking to pick up popcorn after the Pro4 race, a stranger walked up to my five-year-old son and handed him something. It was off-roading champ CJ Greaves, who handed over his winning Pro4 medal to keep. My son is now a fan for life.
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