ah... Ken, Ken, Ken. Not a "real" other forum of racing? I can probably introduce you to some people that would beg to differ. These folks are SERIOUS... to the point of full factory rides, chassis tuners, motor men, PC based dynos running off a lap top, mosfet electronic speed controls, variable tire compounds including "dual compound," carbon fiber, titanium, unobtanium and everything else you can conjure up in the way of go fast equipment.
May I introduce you to the 1989 Michigan 4 Wheel Drive Off Road State Champion and runner up 2 Wheel drive champion... eh em... yours truly. LOL
And, as Administrator of the national organizing body, I hosted two World Championships with drivers from 28 different countries and over 30 National Championships. I organized the largest off road event in the history of the "sport" with 630 entries.
The 1990 World Championships was a 10 day affair.. in which we raised $50K in sponsorship. The "Worlds" were the culmination of three national sanctioning bodies, (US, Europe and Asia) forming an International organization to oversee the rules. They were held every other year, with each body taking their turn as host. So, they would only be here in the states, every six years. Each driver was selected via a qualifying process outlined by each sanctioning body. But, it was by invitation only.
And if you have any doubt that it's real, consider one Japanese manufacturer came to my warm-up race six weeks prior to the event and actually took back dirt samples from my track so they could figure out tire "spike patterns" and compounds.
Serious enough for you?
JT