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An Off-Road Supercar That Prefers Anything But Pavement

Local Motors Rally Fighter

I had just passed the point of no return. Actually, that's not entirely true - I hadn't just passed it, I had hurled mud, gravel and everything else that got in my way as I transitioned from a sweeping arc of pavement onto a much slipperier surface of slightly damp, hard-packed dirt.

Suddenly, what moments before had seemed like heavy but reassuringly direct steering felt more like I was only able to send gentle suggestions to the front tires as to where I wanted them pointed. I couldn't let off the gas, having been told to hit the ramp at about 40 miles per hour, and an acute lack of run-up room meant I had to keep power fed to the massive rear Goodyear MTR Kevlar-laced tires in order to make my speed.

It was at this point that I began to question my insistence that I jump the Local Motors Rally Fighter so that I could accurately describe what it's like to earn one's four-wheeled wings.

It had all seemed like such a good idea a few moments before. Despite what should have been an ominous sign - our affable host and experienced off-road racer Buddy Crisp exiting the vehicle just before the most dangerous stunt we'd attempt (gleefully offering to hold the camera), I had clicked myself into place using a three-point safety belt whose tightly knit weave of nylon appeared woefully inadequate for keeping me in the seat in the event of The Unthinkable.

Luckily for me, it didn't. The Local Motors Rally Fighter sailed 40 feet through the air with more grace and aplomb than the Wright Brothers' first flight. And, though none of us were there to witness Orville and Wilbur's Kitty Hawk triumph back in December of 1903, I'd bet our landing was far less eventful than theirs.

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Local Motors Rally Fighter [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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