Experienced by: Leon L. Brittain, Photos by Garvin St Villier
To say the 2022 XDA WPGC Bike Fest was hot and heated this past weekend would be an understatement. Track temperatures at Maryland International Raceway reached a scorching and sticky 140+ degrees, and the forecast approached triple digits. Yet, the weather was not enough to deter more than 700 racers from staking their claim to victory. Equally on fire was the off-track action consisting of live music by New Impressionz and an always entertaining Baggers vs. Slingshots audio contest with Slingshot SSTakeOver creator James McRae and Team Money Cycles’ founder Rickie Will.
Fitting in seamlessly with this action-packed Powersports world and red-hot action was Throttle Life and Automotive Rhythms’ 2022 Cayenne Red Tintcoat GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X as part of our Adventure Tour which GMC presented. Affectionately known as “Big Red,” we paired the full-size pickup with a 1000cc sport bike provided by our friends at Heyser Cycle in Laurel, MD, and securely strapped the 2-wheeler into the 63.9 cu-ft bed with room to spare for additional equipment. And we can’t forget the oh-so practical Multi-Flex tailgate with an integrated Kicker Bluetooth audio box. Of course, embedded bumper steps also help with reaching over the tailgate.
Rickie Will is one of the pioneering personalities in the motorcycle audio industry that swung by to admire Big Red’s stylish cabin while discussing its 13,000 lb. towing capacity — plenty of power to haul the crew’s fleet of custom ground-shaking Baggers. Speaking of personalities, World Drag Race Champion and Caffeine & Octane host Rickey Gadson couldn’t resist jumping in the driver’s seat to revel over the 13.4” infotainment system featuring Google Interface, Google Assistant, and Bose Audio with stylish metal speaker grilles. Furthermore, drag race queen, race car driver, and brand influencer Dystany Spurlock also took time to pay respect to the Sierra AT4X since its presence and assertive front fascia stood out in the adrenaline race-fueled crowd.
Throughout the day, bike attendees studied Big Red’s features, from the aggressive, statement-making grille and red tow hooks to the classy Obsidian Rush interior with white piping and red stitching. The AT4X is energized by a 6.2-liter Ecotec V8 engine producing 420-horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with multiple driving modes and paddle shifters. More importantly, the truck handles various road conditions utilizing Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac LT 275/65R18 all-terrain rubber and an off-road suspension with a 2-in lift. Our vehicle’s MSRP is $73,300 with a $76,790 price-as-tested tag.
Stay tuned for more upcoming stops by Throttle Life and Automotive Rhythms in this Motorsports world of power and action. Let’s Ride!
