The big one. Forty miles of dunes, Oldsmobile Hill on a holiday weekend, and the culture that built this whole industry.
The big one. Forty miles of dunes, Oldsmobile Hill on a holiday weekend, and the culture that built this whole industry.
A naturally aspirated engine loses roughly 3% of its power for every thousand feet of elevation — thinner air, less oxygen, less burn. Here is what that means at Glamis · Imperial Sand Dunes, machine by machine:
| Machine | Rated | At ~300 ft | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris RZR Pro R | 225 hp | ~223 hp | −1% |
| Can-Am Maverick R | 240 hp | ~238 hp | −1% |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 | 200 hp | ~198 hp | −1% |
| Polaris Xpedition | 114 hp | ~113 hp | −1% |
| Yamaha YXZ 1000R | 112 hp | ~111 hp | −1% |
Standard atmospheric derate, naturally aspirated. A supercharged machine holds manifold pressure as the air thins — boost pays the elevation tax for you.
Paddles, obviously. Near sea level your machine makes its rated power — here, the dyno sheet is the truth.
Put the power back →Conditions, fees and access change — always check the official Glamis · Imperial Sand Dunes page before you haul. Elevation approximate; derate figures are standard atmospheric math, not dyno claims.