OFF-ROAD 1

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:25:44 PST

DAKAR 2010 LIVE TRACKING

HOT NEWS HERE

BREAKING NOW

Off-Road 1.com LIVE ! Henderson Classic December 4 & 5

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:26:47 PST

Off-Road 1.com LIVE ! RACE COVERAGE OF THE HENDERSON CLASSIC

Race Results LOADING NOW>>>So Far>>>

Official Results Henderson Classic Off-Road Race

1. Andy McMillin
2. Jesse Jones
3. Sam Berri
4. Will Staats
5. Kory Holopoff

2009 BITD Henderson Classic from Paradigm Productions on Vimeo.

Vegas To Reno 2009 The Race-Rally From Hell, LIVE! in Las Vegas August 18-23 Tuesday-Sunday 2009

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:47:15 PDT

Unofficial Results Vegas to Reno the Long Way 2009

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL ONLINE RACE PROGRAM

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=52b31515d1" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;LIVE! VEGAS TO RENO OFFICIAL LIVE OFF-ROAD1.com FROM LAS VEGAS!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

TEAM CHM - TT#1 QUALIFY RUN - VEGAS TO RENO from Off Road Videos on Off-Road1.com.

LIVE ! Vegas To Reno 2009 Contingency Replay

Mexican Radio, McMillin Team, Barbara Terry and off-road fans interviewed at Contingency one day prior to the Vegas To Reno 2009 start. Recorded Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

FOURTH VEGAS TO RENO REPORT FROM SO-CAL

CLICK HERE FOR THE Barbara Terry-Encinitas FORD RAPTOR Podcast From San Diego Tuesday, August 18. LIVE! ONLINE SHOW FROM THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE - Listen In!

Barbara Terry Announced Exclusively with Off-Road 1.com Saturday, she'll be racing the Raptor-R in the Vegas To Reno.
LIVE Appearance in San Diego Listen In>>>

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;from=sp&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;vid=92c4ba1f-dd91-41bd-9781-76d529acaaeb" target="_new" title="Barbara Terry's new ride"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Video: Barbara Terry's new ride&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;CLICK HERE EXCLUSIVE 'BORN IN BAJA' LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD

CLICK HERE EXCLUSIVE RAPTOR GREG BIFFLE DEMO DRIVE

CLICK HERE EXCLUSIVE RAPTOR-R BAJA 1000 & SEMA

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CLICK HERE BORDER PATROL RAPTOR SERVICE?

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (that’s him in the center) greets “Jubilee!” showgirls in the Golden Nugget before making his grand entrance to a party celebrating his 70th birthday at the Fremont Street Experience.

From The Kats Report- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman turned 70 on July 26 and celebrated the event Friday night on Fremont Street during a variety show starring Wayne Brady, Zowie Bowie, Nathan Burton and the women from “Fantasy” at Luxor. Something for everyone, I guess. I realize that last week, we went with a list about Goodman -- the veritable swizzle stick that stirs the Bombay Sapphire martini -- pulling highlights from his give-and-take with Sunset Thomas. But you only turn 70 once, and we’ve plucked the Top 7 Favorite Oscar Goodman Quotes from our soon-to-be-termed-out mayor. The list marks one for each decade:

7. “A showgirl and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin.” – Response to a fourth-grader at Jo Mackey Elementary School who asked what Goodman would bring with him if he were ever stranded on a desert island.

6. “I'm technically in charge of a city of about 600,000, but all 1.8 million people in the valley here think I'm their mayor. I do nothing to dissuade them. When I pick up the phone, I just say, ‘It's the mayor.’ – Referring to his self-appointed position as mayor of the Las Vegas Valley during an interview with FHM magazine.

5. “I'm looking for the other 14 (percent) so I can have them whacked.” – Response to a poll that gave him an 86 percent approval rating, and his opinion of the 14 percent who did not approve of his job performance.

4. “I’d take one Betty over 100 showgirls any day,” -- Referring to Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign designer Betty Willis during an art exhibit of Las Vegas signs at S2 Art Center.

3. “It's where I took all of my best mobster clients.” – Referring to the old La Concha hotel during a charity event raising money for the transport of the lobby to the Neon Boneyard.

2. “In the old days in France, they had beheading of people who commit heinous crimes. You know, we have a beautiful highway landscaping redevelopment in our downtown. We have desert tortoises and beautiful paintings of flora and fauna. These punks come along and deface it. I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb. … That may be the right thing to do.” – During an appearance on the Reno-based “Nevada Newsmakers” issues-and-affairs show.

1. “When I ran for mayor, I was told, ‘Take off your pinstripes and roll up your sleeves and wear khakis,’ things like that. But that’s not me. I knock on doors, and little old ladies up in Summerlin say, ‘Hey, it’s the mafia lawyer! Come on in and have some cookies and milk!’ I love it!” – On why he will not change his image.

SECOND VEGAS TO RENO REPORT FROM LAS VEGAS

TSCO"Vegas to Reno" Final Information - this is most of what was included in the race packet that went to all of the entered Riders and Drivers of record

Click here to download the 3 page Final Information letter

Click here to download the Special Rules & Work Area Letter

Click here to download the Supplemental Rules

Click here to download information on how to purchase the Special Gift

Click here to download a diagram of Camp Adventure - Tonopah

Click here to download a diagram of Camp Adventure - Hawthorne

Click here to download a diagram of Work Area in Hawthorne

TSCO"Vegas to Reno" Final Information

Draw Order for Start Positions

Schedule of Events

VtoR Entry List

VtoR BFG Order Form and Pit Letter

VtoR Pit Book and Drawings

Camp Adventure Reservation Form

VP Racing Fuels Order Form

VtoR Chase Mileage - Pit Mileage

2nd Information Letter and Updates

Phat-Kat Catering Available

Blais MCQ Pit Support Order Form

Storm-OV Help Keep Our Lands Open

Blais Racing KTM Pit Support Details

TSCO "Vegas to Reno" Intent List

Results from Story Contest

Ultra 4 Entry Form

Pit Crew Insurance Release Forms

Car and Truck Entry Form

2009 TSCO "Vegas to Reno" The Long Way Press Release

Motorcycle and Quad Entry Form

Minor Release Form

UTV Entry Form

First Information Letter

Hotel List & Day by Day Schedule

Mileage List & Pit Names

TSCO "Vegas to Reno" Nevada RV Rentals

TSCO "Vegas to Reno" Iritrack Order Form

Thanks for BLM Letters

"Vegas to Reno" Past Class Winners

2009 TSCO "Vegas to Reno" Contest Letter

OFFICIAL COURSE BOOK VEGAS TO RENO

Click here to download Pit Book Day 1

Click here to download Pit Book Day 2

Click here to download Pit Book Day 3 - Part 1

Click here to download Pit Book Day 3 - Part 2

Click here to download Pit Book Drawings Day 1

Click here to download Pit Book Drawings Day 2

Click here to download Pit Book Drawings Day 3

Click here to download Pit Book Mileage Charts - Day 1-2-3

FIRST VEGAS TO RENO RACE-RALLY REPORT FROM LAS VEGAS:

The Vegas to Reno off-road race -- which will actually run from near Beatty to near Reno -- has been lengthened to 1,000 miles this year in a three-day staged event Aug. 20-22, according to Casey Folks, director of the Best In The Desert Racing Association.

After being denied permission to use Nye County roads last year, Folks was granted permission this year in a total turnaround in attitudes by the county commission.

The 997-mile event is billed as "the longest off-road race in the United States." It was typically 525 miles in the past.

Folks said he expects about 275 entries for the Vegas to Reno race which includes cars, trucks, motorcycles and quads. Already 250 entries have been received, the deadline to apply for the draw for starting positions is July 30 but drivers can enter up to Aug. 19.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management Tonopah Field Office is conducting an environmental assessment of the race. Nye County Commission Chairman Joni Eastley said comments for the assessment are due at the BLM office by July 30.

"I'm really proud of you because our relationship has come a long way in two years. You've done a great job," Eastley told Folks.

That's a major change from previous years in which Folks faced frequent complaints by county commissioners over the condition of roads after the race.

Eastley said this time Folks went with Nye County roads officials to review the route before hand and donated money in communities like Beatty.

Folks told commissioners he went over the race route with Acting Public Works Director Dave Fanning and road supervisor Stretch Baker. He said their only concerns were over traveling on the Sterling Mine Road near Crater Flat just south of Beatty and avoiding a turquoise mine near Ralston.

"We will be going through Gabbs. Unlike a lot of rural areas they want the race running right through town," Folks said.

Jim Marsh, owner of two casinos in Tonopah and the Santa Fe Saloon in Goldfield also wrote a letter of support.

"Casey's off-road race brings a sorely-needed boost to rural Nevada," Marsh wrote.

Racers plan to spend the first night in Tonopah after starting near Beatty. They will take a roundabout way through Coaldale and Lone Mountain, west of Tonopah.

The first leg measures 333 miles as opposed to only 93 miles via the direct route ordinary motorists use on Highway 95.

The second day, racers will travel from Tonopah through Goldfield and finish at Hawthorne, traveling via Mina, a 372-mile segment. The third day they will finish up going from Hawthorne to Dayton, about 20 miles east of Carson City, riding through Luning, Mina and Gabbs.

Drivers will be able to use the Joe Friel athletic fields at Tonopah High School. Folks said he donated money to the Muckers high school athletic program and the principal granted them permission to use the field.

Folks said they wanted to start the race farther south at Nevada Joe's in Lathrop Wells but had to move the starting line closer to Beatty because of concerns about the desert tortoise.

Beatty mining entrepreneur David Spicer will grade one road up to Bonnie Claire that is unofficially a county road that is the only county road being used for the race, Folks said.

Folks asked commissioners to forego requesting a bond, which cost him $1,000 last year.

Folks said he got approval from the Beatty town advisory board and the Tonopah town board.

On the Best In The Desert Web site, Folks said Spicer worked diligently with the BLM to find an alternate route around Beatty to avoid the Amargosa toad.

A mandatory impound will be used this year. Race vehicles will be stored there after the days race in a secure area.

Best In The Desert formerly sponsored the Terrible's 250 off-road race in Pahrump during April, which has moved to Primm, where the Herbst family, owners of Terrible's Town and Terrible's Lakeside Casinos in Pahrump, have three casinos.

Station Casinos has sponsored the 2009 Vegas to Reno Race-Rally, please visit their property and support American Off-Road Racing!

Off-Road 1.com

Off-Road 1.com Official Participant Maps 2009

VIDEO FROM 2007 VEGAS TO RENO RACE

OFF-ROAD1.com

Off-Road Veteran Uncle Max Passes, Off-Road 1 Salutes

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:37:32 PDT

Off-Road 1 Salutes Uncle Max of KLPZ Parker, Arizona

Uncle Max, a commentator with KLPZ every year for the Parker 425 off-road races since the early 90s, has passed into Off-Road History at a California hospital after suffering an aneurysm and associated brain hemorrhage. He remained in a coma for several days after doctors say he suffered some brain damage.

Max was a veteran of the sport of off-road racing and was well-known by many, particularly other long-term racers and fans and of course KLPZ listeners. His sister Linda is a Parker resident and part-time employee at KLPZ.

Off-Road 1.com Salutes Uncle Max and KLPZ for the amazing coverage of the Historic Parker Desert Race.

EXCLUSIVELY ON OFF-ROAD 1.com

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO UNCLE MAX's GREATNESS FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

In Honor of Off-Road Legend Uncle Max, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009 IN CAL CITY, CA - THE MAX A. NORRIS "UNCLE MAX" DESERT PARTY ANNOUNCED!

"Everyone who knew Max is invited. Bring your cars, bikes, quads, pre-runner, etc. as Max's ashes will be scattered over the desert, from atop MAX’s Hill.

But first the party:

1.) Starts Saturday, October 3, around Noon.
2.) Various games and fun things to do including a Poker Run (2 p.m. - $10.00 entry – 100% payback) and a Long & Accurate Drive contest (3 p.m.), for those of you who are into golf.
3.) Bring your camper, motorhome, trailer, there will be plenty of room to park—on-a-first-come-first-serve-basis, however as it is on private property, you can also park in the open desert. Signs will tell you where. proxy_current_url, Proctor and 138th, Alta Vista Rancho.
4.) The CHECKERS will provide plenty of booze, however we also recommend that you bring your own if there's something you especially like or would like to share with others. Likewise, we'll have food, but we just don't know how many people will be attending, therefore we ask that you bring anything you'd like to eat. We will have one or two extra large BBQ units that we can use to cook up your meat, chicken or fish.
We believe that there's going to be hundreds of people attending. SO POTLUCK IS IN ORDER. Again, it is on a first-come-first-serve-basis.
5.) Bring your "MAX Tales." There will be plenty of time to regale us with those great stories of “Uncle Max.” If you want to be included in the program and be in front of the mic, please send us your name and approximately how long it's going to take you to tell your favorite “Uncle Max” tale. Fair warning; if any of the CHECKERS don't like your story or it's too boring, or you're too drunk to tell it, we'll drop you in our DESERT pool (by that time of the day, you don't even want to get near it). No sense making everyone else miserable.
6.) NO SAD STORIES. This is MAX's party, he wished it to be fun and wild. We'll roll you down the hill if you tell any sad stories.
7.) Anyone who is planning to imbibe in excess, you must deposit with our CHECKERS “Sergeant of Arms” the keys to your vehicle, motorhome, etc. You will NOT be allowed to drive home if you've even touched more than one beer. BEWARE: We’ll stretch a rope across two hills, and if you can walk across without falling 30-feet, you’re not drunk! So plan on staying the night.
8.) Dinner will be around 6 p.m., again help the cause and bring something with you. Please tell us what you'll bring so that we don't wind up with 200 apple pies, or 150 cheese cakes or 2000 rolls. Potato salads, regular salads, fruit salads, spaghetti, Chateau Brien, or Filet Mignon, Tri-Tip, Kam Pao Beef (just kidding), all that stuff is good.
9.) Around 8 p.m. we will all take a ride to MAX'S HILL, about 3.5 miles from all activities. It's all off-road and there's no need for you to get on any streets. There's also no need for you to be a "hot dog" during the parade, or show off and roll it because the DIRT TEAM of CALIFORNIA CITY will deal with you otherwise.

We'll ride to the top the hill (everyone should make it, if not then walk up, it's not that high), say a few words about the old FA R T and spread his ashes, and then let the party really begin.
10.) We'll return to the main compound where there will be music, dancing to a live band and prizes awarded.
11.) If you have banners representing your race team, your club or your businesses, bring them, we have a great place to put them. Bring your own shade and chairs as well.
12.) We also have several other desert games planned to pass the night away, like the "Mini-bike Jousting, the Jack-Off-Road Challenge, and the world famous, never before seen outside CHECKERS PARTIES, the BBBs."
13.) Everyone is welcome to stay overnight (recommended), and in the morning, help pick up your mess and that of others and realize that you have experienced one of the greatest CHECKERS OFF-ROAD DESERT PARTIES EVER!

For more details or to contact us to RSVP, please e-mail to: info@altavistaevents.com Hope to see many of you October 3!"

Off-Road 1.com

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:02:22 PDT

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:26:39 PDT

Terribles 250 2009 Wraps LIVE! Coverage and Best In The Desert Off-Road Race

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sat, 02 May 2009 09:25:03 PDT

Best In The Desert Primm Nevada God Bless The Terribles Family! Wonderful Contributions to Off-Road Racing. Next Time You're in Nevada, Have some Fun, Stay In Primm!

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAM

CLICK HERE FOR RACE UTV RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR RACE 1 2 LAP RACE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR RACE 1 3 LAP RACE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR RACE 2 OFFICIAL RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT PRIMM Terribles 250 RACE PICS

ON THE POLE... from Jack Bridges on Vimeo.
Off-Road 1.com LIVE! From Primm Nevada Pics and Story

Crash in Blinding Silt Dashes Andrew's Effort Late at
Terrible’s Race Ending Win Streak at Three

The age-old saying, “they come in threes,” spelled out the end of McMillin Racing’s three-race win streak. It was a disappointing outcome for McMillin Racing at the Best in the Desert’s Terrible’s Town 250 desert race after an unfortunate crash in the blinding silt ended the hopes for the team’s fourth consecutive victory.

Poised for the opportunity to make history in one of the most competitive classes in off road racing, the unlimited truck class, McMillin Racing strategically had planned for Andy “Bebo” McMillin to race the 207-mile sprint race alone, without changing drivers.

Scott McMillin explained, “We felt Andy could easily run the entire race on his own and we could save seconds from completing a driver’s change. The southern Nevada desert offers very challenging terrain, however we knew that we needed to run a fast pace to stay up front.”

Spring boarding off of three consecutive wins, the young McMillin racer was poised to make history by claiming his fourth consecutive victory in the unlimited truck class. The #31 McMillin Homes truck was second on the starting grid after a stellar qualifying effort. The strategy was to run fast and wait for the leader to make a mistake.

After two 69-mile laps, the unofficial timing in the McMillin Racing pit showed the #31 truck ahead on time by a mere 30 plus or minus seconds. The main pit was abuzz with anticipation as “Bebo” began his final lap.

Only minutes later, as the crew began to gather up the fueling equipment, the race frequency came alive as Andy reported they were involved in a crash with the physical race leader, Jerry Whelchel. In fact, Whelchel, who was only seconds in front of the McMillin race truck, had crashed into a limited class truck that was stopped and buried in the deep Nevada silt. While Whelchel attempted to get his truck out of the cloud of silt, the #31 unknowingly drove at speed directly into the path of the trapped race vehicles.

“We’re relieved that no one was injured. Unfortunately, racing incidents of this nature do occur from time to time. Andy and his co-driver, Brady Thompson, did a great job at getting out of the accident and back in the race as fast as they could. Once they were out of the jam and back in clean air, they raced hard for the final 62.5 miles of the race,” explained team manager Greg Williams.

Bebo drove across the finish line in third place among the Trick Truck class and finished fifth overall with a time of 3 hours, 48 minutes and 3 seconds. The #31 McMillin Homes truck was less than 5 minutes off the winning time of 3:43:18. This important podium finish earned Andy McMillin the point lead for the 2009 Best in the Desert Series championship in the elite Trick Truck class.

Seated in his truck Andy said, “Wow! That was crazy! We never saw the stopped trucks in the blinding silt. All of a sudden, they just appeared and by that time it was too late. I’m really glad that no one was hurt. I’m surprised that the front of our truck was not more damaged. After finishing the second lap, we felt we were in the right spot for this 3-lap race. The truck was running perfect and we had no flats all day long. Then out of nowhere appeared the #40 truck and well the rest is history. That mishap cost both of our teams the chance to race to the finish.”

The F-150 Raptor, Ford’s new off-road performance truck was put through its paces by Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle Thursday, at Primm, Nev.

I was lucky enough to tag along with Biffle as he drove the truck though a course that had been set up in the desert adjacent to the Nevada-California state line. Biffle held nothing back as he pitched the truck sideways through the turns and caught some air on the course’s rough spots.

The Raptor is built to handle high speed off-road driving that would be impossible for a regular four-wheel-drive production truck. After winding the Raptor up to 75 miles per hour on the course’s short straightaway, Biffle pitched the rear of the truck to the right as he used the rear wheels to steer the burnt orange colored pickup through the first turn. I was doing everything I could to try to look cool and unconcerned as we went sideways though the corner.

Biffle and off-road racing champion Rob MacCachren were on hand to drive the Raptor as part of Ford’s efforts to promote the new truck.

MacCachren and Biffle also took turns driving the Raptor R, which is a race-prepared version of the street Raptor that is shown in the photos below. This was the truck that competed in the Baja 1000 and it will be competing in this weekend’s Best in the Desert Terrible’s 250 at Primm.

Biffle driving the Raptor R/By: Mike Smith

Off-Road 1.com Qualifying Results:
Time Trial Results for Class 1400 and Class 1500
Ovl
Pos Veh
Num Cls
Pos Class/
Div Time On
Course Avg
MPH Driver Of Record Vehicle Make
1 1 1 1400 00:02:53.562 43.56 Chet Huffman Ford
2 31 2 1400 00:02:58.359 42.39 Andrew McMillin Ford
3 1555 1 1500 00:02:59.171 42.19 John Harrah Jimco
4 1549 2 1500 00:02:59.484 42.12 Sam Berri Jimco
5 1528 3 1500 00:03:01.140 41.74 Chuck Dempsey Jimco
6 1517 4 1500 00:03:01.625 41.62 Kevin Colan Bunderson
7 1570 5 1500 00:03:01.953 41.55 Kory Halopoff Unknown
8 1516 6 1500 00:03:02.968 41.32 Derrick Sproule Aceco
9 2 3 1400 00:03:03.843 41.12 Pete Sohren Ford
10 94 4 1400 00:03:04.125 41.06 Steve Strobel Jimco
11 71 5 1400 00:03:05.218 40.82 Rick D Johnson Ford
12 1518 7 1500 00:03:05.375 40.78 Chuck Hovey Jimco
13 1506 8 1500 00:03:06.453 40.55 Dale Dondel Racer Eng
14 1522 9 1500 00:03:06.468 40.54 John Cooley Alumicraft
15 35 6 1400 00:03:06.875 40.45 Jason Voss Ford
16 1546 10 1500 00:03:08.609 40.08 Steve Raskett Porter
17 1558 11 1500 00:03:09.031 39.99 Tony Smiley Tatum
18 1571 12 1500 00:03:09.203 39.96 James Scott RPS
19 5 7 1400 00:03:09.593 39.87 Todd Jergensen Chevrolet
20 1586 13 1500 00:03:11.546 39.47 Shawn Croll Ford
21 1575 14 1500 00:03:11.703 39.44 Pat Dean Bunderson
22 1559 15 1500 00:03:11.968 39.38 Steven Appleton Jimco
23 1563 16 1500 00:03:12.343 39.30 Richard Boyle Unknown
24 1511 17 1500 00:03:12.578 39.26 Erick Jacobs Jimco
25 1536 18 1500 00:03:12.671 39.24 Pierre Lavie Porter
26 42 8 1400 00:03:12.703 39.23 Will Staats Ford
27 1564 19 1500 00:03:12.765 39.22 John Koltura Porter
28 1527 20 1500 00:03:12.765 39.22 Jerry Penhall Penhall Fab
29 65 9 1400 00:03:14.484 38.87 Lloyd Sproule Ford
30 1567 21 1500 00:03:15.218 38.73 Mike Bilek HMS
31 1579 22 1500 00:03:15.625 38.65 Rob Gibbs Dunebuggy.com
32 60 10 1400 00:03:15.921 38.59 Michael Voudouris Ford
33 39 11 1400 00:03:16.343 38.50 Ron Whitton Ford
34 1588 23 1500 00:03:16.453 38.48 Gary Weyhrich Ford
35 1504 24 1500 00:03:16.465 38.48 Steve Garcia Unknown
36 1513 25 1500 00:03:16.515 38.47 Todd Romano Tatum
37 1503 26 1500 00:03:17.312 38.31 Mark Weyhrich Ford
38 51 12 1400 00:03:19.562 37.88 Kory Scheeler Chevrolet
39 68 13 1400 00:03:19.859 37.83 Marc Ewing Chevrolet
40 56 14 1400 00:03:20.718 37.66 Kevin McGillivray Ford
41 1545 27 1500 00:03:21.156 37.58 Vince Galewick Dunebuggy.com
42 1587 28 1500 00:03:23.625 37.13 Darren Ebberts Ford
43 78 15 1400 00:03:24.750 36.92 Jesse Ashcraft Ford
44 1550 29 1500 00:03:35.625 35.06 Philip Mazzio Unknown
45 1581 30 1500 00:03:40.750 34.25 Charles Rodrick Dunebuggy.com
46 98 16 1400 DNF Jason Shick Chevrolet

Off-Road1.com and Sopwith Agree on terms on Terribles 250 LIVE! Webcast

Off-Road 1.com continues to offer the #1 Sources to Off-Road Racing in the West! The Best In The Desert Series is the "Best" Racing for Racers and Fans. "We are proud to continue our support of the sport and Casey Folks and Sopwith in our talks this morning", said Black e Media Group Manager Denise Yee.

We are really proud of Jeff, the "SurfRat" for his making it BIGTIME with Best In The Desert. Jeff's coverage was enjoyable of all the past races that we worked with the blacklisted SurfRat.

After the Laughlin race, that we promoted, Jeff was blacklisted by the Desert Racing Crackheads. Off-Road 1.com was proud to pickup his coverage and promote his work, he's a real professional. "The Mint 400 was a blast!", said Yee.

The Group has a long history with Best In The Desert. When Casey Folks was being "blocked" from getting Mexican insurance for his start-up races in Mexico, Casey called and received assistance from our group ownership.

"We guided racers through Tijuana too, back in those days", said Steve Davidson, part of the logistic services we provided to Best In The Desert racers, going into Mexico. The Baja Mex 300 was a great series of desert off-road races, started in 2002.

Since 2006, Off-Road 1.com has co-promoted Best In The Desert Series as THE place to race in the West. We are particularly proud of our Historic First LIVE! Webcast of the 2009 Parker 425, In Memory of "Radio" Bob Hynes, founder of the BFG Tire Radio Relay Service.

Off-Road 1.com

NASCARs Greg Biffle will race Best in the Deserts Terribles 250 in FORDs Raptor LIVE WEBCAST April 18

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:31:23 PDT

Off-Road 1.com LIVE WEBCAST UPDATE

April 16, 2009

The F-150 Raptor, Ford’s new off-road performance truck was put through its paces by Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle Thursday, at Primm, Nev.

Biffle and off-road racing champion Rob MacCachren were on hand to drive the Raptor as part of Ford’s efforts to promote the new truck.

Biffle driving the Raptor R/By: Mike Smith

UPDATE April 9. 2009:

Before Greg Biffle makes his way to Phoenix International Raceway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in a couple of weeks, he’ll swing through Primm, Nev., for an off-road race.

Biffle will take part in the Best in the Desert Terrible’s 250 driving a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R. He’ll go from Primm to Phoenix for the Cup race a few days later.

“When I think of Raptor the first thing that comes to mind is a proven off-road piece with its finish in the Baja 1000, and I think it’s a long-time overdue, if you want my opinion,” said Biffle, who is participating in the event’s Fun Run on April 16 before heading to Phoenix for Saturday night’s NASCAR event. “Up to this point, no manufacturer has built a truck like this. People had to do it themselves, so there’s a definite market out there and I’m excited about it. I’ve been paying attention and watching some of the desert testing that they’ve done and I can’t wait.”

The NASCAR Roush Fenway Racing driver, will be performing in "The Raptor", the off-road performance truck that goes on sale this summer, will be driven by Biffle in the Terribles 250 Fun Run at next week’s Best in the Desert's Terrible’s 250 at Primm, Nevada, just 40 miles out of Vegas.

Raptor SVT

The Raptor is a serious off-road vehicle that will be the nearest thing to a professional off-road racing truck that can be used as a daily driver. It will be powered by a 320 horsepower 5.4-liter V8. A 6.2-liter V8 will be available after the vehicle launch. If you’re into a BIG carbon footprint, this is the vehicle for you! Off-Road 1.com racing fans will be interested in hearing Biffle’s comments on the capabilities and performance of the Raptor.

Before Biffle graduated to the Cup cars, he was a NASCAR Truck Series champion. But this will be the first time he’s raced in an off-road truck.

“I really enjoy off-roading. I enjoy riding motorcycles. I enjoy my sand car,” said Biffle, who will be driving the F-150 SVT Raptor R being campaigned by former Ford Rough Riders Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges in all five Best in the Desert races this year. “I’ve never pre-run Baja or anything like that, and I might do that this year, but I’ve never really been in a specific off-road. I’ve watched the stuff on Speed a lot. It looks fun and it looks exciting to do, so I’d like to mess with it a little bit.”

Greg Biffle is a racer’s racer who will drive anything – anytime, anyplace – and that includes the new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R at next week’s Best in the Desert Terrible’s 250 at Primm.

Biffle, who is used to driving his NASCAR Ford Fusion around oval racetracks at close to 200 miles per hour, agreed to drive the F-150 SVT Raptor a couple months ago when Ford engineers were looking for some professional feedback.

“When I think of Raptor the first thing that comes to mind is a proven off-road piece with its finish in the Baja 1000, and I think it’s a long-time overdue, if you want my opinion,” said Biffle, who is participating in the event’s Fun Run on Thursday, April 16, before heading to Phoenix for Saturday night’s NASCAR event. “Up to this point, no manufacturer has built a truck like this. People had to do it themselves, so there’s a definite market out there and I’m excited about it. I’ve been paying attention and watching some of the desert testing that they’ve done and I can’t wait.”

A self-professed Ford truck lover, Biffle won his first NASCAR championship in 2000 behind the wheel of an F-150 in what is now known as the Camping World Truck Series. And while he works on a variety of vehicles at his race shop outside of Charlotte, NC, driving in the desert is something he’s never done until now.

“I think that I would be more of a closed-course guy than wide-open across the desert, not knowing what’s over the next hump,” continued Biffle, who has proven to be proficient in a car as well, having 14 career NASCAR Sprint Cup wins and a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship in 2002. “Just going wide open where you have no idea what’s coming up may not be the thing for me. I don’t even do that on the sand dunes. I get to know my area fairly well when I’m there, and then you can have a lot of fun.

“I think this is going to be somewhat similar. Certainly, it’s going to have some limitations over something like a sand car, but it’s going to do way more than a regular pick-up will do – or anything street legal you want to take off-road,” continued Biffle. “So, it’ll be fun to experience what it’ll be like to drive. I’m looking forward to it.”

Biffle’s personal favorite truck is the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, which is equipped with a super-charger and by his own admission “really goes,” and while he says he’s hooked on the F-Series diesel models as well, the vehicle he’s eyeing for his next purchase is the new 2009 F-150.

“I’ve always loved to not be limited in what I do, and rarely will you find something that you can’t do in a F-Series that you can do in a car. It goes through a drive-thru, fits in a parking garage, typically, and the trucks are so tough it can do everything you need it to do,” said Biffle. “I like the sight line of a truck, I like being able to put anything in it that I want at any time – to be able to pull trailers, just do anything I want to do. And, let’s face it, the trucks drive so well now that a large percentage of American people use the F-150 or F-250 for their primary vehicle – and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“I love my car, but any day I pick my F-150 over a car.”

Off-Road 1.com

MINT 400 Las Vegas Off-Road Racing 2009

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:26:22 PDT

Watch live video from Off-Road1.com

MINT 400 Coverage from Saturday, March 28, 2009

Las Vegas Off-Road Pre-Race Show #5

Las Vegas Pre-Race Show #4 CLICK HERE

Las Vegas Off-Road 1 Pre-Race Show #3

Las Vegas Off-Road 1 Pre-Race Show #2

CLICK HERE FOR Las Vegas Off-Road Pre-Race Show # 1

MINT 400 2009 Race Results and Wrap

Don Wall’s first encounter with the Mint 400 was quite a memorable experience.

But not a drug-induced haze that is often associated with the off-road race in Southern Nevada that gained worldwide fame from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 gonzo novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

Rather Wall’s reaction was one of childhood astonishment, stemming from the sheer size of the supped-up off-road rigs parked in downtown Las Vegas and their corresponding larger-than-life drivers.

After all, Wall, now the president of SNORE (Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts) was just a 12-year-old that day in 1979 when he laid eyes on legendary off-road driver Mickey Thompson for the first time.

“I was blown away by him, and really everything that was going on with the race. But for some reason the tradition and grander of it all really stood out to me,” Wall recalled on Saturday, during this year's running of the Mint 400.

Last year the event — that began in 1968 with Norm Johnson, who was public relations director for the Mint Hotel at the time — returned after a 21-year hiatus.

“It was an overwhelming response, a lot of positive feedback by everyone,” Wall said, of last year’s race. “But there were just a couple of traditional things that seemed to be missing.”

When Wall became director of the race for this year, he quickly went to work “improving on an already great start.”

Saturday’s event was moved from the Nevada-California state line to Moapa Valley, a half hour north of Las Vegas, where the original event was held. Wall also wanted to have a major presence downtown and thus had Friday's inspection and vehicle parade on Freemont Street.

“That was easy, the downtown casinos love us,” continued Wall. “I don’t even have a clue how much money we’ve helped bring in this weekend, but it’s a lot. There’s a lot of rebirth in that area right now and we’re glad to play a part in it.”

The harder part was jumping through legislation with the state of Nevada, officials from the Bureau of Land Management, and tribal members of the Moapa.

“We’re racing in Nevada, not Mexico. That right there is a huge paradigm change,” said Wall, comparing the Mint to the larger Baja races that take part in Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.

“We’ve had to jump through a lot of hurdles and dumped a lot of money to make it happen.”

So, was it worth it?

“Every bit. I’m so stoked that so many people came out,” said Wall, shortly after a throng of media members, helicopters fluttering overhead and fans cheering on tops of RVs cleared out after Andy and Scott McMillin crossed the finish line roughly seven hours after starting the 400-mile race at 7 a.m.

Indeed the scene felt more like the NASCAR event held in Las Vegas earlier this month as thousands of fans lined Interstate-15 to watch dirt devils of all shapes and sizes make their way through the dust and silt of the desert terrain. RVs surrounded the start-finish line while flags and banners of varying truck-part sponsors blew in the very slight breeze.

Andy Funk, who used to live in Las Vegas, but now resides in Portland, decided to see what all the fuss was about the historic race. He attend the Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier on March 1 and stayed to watch the Mint 400. He even is sticking around for next week’s NHRA action.

“My poor wife hasn’t seen me in a month,” Funk joked.

But there was no joking around for a thirsty McMillin, who after pulling himself free from his assortment of harnesses and security devices, he was ready for a “cold one,” rather than the typical energy drink most other motor sports drivers endorse in victory lane.

“It’s awesome,” said McMillin, as a buddy passed him a Coors Light.

“This is how it’s supposed to be with me and my dad right here in the winner's circle.”

Indeed the McMillin’s, including father Scott, who navigated the truck the first two laps, added their name to a winner’s list which includes their cousin, Mark, a victory of the event in the late 1980s.

“We had him out here watching all this before we ever knew if he could drive or not,” chuckled Scott about his son, Andy, who held off second-place finisher, Cameron Steele, despite having to repair a broken drive shaft on the third lap.

“There’s sure a lot of tradition here.”

Las Vegas driver, Rob MacCachren, got the bumpy drive down memory lane he was hoping for — securing a first-place finish in the Class ½ 1600.

“This is exactly how I remembered it. The course was very, very silty, making it hard to see. Very rough, but one great ride,” said a smiling MacCachren, who drove solo to claim his third individual title in the event's history.

The 44-year-old MacCachren — who finished in front of several higher-class vehicles Saturday — isn’t quite sure which series he will be racing in this year, but said he and his Rockstar Energy Drink/BFGoodrich-sponsored buggy will be a familiar vehicle on the off-road paths of Southern Nevada.

“SNORE and all the fans from Las Vegas did a great job this year,” he said. “I hope they can keep it out here and keep improving, because this is reminiscent of what the Mint 400 was all about.”

So much so that Wall — despite being in charge of nearly every aspect of the 200-plus car field, which will collect combined winnings of more than $80,000 — had to give the course his own seal of approval.

“I just had to get out there and see what it felt like,” said Wall, who raced two laps before handing the wheel to his daughter Alyson.

“It’s old-school, we’re going team Wall all the way. I love it.”

MINT 400 2009 START ORDER

BY CLASS: UT, 1, 10, 12, 16, HM, 8, Baja Protruck, 7, 18, 5/16, TL, 9, Stock Full, MM, 7s, 15, 13, 1450, 3, SB.

UT
1 Bill McBeath
2 Cameron Steele
3 George Rosenbaum
4 Andy McMillin
5 Bobby Baldwin
6 BJ Baldwin
7 Rick Johnson
8 Mark Ewing
9 Adam Householder
10 Rusty Stevens

1
1 Pierre Lavie
2 Rick Romans
3 Chuck Rodrick
4 Brian Coneen
5 Bill Bice
6 Vince DeJong
7 Terry Householder
8 TJ Flores
9 Mike Walser
10 Scott Buchwitz
11 Cam Thieriot
12 Ron Gibbs
13 John Hsu
14 Jerry Penhall
15 Steve Raskett
16 Todd Welling
17 Danny Anderson
18 Louie Serna
19 Mike Szlauko
20 Jeff Perkins
21 Vince Galewick
22 Kory Halipoff
23 Jeff Farris
24 Bill Billington
25 Richard Boyle

10
1 Mike Dunn
2 Jeff Zember
3 Ben Monroy
4 Ken Tapert
5 Kyle Woodward
6 Ron Carter
7 Pat Chicas
8 Bekki Wik
9 Matt Stevens
10 Will Higman
11 Robert Harman
12 Tom Bjorstrom
13 Michael Hanson
14 Larry Schumueser
15 John Hsu
16 David Greenhill
17 CJ Hutchins

12
1 Bryan Rice
2 Zak Langley
3 Jillian Rootring
4 Cody Freeman
5 Jeff Kawell
6 Billy Gereghty
7 Steve Fuller
8 Frank Baird
9 Wade Kelsay
10 Stuart Baxter
11 Brent Cook
12 Nick Dempkowski
13 Bill Gledhill
14 Lee Banning
15 Red Burgin
16 Rick Poole
17 Clay Lenard
18 Bryan Folks
19 Dave Campbell
20 Rob Smith
21 Justin “Bean” Smith
22 Kevin Martin
23 Jessica Freeman
24 Richard Garavito
25 Wesley Stevens

1600
1 Rob MacCachren
2 Patrick Nirschl
3 David Schweigart
4 Rick Boyer
5 Matthew Niles
6 Byron Ziegler
7 Dave Hendrickson
8 Robbie Madison
9 Jasper Dyer
10 George Jimenez
11 Jeff Farshler
12 Fernie Padilla
13 Eric Fiorino
14 Chris Boyer
15 Corey Goin
16 Justin “Bean” Smith
17 Bob Matthews
18 Kevin Denault
19 Curt Geer
20 Jason Coleman
21 Blaine Conrad
22 Orlo Cox III
23 Ed Maurin
24 Don Wall
25 Derek Bradley
26 Day Gang
27 Jay Shain
28 Mac Marmon
29 Mike Simpson
30 Bryan Matthews
31 Justin Davis
32 Ray Bokelman
33 Don Meyers

5
1 Todd McMiniment
2 Tomas Morales
3 Bill Zolg

5-1600
1 Glen Mayernick
2 Robert Gross
3 Brandon Kaylor
4 Darren Walsh
5 Richard Diaz
6 Colin Campbell
7 Raul Solano
8 Pat Dailey

9
1 Cory Bantilan
2 Chris Haney
3 Joe Forte
4 Vicki Lenard
5 Cody Rash
6 Cameron Blackley
7 Steve Vega
8 Mike Anglin
9 Bud Ward
10 Kevin Mattes

PRO TRUCK
1 Aaron Guthrie
2 Rob Clouser
3 Alan Levinson
4 Troy Vest
5 Rob Reinertson
6 Bill Driggs
7 Dave Mason
8 Jason Horsley
9 Rich Bachand

7
1 Jeff Harrison
2 Doug Chadwick
3 Charles Anderson
4 Marc Burnett
5 Travis Bozzano
6 Dallas Luttrell
7 Robby Woolworth
8 Ken Barker
9 Al Hogan
10 Chris Taylor
11 Robert Pickering
12 Britt Burgos

7S
1 Jason Hunter
2 Heidi Steele
3 Roger Byrd
4 Dave Blakley
5 Peter Garfinkle
6 Clayton Sullivan
7 Steve Rose
8 Brandt Anderson
9 Bill Billington

MM
1 Kevin Ellis
2 Dana Dague

TL
1 Louis Chamberlain
2 Glen Rolfe
3 Vance Smith
4 Gary Messer
5 Randy Blacker
6 Brock Hersam
7 Mike Jenkins
8 Eric Fiorino
9 Matt Armstrong
10 Billy Worthing
11 Bruce Finchum
12 Bruce Friesen

HM
1 John Vaughn
2 Jerry Zaiden

8
1 Andy Schifanelli
2 Ted Hunnicutt, Jr.
3 Mike Lowe
4 Dave Crinklaw
5 Sheldon Paul
6 Aaron Osborne

SF
1 Kent Kroeker

3
1 Donald Moss
2 Chuck Atkinson
3 Scott Maloney
4 Gale Pike
5 Chris Raffo

18
1 Chester Williams
2 Lucas Hand
3 Bob Dzuirawiec
4 Clint Braun
5 Mark Bass

15
1 Polo Ramirez
2 Rory Ward
3 James Corn
4 Richard Nichols
5 Ryan Cobee
6 Kevin Swanson
7 Jerry Stewart
8 Scott Foster
9 Bob Jordan
10 Mario Gesualdo
11 Greg Crew

13
1 John D.O. Houlton
2 Kelly Suiter
3 Billy Shapley
4 Holly Gill
5 Ashley Davis
6 Chuck Atkinson
7 Henry Velasquez
8 Courtney Collins
9 Thomas High

STOCK BUG
1 Garey Leavitt
2 Jeff Lee
3 Felipe Neri-Sanchez
4 Robert Johnson
5 Richard Palasik
6 Scott Goodwin
7 Dave Cote
8 Cory Vandermark
9 Ed Mahoney
10 Mark Murrell

1450
1 Chris Freas
2 Robby Woolworth
3 Jasen Harmon
4 Jim Borden
5 Andrew Leavitt
6 Joe Ruffo
7 Eric Ludian
8 Frank Russell
9 Gregg Zumwalt
10 Bob Land
11 Robert Kloes
12 Tim Scott
13 Garrick Freitas

MINT 400 2009 STORYLINE

The second edition of the revitalized Mint 400 begins north of Las Vegas, Today. The essence of the legendary desert race took over Fremont Street, Friday. One of the highlights of the original Mint 400, which ran from 1968 to 1988 before returning a year ago, was the convergence of about 500 race cars on Fremont Street the day before the race.

That glimmer came back on Friday when the nearly 240 race vehicles entered in this year's event will cruise from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Fremont Street in downtown en route to technical-inspection stations near Eighth Street.

The original Mint was held in 1968, but interest waned after the sale of the Mint hotel in the late 1980s. Las Vegas publicist Norm Johnson created the event as the Del Webb Mint 400 Off Road Rally, and the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts organization resurrected it last year.

Many teams spent Thursday morning pre-running the 100-mile course, which is about 30 miles north of Las Vegas.

The four-lap race begins at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The start-finish line is near the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza at exit 75 off Interstate 15.

Fremont Street Contingency Report

A brisk, sunny Friday afternoon on Fremont Street might have looked the same 20 years ago as entrants to the Mint 400 slowly pushed their vehicles to tech inspection.

Families huddled with their Baja bugs, trucks and buggies. Onlookers gawked at exposed engines, giant tires and shock absorbers taller than some kids.

A time traveler might have thought it was 1989, if not for vendors offering racers downloads from Global Positioning Satellites and bodies tattooed more colorfully than most race cars.

Times have changed, but the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts organization opted to turn back the clock last year when it resurrected the Mint 400, which was the country's biggest desert race from 1968 to 1989.

This year's activities were expanded further to include the Fremont Street Experience.

The last time tech inspection was held downtown, it wasn't under a canopy seven blocks long.

All of the nearly 240 vehicles were pushed through the Experience to inspection stations near Eighth Street in preparation for today's racing, which begins at 7 a.m. near the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza at state Route 168 and Interstate 15 near Valley of Fire State Park.

"In its heyday the Mint 400 tech inspection was so popular that kids were even cutting school to gather on Fremont Street," said K.J. Howe, who became the event's race director in the early 1970s.

In 1988, Ron Woolworth, now 62, traveled to Las Vegas for the Mint from his home in Riverside, Calif., to help pit for a team owned by Danny Porter. About four years later, Woolworth and his family moved to Las Vegas.

His son, Robby, never had a chance to cut school for the Mint's big day on Fremont Street. But he had been going to Southern California races with his father and heard stories about the Mint.

"What makes this race so special is its history," he said. "It's exciting to be part of it."

Robby Woolworth will compete in a Class 7 Ford pickup he built and uses to promote his Woolworth Motorsports business, which builds off-road vehicles and fabricates parts in the industrial park adjacent to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Like most involved with the revived Mint 400, the younger Woolworth acknowledges the stature of the new race isn't what it was 20 or 30 years ago.

But he doesn't care. It's still the Mint 400, and it's still four laps of 100 miles.

At one time it was the world's richest and most demanding desert race. The decline began when the Mint hotel and casino was sold and became part of Binion's Horseshoe.

And the desert was more frontier than public park in those days.

"The rules and regulations were a lot looser then," Ron Woolworth said of desert races before the Bureau of Land Management became more involved.

Most teams, including the Woolworths, will leave town by dawn to begin setting up their pit areas. Thirty years ago, racers and thousands of spectators would have camped out the night before the Mint.

Last night, veterans could only dream of those good old days.

Las Vegas Off-Road Racing

But for a happily unclean casino executive, the Mint 400 Off-Road Race might not have survived its first year. It was 1968, night had fallen on the 115 buggies and bikes making roaring from the Mint Hotel on Fremont Street out on the dusty acreage between there and Beatty. By then, the desert was littered with racers and their disabled vehicles. It was dark, disorganized, and the race looked doomed before any of the $15,000 in prize money was awarded.

“The racers are all stretched out over the desert and a lot of them had broken down – Parnelli Jones (in his Ford Bronco and one of the event’s top draws) had broken down three times,” race founder Norm Johnson said during a phone interview earlier today. “It was looking really bad, and a lot of people thought it was a mistake to even try this.”

One of those people was a Mint Hotel executive Johnson cares not to identify, other than to say the complaining official had the influence to halt the race (pun unintended) in its tracks. “He said, and I quote -- and you can clean this up however you want -- ‘This is a (f-ing) disaster!’ ” Johnson, himself a member of the Mint Hotel family as the casino’s PR man whose dream event seemed about spun out. But one of the drivers who had broken down, a resort exec soon arrived to rescue the event.

“An hour later the president of the Sahara, Earl Thompson, and his navigator come in and they’re just filled with dust,” Johnson said, laughing. “He walks up to me and says, ‘This is the greatest Goddamn thing I’ve ever seen!’ That helped change some minds. (Mint Hotel President) Bill Bennett backed it, too. If not for that event, the race might never have made it past the first year.” The event is back, under the Mint 400 title but without Johnson’s involvement. About 225 drivers will charge into the dust devils at the Moapa Tribal Plaza, which is just off Exit 75 about 25 miles north of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 (click here for race info).

The race prospered, under its original title, for 20 years. The first year, 115 vehicles participated in the first U.S. off-road event to offer prize money and contingency awards from such sponsors as STP and the now-defunct Gates Tires. Johnson, himself an avid race enthusiast, was inspired to organize the race after reading a magazine story about the Baja 1,000. “That was the only off-road race, and it was not yet established, and I’d read about the six or nine Jeeps that went down to Baja to race and thought it would be fun to try that here.”

A former Las Vegas Sun reporter who moved to Vegas in 1965, Johnson was on staff when Hunter S. Thompson stormed into Vegas to cover the 1971 race for Rolling Stone magazine, the legendarily drug-inspired endeavor that led to the epic “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Johnson had only fleeting correspondence with Thompson. “I met him and knew how dopey and crazy he was, and I think I even had a drink with him, but that’s the only direct contact I had with him,” Johnson recalls. But Johnson was a consultant for the film of the same name starring Johnny Depp as Thompson. Johnson warned against filming scenes of motorcycles racing side-by-side against dune buggies and pickups; the film showed that footage anyway, which was filmed on the desert lake bed near Primm. “I still got paid as a consultant, even though they didn’t listen to me.”

Johnson has no plans to take part in this year’s race and declines to specify just why he’s not still involved. At age 76, he’s not interested in raising hackles, but it’s certain that a political dustup has left Johnson off the course for the new event. Regardless, Johnson still keeps busy doing PR work and creating artworks as an accomplished sculptor. And he still holds all those Old Vegas memories. “I think what I’m most proud of is that (off-road racing) became a worldwide sport,” he says. “The Mint 400, the original, helped make that happen.” Jeff Wolf Reporting

Off-Road 1.com

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:39:11 PDT

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:57:25 PST

WE WERE LIVE FROM JOHNSON VALLEY Rock Crawler Race

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:36:24 PST

OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS
1) Jason Scherer 4:42
2) Randy Slawson 4:47
3) Casey Currie 4:58
4) EZ Rick 5:20
5) JR VanOrtwick 6:02
6) Brad Lovell 6:05
7) Rob Mc Kinney 6:10
8) Adam Woodlee 6:19
9) Joachim Schwiesow 6:23
10) Greg Hussey 6:33
11) Wayne Israelson 6:37
12) Eric Holder 6:46
13) Tom Wayes 6:48
14) Steven Watson 6:49
15) Buzz Bronsema 6:52
16) Jason Pickett 6:58
17) Jack Adams 7:05
18) Will Carter 7:19
19) Kevin Yoder 7:20:28
20) John Reynolds 7:20:31
21)Hobie Smith 7:22
22) Roger Lovell 7:35
23) John James 8:15
24) Adam Carter 8:24
25) Eric Anderson 8:39
26) Ian Plaine 8:55
27) Brandon Naves 9:17
28) Brian Ellinger 9:20
29) Ken Mercer 9:24
30) Bill Schueler 9:28
31) Richard Gauthier 9:30
32) Branden Johnson 9:33
33) Clay Egan 9:51

LIVE! PARKER 425 WEBCAST REPLAYS

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:10:18 PDT

CLICK HERE FOR PART 4 Parker 425 2009 Finish Line Replay

CLICK HERE FOR PART 3 Parker 425 2009 Race Replay

CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 Parker 425 2009 Start Line Replay

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 Parker 425 2009 Contingency Replay

CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 Parker 425 2009 Contingency Replay

CLICK HERE FOR Off-Road 1.com Parker 425 RacersMeeting Replay

Parker 425 Best In The Desert Series 2009

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:31:26 PST

Off-Road1.com LIVE RACE REPLAYS

OFFICIAL BITD PARKER 425 RACE RESULTS

OFFICIAL BITD PARKER 425 PROGRAM

LIVE ! BLUE WATER FUN!

PARKER AREA CURRENT RADAR

PARKER WEATHER STATION LINK

PARKER 425 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PARKER 425 RACE COURSE MAP

PARKER 425 ENTRY LIST

WEATHER AND AZ AREA WEBCAMS

Parker AZ 100 Years Celebration

2009 BITD PARKER 425 from Deviate Films on Vimeo.

Parker 425 - Qualifying In-car from Jack Bridges on Vimeo.

UPDATE February 6, 2009
Latest update from contingency and tech:

*Tech and Contingency ongoing this afternoon. Hi everbody out in the Off-Road Nation!!! Some tidbits of race info now LOADING>>>

*The Terribles Boys Shark looks Great! Patrick's Signs had 3 days to turn red trucks into black. There was no time to design a new digital shark graphic. In 3 days a box van (with rivots) f-550 cab, f-150 crew cab, Shark-truggy, f-250 chase truck, and a graphic on the semi and the chopper had to be done.

*Rob Mac Notes: Parker 425 Class 1500 deal was set before the 09' Raptor deal came about-remaining BITD as Driver of Record in FORD SVT Raptor / At Parker he will solo the Sourapas Class 1 alone from start to finish and then get out and into the Raptor and run the remaining miles to the finish line. Sourapas is actually racing with John Cooley in the new Alumicraft Class 1 car and they are racing together the entire BITD season in that car. The remaining Rob Mac schedule is here: SCORE w/ Riviera Racing # 3 TT, BITD w/ Rob Mac Racing & Team Ford in FORD SVT Raptor Class 8, SNORE w/ Rob Mac Racing 1/1600 new single-seat AlumiCraft car
ORGP w/ Menzies Pro 2.

*Things we've learned today, Uncle Max's RED BRIDGE BEER is good! Kellie Pickler is Hot (we haven't listened to the new album yet)!

UPDATE February 5, 2009
Latest update from the trials:

Second Quals Report:

1 Sourapas/McCachren
2 Herder
3 Andy McMillin
4 Josh Daniel
5 Bj Baldwin
6 Welchel
7 Kincaid
8 Rick Johnson
9 Sam Berri
10 Scot Schowajsa
11 Troy Herbst
12 Mark Wehyrich
13 Mark McMillin
14 Steve Croll
15 Todd Jergensen
16 Gary Wehyrich
17 Kory Halopoff
18 Lloyd Sproule
19 Housholder

First Quals Report:
1502: 5min32sec
1563: 6min38sec
1549: 5min48sec
71 : 5min48sec
1518: Rolled DNF
1 : 5min45sec
15 : 5min38sec
10 : 6min43sec
1502: 5min56sec
1570: 6min01sec
5 : 6min23sec
97 : 5min44sec

Off-Road 1.com

Terrible Herbst Motorsports Aligns with Monster Energy for 2009 Desert Racing Campaign!

Las Vegas, NV (February 4, 2009) — Terrible Herbst Motorsports is proud to announce an alliance that will see the Corona, California-based company, Monster Energy, team up with the organization in 2009. Owned and operated by the Herbst family, the Terrible Herbst Motorsports team is as indigenous to desert racing as the blaring sun, deep sand, cactus and teeth chattering terrain that is all so much a part of the unforgiving form of motorsport.

See the LIVE! OFF-ROAD 1.com WEBCASTS HERE An integral part of the Southwest American desert racing scene for over four decades, three generations of Herbst drivers have made the outfit one of the elite and most prolific teams in SCORE and Best In The Desert racing, winning numerous championships and marquee races including the Tecate 250, Baja 500, Nevada 2000 and the fabled Baja 1000. See LIVE! Baja Racing WEBCASTS at Baja Racing News.com

Beginning this weekend in a town in the Sonoran Desert named Parker, Arizona, The jet black and day-glo green colors of the Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports Race Team will be flying as they drop their 2009 race program into gear, dump the clutch and roost sand, dirt and rocks as they take off to begin the Parker 425.

“Monster Energy has always been a marquee brand for us and to build a deeper association with them is very exciting”, said Terrible Herbst Inc. CEO and driver, Troy Herbst. “We are thrilled about this new relationship as we believe Monster Energy is as passionate about being the best in off-road racing as we are.”

Added Mike Vicente, Monster Energy’s 4-Wheel Motorsports Manager: “In the world of off-road racing, Terrible Herbst Motorsports is amongst the most admired and respected racing organization in the sport. Their professionalism and dedication, not to mention their results and performance, are second to none and Monster Energy is proud to be associated with such an A+ program.”

Also pegged on the Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports competition itinerary for 2009 will be the San Felipe 250, Baja 500, Baja 1000 and the Nevada 1000. It may be hot, it may be dusty, and the glare may be otherworldly, but if you’re out at a desert race in ‘09 be sure to keep a look out for the Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports desert swarm.

Come see the all-new black Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Truggy on Thursday, February 5th between 4:00-6:00PM at The Terrible’ s Chevron on the corner of US 95 & California Ave. for autographs and a hero card.

About Terrible Herbst Motorsports

With over 40 years of racing experience, the Herbst family exemplifies a true commitment to off-road racing. Terrible Herbst Motorsports is one of the most successful and popular teams in the sport today, having dominated within SCORE and Best in the Desert with numerous race wins and Championships. The passion for racing runs deep in the Herbst family stretching across three generations of drivers and enveloping the brand image of the expansive family business. Terrible Herbst Motorsports delivers a comprehensive array of opportunities that stretch far beyond traditional sponsorship programs. Sponsorship partners are able to leverage a multitude of assets including extensive distribution, promotion and branding opportunities throughout the comprehensive Herbst Family consumer enterprise that extends across the Western United States.

About Monster Energy

Monster Energy supports the sport, no matter how radical or extreme. Be it the barren deserts of Baja, high-banked NASCAR racing program, supercross, rally, insane distance jumping, motocross, MotoGP, roadracing, supermoto, freestyle motocross, skate, MTB, rock crawling, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – the list goes on – the athletes that participate in these unique forms of athleticism are sparked by Monster Energy. Available in Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed "M-80," the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line (supercharged with our Monster Energy blend), as well as the new Monster Energy "Hitman" energy shot, there’s something for everyone. Wherever they go, Monster Energy beverages power the Monster Army of athletes. Be sure to check out their never-ending series of adventures at http://www.monsterarmy.com/ and http://www.monsterenergy.com/

Off-Road 1.com

FORD Raptor Enters Parker 425 Best In The Desert Series 2009

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:21:24 PST

FORD RAPTOR IN PARKER 425 THIS WEEKEND!

UPDATED TODAY, Friday February 6, 2009

"The truck will be driven by veteran Ford truck racers and former “Rough Riders” Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges. Both the drivers, Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges have impressive racing record. They have won numerous off-roading championships. Their winning streak shows, MacCachren has won over 100 events and 15 championships in his career. Olliges has 30 class wins as well as seven off-road championships. Both, MacCachren and Olliges, have also won their respective classes in the prestigious Baja 1000 during their careers. It is a privately funded team that will run all five points races for 2009 in the Raptor R in order to test the durability of the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor and its production components.

F-150 SVT Raptor R is made for racing in off-road endurance events. The truck promises the toughness and durability in its components, including the stock fully boxed frame. The truck is powered by a modified and calibrated 500 horsepower version of the production 6.2-liter V-8 engine and is mounted to a production-spec six-speed automatic F-150 transmission.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone involved in the Raptor program to get more real-time data on how the truck performs in the most extreme conditions,” stated Cliff Irey, Manager of truck motorsports for Ford Racing Technology. He further added “We need to push the truck harder than we'd ever expect our customers would to ensure that the production F-150 SVT Raptor is the ultimate factory-available high-speed off-road truck.”

The F-150 SVT Raptor is a distinction and different from other truck available in the market. The F-150 SVT Raptor will be available this summer with dynamic features to add to its appeal, which include a Flex Fuel 5.4-liter V-8 engine making 320hp, 390 ft.-lbs. of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has electronically selectable four-wheel drive system and an E-locker rear differential. It helps to lock the truck even at high speeds. Raptor will be also available at the dealership with an all-new 6.2-liter V-8 early next year."

"Following the recent unveiling of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the success of the Raptor R at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, Ford is entering the Raptor R in the 2009 “Best in the Desert” race series, at the 2009 Parker 425.

Ford engineers are using the race as an opportunity to “continue extreme durability testing of production components.” Unlike many other off-road race trucks, the majority of the Raptor R doesn’t differ from the production vehicle. Engineers also plan on testing possible performance accessories before offering them to the general public.

The Raptor R is powered by the same 6.2-liter V-8 that becomes available on the stock truck early next year. To make the truck more competitive, power has been boosted from around 400 hp to 500 hp. The Raptor R uses an unmodified production six-speed automatic transmission to transmit the power to the ground. The Raptor R’s traction is aided by the same electronically-selectable four-wheel drive system with an E-locker rear differential.

When the 2009 Best in the Desert Race Series commences, the Raptor R will be driven by Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges, both of whom have won their respective classes in the Baja 1000 during their careers."

Celebrity drivers have been mentioned to drive through the series.

Some of the finer details: "Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) taps into growing off-road enthusiast market and builds on the solid foundation of the new Ford F-150 to deliver the ultimate off-road performance truck - the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Industry-first internal bypass shocks by Fox Racing Shox help provide smooth ride; lower, wider design key to desert racing and off-road performance The F-150 SVT Raptor launches with the proven 5.4-liter Triton V-8 with 310 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft of torque; a 6.2-liter V-8 engine will be available after launch.

"Ford trucks have been a mainstay on the off-road racing scene for more that 20 years because of our long history of capability and durability," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for Global Product Development. "With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we are delivering a true off-road performance truck with the proven 'Built Ford Tough' capability and durability that is at the core of every F-150 and the best in performance thanks to the team at SVT." "Like its fighter jet and dinosaur namesakes, the F-150 SVT Raptor is tough, fast, aggressive, and built with the off-road enthusiast in mind," he added.

Ford and off-road racing Desert off-road racing is something Ford knows and does well, with eight championships in nine divisions in the 2007 "Best In The Desert" series and four more titles in CORR (Championship Off Road Racing). Ford has also shown its dominance at the Baja 1000 race - 12 Ford-power have won the overall title for four-wheel vehicles, the most of any engine manufacturer."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS AND MORE RAPTOR PICTURES

OFF-ROAD 1.com

History of the Parker 425 and Southwestern US Off-Road

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:19:45 PST

Good Evening Race Fans! It's Over, What a race!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:23:10 PST

Best In The Desert Henderson FABTECH

UPDATED! Race Results and comments

Curt LeDuc and his Rockstar/Makita/Kal Gard Lubricants/Toyo Tires® Ford F-150 truck team have proven to be a dominant force in off-road racing in 2008. The team won Class 8000 this past weekend at the Henderson’s Fabtech Desert Classic in Henderson, Nevada. By doing so, they have won the 2008 Best In The Desert off-road series Class 8000 championship for the second year in a row on 37X13.50R17 Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires. To make the year even more remarkable, the team won 100-percent of the desert races they entered in 2008 (both BITD and SNORE series) for a perfect season and for a second consecutive BITD championship on Toyo tires.

Curt LeDuc, from Cherry Valley, California, had accumulated enough championship points by the time of his last race win to only need for his truck to start the Henderson race for a championship win. He handed the driving duties over to sons Todd and Kyle, and team member Macrae Glass of Kingman, Arizona. The 400-mile course consisted of four loops, course conditions deteriorating during each lap. Kyle LeDuc drove the first two laps, followed by Glass for the third, and then Todd LeDuc for the fourth and final lap after the sun went down.

“That is was a treacherous and extremely rocky course mixed with bushes, then silt beds,” said Kyle LeDuc. “At one point, I was driving into the sun in the worst dust I have ever experienced and could hardly see. In order to win, we make sure the products we run are the best, and our Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires had no flats during the race.”

Curt LeDuc has now finished every mile in every race he has entered for the past seven years of desert racing. LeDuc relies on the toughness of Toyo’s Open Country M/T to continue his dominance in the desert.

“Toyo Tires congratulates Curt LeDuc and his team for winning a perfect season and the 2008 Best In The Desert championship,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “This is a truly remarkable accomplishment for any team in any form of motorsports. We are proud this is our second consecutive championship with LeDuc.”

Also having a strong finish at the Henderson’s Fabtech Desert Classic was the team of Chuck Dempsey, John Armas and John Harrah piloting their Speed Technologies/Toyo Tires/3D Class 1500 open wheel HMS Avenger racer equipped with 35X13.50R15 off-the-shelf Toyo Open Country M/T tires. The team finished second in class and third overall for the grueling race."

Andrew McMillin talks about his finish:

"It has been over 2 years (2006 Baja 1000) since my last win in BITD or SCORE, and it feels awesome! Here is how our race went...

Started off with Qualifying on Thursday. Drove the wheels off my truck trying to put it on the pole. To be honest I thought Chuck or McDowell were going to take it, and I was pretty surprised when I found out I had won. Little did I know that I had to be at the driver's meeting to accept the award. I haven't been to a driver's meeting in a over a year at least, and I didn't know I had to be there. My 2 co-drivers were there to represent for me, but it was my mistake. I never meant to embarass Casey or Steve Olliges like I did, and I personally apologized to both of them for my rookie move. I know it made me look like a donkey, but believe me, if I knew that I had to be there, I would've been there! I want to thank Steve Olliges for putting up the $1,000 for the Team Ford Pole Award, what a cool deal! It's great to see people like Steve stepping up in this current economic environment, and all of us racers really appreciate it Steve!

We started the race at about 2:10, 1st off the line. My game plan was to just cruise around the course and make no mistakes. I knew that starting 1st off the line was going to be a big advantage, or so I thought! We had dust by mile 3, catching slower Hummers and Rhinos from the previous race (very dangerous situation if you ask me). So much for the benefit of starting 1st off the line... Anyway, had a pretty uneventful first lap, just driving at about 80% conserving my truck and waiting to see where we were after the 1st lap. We had about 30 seconds on Daniel (1598) and Whelchel was right behind him. I knew they couldn't run very hard in the dust, so I just kept my same pace going.

Uneventful 2nd lap as well, just cruising and not wanting to make any mistakes or hit any rocks. Came in for Fuel and Rear Tires at the end of Lap 2. My guys did a great job and we were fueled up with new rears and gone in just under 40 seconds. We now had about 3 minutes on Whelchel, with Hovey behind him.

Lap 3 was very dusty, especially on the silt bed looking into the sun. I knew that all the vehicles I would have to pass, so would the guys behind me. I wanted to get by everyone as fast as I could, but the dust was so bad it was difficult in a lot of areas. Uneventful 3rd lap as well, just keeping the same 80% pace and making up a little bit of time on Whechel and Hovey.

Coming through the infield on the 4th Lap, my dad radioed me that we had 4 minutes on corrected time on Hovey, who was now 2nd. I know that Chuck knows the Henderson area well, and I knew that I could still have a flat tire and change it in time to stay in the lead on corrected time, so I picked up the pace to about 85%, just to be sure Chuck wasn't going to bonzaii it and go for the overall. Whelchel had pitted and put Huffman in the truck, and I had about 6 minutes on them for the TT class. It was stressful on that last lap! When we got to the silt beds, we couldn't see anything! We followed 3 slower vehicles into the silt bed, and, amazingly, got by all 3 by the end of the siltbed. Around mm 40 we caught a 7 truck (I thought it was a slower TT by how fast it was going up this uphill sand wash. I wanted to get by him fast, because I didn't know if Hovey was closing in or not, and I had to pass about 10-15 vehicles on that last lap. I was driving hard trying to catch him and pass him (thinking it was a TT a lap down). We finally caught him and got on their rear bumper, but didn't touch him. He pulled off course and I followed him (couldn't see in the dust) but I slammed on the brakes and was able to avoid his truck and get back on the course. Right after we passed him, my dad radioed that Hovey had been down for 3 minutes on IRC, now I felt bad that I had to push the issue with the 7 truck. The last few miles was super stressful. All that was going through my head was my Grandpa saying "It's not over till it's over. I have broken down 100 yards before the finish line, and we couldn't push the car across to get the win." So as soon as we crossed the finish line, I knew we had done it.

It has been such a long time coming, and I can't believe we finally made it happen. Gotta thank my guys at the shop who work on the truck and make it bulletproof for me, Greg Beau, Hector, and Ron. Also have to thank Geiser Brothers, Fox Shox, Vision X Lights, VP Fuels, BFGoodrich Tires for ZERO flat tires on a rock garden of a course, Eibach Springs, Kroyer Racing Engines, and Singpros Custom Lettering. Without this great group of supporters, we would not be in the winner's circle.

Our new Geiser truck is unbelievable. We have raced it 5 times this year. TT 250, MDR King, MDR Night Race, V2R, and Henderson. We have broken once (Trans filter at TT 250), got one 3rd place (V2R) and 3 wins, Henderson being the big one that counts. It feels awesome to get in my truck and know that I just have to make no mistakes in order to win. The truck is capable, our team is capable, and now we have some momentum going into 2009. Looking for a Championship in BITD!"

Moto Results

"The Jerry Parsons/Anthony Westbay team (pictured) pulled off a minor upset by winning the Henderson Fabtech Desert Classic, the sixth and final round of Best in the Desert's Silver State Series, December 6. They're the first Four-Stroke Pro privateer team to overall a BITD event on their RPP Racing/Cycle Gear/Tomarco-backed YZ450F.

Despite being a double-points event, however, their victory didn't amass enough points to pull ahead of brothers Matt and Max Eddy, who were second overall and second in class. The Eddys stayed close throughout the four laps of the 48-mile course and finished less than a minute behind on their Northland Motorspots/Blais Racing Honda CRF450X. They will display the F1-number plate in 2009.

Adam Thissen and Robert Underwood took the early lead on their Speed Technologies/3D Reed KTM 300 XC, but they would DNF. Their Open Pro class rivals, Dylan Lane and Jeff Trulove, simply had to finish in order to wrap up the class championship. After a rough start, they nearly passed the entire field on their North County House of Motorcycles/Team Fastlane Racing Honda CRF450X, sewing up the championship with third overall.

Martin Kite and Cody Wallis notched fourth overall and first 250cc Pros aboard their Speed Technologies/3D Reed KTM 250 XC. They were almost two minutes ahead of Over 40 Pro winners Paul Krause and Kent Pfeiffer, who claimed the class title on their Malcolm Smith Motorsports/Bridgestone KTM 530 XC-F."

Trail Ready Motorsports Report

"After a tough year in the Best in the Desert Racing Series, TrailReady Motorsports needed no less than a win in the Series finale, the Henderson Fab-tech Classic, to salvage the year. We got it, and in convincing fashion. Our Daystar Products Ford finished the 200 mile sprint 1st in Class and 25th overall in a 66 car field that included 45 Trick Trucks and Class 1 cars. The race featured four 50 mile laps with a Grand Prix finish which meant as soon as the fastest car completed four laps, every car that followed would be shown the checkered flag and scored by completed laps. Driver of Record, Rich Blunk started 4th in the 7200 class and was in first position by Race Mile 12. At the end of lap one he had a 1 minute lead over 2nd place Joe Stone and at the end of lap two, handed the perfect truck off to co-driver Larry Trim with an 8 minute lead over our Mickey Thompson Tires teammate, Shawn Giordano. The course had a new section that was exposing gnarly rocks and was littered with broken vehicles and flat tires. We assumed the lead Trick Truck would lap us before the end of our third lap and end our race so we charged on not knowing where Giordano was behind us as there was only the main pit and no reliable on course status. As it turned out, the eventual Trick Truck overall winner finished his fourth lap 12 minutes after we started ours and just two minutes ahead of Giordano so we were the only Class 7200 truck to complete 4 laps. When the call came over the radio that we had the race won if we completed the last lap we just cruised to the finish line. Special thanks to all of our sponsors for 2008 especially Daystar Products, Eagle Alloys, and Mickey Thompson Performance Tires who’s MTZ Radials performed so well we had only 2 on course flats all season(none in this race). TrailReady Motorsports finished the 2008 desert racing season with 2 wins (including the SNORE Caliente 250), one 4th, and 3 DNF’s. We finish on a high and are prepared to continue winning in 2009. See you in Parker!"

Also want to thank Casey and all 180 volunteers out there. Without these people, none of this would be possible. I consider BITD the foremost racing series in the United States, and I am glad that my team and my family can be a part of it. Thank, and we'll see everyone at the Dash or in Parker!"

UPDATE! Raceday: Chet Huffman Motorsports and Jerry Whelchel takes the BITD Trick Truck Championship for 2008 with the big race performance today!

Best In The Desert Henderson Nevada, December 6

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:41:12 PST

BITD - HENDERSON DESERT CLASSIC - PRE/FUN RUN from CHM RACESHOP on Vimeo.

CLICK HERE FOR SOME OF THE EVENTS PICS

CLICK THE BITD LOGO FOR RACE RESULTS

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:01:54 PST

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAM

Best In The Desert FABTECH HENDERSON Off-Road Race BEST IN THE DESERT

Off-Road Racing’s Best-Run Series…Best In The Desert! 
2008 CLASS POINTS BATTLE
 
BEST IN THE DESERT’S SEASON FINALE
The Desert Drama Explodes This Weekend!

Press Releases:

Olliges and Swift Release

"Coming off a first place finish in the Silver State 300 nine weeks ago, Team Ford #1
drivers Steve Olliges and John Swift are poised to mount another championship run
this weekend at the Best in the Desert Henderson Fabtech Desert Classic.
The reigning Best in the Desert Trick Truck champions are currently 21 points behind
points leader and Vegas to Reno winner Rick D. Johnson, and need a first place finish
in the unlimited Trick Truck division to have a mathematical chance of repeating as
BITD series champions in 2008.  Also vying for the Trick Truck championship are the
Parker 425 winners, Huffman Motorsports, and Terrible’s 250 winners Will and Emily
Staats. With the championship at stake, the Trick Truck pace over this short Henderson
course is expected to be furious.

“We have completed more testing this year than ever before and this truck is really
now the best it has been since I have driven it with Wayne,” said Olliges of the Lugo
owned, Stewart Raceworks built and prepared Ford F150.
“The recent incorporation of John’s ideas on the King shock valving and the
newer motor from Patton Racing Engine’s makes the truck faster and easier to drive.
Even better than the truck we won with last race.  I can’t wait to see how this thing will
turn out. It will be an all out sprint for the win and the championship, and we are definitely
ready for the challenge. “

“We have a pretty simple game plan for this race…drive as absolutely fast and
smart as we can, and see where the chips fall at the end.  We need to win our class
to be in the championship hunt and we do not intend to make it easy for anyone else
to wear the #1 next year,” said Swift, who, under the Swift Racing banner
(http://www.swiftrace.com) with son Jonathon and Andy Waters, is also the
reigning unlimited minitruck champion in BITD class 7200. Their team currently
leads the points chase after another win at the Silver State 300 in the identically
painted Team Ford Ranger. “I am happy to see that there are a lot of fast drivers
with good trucks that are entered in this race, and even some who are not in the
series points chase.  It will make the championship that much more worthwhile to
whomever wins it. I love the competition.”

Steve will again attempt to pocket his own money during Thursday’s time trials for
the Team Ford Pole Award, which includes a one of a kind crystal trophy and $1000 cash.
“I’m more motivated than ever to win my first pole,” said Olliges, jokingly referring
to the economic downturn. “I am happy to contribute even in this modest way to
help defray the costs of racing. Every little bit helps these days, even to the
unlimited guys.” "




Hall Racing Report

"Team Hummer's Rod, Chad, and Josh Hall -- who are all currently leading their
Best in the Desert racing association's stock classes -- are heading into the December 6
Henderson FabTech Desert Classic finale, while poised to take their individual
BITD championships. A sweep of the BITD stock classes this year coupled with
Team Hummer's SCORE International stock class championships would make it the
first time in history that a single team has won every stock class season
championship in both the BITD and SCORE International racing series.
Hummer H3 Alpha Team Hummer Racing

The stock full class is being led by Chad Hall, driver of the Hummer H3 Alpha.
He currently leads his class with 4100 season points and has victories at the
Terrible's 250 and Vegas To Reno races. Rounding out the leaders is Josh Hall,
who currently leads the BITD stock full truck class with 8100 season points
in his Hummer H2 SUT. Josh has won at Terrible's 250, Vegas To Reno,
and the Silver State 300."

Off-Road1.com

San Diego Off-Road with Championship Off-Road

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:26:53 PDT

CORR San Diego Report

CLICK HERE ESPN 800 RADIO SHOW LIVE! AT CORR 9.14.08
USA TODAY STORY ON CHAMPIONSHIP OFF ROAD RACING

Monster Energy Drink's Jeremy McGrath at the ESPN 800 ESPN Off-Road KCBQ 1170 Shows at Championship Off Road Racing at Chula Vista.

Listen to the shows at the link listed above.

Miss Snyder, New Miss Teen San Diego and CORR Trophy Kart racer. Travis Coyne, Monster Energy Drink and Pro Comp Motorsports CORR racer.

OFF-ROAD 1.com LIVE! at the Rock in San Diego

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:25:45 PST

Off-Road 1.com was LIVE! at The Rock in San Diego for Championship Off-Road Racing at The Monster Energy Drink Stage this weekend. Special thanks to all the great people of Monster Energy Drink! This weekend of Racing was Awesome!

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:51:43 PDT

San Diego 500

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:12:35 PDT

The San Diego 500, Winter 2008-09.

If this race doesn't motivate your people, nothing will. Off-Road, Orienteering and your choice of third challenge.

Surf, Golf or Iron-Man. In San Diego, on your schedule. All of the destination benefits of San Diego and bigger results from your people.

CHampionship Off Road Racing and TRAXXAS Team to support San Diego's Children's Hospital

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:14:31 PDT

CORR AND TRAXXAS TEAM TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Championship Off Road Racing and Traxxas, The Fastest Name in Radio Control™ have teamed up to enhance the lives of children by donating all proceeds from the Traxxas Try-Me-Track to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

After its success in Pomona, the Traxxas Try-Me-Track will be back at the upcoming CORR event on September 13 and 14 in Chula Vista.

The scaled-down track gives race fans the chance to do some of their own racing by testing out Traxxas’ new Slash radio-controlled short course off-road race trucks. All RC drivers are asked to donate $1 to race; Traxxas then makes an additional matching contribution. All proceeds will be donated to the local charity.

“The Traxxas Try-Me-Track has been a huge success at our races. With all of the adrenaline-pumping action on the CORR track, fans are thrilled to immerse themselves into the event even further by racing a radio controlled truck. The Traxxas Try-Me-Track adds to our fans’ CORR experience, and more importantly, benefits a great cause,” said Cissy Baldwin of CORR.

Since Rady Children’s Hospital first opened its doors in 1954, their mission has been “to restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children through excellence in care, education, research and advocacy.” Rady Children’s is the San Diego region’s only designated pediatric trauma center and the only area hospital dedicated solely to pediatric care.

Donations collected from the CORR event in Pomona on July 26 and 27 were matched by Traxxas and donated to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital.

Championship Off Road Racing™ brings high action, four-wheel motorsports including two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive trucks to the closed course off road arena. The 2008 Championship Off Road Racing race season includes eight events at tracks located in Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA and Las Vegas, NV.

Off-Road 1.com

safariclub@cox.net (Off-Road.com) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:45:11 PST