“Jeep Beach is an extraordinary opportunity to spend time with Jeep owners,” said Rodrigo Alonso, Marketing Manager for BFGoodrich Light Truck Tires. “BFGoodrich has long been a tire of choice for these passionate drivers. We are excited to demonstrate the benefits of our tires on Jeeps driving on the beaches of Daytona.”

More than 1500 Jeep owners descend on Daytona Beach for this annual event, which benefits the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting responsible recreational access to public lands and waters and the Volusia/Flagler County Boys and Girls Club.

About BFGoodrich

With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich^® Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 40 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich Tires delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Twitter at @BFGoodrichTires.

About Mid Florida Beach Club

The Mid Florida Jeep Club is a family oriented Jeep club organized to bring family and friends together. The Club offers monthly trail rides and activities as well as attends other events such as poker runs and charity events throughout the state. The club occasionally participates in out-of-state trail rides and events. As a non-profit club, we have a strong emphasis on charity events providing help where needed. To raise money for charities, the club hosts the famous Jeep Beach event each year in the Daytona International Speedway, with a large Jeep only parade on world’s most famous beach on the last day.

This weekend’s MetalCloak Ultra4 Stampede race was close his home in Danville and the home of Sacramento based Rubicon Express, at Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, CA.  Split almost equally between the Bay Area and the historic Rubicon Trail, Prairie City was an excellent place for Scherer’s family and friends to come and watch.  “It was really neat to have all my family and friends that know I race, but have never been able to come out and watch, be able to join in on the fun,” said Scherer.  “This is also the home track for Rubicon Express and our next race will be at Glen Helen in Southern California which will be the home track for 4 Wheel Parts, another exciting race to look forward to.”

The track conditions for the qualifying heats were perfect with rain showers most of the day on Thursday, but clearing for Friday and Saturday.  “I was in a heat with Shannon Campbell, who is just plain fast; Kevin Yoder and Jesse Haines, who are both used to racing the NorCal Rock Races; and we battled! It was a very fun battle and with the attrition of cars, I took first with fair lead,” explained Jason.  “But I could hear the front differential making a lot of noise and knew that if I didn’t want it to break during the main race that I would need to take it home and fix it.”

“We were up all night.  The guys that came and helped me, including my brother Casey, were awesome.  We pulled out the diff, completely rebuilt it, put it all back together again, then loaded the car back on the trailer and just barely got back to Prairie City with a couple hours to spare before the main race,” said Jason.  “The race itself was intense.  I was in the second row next to Loren Healey.  Gary Ferravanti didn’t make it about a lap when he pulled off, and then JT Stephens fell back soon after.  Loren Healey and I had a couple of great laps of heated battle before I started to pull away.  Then it was just a matter of making the car last to the end.  With it being a timed race, I knew I just had to stay out in front and finish to Win!”

The #76 car went to Texas to the PSC Steering shop after the King of the Hammers finish.  Jason started on the pole position at the 2013 Griffin King of the Hammers presented by Nitto Tires and finished 21^st with 25 minutes to go.  Jason completed two entire laps of the race with no power steering, stating it was one of the most physically and mentally demanding races in his career.  Back at the shop, after tearing the steering system apart, it was determined that it was internal pieces in the steering rack that was the cause of the issue. “The car really wasn’t beat up after King of the Hammers, it just needed a new steering rack rebuilt.  Two years in a row we have had the same issue, and I will guarantee you after the fix we put on it this time, it won’t be an issue again!”

The army green colored race car with Air Force style panels complimenting the strong Rubicon Express, Nitto Tires and PSC Steering logos was at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari Vendor Show, and then it went straight to Northern California for the MetalCloak Stampede. Jason took first in his pre-qualifying heat race on Friday then went home and spent all night fixing a broken differential.  The Scherer team arrived back at the race track with only a couple of hours to spare, but when the green flag dropped Jason was determined to Win the 45 minute grand prix finish main on Saturday.

The next race for Jason Scherer will be the Ultra4 4 Wheel Parts Glen Helen Grand Prix May 24^th-25^th.

Video on Jason Scherer at the Nitto National Championship  Race http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ffR7ZEYnY

Special Thanks to all the Marketing Partners that Make this Success Possible: Rubicon Express, PSC Steering, Nitto Tires, Spidertrax, PAC Spring, Method Race Wheels, Powertank, FOX Shox, Reid Racing, Baja Designs, Maximum Transmissions, High Angle Drivelines, Redline Oil, Tribe Customs 4×4

More about Jason Scherer: Jason Scherer has been racing for over 15 years and has stood on the podium at many events winning one of the most prestigious events: The 2009 King of the Hammers.  He also has a third place finish in 2011 and won the 2012 Nitto National Championship Race in Blackwell Texas.  His consistency and race car set-up is also proven winning the Pro-Rock Championship in 2006, repeating in 2007.  Jason’s growing list of high profile finishes have earned him the honor of being nominated for Dirt Sports “Driver of the Year” award two years in a row.  Scherer embraces his racing career with a very supportive wife and children who join him on the trails of Northern California in their 1972 Jeep CJ-6.

Photos Compliments of Bower Motorsports Media

• Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, North Carolina
• Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kansas
• Truckhaven in Salton Sea, California

Since its inception in 2006, The Outstanding Trails program has been dedicated to the responsible use and preservation of off-road trails. In the last eight years, Outstanding Trails has recognized more than 30 off-road trails throughout the country and has awarded over $115,000+ in grants in support of trail conservation efforts.

“The legacy of the Outstanding Trails program is a great source of pride for BFGoodrich,” said Duane Thomas, brand communications manager for BFGoodrich Tires. “We’re grateful for the efforts of the many four-wheel drive clubs and their volunteers for working with us in our quest to help maintain some of North America’s most beautiful trails.”

BFGoodrich Tires 2013 Outstanding Trails

During the course of the year, BFGoodrich Tires will be at club events associated with these trails to highlight the uniqueness of each location, educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of the trails and present a $4,000 grant to each club to assist in the preservation of trail access.

• Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest is a 2.1-mile trail maintained by The Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club, a family oriented club formed in 1971. The Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club was instrumental in the development of the Uwharrie Off-Highway Vehicle trails, which it has been maintaining since they were first opened to 4WD use.

• Kansas Rocks Recreation Park is a not-for-profit park open to the public, boasting trails for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike.  The park is maintained by The Brush Beater Jeep Club and is open to all makes of four-wheel drive vehicles.

• Truckhaven is the host of the annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari. The trails consist of sandy washes, rocky canyons, deep gorges with near perpendicular walls and great hill climbs. Tierra Del Sol has a history with this area going back over 50 years and is involved with constant renovations and improvements for Truckhaven to improve the quality of its off-road trails.

“The three trails and clubs recognized in 2013 are some of the best we’ve seen to date,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of Tread Lightly!. “We are excited to see the great work that these clubs will do to help improve and conserve access to these trails.”

”For the past eight years, UFWDA has been honored to be a partner in the Outstanding Trails program,” said Jim Mazzola, President of UFWDA. “The more than 30 grants provided by BFGoodrich as part of the Outstanding Trails program have made a tremendous impact helping preserve some of the most beautiful off-road trails available.”

About the Outstanding Trails Program

The BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails program was established in 2006 to raise awareness for responsible use and preservation of off-road trails while providing support in the trails’ conservation efforts. Through 2013, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized over 30 off-road trails and clubs across North America.  The program has provided more than $115,000+ in grants in support of the various trails conservation efforts.

Both Tread Lightly! and UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation.  BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest off-road trails and continues to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.

About BFGoodrich Tires

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 40 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including sports car, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires  or on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BFGoodrichTires.

About United Four Wheel Drive Associations

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is the world’s leading representative of all-brand, four wheel-drive enthusiasts. UFWDA benefits, developed and tested over the past 30 years, include four-wheel-drive safety and awareness education; such user ethics programs as adopt-a-road, conservation volunteer and volunteer trail patrol; assistance with new club formation; education seminars to aid four wheelers through complex state and federal programs affecting trail access; internet forums designed to instantly connect members globally; a legislative advocate and nationally recognized attorney who works exclusively for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts to protect access and prevent road and trail closures. For more information on the UFWDA log on to www.ufwda.org, or call 1-800-44-UFWDA (800-448-3932).

About Tread Lightly!

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs. Tread Lightly!’s award-winning educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them.  The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment.  Tread Lightly! offers unique programs and services to help remedy current recreation issues. Individuals and businesses can commit to Tread Lightly! and protect outdoor access by becoming a member at www.treadlightly.org.

“I really love this track.  I raced 2 seasons of VORRA and the NorCal Rock Racing Series when it first started and have always liked the way the track at Prairie City is laid out.”  With rain showers on Thursday and a chance of some sprinkles on Friday, the track should be in perfect condition and low dust on Saturday.  “My only fear is the rock section becoming a one line course.  The man made rocks is a variable and a potential race changer,” mentioned Scherer.

The #76 car went to Texas to the PSC Steering shop after the King of the Hammers finish.  Jason started on the pole position at the 2013 Griffin King of the Hammers presented by Nitto Tires and finished 21^st with 25 minutes to go.  Jason completed two entire laps of the race with no power steering, stating it was one of the most physically and mentally demanding races in his career.  Back at the shop, after tearing the steering system apart, it was determined that it was internal pieces in the steering rack that was the cause of the issue. “The car really wasn’t beat up after King of the Hammers, it just needed a new steering rack rebuilt.  Two years in a row we have had the same issue, and I will guarantee you after the fix we put on it this time, it won’t be an issue again!”

The Ultra4 car is still wrapped in the army green color with Air Force style panels complimenting the strong Rubicon Express, Nitto Tires and PSC Steering logos recently seen at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari Vendor Show.  Jason Scherer will be pitting out of the Rubicon Express Semi at the NorCal Stampede.  More information on the race can be found at www.ultra4racing.com

Video on Jason Scherer at the Nitto National Championship  Race http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ffR7ZEYnY

Special Thanks to all the Marketing Partners that Make this Success Possible: Rubicon Express, PSC Steering, Nitto Tires, Spidertrax, PAC Spring, Method Race Wheels, Powertank, FOX Shox, Reid Racing, Baja Designs, Maximum Transmissions, High Angle Drivelines, Redline Oil, Tribe Customs 4×4

More about Jason Scherer: Jason Scherer has been racing for over 15 years and has stood on the podium at many events winning one of the most prestigious events: The 2009 King of the Hammers.  He also has a third place finish in 2011 and won the 2012 Nitto National Championship Race in Blackwell Texas.  His consistency and race car set-up is also proven winning the Pro-Rock Championship in 2006, repeating in 2007.  Jason’s growing list of high profile finishes have earned him the honor of being nominated for Dirt Sports “Driver of the Year” award two years in a row.  Scherer embraces his racing career with a very supportive wife and children who join him on the trails of Northern California in their 1972 Jeep CJ-6.

EL CAJON, Calif. – A windless day allowed thick dust to blanket everything at the General Tire Mint 400 in Las Vegas, where FOX athletes used their superior damping performance to dominate a course that quickly degraded into huge, square-edged holes filled with rocks.

As each car passed, more and more stones that littered the ground were knocked loose, falling into the deep ruts. With conditions so rough, it was FOX athletes battling amongst themselves for the lead. FOX took the overall win, swept the podium in the Trick Truck class, won the unlimited open-wheel class (1500) and grabbed eight of the top 10 finishing spots.

“It was really rough right from the start,” overall race winner Bryce Menzies said. “We were battling all day with our FOX teammates Jesse Jones, Mark and Gary Weyhrich, Steve Olliges, and Rob MacCachren. The dust was so thick —­ some of it found its way into our engine. In the lead with a sick motor, all we could do was floor it and let our FOX shocks soak up the hits. We were surprised to get the win with so many FOX guys charging behind us.”

Second overall finisher Mark Weyhrich qualified outside the top 10, so they were in traffic immediately. After getting through traffic by Pit A on lap two, they began making up the time lost. A flat kept them fighting for third with MacCachren and still three minutes behind Jones.

“We passed them both on the last lap, but with the time we lost coming through the pack and the blinding dust after the wind died, we simply couldn’t reel Bryce in before the finish,” Mark Weyhrich said. “Our FOX shocks were flawless all day. To go through that level of punishment and not experience any fade is incredible. Thanks to the entire FOX shocks team for building such great products. We are honored to carry your badge.”

No. 1 qualifier MacCachren finished third in the Trick Trucks followed by Gary Weyhrich in fifth, Olliges, driving his brand new BFG Ford Raptor in sixth, Cameron Steele in seventh and Dan McMillin in eighth.

In the lead pack among all those Trick Trucks was Chuck Hovey who won class 1500 and finished sixth overall.

“We had one of those dream days,” Hovey said. “This had to be one of the most brutal courses ever. It was critical to run clean. In a single-seat car like mine, every time I get a flat, I have to get out and fix it myself. My FOX shocks took every bit of punishment but also gave me the control needed to pick my way through the rocks at speed. The constant punishment gave me rashes from the belts rubbing, but I feel great getting a win under such tough conditions.”

In class 1000, it was Chip Prescott taking the win and Greg Parker in third. Prescott hit a huge rock that peeled back the skid plate and broke the housing on his brake master cylinder. He drove most of the race without brakes.

“Your instincts tell you to slow down when the dust is thick and you have no brakes,” Prescott said. “Having the car-control my FOX shocks provide allowed me to keep pressing for the win.”

The results prove that even when the conditions are at their worst, FOX has the race-proven damping technology to put you out front.

About FOX 

FOX redefines ride dynamics for ATVs, mountain bikes, motocross, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, trucks and UTVs. In 1974, Bob Fox redefined the world of motocross suspension with the FOX AirShox, and for more than three decades, FOX’s team of enthusiasts and professional athletes have been uniquely committed to redefining ride dynamics that improve your performance. Headquartered in Scotts Valley, Calif., FOX’s main manufacturing operations are in Watsonville, Calif., its off-road division and manufacturing are in Santee, Calif., and its Midwest Service Center is in Baxter, Minn. FOX distributes its products in more than 40 countries.

FOX is a registered trademark of FOX. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Ridgecrest, CA – HDRA is bringing some heavy horsepower to Ridgecrest, California for the King Shocks HDRA 250 race April 4-7. The list of Trophy Truck teams competing includes points leader Cameron Steele in his Desert Assassins Monster Energy number 16, BJ Baldwin, the Herbst brothers Tim and Troy, Gustavo Vildosola, Juan Carlos Lopez, Jimmy Knuckles, Justin Davis, Zak Langley and the Galindo Electric team of Steven Eugenio and Adam Pfankuck who are poised for a break-out win.

It’s hard to remember when so many Trophy Trucks were competing in Ridgecrest; the fans are in for some great racing.

The action is not only reserved for the unlimited trucks. The Class 1 field has two hometown racers, Tom Koch and Eric Jacobs who no doubt will be schooling the rest of the Class 1 field; racing in their own back yard.

The 60 mile long laps will suit the huge pack of 1400 trucks, 25 to be exact, that will be out to prove whose truck is best suited for the challenging Ridgecrest course. The course has sandy washes, rocky mountainous terrain, miles of whoops and scenic sections that weave through huge boulder outcroppings. The Class 10 cars will be gunning for points leader Andrew Myers who looks to make it two in a row.

The 7200 truck class is loaded with extremely talented drivers that all want to stand on top of the podium. The Pro UTV’s will be going wheel to wheel all day and in the Wide Open Baja Challenge cars, Jon Largent, who leads the points battle, will be racing against Jeff Benton, Bill Young and Gabor Juhasz, who comes all the way from Szigetszentmiklos, Hungary.

Ridgecrest is a unique area. It is surrounded by four mountain ranges and within two hours of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States. If you head down route 178, you will pass through Trona on your way to Death Valley. If you have time for some sightseeing, a short drive out of Ridgecrest on 178 will take you to the Trona Pinnacles. The pinnacles are Tufa Spires similar to the ones found at Mono Lake that were formed when the area lay at the bottom of an ancient sea. The pinnacles may look familiar to some; they have been the backdrop to several Hollywood movies including Battlestar Gallactica, Star Trek V, Lost in Space and Planet of the Apes.

You can also check out the Randsburg Ghost Town 17 miles south of town. Just don’t miss the Monster Energy Freestyle MX team performing their stunt shows at the fairgrounds on Friday afternoon.

The fun begins on Thursday when prerunning takes place from 8am-5pm. Registration for the classes that will be qualifying is at Tommy T’s Sports Bar and a live draw for the rest of the starting positions will be on DirtLive. Friday, the Trophy Trucks and Class 1’s will qualify and as mentioned before, the Monster Energy FMX shows will take place during technical inspection at the fairgrounds in the afternoon. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the fairgrounds. Saturday, we will be racing and then back to Tommy T’s!

Additional race information is available at: http://hdrarace.com/ go check it out!

Photography By: Brian Binkert

Bink Designs – www.binkdesigns.com

Scenic Photo Courtesy: Collette Blumer

About HDRA

High Desert Racing Association (HDRA) is a professional off-road racing organization based in Las Vegas, NV. HDRA currently sanctions off-road racing events in both Nevada and California. Their 2013 schedule includes four races ranging from 10-12 mile multi-lap DesertCross courses all the way to a 500-mile long distance cross-country desert race. Visit www.hdrarace.com for more information.

About Bink Designs
Bink Designs is a premier graphic design company located in San Diego, CA. Since 2003, Bink Designs has been committed to providing cost-effective solutions for clients’ high-end graphic needs. Bink Designs will work with you to develop a strategy that matches your goals. Bink Designs offers a number of services, including: Identity, Print Design, Vinyl Graphics, Web Design, Photography & Apparel.

For more information about Bink Designs, please visit www.binkdesigns.com

“It’s never easy winning a championship,” says Mike Shaffer, “You have to get results on the track and execute the logistics of a successful race team to put together a title run. We are proud of our accomplishments but we thrive on competition. We would rather fight it out with the best drivers out there. That’s why we are racing in class 10 this season” They will start second off the line on raceday putting them in front of 16 other class 10 cars when the flag drops at the Mastercraft Safety SCORE Tecate San Felipe 250 on March 10.

This year’s course is different from the usual endless whoops that pound cars into the ground. “Our car really handles well in the whoops,” said Mike Shaffer, “It beats up the driver but the car loves it. We have an advantage in the rougher and longer races. The course changes don’t work in our favor but Daniel is very good in the technical stuff. He will give us an edge through the washes and in the tight twisty sections. John Bowers and I will start the race and at mile 145 or so Daniel Aeberli and John Cantrell will get in and take it to the finish.”

The team seeks to build their points tally towards the World Championship of Desert Racing that consists of three rounds of racing in the US, at HDRA events and three rounds in Mexico racing the SCORE Desert series. They already put points in the bank at the HDRA South Point Vegas 250 race towards the World Championship crown. They hope to follow it up with a strong finish in San Felipe.

Photography By Brian Binkert
Bink Designs / www.binkdesigns.com

Thank you to all our sponsors:

For the lastest up to date information, photos and sponsorship opportunites visit:

www.shaffer-motorsports.com  |  www.facebook.com/shaffermotorsports

About Shaffer Motorsports

Mike Shaffer / Driver & Crew Chief

Mike Shaffer has been racing for 28 years, starting with BMX and then age 16 in drag racing and his first desert race was fifteen years ago. Shaffer was driver of record for the 2011 SCORE Tecate BAJA 1000, finishing 2nd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 4. Shaffer was also driver of record for 2011 BITD Championship, finishing 3rd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 10. Shaffer was also driver of record for 3 Baja 1000 wins, 3 SCORE Championships and one BITD Championship in Class 1700, along with rock crawling National Championship and ARCA Championship. Mike Shaffer is the owner of Shaffer’s Offroad that helps customers build the vehicle of their choice, from bolt on accessories to custom one off vehicles.

Shawn Twitchell / Driver & Team Manager

Shawn Twitchell started desert racing motorcycles in 1972, went to drag racing in the 1980′s, circle track in the 1990′s and is now back in the desert driving with Shaffer-Motorsports. Twitchell was a driver in the 2011 SCORE Tecate BAJA 1000, finishing 2nd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 4. Twirchell was also driver for 2011 BITD Championship, finishing 3rd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 10. He has been a member of Shaffer-motorsports team since 2008 helping win three SCORE 1700 Championships. Twitchell is the Business Unit Manager for FMC Technologies’ Technisys Group. Desert racing is in their family encompassing four generations including his son Ian, who will co-drive for Shawn. Two of seven grand-kids are already earning their stripes in the pits and at the shop.

Daniel Aeberli / Driver

Daniel Aeberli has raced with the Shaffer-motorsport team since 2010. He was a driver in the 2011 SCORE Tecate BAJA 1000, finishing 2nd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 4. Aeberli was also driver for 2011 BITD Championship finishing, 3rd in class for the team’s first participation in Class 10. He also drove the first section of the 2010 SCORE Baja 1000. Aeberli was with the team in 2010, helping them win SCORE Primm and Class championship in Class 1700. Daniel Aeberli is the CTO of MediTron S.A. a Swiss medical distribution company that he co-founded over 20 years ago in Switzerland and President of M.D. Visuals a medical consulting company in Stateline, Nevada.

About Bink Designs

Bink Designs is a premier graphic design company located in San Diego, CA. Since 2003, Bink Designs has been committed to providing cost-effective solutions for clients’ high-end graphic needs. Bink Designs will work with you to develop a strategy that matches your goals. Bink Designs offers a number of services, including: Identity, Print Design, Vinyl Graphics, Web Design, Photography & Apparel.

For more information about Bink Designs, please visit www.binkdesigns.com