Power Days 300 – Germany, Right on Track

After somewhat recovering from our full day of travel and the previous evening’s antics we loaded up in our über van and headed out on another journey to the track.  With a little rest under our belts we were finally able to fully appreciate the scenic drive through the German countryside.  Unique villages and nearly endless farmland sprinkle the landscape and the thirty minute drive between our hotel in Bautzen to the location of the event in Lausitz is unlike any other race commute.

Weaving through the narrow roads leading out to the track I couldn’t help but compare the similarities and differences between Germany and Baja.  While a lot of the locals speak English, there are still many unfamiliar signs and unique nuances that make this trek across the pond a challenge to a first-time visitor.  Just like Mexico there is a distinct language barrier, the roads are narrow and confusing, and for the most part the people are generous and welcoming.  Bratwursts are the equivalent of tacos while beer is undeniably the universal beverage of choice.

As we entered into the venue we were finally provided the opportunity to witness the enormity of the project in the daylight.  Unlike our visit the evening prior, the activity level of the facility had drastically increased and there were numerous crews feverishly working both on and off the track.  The massive paddock area being erected was nearing the half-way point and vendors from all over the world were setting up their display space in the nearly 1/8th mile long tent.  With an approximate cost of approximately $80,000 the mere size of this tent was a sight to behold as it housed numerous concession stands, vendor display space, and also featured a drive-thru contingency style lay-out where fans can get up close and personal with the drivers and the racecars.

The most impressive aspect of the Baja Power Days 300 has to be the tireless attention to detail and the long term vision Armin Schwarz (the driving force) has for this event.  While it has been said that “necessity is the mother of invention,“ it is obvious by the grand scale of this production that Schwarz (with the full endorsement of Sal Fish) was looking for more than just a quick fix to the problems that plague both the U.S. and European off-road teams.  He is also looking to combine two unique forms of off-road racing and potentially bring to the table a truly international series of competitions with less restrictions.  Ideally, SCORE vehicles would race side-by-side with World Rally Cars and other European specific classes.  Open to all, this potential future series touts an international flavor and a unification of world-wide off-road racing.

Recent FIA rule changes have rendered almost 25 percent of the World Rally Cars (WRC) useless for competition as the rule modifications were so drastic that it disqualified many of the vehicles.  Alternatively, the American-style off-road scene is shrinking due in part to the various sanctioning body issues with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and their overzealous need to protect and preserve our deserts.  Add in the apparent drop in entries to Baja races due to the potential dangers and it would only seem obvious that someone would start researching alternative venues and looking at our sport in non-traditional aspects.

As an ex-World Rally Car racer and current SCORE Class One driver, Armin Schwarz understands the unique challenges facing the competitors racing under the FIA standards while also realizing the frustrations sanctioning bodies such as SCORE experience when dealing with the BLM.  In creating this unique motorsports competition Armin Schwartz’s idea was simple; provide a challenging venue that offers non-stop excitement and action for the fans while offering competitors the opportunity to participate in events which are not limited by the politics of the sanctioning body or the limitations of a governmental agency.

As the idea for the Baja Power Days 300 began to take shape Schwarz approached Sal Fish for his input and blessing and received an overwhelmingly positive response.  Honored to be a part of this groundbreaking event, Sal Fish has been an integral asset and has assisted in coordinating various parts of the logistics since the inception.  When asked about his thoughts on event Sal Fish remarked, “It is real exciting being here in Germany!  We have some long range plans and we hope this will allow SCORE International the opportunity to reach a broader audience with the potential of becoming a truly international series reaching beyond the United States and Mexico borders.”

With the track really starting to take shape, it was easy to see what an amazing engineering feat it was to design and build the course.  The track itself is situated in an active mine providing for excellent spectating from nearly every perspective but the groundwater has wrecked havoc and caused numerous set-backs throughout the entire six week process.  Just as soon as the heavy equipment operators would spread and compact the gravel the extremely high water table in the area would seep through the earth and destroy the man-made motorsports playground.  To complicate matters, the actual dirt itself is also very unique and as BJ Baldwin commented, “It is all a sand-wash” to which Sal Fish added “It is unlike any sand I have ever seen.”

According to Basti Groehl, Event Manager for the Germany Power Days 300, nearly 150,000 tons of gravel and dirt had to be moved in order to create the envisioned track design.  The initial course concept was created after aerial photographs were taken of the site layout back in January.  “After the San Felipe 250, serious planning began and that is what has brought us to this day.  The on-site work required 15 heavy machines such as excavators and loaders and we have spent everyday working on the course for over a month now.  We are very excited for this event and look forward to a successful showing,” added Groehl.

Featuring a course design very similar to the Laughlin Desert Challenge, the Trophy Truck and Class One track offers our European counterparts the rare opportunity to witness the suspension capabilities of the SCORE race vehicles through a series of jumps reminiscent of the Laughlin Leap.  A separate but parallel rally-style course provides numerous tight turns and the chance for the World Rally Cars to demonstrate that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better when it comes to professional race vehicles.  The third and final track which makes up this uniquely designed course layout is the Freestyle Motocross track.  Intersecting both the Rally and SCORE courses through a series of jumps, the bike competition is guaranteed to be a spectacular show.

As the pits continued to fill up with rigs and race vehicles, the anticipation level of the event was starting to kick into high gear bringing with it excitement amongst the participants.  With 30 drivers from 12 countries representing all forms of international off-road racing this event is sure to bring a whole new level of interest to an audience who would not typically be exposed to or have any awareness of Baja-style racing.

While I could go on for a few more paragraphs – in just three hours I will be waking up to get ready for the another full day at the track so for now I am saying my goodbyes and turning in for the night.  Stay tuned for more updates…..

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