January 26, 2012

Lopez leads SCORE Trophy Truck

C. Parkhouse leading SCORE Overall & Class 1 points, Lopez tops

SCORE Trophy Truck after 2 rounds of 2012 SCORE Desert Series

Tennessee’s RPM Off-Road leading seven classes, other leaders include Robinson, O. Huerta, Cullen, Chamlee;

Start draw Feb. 11 for 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 to be held in Baja, Mexico March 9-11

    LOS ANGELES—Moving out from the shadow of his father and his uncle’s experienced tracks, Southern California desert racer Cody Parkhouse has assumed the SCORE overall and unlimited Class 1 point lead after the first two rounds of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series.  With the season’s last three races all to be run in Baja, Mexico, Cody Parkhouse, 24 of Long Beach, Calif., opened the season at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in mid-January by finishing second in the first round and winning the second in a Chevy-powered Jimco open-wheeled desert race car the following day.

A second-generation desert racer and the youngest of the three Parkhouse racers, Cody Parkhouse has 103 season points to help launch the 39th season of Sal Fish’s SCORE Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series.

With Mexico’s Juan C. Lopez finishing second in both Laughlin races in the No. 18 RPM Off-Road Chevy Silverado to lead the featuring SCORE Trophy Truck division points, RPM leads the point standings in seven classes after the first two races of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series. Lopez, of Tecate, Mexico, is also second overall in points with 101 heading into the upcoming 26th Annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, to be held in San Felipe, Mexico, March 9-11.

The draw of starting positions, by class, will be held Saturday, Feb. 11 at the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles.

SCORE points are based on starting, finishing, placement and number of official starters within each class.

With 11 racers winning their respective classes both days in Laughlin, third in overall points and second in SCORE Trophy Truck after ninth and first place finishes to open the season is Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, who has 94 points after two races in the No. 20 MasterCraft Racing Ford F-150. An eight-time SCORE season class point champion, MacCachren’s win in Round 2 in Laughlin was his 10th career race win in SCORE Trophy Truck, the marquee SCORE racing division for high-tech, 850-horsepower, unlimited production trucks.

With consistent Laughlin finishes of fourth and third, Steve Strobel, Clarks, Neb., is fourth in SCORE Overall points and third in SCORE Trophy Truck with 90 points in the No. 94 Strobel Motorsports Ford F-150 while rounding out the top five overall and second in Class 1 is Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., who has 90 points after his fourth and second-place finishes in Laughlin.

Cody Parkhouse’s father, Brian Parkhouse is third in Class 1 points while his uncle Brent Parkhouse is third in SCORE Lites points after the first two SCORE races of 2012.

The most extensive impressive team performance in Laughlin was recorded by RPM Off-Road of Bristol, Tenn.  While Justin Matney, one of the team’s primary drivers rehabs a bad back, team regular driver Clyde Stacy along with several other drivers, recorded 11 class wins among the nine vehicles RPM had entered in two Laughlin races.

RPM Off-Road earned 11 total class wins among their nine entries in each of the season-opening Laughlin races on the way to leading the points in an unprecedented seven SCORE classes. Besides Lopez in SCORE Trophy Truck, Stacy, Bristol, Va. leads both Class 5-1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bug) and Class 2 (PSD-Chevy), the other RPM class point leaders are Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico (Class 6, Chevy Colorado), Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif. (Class 8, Chevy Silverado), Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va. (Class 4, PSD-Chevy) and Jim Bunn, Bristol, Va. (Sportsman Buggy, RGBuggy-Chevy). Stacy, Laguna, Iribe, Fletcher and Bunn each won their respective classes in both of the Laughlin races.

Besides RPM’s Stacy, Laguna, Iribe, Fletcher, Bunn, the other racers who won both races in Laughlin to open the season as point leaders in their respective class point standings are Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Donald Moss, Sacramento Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco), Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, unlimited VW Baja Bug), Andy Bell, Long Beach California (Stock Mini, Toyota Tacoma) and Billy Wilson, Corpus Christi, Texas (Class 7-2, BajaLite-Chevy).

Besides Cody Parkhouse (Class 1) and Stacy (Class 5-1600), the other racers who lead the points in their respective class after winning one of the first two races are Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif. (Class 1/2-1600, Romo-VW), Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif. (Class 10, AlumiCraft-Honda) and Otoneil Huerta, San Luis, Ariz. (SCORE Lites, Curry-VW). Tied for the point lead in Stock Full with one race win each are Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas (Ford F-150) and Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., (Lexus LX570).

Besides Bunn, the other Sportsman class point leader, who also won both Laughlin races, is Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif. (SPT Truck, Ford Ranger).

In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings each race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season.  Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 27th consecutive year, a total of 61 drivers are still in the hunt for the awards for the 2012 SCORE Desert Series after the first two rounds in the five-race series.

Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award. All categories, except Engine Builder and Original Buggy Chassis Manufacturer, will be determined by public on-line voting while Engine and Buggy awards are determined by season points.

Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the three SCORE Baja races.

MasterCraft Safety is co-title sponsor of the 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.

Official Sponsors of the SCORE Desert Series are:

-BFGoodrich Tires, Official Tire

-Volkswagen of America, Official Vehicle

-Sunoco Race Fuels, Official Race Fuel

-Slime, Official Tire Sealant

-Symons Ambulance Company, Official Ambulance

-Bilstein, Official Shock Absorber

-Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Official Mexican Auto Insurance

Official Sponsors of the SCORE Baja 1000 are:

-Coca-Cola, Official Soft Drink

-Volaris Airlines, Official Airline

-Lightforce Performance Lighting, Official Driving Light

Additional SCORE Sponsors are – Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

2012 SCORE Desert Series Point Leaders

(After SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Rounds 1 and 2, Jan. 14-15; Remaining races: 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250-March 9-11—San Felipe, Mexico; 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500-June 1-3, Ensenada, Mexico; 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000-Nov. 17-20, Ensenada to La Paz, Mexico)

Top 20 Overall Cars and Trucks

(Position, Drivers, Vehicle-Engine, Class, Points)

1. Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 103

2. Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck), 101

3. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 94

4. Steve Strobel, Clarks, Neb, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 90

5. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy (Class 1), 88

6. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 87

7. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 86

8. Brendan Gaughan, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 84

8. Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico, Chevy Colorado (Class 6), 84

10. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif., Romo-VW (Class 1/2-1600), 82

10. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy (Class 1), 82

12. Mark Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 80

12. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (Class 2), 80

12. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (Class 3), 80

12. Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va., PSD-Chevy (Class 4), 80

12. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (Class 5), 80

12. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 7), 80

12. Billy Wilson, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (Class 7-2), 80

12. Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif., Chevy Silverado (Class 8), 80

12. Andy Bell, Long Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma (Stock Mini), 80

2011 SCORE Desert Series Class Point Leaders

(NOTE: Motorcycles, ATVs and SPT UTVs race in the three SCORE Baja races)

 (With Class wins in parenthesis)

Pro Cars and Trucks

SCORE TROPHY TRUCK—1. Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Silverado, 101; 2. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (1), 94; 3. Steven Strobel, Clarks, Neb., Ford F-150, 90; 4. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 87; 5. Brendan Gaughan, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500, 84; 6. Mark Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 80; 7. Scott Whipple, Norco, Calif., Ford F-150, 76; 8. (Tie) James Bult, Monee, Ill., Dodge Ram2500 and Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado, 70; 10. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (1), 68; 11; (Tie) Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 and Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, Calif., Chevy C1500, 66.

CLASS 1—Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 103; 2. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 88; 3. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 88; 4. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 82; 5. Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho, Jimco-Chevy, 75; 6. (Tie) Steven Eugenio, Alpine, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Oceanside, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1) and Pete Sohren, Glendale, Calif., Geiser-Ford, 71; 8. Monica Greenhill, Crowley, Texas, Jimco-Chevy, 65; 9. Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 59; 10. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Geiser-Chevy, 51; 11. (Tie) Conan Barker, Whitter, Calif., Porter-Ford, Eric Hardin, Garden Grove, Calif., RPS-Chevy and Jaime Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Porter-Chevy, 50.

CLASS 1/2-1600—1. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif., Romo-VW (1), 82; Robert Archibald, El Cajon, Calif., Mirage-VW (1), 78; 3. Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Kreger-VW, 65; 4. Jason Markham, Ventura, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 58; 5. (Tie) George Peters, Newbury Park, Calif., Lothringer-VW and Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Kreger-VW, 57.

CLASS 3—1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (2), 80.

CLASS 5—1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (2),80.

CLASS 5-1600—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., VW Baja Bug (1), 74; 2. Erich Reisen, VW Baja Bug (1), 59.

CLASS 6—1. Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico, Chevy Colorado (2), 84; 2. Rene Brugger, San Diego, Ford Ranger 64; 3. Dan Holtz, Los Angeles, Ford Ranger, 63.

CLASS 7—1. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (2), 80; 2. Brandon Walsh, Encinitas, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 49.

CLASS 7SX—1. (Tie) Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, and Rich Severson, Tucson, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 64; 3. Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger (1), 40.

CLASS 8—1. Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif., Chevy Silverado (1), 80.

CLASS 10—1. Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda (1), 71; 2. Peter Hajas, Wayzata, Minn., Kreger-Chevy, and Perry McNeil, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 62; 4. Mark Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 55; 5. Mike Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 51; 6. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 41.

SCORE LITES—1. Otoneil Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Curry-VW (1), 76; 2. Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif./Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Jimco-VW (1), 72; 3. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif./Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif., Moulton-VW, 61; 4. Matt Laughlin, Laughlin, Nev., Penhall-VW, 59; 5. Jeff Sanca, Canada, Porter-VW, 54; 6. Lobsam Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Curry-VW, 50.

STOCK FULL—1. (Tie) Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford F-150 (1) and Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., Lexus LX570 (1), 74; 3. Marc Stein, San Diego, Ford F-150, 60.

STOCK MINI—1. Andy Bell/Ted Moncure, Long Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma (2), .

CLASS 7-2—1. Billy Wilson/Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (2), 80; 2. (Tie) Dana Dague, Huntington Beach, Calif., Mason-Chevy, and Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo. Mason-Chevy, 64.

CLASS 4—1. Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va., PSD-Chevy (2), 370; 2. Mike Shaffer, Oakland, Calif., Custom-Chevy, 68.

CLASS 2—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (2), 80; 2. Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 68.

Sportsman

SPT TRUCK—1. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger (2), 80.

SPT BUGGY—1. Jim Bunn, Bristol, Va., RGBBuggy-Chevy (2), 80.

The boys in the shop "Hamm" it up pretty good but its all business at JCR before the BAJA 1000

Johnny Campbell Racing is more than just a featured shop in San Clemente; it is an institution and arguably the most important headquarters in the sport of off-road. This is primarily because of Campbell’s pedigree of 11 Baja 1000 championships to his name alone and the legacy he has established by grooming today’s fastest desert racers to follow in his footsteps. But more recently, the JCR Institute title is due to Campbell’s being tapped on the shoulder by the off-road greatness of Robby Gordon, who handpicked Campbell to be his co-pilot in the upcoming 2012 DAKAR Rally. Not only will Campbell have Baja 1000 co-champ Quinn Cody entered in the elite pro motorcycle class in this DAKAR but Campbell himself is one of the favorites to win the OA DAKAR title this year.

Johnny is 100% into JCR everyday but as of press time he'll be in Argentina getting ready to help Robbie Gordon win the DAKAR Rally

JCR carries on the rich tradition of its origins with Bruce Ogilvie at the helm of to American Honda’s famed desert racing legacy. Johnny Campbell took over operations and moved the shop from Torrance to San Clemente early in 2008.

RDC took an unobstructed tour of the JCR facilities in San Clemente as the entire team prepares for what is perhaps the most important motor sports event on the planet, at least from an international perspective. We get the scoop right from Eric Siraton, the chief technician at JCR and the one man who is responsible for all of JCR’s machines.

The Man Behind the Bikes- Eric Siraton

The shop is tucked away between other industrial buildings in the hills east of San Clemente CA but there is no giant JCR signage on the building, only an 18 inch JCR sticker on the door.

Jeff Kargola's 6x Bike Has Become a Standing Tribute to "Ox"

Upon entering the institute, visitors are welcomed into a lobby area filled with posters and giant re-prints of various ads and promotional materials, awards and trophies. Beyond the lobby are several executive office suites, a showroom, boardroom, kitchen and bath area. The inside bathroom at JCR rivals 4-star hotels and nicer than any other we have seen in an off-road shop.

Just picture ambient sounds and the scent of a fresh spring meadow and spa-like amenities.

Beyond the interior is the meat of JCR: the shop itself. Two main work bays are dedicated to each of the BAJA champions bike teams A and B and Eric Siraton oversees the entire program even though San Clemente local and 1x plate holder Colton Udall is a full-time shop employee. Colton started off at JCR building bikes and now has Eric Siraton as a mentor and coach.

Siraton's bay- in process of building 1x for Kendall Norman and Quinn Cody's Baja 1000

There is a mezzanine area with selves of every conceivable motorcycle part, all high-end. Tire’s, wheels, sprockets, pipes, and suspension gear line the shelves and, from up here, visitors get a nice view of the work bays.

JCR's shop has a built-in "llantera"

Self-Contained Machine Shop

Plenty of spare bikes around

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ERIC SIRATON AND QUINN CODY’S DAKAR BIKE BUILD

The Final Product- Quinn's CRF450x arriving in a crate in Argentina anytime now.

As Siraton and his crew prepare Quinn Cody’s CRF450x for a 14-day battle in South America, it is crunch time at JCR and so much has to be done to prepare Cody’s machine for the world-famous rally. It is Siraton’s first crack at building a DAKAR bike from the ground up and he took a few minutes to share some details with RDC.

RDC: What are the key differences in building a machine for DAKAR vs. BAJA? What are some of the spec differences: weight, HP, etc.?

ES: There are more similarities than differences. Both start with our Baja 1000 chassis and motor configuration. Factory stator and ECU. Varies other part that we use for Baja. Differences are on subframe that becomes a fuel tank and we use 4 gal IMS front tank. About 9 gallons of fuel. We also add all the navigation equipment to the front of the bike. And I custom make a wire harness as well as using one provided from HT Rally Raid. All Dakar specific parts were provided from HT Rally Raid. The bike weights somewhere in the 300-pound range. HP is 55+.

RDC: Quinny rocked DAKAR last year with 9th in his first run and a fractured thumb as early as stage 5, did you have a hand on that bike? Your first time?

ES: Last year I didn’t play a part in Quinn’s rally. So this is my first Dakar. So excited.

RDC: When did you realize that you’d be a pro race mechanic?

ES: I never thought I would be a mechanic. I fell into it because of my brother Marc Behnke. He worked at Precision Concepts and he asked if I wanted to work part-time because I had another job. So after work I would go to the shop and pull suspension off a bike and put it back on. After a little while they needed someone full time so I quit my other job to work there.

RDC: When did you get your first decent break?

ES: Bob Bell owner of Precision Concepts was working with Johnny and building the B team XR 650R for Baja and BITD so I kept on asking to help build the bike and go to Mexico. I got my chance building the bikes and help in the chase in Mexico. With help from Jim Green I learn a lot about detail and looks are everything, because if it looks good chances are you did a good job building the bike. In 2001 I started building both bike for Honda and the story rolls on from there.

RDC: How have you progressed in your career so far? Fast or slow?

ES: I believe that my career moved rapidly. Within a year of joining Precision Concepts I was building race bikes.

RDC: You’re on quite the roll with your bikes having this incredible streak until this past March with the “old branch through the radiator trick” on Kendall’s 1x. Before that, how long has it been since you’ve lost a bike in the middle of a race?

ES: In Baja that would be the first failure I’ve ever had. The only other race that we had a failure in was the 2005 Glen Helen 24hr race and I rebuilt the motor to finish the race.

RDC: Walk us through how you felt and what goes through your mind after losing a bike in the desert? Is it heavy for you, considering your record?

ES: When we DNF in San Felipe I was very disappointed knowing that I have never had a failure in Baja. My first concern was: “Is it a mechanical failure or something else?” So when I found out what happened I was somewhat relieved, nothing could have stopped that issue. My record might have a blemish on it but I will still keep building the best machines for my rider and hopefully keep my reputation moving forward.

RDC: Colton’s got the El Plato 1x and he credited you with lots of thanks for helping him out in 2011. Did you have a pretty big hand on the bike or are you more like a mentor.

ES: Colton and I work closely with each other to make sure his bike is solid. He builds his bike then I take it over after it is tested. So I go back over it and check everything to make sure it is perfect. Colton is a great mechanic in his own right, I just helped him step his game up a little bit.

RDC: Who do you look up to?

ES: The following people who have influenced my career: Bob Bell, Bruce Ogilvie, Johnny Campbell, Marc Behnke and my wife Cherlene Siraton.

RDC: How do you like your shop and what makes it special?

ES: JCR Honda is my home away from home. It is like a family, we are all very close to each other. Each year we try to improve the shop in one way or another, to make it more efficient.

Alas, Siraton is at the helm in the shop and on his way to his first DAKAR, Campbell will ride to right of Robby Gordon and Quinn Cody will attempt to podium in his sophomore rally. When you think of JCR, don’t think of it as another shop. It is an institution.

CODY’S DAKAR BIKE

After starting with a new CRF450X they take it all the way down and decide which parts to keep.

This looks like most everything off the stock bike they can't use on Cody's Dakar bike

The rear end carries lots of gas and acts as a ballast for the heavy front end. 9 gallons is like racing with a full tank and carrying a 5-gallon bucket of paint

DAKAR is such different race, barely comparable to any other on earth

This ain't playtime now. Its time to do work.

Just a day before testing in the high desert.

Here she is at testing, what a beast. She passed the test, prettied up and shipped away to Argentina. Quinn and Eric are 100% ready to do work.

Everything for the Menzies Motorsports team boiled down to one last race and what may be the biggest race of their 2011 season. Their first ever SCORE Baja 1000 took place just over a week ago and they continued right where they left off and that is by letting the fans, sponsors and fellow drivers know that they are an unstoppable team.

The 44^th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 was said to be one of the toughest Baja 1000’s to date, but that didn’t stop Bryce Menzies and Co-Driver Peter Mortensen from taking to the start line. The race was set to start with the first Trophy Truck off the line at 11:30am but with racing and staging ahead of schedule, the race started roughly 15 minutes ahead of the planned start time. Jesse James was the first Trophy Truck to take the green flag followed by Tavo Vildosola, Kory Scheeler and then points leader BryceMenzies in the #70 Menzies/Red Bull truck. Adrenalin took over as Bryce saw the flag drop for him and he knew it was time to go.

With rain sweeping through the streets of Ensenada just days earlier, it was impossible to avoid the puddles and the now mud filled washjust off the start. After blasting through the mud and returning to paved roads, Bryce and Pete found themselves coming to a complete stop just 4 miles into the race. Officials had stopped all the trucks due to a local vehicle blocking the course. The safety of the drivers and locals were the main concern taking place and after careful thought, the SCORE officials brought the remaining trucks up to mile 4.75 and after the course was cleared a complete restart took place.

Timing for all the Trophy Trucks was reset, but the adrenalin rush for Bryce had worn off after waiting almost an hour to start the race again. With a calm driver behind the wheel the #70 set a consistent pace and held down the 4^th truck on the road but never let the other trucks to far out of sight.

Also racing to try and claim the Championship was long time racer Rob MacCachren who had his sights set on catching Bryce. With the top ten trucks being so close together after the restart, it was crucial that the Menzies Trophy Truck and driver made no errors. That is exactly what took place and before Bryce and Pete knew it they were already coming up to race mile 80 where the pit crew gave a quick splash of fuel to the truck and within 22 seconds they were back on the road.

Speeds picked up as the trucks made it out of the summit and through the wash with speeds over 90mph Bryce was quickly gaining on Kory Scheeler and just miles up the course both trucks came up to the dry lake bed where the #70 truck held nothing back and reeled in Kory at speeds now reaching 120 mph. In order to not get swallowed up by the clouds of dust coming off of Kory, Bryce went for the pass and after racing side by side down the lake bed the Red Bull truck came out in front and didn’t look back.

With Tavo down back at race mile 98 Bryce was now the second truck on the road and didn’t slow down. Coming off the dry lakebed and back into the washes leading into San Felipe, he spotted Jesse James up ahead pulled to the side of the course changing a tire. After passing the stopped downedtruck Bryce now was first on the road, but coming up fast would be another young driver and 2-time Baja 1000 winner Andy McMillin.

Battling to keep the lead position and not wanting to be in Andy’s dust, Bryce pushed hard but after miles of Andy staying right on his bumper the decision was made to let him pass and not risk making any errors by letting the pressure of the blue McMillin truck get the best of Bryce. Coming up to their first fuel pit just miles later, the refreshed truck and driver were stopped for less then 50 seconds and with fresh BFGoodrich tires, a full tank and fuel and food to hold Bryce and Pete over till the next pit, it dawned on them that they were not even to the half way point of the race.

Over 4 hours into the race the sun started to set on what would be the roughest part of the 700-mile course. The San Felipe loop ended the night for a lot of the racers, but the calm Bryce Menzies guided the truck through the dark terrain with Baja Designs lighting the way. Now back to first truck on the road after passing Andy and Jesse while pitting, Bryce and Pete continued with their game plan and set a steady pace making sure to hit every line they mapped out during prerunning.  Making it out of San Felipe with no errors put the #70 truck in the lead and now it was time to head back towards Ensenada.

With Rob MacCachren behind by over 30 minutes Bryce knew he needed to continue driving how he had been the last 460 miles and he can still pull of a possible win and claim the 2011 Championship, but in Baja, you never know what lies ahead for you and you are never in the clear until you reach the finish. Continuing with the lead, it was at mile 470 when Bryce knew something wasn’t right with the truck. After going miles and still feeling a vibration, the decision was made to stop and check the driveline. With nothing visiblywrong they got back to the race, but the problem was still there. Calling ahead to their pits to let them know something was wrong and to prepare for anything, it wasn’t long before the truck pulled into the pit at race mile 474 and realized it was just a loose wheel. With the problem fixed quickly it still was not fast enough to hold off 2^nd and 3^rd place trucks on the road, McMillin and Vanderwey.

Bryce got back on the course following in the dust of the top 2 drivers and only something like a flat tire on their end would allow Bryce to regain the lead. A quick drivers change at race mile 540 where Bryce Menzies switched driving duties with short course teammate Ricky Johnson went flawless and the Red Bull truck was on the final stretch back to the start/finish.

The slowest part of the race lied ahead of Ricky as he took the truck through the cold air coming off of the pacific and into the tight, twisting, silt and rock filled hills of Urapan. Flawless driving on Ricky’s end saw the truck through the dark night terrain and he continued to stay within minutes of the two leaders.

Coming back into Ensenada through the now dark and ghost town like washes the Kroyer powered #70 Menzies/Red Bull Trophy Truck made its way back to the heart of town and came around the last turn to see the checkered flag and team members awaiting its arrival. With no Rob MacCachren in sight, Bryce, Pete, Ricky and the team celebrated as they realized they hadjust won their first ever SCORE Championship in their rookie year. At 3:27am Saturday morning the truck crossed the finish line and completed the 2011 Baja 1000, and along with finishing the biggest and longest race of the year, the truck and team completed every race mile that was thrown at them this season.

This years racing has now wrapped up for the Menzies Motorsports Team, walking away with 3 championships and now they will focus their attention to what the upcoming 2012 racing season will bring. Make sure to follow Menzies on facebook and twitter to see just what 2012 has in store for them.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Menzies-Motorsports/120551174645163

http://twitter.com/#!/MenziesRacing

Www.menziesmotorsports.com

That is exactly what Justin Davis did. Justin has become the youngest solo driver to ever win the Baja 1000 in a class one car and the youngest to take home a class one championship. “I am just really lucky to have this chance and be able to drive these race cars, without my family and my crew this would have never been possible,” Justin said after the win. Justin started the 44^th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 dead last and drove through the pack of twenty-four  well talented class one car drivers, beating some of the best there is in the business. “Our plan was to really pace ourselves, all we had to do was finish and we would take home the championship,” said Justin. “When we found out our time splits we just went for it, I was in it to win it. “

After losing the Baja 500 this year by a few minutes it was evident that Justin was on a mission the last 150 miles of the race.  “The San Matias pit told me that John Herder was behind the wheel of the Wilson’s car and coming fast, so I tried to focus on no mistakes and drive my own race. I have to say through the beach section my new ridgid lights really worked great.  At the final pit at the meadow my team really got me in and out fast and the Wilson’s car was right behind me as I pulled out.  We had a great run to the finish and after sixteen hours in the car I was excited to see my whole team at the finish line to cheer me on”.

Justin started his 2011 season with a bang with the debut of his class one car.  He became the youngest to win in his class at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge taking first place. This was just a start to a winning season.

Justin stated, “This Baja 1000 was by far the toughest race I’ve ever raced and to be able to solo it and win the race was a huge success for me. I have not had a flat all year, thanks to my General Tires. I don’t think any tire company can top that, but General Tire.”

I really want to thank my crew chief Josh O’Neil he has really nailed it since being in charge of the car, and my whole GreenArmy crew. I would like to thank my sponsors General Tire, King Shocks best in the business, Sunoco Fuels, DST, Jamar Performance Products thanks for letting me stop all year, Fast-Aid , CBR Radiators, Clint you’ve  been such a good friend and supporter , Ridgid Led Lighting for lighting up the desert so we could go for the win , PPM Ryan best axles ever ,  Slime , Dave Folts Transmissions ,  Nickhead at Kartek, Kroyer  the motor choice for champions , Mark at Straightedge for making the car look awesome. I would also like to thank my co-drivers Troy Holes and Jordan Kundert, Jordan thank you for tuning my shocks and all your help. A special thanks to my sister Ashley, my mom Kim and my dad Kevin for their unwavering support, also thank you to my media guys Scott Bridges, Greg Wetzel, and Bryan Moore.

Written By: Bryan Moore

November 22, 2011

In 10 Pro Classes

21 SCORE racers earn SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards

For completing every mile of 2011 SCORE Desert Series

SCORE Awards Night to honor winners on Dec. 10 in Irvine, Calif.

     LOS ANGELES—After 1,762.02 dusty and rugged desert racing miles, 21 of the world’s best desert racers have survived the challenge of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series to earn coveted 2011 SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards. The 21 drivers, competing in 10 different classes, earned their prestigious honors by finishing every required mile in the World’s foremost Desert Racing Series. The 2011 SCORE Desert Series ended last weekend with the 44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

All 21 drivers will receive their special awards Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, Calif., adjacent to John Wayne airport, during the annual SCORE Awards Night celebration of 38 years of SCORE desert racing honoring the 2011 SCORE Desert Series point champions and the winners of the 2011 SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards.

Leading the way are six racers in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division and three in Class 1/2-1600 for 1600cc VW-powered open-wheelers.

The six SCORE Trophy Truck drivers who completed every race mile this season are: Bryce Menzies, Las Vegas (No. 70, Ford F-150), Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas (No. 20, Ford F-150), Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore. (No. 98, Ford F-150), Adam Householder, Orange, Calif. (No. 24, Chevy Silverado), Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif. (No. 78, Ford F-150) and Ken Losch, Tempe Ariz. (No. 10, Chevy Silverado).

Toyota is presenting these prestigious awards to the world’s toughest desert racers for the 26th consecutive year. The Toyota Milestone awards are going to those pro car and truck drivers who finished all 1,762.02 required miles in the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series.

“Toyota is proud to honor the world’s best desert racing drivers,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “For over a quarter of a century, Toyota has had the privilege of presenting the SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards to the toughest racers on the planet.”

For MacCachren, a six-time member of the AARWBA All-America motorsports team, this is a record fifth SCORE Toyota Milestone while it is the third for Steele and second each for Luke McMillin, Justin Davis and Clyde Stacy.

Jessica McMillin becomes just the third female along with Steele and Bekki Freeman-Wik to earn a SCORE Toyota Milestone Award.

The remainder of this year’s honorees will be receiving SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards for the first time.

The challenging 2011 season began with the 17th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in January and ended with the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Nov. 17-20. The season-ending granddaddy of all desert races started and finished in Ensenada to La Paz, featuring a season-high 292 starters competing in 34 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.

2011 SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards

(21 Racers have completed every required mile-1,762.02-in the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series)

SCORE Trophy Truck

Bryce Menzies, Las Vegas

Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas

Adam Householder, Orange, Calif.

Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore.

Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif.

Ken Losch, Chandler, Ariz.

Class 1

Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif.

Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif.

Class 1/2-1600

Luke McMillin, El Cajon, Calif.

Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif.

Arturo Velazco, Banning, Calif.

Class 5

Kevin Carr, San Diego

Cody Kellogg, Cypress, Calif.

Class 6

Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif.

Marc Burnett, Chula Vista, Calif.

Class 7

Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif.

Class 10

Sergio Salgado, Mexicali, Mexico

SCORE Lites

Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif.

Zak Langley, Santa Monica, Calif.

Protruck

Jessica McMillin, National City, Calif.

Class 4

Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Tenn.

November 11, 2011

SCORE International’s 45th anniversary celebration of the legendary

Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 highlights five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series

SCORE to celebrate November’s 45th racing extravaganza down

Mexico’s Baja California peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz

LOS ANGELES—Preparing to celebrate its 39th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, SCORE International today officially announced the finalized schedule for the five race 2012 SCORE Desert Series.

SCORE’s 2012 season will culminate with the massive 45th anniversary celebration of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.  The season will start in Southern Nevada with the 18th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

With Las Vegas Events this week approving SCORE to produce the 18th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, SCORE has announced plans to make each day of the two-day Laughlin event separate race events for purposes of championship points, prize money and trophies.  Further, SCORE also announced that after five years of running a shorter course loop, the course for the 2012 Laughlin event will be expanded to the longer route that crosses the Needles Highway.

“SCORE will maintain a five-race series and we want all of our great racers to celebrate with us at the 45th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.  We want to give our racers ample time to prepare for the massive undertaking and unique challenge of a peninsula run format, so eliminating the September race seemed to be the best option.” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President.

The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge will once again be held on the Martin Luther King birthday weekend which in 2012 will be January 13-15.

“SCORE International is the premier desert racing organization in the world and Las Vegas Events has a great working relationship with Sal Fish and his dedicated team,” commented Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, the entity which will sponsor the January two-race format in Laughlin.

The Laughlin event will include course practice sessions and qualifying for SCORE Trophy Truck on Friday followed by two separate and independent races, the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday.  There will not be a Laughlin Leap competition prior to the race.  While there will be a spectator area adjacent to the start/finish line, there will not be grandstand seating. Spectator admission will be free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The SCORE Desert Series, which features 36 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, buggies, motorcycles and ATVs, will kick off January 13-15 with the 18th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in the Southern Nevada resort city of Laughlin on the banks of the Colorado River.  The season will conclude November 14-17 with the 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the granddaddy of all desert races, which will start in Ensenada, Baja California and finish in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The 2012 SCORE Desert Series will again start with the most unique and the shortest race of the season and finish with the oldest and most recognized desert race in the world.  After starting the season in Laughlin, 90 miles south of Las Vegas, it will conclude with the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, which is always a unique and memorable special race.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series will both be held in Mexico. The 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 is set for March 9-11 in San Felipe, followed by the vastly popular 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 1-3, in Ensenada.

SCORE International, founded in 1973 by the late Mickey Thompson and headed by Sal Fish since 1974, continues today as the premier sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing. SCORE races feature 25 Pro and 3 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks in the U.S. with 11 Pro and 3 Sportsman classes for motorcycles and ATVs competing at the Mexico races.

Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the upcoming 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

Official Sponsors of the SCORE Desert Series are:

-BFGoodrich Tires, Official Tire

-Volkswagen of America, Official Vehicle

-Sunoco Race Fuels, Official Race Fuel

-Slime, Official Tire Sealant

-Symons Ambulance Company, Official Ambulance

-Bilstein, Official Shock Absorber

-Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Official Mexican Auto Insurance

Official Sponsors of the SCORE Baja 1000 are:

-Coca-Cola, Official Soft Drink

-Volaris Airlines, Official Airline

-Lightforce Performance Lighting, Official Driving Light

Additional SCORE Sponsors are – Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

2012 SCORE Desert Series

Schedule of Events

18th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge (two races)

January 13-15 - Laughlin, Nevada

26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250

March 9-11 - San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico

44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500

June 1-3 - Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

45th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

November 14-17 - Ensenada To La Paz Peninsula Run

SCORE Awards Night

December 8 - Location To Be Determined

[Show as slideshow]

Question: “Armin, the time has now come for the AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck to be unleashed. How exciting is that?”

Armin Schwarz: “Unbelievably exciting. But I’m even more looking forward to testing the vehicle. The truck runs very quietly, just like the WRC cars I used to drive. We did a great deal of work on the geometry and on the pivot points of all axles. It seems almost like a hybrid between a buggy and trophy truck. It’s very agile and manageable, but still it demonstrates excellent resilience in tough terrain – and that’s exactly what a SCORE Trophy Truck should have.”

Question: “How long did it take from the first drawings to the premiere of the Trophy Truck?”

Armin Schwarz: “Martin and I drew up the first plans back in mid-2009 when we were both feeling frustrated at having to start behind all the SCORE Trophy Trucks. In June 2010 the first drawings were completed. We then developed the first components. But only when we sold our very successful Class One Buggy to Australia after clinching overall victory at the 2010 Baja 250 and a superb racing season could we concentrate totally on our Trophy Truck project. That was in November 2010.”

Question: “When can we see the Trophy Truck in action for the first time?”

Armin Schwarz: “Our first race is in November this year at the Baja 1000. But, we don’t have any race strategy whatsoever. For us it’ll be more a major test outing, perhaps the biggest test that you can possibly put a race car through. Martin, our team and I all think that we can conduct test kilometres in a competition environment. Our partners support us wholeheartedly and they know that we’ll be going for victory in 2012.”

Question: “What will now become of the AGM Buggy with which you were so successful in the US SCORE Championship to now? And how does your crew line-up look for 2012?

Armin Schwarz: “Martin sold the Buggy to a successful racer from the Australian Offroad Championship who is very happy with the car. For 2012 we are obviously planning some important steps in further developing the truck. And we will also work on the reliability because that’s the most crucial factor if you want to win. And we have many other innovative ideas in mind, but we won’t share these ideas for the time being.
Moreover, AGM still has another Class One Buggy with which Armin Kremer was so successful in the last years. I don’t want to say too much about that either – but I will say this: Armin is in the AGM team and he’ll be staying there. We have a great time together and Armin is a fighter. He complements our team very well.”

Question: “What are your goals for the 2012 season?”

Armin Schwarz: “We aim to finish all races and win as many as possible. Martin, the team and I have one very clear goal and that is to win the Baja 1000 – regardless of whether it’s in 2012 or 2013. The main thing is to win this awesome race! In all the years that Sal Fish has run the SCORE Organisation, and all his helpers have found unbelievably beautiful and tough tracks, never before has a non-North American won. Only in 2010 did a Mexican, let’s say an ‘almost’ North American, manage this feat – and that was our friend from the Vildosola team. We want to be the first Europeans to do this and that is our aim.
I want to express my thanks to my friend who has virtually ‘carried’ me after my active WRC time: Wilfried Eibach, whose company celebrated its 60th anniversary a fortnight ago. Dear Wilfried, you really sorted out a wonderful “post-WRC” activity for me. And man, is it fun. There are very few of these types – people like Wilfried Eibach, Sal Fish, Yves Morizot and of course my friend and team mate Martin Christensen. To you all, and my family of course, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and patience.”

Information on the AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck

All German Motorsports built the Trophy Truck in the USA in close collaboration with Jimco, the most experienced and best chassis manufacturer in the international offroad scene. Jimco is responsible for the chassis and the construction of the vehicle. TriStar Metals, a US subsidiary of AGM partner Stammcut, supplied premium quality material for the new chassis under the BMW X6 silhouette.
The design of the new Trophy Truck was developed in close cooperation with the creative team of Achim Storz. DESIGN STORZ based in Zell am See (Austria) developed the silhouette of the Trophy Truck with the body of the BMW X6 as an inspiration.
Another partner is Meziere Enterprises, a long-standing supporter of AGM that specialises in machined and lathed parts for racing. Team boss Christensen worked with the engineers from Meziere to develop calculations, drawings and CAD data. An incredible amount of machined parts feature on the Trophy Truck, made Meziere from lightweight material like aluminium, magnesium or titanium. All carbon-fibre components on the vehicle, for instance the internal parts that are exposed to strong vibrations, are supplied by partner Lynx Composites.
With the suspension, All German Motorsports places it trust in partners Eibach (springs) and Fox (shocks). Powering the AGM-Jimco X6 Trophy Truck is a 725 hp V8 Denzio BMW engine. The filter system and the air ducting were set-up by K&N in Riverside, California. Partner Remus built an ultra-lightweight exhaust with a multi-flow 4-in-1 exhaust system – giving the unmistakeable sound that fans so love to hear. Liqui Moly is the supplier of all lubricants which have been specifically developed for the hot, sandy and difficult conditions of offroad racing in the desert. Fuel comes from the long-standing partner F&L Fuels that delivers virtually all high-performance petrol to the SCORE Series.
Fortin delivers the gearbox: A four-speed sequential shift automatic gearbox. At the rear axle All German Motorsports works with Drexler Motorsport, experts in the field of differentials. The team selected a differential which gives considerably better vehicle handling on the twisty and rolling tracks than a rigid drive. And the tyres are supplied by the reliable partner, BF Goodrich. AGM now use an Alcon 6-piston brake system.
All German Motorsports get all the safety systems, like the Recaro seats, the Schroth harness system, race wear, helmets and the Stand21 HANS system, as well as all the small parts like switches and so forth, from their partner Off Road Warehouse ORW. The monster features a Powerstride battery system. With the software, the team has launched a development project in conjunction with B&M Tricon. IT solutions were found that are intended to contribute to simplifying and optimising the set-up of the vehicle in the future.

JD Films is proud to have Team Ford Las Vegas join us as the new title sponsor for the upcoming, action packed, Dezert People 9 film.  Team Ford, along with our other Dezert People 9 sponsors—VORRA, Fox Racing Shox, MasterCraft Safety, Total Chaos Fabrication, PCI Race Radios, Vision X, Azunia Tequila, Off Road Warehouse, Baja Junkies and HighRev Photography—are geared up and ready for the arrival of yet another thrilling release in the Dezert People saga.

This years DVD release features intense racing action from Baja, California, Nevada and Texas with more event coverage than ever before, including SCORE, BITD, VORRA, CODE, Baja Racing of Texas, King of the Hammers and much more…

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour will kick off Friday, September 16, 2011 at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, CA.  Come hang out poolside at this outdoor movie event and be the first to witness the action packed coverage of the past year in off-road racing. Just as the previous premiere held at the Atrium, JD Films will be once again giving 50% of each paid admission to Fast-Aid, who will also be present to raffle off some exciting prizes.  Ticket pre-ordering is now online at www.dezertpeople.com with an option to buy the DVD and get in free.

We also have many other exciting premieres planned.  Join us once again at Norman Motorsports on Saturday, September 17, 2011 that will be benefiting multiple charities, including Navy SEAL Foundation, Fast-Aid, Castro-Limon Foundation and Chaplain Steve Hanson who’s house and belongings were recently lost in a fire.  Enjoy a margarita sponsored by Azunia Tequila and some street tacos provided by Locos Mocos and Baja Pits who will be there to help raise money for the Castro-Limon Foundation. Admission is $30 at the door and includes a Dezert People 9 DVD, poster and drinks.

To close out the weekend, Dezert People combined efforts again with All German Motorsports to put together another K1 Speed event in Carlsbad, CA.  Come check out the many race vehicles and prerunners on display in between challenging your friends to some high-speed go-kart racing.  Fast-Aid will be there raffling off many high-end prizes, and Locos Mocos and Baja Pits will also be grilling up more street tacos to help raise money for Castro Limon. The Dezert People 9 showing will start at 7:00 pm after all go-kart races are finished.

If you can’t make it to one of our SoCal events, don’t worry because the fun doesn’t stop there. Dezert People will be making stops in Las Vegas, Arizona, Baja, Texas and NorCal. See the full schedule for the Team Ford, Dezert People 9 premiere tour below:

The Team Ford, Dezert People 9 Premiere Tour schedule:

• Sept. 16^th – Atrium Hotel, Irvine, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Norman Motorsports, El Cajon, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Angels Roadhouse 2, Apple Valley, CA
• Sept. 17^th – Clubhouse 56, Sacramento, CA
• Sept. 17^th – SamCo Fabrication, Reno, NV
• Sept. 18^th – K1 Speed, Carlsbad, CA
• Sept. 19^th – Sierra Gold Tavern and Pole Position, Las Vegas, NV
• Sept, 20^th – Farrelli’s Cinema, Scottsdale, AZ
• Sept. 21^st – Mexicali, Baja (combined event with CODE race drawing)
• Sept. 22^nd – Irish O’Sullivan’s, Fresno, CA
• Sept. 22^nd – Brewers Sports Bar, Yuma, AZ
• Sept. 24^th – Austin Speed Shop, Austin, TX
• Sept. 25^th – The Saddle Rack, Fremont, CA
• Sept. 30th – Brothers Leagues Club, Australia
• Oct. 7th – Bones Roadhouse, Gualala, CA
• TBA – Ensenada. Check our web site www.dezertpeople.com for updates and full details about each location.

Watch the trailer at www.youtube.com/jdfilms

Pre-order Dezert People 9 on the web here.

Dezert People is pleased to introduce our title sponsor Team Ford. www.teamford.com

Team Ford, which opened in May of 2000, is the newest and most modern Ford dealership in Nevada.

If you are already familiar with Team Ford, the Las Vegas based Ford and Lincoln dealer, then you know they specialize and understand the needs of Racers and Crews as well as offering the highest discounts on Race and Chase vehicles.

With a low key and friendly greeting approach, customers arrive knowing right off the bat that they will be well taken care and given the service they deserve without the hassle of a pushy sales person.

Different than any other dealer, Team Ford offers incentives such as “Team Air,” a program with which buyers receive a one-way airfare from anywhere in the country in order to purchase their vehicle with someone who specializes in their needs. They have also been known to deliver needed parts to racers while in Primm, Beatty, and even Tonopah.  It is no surprise that they are the #1 volume Ford Dealer in Las Vegas going on 4 years since their success is obviously a direct result of the loyalty of the racers and race crews.

The Team Ford Trophy Truck driven by Team Ford owner/president Steve Olliges and John Swift, is currently competing in BITD and SNORE with plans to race SCORE as well. The truck is sponsored by BFGoodrich, Mastercraft, Fox Shox, Trail Ready, KC, Impact, Marathon Sod and, of course, Ford and Team Ford.

General Tire Presents: Onboard with General Tire at the 2011 SCORE Baja 500. The General Tire Off-Road Team was primed and ready to go for one of the roughest Baja races of the year. This year’s course was an insane combination of steep hill climbs and dusty open roads. Experience first-hand what it feels like to ride along with these insane drivers as they tear through the Baja desert and wreak havoc along the way!

Directed by The Martelli Brothers, Produced by Mad Media

General Tire Presents: Exclusive coverage of the 2011 SCORE Baja 500. The General Tire Off-Road Team was primed and ready to go for one of the roughest Baja races of the year. This year’s course was an insane combination of steep hill climbs and dusty open roads. Overall, the General Tire Team walked away with some great finishes. Congrats to Marc Burnett for winning Class 6 and Colton Udall for a 2nd place overall.

Directed by The Martelli Brothers, Produced by Mad Media

The day after the race results were released and penalties issued. 2 weeks later more results and penalties were issued, what caused the delay between the first and second set of results and penalties?

We looked at information we received (in the days after) and talked to individuals that we were not able to talk to at the race, we listened to what they had to say. We wanted to make sure we had all the facts to make a correct decision.

Robby Gordon was DQ’d for 2 incidents of finish line misconduct, can you explain exactly what he did to incur this penalty?

He came around the finish right hand turn where he slid off the course into our spectator area that was behind our fence and some K barriers, thank god that he didn’t have any contact that I am aware of with them. Then he proceeded to do 2 spin outs in the area that I felt was very unsafe considering the situation with spectators on either side of the course there. I just felt it was totally unnecessary and jeopardizing people that were in the area and it was not the kind of conduct I expect from a professional racer such as Robby in that situation.

There was a second video of him doing a donut after he had gone through the finish line spectator area, was that the second incident of finish line misconduct?

Yes, if you look at that video its actually very frightening as there were people in that crosswalk area there and its just not the right thing to do.

Jesse Jones was DQ’d for going backwards on the course, the area where he did so was a wide graded road and he followed local traffic out on it at a slow rate of speed. What is the rule about this?

First of all it was the race course, there is no reason for a race car to go backwards on the race course he could have easily radioed his pit and had them come the direction of the race course to him. Its one of those things that he is a very professional racer and I know he soloed because he had to let his co-driver out 50 or 60 miles into the race and he did a trojan effort but unfortunately you have to conduct yourself in a responsible manner and you just cant go backwards on the race course. That’s all there is to it.

If he had a chase truck come into him would the chase truck then have to continue on the course or could they legally turn around and go back out on the course they came in on?

They could either wait till the end of the race or find an access road that is not the race course itself and turn out. Going backwards on the course would not be the correct thing to do.

How is the highway classified in Baja since technically chase trucks are “driving backwards” on the course when they are traveling back from a pit on the actual highway?

We don’t block the highways so you have the normal traffic going both directions on the highway. Obviously I think that’s self explanatory. The highway is not classified the same as the dirt race course sections.

Does SCORE review Youtube videos since it seems everyone has a cell phone with a camera now days?

Well we look at them but you have to remember there are things that happen before and after that video that you don’t see. I am very cautious about looking at them. Its something we are going to have to look at immediately, is how long do we keep this door open. If someone gives us a video now of something happening, is that a situation that we can go back and penalize. In real life that happens if someone is shown committing a crime and it doesn’t become evident to law enforcement till a year later something happens.

Is SCORE going to in the future have a time window that people will have to submit videos for review before final results?

I have not made a decision on that yet, my nephew Paul and I have been discussing it I think we have to be very cautious here to make sure we don’t set a precedent that could damage our sport or anything like that but I do think we have to look at it. Things have changed, society is different as you said everyone knows everything faster than everyone else. There are people spread out all over the country and our racing community has to realize that they are not out there in a vacuum, everything they are doing is under a microscope. Because of the tracker we keep an equal playing field and I think we have done that and people are respecting the race courses and the land and staying where we have permission to go. Now its gone to the next level where there are other things that are visible that we wouldn’t have known about before. I think we have to look at it and how we respond to it, well that’s gonna be an interesting question.

ROADWARRIORS airing on SPIKE TV Network– Thursday, June 23rd

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE TIME IN YOUR AREA.

What better way to bring the sport of Off-Road Racing to mainstream television than covering the ‘granddaddy’ of events — the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Langley Productions and Executive Producer John Langley did just that, and captured what many people have never seen – the elation and heartbreak that comes from charging through Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula with the dream of conquering the unforgiving terrain and overcoming the competition to be crowned a winner and be added to a select group of world-class racers who have won the coveted and legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

Viewers will get unprecedented event coverage as ROADWARRIORS focuses on several of the sport’s top teams and drivers that race the entire SCORE Desert Series including SOCRE Trophy-Truck drivers “Ballistic” BJ Baldwin; Cameron Steele and “Pistol” Pete Sohren as well as unlimited Class 1 open-wheel teams All German Motorsports (Armin Schwarz and Martin Christensen), COPS Racing Team (Dan Martin) and LETNER Racing (Harley Letner and Kory Halopoff). Cameras capture all of the racing action in the wilds of the mysterious Baja peninsula while also following the man that makes it all happen, SAL FISH (President/CEO of SCORE International) as he manages the massive race from SCORE race headquarters in downtown Ensenada as the typical crowds of over 250,000 spectators spread out across the race course to catch some of the most grueling desert racing in the world by a talented field of racers from 39 U.S. states and nearly 20 countries.

JOHN LANGLEY, best known as the Creator and Executive Producer of the long-running FOX show “COPS” explains that “ROADWARRIORS is my attempt to show what it’s like to be in off-road racing from the ground up.  Everybody does ‘sports’ coverage, with objective camera views and narration.  We wanted to get it back on the ground, and in the cars and the pits, to show what racing is really like from the inside out.  Hopefully we’ve captured some of that feeling and reality, which is like no other experience I know of.   But it’s up to the audience to decide.  If nothing else, I think people will catch a glimpse of what racing is about from a race teams’ Point of View, including drivers and chase and what it takes to win a race.”

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 99.4 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter@spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

1. Since you are the producer of the COPS TV show how did you go from making TV shows to offroad racing?

I became interested in offroad racing with the Baja 1000 in 2008.  A neighbor mentioned he was building a car for that race, and I told him to make one for me as well….thinking my sons and I would race once and cross it off the bucket list!  Obviously, I underestimated the appeal of offroading….

2. What is more intense, riding along in a police chase or the first 5 miles of the Baja 1000?

Racing in the Baja 1000 — especially getting out of town — is far more intense for me than a high speed pursuit!  In fact, my codriver is the former Sheriff of Las Vegas, a real cop, and he told me he had never had a more intense experience than his first Baja 1000 race…and he’s been involved in everything from hi-speed pursuits to shootouts!

3. How many race cars are part of the COPS racing team? Who are the drivers?

Right now we are running three cars in the SCORE series, plus occasional races in SNORE and MORE.  We have a Class 1, Class 10 and Class 12. Dan Martin and Dale Dondel race the Class 1, my son and I, Morgan Langley, race the Class 10, and my son Zak Langley and Bernie Carr race the Class 12.

4. What is your favorite race of the year? Why?

I suppose my favorite race is the Baja 1000 since we won in 2009 in Class 1 and in 2010 in Class 4, when I also won the championship in Class 4.  But all the Baja races turn me on because of the “Wild West” feeling of racing your guts out with avid fans cheering you on, and helping you out, during the marathon runs.

5. Have you ever been hassled by less than law abiding citizens because of your paint scheme?

As you probably know, we are not “real” cops but happen to do a show called COPS! We’re a bunch of TV guys who do TV.  Having said that, most fans and offroaders know where we’re coming from and have no issues with us. But it goes for less than law abiding citizens too!  We’re not trying to arrest anyone; just trying to win races!

6. What is your favorite TV show besides COPS and any of your produced shows?

Hmmm.  My favorite TV shows, apart from my own, would be “Deadliest Catch” on the reality side, and “Game of Thrones” on the fiction side.  But I like all good TV shows, especially ones that aren’t “faked” if they pretend to be real, or ones that seem real even if they are faked (like fictional TV).

7. What race do you want to win the most and in what class?

The race I want to win most is the next one!  Having said that, the Baja 1000 still beckons me to make it three years in a row, whatever the class.  Personally, my goal is to have all three of our cars podium for the Baja 1000. THAT is a goal I dream about….

8. Do you have any plans of getting into the Trophy Truck class?

I’m a buggy boy.  We’ve just ordered a new Class 1 from Racer Engineering, and we’re looking at another Class 10 from them as well.  Our plans for the future is to run two cars per race, not three, with Class 10 branching out to other series in SNORE and Best in the Desert and so forth.  But at this stage, I just want to race more and more whether it’s SCORE or SNORE or MORE or whichever!

9. RoadWarriors is your new TV show about offroad racing, what can you tell us about it?

ROAD WARRIORS is my attempt to show what it’s like to be in offroad racing from the ground up.  Everybody does “sports” coverage, with objective camera views and narration.  We wanted to get it back on the ground, and in the cars and the pits, to show what racing is really like from the inside out.  Hopefully we’ve captured some of that feeling and reality, which is like no other experience I know of.  But it’s up to the audience to decide.  If nothing else, I think people will catch a glimpse of what racing is about from a race teams’ Point of View, including drivers and chase and what it takes to win a race.

10. At the Baja 500 there was 3D camera’s in use, are these going to be in a future offroad project?

In production, we just filmed the Baja 500 in 3D as a new experiment for us.  It will air on EPIX 3D in the coming year…and marks a new era for Langley Productions as we try to capture offroad racing in all its three-dimensional glory and agony. It’s going to be unique, and one of the story lines shows my son Zak Langley coming in 2nd Place in Class 12.  Of course I urge everybody to stay tuned….

11. How often are you on Facebook? Is it you personally posting on your profile?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326698372

I get on Facebook now and then, and yes, I do my own posting and always answer whoever writes.  My main interest is offroad racing (while I still have time to do it, since I just turned 68!) so I’m always there for fellow offroaders or fans.

Baja 500 Official Class Results