Friday, September 4, 2009

Bully Dog Superlite Truck Racing on Outdoor Channel

Corona, California (September 4th, 2009) - On Labor Day, Monday September 7th at 4:30pm ET, the Outdoor Channel will premier the Bully Dog SuperLite Truck Championship Series. The Bully Dog SuperlLite Series competes on the most grueling off road tracks ever built in equally matched spec built trucks making for a true drivers class. Presented by Bully Dog Technologies, the show will provide viewers with an inside look at what it takes to field a professional short course off road racing team. Viewers will meet the teams and get to know the men behind the wheel who compete in the intensely competitive world of short course off road racing. In addition, the Outdoor Channel show will feature highlights of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Kart racing class with the future stars of short course off road racing

For more information, please visit:
http://www.superlitechampionship.com/
http://bullydog.com/
http://www.lucasoiloffroad.com/


The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) is the evolution of the long standing support of short course racing by Forrest Lucas and Lucas Oil. Steeped in the Midwest tradition of short course off road racing infused with a West Coast influence, LOORRS brings intense four wheel door to door action to challenging, fan friendly tracks. Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series: This is Short Course. For more information please visit Lucasoiloffroadracing.com

Aussies throws rocks and close stages of Rally Australia

Full Story

Five-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb has defended Rally Australia in the face of increasingly hostile environmental protests against the event.

"The people are not so happy to see us," Loeb said. "They don't have to be angry at the drivers. We are just doing our jobs. Sometimes, people don't like us in front of their houses, but I didn't ask to come here. I can understand why some people don't like the rally, but I have to do my job."

Stages six and 11 were canceled today after rocks were thrown at the course-opening car and the stage was blocked when protesters against the event pulled a fence across the road. Championship leader Mikko Hirvonen was first on the scene in SS6, but the Finn drove straight through the fence. The stage was stopped by marshals at the next radio communication point. Stage 11, a repeat of that test, was canceled to allow the police investigation to get underway.
Hirvonen also spoke of being blocked on the road sections

F1: Ferrari Confirms Fisichella Signing

Full Story

FERRARI HAS CONFIRMED the worst kept secret in Formula 1 by announcing it has secured the services of Belgian Grand Prix pole winner Giancarlo Fisichella until the end of the season.

Despite early concerns Force India would reject Fisichella’s plea to fulfil a lifelong dream, team boss Vijay Mallya agreed to release the Italian from his contract, saying it would have been wrong to deny him such an opportunity.

“For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception. No one should stand in the way of this,” he said.

“Furthermore the agreement will secure Giancarlo’s long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India.”

Fisichella said he was overjoyed at news of his move to Ferrari, continuing the unexpected revival of a career which appeared to be on the wane until his podium finish in Belgium.

“I’m in seventh heaven. I still can’t believe it – that the dream of my life comes true,” he said.

“Over the last week some really incredible things happened to me: the pole position and then second place at Spa and now I’m called by Ferrari to race the last five races of the season for them.

“I’ll give my best to recompense the Scuderia for this great opportunity they gave me: I know that it won’t be easy, but I’ll give it everything to gain the best possible results.”

Thursday, September 3, 2009

In Conversation - Bernie Ecclestone and Sebastian Vettel

Well worth a read.

Full Story

Q: Mr Ecclestone, when was the first time you took notice of a youngster called Sebastian Vettel?
Bernie Ecclestone: Me? I have never heard of him before! To be honest it was in Turkey in 2006. ‘Who is that Vettel?’ I thought to myself, and why is there again a German at the top of the time sheet?

Q: Can you remember when you gave him your hand for the first time?
BE: I never gave him anything - not even my hand. (laughing)
Sebastian Vettel: The first time I saw Bernie was in Imola in 2006 when I was there as a guest. The real introduction was then in Turkey.

Q: How was that for you?
SV: Gee, there he was, Mr Formula One, the big boss, the legend. Formula One is Bernie and Bernie is Formula One.
BE: At the beginning I didn’t know what Sebastian is made off. I generally take notice of them when they start winning. He reminded me of Kimi (Raikkonen). He also appeared out of nowhere and had only a provisional super license. Kimi, Lewis (Hamilton) and Sebastian meant a threat for others because of their age.

Q: Bernie, do you think Sebastian made the right choice in signing with Red Bull Racing for another two years?
BE: Yes, absolutely. The team is very professional, Sebastian is happy there and the team supports him in anything he’s doing.

Full Story

Scuderia Toro Rosso refugee Sébastien Bourdais has wasted little time in answering questions about where his career heads next after being evicted from Formula 1 – in signing to compete for Spanish club FC Sevilla in the football-related Superleague Formula by Sonangol.

The record-breaking former multiple Champ Car king was sacked by Toro Rosso midway through the 2009 F1 campaign and replaced by rookie Jaime Alguersuari, after his performances failed to live up to the expectations of the Red Bull 'junior' outfit and he was unable to build upon the encouraging improvements he had made towards the end of his maiden season in the top flight in 2008.

“For a driver, Superleague Formula is the best alternative to F1,” asserted the man from Le Mans, who confessed to being a fan of both his home football team and the French national side. “Today, it's the only other championship in Europe to offer a driver the possibility of racing single-seaters at a high, professional level.

Young drivers poised for Formula One opportunity - USF1

Full Story

Among them is 17-year-old Alexander Rossi, who won his second race in the International Formula Master Series at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium on Sunday.

Another is Jonathan Summerton. The 21-year-old won his third Atlantic Championship race of 2009 at the Mosport track in Ontario on Sunday.

The new North Carolina-based USF1 Grand Prix team is seeking at least one American driver to fill its two seats during the 2010 Formula One season.

Scott Speed is the only American to compete in Formula One since Michael Andretti ran a shortened season with McLaren in 1993.

Speed, who ran for the Toro Rosso team in 2006 and half of the 2007 season, was the only American to graduate to Formula One from the Red Bull Driver Search program that ran from 2002-2005. He now competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series for Team Red Bull.

J.R. Hildebrand, a 2004 Red Bull Driver Search graduate, on Saturday became the first American to win the Firestone Indy Lights title since 2002. The 21-year-old Californian clinched the championship with a fifth place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.

Briatore Embroiled In F1 Scandal

Full Story

Formula 1 can be close to another scandal. On Sunday, Reginaldo Leme, a commentator for TV Globo, revealed that the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has hired an independent company to investigate the accident of Nelson Piquet Grand Prix in Singapore in 2008, a fact crucial to the victory of Fernando Alonso. Flavio Briatore, Renault team boss is said to have instructed the Brazilian to crash on purpose on lap 16, three after the first pit stop of the Spaniard.

http://score-international.com/races/1090/SCORE_Terrible%27s_Primm_300/2009.aspx

F A C T S H E E T

SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300

WHAT:

14th Annual SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 Desert Race; Round 4, of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series

WHEN:

Friday and Saturday, September 11-13, 2009

WHERE:

Primm, Nevada (Nevada/California border, 45 miles South of Las Vegas)

WHO:

Over 100 entries (14 States, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Mexico)

COURSE:

TOTAL MILEAGE: 276 miles. (Four Laps of 69.0 miles each)

Visual Monitors, plus Start/Finish stop. Counterlockwise travel on east side of Interstate 15. NOTE: Classes 5, 5/1600, 6, 7, 7S, 7SX, 8, Protruck, Class 2 & 7-2 race 3 laps: 207 miles. Classes 3, 9, 11, Stock Full, Stock Mini, SPT Trk, SPT Car will race 2 laps: 138 miles.

PRE/POST RACE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

FRIDAY, Sept. 11 (all times PDT)—

Express Driver Registration –Primm Resort Valley Conference Center, 10a.m.-11a.m.

Regular Driver Registration –Primm Valley Resort Conference Center, 10a.m.-5p.m.

Media Registration –Primm Valley Resort Conference Center, 10a.m.-6p.m.

Contingency Row & Pre-Race Tech, behind Buffalo Bill’s, 10a.m.-5p.m.

Mandatory Driver’s Meeting- Primm Valley Resort Conference Center, 7p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 12 (all times PDT)

Posting of Unofficial Results-Media Center (Start/Finish Line), all day long

Competition Review Board-Start/Finish line, Group A-3p.m., Group B-9p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 13 (all times PDT)

Awards Celebration- Primm Valley Resort Conference Center 10a.m.

START/FINISH: Start/Finish line, behind north side of Buffalo Bill’s

RACE DAY SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, Sept. 12 (all times PDT)

Late Registration & Tech-Start/Finish Line, 5a.m.

RACE STARTS: Start/Finish line, behind north side of Buffalo Bill’s

GROUP A, 6 a.m. (One vehicle every :30 seconds, 7 hour time limit):

4 Laps--Class 10, SCORE Lite, Class 1-2/1600

3 Laps--Class 5, Class 5/1600, Class 6, Class 7, Class 7SX, Class 2, Protruck, Cl. 7-2

2 Laps—Stock Full, Stock Mini, Class 9, Class 3, SPT Truck, SPT Car, Class 11

GROUP B, 1 p.m. (One vehicle every :30 seconds, 7 hour time limit):

4 Laps--SCORE Trophy-Truck, Class 1

SANCTION:

Sanctioned and produced by SCORE International-Los Angeles; President and CEO--Sal Fish; Vice-Pres.—Paul Fish; Administration--Sue Johnson

BLACK BOXES:

SCORE requires that special ‘black boxes’ are mandatory on all entries. IRC provides the ‘Black Boxes’ and tracking of each vehicles’ GPS data along with vehicle speed.

SPONSORS:

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels -official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant, and Red Bull-official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, SignPros, Baja California Department of Tourism, Cotuco, ProTurismo de Ensenada, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products, and Advanced Color Graphics.

TOP RACERS:

SCORE Trophy-Truck: 1 B.J. Baldwin, 3 Mark Post/Rob MacCachren, 77 Robby Gordon, 12 Brian Collins/Chuck Hovey, 8 Roger Norman/Larry Roeseler, 2 Pete Sohren, 16 Cameron Steele, 13 Ed Stout, 96 Bobby Baldwin, 22 Damen Jefferies, 35 Robbie Pierce, 20 Mike Julson, 23 Mark McMillin,6 Steve Sourapas, 9 Mark Weyhrich, 7 Scott Steinberger, 24 Adam Householder; Class 1: Armin Schwarz/Martin Christensen, Harley Letner/Kory Halopoff, Pat Dean, Ronny Wilson/Rick Wilson, Randy Wilson, Brian Parkhouse; Class 1-2/1600: Dave Caspino, Brian Wilson/Sammy Ehrenberg, Eric Duran, Hiram Duran, Arturo Velazco/Able Velazco, Justin Smith; Class 3: Darren Skilton; Class 5: Kevin Carr; Class 6: Heidi Steele; Class 7: Dan Chamlee; Class 7SX John Holmes; Class 8: Clyde Stacy; Class 10: Mike Lawrence, Javier Robles, Bekki Wik; SCORE Lite: Rick St. John, Brent Parkhouse; Stock Mini: Gavin Skilton; Stock Full: Joe Bacal

CLASSES:

With over 100 entries the 2009 SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 Desert Race features 18 Pro and 2 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks. Class winners will be determined along with the overall race winner, based on elapsted-time:

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)

CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters)

CLASS 1-2/1600 (single or two-seaters to 1600cc)

CLASS 3 (Short wheelbase 4X4)

CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs)

CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs)

CLASS 6 (Unlimited, Production mini trucks)

CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks)

CLASS 7SX (Modified, Stock mini trucks)

CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks)

CLASS 9 (Short wheelbase, single or two-seaters)

CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc)

SCORE LITE (Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc)

CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans)

STOCK FULL (Stock full-sized trucks)

STOCK MINI (Stock mini trucks)

PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks)

SPECTATOR AREAS:

This race offers TWO designated spectator area, as mandated by the Bureau of Land Management –The start/finish line area behind Buffalo Bills—including the Primm short-course race track adjacent to the Main Pits & race-mile 47, off of LV Blvd So two miles north of the Jean exit of Interstate15.

ALL-TIME OVERALL RACE WINNERS:

1996—Robby Gordon, Orange, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1997—Curt LeDuc, Cherry Valley, CA, Jeep Grand Cherokee (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1998—Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1999—Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)

2000—Steve Sourapas, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)

2001—Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)

2002—Mike Julson, Santee, Calif./Bob Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)

2003—Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2004—Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2005—Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck

2006—Bob Shepard, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck

2007—Garron Cadiente, Mesa, Ariz., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck

2008—Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Alpine, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

TOP SOUTHERN NEVADA ENTRIES:

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK—Brian Collins, Rob MacCachren, B.J. Baldwin, Bobby Baldwin, Kory Scheeler; CLASS 1—Pat Dean; CLASS 1-2/1600: Sammy Ehrenberg; CLASS 6—Robert Pickering; CLASS 10—Bekki Wik

LAST YEAR’S TOP FINISHERS: 124 Starters, 87 Finishers

Overall--1. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Alping, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram 1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

3. Armin Schwarz, Germany/Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif. (Denmark), Jimco-BMW (Class 1)

4. Ron Whitton, Mesa, Ariz., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

5. B.J. Richardson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy (Class 1)

6. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

7. Harley Letner/Kory Halopoff, Orange, Calif., Tatum-Chevy (Class 1)

8. Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

9. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

10. Dale Lenk, Costa Mesa, Calif./, Penhall-Chevy (Class 1)

MEDIA CENTER:

Race Day--Start/Finish line area.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dominic Clark, SCORE Media Director, 702.735.7123; On-site—Primm Valley Resort, 702.382.1212

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

TSCO "VEGAS TO RENO" THE LONG WAY!! WRAPUP

ANDY McMILLIN TAKES THE OVERALL WIN IN TSCO “VEGAS TO RENO” THE LONG WAY!!
September 1, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Andy McMillin, in his Geiser Brothers Racing built #31 Ford Trick Truck, took home the overall win at Casey Folks’ TSCO
“Vegas to Reno” The Long Way!! event last week; capping off three days of tough competition with the leading off road racers
in the United States. He was followed closely by the Ford Trick Truck of Tim Herbst who came in first on the road, but was 4
minutes back of McMillin on corrected time. This year’s Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno "The Long Way" race was a three-day
race adventure that ran over 997-miles of the best and worst of the Nevada desert.
The challenge of a three day event are the logistics of essentially running three separate races. Prep. Race. Prep, Repair. Sleep.
Race. Setup. Repair...sleep...maybe. Then - Run for the Win. Nearly 300 cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs took the
start flag on Thursday morning in Beatty, Nevada. Mother nature was not kind at contingency or on the first day of racing -
temperatures over a hundred degrees drove many teams to fatigue from the heat, dust and tough terrain that reflects Folk’s
style of racing in this beautiful, but daunting desert environment. The last day heading into the finish included some of the
toughest terrain, but the weather was just a little cooler due to the higher elevation.
The first two days of racing ended at Camp Adventure and the one-hour opportunity to fix, repair, weld and craft a ready-to-
race vehicle for the next day of competition. The last day of racing saw the finish line at a new location, close to city center in
Dayton, Nevada at the Dayton Events Center. This was a great set-up for the finish as literally thousands of people filled the
area to see the winners and hear the stories.
Other notable class winners included:
Kevin Colan - Class 1500, 4th overall
Greg Parker - Class 2000
Chad Hall -Class 4100
Bryce Menzies - Class 1000, 9th overall
Greg Foutz - Class 8100
Kevin Sacalas - Ultra 4 (KOH)
Macrae Glass - Class 8000, 11th overall
Karl Scalan - Class 3000 (C-1 Lite)
Perry Coan - JeepSpeed 1
Ryan J. Staats - Protruck, 12th overall
Nick Baldwin - Baja Challenge
Kellon Walch - Class 7300
David Caspino - Class 7200
Rick Doetsch - Class 7100
Clive Skilton - JeepSpeed 3
Jake Jones - Class 1100
Rod Hall - Class 3100
Brandon Schueler - UTV
A complete list of how your favorite racers finished is available on the Best in the Desert site at www.bitd.com
Camp Adventure, “THE TRAVELING CITY”
More than 750 RVs followed the race...what a sight! The the festivities each evening included live music sponsored by Speed
Technologies, plus an impressive hospitality area sponsored by Red Bull, and Beer Garden sponsored by TSCO and Rebel
Malting & Brewing, and Lance Jergensen. “Camp Adventure” allowed thousands of spectators, racers and their teams to take
in the Nevada desert’s beautiful sunsets, and bench-raced with some of the world’s most talented racers.
Casey would like to thank the Best in the Desert personnel, including the hundreds of dedicated volunteers that helped make
this epic three-day event a huge success. Our condolences to the family of Tony Sorensen, who suffered a fatal heart-attack
while competing with his son.
Next race - The Bilek Racing Silver State “300”, September 25-27, 2009.
The American Off-Road Racing Series … Best In The Desert!
Further information is available from:
www.bitd.com • email: bitd@bitd.com
phone: (702) 457-5775
MEDIA CONTACT:
Don Fall or Russ Turner
mediabitd@fallads.com • 619/258-6225

F.A.S.T. AID to make announcement on Totally Off Road Radio

San Diego (California) – F.A.S.T. AID non-profit organization is set to make an announcement on this Wednesday’s Totally Off-Road Radio show hosted by Jim Holthus.

F.A.S.T. AID president Jared Tetzlaff along with founders Adam Gunn and Pat Dailey as well as racing veteran Chad Ragland will be interviewed live on the show about this newest non-profit organization and how it will help the off-road racing community. Information will also be provided on how off-road racers, individuals and sponsors can get involved in the F.A.S.T. Aid Organization.

Additionally F.A.S.T. AID president Jared Tetzlaff is expected to announce a contingency program for the upcoming SCORE Primm 300 race held in southern Nevada on September 12th 2009.

F.A.S.T. AID, founded just 4 months ago provides medical and financial assistance to off-roaders injured at racing events.

F.A.S.T AID is supported by donations from sponsors, individuals and racing organizations in the off-road community, Tune into Totally Off Road Radio to hear how you can be part of F.A.S.T. AID.

More information on the F.A.S.T. Aid organization can be obtained at www.fast-aid.org.

Totally Off Road Radio can be heard each Wednesday from 6pm-8pm in the San Diego area on KCEO AM 1000 and is also webcasted worldwide at www.torrshow.com.

Vegas to Reno Race Report

All photos are now up.

Read my race report and how I shot the race here.
durkadurka.net/blog

See all the photos here Durka Durka Photo

A few of my favorites