Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Silver State 300 Race Report

New report on my trip posted at http://durkadurka.net/blog/

All race photos now up at http://www.DurkaDurkaPhoto.com

Excerpt.

Saturday, September 26, 2009 4:02 PM; I am squatting in a shallow stream that more closely resembles a bog. I have been waiting for a racecar for about 30 minutes and I can hear the sweet sounds of a race engine approaching in the distance but the swamp scene from Stand By Me is on my mind. While I have not seen the movie in well over 15 years my paranoia keeps returning me to when Gordie finds a leach on his wiener. This day could take a major turn for the worse at any moment.






Sebastien Loeb confirms GP2 test

Defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb will drive a GP2 racing car run by the DPR team at an official test session in Jerez on 8 October.

Loeb confirmed the test amid continued speculation that he will tackle the last round of the F1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on 1 November.

Loeb impressed at a test with the Red Bull Formula 1 team last November, and has been linked to a seat with the associated Torro Rosso team in Abu Dhabi.

Recently, Citroen Racing boss Olivier Quesnel said he wouldn't prevent his star driver from driving in a Formula 1 race, provided it happened after Rally GB (23-25 October).

Loeb said the GP2 test had come about after a conversation with one of his engineers at a Porsche Carrera Cup race in France. "Because he knows that I love to get more experience at the steering wheel he informed me that a place was available in the DPR team. I'm testing with the C4 on 6th and 7th in Great Britain but I'll be at the GP2 test on the 8th," he said.

The five-time World Champion also revealed that he had modified his physical training routine in order to be ready for any racing opportunities - regularly wearing a weighted crash helmet to build the muscles in his neck.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Team Toyo's Rick Huseman Wins at Perris, Closes in on TORC Series Championship

PERRIS, CALIFORNIA – Rick Huseman, driver of the #36 Monster Energy/Traxxas/Toyota /Toyo Tires® Tundra, won Saturday’s Round 14 of the Pro 4X4 class of The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series at Perris, California. With some 12,000 fans attending the night race, Huseman finished some eight lengths in front with his 900-horsepower truck equipped with 35X12.50R17 Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires. He also captured an ‘Oakley Bomb Run’ award for having the fastest lap in the race. Kyle LeDuc, driver of the #99 Rockstar/Makita/Ford Trucks/Toyo Tires F-150 finished in second to make it a 1-2 podium for Toyo Tires.

“I drove my Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires as hard as I could and they were still perfect at the end of the race,” said Huseman. “We would have to screw up pretty badly at this point to not win the championship.”

Another Team Toyo Off-Road driver scoring a podium on Saturday at Perris was Todd LeDuc, driver of the #3 Rockstar/Makita/Ford Trucks/Toyo Tires F-150. Todd LeDuc scored a third place finish in the Pro 2WD class to keep him in the top three for the overall points championship.

“We congratulate Rick Huseman for his win, and the LeDucs for their podium finishes in TORC this past weekend,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Our Team Toyo drivers have worked hard all year, and their efforts show with their championship point standings.”

Only one more race weekend remains on the schedule to decide the overall championship; Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 23-24. With Rick Huseman and Kyle LeDuc holding the top-two spots in the Pro 4X4 class, it looks certain to be a Toyo Tires championship.

To learn more about Team Toyo Off-Road racers, and the full line of products from Toyo Tires, log on to toyotires.com. Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.

Cool Tea chirts for Desert Dorks



http://getthelook.harveymushman.co.uk/index.html

http://www.harveymushman.co.uk/

“MAC-NIFICENT!” Rob MacCachren WINS Back-to-Back at TORC PERRIS | TAKES TORC PRO2WD Points LEAD!

Perris, California (September 26, 2009) Racing under the lights on any Friday night is every racer’s dream, whether churning rubber on the asphalt or dirt. Rounds 13 & 14 of the 2009 TORC Traxxas Series arrived to Southern California for another big show under the lights as 12,000 fans packed the grandstands to watch some of the closest off road racing seen to date this season. With the competitors seeking the top spot on the podium, it didn’t take long before Rockstar Energy Racing’s Rob MacCachren dashed the dreams of his competition.

The Las Vegas off road racing champion arrived to Perris Auto Speedway locked in a battle for the TORC Series point’s championship and he came out swinging early, which was clearly the right strategy as the multi-time winning champion earned VICTORIES in both rounds of racing.

Southern California was in the midst of a heat wave as Mother Nature unleashed triple digit temperatures across the Southland. Teams from across the nation braved the heat and dialed in their race trucks throughout the afternoon preparing for the evening show. Despite the intense heat and the close racing, MacCachren displayed a textbook example of championship racing talent.

The Rockstar Energy / Mastercraft Safety / BFGoodrich Tires backed Ford F150 gloss black truck was a standout in the early afternoon practice. Beneath the awning, a team of engineers quietly conversed as they prepared to make the final changes before the green flag dropped.

As a full field of TORC Pro2WD primed and roaring race trucks took the green flag, the competition had no idea that Rockstar Energy Racing was about to unleash it’s fury in the dirt of Perris Auto Speedway.

The driver that is commonly referred to as “Rob Mac” has been embattled in an epic point’s war with Supercross Champion Ricky Johnson and world-class racer, Todd LeDuc all season long. With only four races over the next two race weekends, the time had come for the #11 Ford F150 to make a charge towards the front.

After Friday’s practice MacCachren noted, “Well it’s been a long season and we are not so focused on the point’s championship race as much as we are on just plain winning. We’ve put the #11 Rockstar/Mastercraft/BFGoodrich Tires truck on the several times, but we’ve got to win races, that’s the bottom line. The team has worked tireously at implementing the constant changes to become better and I think we’re right there.”

MacCachren wasn’t kidding as he wasted no time in charging hard right off the start line. The inversion put the BFGoodrich Tire shod truck in the second row for the start, but that didn’t last long as Rob Mac wheeled his 800 horsepower Patton Racing motor high on the steep banked turn one, that allowed him a big charge down the backstretch at Perris Speedway. MacCachren gained two positions and took up a spot on the bumper of the leader Jeremy McGrath.

MacCachren raced McGrath hard throughout the first half of the race without a lead change and at the midway point the Rockstar Energy Racing team radio crackled with instructions that it was time to make a move around McGrath. Returning to green flag racing, MacCachren turned on the classic MAC Attack and McGrath was left to fend off charges from Johnson and LeDuc. MacCachren earned the Friday night round 13 victory and later commented, “Tonight our BFGoodrich Tires worked to perfection. At times this season, we’ve struggled and the BFGoodrich engineers have worked closely with our team to perfect the tire. Tonight was a prime example off excellent team work.”

There is no rest for champions as the Rockstar Energy Racing team owner/driver led his dedicated crew late into the night after the victory not celebrating, but working on making the Rockstar Energy sponsored truck even faster. MacCachren met with the FOX Racing Shox VP-John Marking to evaluate his suspension and make it even better. “I’ve worked with FOX Racing Shox for a long time and they provide unparalleled support in all of my racing endeavors. John suggested a couple slight changes and we put them in place for today’s race,” said Rob.

After the impressive victory Friday night, MacCachren gained points in the season point’s race and was moved back to the third row where he started side-by-side with Ricky Johnson, the point’s race leader.

As the trucks emerged onto the front stretch and took the green flag, MacCachren was back doing what he does best. That’s staying away from the trouble and charging to the front. Indeed, the Las Vegas resident worked his way to the front of the pack and shortly after the midway competition yellow flag, he set his bulls eye on the leader, #77 Dan Vanden Heuvel, and set him up for the pass on lap 14 of the 20 lap main event.

Once in front, the Ford backed racer focused on the checkered flag and a short six laps later, Rob MacCachren earned his second victory in as many days. The Patton Racing engine coupled with the Rancho Drivetrain transmission roared loudly in front of the packed grandstands as MacCachren entertained the crowd with a series of celebratory spinouts. At the finish line, MacCachren commented, “Once again, this was a team effort of all involved in this Rockstar Energy Racing team. Every single one of the crew members and our support team from FOX Racing Shox, Patton Racing Engines, BFGoodrich Tires, Rancho Drivetrain that provide us the support to chalk up victories in the win column deserve these back-to-back victories. And of course we couldn’t do it without Rockstar Energy Drink, Mastercraft Safety and our many marketing partners who continue to believe in this team’s ability to win championships. Thank you to all of you that continue to support Rockstar Energy Racing.”

With the impressive double victories in rounds 13 & 14, MacCachren takes the overall point leading into the final race weekend of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 23-24, 2009. Rob MacCachren and his Rockstar Energy Racing invite everyone out to the 2009 TORC Pro2WD championship finale in Rob’s hometown, Las Vegas, Nevada, where the Rockstar Energy Racing team has planned an epic end of the season celebration…VEGAS Style!

TORC Rounds 13-14 will be broadcasted on ESPN2 on Sunday, October 4, 2009, 11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m. PST. Check your local listings for broadcast times near you and visit www.torcseries.com for additional information.

About Rockstar: Bigger. “ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in eleven amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout the United Kingdom.”

2009 Rockstar Energy Racing Sponsors: Rockstar Energy Drink, BFGoodrich Tires, FOX RACING SHOX, Mastercraft Race Seats, Pro AM, Rancho Drivetrain Engineering, Patton Racing Engines, MAKITA Industrial Power Tools, KC HiLites and DIRTnewz.

Rob MacCachren Racing: For nearly three decades, Rob MacCachren has been involved in off road racing. As a second-generation desert racer, Rob began his career following in the footsteps of his father while growing up in the Nevada desert. His career accomplishments include winning three consecutive Borg-Warner Championships, as well as three Governor’s Cup Championships, all at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin. Rob has also accumulated 5 SCORE Baja 1000 victories and another 5 SCORE Baja 500 wins. MacCachren was heralded as the premier driver after winning the longest distance (1296 miles point-to-point) SCORE Baja 1000 ever held in 2007. The multi-disciplined championship racer has accumulated over 150 victories and numerous championships between closed short course and open desert racing.