HMS F&L Fuels 250 Race Report

Hostyl Motorsports Race Report

F&L Fuel 250

September 13, 2008







After a less than impressive night race experience that lasted all of six miles, the HMS Jeepspeed was definitely looking for some sort of redemption at the F&L Fuel 250. With a ton of work done and a laundry list of parts replaced from Julys Trailglow Night race by the entire HMS crew, we were very confident on how the jeep would perform this time.

Jesse Martin and I, Bryan Dodge head towards Lucerne Valley, California two days prior to race day to get setup, as well as prerun the course on Friday before the race. After setting up pit we head out with fellow Cartoon Network member Eric Helgison and Mike Slater in the 1708 jeep, on a prerun to set our course for race day. The prerun for us went flawless, not an issue to be had, which is a drastic change after last race. We are confident after one lap that we are ready to tackle this course and shoot for the podium. Later that day we head towards contingency and tech to get the jeep all entered as well as to sign up for the race. We request to start last so that we may be able to know just where we stand on position as we pass people. Everything goes well as planned and we head back to the pit to do a once over on the jeep get it ready to rock. Checking everything over Jesse finds that there are zero issues on the vehicle, so we top off the fuel and are ready for race day.

Race day comes and I am nervous but ready. We begin our line up and we start number 19 of 19 jeeps in our class. One jeep actually ends up starting behind us due to them having an electrical issue; this didn’t bother us at all. We have our minds set and ready to go for it all. Off the line we are conservative due to dust as well as traffic, we get out of pit lane and are off on our first lap allowing all of the parts to warm up properly so they may perform at their highest degree. Almost immediately we begin to pass several cars in the rough, this being from the amazing shocks from Radflo as well as our prerun from the day prior. The lap continues without a hiccup or issue at all, all while passing more and more carnage from our class as well as the others. Lap 2 begins again without issue, the jeep is performing better than ever, and we are in it to win it for sure. Continuing on course we are passing jeeps from our class as well as others, the jeep is amazing and Jesse is calling out the course so well I could have driven blind. End of lap 2 we are ready to come in and do a fuel stop as well as a once over check of the jeep to make sure that nothing obvious has happened. As Jesse’s dad as well as mine, are fueling the jeep Danny Devore is checking the jeep. The pit stop went flawless, we take about 15 gallons of fuel and we are off in no more than a minute and a half. Back on the course we step up the pace considerably, the jeep still acting flawless and we are getting more and more confident with our knowledge of the track. We are flying at this point until about mile 28 or so we start to feel the handling change somewhat, and realize that we are loosing the driver’s front tires. We get out; change the tire, which takes forever due to no power tools to help, and then continue to watch as the Dust Junkies 1706 wrangler passes as we are finishing our change. We get buckled in and are off once again. Pushing the jeep to a point that we have never been, and to the point that Jesse and I are ready to watch the rear of the jeep pass the front through certain sections we end the third lap. Since this is the last lap we step it up another notch and go through the main pit area like no other. We are on it for sure. We hit the first corner try to down shift, and tink I hear a noise that isn’t normal at all. I go to accelerate and nothing in third gear, so I reach for fourth, still nothing. At this point we have had an amazing race and could not fathom the thought of being out of the race this close to the end and doing so well. Finally I put it into fifth gear and praise the Lord there is something. Only problem is that the gears we have left are 1st, 2nd and 5th, due to the fact that 75% of our race is/was done in 3rd and 4th gear this would be interesting. Well at this point I tell Jesse that we are going into finish mode. Let me tell you how entertaining it was to go from 5500rpms to 1000rpms when switching from 2nd to 5th. It was defiantly a learning experience to find out just what this Hesco motor can do. Having issues with our clutch we need to stop and add fluid at our remote pit with the team of guys from DOKS racing that have been helping out without really being part of the action. We take a minute, a drink of water, some fluids and we are off again heading towards the checkered flag. With only the one issue we do our best to finish this lap, at one point a jeep was seen in our mirror, but that just told us to step it up somewhat. At this point we know that we are strongly in the 3rd position so we bring the jeep home to the finish line remaining in the 3rd position in one piece without anymore damage being suffered.

Crossing the finish line, what a feeling knowing the issues we had been dealing with all day. Now onto the fun part, post race tech. We begin by them checking our wheel travel because we are only allowed 10” front and 12” rear; we pass this with length to spare. Now onto the motor, well when the new motor was installed in January we made a “temporary” engine cage crossbar. Since it was doing its job, we had no reason to remove it until now. Time to break out the sawzall and cut some tube, this drew quite the crowd of people wondering just what is going to happen. After removing that tube we could easily remove the valve cover and other parts to ready ourselves for the displacement test on our motor. To the dislike of many we pass with flying colors and hopefully put to rest any questions about our engine being illegal for class rules.

Now onto the thank you’s. We would first like to thank our families for supporting us in our racing ventures. I personally would like to thank my wife who stayed home with my almost 2 year old daughter and 1month old son. I know she had her hands full to say the least. I would also like to personally thank Jesse Martin for all of the long hard nights getting the jeep ready to race after a long day of work or school, without your work the jeep would be no where near what it is now. Danny Devore, who knows the jeep better than his own vehicles, thanks again for sure. But now just because you work for Geisers does not mean you forget about us little guys! J J To the team of helpers from DOKS racing, Paul, Matt and Cody, thanks a ton and sorry for not including you on the Primm report. To our dads for the fueling and other support both financially and mentally we owe you. To our sponsors that helped us get to this point, Glenn and Radflo Shocks, amazing to say the least. We could not do the speeds we were if we were not in control with the help of your shocks. Absolute Offroad and owner Joe Daro, it is a pleasure to have you guys onboard now. Trailmaster Suspensions and Copperstate Nut & Bolt, thanks you for your continuing help. Jeff Bolt and Bolt performance, thank you for the amazing lights that we did not get to use to their capabilities at the night race due to breaking prior to it being dark… And Will Revis and Rain Tunnel Car washes, thank you for your help with the team from the beginning. If I have forgotten anyone I apologize for sure. Our next race will be the Best in the Desert Henderson 250 in December. Please look forward to our race recap and end of season points standing. As it stands now we are currently in 5th place with the one race to go, we are shooting for a podium to try and make the top 3 by seasons end.