ROD HALL RACING - MID YEAR UPDATE & AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI

AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI UPDATE

SUNDAY, JULY 26th - Josh Hall and his support team will head to Australia to run the Australasian Safari. The event starts in Perth August 1st and ends in Kalgoorlie on the 8th. The race is a 2,200-mile rally raid running through the Western Australia Outback. He will be driving the H2 SUT with navigator Thad Stump.

FOLLOW THE ACTION -
We’ll be posting updates and videos throughout the event – daily as the connection allows. You can access it by checking out the homepage at rodhallracing.com. You can now follow Rod Hall Racing on Twitter – click here.


MID YEAR UPDATE

ROD HALL RACING

It’s been an exciting six months at Rod Hall Racing. The organization has been focused on giving our drivers excellent opportunities to chase their goals on the dirt. This year, Rod Hall Racing will compete in four countries – two overseas events in Africa and Australia, as well as Baja and the US. August is a busy month, ten days after our return from Australia, we will be competing in the three-day, 1000 mile Vegas to Reno race - August 19-22nd.

DRIVER UPDATE-

Rod oversees the Rod Hall organization, working daily on Rod Hall Events, Products and the Racing Program - continuing to help his customers and partners who seek off-road expertise. He will be supporting Josh Hall in Australia in August as well as racing the three-day, 1000 mile Vegas to Reno and the Baja 1000. This year marks his 42nd running of the 1000.

Chad Hall is competing in the Speed Technologies Class 10 car for the Best In the Desert series and will return to the Baja 1000 in his winning Stock Full HUMMER H3 Alpha. He is incredibly busy running Rod Hall Products and focusing on military suspension packages. For more info, click here.

Josh Hall is preparing to race the Australasian Safari in Western Australia, August 1-8th. Thad Stump will be navigating with additional support from members of the 2008 HUMMER team. Josh is spending significant time training the military special forces on extreme off-road driving as well as organizing upcoming race efforts including driving with Chad in the Baja 1000.

On top of heading to Australia with Rod to scout the Australasian Safari for 2010, Emily Miller will be returning to Morocco in March 2010 to compete in her second attempt of the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. She will also be racing in the 2009 Vegas to Reno and Baja 1000. She has been working as the demo and hot lap driver for the Michelin and BFGoodrich Light Truck Tire Seminars. You can keep up with Emily by clicking here.

ROD HALL PRODUCTS

We are finishing up our Generation 1 suspension contract with the government. Our Generation 2 four-shock and six-shock HMMWV kits are complete. With the engineering help of Thad Stump, we have developed a new front and rear HMMWV sway bar for our kits. Our new HMMWV and Hilux kits use patented internal triple bypass technology. At the time of this update, we are planning on moving into a new larger facility in November in Reno, Nevada.

ROD HALL EVENTS

We have just wrapped up 12 Rod Hall Light Truck Tire Seminars for Michelin & BFGoodrich Tires. The program is a hands-on driving experience where we showcase six different tires on six Ford Explorers and six HUMMER H3s. The goal is to educate top sales people and managers on the capabilities, features and benefits of each tire with the end result of increased sales. We have a short break and will produce two additional seminars in September and October. For more information on the program, click here for our video.

JOSH HALL TAKES ON THE AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI - AUGUST 1-9th

One of the United States’ best endurance racers, Josh Hall, has confirmed his participation in this year’s Australasian Safari in one of the world’s iconic off-road vehicles.

The likeable US driver is set to make huge impact as he tackles the grueling 3,600 kilometre course in the West Australian outback in his massive Hummer H2 SUT. It is the first time that the legendary American four-wheel drive brand will have taken part in the event.

Hall heads up a strong field of international competitors for the rally that gets underway in Western Australia on August 1.

A four-time winner of the acclaimed Baja 1000 event, held on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, Hall is a big name in off-road racing in the US.

The son of off-road racing legend Rod Hall, he won five races in the USA in 2008 and took home the BITD class championships in his Hummer H2 SUT. He now has his sights set on Australasia’s biggest off-road event.

“At the top of my expectation list is to learn what it takes in order to be competitive in this event in the future,” Hall said.

“As a rookie, I firmly understand the challenge of just finishing such a crew/vehicle/driver and navigator taxing motorsport event. Our goals are to finish, learn, and be a part of the community of Australian off-road racing.”

The American has heard a lot about the Safari, and can’t wait for the event to get underway.

“I started looking at participating in an international endurance event about nine months ago. But I kept coming back to the Safari. It’s run in a country that doesn’t have land mines lining the race course, the citizenry speaks English and the event organisers have a first class reputation.

“Add to that my genuine desire to be there and I knew this would be the event for me.”

Hall’s 6.2 litre Hummer is not eligible to run for outright honours in the event, as event regulations limit the engine capacity to 6 litres. However, the big Hummer will run in a special International Promotional Category, with an official assault on the event planned for 2010.

“CAMS regulations limit the engine size to 6.0 litres, but next year’s Hummer will be 5.7 litres, so the Americans plan on for a real crack at the title in 2010,” Event Director, Justin Hunt, said.

“It’s fantastic to have Josh Hall and his Hummer at the event, and with the car having been purchased by Western Australian Greg Knowles, it will stay in Australia after the Safari, which is great news for off-road racing in this country.”

While this will be Hall’s first event in Australia, his father, Rod, contested the 1979 Repco Reliability Trial with fellow American Steve Mizel. Driving a Chevy Blazer, the pair finished the three-week event in 12th place.

Nevertheless, he believes his Hummer will be up to the challenge of some of Australia’s toughest, and roughest, tracks.

“Not knowing what the Australian conditions really are - my only source of information is last year’s event DVD - I am going to ignorantly say that our H2SUT should be well suited for this type of event,” Hall adds.

“The race truck is a proven winner in the States. It is extremely reliable, comfortable to be in, and works very well in all types of terrain.”

After four Baja 1000 victories, he’s confident that the experience of the tough Mexican event will stand him in good stead in the WA outback.

“In Baja, the course its self is the great equaliser. It favors no one – except those that make the fewest mistakes. That race has taught me patience, persistence, tenacity and to expect the unexpected. I have also learned when to hold back and when to move to the front.

“Of course it is also a very physically and mentally demanding race, so that experience won’t hurt at all. While Baja is not the Safari, it is an experience I will draw from in the decision making during this event.”

This year’s Australasian Safari begins in the Western Australian capital, Perth, with a prologue on Saturday, August 1. The event proper starts the following day.

Auto, motorbike and quad bike competitors then face over 3,600 kilometres of competition over seven days. The Safari will have overnight stops in Geraldton, Mt Magnet, Leonora and Laverton, before finishing in the gold mining city of Kalgoorlie on Saturday, August 8.

International entries have already been received from the USA, China, Sweden, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand and the Czech Republic, enhancing the event’s reputation as one of the world’s toughest, and most respected, motorsport events.

For further information on the event, visit the Australasian Safari website at: www.australasiansafari.com.au

For Rod Hall Racing Inquiries, contact:
Emily Miller
916.719.9949
emily@soulsidenetwork.com

ROD HALL RACING LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

ROD HALL RACING LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE -

We invite our race fans to check out the new rodhallracing.com. Not only does our website continue to highlight the team's racing effort, it is a virtual portal for all things Hall in the world of off-road. The new and improved website includes information on Rod Hall Products and Rod Hall Events. Backed by years of experience, off-road is not only our passion, it is our business. We hope you will check back regularly as we continue to build and grow our online content.

LATEST RACE NEWS -

Emily Miller departs today for Morocco to compete in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles - March 14-28th. She will be competing against over 100 teams in the class and is the only US team. Rod and Donna Hall are currently in Morocco and will follow the team for a portion of the event. For the team's blog, click here. Live satellite tracking will be available throughout the race. Rod will return to the states early to compete in the Mint 400 on March 28th.

Chad Hall will race Terrible's at Primm on April 18th in the Class 10 car - #1055. Live tracking will be available.

Thanks to all our friends, fans and sponsors for your continued support.

ROD HALL RACING - BILEK RACING SILVER STATE 300

ROD HALL RACING - BILEK RACING SILVER STATE 300

Hello Race Fans!

This weekend - Rod Hall Racing heads to Mesquite, Nevada for the Bilek Racing Silver State 300. Rod, Josh and Chad compete to maintain their class leads in the Best in the Desert Series Championship. The first truck leaves the line at 9:30 am on Saturday.

Course -
After pre-running last week, the team described the course as having plenty fast graded road, several miles of narrow, winding mountain roads with cliffs and sharp turns. But typical of Nevada racing, visibility will be an issue. Rod noted that "passing could be difficult. If we get some dust free racing, it will be very enjoyable - if not, it will be a long day."

Follow the Team -
Log on and follow the team with live race tracking at www.rodhallracing.com. Blog postings on the status of all three teams will be updated regularly throughout the race.

Next Race -
Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - November 19-23rd. Check the website and blog for regular race news and updates beginning November 1st.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions by emailing media@rodhallracing.com.


Thank you again to all our fans, sponsors and friends who make it all possible.
Let's go racin'!


Subscribe to Rod Hall Racing on YouTube -
Sign up at www.youtube.com/rodhallracingoffroad and you will receive updates when new videos are added.

HUMMER Sweeps Production Classes at Vegas to Reno

25 Aug 2008 , DETROIT : Rod Hall Racing’s Team HUMMER demonstrated its stock class desert racing dominance as the team swept the production classes at Friday’s 2008 Best in the Desert “TSCO Vegas to Reno.”

Despite the grueling conditions of the 457-mile race, Team HUMMER owner Rod Hall and sons Josh Hall and Chad Hall finished the race with three class victories from their production class H3, H2 SUT and H3 Alpha. Team driver Emily Miller earned a 3 rd place in the full-size SUV stock class H2 and completed her quest to become the first woman to drive the entire race.

Team HUMMER competes in the stock class, which features production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. Vegas to Reno marks the second consecutive Best in the Desert race in which Team HUMMER has swept the production classes.

“HUMMER production trucks give us a competitive advantage in desert racing,” said Rod Hall. “Our ability to win each of the production classes at the past two races demonstrates the durability of these trucks in long-distance, grueling conditions.”

Repeating his success from the 2008 SCORE Baja 500, Chad Hall piloted the #4111 H3 Alpha across the finish line as the first production class vehicle to finish the race and first in the stock full-size SUV class. Hall and navigator Thad Stump finished the race in 11:11:00 hours, averaging a speed of 40.8 miles per hour. Hall’s win extends his BITD season points lead in the stock full-size SUV class.

Team HUMMER #8111 H2 SUT pilot Josh Hall and navigator Sam Cothrun finished first in the stock full-size truck class, despite a broken track bar bracket early in the race at mile 34. Hall was able to drive the H2 into the pits where the Team HUMMER crew welded the part back into place. Hall and the H2 proceeded to finish the race in 11:25:30 hours, recording an average speed of 39.9 mph. Hall’s win extends his lead in the stock full-size truck class and marks his 5 th consecutive Vegas to Reno class win.

Rod Hall teamed with co-driver Mike Winkel and navigators Rob Henderson and Rob Winkel to earn the stock mini-SUV class win behind the wheel of the #3111 H3. The H3 team finished the race in 13:12:30 hours at an average speed of 34.5 miles per hour. Hall’s win marks his first victory at Vegas to Reno behind the wheel of the H3 and places him in first place in the stock mini-SUV class season points championship.

Emily Miller entered Vegas to Reno behind the wheel of #4110 H2 SUV, in her attempt to become the first woman to drive the entire 457-mile trek.

The desert was quick to test the resolve of Miller and navigator Jake Povey, as a severe impact with a hard surface near mile 80 ripped off the passenger side front wheel. The Team HUMMER support crew and Povey were able to rebuild the front end and get Miller back on course with only eight minutes to spare before pit closing time. Miller and Povey made up time from that point on, finishing the race in 16:40:30 hours, at an average speed of 27.3 mph.

“Driving the entire race much more arduous than it appears,” said Miller. “Its grueling enough when things are going well, but when things go wrong, it becomes even more difficult to stay focused. I could not have finished this race without the Team HUMMER support crew.”

Team HUMMER’s next race is the SCORE International Terrible’s Primm 300, September 5-6, 2008.

About HUMMER
HUMMER is a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, which employs about 321,000 people globally. HUMMER is a premium off-road vehicle manufacturer with sales in 37 countries and a product line-up that consists of the H2, H2 SUT, H3, H3x, award-winning H3 Alpha and all-new H3T. Information on HUMMER products is available at www.hummer.com.

About Team HUMMER
Team HUMMER was founded by legendary off-road racer Rod Hall in 1993. Since then, Rod and his sons Josh and Chad have compiled 13 class wins at the SCORE Baja 1000; countless podium finishes in the Best in the Desert (BitD) Racing Association series; two SCORE class championships; and five BitD class championships. Team HUMMER competes with the H3, H2 SUT and H3 Alpha in the stock class, which features production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. For more information about Team HUMMER, visit www.rodhallracing.

TEAM HUMMER’S ROD HALL SET TO BEGIN DEFENSE OF HIS 2007 MINI-STOCK SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP AT SCORE ‘LAUGHLIN DESERT CHALLENGE’

Reno, NV - January 22, 2008: The 14th Annual SCORE ‘Laughlin Desert Challenge’, January 24-
27, is the first event on Team HUMMER’s 2008 Racing schedule and poses a radically different challenge
for Team HUMMER as the only closed course event on our schedule. Located 90 miles South of
Las Vegas on the banks of the Colorado River, the desert resort community of Laughlin, Nevada, plays
host to this annual season opening short-course desert race. The action starts in Laughlin Events Park,
essentially a temporary stadium, complete with VIP tents and vendor areas constructed around the start/
finish line and main pit area. Located within walking distance from the nine huge resorts that tower above
the Colorado River resort area, Laughlin Events Park includes a motocross style infield where spectators
can watch the race vehicles wind through a variety of switchbacks and jumps before heading out onto a six
mile course which loops through the local desert before returning to the grandstand area. A total of 17
different classes of cars and trucks are divided into five (5) groups, some of which run up to 8 laps of the
course on Saturday, Jan 25th and again on Sunday, Jan 26th. Winners are determined by combining the
times from each days race and breaking it down into individual class results.
Team HUMMER has entered the #760 Mini-Stock H3 SUV, the #861 Full-Stock H3 Alpha and the
#862 H2 SUT which will all run five laps in group #2 starting at 9:00 AM on both days. Each day, our
trucks will have eighty minutes to complete the required distance. Defending 2007 SCORE Mini-Stock
points champion, Rod Hall, will drive the #760 H3, Chad Hall will be behind the wheel of the #861 H3
Alpha and Josh Hall will pilot the #862 H2 SUT. Since our two class wins at the ‘Baja 1000’ we have made
a number of suspension changes to prepare the trucks for the 2008 season but felt that nothing special
needed to be done to prepare for Laughlin, in spite of the different format of this race. “We won both Mini-
Stock and Full-Stock classes at Laughlin last year and the event was a lot of fun”, said team owner, Rod
Hall. “The track is quite wide in some areas with lots of sand and is a course that favors vehicles with fourwheel
drive, particularly on the second day, after it has been chewed up by race traffic. We did well here
last year but we have two new trucks so we’ll have to wait and see how well they perform on Saturday
and decide what, if any, adjustments need to be made for Sunday’s race”.
Josh and Chad Hall are confident that their new Team HUMMER Full-Stocks will do well, not only
in their class but within all of group #2. “Laughlin reminds me of the old Riverside races that I attended as
a kid”, Josh Hall commented. “The carnival atmosphere of the VIP tents, vendors and the grandstand
seating all make it the most unique venue in all of desert racing. This event gives us an opportunity to
showcase our sponsors products while allowing them the opportunity to view an event in a relaxed atmosphere
of fun and excitement.”
Activities for the event begin on Friday, Jan. 24th with tech and contingency throughout the day.
Racing is continous from 7:00AM - 5:00PM, Saturday and Sunday at Laughlin Events Park.