Round 3 of the Whiplash Desert Series is over, and again... I let one slip away. Here's how the day went:

You couldn't have asked for a better weekend for an off-road race in Mexico. The weather was AWESOME... mid 70's, clear, nice breeze, and a there was a good turnout of desert eating cars and trucks revved up and ready to go. Staging was at 7 am, and the first car was to go off the line at 7:30 sharp. It was a little early for my taste, but anytime is a good time for racing.

There were 7 5/1600 cars ready to do battle. A great turnout for us, and terrific for a Mexico race. I drew the second starting spot right behind the Hyperactive Motorsports car. The start line was on the pavement, right in front of the Playa Best Western. We watched the Hyperactive car roar away, and waited for the green flag. We took it, and hauled down the road. The course made a right hander across the Caborca Highway, and into the dirt. Jay had warned us about some "excavation" of the course in that first mile, and he wasn't joking. There were 2 steep drop offs of about 5 feet. We hammered through, and onto the course.

The first section was the same as the Tecate 150 we ran in February, so it was familiar territory. It was just as sticky this time. The first 11 miles or so runs in the heavy sand, next to the highway. It's full of big bumps, and whoops in the loose sand. This time around, the car was really eating it up, and we were pulling 4th gear most of the way. We caught our first victim here. It was a 5 unlimited (??) car that was off the pace. We passed with ease, and continued chasing the Hyperactive car. We were catching him in that deep sand, and were about to start applying serious pressure when the Hyperactive car went up in smoke. It was a definite burnt oil smell, and they eased off the track at about the 4 mile mark. Their day was over. We raged on to Check 1 at the railroad crossing leading the pack.

From check 1 to check 2 was also part of the Tecate 150. In fact, it was my favorite section of that race. It was fairly hard packed, with big sweeping turns. The RER car LOVED that section, and was working really well. We went into check 2 with our unofficial splits telling us that were leading the Schaible car by about 10 seconds. We got word that Allan made a quick stop, and that really pumped me up. I picked up the pace.

From 2 to 2A was now new racetrack. It was really sandy and hilly, and was really torturing the car and passengers. Somewhere in here, we caught a Class 7 truck that was off the pace. He had body panels flopping, broken springs, and a broken shock dragging on the right rear. It was a sight. Then we had our first bit of bad luck. The hood pin securing the driver side hood broke the weld from the car body, and the hood began flopping. We had a similar problem last year, and knew that it would slow us down, and could stop in the "full up" position, and block my vision. It was a big problem. We now found ourselves fighting the dust and rocks from the 7 truck, and fighting to see over the flopping hood. Todd did his best to hold down the hood with a small shovel that was secured under his seat. It was useless in the whoops, and was beating Todd to death. We were planning to make a stop at the next innocent bystanders, and ask for assistance in getting it removed. Somehow, I was able to pass the 7 truck without full vision, and we continued to Check 2A. As we came into the check, there were 2 people standing near the check. I assumed they were check workers, and couldn't bother them to remove the hood. Suddenly we got a call on the radio, that it was rookie RER crew members Jack and Dina Higgins, and they had hiked in to the course to watch us pass. I was never so happy to see them. We jumped off the course in their direction, stopping in a cloud of dust a few feet away. They were both moderately concerned at the time, thinking I was trying to do them in.... Anyway, We began instructing them on the technique of hood removal, and they did it. Just for grins, I had showed them this trick the day before, in case they needed to assist in the pit. The training paid off, and we jumped back on to the course now hoodless, and following that silly 7 truck again.

From Check 2A to 4 were pretty fast sections. Again we caught the ailing 7 truck, and passed... and we were really on the gas to make up lost time. Somewhere in here, we lost the radio completely... no messages in - or out. No matter, we hammered on. The course went behind a mountain, and went through alot of "cross grain" ditches caused by water run-off. It was VERY rough at times, and was really beating us up. I feathered back the throttle to save the car - and us. This section also dodged through some hairy Cholla cactus gardens. On 2 occasions, I was WAY too close to those things, and almost got a lap full. My driving must have been a little off... cause they were both on my side... Somewhere in there, I blew 2 turns. The first was a simple matter of too much speed, and too sharp a corner. Fortunately, there was enough desert to slow down in, and retake the course. The second corner was very poorly marked. The course made a right hander off of the main road, and was marked only with pink ribbon that we saw later. I am confident that it was not clear, since both the 7 truck that was following us, and a Class 9 car made the same mistake, and joined us for a U-turn in the desert. This kinda sucked, because they beat us back to the correct course, and again we were eating dust. I was able to overtake the truck easily this time without the hood obstructing my view, and we headed into Check 4.

At Check 4, VolksPower Race Prep Guru Jeff Knupp dumped 7 gallons of gas in, looked over the car, and we headed out into the silt beds. It was nasty, dusty, dirty, and soft. It was so bad, that at points, the front tires was pushing the dirt in front of the car right through the front window opening. Momentum was a must, and sometimes first gear was all I could pull. This lasted for some 5 - 10 miles. From here, the course paralleled the main highway, and ran on the shoulder against traffic. Interesting.... Jeff was now in full chase mode, and was driving with us on the highway. Jeff clocked us at over 55 mph through some rough sections. He occasionally raced ahead, and jumped out to take pictures.

From here, the course headed back out into the desert following a river. It was another good section for me, and we were really eating it up. Hard, twisty, turny, and fast - gotta love that. When that ended, the course ran parallel to some huge fence, through the open desert. We were advised to run anywhere out there, just keep the fence in sight to the right. The open desert was somewhat harder packed than the lines the other racers had used, but it was also full of gotchas. I tried both lines, and kept close to the fence where the other racers had made a path. Somewhere in the second leg against the fence, the brush was not as dense, and I did try my own lines. It worked pretty well, and we were able to get a little more speed. Also, Todd kept warning me that the oil temperature was climbing. We were pushing 260 - 280 near the end of the fence. We'll see if my decision to push it was good or bad... after I get the engine checked out....

After the fence, we made our way into check 6, and headed for the home stretch. It was part of the Tecate 150 course, and was familiar to me. I ran a steady pace, but did not push. Since we lost radio communication near check 2, we had no idea where the rest of the field was.... Anyway, we headed back toward the finish, and through the dump (my favorite part of the course...NOT!!) We did catch a class 9 car in the last mile, but I didn't push him too hard, since there wasn't much room to pass. We finished first on the road.

As we sat on the finish line, we thought we had won, when that darn 555 car of Mike Kellogg showed up. Mike had started last, so I knew he had won the race. Congrats Mike, on a race well run. The RER team settled for our third straight Second place finish. The purple car of Allan Schaible finished third somewhat off the pace, and the brand new car of Stuart Baxter finished fourth.

All and all, it was really a good race for the RER team. I believe that about only 50% of the cars finished, the desert took its toll.

The RER team is now in first place in the season points chase... beating Alan Schaible. I'm really happy about that. Allan pushes us every race, and his pressure makes me a better racer.... Can't wait for the next opportunity to do battle with Allan.

The next race is the Snowflake 175 over Labor Day Weekend, in September. There's lots of time off over the summer for changing the oil in the car... and getting ready. For you loyal readers - I'll try to keep this site updated with something over the summer.

Somehow, I think there were a few lessons learned from this race. I learned not to let your guard down, and keep pushing through the finish. These guys are all pros, and somebody will be there at the finish.

I think Allan Schaible learned a little about tire selection. Allan tried some 32 x 11.50 mud terrains on the rear of his machine. Allan's only comment to me was that he wouldn't run them again.

And Mike Kellogg learned a little about letting his buddies drive his car after the race. Mike's 555 car wound up in the hands of some really irresponsible friends, who stuffed the front end of the car, and rolled it, severely damaging the front end, and the body shortly after the race. Neither of them had any protective gear on, and were very lucky not to get hurt. That's 3 races, and 2 new bodies for that blue car.... Check out the pictures I snapped after the race.

And last but not least - A few messages from Nicole:

To AC Racing - See you guys in Flag over the summer!!

To Tim Smith and the Allan Schaible crew: BEER ME!!!

Have a good summer, and SEE YOU IN SNOWFLAKE!!

Mike