klaus
June 2nd, 2002, 17:00
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Results and Times !
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34th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500
Round 3 of the six-race 2002 Optima SCORE Desert Series
June 1-2, 2002 at Ensenada, Mexico, 473.62 miles
Total Entries - 264; Total Starters - 258; Total Finishers - 132
TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks) - 1. Mark Miller, Carefree,
Ariz./Larry Ragland, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Silverado, 10 hours, 48
minutes, 42 seconds (43:81 miles per hour, FOUR OVERALL 4-WHEEL VEHICLE); 2.
Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 11:15:02 (SEVENTH OVERALL); 3.
Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa
Margarita, Calif., Ford F150, 11:59:44; 4. Scott Steinberger, Cypress,
Calif./Dane Cardone, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford F-150, 13:23:22; 5
Richard Hoffman, Lake Forest, Calif./Craig Stewart, Santee, Calif.,
Chevrolet, 13:40:55. (14 starters, 5 finishers).
CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two seaters) - 1. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry
Roeseler, Hesperia, Calif., Smithbuilt-Ford, 10:24:58 (45.47 mph, FIRST
OVERALL); 2. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Chenowth-Chevrolet, 10:32:03
(SECOND OVERALL); 3. Andrew Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Costa Mesa, Calif.,
Jimco-Toyota, 10:38:11 (THIRD OVERALL); 4. Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif.,
Jimco-Chevrolet, 10:49:01 (FIFTH OVERALL); 5 Alberto Coppolo, Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico, Chenowth-Toyota, 11:25:10 (NINTH OVERALL); 6. Ron Brant, Torrance,
Calif., Jimco-Chevrolet, 11:30:49 (10TH OVERALL); 7. Scott McMillin, Poway,
Calif., Porter-Chevrolet, 12:03:56; 8. Michael James, Alpine, Calif.,
Scat-Chevrolet, 12:04:54; 9. Stuart Chase, Burbank, Calif., Chenowth-Porsche,
12:24:53; 10. Marty Melendrez, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Jimco-VW, 13:02:30;
11. Dan Meyers, Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-ChevroleT, 15:43:17; 12. Dale
Ebberts, Cany on Lake, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 17:37:34. (23 starters, 12
finishers).
PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks) - 1. Al Hogan, Columbus, Mont./Steve
Cooper, Missoula, Mont., Ford, 11:59:10 (39.51 mph); 2. Steve Barlow,
Temecula, Calif., Ford F-150, 12:13:00; 3. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, Calif., Ford
F-150, 14:03:05; 4. Jim Stiles, Oxnard, Calif., Ford F-150, 14:15:50; 5 Wally
Hrdlicka, 47, Palm Desert, Calif./Steve Abernathy, Palm Springs, Calif., Ford
F-150, 14:32:22; 6. Gary Magness, Palm Springs, Calif., Ford F-150, 14:44:20;
7. John Becker, Newhall, Calif., Ford F-150, 15:13:54. (11 starters, 7
finishers).
CLASS 1/2-1600 (single or two-seaters - limited to 1600cc) - 1. Kash Vessels,
22, Tucson, Ariz./Jason Hatz, San Diego, Chenowth, 12:44:12 (37.19 mph); 2.
Ken Browne, Englewood, Colo., Dunrite, 12:56:20; 3. Eric Duran, Mexicali,
Mexico, Chenowth, 13:01:15; 4. Steve Roberts, Bullhead City, Ariz.
Lothringer, 13:02:30; 5 Alejandro Navarrete, Mexicali, Mex., Jimco, 13:39:56;
6. Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif., Jimco, 14:39:59; 7. Brent Parkhouse, Bell
Gardens, Calif., Mirage, 14:55:37; 8. Jake Maness, Redstone, Colo., 16:39:57;
9. Travis Fletcher, Westminister, Calif., 17:53:25; 10. Brian Jeffrey, Acton,
Calif., Jimco VW, 17:57:40. (17 starters, 10 finishers).
CLASS 3 (short wheelbase 4x4) - (6 starters, 0 finishers).
CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs) 1. George Seeley Jr., Glendale, Calif./Roger
Byrd, Burbank, Calif., 14:48:07 (31.00 mph); 2. Miachael Jakobson, Somis,
Calif., 19:00:39; (4 starters, 2 finishers).
CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs) - 1. Miguel Rosales/Roberto Diaz, Ensenada,
Mexico, 13:49:33 (34.26 mph); 2. Ernie Negrete, Chula Vista, Calif.,
14:36:50; 3. Danny Ledezma, Chula Vista, Calif., 15:00:12; 4. Mateo Pabloff,
Ensenada, Mexico, 15:31:41; 5. Ernesto Arambula, Ensenada, Mexico, 15:33:32;
6. Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mex., 15:44:12; 7. Jaime Venegas, 29, Rosarito,
Mexico/Raul Solanor, 25, Rosarito, Mexico, 17:23:53; 8. Allan Gregory, 48,
Alpine, Calif./Steve Kobayashi, 45, Lemon Grove, Calif., 17:29:02; 9. Ruben
Gutierrez Jr., Hemet, Calif., 19:12:15; 10. Rob Taylor, 39, San Diego/Daniel
Gutierrez, 35, Chula Vista, Calif., 19:53:21. (21 starters, 10 finishers).
CLASS 7 (Open Mini Trucks) - 1. Willie Valdez, Ensenada/Rob Gomez, Ensenada,
Ford Ranger, 14:18:33 (33.10 mph); 2. Craig Turner, 33, Yorba Linda,
Calif./Tim Cecil, 30, Brea, Calif., Ford Ranger, 19:48:43. (9 starters, 2
finishers).
CLASS 7S (Stock Mini Trucks) - 1. Doug Siewert, Oceanside, Calif.,/Cory
Susag, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Chevy S-10, 12:45:22 (37.13 mph); 2.
Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., GMC Sonoma, 13:21:30; 3. Daniel Fresh, San Juan
Capistrano, Calif.m Jeep Comanche, 15:24:57; 4. names, hometowns., vehicle,
x:xx.xx; 5 names, hometowns., vehicle, x:xx.xx; 6. Mike Horner, Mission
Viejo, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 16:18:48; (7 starters, 4 finishers).
CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks) - 1. Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye,
Ariz./Larry Vanderway, Litchfield Park, Ariz., GMC Sierra, 12:09:20 (38.96).
(7 starters, 1 finishers).
CLASS 9 (Short Wheelbase, single or two-seaters) - 1. Jose Luis Arce/Daniel
Mora, Ensenada, Mexico, Challenger, 14:21:11 (33.00 mph); 2. Arturo Velasco,
Beaumont, Calif., Chenowth, 15:00:27; 3. Raul Aguiar, Ensenada, Mexico, Baja
West, 15:44:55; 4. Eliseo Garcia, Ensenada, Mexico, Chenowth, 17:08:12; 5 Ed
McClean, Severna Park, Md., Jimco, 18:11:18; 6. Francisco Fernandez,
Calexico, Calif., Raceco, 19:07:35; (14 starters, 6 finishers).
CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc) - 1. Scott Sellers, San Clemente,
Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 11:02:53 (42.87 mph, SIXTH OVERALL); 2. Steve Myers,
Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 11:31:59; 3. Ron Dalke, Tucson, Ariz.,
Tatum-VW, 11:35:52; 4. Steve Melton, Buckeye, Ariz., Jimco-Toyota, 12:21:07;
5 Dave Sundquist, Peoria, Ariz., Jimco-Toyota, 13:07:54; 6. Mark Hutchins,
Henderson, Nev./Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Jimco-Toyota, 13:21:32; 7, Harley
Letner, Orange, Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 13:38:12; 8. Mike Williams,
Fallbroock, Calif., Meco-Honda, 14:50:55. 9, Sean Sessa, Glendale, Ariz.,
Jimco-Toyota, 15:37:05; 10. Jerry Higman, Huntington Beach, Calif.,
Kroeger-VW, 15:59:18; 11. Dennis Hunter, Santa Rosa, Calif., Honda, 18:40:34;
12. Jason Hunter, Santa Rosa, Calif., Dunrite-Honda, 18:42:39. (23 starters,
12 finishers).
SCORE LITES (Limited single or two-seaters - 1835cc) - 1. Jerry Penhall,
Costa Mesa, Calif./LJ Kennedy, Orange, Calif., Penhall, 11:24:31 (41.51 mph,
EIGHTH OVERALL); 2. Arturo Honold, Mexicali, Mex., Jimco, x12:04:02; 3, Ken
Stroud, Alpine, Calif., Jimco, 12:13:34; 4. Dave Deatley, Needles, Calif.,
Jimco, 13:23:34; 5 Morley Williams, Bonsall, Calif., Meco-VW, 14:07:55; 6
Luis Varragan, Mexicali, Mexico, 15:18:01; 7, Rick St. John, Carlsbad,
Calif., 16:45:00. (17 starters, 7 finishers).
CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans) - 1. Fernando Flores, 32/Mario Ramirez, 29,
Mexicali, Mexico, 17:24:09 (27.22 mph). (5 starters, 1 finishers).
STOCK MINI (Stock, Production Mini Trucks) - (2 starters, no finishers).
STOCK FULL (Stock, Production Full-sized Trucks) - 1. John Griffin, Mission
Viejo, Calif./Mike Sabbarese, Huntington Beach, Calif., AM General Hummer,
17:19:33 (27.34 mph). (2 starters, 1 finishers).
PRO MOTORCYCLES
CLASS 21 (126cc to 250cc) - 1. Martin Bejarano, Calexico, Calif./Dayton
Raper, Mesa, Ariz., Kawasaki AV, 11:14:07 (42.15 mph); 2. Eddie Zeller,
Coronado,Calif., Yamaha YZ-250, 11:48:49; 3. Gerardo Rojas, Colonia Vicente
Guerrero, Mexico, Yamaha YZ, 12:57:15; 4. Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, Calif.,
Yamaha WR 250F, 15:27:08. (5 starters, 4 finishers).
CLASS 22 (250cc or more) - 1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif./Johnny
Campbell, San Clemente, Calif., Honda XR650R, 9:35;54 (49.34 mph, FIRST
OVERALL MOTORCYLE); 2. Andy Grider, Los Olivos, Calif./Danny Cooper, Las
Vegas, Honda XR650R, 9:56:36; 3. Aaron Tuck, Brawley, Calif., Honda XR650R,
10:00:17; 4. Keith Mayes, Fresno, Calif., Honda XR650R, 10:50:03; 5 Quinn
Cody, Los Olivos, Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:01:05; 6. Brian Pinard, Murrieta,
Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:46:46; 7. Jefferson Rogers, Apple Valley, Calif.,
Honda XR650R, 11:46:46; 8. Erik Floen, Thunder Bay, Calif., Kawasaki KX500,
13:05:28; 9. Sydney Schneider, Fallbrook, Calif., Honda XR650, 13:13:28; 10.
Jose Meza, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda XR650R, 13:23:02; 11. Tony Motta, Cardiff
by the Sea, Calif., Honda XR650R, 13:23:14 12. Enrique Legaspy, Punta
Colonett, Mexico, Husqvarna, 13:51:34. (12 starters, 12 finishers).
CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old) - 1. Jim O'Neal, 55, Chatsworth,
Calif./Fred Willert, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda XR650, 10:58:46 (43.14 MPH);
2. Kevin Ward, Chatsworth, Calif., Honda XR650, 11:00:58; 3. Mikey Martin,
Garden Grove, Calif., Yamaha YZ426, 11:25:44; 4 Christian Lee, Seal Beach,
Calif., Honda XR650R, x:xx.12:38:17; 5. Oton Guzman, Mexicali, Mexico, Honda
XR650, 15:34:31. (7 starters, 5 finishers).
CLASS 40 (Riders over 40 years old) - 1. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, Calif./Tim
Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda XR650, 10:40:13 (44.39 mph); 2. Dave
Simpson, Redlands, Calif., Yamaha WR426, x12:55:18; 3. Gary Cluff, Mesa,
Ariz., Honda XR650R, 12:59:08. (4 starters, 3 finishers).
CLASS 50 (Riders over 50 years old) - 1. Richard Jackson, Acton, Calif./Bob
Wadlow, Arcadia, Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:37:18 (40.75 mph). (2 starters, 1
finisher).
PRO ATVs
CLASS 24 (under 250cc) - 1. Kirk Schreler, Phoenix/Shane Strunk, Tucson,
Ariz., Honda 250R, 15:50:57 (29.88 mph). (3 starters, 1 finishers).
CLASS 25 (under 251cc) - 1. Jimmy Stephensen, Las Vegas/Mike Cafro, Carlsbad,
Calif., Honda, 11:32:43 (41.02 mph, FIRST OVERALL ATV); 2. Greg Row, Spring
Valley, Calif., Bombardier, 11:39:56; 3. Earl Thigpen, Murrieta, Calif.,
Honda, 12:01:13; 4. Tito Alvarez, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda, x12:18:34; 5. John
Gregory, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda, 12:21:17; 6 Jorge Chupicul, Ensenada,
Mexico, 12:24:52; 7. Nick Nelson, Chino, Calif., Honda 250R, 13:00:43; 8.
Enrique Felix, Tijuana, Mex., Duncan Honda, 14:01:11; 9. Wes Miller, Costa
Mesa, Calif., Suzuki, 14:49:10. (12 starters, 9 finishers).
SPORTSMAN
OVERALL SPT FOUR-WHEEL VEHICLE - 1. Gordon Grevel, 59, San Diego/Pedro
Morales, 44, Ensenada, Mexico, VW, 16:38:55 (28.45 mph). (6 starters, 1
finisher).
OVERALL SPT MOTORCYCLES -1. Moizes Gollaz, 30, Chula Vista, Calif./Ivan
Ramirez, 37, Ensenada, Mex., Honda XR650R, 11:23:42 (41.56 MPH). (23
starters, 13 finishers).
SPT ATV - 1. Steve Willenberg, 43, Lakeside, Calif./Brett Fredrickson, 31,
Santee, Calif., Honda Trax, 13:15:45 (35.71 MPH). (3 starters, 2 finishers).
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Story
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Miller & Ragland Win SCORE Trophy-Truck
Herbst & Roeseler Claim overall 4-wheel; Honda's Hengeveld & Campbell,Take
Overall Motorcyle wins at Tecate SCORE Baja 500
132 of 264 entries finish Round 3 of six-race Optima SCORE Desert Series for immediate release
Ensenada, Mexico -Las Vegas' Troy Herbst teamed with Larry Roeseler,
Hesperia, Calif., to capture the overall four-wheel vehicle title and
Southern California's Steve Hengeveld and Johnny Campbell easily won the
overall motorcycle title Saturday at the 34th Annual SCORE Baja 500 desert
race, held on the rugged terrain of the northern part of the Baja California
peninsula in Mexico.
Racing in the unlimited Class 1, Herbst, 35, and Roeseler, 41, powered
their Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford-powered Smithbuilt open-wheel desert
race car to a time of 10 hours, 24 minutes, 54 seconds, averaging 45.47 miles
per hour over the sun-drenched 473.62-mile course.
There were 264 racers in the Round 3 of the six-race 2002 Optima SCORE Desert
Series, America's Foremost Desert Racing Series. Racers came from 16 states
and six countries as the SCORE series reached the midway point of the 2002
season.
For Herbst, the five-time defending Class 1 SCORE season point champion,
it was his first victory of the season and his fourth class win in the Tecate
SCORE Baja 500. The third all-time winingest racer in the event's history,
Roeseler now has 12 career class wins in the race.
"Larry Roeseler is a great racer who knows Baja so well, it would be
tough to lose with him on your team," said Herbst, who finished third and
second in the first SCORE races of the season driving solo. "Larry drove
flawlessly and we were still in third place when I took over at race mile
209. I drove hard, but at a good pace and I didn't physically get the lead
until I passed the 105 car (John Marking/Rob MacCachren) when it was off the
side of the course with problems just past Erandira (race mile 333.7)."
Hengeveld, 26, and Campbell, 31, split time on an American Honda factory
team Honda XR650R to race to a comfortable 20-minute victory margin among the
motorcycles in a time of 9:35:54 with an average speed of 49.34 mph.
Hengeveld, of Oak Hills, Calif., won this race for the third straight year
and first with Campbell, San Clemente, Calif. Campbell, who was racing for
the first time since he was seriously injured two months ago in a race in
Nevada, also earned his third career win in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
In the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, Mark Miller, 39, of
Carefree, Ariz., used some surprise timely co-driving from desert-racing
veteran Larry Ragland, 59, of Phoenix to break the five-race class win streak
of Dan Smith and David Ashley, of Riverside, Calif. In earning his first
SCORE race win, Miller's Chevy Silverado finished fourth overall beating the
Ford F-150 of Troy Herbst's older brothers Ed and Tim Herbst by just over 26
minutes. For Ragland, who was available because the primary vehicle he was
entered in-Las Vegas' Brian Collins-broke early in the race, the victory was
his fifth class win in the race and his first since 2000.
Las Vegas' Jimmy Stephensen earned his second straight ATV overall
victory as he teamed with Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., coming from behind to
win Class 25 on a Honda 250 in 11:32:43 (41.02 mph).
Brothers Gary, 34, and Mark Weyhrich, 32, of Troutdale, Ore., fought
brake problems and slower race traffic all day, yet still finished second
overall among four-wheel vehicle and second in Class 1 in their Chevy- powered Chenowth, seven minutes, five seconds behind Herbst/Roeseler
Finishing a season-high third overall among four-wheel vehicles and third
in Class 1 was Andrew Myers, 22, of Newport Beach, Calif., in a
Toyota-powered Jimco, 13 minutes, 13 seconds behind the Herbst/Roeseler
tandem.
Fifth overall among four-wheel vehicles with a season-high fourth in
Class 1 was Chuck Hovey, 33, Escondido, Calif., 24 minutes, three seconds
behind Herbst/Roeseler.
Second overall and in the open Class 22 motorcycle class behind
Hengeveld/Campbell was the Honda factory B team of Andy Grider, 28, Los
Olivos, Calif. and Las Vegas' Danny Cooper. In their first season riding for
Honda, Grider/Cooper finished in 9:56:46, the only other vehicle in any class
to complete the race in under 10 hours.
Independent Honda motorcycle team Aaron Tuck and Craig Smith, both of
Brawley, Calif., were third overall in the race and in Class 22, 24 minutes,
23 seconds by Hengeveld/Campbell and just 1:31 behind Grider/Cooper.
Montana's Al Hogan, 50, notched his first-ever SCORE victory, winning the
Protruck class in his Ford F-150.
In Class 50 for motorcycle riders over 50 years old, Richard Jackson, 56,
Acton, Calif., rode a Honda XR650R to his 10th career class victory in this
popular race, fourth on the all-time multiple class winner's list.
Earning rare class victories in two classes, 55-year old Jim O'Neal,
Chatsworth, Calif., won both Class 30 (motorcycle riders over 30) and Class
40 (motorcycle riders over 40), but the he was forced to do it will always
have an asterisk.
O'Neal, the defending Class 40 SCORE season champion, heroically left a
hospital bed at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, starting the race in both
classes, but riding less than 25 yards with a neck brace on before turning
his Honda XR650 motorcycles over to co-riders.
O'Neal suffered severe head and shoulder injuries when he fell down a
25-foot ravine while pre-running on the course Wednesday. SCORE rules require
that a driver or rider of record must either start or finish a race to
earning the finishing position and the points for the race.
Veteran George Seeley Jr., 43, Glendale, Calif., returned to his Class 5
winning ways in Ensenada as he cruised to his second win this year, won for
the third time in this race and his 11th time in the last four seasons in the
class for unlimited VW Baja Bugs. Seeley is the four-time defending season
point champion in his class.
In Class 10, Scott Sells, 27, of San Clemente, Calif., drove solo to earn
the class win and finish sixth overall in his Honda-powered Chenowth.
Other class winners included: Kash Vessels, Tucson, Ariz. (Class
1-2/1600-Chenowth); Willie Valdez, , Yorba Linda, Calif. (Class 7-Ford
Ranger); Doug Siewert, Oceanside, Calif./Cory Susag, Dana Point, Calif.
(Class 7S-Chevy S-10); Jerry Penhall, Costa Mesa, Calif..(SCORE
Lite-Penhall); Nick Vanderway, Buckeye, Ariz. (Class 8-GMC Sierra); Miguel
Rosales, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600-VW Baja Bug); John Griffin, Mission
Viejo, Calif. (Stock Full-AM General Hummer) and Jose Arce, Ensenada, Mexico
(Class 9-Challenger).
While there were 264 official entries, 132 officially finished within the
20-hour time limit. The 258 official starters were the most in the historic
Tecate SCORE Baja 500 since 1990.
Round 4 of the 2002 Optima SCORE Desert Series will be the inaugural
SCORE Henderson's 250, July 10-14, in Henderson, Nev., the rapidly growing
city on the outskirts of Las Vegas..
For more information, contact SCORE International at its Los Angeles
headquarters at (818) 225-8402 or visit the official Optima SCORE Desert
Series website at www.score-international.com.
Results and Times !
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34th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500
Round 3 of the six-race 2002 Optima SCORE Desert Series
June 1-2, 2002 at Ensenada, Mexico, 473.62 miles
Total Entries - 264; Total Starters - 258; Total Finishers - 132
TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks) - 1. Mark Miller, Carefree,
Ariz./Larry Ragland, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Silverado, 10 hours, 48
minutes, 42 seconds (43:81 miles per hour, FOUR OVERALL 4-WHEEL VEHICLE); 2.
Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 11:15:02 (SEVENTH OVERALL); 3.
Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa
Margarita, Calif., Ford F150, 11:59:44; 4. Scott Steinberger, Cypress,
Calif./Dane Cardone, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford F-150, 13:23:22; 5
Richard Hoffman, Lake Forest, Calif./Craig Stewart, Santee, Calif.,
Chevrolet, 13:40:55. (14 starters, 5 finishers).
CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two seaters) - 1. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry
Roeseler, Hesperia, Calif., Smithbuilt-Ford, 10:24:58 (45.47 mph, FIRST
OVERALL); 2. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Chenowth-Chevrolet, 10:32:03
(SECOND OVERALL); 3. Andrew Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Costa Mesa, Calif.,
Jimco-Toyota, 10:38:11 (THIRD OVERALL); 4. Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif.,
Jimco-Chevrolet, 10:49:01 (FIFTH OVERALL); 5 Alberto Coppolo, Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico, Chenowth-Toyota, 11:25:10 (NINTH OVERALL); 6. Ron Brant, Torrance,
Calif., Jimco-Chevrolet, 11:30:49 (10TH OVERALL); 7. Scott McMillin, Poway,
Calif., Porter-Chevrolet, 12:03:56; 8. Michael James, Alpine, Calif.,
Scat-Chevrolet, 12:04:54; 9. Stuart Chase, Burbank, Calif., Chenowth-Porsche,
12:24:53; 10. Marty Melendrez, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Jimco-VW, 13:02:30;
11. Dan Meyers, Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-ChevroleT, 15:43:17; 12. Dale
Ebberts, Cany on Lake, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 17:37:34. (23 starters, 12
finishers).
PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks) - 1. Al Hogan, Columbus, Mont./Steve
Cooper, Missoula, Mont., Ford, 11:59:10 (39.51 mph); 2. Steve Barlow,
Temecula, Calif., Ford F-150, 12:13:00; 3. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, Calif., Ford
F-150, 14:03:05; 4. Jim Stiles, Oxnard, Calif., Ford F-150, 14:15:50; 5 Wally
Hrdlicka, 47, Palm Desert, Calif./Steve Abernathy, Palm Springs, Calif., Ford
F-150, 14:32:22; 6. Gary Magness, Palm Springs, Calif., Ford F-150, 14:44:20;
7. John Becker, Newhall, Calif., Ford F-150, 15:13:54. (11 starters, 7
finishers).
CLASS 1/2-1600 (single or two-seaters - limited to 1600cc) - 1. Kash Vessels,
22, Tucson, Ariz./Jason Hatz, San Diego, Chenowth, 12:44:12 (37.19 mph); 2.
Ken Browne, Englewood, Colo., Dunrite, 12:56:20; 3. Eric Duran, Mexicali,
Mexico, Chenowth, 13:01:15; 4. Steve Roberts, Bullhead City, Ariz.
Lothringer, 13:02:30; 5 Alejandro Navarrete, Mexicali, Mex., Jimco, 13:39:56;
6. Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif., Jimco, 14:39:59; 7. Brent Parkhouse, Bell
Gardens, Calif., Mirage, 14:55:37; 8. Jake Maness, Redstone, Colo., 16:39:57;
9. Travis Fletcher, Westminister, Calif., 17:53:25; 10. Brian Jeffrey, Acton,
Calif., Jimco VW, 17:57:40. (17 starters, 10 finishers).
CLASS 3 (short wheelbase 4x4) - (6 starters, 0 finishers).
CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs) 1. George Seeley Jr., Glendale, Calif./Roger
Byrd, Burbank, Calif., 14:48:07 (31.00 mph); 2. Miachael Jakobson, Somis,
Calif., 19:00:39; (4 starters, 2 finishers).
CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs) - 1. Miguel Rosales/Roberto Diaz, Ensenada,
Mexico, 13:49:33 (34.26 mph); 2. Ernie Negrete, Chula Vista, Calif.,
14:36:50; 3. Danny Ledezma, Chula Vista, Calif., 15:00:12; 4. Mateo Pabloff,
Ensenada, Mexico, 15:31:41; 5. Ernesto Arambula, Ensenada, Mexico, 15:33:32;
6. Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mex., 15:44:12; 7. Jaime Venegas, 29, Rosarito,
Mexico/Raul Solanor, 25, Rosarito, Mexico, 17:23:53; 8. Allan Gregory, 48,
Alpine, Calif./Steve Kobayashi, 45, Lemon Grove, Calif., 17:29:02; 9. Ruben
Gutierrez Jr., Hemet, Calif., 19:12:15; 10. Rob Taylor, 39, San Diego/Daniel
Gutierrez, 35, Chula Vista, Calif., 19:53:21. (21 starters, 10 finishers).
CLASS 7 (Open Mini Trucks) - 1. Willie Valdez, Ensenada/Rob Gomez, Ensenada,
Ford Ranger, 14:18:33 (33.10 mph); 2. Craig Turner, 33, Yorba Linda,
Calif./Tim Cecil, 30, Brea, Calif., Ford Ranger, 19:48:43. (9 starters, 2
finishers).
CLASS 7S (Stock Mini Trucks) - 1. Doug Siewert, Oceanside, Calif.,/Cory
Susag, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Chevy S-10, 12:45:22 (37.13 mph); 2.
Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., GMC Sonoma, 13:21:30; 3. Daniel Fresh, San Juan
Capistrano, Calif.m Jeep Comanche, 15:24:57; 4. names, hometowns., vehicle,
x:xx.xx; 5 names, hometowns., vehicle, x:xx.xx; 6. Mike Horner, Mission
Viejo, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 16:18:48; (7 starters, 4 finishers).
CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks) - 1. Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye,
Ariz./Larry Vanderway, Litchfield Park, Ariz., GMC Sierra, 12:09:20 (38.96).
(7 starters, 1 finishers).
CLASS 9 (Short Wheelbase, single or two-seaters) - 1. Jose Luis Arce/Daniel
Mora, Ensenada, Mexico, Challenger, 14:21:11 (33.00 mph); 2. Arturo Velasco,
Beaumont, Calif., Chenowth, 15:00:27; 3. Raul Aguiar, Ensenada, Mexico, Baja
West, 15:44:55; 4. Eliseo Garcia, Ensenada, Mexico, Chenowth, 17:08:12; 5 Ed
McClean, Severna Park, Md., Jimco, 18:11:18; 6. Francisco Fernandez,
Calexico, Calif., Raceco, 19:07:35; (14 starters, 6 finishers).
CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc) - 1. Scott Sellers, San Clemente,
Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 11:02:53 (42.87 mph, SIXTH OVERALL); 2. Steve Myers,
Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 11:31:59; 3. Ron Dalke, Tucson, Ariz.,
Tatum-VW, 11:35:52; 4. Steve Melton, Buckeye, Ariz., Jimco-Toyota, 12:21:07;
5 Dave Sundquist, Peoria, Ariz., Jimco-Toyota, 13:07:54; 6. Mark Hutchins,
Henderson, Nev./Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Jimco-Toyota, 13:21:32; 7, Harley
Letner, Orange, Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 13:38:12; 8. Mike Williams,
Fallbroock, Calif., Meco-Honda, 14:50:55. 9, Sean Sessa, Glendale, Ariz.,
Jimco-Toyota, 15:37:05; 10. Jerry Higman, Huntington Beach, Calif.,
Kroeger-VW, 15:59:18; 11. Dennis Hunter, Santa Rosa, Calif., Honda, 18:40:34;
12. Jason Hunter, Santa Rosa, Calif., Dunrite-Honda, 18:42:39. (23 starters,
12 finishers).
SCORE LITES (Limited single or two-seaters - 1835cc) - 1. Jerry Penhall,
Costa Mesa, Calif./LJ Kennedy, Orange, Calif., Penhall, 11:24:31 (41.51 mph,
EIGHTH OVERALL); 2. Arturo Honold, Mexicali, Mex., Jimco, x12:04:02; 3, Ken
Stroud, Alpine, Calif., Jimco, 12:13:34; 4. Dave Deatley, Needles, Calif.,
Jimco, 13:23:34; 5 Morley Williams, Bonsall, Calif., Meco-VW, 14:07:55; 6
Luis Varragan, Mexicali, Mexico, 15:18:01; 7, Rick St. John, Carlsbad,
Calif., 16:45:00. (17 starters, 7 finishers).
CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans) - 1. Fernando Flores, 32/Mario Ramirez, 29,
Mexicali, Mexico, 17:24:09 (27.22 mph). (5 starters, 1 finishers).
STOCK MINI (Stock, Production Mini Trucks) - (2 starters, no finishers).
STOCK FULL (Stock, Production Full-sized Trucks) - 1. John Griffin, Mission
Viejo, Calif./Mike Sabbarese, Huntington Beach, Calif., AM General Hummer,
17:19:33 (27.34 mph). (2 starters, 1 finishers).
PRO MOTORCYCLES
CLASS 21 (126cc to 250cc) - 1. Martin Bejarano, Calexico, Calif./Dayton
Raper, Mesa, Ariz., Kawasaki AV, 11:14:07 (42.15 mph); 2. Eddie Zeller,
Coronado,Calif., Yamaha YZ-250, 11:48:49; 3. Gerardo Rojas, Colonia Vicente
Guerrero, Mexico, Yamaha YZ, 12:57:15; 4. Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, Calif.,
Yamaha WR 250F, 15:27:08. (5 starters, 4 finishers).
CLASS 22 (250cc or more) - 1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif./Johnny
Campbell, San Clemente, Calif., Honda XR650R, 9:35;54 (49.34 mph, FIRST
OVERALL MOTORCYLE); 2. Andy Grider, Los Olivos, Calif./Danny Cooper, Las
Vegas, Honda XR650R, 9:56:36; 3. Aaron Tuck, Brawley, Calif., Honda XR650R,
10:00:17; 4. Keith Mayes, Fresno, Calif., Honda XR650R, 10:50:03; 5 Quinn
Cody, Los Olivos, Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:01:05; 6. Brian Pinard, Murrieta,
Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:46:46; 7. Jefferson Rogers, Apple Valley, Calif.,
Honda XR650R, 11:46:46; 8. Erik Floen, Thunder Bay, Calif., Kawasaki KX500,
13:05:28; 9. Sydney Schneider, Fallbrook, Calif., Honda XR650, 13:13:28; 10.
Jose Meza, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda XR650R, 13:23:02; 11. Tony Motta, Cardiff
by the Sea, Calif., Honda XR650R, 13:23:14 12. Enrique Legaspy, Punta
Colonett, Mexico, Husqvarna, 13:51:34. (12 starters, 12 finishers).
CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old) - 1. Jim O'Neal, 55, Chatsworth,
Calif./Fred Willert, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda XR650, 10:58:46 (43.14 MPH);
2. Kevin Ward, Chatsworth, Calif., Honda XR650, 11:00:58; 3. Mikey Martin,
Garden Grove, Calif., Yamaha YZ426, 11:25:44; 4 Christian Lee, Seal Beach,
Calif., Honda XR650R, x:xx.12:38:17; 5. Oton Guzman, Mexicali, Mexico, Honda
XR650, 15:34:31. (7 starters, 5 finishers).
CLASS 40 (Riders over 40 years old) - 1. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, Calif./Tim
Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda XR650, 10:40:13 (44.39 mph); 2. Dave
Simpson, Redlands, Calif., Yamaha WR426, x12:55:18; 3. Gary Cluff, Mesa,
Ariz., Honda XR650R, 12:59:08. (4 starters, 3 finishers).
CLASS 50 (Riders over 50 years old) - 1. Richard Jackson, Acton, Calif./Bob
Wadlow, Arcadia, Calif., Honda XR650R, 11:37:18 (40.75 mph). (2 starters, 1
finisher).
PRO ATVs
CLASS 24 (under 250cc) - 1. Kirk Schreler, Phoenix/Shane Strunk, Tucson,
Ariz., Honda 250R, 15:50:57 (29.88 mph). (3 starters, 1 finishers).
CLASS 25 (under 251cc) - 1. Jimmy Stephensen, Las Vegas/Mike Cafro, Carlsbad,
Calif., Honda, 11:32:43 (41.02 mph, FIRST OVERALL ATV); 2. Greg Row, Spring
Valley, Calif., Bombardier, 11:39:56; 3. Earl Thigpen, Murrieta, Calif.,
Honda, 12:01:13; 4. Tito Alvarez, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda, x12:18:34; 5. John
Gregory, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda, 12:21:17; 6 Jorge Chupicul, Ensenada,
Mexico, 12:24:52; 7. Nick Nelson, Chino, Calif., Honda 250R, 13:00:43; 8.
Enrique Felix, Tijuana, Mex., Duncan Honda, 14:01:11; 9. Wes Miller, Costa
Mesa, Calif., Suzuki, 14:49:10. (12 starters, 9 finishers).
SPORTSMAN
OVERALL SPT FOUR-WHEEL VEHICLE - 1. Gordon Grevel, 59, San Diego/Pedro
Morales, 44, Ensenada, Mexico, VW, 16:38:55 (28.45 mph). (6 starters, 1
finisher).
OVERALL SPT MOTORCYCLES -1. Moizes Gollaz, 30, Chula Vista, Calif./Ivan
Ramirez, 37, Ensenada, Mex., Honda XR650R, 11:23:42 (41.56 MPH). (23
starters, 13 finishers).
SPT ATV - 1. Steve Willenberg, 43, Lakeside, Calif./Brett Fredrickson, 31,
Santee, Calif., Honda Trax, 13:15:45 (35.71 MPH). (3 starters, 2 finishers).
----------------------------------
Story
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Miller & Ragland Win SCORE Trophy-Truck
Herbst & Roeseler Claim overall 4-wheel; Honda's Hengeveld & Campbell,Take
Overall Motorcyle wins at Tecate SCORE Baja 500
132 of 264 entries finish Round 3 of six-race Optima SCORE Desert Series for immediate release
Ensenada, Mexico -Las Vegas' Troy Herbst teamed with Larry Roeseler,
Hesperia, Calif., to capture the overall four-wheel vehicle title and
Southern California's Steve Hengeveld and Johnny Campbell easily won the
overall motorcycle title Saturday at the 34th Annual SCORE Baja 500 desert
race, held on the rugged terrain of the northern part of the Baja California
peninsula in Mexico.
Racing in the unlimited Class 1, Herbst, 35, and Roeseler, 41, powered
their Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford-powered Smithbuilt open-wheel desert
race car to a time of 10 hours, 24 minutes, 54 seconds, averaging 45.47 miles
per hour over the sun-drenched 473.62-mile course.
There were 264 racers in the Round 3 of the six-race 2002 Optima SCORE Desert
Series, America's Foremost Desert Racing Series. Racers came from 16 states
and six countries as the SCORE series reached the midway point of the 2002
season.
For Herbst, the five-time defending Class 1 SCORE season point champion,
it was his first victory of the season and his fourth class win in the Tecate
SCORE Baja 500. The third all-time winingest racer in the event's history,
Roeseler now has 12 career class wins in the race.
"Larry Roeseler is a great racer who knows Baja so well, it would be
tough to lose with him on your team," said Herbst, who finished third and
second in the first SCORE races of the season driving solo. "Larry drove
flawlessly and we were still in third place when I took over at race mile
209. I drove hard, but at a good pace and I didn't physically get the lead
until I passed the 105 car (John Marking/Rob MacCachren) when it was off the
side of the course with problems just past Erandira (race mile 333.7)."
Hengeveld, 26, and Campbell, 31, split time on an American Honda factory
team Honda XR650R to race to a comfortable 20-minute victory margin among the
motorcycles in a time of 9:35:54 with an average speed of 49.34 mph.
Hengeveld, of Oak Hills, Calif., won this race for the third straight year
and first with Campbell, San Clemente, Calif. Campbell, who was racing for
the first time since he was seriously injured two months ago in a race in
Nevada, also earned his third career win in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
In the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, Mark Miller, 39, of
Carefree, Ariz., used some surprise timely co-driving from desert-racing
veteran Larry Ragland, 59, of Phoenix to break the five-race class win streak
of Dan Smith and David Ashley, of Riverside, Calif. In earning his first
SCORE race win, Miller's Chevy Silverado finished fourth overall beating the
Ford F-150 of Troy Herbst's older brothers Ed and Tim Herbst by just over 26
minutes. For Ragland, who was available because the primary vehicle he was
entered in-Las Vegas' Brian Collins-broke early in the race, the victory was
his fifth class win in the race and his first since 2000.
Las Vegas' Jimmy Stephensen earned his second straight ATV overall
victory as he teamed with Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., coming from behind to
win Class 25 on a Honda 250 in 11:32:43 (41.02 mph).
Brothers Gary, 34, and Mark Weyhrich, 32, of Troutdale, Ore., fought
brake problems and slower race traffic all day, yet still finished second
overall among four-wheel vehicle and second in Class 1 in their Chevy- powered Chenowth, seven minutes, five seconds behind Herbst/Roeseler
Finishing a season-high third overall among four-wheel vehicles and third
in Class 1 was Andrew Myers, 22, of Newport Beach, Calif., in a
Toyota-powered Jimco, 13 minutes, 13 seconds behind the Herbst/Roeseler
tandem.
Fifth overall among four-wheel vehicles with a season-high fourth in
Class 1 was Chuck Hovey, 33, Escondido, Calif., 24 minutes, three seconds
behind Herbst/Roeseler.
Second overall and in the open Class 22 motorcycle class behind
Hengeveld/Campbell was the Honda factory B team of Andy Grider, 28, Los
Olivos, Calif. and Las Vegas' Danny Cooper. In their first season riding for
Honda, Grider/Cooper finished in 9:56:46, the only other vehicle in any class
to complete the race in under 10 hours.
Independent Honda motorcycle team Aaron Tuck and Craig Smith, both of
Brawley, Calif., were third overall in the race and in Class 22, 24 minutes,
23 seconds by Hengeveld/Campbell and just 1:31 behind Grider/Cooper.
Montana's Al Hogan, 50, notched his first-ever SCORE victory, winning the
Protruck class in his Ford F-150.
In Class 50 for motorcycle riders over 50 years old, Richard Jackson, 56,
Acton, Calif., rode a Honda XR650R to his 10th career class victory in this
popular race, fourth on the all-time multiple class winner's list.
Earning rare class victories in two classes, 55-year old Jim O'Neal,
Chatsworth, Calif., won both Class 30 (motorcycle riders over 30) and Class
40 (motorcycle riders over 40), but the he was forced to do it will always
have an asterisk.
O'Neal, the defending Class 40 SCORE season champion, heroically left a
hospital bed at Scripps Hospital in San Diego, starting the race in both
classes, but riding less than 25 yards with a neck brace on before turning
his Honda XR650 motorcycles over to co-riders.
O'Neal suffered severe head and shoulder injuries when he fell down a
25-foot ravine while pre-running on the course Wednesday. SCORE rules require
that a driver or rider of record must either start or finish a race to
earning the finishing position and the points for the race.
Veteran George Seeley Jr., 43, Glendale, Calif., returned to his Class 5
winning ways in Ensenada as he cruised to his second win this year, won for
the third time in this race and his 11th time in the last four seasons in the
class for unlimited VW Baja Bugs. Seeley is the four-time defending season
point champion in his class.
In Class 10, Scott Sells, 27, of San Clemente, Calif., drove solo to earn
the class win and finish sixth overall in his Honda-powered Chenowth.
Other class winners included: Kash Vessels, Tucson, Ariz. (Class
1-2/1600-Chenowth); Willie Valdez, , Yorba Linda, Calif. (Class 7-Ford
Ranger); Doug Siewert, Oceanside, Calif./Cory Susag, Dana Point, Calif.
(Class 7S-Chevy S-10); Jerry Penhall, Costa Mesa, Calif..(SCORE
Lite-Penhall); Nick Vanderway, Buckeye, Ariz. (Class 8-GMC Sierra); Miguel
Rosales, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600-VW Baja Bug); John Griffin, Mission
Viejo, Calif. (Stock Full-AM General Hummer) and Jose Arce, Ensenada, Mexico
(Class 9-Challenger).
While there were 264 official entries, 132 officially finished within the
20-hour time limit. The 258 official starters were the most in the historic
Tecate SCORE Baja 500 since 1990.
Round 4 of the 2002 Optima SCORE Desert Series will be the inaugural
SCORE Henderson's 250, July 10-14, in Henderson, Nev., the rapidly growing
city on the outskirts of Las Vegas..
For more information, contact SCORE International at its Los Angeles
headquarters at (818) 225-8402 or visit the official Optima SCORE Desert
Series website at www.score-international.com.