Glen Helen’s new Off-Road Short Course Series will get under way Saturday ‘rain or shine’

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Bob Beyer is anxious to see what will happen when the Glen Helen Off-Road Short Course Series makes its debut Saturday (Feb. 21).
The Off-Road Director of the multi-purpose raceway just north of San Bernardino said the new 1-mile race track has “held up pretty well” during the recent foul weather and the opening round of the seven-race series is “definitely a go, rain or shine. We’re not turning back now.”
There’s uncertainty along with the determination, however.
“I’m not exactly sure what to expect because we didn’t have pre-registration for this one,” Beyer said. “More and more people are calling, and more and more companies are interested, so I guess we’re headed in the right direction. The contingency companies are starting to show up, so we’ll be supported from that end, for sure.”
Judging from the turnouts for the two open practice sessions and on conversations within the off-road community, the series shouldn’t lack for support by the competitors, either. Beyer carefully structured the series as a convenient, affordable alternative to racing in the costly, travel-intensive major professional series, but included classes for the touring professionals as well.
There are 24 classes in all – limited to unlimited trucks and buggies and short course, desert and stadium vehicles – and Beyer anticipates combining them into six to eight groups, depending on the number of entries, for Saturday’s races. Each group will run a pair of 15-minute heats. Each heat will get under way with an exciting “land rush” start that will see the vehicles lined up side-by-side across the 100-foot wide staging area in positions determined by a drawing
Track gates will open at 10 a.m. Friday and there will be a practice from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. Gates will open at 6 a.m. Sunday and the on-track activity will begin at 10 a.m.
Spectator admission is $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for children 6 to 12. Children under 6 are admitted free. The entire track is visible from all spectator areas. All seating is festival style and ice chests are permitted. The pit area will be open to everyone at no additional cost.
The remaining races in the series are scheduled for March 21, June 13, July 18, August 29, October 10 and November 14 and will follow the same Friday-Saturday format.
For more information on the Glen Helen Off-Road Short Course Series and Baja Cup Challenge, contact Off-Road Director Bob Beyer by telephone at 909-815-5811 or by e-mail at bbmracing@aol.com.
For more information on other Glen Helen events, contact Track Manager Lori Bryant by telephone at 909-384-9342 or by e-mail at lori@glenhelen.com.

First ever Diesel Motorcycle to enter SCORE Baja 250

Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT) USA, the maker of the world’s only motorcycle purpose built diesel motorcycle engine, is entering the 2009 SCORE International Baja 250 which will be run in San Felipe, Mexico on March 14th. The world renowned off-road race will serve as a proving ground for the well tested and well prepared composite race team made up of members from HDT USA and Team SRD. The newly formed team will combine their successes from the diesel motorcycle land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and their class 22 podium producing finish in the 2008 SCORE Baja 500.

In the early ’70s HDT raced and sold Pentons (early KTMs) and produced high-performance suspension and engine parts for motocrossers. In 2000 they sent the Marines their first diesel prototype motorcycle (based on the Kawasaki KLR650) for testing; the production model was delivered by HDT in September of 2006. Current owner of HDT Fred Hayes and associate Bryon Schmidt—both veterans—enjoy using racing to develop diesel record-breaking motorcycles at Bonneville. HDT USA is honored to serve the men and women of our Armed Forces by providing the best equipment possible. HDT USA is proud to provide the best in diesel motorcycle technology to both our government and civilian customers.

Longtime motorcycle enthusiast Bryon Schmidt will be the team’s rider of record. Bryon (42), from Hesperia, California, serves as a chief diesel motorcycle maintenance consultant and senior testing specialist for HDT USA which is under contract with the Department of Defense for the production of the military version of the diesel motorcycle. Bryon was hired by HDT USA after faithfully completing a successful career in the US Marine Corps having been the chief instructor at the USMC Combat Motorcycle School.

Kirk Russell (46), from Bend, Oregon, will ride the second half the 232 mile race, starting at race mile 120. Kirk was a member of the 2008 SRD race team that made its first appearance on the podium in the Baja 500. Kirk brings four decades of racing experience to the team. He is also the first one that raced the 670cc diesel motorcycle in any off-road sanctioned race. In that inaugural race, Kirk held his own in a 2008 AMA District 38 desert race by completing the first lap as one of the first 10 bikes to come in – he was competing in the Open, Expert class. Even more impressive was the fact that it was his very first time to ride the 420 lb motorcycle. Kirk is a former #1 plate holder for the Oregon Desert Racing Organization (ODRA).

Jeff Smith (46), from Oceanside, California, will serve as the team’s backup rider. Jeff also develops the training plan to support the riders in their preparation for the race as well as writes the rider’s “Smart Pack” and chase team’s logistical “Chase Plan” to execute the race in a seamless and well orchestrated fashion. Jeff credits Kirk and his father Mike Russell for introducing him into desert racing as they first started racing together in the mid-1970s. Jeff’s also brings a fierce competitive spirit to the team from having served 22 years in the US Marine Corps.

The dynamic duo of Justin & Heather Herrmann (24 & 23), from Vista, California provide the “logistical support” to HDT USA / Team SRD. Strategic Racing Designs (SRD) is co-owned by these two award winning & enterprising high-performance off-road fabrication specialists. In addition to designing & building “one-off” products for the demanding off-road industry, Justin brings a decade & a half of motocross / supercross racing experience to the team. Having reached the pinnacle of his suppercross career, and now turning his interests toward the off-road industry, Justin’s racing consultation, enthusiasm and mechanical expertise serve the team well. Heather’s background in administration, parts & service round out the team’s needs as she brings years of experience running the “front office”. She also designs industry oriented eye catching graphics for team vehicles and team apparel and documents team events with unsurpassed video presentations.
With Sal Fish & SCORE International heavily promoting the use of alternative fuels and “greener” race vehicles, HDT USA / Team SRD is both proud & excited to introduce the off-road world to the capabilities, performance & endurance of the diesel motorcycle as they compete in the infamous Baja Series off-road races.

ROCKSTAR’s Rob MacCachren DEFEATS Huge Field of 1600 Racers in BATTLE AT PRIMM

Primm, Nevada (February 16, 2009) Desert racing veteran, Rob MacCachren, kicked off the 2009 1600 racing season with a strong victory after outperforming a huge field of nearly 50 1600 racers in SNORE’s season opener, Battle at Primm.

Many of the nation’s top 1600 racers converged for the two-day shootout, which continues to grow each year. It is considered as the race 1600 racers do not want to miss.

Battling over 92 miles each day, racers blasted around the difficult 18-mile course for five laps. Set adjacent to some of the most famous landmarks in Southern Nevada, the Primm Valley Casinos, which divide Nevada and California, thousands of fans and racers gathered together to watch the nation’s best 1600 racers go head-to-head.

MacCachren debuted his brand new ALUMI CRAFT single-seat 1600 car on Friday afternoon at the Battle at Primm Contingency event amid the cold and wet weather. Parked in the FOX RACING SHOX booth, hundreds of onlookers stopped to view the satin black ROCKSTAR Energy Drink branded 1600 car.

“The new car built by ALUMI CRAFT is great. Sleek, simple and fast. We’re looking forward to racing the new car in as many races as possible this season,” said a smiling Rob MacCachren.

MacCachren began Saturday’s race in the second to last row after SNORE officials made a mistake, which they later apologized for. This forced the savvy desert racing veteran to pass through the majority of the field in order to begin up front in Sunday’s final race.

“I’m not sure he ever lifted from the start line,” said crew chief Ian Beaman referring to Saturday’s race.

“After the third lap, he was mid-pack having passed 20 + cars and then after the fourth lap, he cut that in half. By the final lap, Rob was pushing towards the front of the pack and apparently the car ran pretty good.”

Official results released by SNORE timing officials showed the nation’s top 1600 racer, Rob MacCachren, had finished Saturday’s race in first place, 11 seconds faster than the car that left the line first.

Sunday morning saw near perfect race conditions, as Rob MacCachren rolled out his BFGoodrich Tires shod racecar. The #1603 FAT Performance powered single-seat car lined up on the front row beside Curt Geer, in what turned out to be the best match of the two-day race.

“Neither one of us lifted and we went off the dike jump side-by-side. I looked over and saw him pushing hard and I just ran this car as fast as it would go. FOX Racing Shox has worked closely with me in testing and I knew the car could take anything we punished it with. In the end, it did. The course turned pretty rough in the last few laps, with big ruts in the turns, but the new car is fast. Every time I thought I was making time and starting to pull away, I saw Geer closing in on me. There are a lot of really fast 1600 racers out here and it was a great race, I’m glad we came out on top today,” commented Rob.

MacCachren led after the first jump and he never looked back. Each lap he pulled slightly pulled away from the field crossing the finish line for his first 1600 victory of the year.

MacCachren will next race his 1600 car at the SCORE San Felipe 250 after racing the Riviera Racing #3 Trophy Truck in the morning and switching to the 1600 car in the afternoon. Two weeks later, on March 28, 2009, Rob MacCachren will race the historic MINT 400 held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rob MacCachren is sponsored by ROCKSTAR Energy Drink , BFGoodrich Tires, ALUMI CRAFT, FOX RACING SHOX, Fat Performance, Dave FOLTS Transmission, KARTEK, Pro-AM, Mastercraft Race Seats and Nevada OFFROAD Buggy.

Rob MacCachren Media and Management:
ROMM, Inc.
Tim Sanchez
714-514-7450
tim@rockonmotorsports.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »