Makes 3rd Podium Appearance Through 4 Rounds Of Racing
Riverside, CA 4/28/15 – It was a weekend of ups and downs for RJ Anderson and the RJ37 team in Chandler, AZ for rounds 3 & 4 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS). Coming into the weekend hopes were high. Rounds 1 & 2 in Lake Elsinore proved the team, trucks and driver were heading in the right direction with a great set up and solid performances in both Pro-Lite and Pro2. RJ and team were ready for competition at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Complex! (more…)
April 24th, 2015 – Garden Grove, CA – The Bud Light BajaSur 500 was a brand new race for the SCORE International series and the results were familiar; King Shocks racers were the fastest! Despite a 424 mile long course filled with silt, sharp rocks and tight technical sections, it turned into a sprint race with King Shocks racer and defending Trophy Truck Champion Steven Eugenio pushing hard to chase down King Shocks racer Lalo Laguna for the overall victory. Eugenio and Laguna represent the new guard of young racers who despite their ages, have years of desert racing experience with top-notch teams and equipment. Laguna was out front during the race but Eugenio kept pursuing with a relentless pace. When the checkered flag waived, it was Laguna who took the overall win with Eugenio finishing second.
“It was a flawless race for us,” said Laguna, “I am so happy to get the victory for King Shocks and my entire RPM racing team. My King shocks were amazing. Through the bumps, the jumps and the g-outs, the truck handled really well. King helped us tune the shocks; everything was working perfect. I was a little nervous about Eugenio making up time on us. We decided to pit for fuel only, no tires at our final pit stop. I knew my tires would be worn out in the last 90 mile, rocky section coming into Loreto; I had to be very cautious not to hit any rocks. I was able to put the truck where I wanted. We used the tires up, I came in on a flat tire but we did it! It feels good to battle with the best and come out on top.”
Steven Eugenio shared driving duties with Armin Schwartz who took the truck off the start. The course was tight so he was held up behind other trucks during his stint behind the wheel. When Steven got in the truck he was determined to make up time on the field. “I went real deep into a corner trying to make a pass,” said Eugenio, “I almost lost it. I was thinking I better be patient or we could lose this race right here. I was making good time on second place Rob Mac. I caught him at race mile 260 but I had a pit stop at 340. I caught him again and passed him. It was so tight and technical coming into Loreto but it was so fast. Lalo deserved it, he owned the day. We gave him a run for it. We were catching him but ran out of road.”
The fastest drivers in the desert rely on King Shocks to provide them with the damping performance and precise handling they need. When the margin for error is so small, the control provided by King Shocks allows them to push hard in treacherous terrain with ultimate confidence. No matter what you drive, King has the performance suspension damping technology that will keep you out front and get you to the top of the podium.
About King Shocks
King Shocks makes world-class desert racing shocks for trucks, buggies and UTV’s. King manufactures and hand assembles all of their shocks in Southern California. King Shocks has been the industry leader for over a decade and continues to leave the competition in the dust by providing the level of quality, performance and customer service that champions demand.
Legendary off-road racer Rod Hall returns to Baja, Mexico, in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame championship 1969 Ford Bronco.
Back in the 1969, Ford Broncos, custom prepped by Bill Stroppe were the hot ticket for desert racing.
A cool breeze drifted off the Pacific Ocean, carrying with it the typical morning fog that Tijuana, Mexico, is known for. Somewhere in the border town mayhem, a few dozen cars, four-wheel drives, and motorcycles lined up near the bullfighting arena.
The year was 1967, and a guy named Ed Pearlman and his crew from the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) had come up with the idea for a non-stop race down the Baja peninsula. Several time records had been set for the charge from the U.S. border at Tijuana to La Paz, but none involved multiple vehicles and side-by-side and handlebar-to-taillight competition, let alone a checkered flag at the end. By today’s standards, the vehicles were crude and low-tech, and the only way to confirm the actual time was with a telegraph wired to the U.S. via Morse code. At the starting line was a young ambitious kid named Rod Hall. He had a handful of races under his belt, even a few trophies, but this new challenge in the wilds of Baja would be the ultimate adventure thus far.
A few years have passed since Rod Hall wore an old-style open-face helmet. At 78 years of age, he still has a gleam in his eye and a youthful enthusiasm for the track.
Back in the day there were few detailed maps of the peninsula and even fewer fuel stations. GPS technology would not come about for several decades, and Hall and teammate Larry Minor would need to navigate the 1,000-plus-mile route with a compass and dead reckoning. His wife packed a few sandwiches in a cooler before they loaded a bag of tools and extra fuel cans on the back of their Jeep and headed south. Someone at the starting line said, “Rod, if you get lost just head south by southeast. You will get to La Paz…south by southeast.” They didn’t win that race, but did finish, which was a formidable accomplishment.
Two years later, in 1969, Hall was again in Baja with teammate Larry Minor; this time behind the wheel of a Ford Bronco built by Bill Stroppe. To the surprise of the motorcycle riders and buggy jockeys, Hall and Minor would roll into La Paz—beat up and nursing the Bronco on fumes—ahead of all contenders. Hall went on to race every NORRA Mexican 1000 and SCORE Baja 1000 since (46 total so far), and ultimately became the winningest off-road racer in America.
The Bronco changed hands several times before ending up in a junkyard in the Southern California desert, where it sat until drifting sands nearly buried it. It was eventually salvaged, given a paint job, and donated to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) museum in Reno, Nevada.
A few months ago the old stallion was pulled from the museum and carted over to Samco Fabrication for a full restoration. On April 26, 2015, Hall will again be south of the border and behind the wheel of his championship Bronco for the 1,200-mile NORRA Mexican 1000.
The strip-down revealed more than they were expecting. The floorboards were rusting, the drivetrain was ready for a metal recycler, and the roll cage had deteriorated to the point that it was better suited as a coat rack.
Fortunately, Rod is loved throughout the world, the Hall of Fame has a loyal following, and support for the project has been overwhelming. Ford Performance stepped up with a 347ci crate motor, Currie Enterprises supplied axles, and Summit Racing Equipment and Tifco have provided a pallet of parts, accessories, and fittings. Samco sourced a set of retro slot mags (Ansen Sprints) from American Racing, which will roll on BFGoodrich KM2 tires. Other support has come from KC HiLiTES, Wild Horses 4×4, Fox Racing, and Mastercraft Safety.
Assuming navigational duties for Hall will be Dakar Rally class champion Sue Mead and Overland Journal’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Collard. There is even a rumor that Damien Michelin might be suiting up and running with Rod. Sticking with the “all Ford” concept, the chase vehicles will be none other than a pair of Ford Raptors. For more information, or to support ORMHOF’s efforts (they are selling race T-shirts, koozies, and swag) go to www.ormhof.com, follow them on Facebook, or get Twitter updates (#rodhallracing).
We’ll be bringing you more when the restoration is complete and the team will be testing the old Bronco in the deserts of Northern Nevada. Hall said, “I’m 78 years old and I might not have to many races left in me. The guys are doing a great job on the restoration and it’s going to be fun to drive my old Bronco in Baja again.”
Photos courtesy of Trackside Photo and ORMHOF
The old Bronco was in rough shape when it was hauled into Samco on a trailer. After Hall raced it in 1969 and 1970, he sold it to Myron Croel, who had earned (according to Rod) the nickname of Myron “Roll” for turning the Bronco rubber-side-up a few times. Many of the body panels had been replaced but the floorboards and body mounts were in rough shape.
After stripping the old stallion down to its bones, the team at Samco Fabrication began the arduous process of repairing and replacing damaged components. The team is in the process of refitting the vehicle with a 347ci crate motor from Ford Performance, Currie axles, a Wild Horses suspension and Fox shocks, and American Racing Ansen Sprint slot mags with BFGoodrich KM2 tires. Summit Racing and Tifco have provided tons of parts and accessories, and KC HiLiTES, Bestop, and Mastercraft Safety will be fitting the Bronco with the best parts available in their genre.
Wrapping up the team will be chase team masters Steve Medley and Matt Hoey in two Ford Raptors—fitting support for an old Bronco.
Look for an upcoming documentary on Rod Hall and the project on the Off-RoadMotorsports Hall of Fame website (www.ormhof.com)
Dirt Riot Endurance 4×4 Racing Saturday April 18th Starting at 9am at Chaos Offroad outside Capon Bridge, West Virginia
BLACKFOOT, ID APRIL 15, 2015: The Dirt Riot series will be at Choas Offroad, one of three new locations to the Dirt Riot nationwide race series. Racing will start at 9am on Saturday April 18th with Pro Class qualifying, followed by multiple classes of racing until approximately 3:30pm when the top 3 drivers in each class will be awarded trophies and cash winnings. The winners of each race is determined by the most number of laps completed in a set amount of time. (more…)
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway celebrates its 46th year of short-course racing action. The “Big House” is built on a solid foundation of world-class motorsports talent, equipment and support; the dedication of a not-for-profit board of directors ensuring the “Crandon experience,” the financial support of corporate partners and the devotion of raceway volunteers and organizations that look forward to the return of loyal fans each and every year. With its roots in Baja and its birth in Crandon, short-course off-road racing is known as the fastest, most punishing form of auto racing on the planet. www.crandonoffroad.com
CRANDON INTERNATIONAL OFF-ROAD RACEWAY
10104 US HIGHWAY 8 P.O. BOX 101 Crandon, Wisconsin, 54520, USA
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Bark River Lions Club hosting off-road racing in the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. From its meager beginnings, the facility has grown to become one of the premiere off-road racing venues in the country. The Bark River Lions Club was organized on January 12, 1943 with 24 charter members. These members, led by President Joseph Gucky and Secretary/Treasurer B.E. Douglas, put in place a set of standards and goals which members hold true to this day. Since then the club, thanks in part to the contributions of the off-road community, has established an unprecedented record of community, regional, and international contributions and service.www.barkriveroffroad.com
The goal of the Midwest Off-Road Racing group is to insure affordable racing for the Midwest Sportsman Off-Road Racer by uniting racers with a common voice. By maintaining affiliations with approved sanctioning bodies, this will allow the competitor and the enthusiast to enjoy off road racing now and in the future.
Corona, CA (April 14, 2015) — BFGoodrich, a manufacturer of premium tires “that can handle any challenge,” will continue its support of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in 2015 with an expanded 18-event season that began March 20-21 at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, CA.
BFGoodrich will again lead the way with full-service trackside support to all BFGoodrich racers, along with a strategic marketing and communications plan to co-promote the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series through BFGoodrich’s racing partners which include Bryce Menzies, Rob MacCachren, RJ Anderson, and Casey Currie. BFGoodrich will also continue its social media content calendar in partnership with Menzies Motorsports and Discount Tire to promote the BFGoodrich partnership with the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.”BFGoodrich is proud to continue our partnership with Lucas Oil for the 2015 season,” stated Peter Calhoun – Motorsports Manager BFGoodrich Tires. “We are proud to provide our partner drivers the world’s toughest, highest performing off-road racing tires in every pro class including the new DOT legal BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 in Pro Lite as we chase season championships in all four Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series pro classes.”For more information please visit: www.bfgoodrichtires.com
Race series Director Ritchie Lewis said, “The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is an ideal place for BFGoodrich to demonstrate their off-road tires. We look forward to their increasing visibility as the season progresses.”
The continually growing Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series brings door-to-door, four-wheel action to challenging, fan-friendly tracks. Team Lucas is an alliance between Lucas Oil Products and select marketing partners that increases brand awareness, maximizes television coverage and enhances live, ‘family friendly’ event experiences for fans. Lucas Oil Products is the world leader of high-performance lubricants and problem-solving additives, and distributes hundreds of unique formulations in 40 countries, with continued growth every year. Its television production arm, Lucas Oil Production Studios, produces more than 300 hours of programming for CBS, CBS Sports and the Lucas-owned MAVTV Network.
Riverside, CA 4/28/15 – It was a weekend of ups and downs for RJ Anderson and the RJ37 team in Chandler, AZ for rounds 3 & 4 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS). Coming into the weekend hopes were high. Rounds 1 & 2 in Lake Elsinore proved the team, trucks and driver were heading in the right direction with a great set up and solid performances in both Pro-Lite and Pro2. RJ and team were ready for competition at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Complex! (more…)
