August 29, 2006

Barstow, CA
For immediate release

 BITD  Vegas-to-Reno Report - Reinertson-Johnson Racing Run Fast - End Early

The tenth anniversary of the longest off-road race in the United States, the Best in the Desert - TSCO Vegas-to-Reno Event, was billed as the best yet with the racecourse running through the Ely BLM district. This gave the competitors miles of new race trails.

RJR has had success in this point-to-point race with the team winning the Protruck division 2003 edition of this grueling event. After winning the Baja 500 and placing well at the Pike's Peak Hillclimb (4th), everyone at RJR was very optimistic for a solid finish.

The start of the 600-mile event had Rob Reinertson driving with Mike Salimbeni riding in the co-driver?s seat. Just past halfway Rick Johnson and Dewey Lamora would finish the trek to the finish just outside of Reno.

Rob and Mike immediately got into a rhythm and made great time heading into the first pit stop. About twenty miles before the first stop the #1234 Proline Accessories, RMR Construction, Motion Tire, Ford F-150 Protruck caught another class competitor and began to look for a way
through the dust and around the other truck. The first pit stop at mile 80 (Hiko Narrows) saw the RJR team work so quick that they got out in front of the truck they were behind coming into the stop.

With clean air on the trail, Rob was able to really pick up the pace. As the #1234 passed mile marker 132 at Pit 3, the team was the second Protruck on the course, but leading the class on overall time.

Suddenly at mile 139, the distributor gear failed, stopping the truck in its tracks. The crews located another distributor, quickly replaced it and send Rob and Mike down the trail. Unfortunately the replacement unit had also seen better days and failed a few miles later.

This ended the day early for the #1234 Proline Accessories RMR Construction Motion Tire Ford F-150 Protruck.

The truck was awesome today, the crew was incredible, and to make up a position in the pits was like a NASCAR race. The distributor failure was something that rarely happens, it was just one of those things. The pace we were going and not have a flat says a lot about our Yokohama tires. I thought we could challenge for the Protruck win.? ? commented Rick Reinertson.


Reinerston - Johnson Racing  Pike's Peak International Hillclimb -"Race to the Clouds" Report

On the Fourth of July weekend, The Baja Protruck series competed in the 84th edition of the Pike's Peak International Hillclimb. Rob Reinertson made to tow to Colorado and had the #234 Proline Accessories RMR Construction Motion Tire Ford F-150 ready for the
mountain run.

The Protruck class was the only group of competitors that ran the entire 156 turn 12.42-mile course to the top of Pike?s Peak. The combination of snow and rain at the top portion of the course made for a very sloppy and treacherous trek to the finish. The Protruck winner of the event, Charlie McDowell, was able to make the sprint up the mountain before the precipitation hit the course. By the time Rob made his run up the mountain the upper section was wet and sloppy making it difficult to stay on the road.

In the end Rob came home in fourth place.

After the all the Protrucks completed their run, officials decided shorten the race and only use the lower portion of the road for the rest of the competitors.

Rob and Rick would like to thank the companies that support the Protruck series including: Yokohama Tires, Magnaflow Exhaust, Bilstein, MSD Ignition, Mastercraft Seats, K & N Filters, Wells Cargo Trailers, and VP Fuels.

- Mike Reusche/MTG & Mike Salimbeni/RJR Off-Road
race@mt-graphics.com - mike@rjr-offroad.com