263 Total Starters roar in Mexico
Las Vegas' Brian Collins roars in Dodge Ram 1500 to Overall and
SCORE Trophy-Truck win at 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250
Schwarz/Christensen capture Class 1 in Jimco-BMW, Bell/Campbell ride
Honda to Overall Motorcycle & Class 22 win
SAN FELIPE, Mexico—Second-generation veteran Las Vegas desert racer
Brian Collins roared through the rugged trails and washes of Mexico’s
Baja California desert Saturday, earning the overall and SCORE
Trophy-Truck victory in the No. 1 Collins Motorsports Mopar Dodge Ram
1500 at the 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 desert race. Setting a
blistering pace right from the start in San Felipe and driving solo,
he covered the sandy, silty, rocky and dusty 232-mile course in just
three hours, 44 minutes, 16 seconds, averaging and amazing 62.07 miles
per hour.
Dominating the field of 263 desert racers and mastering the race
course with blazing speed and power, Collins’ time beat not only the
cars and trucks, but also the motorcycles and ATVs that competed in
the popular ‘spring break’ event to earn his fourth class win in San
Felipe including his second overall triumph and his fifth career SCORE
Trophy-Truck race win in the 14-plus year history of SCORE’s marquee
racing division for high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production
trucks.
It was also the first time since 1979 that a Dodge-powered vehicle won
a SCORE race.
Finishing second overall and in SCORE Trophy-Truck in the elapsed-time
race, 8 minutes and 27 seconds behind the masterful Collins was last
year’s winning team of Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif. and Rob
MacCachren, Las Vegas, who finished Saturday’s race in 3:52:43 in the
No. 1 Riviera Racing Ford F-150.
While Collins pulled off the ‘Ironman’ run in driving his Dodge truck
the entire race himself, Post and MacCachren, who were the 2007 SCORE
Overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champions, split the
driving in their Ford F-150 with Post starting and turning over the
wheel to MacCachren, the 2007 Dirt Sports Magazine Driver of the Year,
at race mile 109.
The 263 starters from 21 States, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Italy and
Israel competed in 27 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, truck,
motorcycles and ATVs. The course covered three of the legendary,
picturesque and treacherous Baja washes: Matomi, Azufre and Huatomote
before heading back to the finish line in the shadow of the landmark
San Felipe Arches. The race featured the fifth-largest number of
starters in the 22-year history of the event.
Said Collins following his huge victory: “We never got out of the
truck. We just had a great day. We ran at not a really hard pace, but
a consistent pace the first 25 miles. We caught Bobby Baldwin right
away. We caught Chad Ragland right away and Gus Vildosola. Then it was
dust free. Garron Cadiente was pulled over and B.J. Baldwin was going
slow for a while. It just opened up for us. (after opening up an
eight-minute lead) I was very nervous about Rob MacCachren. I knew I
had eight minutes and that's a lot of time, but there's never enough
time with Rob. He's a phenomenal driver, a great friend. Hopefully
someday we can drive together. When he's in a truck, you can't make
mistakes. All the racers are glad to be back here in San Felipe. This
course is absolutely phenomenal. I love it. The rougher the course is,
the better it is for me.”
Winning the overall Motorcycle and Class 22 title was the talented
team of Robby Bell, Sun City, Calif., and Baja legend Johnny Campbell,
San Clemente, Calif., on the No. 1x Johnny Campbell Racing Honda
CRF450X. Finishing fourth among all vehicles, the pair finished in
4:08:32 with an average speed of 56.01mph.
For this popular race, it was the third straight overall win for Bell
while Campbell secured his eighth class win and the seventh all-around
title in San Felipe in his illustrious career. It was also his first
SCORE Baja race win for Campbell’s new American Honda-sponsored Johnny
Campbell Racing team. Bell started the race, riding to race mile 30,
Campbell did a tough middle portion from there to race mile 166 and
Bell finished the final 64 miles, clinching the victory for the
record-setting team.
Reflecting on his win, Bell said “It was a clean ride. I got a little
confused coming into the finish and probably lost a little time. I
couldn't feel my arms by the time I got off it at mile 30. I knew
behind me they'd be running really fast. I gave the bike to Johnny at
30 and he just rode awesome. He took it to mile 167 and I picked up
from there and brought it to here. I pulled at least a minute and a
half (ahead) at the start. It was just chaotic. I passed probably
eight or 10 local trucks going out, so it was hazy and scary and
pretty dusty. Once I got past that, it was clean, no problems with
spectators or anything. It feels awesome. It's probably one of the
toughest runs you could ever do. Even though it's not so long, it's
just so physically demanding. To win this one, just shows the bike was
set up really well. It was flawless. In a race this short, you can't
have any problems. It just comes down to seconds. It's not good being
first off because you
just don't know. When you get to the finish, you just have to turn
around and hope nobody comes in too son.”
Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., lead a team to the Overall ATV and
Class 25 victory for the second time in this race on a Honda TRX450R.
He split the riding time equally with co-riders Harold Goodman Jr.,
Brownstown, Mich., and Marc Spaeth, Warner Springs, Calif.
Matlock started the race and rode to race mile 30 and finished the
race, riding the final 62 miles. Goodman rode from race mile 30 to 93
and Spaeth rode from race mile 93 to 170.
Helping SCORE Trophy-Truck sweep the podium in the overall portion of
the event while also finishing third in the premiere SCORE racing
division was second-generation desert racer Chad Ragland, Vista,
Calif., who drove solo to a time of 3:55:59 in the No. 33 T-Force
Motorsports Toyota Tundra. The truck was making only it’s second SCORE
race start after finishing 12th in SCORE Trophy-Truck in the its debut
race with teammates Danny Sullivan and Dan Friedkin in last November’s
40th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Former World Rally Championship star driver Armin Schwarz, of Germany,
and Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., split the driving to finish
fourth overall and capture the unlimited Class 1 race win in a
BMW-powered Jimco open-wheel desert race car. With just over one year
of experience in SCORE desert racing, Schwarz pulled off his first
SCORE win while the veteran former SCORE class champion Christensen
earned his first ever win in Class 1.
With a time of 4:08:22 and an average speed of 56.02mph, it was also
the first time a BMW-powered vehicle has ever won a class in a SCORE
race.
Finishing second in Class 1 for the second of two races this season
and fifth overall, Las Vegas’ B.J. Richardson drove solo and crossed
the finish line in San Felipe in a Bunderson-Chevy a mere 12 seconds
behind Schwarz/Christensen,
The second five overall finishers included three SCORE Trophy-Trucks
and two Class 1 cars to give SCORE Trophy-Truck six of the top 10
overall finishing spots.
Sixth overall and fourth overall was Mexico’s son/father team of Gus
Vildosola Jr. and Gus Vildosola Sr. in the No. 4 Red Bull Vildosola
Racing Ford F-150 while earning his best SCORE race finish with
seventh overall and fifth in SCORE Trophy-Truck was Nevada casino
owner Roger Norman, of Reno, in the No. 8 Norman Racing Ford F-150.
Class 1 claimed the eighth and ninth overall spots among four wheel
vehicles as Mexico’s Luis Ramirez Jr. was third in Class 1 in a
HMS-Chevy and Enrique Bujanda of Socorro, Texas was fourth in the
unlimited open-wheel class in a Porter-Chevy.
Ron Whitton, Mesa, Ariz., the senior statesman in the SCORE
Trophy-Truck division at 63 years old, completed the top 10 overall
car and truck finishers and was a very respectable sixth in his class
in the No. 38 GNR Racing Ford F-150, ending up 44 minutes and 16
seconds behind the winning Collins.
Creative veteran age group motorcycle rider Jim O’Neal, 61, Simi
Valley, Calif., became the winningest racer in San Felipe history as
he put together a winning team to finish as an impressive third
overall motorcycle and capture Class 30 for riders over 30 years old
for his ninth class win in this race. Splitting the riding on a Honda
CRF450X with O’Neal, who finished second in Class 50 on another
talented team, was his son Jimmy O’Neal Jr. along with Jason Trubey,
Mohave Valley, Ariz., Luke Dodson, Castiac, Calif., and Mexico’s
Gerardo Rojas.
Another prominent reflection of the family side of SCORE desert racing
was evident by the Class 10 victory of the son/father team of C.J.
Hutchins and Mark Hutchins, of Henderson, Nev., who finished a
surprising 12th overall among 4-wheel vehicles and while winning their
class in a Kreger-Honda.
Keeping with the family theme in San Felipe, venerable veteran Rod
Hall and his son Chad Hall, both of Reno, Nev., won the Stock Mini and
the Stock Full classes respectively. The senior Hall, 70, drove a
Hummer H3 while Chad Hall, 44, won Stock Full in a new Hummer H3Alpha.
Hall’s oldest son Josh Hall, 46, finished third in Stock Full in a
Hummer H2 to complete a very successful day for Team Hummer.
A third son/father team that triumphed in San Felipe was Mexico’s
Rodrigo Ampudia Jr. and Rodrigo Ampuida Sr., who snagged Class 8 in a
Ford F-150.
Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico, picked up his eighth win in the
Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in Class 11 for stock VW Sedans in this
race while Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif. and his brother Kenneth
Moss, won Class 3 in his sturdy Ford Bronco for the sixth time in the
last seven years.
Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., earned his fifth win in San Felipe in
Class 1-2/1600 in a VW-powered Mirage. Class 1-2/1600 had the largest
field in the race with 28 starters.
Second overall among the motorcycles and in Class 22 was the team of
Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., and Mike Childress, Wrightwood,
Calif., with a time of 4:21:25, just over 12 minutes behind the
factory sponsored Bell/Campbell tandem. Both former factory riders,
Hengeveld and Childress rode a Honda CRF450X.
Anna Cody, Spring Valley, Calif., was the only female racer to win a
Class in San Felipe as she put together an all-woman team to win
motorcycle Class 20 on a Honda CRF250X. Helping her Racing for Kids
charity victory ride were Stacy Doerkson, Apple Valley, Calif., Cathy
Duncan, Los Alamos, Calif., and Sarah Kritch, Bakersfield, Calif.
Among the other car and truck Class winners late Saturday were: John
Holmes, Olvenhain, Calif., (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), A.J. Rodriguez,
Perris, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mexico
(Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug) and Ricardo Malo, Mexicali, Mexico (SCORE
LIte, Curry-VW).
Among the other motorcycle class winners were teams led by Carlos
Casa, Chula Vista, Calif. (Class 21, KTM 450CXF), Brett Helm, Poway,
Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Charles Marshall, Carmichael, Calif.
(Class 50, KTM 530EXC) and Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn. (Class 60,
Honda CRF450X)
Winning the ATV Class 24 was the team led by Francisco Servin, Chula
Vista, Calif., on a Honda TRX450R
The world’s best desert racers return to Mexico for Round 3 of the 208
SCORE Desert Series, May 30-June 1 for the 40th Annual Tecate SCORE
Baja 5000 desert race in Ensenada
The 2008 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $20,000
Volkswagen Point Leader Bonus (part of the season-long $100,000 VW
cash contingency program) and the run for the Toyota Milestone Awards
for car and truck racers who complete every required mile of the
season.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official
tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant
Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant
Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official
tire sealant, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power
Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer,
Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C
Enthusiast Advertising, Kartek Off-Road, American Suzuki, SignPros,
P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color
Graphics.
Associate sponsors for the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 were the
Tourism and Convention Bureau of Mexicali/San Felipe, and Cotuco.
The race annually provides a greater economic impact to San Felipe
than the entire month-long ‘Spring Break’.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters
818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2008 SCORE Desert
Series at www.score-international.com.
22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250
Round 2 of 2008 SCORE Desert Series
March 15—San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, 232 miles
TOP OVERALL FINISHERS
Cars & Trucks
1. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram 1500, 3 hours, 44 minutes, 16
seconds (62.07miles per hour) (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford
F-150, 3:52:43 (59.82mph) (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
3. Chad Ragland, Vista, Calif., Toyota Tundra, 3:55:59 (58.99mph)
(SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Armin Schwarz, Germany/Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., Jimco-BMW,
4:08:22 (56.05mph) (Class 1)
5. B.J. Richardson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 4:08:34 (56.00mph)
(Class 1)
6. Gus Vildosola Jr./Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150,
4:08:54 (55.93mph) (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
7. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150, 4:10:50 (55.50mph) (SCORE
Trophy-Truck)
8. Luis Ramirez Jr., Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, HMS-Chevy, 4:13:11
(54.98mph (Class 1)
9. Enrique Bujanda, Socorro, Texas/Hector Trillo, Canutillo, Texas,
Porter-Chevy, 4:27:13 (52.09mph) (Class 1)
10. Ron Whitton, Mesa, Ariz., Ford F-150, 4:28:43 (51.80mph) (SCORE
Trophy-Truck)
11. Paul Keller, El Cajon, Calif./Steve Willonberg, Lakeside, Calif.,
Jimco-Chevy, 4:37:39 (50.14mph) (Class 1)
12. Mark Hutchins/C.J. Hutchins, Henderson, Nev., Kreger-Honda,
4:53:52 (47.38mph) (Class 10)
13. Ricardo Malo/Arturo Honold, Mexicali, Mexico, Curry, 4:54:07
(47.33mph) (SCORE LIte)
14. Rodrigo AmpudiaJr./Rodrigo Ampudia Sr., Ensenada, Mexico, Ford
F-150, 4:58:19 (46.66mph) (Class 8)
15. Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Mirage, 4:59:38 (46.46mph) (Class
1-2/1600)
16. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 5:00:23 (46.34mph)
(SCORE Trophy-Truck)
17. Jeff Farris, Kerman, Calif., HMS-Chevy, 5:01:40 (46.14mph) (Class
1)
18. Josh Rigsby/Steve Ewers, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Penhall-Chevy,
5:01:50 (46.12mph) (Class 1)
19. Alex Navarrete/Leonardo Navarrete, Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco,
5:02:00 (46.09mph) (Class 1-2/1600)
20. Pat Dean, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 5:08:05 (45.18mph) (Class 1)
Motorcycles
1. Robby Bell, Sun City, Calif./Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif.
Honda CRF450X, 4:08:32 (56.01mph) (Class 22)
2. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif./Mike Childress, Wrightwood,
Calif., Honda CRF450X, 4:21:25 (53.25mph) (Class 22)
3. Jim O’Neal/Jimmy O’Neal Jr., Simi Valley, Calif./Jason Trubey,
Mohave Valley, Ariz./Luke Dodson, Castaic, Calif./Gerardo Rojas,
Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 4:37:38 (50.14mph) (Class 30)
4. Caleb Gosselaar, Valencia, Calif./Timmy Weigand, Santa Clarita,
Calif., Honda CRF450X, 4:38:46 (49.93mph) (Class 22)
5. Carlos Casas/Noe Ibarra, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM 450CXF, 4:43:24
(49.12mph) (Class 21)
6. Robert Gustine, Valley Center, Calif./Bryan Gustine, San Diego/Greg
Bruning, Carlsbad, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 4:44:22 (48.95mph) (Class
21)
7. Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas/Kyle Abney, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda
CRF450X, 4:52:59 (47.51mph) (Class 30)
8. Shawn Dolmage/Larry Badgwellm, Lake Forest, Calif./Max Eddy,
Barstow, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 4:57:03 (46.86mph) (Class 22)
9. Charles Marshall, Carmichael, Calif./Erik McKenna, Loomis,
Calif./Dana Reed/Tim Riggs, KTM 530EXC, 5:00:00 (46.40mph) (Class 50)
10. Kenneth Durr Jr., Palm Desert, Calif./Pete Cochran, Laguna Beach,
Calif., KTM 525XCW, 5:01:15 (46.21mph) (Class 30)
ATVs
1. Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Harold Goodman Jr., Brownstown,
Mich./Marc Spaeth, Warner Springs, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 5:05:09
(45.62mph) (Class 25)
2. Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Bonsall, Calif./Levi
Marana, Hemet, Calif./Chad Prull, Laveen, Ariz., Honda TRX450R,
5:12:42 (44.52mph) (Class 25)
3. Stefano Caputo, San Felipe, Mexico (Italy)/Felipe Velez, San
Felipe, Mexico/Jorge Romo, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 5:34:26
(Class 25)
4. Javier Robles, Cd. Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico/Cristian Valles,
Chula Vista, Calif./Adolfe Arellano, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX450R,
5:34:47 (41.58mph) (Class 25)
5. Alfonso Cota, Alpine, Calif./Josh Row/Greg Row, El Cajon, Calif.,
Honda TRX450R, 5:42:00 (40.70mph) (Class 25)
Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250
All-Time Overall Champions
Cars & Trucks
Year--Driver(s), Vehicle (Class)
1982--Dan Cornwell, Chenowth-VW (Class 1)
1983--Corky McMillin/Scott McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche (Class 2)
1984--Scott McMillin/Corky McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche (Class 2)
1990--Brian Collins/Jack Johnson, Chenowth-VW (Class 1)
1991--Larry Ragland, Chevy C1500 (Class 8)
1992--Bob Richey/Boyd Cox, Raceco-Porsche (Class 1)
1993--Scott Douglas, Ford Ranger (Class 7)
1994--Ivan Stewart, Toyota SR5 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
1995--Larry Ragland, Chevy C1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
1996--Robby Gordon, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
1997--Curt LeDuc, Jeep Grand Cherokee (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
1998--Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel, Riviera-Chevy (Class 1)
1999--Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2000--Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2001--Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2002--Dan Smith/David Ashley, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2003--Gus Vildosola/Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2004--Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2005--Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
2006--Garron Cadiente, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2007--Mark Post/Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2008—Brian Collins, Dodge Ram1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
Motorcycles
Year--Rider(s), Vehicle
1982--Bob Balentine, Honda XR500 (Class 22)
1983--Jack Johnson, Honda XR500 (Class 22)
1984--Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna CR500 (Class 22)
1990--Dan Smith/Danny Hamel, KTM (Class 22)
1991--Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicut Jr, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1992--Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicut Jr, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1993--Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500(Class 22)
1994--Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1995--Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1996--Paul Krause, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1997--Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
1998--Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
1999--Johnny Campbell/Cole Marshall, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
2000--Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
2001--Steve Hengeveld/Jonah Street, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2002--Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2003--Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2004--Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2005--Chris Blais/Andy Grider/Quinn Cody, KTM MXC525 (Class 22)
2006--Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2007--Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2008--Robby Bell/Johnny Campbell, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
