The team should have arrived last night and will be taking the X through contingency/tech inspection around 10:30AM--Noon, Arizona time....Will update how that went later in the day...in the meantime...enjoy a couple shots of the big boys from yesterdays qualifying...if they go this big to QUALIFY, imagine the actual racing action!!

Is anyone going?

Conundrum from the AZ X club is going, of course Fastdrmr is going, and I think there were one or two more who were showing up (though I don't think they frequent XOC much...)

Yippie! All Smiles here!

Update: The team is just outside Needles, AZ about 1 hour north of Parker....After getting a good nights rest in Vegas they were up early this AM, got the truck all washed and sparkling and were on their way...should be pulling into Parker and hopefully going through Tech/Contingency in about 2 hours....Will keep you all updated!!

Update: The team just pulled into contingency now!!! Should be getting inspected and get their stamp of approval shortly...Will let you know as soon as they are through with any additonal info!!

Thought about heading out after work, but for some reason my wife said I had to stay for my kid's 6th birthday party. :rolleyes: I even offered to take her with me as shen likes the desert more than I do!!! I'll have to catch you guys at some point this season. Spalind, let me know what race you might attend so I can make firmer plans.

I don't know about Dan, but I will definitely make it for the V2R again, that was a total blast

UPDATE: And they're in!!! Through contingency and in the race in the 3100 class as planned...No issues whatsoever or problems with tech inspection at all!! Now the X goes back up on the trailer and is ready to race tomorrow.

Big news for tomorrow is that YOU, the XterraRacer fan will be able to follow the race second by second right from home!! Just log onto Iritrack at this address: http://216.23.184.44/ and then select class 3100 and then Dave Blakely #3112 and an icon will pop up showing where the truck is at any time...You can see where the truck is currently parked in fact!! And then you can select any other competitors to see how things are progressing...Race starts at 8AM Mountain time...and Dave should be off the line close to 9AM...Rod Hall is the likely favorite to win in Dave's class so that would be a good one to compare the X too...Alan Gerber in class 1000, #1001 is Dave's "stablemate" (they both run out of the same garage and are good friends and the XterraRacer team helps pit for Gerber (the class 1000 '06 BITD Champion) so that would also be a good one to watch....Let me know if any of you have any questions on anything...Its time to kick the tires and light the fires!!!

UPDATE: The boys should be waking up now and getting ready to race....a good hearty casino breakfast and off they go...Racing should start at 8AM Mountain time...and the X has already had someone snapping a shot of it during contingency...And check out those shirts!!

Good Luck

Just wanted to let everyone know...the iritrack link I posted earlier seems to be overloaded/not working so please view this link instead--not at pretty but still shows the course and you can follow all the competitors...
different Iritrack

Thanks, Dan, but it appears that Alan Gerber is 1099 vs 1001

True...but Alan is out of the race...blew his tranny one mile into the race...shows how tough this style of racing is...even for the '06 Champion...

UPDATE: Dave is past milemarker 25 and closing in on Pit 1...all 4 entries in this class are still running with Rod Hall in the lead...

Go Go Xterra Go

UPDATE: XterraRacer is past Pit 1, evidently no major issues as he did not stop...traveling at 30+ MPH currently and closing in on MM 35...

Looks like Dave just passed 3117, and is in 3rd place for the 3100 class.

ETA: past pit 2

UPDATE: Dave is well past Pit 2, currently traveling at 80+ MPH!!! at about MM 73, 2 miles behind 2nd place Mike Falkowsky and about 12 miles behind Rod Hall and his Hummer...Rock on!!!

Reel 'em in, Dave, reel 'em in!

UPDATE: At about MM 90 and right at Pit 3...and stopped...hope its just a full pit stop...would be the first stop of the day if it is....fingers crossed to see that MPH gauge start ticking again...

UPDATE: Whew!! Think it was just an issue with his tracker...still moving...now out to MM 94 and traveling at 60+ MPH....A LOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNG way to go today but the truck has run well so far and I believe Dave has been conservative in his driving as he wants to protect his drivetrain.....

UPDATE: XterraRacer just crossed the 100 MM!! less than 35 miles to the main pits and the finish of the first lap...Still in 3rd in his class...

Nice job guys. The tracker is really cool. In a limited class sometimes conservative is the way to go. To finish first, first you must finish.

I had the chance to speak with Rod Hall for a bit a couple of weks ago. The man is a legend and his factory backed Class 3 team is a tough challenge. If Dave and his X can keep them in their sights, that's huge.

I'd love to see the underdog X get a win!

Class 3100 UPDATE: Rod Hall still in the lead, approaching MM 123 at near 30 MPH, Mike Falkosky in 2nd, 6 miles behind traveling at 34 MPH, Dave Blakely and his XterraRacer are in 3rd at MM 110 coming through a very rough section and it looks like the youngest racer in this years Parker (I believe) Jerry Herling at age 16 is out of the race as he and his Ford have not moved from MM 81 in well more than an hour...MEANING A 3RD PLACE FINISH IN CLASS 3100 IS ASSURED!! OK...so its not a big deal given only 4 trucks in this class but hey, we all take our victories where we find them!!