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!!

Rod is out on Lap 2, Dave's ~ MM 128, and Falkowsky is ~ MM 135. Go Dave GO!

Now if Robert can only keep Dave's foot off the gas through the infield jump section!!!

UPDATE: Dave is approaching MM 132 and only about 4 miles out of the main pits/starting line/finish line....Just spoke to Dave's sister in law (?) Melissa...Dave has radioed in and said he wants OUT of the truck at the end of the first lap!! Said the course is SUPER rough and has beat the hell out of him!! So Dave and Robert (Fastdrmr) should be into the pits, refueling, checking the truck over and changing driving teams to Dave's brother in the next 10-15 minutes...Told Melissa to have Robert call me ASAP when he chills out after exiting the truck and getting it on its way!! Will report back soon!!

What's the fun in that?

In all seriousness, if Dave is beat up enough to switch driving teams after only the first lap then I bet he'll take it easy on the jump.

INFO: From what I understand the 3100 class is SUPPOSED to do three laps on the course...that does NOT seem like it will be possible within the time limit given--16 1/2 hours--for ANY of the class 3100 competitors...Looks like Dave will clock a 4 1/2 hour first lap...and it only gets slower from here given nightfall and mechanical problems....We will see...

UPDATE: OK...XterraRacer has made the first of THREE laps...currently stopped at his pit...we should get a report on how the truck (and drivers) are holding up in the near future...4 1/2 hours covering 145 miles...

Damn having to run out and hang out with the inlaws this afternoon...at least I should be able get the update on the truck and course before I head out...and I'll have my phone so I can check up on the updates on here while I'm out

ETA: looks like the X is back out on the course!

ETA2: never mind

UPDATE: Just a splash of fuel a onceover of the truck and off they go!!! XterraRacer is back on the gas with...with...with...ROBERT (Fastdrmr) at the wheel!?!?!?!? Thats right!!

WHAT? Robert is driving the X on the race track? That's AWESOME! GO ROBERT GO!

UPDATE: Bad news XterraRacer fans...Robert got in got on the gas and before he even left the Parker Python infield area he lost power to the rear end...it looks like a totaled rear end/ring&pinon...It looks like the race is over for the XterraRacer team...will monitor and update with any info when/if Robert calls...otherwise its a sickening feeling from this end...

That sucks!

UPDATE: And yet XterraRacer carries on!! Thats right folks...we run till we can't run anymore!! Even if it is with only 3 wheel drive!!! Drivetrain is crackling and popping like a mother you know what but if the wheels keep turning we'll keep burning...don't know how long this will really last but the truck is still stumbling along...we'll see how long this goes....

Great call Dan
Go XTERRARACER!!

INFO: Purely conjecture at this point but from what I am being told (I am no mechanical expert) you can run quite a long ways with a busted rear end as long as the broken metal doesnt get in the Ring & Gear...so we will have to see...the hopes for a win are dashed but we'll get as many points as we can!!!

UPDATE: And.......now she appears done....back at her pit area at 0 MPH.....the day is likely over...sorry everyone...wish it could have been a better result...will back with a wrapup unless I see her get going again....

They need to replace that crappy rear end with a 233B

UPDATE: ITS NOT OVER!! OK...here is the situation...rear end it toast...but so right now is Rod Hall and his Hummer....the strategy right now is to dismantle the rear end, run it in front wheel drive and try and eek out another 38 miles or so, pass Rod Hall and claim 2nd place in the class before the truck completely craps out...They're under the truck currently...if it gets back on the course I will let you all know...right now the IRITRACK system is off and not working as the truck is off...will let you know if the tracking comes back up as well....

While I agree completely, I don't believe it's legal to stay in the 3100 class, I'm sure Dan (and Dave and Robert when they get back to civilization and rested up) will inform us whether or not it's a possibility.

Dan, did they go back to the main pits to dismantle the rear end or are they doing it on the course somewhere? My feed from IrcTracking shows them @ the main pit area.

Also, I'm glad to see the front end has held up thus far, as that has been a thorn in Dave's side all last season.

UPDATE: They are in the main pit area...no movement...no report in...I would assume (though not for certain) that they have not been able to get a satisfactory solution to let them limp along at this point...Will update with more info if it becomes available...

UPDATE: Talked to the team...let them know that 2nd place and Rod Hall is only 37 miles away (the Hummer is broken down on his second lap at MM 37)...They have taken the rear end apart...Turns out it was not the R&P that broke...it was the spider gears (someone more educated can let me know what "spider gears" are) and they are attempting to weld the rearend up enough to limp those 37-40 miles they need to get 2nd place...will keep you up to date...

UPDATE: Well, they're back on the course....not sure how much the truck has left...either runing in 2WD or 1WD, not really sure at this point but they replaced all the leaf spring bushings, welded up the rearend as best they could and are back out running just seeing what they can do...

In a nutshell, spider gears are what allow the two rear axle shafts to turn at different rates of speed making cornering a more pleasant experience on road and the transfer of power to the wheel with less resistance off road (bad thing). Welding the spiders ensures that both shafts and wheels/tires turn at the same rate (poor man's locker a.k.a. a Lincoln Locker named after that brand of welder). I'm sure www.howstuffworks.com can explain spider gears better than I can

At any rate, so long as the R&P hold up, and the axle shafts, and the front end hold up, and Dave/Robert take it easy it should limp along just fine. Last I saw on the tracker, Rod Hall was ~50ish miles into his second lap just past pit 2...but maybe I mis-read the map.

Goodluck, Dave!

P.S. Patrick, I posted this from my phone, have you been keeping up with XOC via your new Verizon toy?

UPDATE: And thats all she wrote...made it about 10 miles on the welded rear end and she gave up the ghost...heading or already back at the main pits and XterraRacer's day is over some 12 hours after they began....We will see how it all shakes out in the overall standings tomorrow or the next day...back to the drawing board we go...Will have a wrap up and photos and video and such on the TXR website so please continue to support the team and buy a tshirt so we can buy more rear ends!!! TXR

Damnit! Well, you got more cash, so send me my stuff!

With the CORR season right around the corner and San Felipe coming up soon, that's about the only way I ever have time to check things out on here.

Damn...you sure the team doesn't need a mobile IT guy?

Or an extra PR guy who has overseen the development of a team's tshirt and can provide live play by play coverage of races??

I'll drive.

Overall Results - Parker 425

1-#3 Mark Post
2-#1570 Kory Halopoff
3-#1565 Steve Jangaard
4-#1525 Nathan Melton
5-#1532 Michael James
6-#36 Steve Olliges
7-#2 Pete Sohren
8-#1518 Chuck Hovey
9-#1567 Mike Bilek
10-#39 Ron Whitton
11-#1515 Tim McDonnell

Couple Notes:
Mark Post and Rob Mac dominated the event with a flawless performance

Robby Gordon rolled first lap at mile 71

Herder suffered engine problems mile 115

Garron Cadiente was fighting engine issues

Greg Foutz rearended another truck at mm 2 and then was rearended by Dave Morrision. Greg lost his driver side front wheel assy including hub and also suffered extensive damage to the rear of his truck (2" chromo rear bumper and cage was sheared off). he spent 45 minutes repairing his truck only to have a front passenger shock res explode and cause a small shock oil fire on the header pipes ending his day

Parker has a long history of breaking equipment and this years Parker
425 continues to wreak havoc on anything but the best prepped equipment.

UPDATE: so the "unofficial" results are in showing times and points for those that finished...

There were 237 entries in the race, that includes both the 3 lap classes and 2 lap classes...of which XterraRacer is a 3 lap class and Jeepspeeds are a 2 lap class...Only 103 out of the 237 entries finished the race...meaning in this race there was a 57% rate of DNF...now THAT's brutal...