ATRacing December 2007 Newsletter
ATRacing December 2007 Newsletter
ATRacing secured runner up position in Class 8 in ProBaja Off Road Championship!:

Finally, the long awaited end of Championship race came, the Baja Sur 300, which brought together the two race organizers ProBaja and UPro for one final show down. The race started in La Paz on the morning of the 9th of December, with the finish line being the crowded Arroyo in Cabo San Lucas, which had recently witnessed the end of the largest ever Baja 1000 just a few weeks before.

The race covered some tough but fast trails between La Paz and Todos Santos, which claimed a fair number of victims, before snaking up the narrow and twitchy route through the mountain range of Los Naranjos and finishing through the tough sand washes and dips just before Cabo san Lucas.

The mechanical revision was held under full party atmosphere as the main boardwalk "El Malecon" was once again closed off to host the 160 vehicles that presented to participate in the race, amongst the thousands of fans that came out to see their favorite drivers at the autograph signing, and to check out the many stalls presenting racing gear and videos, as well as the cool, enticing Tecates.

The overall victory was rightfully claimed by Luis " Fito" Ramirez, in his TOYO shoed LS7 Racer Class 1 Buggy, after 6 overall trophies out of 6 races! The Trophy Trucks suffered quite a few damages and mechanical problems, with the legendary "Nacho" Monroy finally back to claim first place. The always gentleman Francisco Pantoja, rolled in late for second place, having stopped to help his "compadre" Kiki "El Balazo" Murillo as he rolled within 15 miles from the start in his FORD powered Trophy Truck. One of the favorites for the close to US$33,000 Trophy Truck purse Neto Cervantes suffered steering problems in his new Trophy, leaving him with a third place finish.

In Class 8, Rody Amaya maintained his front starting position to the finish line, leaving Andrea Tomba in his TOYO/ Quaker State FORD Explorer in second position. The Championship winner Ricky Betancourt suffered transmission problems, and he limped in to get 3rd place. "We had a fun, clean race", said Andrea. "We are the under dog racing our Class 6 truck in Class 8 Open, but we had no problems, no flats and looked after the truck to secure a good standing in the Championship. Now, we are pulling at the bit for NEXT season…"

ATRacing would like to thank the huge efforts of all the crew, Banda Jr, Los Hurtados & Los Peludos for the dedication, our crew chief Davicho for staying on top of things and to Ana for keeping it all together. Thanks to Russ for always being there, camera at the ready, and for keeping us on our toes with our web page. All in all, it was a trying and difficult, but satisfying, season with lots of mechanical hurdles, all of which seem to have been overcome, and we are grateful to have such a close and warm racing family.

Special thanks to all our sponsors whom keep us racing and keep providing us with the best of the best! You guys are awesome. Thanks to TOYO Tires, Quaker State, AutoMeter Gauges, Optima Batteries, K&N Filters, AWC Wheels, Fox Racing Shocks, MORFO Racing, Prisa Paints, Xtreme Graphics & Tornillos y Birlos.


The 40th Anniversary Baja 1000:

Starting his 70th birthday party a bit early, venerable veteran desert racer Rod Hall lit the candles on his celebration by earning a record 19th class win during the final hours of the legendary 40th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race Thursday. As the final checkered flag drop early Thursday evening for the last of a race-record 239 official finishers in the 40th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, it was obvious that another incredible and colorful chapter had been added to the legacy of this popular desert race down the majestic Baja California, Mexico, peninsula.

The near race-record 424 starters from a SCORE-record 44 U.S. States and a SCORE-record 20 countries, represented the second largest field in the history of the desert classic. They competed in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. The race was the season finale of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series, the world's foremost desert racing series.

Mexico tourism officials estimated record crowds of nearly 350,000 spread out along the course from Ensenada down both sides of the Baja California peninsula to Cabo San Lucas.

In an yet another impressive display of power and poise, American Honda motorcycle teammates Robby Bell, Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell and Kendall Norman along with the team of Mark Post/Rob MacCachren/Carl Renezeder posted the overall motorcycle and 4-wheel victories early Wednesday to lead the field. The finish line on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas closed quietly at 6 p.m. Thursday, just after the VW sedan driven by Mexico's Ramon Fernandez became the last of the SCORE record finishers, ending the 53-hour time limit each starter had to complete the journey.

The granddaddy of all desert races, the flagship event of the world's foremost desert racing series was a rugged peninsula odyssey of 1,296.39 miles from Ensenada in Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Baja California Sur. It was the 33rd time the race started in Ensenada, and just second time it finished in Cabo.

First to cross the finish line was the No. 1 Honda CRF450X of Bell/Hengeveld/Campbell/Norman, who methodically marched down the grueling course to an overall winning time of 24 hours, 15 minutes, 50 seconds. Bell, as rider of record took the green flag in Ensenada Tuesday morning, followed by Norman, Campbell and Hengeveld captured the checkered flag, after riding for most of the night portion of the race. The team average speed over the tougher-than-usual course was 53.43 miles per hour.

While the American Honda teammates rode the fastest vehicle in the demanding race, Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., MacCachren, Las Vegas, and Renezeder, Laguna Beach, Calif., split driving in the No. 3 Riviera Ford F-150 won the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, leading all four-wheel vehicles to the finish line by covering the extremely demanding course in 25:21:25, with an average speed of 51.13mph.

Winning the unlimited Class 1 for an amazing fourth straight year Larry Roeseler, Hesperia, Calif. and Las Vegas' Troy Herbst were third overall 4-wheel finishers with a class-winning time of 26:30:10 in the Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford-powered Smithbuilt desert race car. In earning a SCORE record 23rd race win since 1997, the remarkable open-wheel race car will be retired to permanent display at the Terrible Herbst Race Shop in Huntington Beach, Calif.

The special Baja Challenge class for identically-equipped Subaru-powered Baja touring cars that helps introduce crossover racers and celebrities to SCORE desert racing saw all 18 starters finish and was won for the first time by the team led by Jim Christensen, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

The unique Sal Fish SCORE IronRider Award offered to any motorcycle and ATV racer who finished the race while riding entirely solo drew 25 total riders and six of them made it to the finish line within the 53-hour time limit. Sal Fish SCORE IronRider award winners were: Gabriel Williams, Provo, Utah (33:16:08, Class 22-Honda CRF450X) (FASTEST SOLO RIDER); Greg Godfrey, Draper, Utah (40:14:12, Class 22-KTM 520XC); James Curzon, Jackson, Wyo. (52:38:11, Class 30-KTM XC510); Todd Harrison, Center, Colo., (46:17:12, SPT M/C>250cc-KTM XCW525); John Crowley, Flagstaff, Ariz. (51:12:18, SPT ATV, Honda TRX450R).


ATRacing's 2007 year end celebration and welcoming party for new ATRacing Team driver Dr Bert Tjeenk:

Even before we had our year end "get together" Andrea and new team member Bert Tjeenk with crew in tow where out testing for next years racing season. As noted in pervious reports, Dr. Tjeenk from Mexico City is an experienced sailboat racer, a far cry from trying to whip a 3,500 lb truck around a dirt short course or flying thru 300 miles of open desert. That said, the crew looked a little apprehensive while Andrea looked confident.

Andrea's confidence came from the fact that he first met Bret while guiding a grueling week long track thru Baja's desert in a "Wide Open Baja" race buggy. Just before we reached the track I asked Andrea about this and he replied that Bert was one of the best if not the best drivers he had guided and he thought Bret had what it takes to race the desert.

Once at the track it was obvious that Andrea knew what he was talking about. In no time Bert was flying around the track and steadily getting faster with each lap. With two days of coaching and testing you could see the confidence build and the anticipation for next years season to start. It was also important to see the crew's confidence rise and see them rally around Bert in support. The crew was joking that Bert was a ringer.

Once the second days testing was over it was time to celebrate. The tables and BBQ were put together like a NASCAR pit stop. It wasn't long before Tacos, Chicken and the sorts were readily being consumed along with cold cerveza and soda. The highlight was two piñata's, one for the kids and one for the adults. We even got Bert to take his swings and he didn't miss. As a rule we don't allow Andrea to swing stuff thru the air, it's a safety issue.

During the party we had a surprise guest, Manolo Nuñez of Pro-Baja joined us to present Andrea and ATRacing with the Second Place Trophy for the just concluded Baja Sur 300. Not a bad way to get motivated for the 2008 season.

One would think that the year end party is to thank the crew for all their hard work and it is, but more importantly it is to thank the crew's wife's and families for their never ending support. The fact is, they are as much a part of AT Racing as are the guys who turn the wenches or set behind the wheel and push the gas.

This is a team sport.

From the entire ATRacing team we wish all of you a safe and happy Holiday Season.



MORFO Racing grows in Mexico:

For those racing and living in Mexico, the problem of getting race equipment shipped into Mexico is always a problem, and finally we are seeing a solution to the problem. Our friends at MORFO Racing, who have been supplying the Mexican Rally market with high performance parts, communication and safety equipment, have extended their range even further to include equipment focusing on our off road needs. They have also become the Mexican distributor of Leatt's Neck Brace which is taking the market by storm, supplying an ever important additional protection to serious injury, whilst being very unobtrusive. Different designs adapt specifically for cars or motorcycle usage.


Thanks for a great 2007 - Bring on 2008!!!:

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas, and sending our best wishes for the New Year, ATRacing is very much looking forward to the New Year, or specifically, the New Season!

As the team grows with new driver Bert Tjeenk, and as we introduce our new Bronco for next season, we are pulling all stops to grab the 2008 Championship. Look out for our next newsletter with updates of our plans, and the new 2008 calendar.


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