IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA…

EXCEPT IN TROPICAL CAL-CITY!!!

Stackpoole Takes the Mud and Slosh in Stride

First Overall and 1^st Place Pro 1000

Report by Elias Vidal

Photos by Lois, Lou, James

California City, CA – July 21, 2015 – In what had to be considered one of the strangest nights ever in the desert city of California City, rains pelted the area to the point that washes were running with four-feet of water, trails pockets were like mini-lakes, once choppy-like wash-board roads were now smoothed from the water run-offs and countless of water cuts along the 30-mile course that was laid out for the AVE’s PURE “150” – Range Into the Night!

At the end, it was Michael Stackpoole (Polaris), who drove off into the morning sun to take the Overall and top spot in the Pro 1000 UTV category. He completed the required five laps in a time of 3:12:49 hrs.

The team of Robert Powell and Ben Wagoner (Can-Am, Radflo, ITP), were just 2 minutes, 6 seconds behind with a time of 3:12:49, to capture second overall and second in the Pro 1000 Class. For a while it was back and forth for the eventual lead.

Third Overall and third in the Pro 1000 Class, was Branden Siebenhaar (Can-Am. Maverick – Bung King, Heatwave Visual, Addicted Industries, ITP Wheels), who finished with a time of 3:22:35.

While the results are still unofficial as AVE is checking all “tracking” units (Official July 30), it should be pointed out that this turned out to be a great race, after-the-fact.

The facts were that torrential rains hit Southern California on Saturday, and especially so, the area of California City. We all know that seldom if ever, California City gets more than five minutes of rain, even though surrounding areas such as Tehachapi, Ridgecrest, Mojave may be flooded. Not this time baby.

Rains started lightly on Friday night in the area, and race organizer, Lou Peralta, quipped that he had ordered rain from above (he’s such a clean-cut guy that God often listens to him—NOT!), and that by Saturday night, at 8 p.m., the start of the “150”, the course would be perfect for racing.

By the time the mandatory Driver’s Meeting came along at 7 p.m. on Saturday, it was obvious that there were concerns that certain areas of the course would be practically impassable. Peralta had taken a quick tour of portions of the course around 6 p.m. and indeed reported that a two-mile wash that was to be used as part of the course, was running with about three to four feet of water. He asked at the driver’s meeting if anyone had brought their jet ski.

At the meeting, after a few discussions and by popular vote, it was decided to postpone the start until 6 a.m. Sunday morning (July 19).

It was an excellent decision according to everyone who participated and found a perfectly groomed, tacky, fast course!

Fast lap was recorded by Dan Fresh and Sean Douglas (Polaris – SCA Electric, Method Wheels, Magnum Off-Road), as they logged a fifth-lap time of :35.27 min. lap over the 30-mile course. Now that’s moving. Unfortunately for the team, originally they had finished third overall but an ill-fated mistake, when on their first lap they missed entering the scoring chute, left them without a first-lap time. As they say, that’s racing.

Notable mention must go to Ian Scott and Noah Greff (Polaris RZR – Ready-2-Print, Rigid Industries, Momo, Rugged Radio, RC Suspension, AZ Containers), as they completed their five laps in a time of 3.:35:45 to place fourth Overall and First in the Sportsman 1000 Class.

Rounding out the top five overall was the team of Josh and Jim Westling (Polaris XP1000 – Westling & Assoc., Cognito Motorsports, GBC Motorsports, Co-Breu, Factory UTV, Race live, SLP, Rugged Radios), as they nailed their fifth lap with a time of 3:36:44 hrs.

As it’s obvious by the times posted, this race flew faster than a naked lady in a crowded men’s locker room. According to finishers, and even some none-finishers, they loved the course. “It was great”, and areas that some thought would be tough, such as the wash, were “just perfect and fast.”

Peralta must be doing something right because in speaking with Race Director, Alan Bell said, ”We are hitting it good. The last two races we’ve had rain just before the event and the courses have turned out terrific. I wonder if we are going to get a little rain on Friday, September 11, before the start of the PUNTA BANDA GP & PURE UTV “150?” Bell asked.

Other Class winners were: Gregg and Tim Sullivan, Unlimited 2 & 4; Christy and Darrin McGuffin, Pro 850; Itay and Meshe Yogev, Bone Stock Spts.

For more details go to: www.averacing.com