Brazoz
03-03-2009, 09:08 PM
With all of the controversy and Monday morning quarterbacking taking place hear on Pirate, as well as elsewhere I am sure, I thought there may be some value gained by offering another view. Certainly sharing some positive reporting of the race will be a welcomed addition for those throughout the country who were unable to attend.
As the title suggests mine is a view gained from the cheap seats. For those readers unsure of the exact location of the cheap seats, or unable to read between the lines, the answer is simple… I am not a racer, not associated with Hammer King, or for that matter any of the teams involved in the race, I am simply a fan of our sport…. A spectator at this awesome race.
Having attended last years KOH there was never any question in my mind whether I would return for 2009. In fact had I had the vacation time I would surely have arrived to watch the LCQ. As it was however I arrived Thursday night, turning onto Boone Rd. about 7:00 p.m. The single most appropriate word to describe the race and surrounding activity can be summed up simply as a spectacle. Both good and bad connotations apply as the event is unlike any I have ever witnessed. And while I have not witness many off-road races, I have been recreating in the California desert for more than 30 years. I consider myself somewhat of a purest. A fan of the sport in all it’s aspects.
First and foremost it’s the outdoors and the beauty of the desert that draws me. And hidden in the depths of those beautiful desert mountains exists some of the most challenging trails, begging to be conquered. While I have driven some in my Jeep, there are others I would not even attempt. Second...The cars, Rockbuggies as we call them. They are everywhere at KOH. The top fabricators in the industry are represented by some of the most talented drivers in our sport. Massive tires, racing fuel, coilover shocks, untold lengths of beautifully bent and welded DOM… listen closely and you’re sure to hear the grunting of Tim the Tool Man Taylor. Some of the cars, like the FU2 buggy, look like they're going 500 miles an hour standing still. Still others, like JR’s Bronco, pay heritage and tribute to the factory bobtail of 40 years ago. Like I said, I am a purest and love every aspect of the sport.
For me and my brother our day started at the starting line. As I stated earlier, what a spectacle. The left lane had a whoop/jump right in the middle. Buggies making massive quantities of power hit the jump launching themselves and there passengers into the history books of off road racing. From there we headed for Sunbonnet. Sitting high in the canyon we watched as the first competitors approached. Randy Slawson motored through seemingly without effort. Others would follow, some with greater success than others. All with a fierce competitive edge. Closer to Hells Gate we encountered Nate La Russo. With a broken suspension mount Nate seemed to be down for the count as he awaited his co-driver’s return… hopefully with a welder. We were able to visit with Nate for a while and offer some food and beverage before we headed back to the lakebed. All tolled we must have watched about 20-30 vehicles pass through this section of the trail.
Once back on the lakebed we steered our course towards Sledgehammer. Once again with a backpack slung over my shoulders I set out on foot up the canyon. Within moments of arriving at the plaque on Sledge we could here the screaming exhaust gasses of Shannon Campbell approaching the bottle neck of stuck competitors. Yes I saw the controversial pass. Again… what a spectacle. The level of competition in these racers is remarkable. Should he have been on the course? Was the pass legit? It’s not for me to decide. I will say this, I’m glad I was there to see it.
From the cheap seats this year’s race was much different than last years. More competitors spread over a much larger course. From the perspective of a spectator last years race may have provided a better viewing opportunity simply because of the fact that the race was much smaller. Smaller in regards to the amount of competitors, smaller in the size of the course, and a much smaller amount of people spectating.
The high points for me this past weekend are the same as the low points… people’s behavior. While I am always amazed by the good nature of man and his ability to show good will towards others, I am equally disappointed by those who conduct themselves in a way that only serves themselves, often at the cost of someone else. Unfortunately with as many people who attended this years race there were certain to be some bad actors in the crowd and I was not fortunate enough to avoid interaction with some. My failing is giving them more than the moment of consideration they deserve. Enough said. As for the promoters of this race, Dave Cole and Jeff Knoll, and the controversy that flourishes here on Pirate… Thanks guys for putting on a hell of a show. The race is all about overcoming obstacles, for the competitors and promoters. Consider the evolution from 2008 to 2009. Nearly double the competitors as well as the length of the course. New rules and guidelines. And yes, Shannon Campbell showing up in a brand new IFS buggy. Who knows what’s in store for 2010, but I’ll tell you this, I won’t miss it. Fact is I can’t wait. If you see me on the lakebed make sure and stop for a beer. I should be easy to recognize, I’ll be the wide eyed middle aged guy smiling like a kid in a candy store.
To Dave, Jeff, the crew of volunteers, and all of the race teams... congratulations on participating in what was truly a landmark event in the world of Off-Road motorsports.
As the title suggests mine is a view gained from the cheap seats. For those readers unsure of the exact location of the cheap seats, or unable to read between the lines, the answer is simple… I am not a racer, not associated with Hammer King, or for that matter any of the teams involved in the race, I am simply a fan of our sport…. A spectator at this awesome race.
Having attended last years KOH there was never any question in my mind whether I would return for 2009. In fact had I had the vacation time I would surely have arrived to watch the LCQ. As it was however I arrived Thursday night, turning onto Boone Rd. about 7:00 p.m. The single most appropriate word to describe the race and surrounding activity can be summed up simply as a spectacle. Both good and bad connotations apply as the event is unlike any I have ever witnessed. And while I have not witness many off-road races, I have been recreating in the California desert for more than 30 years. I consider myself somewhat of a purest. A fan of the sport in all it’s aspects.
First and foremost it’s the outdoors and the beauty of the desert that draws me. And hidden in the depths of those beautiful desert mountains exists some of the most challenging trails, begging to be conquered. While I have driven some in my Jeep, there are others I would not even attempt. Second...The cars, Rockbuggies as we call them. They are everywhere at KOH. The top fabricators in the industry are represented by some of the most talented drivers in our sport. Massive tires, racing fuel, coilover shocks, untold lengths of beautifully bent and welded DOM… listen closely and you’re sure to hear the grunting of Tim the Tool Man Taylor. Some of the cars, like the FU2 buggy, look like they're going 500 miles an hour standing still. Still others, like JR’s Bronco, pay heritage and tribute to the factory bobtail of 40 years ago. Like I said, I am a purest and love every aspect of the sport.
For me and my brother our day started at the starting line. As I stated earlier, what a spectacle. The left lane had a whoop/jump right in the middle. Buggies making massive quantities of power hit the jump launching themselves and there passengers into the history books of off road racing. From there we headed for Sunbonnet. Sitting high in the canyon we watched as the first competitors approached. Randy Slawson motored through seemingly without effort. Others would follow, some with greater success than others. All with a fierce competitive edge. Closer to Hells Gate we encountered Nate La Russo. With a broken suspension mount Nate seemed to be down for the count as he awaited his co-driver’s return… hopefully with a welder. We were able to visit with Nate for a while and offer some food and beverage before we headed back to the lakebed. All tolled we must have watched about 20-30 vehicles pass through this section of the trail.
Once back on the lakebed we steered our course towards Sledgehammer. Once again with a backpack slung over my shoulders I set out on foot up the canyon. Within moments of arriving at the plaque on Sledge we could here the screaming exhaust gasses of Shannon Campbell approaching the bottle neck of stuck competitors. Yes I saw the controversial pass. Again… what a spectacle. The level of competition in these racers is remarkable. Should he have been on the course? Was the pass legit? It’s not for me to decide. I will say this, I’m glad I was there to see it.
From the cheap seats this year’s race was much different than last years. More competitors spread over a much larger course. From the perspective of a spectator last years race may have provided a better viewing opportunity simply because of the fact that the race was much smaller. Smaller in regards to the amount of competitors, smaller in the size of the course, and a much smaller amount of people spectating.
The high points for me this past weekend are the same as the low points… people’s behavior. While I am always amazed by the good nature of man and his ability to show good will towards others, I am equally disappointed by those who conduct themselves in a way that only serves themselves, often at the cost of someone else. Unfortunately with as many people who attended this years race there were certain to be some bad actors in the crowd and I was not fortunate enough to avoid interaction with some. My failing is giving them more than the moment of consideration they deserve. Enough said. As for the promoters of this race, Dave Cole and Jeff Knoll, and the controversy that flourishes here on Pirate… Thanks guys for putting on a hell of a show. The race is all about overcoming obstacles, for the competitors and promoters. Consider the evolution from 2008 to 2009. Nearly double the competitors as well as the length of the course. New rules and guidelines. And yes, Shannon Campbell showing up in a brand new IFS buggy. Who knows what’s in store for 2010, but I’ll tell you this, I won’t miss it. Fact is I can’t wait. If you see me on the lakebed make sure and stop for a beer. I should be easy to recognize, I’ll be the wide eyed middle aged guy smiling like a kid in a candy store.
To Dave, Jeff, the crew of volunteers, and all of the race teams... congratulations on participating in what was truly a landmark event in the world of Off-Road motorsports.