BITD Vegas to Reno Ultra 4 Coverage

[YAONTO]

Four days until the start of the BITD Vegas to Reno The Long Way Race, and we are ramping up the plans for the coverage on this epic event!

There will be coverage from the pits as "live as our electronics will permit in the middle of the Nevada desert" right here on Pirate4x4.com!

To get you started... search "Vegas to Reno" and check out some of the other teams posts and prep stories...some are great! Also check out www.bitd.com



Here is the official Entry list for the Ultra4 Class (as of 8/14/09) (This is a qualifier for the 2010 King of the Hammers; Top 10 cars that start on Saturday will earn a entry.)

As of 8/14/09 Official BITD Registrations for Ultra4 Class are as follows:
4403
Jason Carner (34) Birmingham, AL,
James Schofield (27) Birmington, AL,
Troy Johnson (40) Riverside, CA,
BlueTorch Fab, Superior Axle, Turnkey, JE Reel, Ruggeo Radios, SpiderTrax, PRP,cQal, Fox, The Fab School, Howe, CTM, BFG, United Rentals, ProComp Wheels, Safety Solutions

4405
Travis Carpenter (28) Orangevale, CA,
Dan Trout (24) Rancho Cordova, CA,
Hasa Pool Products, Yukon Gear, Powertank, infinit Graphx, Solid Axle, Fishmouth Fabworks, MFS, Rock Zombies 4x4 Club

4406
Robert Usnick (36) Fayetteville, NC,
Steve Tolbert (37) Fayetteville, NC,
Brandon Kasnick (25) Raeford, NC,
Billy Brown () Fayetteville, NC,
Performance Off-Road, Final Touch Powder Coating, Trail Tough, HeiserOil.com, Paraclete, Raceline Wheels, BF Goodrich

4411
Dean Bulloch (51) Cedar City, UT,
Tom Allen (49) Weatherford, TX,
PSC, MasterCraft, BFG, Stak, CTM, Currie, Mast Motorsports, Heavenly Bodies, Winchline, Tom Woods Driveshafts, MS Inc, Seymour Martin, Warn, TrailGear, D&P Perf

4435
Kevin Sacalas (26) Riverside, CA,
Douglas Williams (32) Redlands, CA,
Jon Jonsson (51) Ferndale, WA,
Sam Wiseman (44) Riverside, CA,
Viking Off-Road, Winchline, Bilstein, Griffin Thermal Products, RCV
Performance, Trail Gear, BFG, Twisted Stitch, Livorsi Marine, JE Reel Driveline

4454
David Cole (38) Twin Peaks, CA,
Chris Ridgway (38) Apple Valley, CA,
Brandon Naves (29) Camrillo, CA,
Steve Schneider (30) Temecula, CA,
Kirby Off-Road, Griffin Rad, BFG, Raceline Wheels, RCV, Vision X, PRP, High Angle Driveline, Longfield, G&J Aircraft

4455
Joseph Thompson (38) Grass Valley, CA,
Richard Mooneyham (33) Lake Havasu City, AZ,
Scott Ward (36) Lake Havasu City, AZ,
Les Figeuroa (44) Lake Havasu City, AZ,
Trick Toys Fab, Sims Trucking, BFG, Raceline Wheels, PSC Steering Comp, Turnkey Engine Supply, Sway-A-Way, Figspeed.com, Longfield-Super Ax, Brannik Machine

4461
Ben Napier (26) Sydney, Australia
David Camp (32) Brisbane, Australia
Randy Slawson (32) Cotton, CA,
Bomber Fab, BFG, Raceline Wheels

4464
Matthew Legg (32) Boulder, CO,
Jason Tomas Walton (30) La Porte, CO,
Camron Abernathy (31) Fort Collins, CO,
Philip Christensen (26) Wellington, CO,

4471
Jeff Knoll (39) Menifee, CA,
Dave Schneider (34) Reno, NV,
Wayne Israelsen (40) Menifee, CA,
HammerKing, Raceline Wheel, BF Goodrich, Vision X, PSC, Griffin, Bilstein, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Superior Axle & Gear, S&N Fab, The US Stimulus Package!

4488
Brandon Watson (34) Glenwood Sprongs, CO,
Stephen Watson (36) Carbondale, CO,
James Watson (58) Carbondale, CO,
Our families, Off-Road Design, PSC, Bighorn Graphics, Tom Woods Custom Driveshafts, Premier Power Welder

[YAONTO]

First UPDATE:::::

It is Sunday, and after MANY MANY hours of work on these great cars, it is TESTING day! I know of 3 cars for sure that headed up to Barstow this morning to give the cars a run...

The UNITE Team is making it happen. Here is the post to their official press release: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...errerid=130874

Jeff Knoll and the crew from car 4471 left around 10am and by 2pm called to say they have a Broke Rear Axle Housing. The car is back on the trailer and headed to the shop to rebuild the rear end.

The 4461 Ben Napier/Randy Slawson car is running great with no worries.

There was another car up there that was experiencing troubles also.

[513]

Originally Posted by YAONTO

Jeff Knoll and the crew from car 4471 left around 10am and by 2pm called to say they have a Broke Rear Axle Housing. The car is back on the trailer and headed to the shop to rebuild the rear end.

Uhhh... any more info on this one?!

[YAONTO]

Only something about it breaking in half....and then he had to go...
Should know more tonight on how far they have gotten on the rebuild.
He did say that everything else with the car seemed fine!

[TCARP1]

4405 is leaving the shop in about 30 mins, we are in sacramento and don't have any "open" desert to test in, so we are going to praire city to test on the Vorra short course

[Motorsports2]

I guess it's better it broke now and they can fix it. Good luck jefe

[YAONTO]

Jeff just called;
Reporting in for Cole #4454 -> they had a good day testing and will be staying out there and testing again tomorrow. No issues, just tuning

Knoll #4471 has completely taken a part the rear end and has already started putting it back together...over 50% done. Those boys rock!!
Here is a pic from the shop:

[TurtleTruck]

Thanks for this... anxiously following the events! EPIC!

[youngguns4x4]

Its about to get interesting. I'll see ya out there

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Keep it coming!

[YAONTO]

Originally Posted by youngguns4x4

Its about to get interesting. I'll see ya out there

haha that is an understatement!

____

Just talked to Kurtuleas ... he is going to be the communications guy for Travis Carpenter and Dan Trout #4405. This will be a fun team to watch...they are IRON MANNING the race. Travis will be driving the entire mileage with Dan co-piloting. Um, has it been mentioned yet that Travis has no desert experience? This will be fun! Get IT! http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...errerid=130874 -> post # 30 is the press release on their team

[FISHMOUTH FABWORKS]

Damn it! im 24 testing tomorrow as well!

[YAONTO]

Dave #4454 just reported in: Over 65mph passes through the Barstow Pits... (that area has some pretty BIG whoops!) They have shut it down until daylight and the crew is celebrating on site in Barstow and will resume testing in AM.

[YAONTO]

Originally Posted by FISHMOUTH FABWORKS

Damn it! im 24 testing tomorrow as well!

haha just updated, happy birthday!

[FISHMOUTH FABWORKS]

Originally Posted by YAONTO

haha just updated, happy birthday!

[YAONTO]

Shop update from Knoll#4471
Axle shafts are going back in ... Band aids on axle for now, and hope to add an axle truss when they have the right tools. Read access to Torchmate cutting system.

At least they are still having fun!!

[YAONTO]

Well most of them

[Jeff Knoll]

Wow its been a tough three days. More fun to follow.

No brakes, broke rear end is fixed as it is gonna get, Hitting Kartek(shameless plug we need a price break) in the morning for brake parts, and we hope they have what we need. That is the last item we need.

I am just beat. And we dont start racing till Thursday.

Cole says his car is wickid fast. The changes we made to 4471 reports that it is faster then our last test run. More to follow, I out!

[DSI]

Originally Posted by Jeff Knoll

I out!

I thought Wayne was our token black guy on the team

[Random Thoughts Race]

Update from the Bilstein Trailer:

Sacalas/ Team Viking rig tested on Saturday, the rig is HUGE. Headed home for some final touches after a productive day in the desert.

Schneider/Knoll fixing rear end and hoping to meet up again in Barstow today. Rig better than before but going for more.

Napier/Camp team from AU, glad to meet you guys and help a bit, rig looks light, simple, and ready to go. V2R will be a trial by fire.

[blacksheep10]

Originally Posted by YAONTO

Well most of them

Wyatt supervises best from that position

[Stephen]

4488 update

we're thrashing like crazy trying to make a test date with king tomorrow morning. Lots left to do but a lot of details are coming together. New King bypasses are mounted, amsoil being dumped in as we speak, new rear driveshaft from Tom Wood just showed up, extra fuel cell is in and plumbed new oil cooler is together PSC pump, and cooler are in with a filter change, new Nitto desert grapplers are all mounted up with new hardware on the trail readys, about 100 small brackets are welded everywhere for every dinky little part like the ballast for the lightforce 170's, on and on and on.

better run

[YAONTO]

4405 Update:

Travis and Dan are having some tranny issues after testing the rig yesterday. Rock Zombie member "Papa Smurf' aka Keith owns a transmission shop so he is on it today.

Found out that the Intermediate servo is messed up in the tranny...Jeff from MFS is working on it now.

They are on a shoe-string budget, so even though the team leaves for Vegas tonight, Travis has to WORK all day long! (Bet hes real productive LOL)

[Random Thoughts Race]

Update from the Bilstein trailer:

Photos from Barstow testing uploaded here.

[YAONTO]

Update #4471: Knoll just checked in while I was away running some last minute errands.... They have the car practically ready. They found the brake parts that they needed at Kartec and they are done and good to go. They are loading motorhomes, chase trucks and doing their last minute errands!! Plan is to leave in the morning still...

Update #4454: Dave Cole also checked in. He said that it was too bad that I wasn't at Kirby's shop watching the synchronized swimming that was happening inside LOL They are working on a list about 30 items long, but nothing too major. Adjusting suspension, wrapping the car, adjusting the seats etc etc. Nothing that can't be handled.
Their biggest issue is they did brake their shifter cable...but they have already sourced one and was on the way to pick it up right then!
He is stoked on the car!!! He is soooo ready to run it. They are ready to get there and have a great time! Nothing but good words!
I told him to send me some pics!!! He said they will once the wrap is done.

ooohhhh cell phone going off...getting pics in from Jeff...here comes #3 I'll post in a minute....