BITD V2R: Travis Carpenter Car #4405 update/photo thread

[Kurtuleas]

My team is going to constantly update me with info and pics throughout the week, and I plan on posting them here to let everyone know what is going on with the Fishmouth Fab-works "Land-use" rig #4405 in the V2R 1,000 mile desert race.

My job is to basically be "Weather-man" and work the communications for the team. Along with the BITD tracking, we got SPOT units and SAT phones (Thanks MFS!) to help us out.

Yes, there will be pictures of Steph in this thread.

We are on a shoe string budget.

We are the "little guy"

Yeah, we got a pretty bad-ass fab guy with Dan Trout from Fishmouth Fabworks on the team, but other than that it's just Rock Zombie club members, family members and a few good friends helping out.

Travis's dad is crew chief. Steph's dad is also working in the pits.

Travis has NO desert racing experience (Trout does however), but has spent a LOT of time behind the wheel of rigs since he was just a little guy. Still, Trav is gonna "Ironman" this race and do it all himself.

I saw Travis Friday night at Trout's shop, and right now he is the happiest, most excitied guy in the world. He is JUICED.

It's been a tough job trying to get sponsors, and when we were about to lose all hope: HASA Pool Products stepped in, along with the guys from MFS to help us out. Also has some major help from another major 4x4 "notable" but I do not know if he wants to be named or not. (He can chime in if he does)

Finished the car on Saturday night, then ran it at Praire City on Sunday, only to end up with tranny problems. Those are now fixed (Once again thanks to MFS, Papa Smurf (Keith) and FISHMOUTH FAB-WORKS)

Team is underway right now to Vegas.

Here's a few crappy pics, hopefully Steph will kick me down some better ones later on thru her normal camera:










Here's the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kurt Schneider
E-mail: kurt@ovrocksports.com
Orangevale, CA: August 4th, 2009

OV Rocksports teams with HASA Pool Products for Vegas to Reno Race
Rock Zombie Travis Carpenter competes in 1,000 mile desert race in car 4405

HASA Pool Products joins with OV Rocksports as a title sponsor for the TSCO “Vegas to Reno the long way” desert race in the 4400 Ultra 4 class. Rock Zombie 4x4 club member Travis Carpenter and spotter Dan Trout of FishMouth Fabworks (www.fishmouth-fabworks.com) will compete in the 4405 “land-use” buggy in an attempt to qualify for the 2010 King of the Hammers race.

With Travis’s father Stan Carpenter as crew chief, land-use activist Kurt Schneider as manager/promoter, and strong pit support by his Rock Zombie club members, Travis has formed a team of committed individuals. While Dan Trout has experience in the desert scene, Travis Carpenter brings only his experience in trail riding and competitive rock crawling which he has been involved in for many years.

According to Travis, “I may be the underdog in this race, but we are in it to win it. Qualifying for the King of the Hammers is just a secondary goal. I am really excited to be racing in this new class against such veteran drivers.”

The 2009 TSCO “Vegas to Reno” The long way race, is a 1,000 mile, three-day, staged off road desert race hosted by the “Best in the Desert” (http://www.bitd.com) New for this year is the introduction of the 4400 class in which Travis Carpenter is running the 4405 car.

Travis’s 4405 buggy has been masterfully built by Dan Trout of Fishmouth Fabworks. Already featured prominently at various competitions, events, trail work parties, trail rides and even parades, the vehicle turns heads and has gained much attention due to its outstanding craftsmanship.

As part of the team’s commitment to land-use issues, the vehicle will also be running various land-use decals to help educate OHV users on proper use and to keep our public lands open to the public. According to manager Kurt Schneider, “This rig is more than just a race buggy, we are using it as an educational tool to illustrate to the general public that responsible OHV use does little to no damage to the actual environment. We are also currently working to run the rig on all bio-degradable fluids including gear oil, motor oil and bio-degradable ATF”

In addition to title sponsor HASA Inc., car 4405 is also sponsored by Powertank, Yukon, Infinite Graphx, MFS, Marco Muffler and Solid Axle.

OV Rocksports (www.ovrocksports.com) is the competition division of the Nor Cal Rock Zombies 4x4 club from Orangevale, CA. (www.rockzombies4x4.com) Primarily a rock crawling team, OV Rocksports ran in the Last Chance Qualifier in the 2009 King of the Hammers.

HASA Inc. (www.hasapool.com) has been keeping your water safe and clean for over 40 years, with its production, sale and distribution of sodium hypochlorite and related products to the industrial, water treatment and swimming pool markets. HASA is a family owned and operated business that has been long dedicated to the needs of its customers and the impeccable standards of its products.

###

If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kurt Schneider, e-mail Kurt at kurt@ovrocksports.com

[Kurtuleas]

Still working on the trailer a little.

Added A/C, more lights and new roof panels.

[Kurtuleas]

The Team did not leave until after 11PM last night.

Nothing new to a Rock Zombie like Travis since they often drive all night to make it to the Hammers...











3:35 AM filling up the trailer at the gas station:



Get this: STEPH'S MOM, Laura, is going to be hauling that trailer for the team during the race.

The team:

Travis Carpenter
Dan Trout
Travis's dad, Stan
Stephanie Hutchinson
Steph's dad Karl, and her mom Laura
Lance Hamilton
and Ryan "Can't remember his last name"

and me "Stupid-vising" from miles away.


Team is currently 70 miles outside of Vegas

[Kurtuleas]

[Kurtuleas]

4405 MAKES IT TO VEGAS!





They just left Bass Pro-Shops. I dunno why they went there, but I wonder if Trout got all nervous being in that place with all the fishermen in there.

[UGET IT]

Awesome!!! GET IT Boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by Kurtuleas

4405 MAKES IT TO VEGAS!

They just left Bass Pro-Shops. I dunno why they went there, but I wonder if Trout got all nervous being in that place with all the fishermen in there.

LOL....Trout OUT!

[k5chevyblazer]

badass, subscribed. good luck guys, have a good/safe race.

[1uglyranger]

Originally Posted by Kurtuleas

They just left Bass Pro-Shops. I dunno why they went there, but I wonder if Trout got all nervous being in that place with all the fishermen in there.

Family reuniun??

[Renee]

Wow, no Pirate sticker?!!?!? I'm glad you're going to be posting updates here!

[1uglyranger]

Get your ass down there and put one on it

[Renee]

Originally Posted by 1uglyranger

Get your ass down there and put one on it

Team Shaffer/Pirate4x4 is sitting this one out.

[k5chevyblazer]

oh wait maybe Lance will give him a red star for the year LOL

[1uglyranger]

Originally Posted by Renee

Team Shaffer/Pirate4x4 is sitting this one out.

They're not even going down for the race to watch, heckle, nothing?

[Kurtuleas]

Originally Posted by Renee

Wow, no Pirate sticker?!!?!? I'm glad you're going to be posting updates here!

No seriously. There NEEDS to be one on it.

My bad.

After this class is over, I am on it.

[TCARP1]

I have pirate stickers for it they are on it in the trailer. I asked for some big ones for the trailer but ran out of time. Damn hard to type on this stupid blackberry

[Renee]

Originally Posted by 1uglyranger

They're not even going down for the race to watch, heckle, nothing?

I don't know about Mike, but we aren't. I don't think Lance has any interest in spectating a desert race.

[LarryS]

Kinda hard to spectate a desert race, they fly by and thats it for the day. The best spectating will be right here. Thanks to all for keeping us updated.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Renee

Wow, no Pirate sticker?!!?!? I'm glad you're going to be posting updates here!

Advertiement space costs $$$, you show know that, it's how this site is run

Good luck Guys, kick some ass!

[Kurtuleas]

Trout and his Newcastle.

I guess Travis did not pass on the lecture I gave him about hydration, proper diet and eating complex carbs. Well, they got a coupla days I guess....

[MFS_CA]

I'm still betting that they'll have duct taped that "cool shirt" system to the spare tire by day 2

[Danger Ranger]

Get some Travis and Trout

[Bebe]

Congrats you guys, I'm glad you made it down there

[Kurtuleas]

Originally Posted by MFS_CA

I'm still betting that they'll have duct taped that "cool shirt" system to the spare tire by day 2

Lol! Trout could sit on it like a booster seat!

[GETTINTHERETOY]

Good luck guys! Thanks for the updates Kurt. Keep 'em coming.