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[Tech Inspection] [Day 1 Action] [Day 2 Action]

Update 8:15 AM PST

The day has just begun and the action is starting. Today is the West series finals. It's going to be a good long and hot day as the morning sun is just peering over the mountain tops and starting to bake the rocks below. Driver's were out in force trying to figure out the courses and what was in store for them for the day. Despite yesterday's showers, it appears that the clouds have burned off and we will have some good weather for the day. Not a cloud in the sky and only a light breeze to keep shots clear of dust.

So welcome to the last event and prepare for the action.....

Update 10:16 AM PST

What a hot event it has been. Both in temperature and action. The event has been flying so far with people getting through courses quick. The action was so hot that even the military had get a view of it all. They showed up in one of their finest Rock Crushers for display.

Look at the size of that gun!!

We found Lance taking on his first course, #5. Lance is driving his wife's #55 rig as she is out for this and the last event. Lance is driving with Mike Shaffer spotting for him. They normally work together in the Pros, but the roles are reversed. On their first course, Lance and Mike did a spotter ride to help boost their bonus points. Unfortunately starting so early, Lance was forced to look down the barrel of the sun. A friendly spectator donated his sunglasses to the cause giving him a helpful break from the painful view. On course, Lance made quick work with only a small stumble in getting over a ledge. A stop and a back took him out a couple points and an early cone hit nabbed another set of 10 from him. However, quick clean driving got him through the course for a great start to the day. Lance said, "The launch was good. It works a lot better on verts. I am worried though in technical driving since it takes a lot of gas to hook up." Lance is running a higher stall torque converter which means that it takes more RPMs of the motor to get the transmission to engage.

Lance coming up and through his first course for a satisified finish

Linda Adams in the #303 crawler had a hard start to her day. Her fuel pump appears to have died and didn't allow her to take her first course. They luckily have some parts and hope to fix it, but they aren't quite sure what the true problem is. They had problems at their last event. They fixed it and were playing around with no problems, but today it gave them trouble. Linda said, "It was running fine, but when we got to vertical it (the pump) said I'm done. We'll get it fixed though. We'll have fun no matter what happens today." Linda was in great spirits despite the malfunction and couldn't stop laughing. She was having so much fun that she got the giggles from it all. Now that's the spirit we like to see out here.

Linda was all smiles and laughs today.

Hallenbeck is out in the heat today working up his #3 rig. Actually if you look close, it is actually Mike Shaffer's Pro rig. He is borrowing it for today's finals. Let's just hope he keeps it in one piece since Mike has to run it tomorrow. Team Hallenbeck/Pillsbury had a great first run of -12, but took a 9 pointer on their second course. "We took a cone on this one. Last course was good. We earned extra points by doing a spotter ride. The vehicle is working good and strong today."

Dawson in the #325 rig pulled in a 2 pointer on course #2. Looking back, they realized that they should have done a spotter ride because it was easy enough. They said they were having a pretty good day so far. Their first course started them out with 12 points for the day giving them a total of 14 up to this point.

Update 10:55 AM PST

If you were thinking like me, you might have expected the judges to make the courses a little easier in order to get all the vehicles through the 10 courses today, but that definitely isn't the case. We have already had multiple roll overs with some very cool saves. The broken parts bin also starting to fill up with different parts from failed course attempts. Despite the damage, most are still out having a great time.

One of the hardest hit victims was the #444 piloted by Jake Mecham. He was on course #3 and was worrying a little bit about it. This course has a steep climb at the beginning about one and a half car lengths in total. Its covered in a fine dust that makes it a challenge to get up. At the top you do a little action pivot over an axle grabbing rock and around a cone. You then proceed to trop back down the hill you just climbed up for a finish. Jake was worried about the drop in, but not so much on the climb. The other day while practicing, they tried the same hill out and made it with an open front end. Today wasn't so good though. He lined up to the hill, gave it the goose, and launched up it hard. A really shakey bounce brought him back down to where he started and damage struck. The rear end actually ripped the top link mount from the axle tube. This allowed the axle to rotate completely tearing not only the driveshaft out, but also destroying the ends on his nitrogen shocks. The words coming from them were, "The day is over". I think that if they asked around, they might be able to swap them out, so lets cross our fingers and hope they aren't out yet.

Bouncing and burning his way up and down.

The results of his actions

Parker Garrett with his high powered machine was running smooth through his third course when they realized that the rig was over heating. Parker is doing well in the series right now and can't afford a DNF for such a small problem. So mid course, they picked up the pace a lot. With an engine over temp, they had to work fast. Parker worked his way over the the first climb, across the mini canyon, and lined up for the final climb. It's a narrow climb and takes the right line to get up it. With a little jostle of the rear steer and a few squirts of water out his radiator, he quickly popped it to the top of the rock and finished the course. Goeller, the spotter, said, "There was no technique through that course." However, they did something right since they pulled off not only a fast time, but also the best score up to this point. Earning 7 points with 6:30 of time left on a 10 minute course, I'd say their "No Technique" method is a pretty good one to follow.

Parker wiggling his way through the course to a good finish despite overheating

Just as that was going on, the #48 rig of Emilsson took a bad beating. Trying to get up course #7 with everyting the rig had, he took a bad turn and pitched the truck over onto it's passenger side just above a good multiple roll hill. They opted to end their course giving them a 40.

You can only hang onto a 4000lb rig for so long before you say, buh-bye

Update 12:18 PM PST

Some scores are trickling in and we have a good battle brewing. On the Mod side, Brad Lovell is smoking up the courses with a -18 points. He has only finished two courses, but if he stays on course, he will have a trophy in his sights. Following up behind Brad is Josh Burau with 0 points and Ben Hanks is only 2 points behind him.

On the SuperMod side, Jake "I love Mike's rig" Hallenbeck is pulling the rest of the field behind him with a -14 score. Just after him is Parker Garrett with a -7 point total which will pull him up in the standings if he can keep it up. Joe Brown is right behind him at -1 points. So where is Scherer and Mazzoni??? They are duking it out in 4th and 5th right now. Scherer is a nudge ahead with 10 points and Pete with 16.

To see more of the scores. Check them out here:
SuperMod Standings
Modified Standings
SuperMod Scores
Mod Scores

Talking with Pete, he looked really excited and was feeling good. He just finished his course when we caught up with him. He and Nick danced the course and showed how to make it look easy. They pulled into the course and were communicating well. Their conversation is laxed, but focused on what they have to do. Pete lined up for the shoot to the top of the hill and Nick calmly left his side and said, " See you at the top. With a lurch of the Shortstar and a grab of the tranny, Pete smoked his way to the top like he had nothing else to do. Pete and Nick immediately got back in communication with each other and walked around the "Burn Around" to line themselves back up for the drop in. They drop in on the same climb they came up. A few adjustments of the wheel and a ready set go, Pete let off the brake, pulled a baby nose wheelie, and finished with a near perfect score of -3 points. There was no use of the spotter rope for this one and the only thing to make it better would have been a ride along. They truly made it exciting to watch.

Pete prepping to drop in on the chute

Update 12:30 PM PST

We just uploaded some pictures from the event to the gallery. Some great actions shots have been captured and are awaiting for your viewing. Check them out by going here:
UROC - 2004 Finals

Update 1:40 PM PST

For those looking for more scores, we just updated the standings. You can check them out here:
To see more of the scores. Check them out here:
SuperMod Standings
Modified Standings
SuperMod Scores
Mod Scores

We also snapped up some more shots and posted them to the gallery. Wheel stands, full throttle getting it shots, and so much more. Have a peek at them here:
UROC - 2004 Finals

Update 2:07 PM PST

We found Evan Petrick getting onto course #8 and trying to improve his rank in the day. Currently he is in 16th place with a score of 76 points. Course #8 is a tricky fella as it has a slab that can bite you pretty hard. Evan found it out the hard way as he was trying to make it, and despite several valiant efforts, he just didn't have the change in his pocket to get past the gate. He wound up getting denied on the course.

Evan Petrick lining up for the sidehill that has bitten so many today.

Lance Clifford, in the #55 rig has been putting on a good run all day in the Diablo 2 tube buggy. As of this time he was in 5th place going into course #8 with 18 points. Lance and Mike too learned the challenge of the # 8 course when they took a rollover. That will hurt their chances of a top 5 finish with Tony K ready to jump on in them. Tony is ony 9 points back at 27 points.

Lance in a roll over trying to side hill more than gravity will allow

We also see a lot of the Pro National drivers out there today looking around trying to catch a glimpse of what they will face tomorrow. Several of them are also practicing outside trying to dial in their rigs before the start. I just oversaw Bob standage getting a pretty sick line and overheard that DSI (Dave Schneider) took a flop onto his lid. Hopefully they don't break anything before the real day. We caught up with Tracy and asked him what it would take to get first place in the season. "I should be able to finish 10th or better ahead of Jon Bundrandt to take the championship this year." It's a pretty good margin, but anything can happen out here.

Tracy peers on at the courses studying others as they take similar lines to what they will see tomorrow.

Update 3:00 PM PST

It's official, Pete and Nick took the season win for the Super Mod class. Congrats to Pete and Nick on a well run day!!

Update 4:14 PM PST

Legendary Marlin Czajkowski was on hand to personally witness the action out here this weekend. He stepped away from the shop to get some fun time and see the action these drivers put on for the crowd.

Marlin giving the thumbs up for a great event

We found Aaron and Matt of the Carnage Crew team, #67 over on course #7 getting ready to run. I tried asking them a few questions, but spotter Matt laughed and said, "Last time we did a quote, I ended up in the hospital." Even trying to find out about the hospital incident was a sore subject as they didn't want to even mention that. All jokes aside, Aaron did say "The course looks easy, but it can still get tough. We don't want to underestimate the course. We will see. They loaded up on the course and the only real challenge to it is a huge climb at the start where a lot of rocks were already stacked for them. A good pump of the throttle and they had no problems with it. They finished the course with 4:48 left on the clock and a score of -1.

Aaron of Team Carnage Crew getting some fun wheeling in on #7

Following them up was the #23 rig piloted by Rhet Furguson. They pulled onto the course and had some challenges trying to get the rear end to dig over. Once they did get it to slide, they lined up for the wall and were ready to attack. However, with a big front end overhang, the nose of the rig kept hitting the wall preventing them from climbing up. A couple backs to allow the spotter to fill up the stack some more remedied the problem and got their nose pointed up it. Without any problems they were up and over the ledge and finished with the course with 8 points. Seth Hammon, the spotter, gave a few words to Pirate, "The climb was wicked earlier. We have a 110" wheelbase so the climbs have been easy for us." They plan is to shorten the wheelbase down some though on the next buggy since they have hard times in the technical stuff.

Rhet dropping off of course #7 for an easy finish

Daren Runion put on a spectacular show on the next course over. The first half of the course is fairly simple with a little climb and a good drop off. After the last drop off though, you have to burn the front around and get it lined up for a vertical wall of fun. Placing his tires high up on the wall, he gave it all 200hp and ponied it up the wall with a nice near vertical stand. Coming to rest on his belly pan, he roasted the tires and sawed them back and forth to get it to hop up over the edge. He took one cone in the process and scored a 10 for the course. Upon finishing the course, he had this too say. "We got up it. I thought the front end was coming over though. That is one NASTY climb. I think I got into it a little too early.

Daren skies out the front of his rig

And the story of the day is Pete Mazzoni and Nick Socha pulling off a win for the series. Their day has been filled with consistent runs giving them a great score for the day. They haven't been trying to pick up extra points. Instead, they were just trying to run clean. It all came down to the last course, #7. They got the go ahead and Nick raced onto the course. With the sun beating down, he had to stack several rocks against a ledge to make it easier for Pete to climb. Pete belted out, "Build me a highway Nick". Once finished, Pete rolled onto the course and immediately did a rear burn with Nick yanking on the rope to align for the wall. Pete then rolled his tires up on the climb and gave it all the Diablo had. Up and over he went and on to an easy win for the season. Pete was exstatic as he frantically exited the vehicle with his arms raised in a sign of victory. Immediately he ran over and hugged Nick for his awesome work and then the rest of the crew around him. A good season for Pete spells a hunt for a Pro Series spot. Congratulations again!

Pete celebrating his series win

Update 4:35 PM PST

Check out the gallery now for more photo coverage of today's event.
UROC - finals 2004

Update 5:00 PM PST

The competition is all but done, but the scores haven't been updated and there are still a hand full of rigs still on course. However, check the current scores and places here until we get the final scores in.

SuperMod Scores/Standings
Mod Scores/Standings

Update 8:30 PM PST

The final day results are in and so are the series points. It was a long hot day for everyone and we are all glad it is over.

On the Super Modified side, we had Pete make a come back in points to edge out Jake Hallenbeck for the days win. That is 2 Diablo chassis taking up the top two spots. Pulling in a third was Parker Garrett in his 4 wheel steer machine. That will push him further up in the points series. Jason Scherer was the next competitor in front of him, but he wound up getting a 6th place today which pushed him back to third in the series. So for the series finale we had Pete Mazzoni in first, Parker Garrett in second, and Jason Scherer in third.

For the Modified side, we had Brad Lovell taking first with 6 points. He smoked the next competitor with only 67 points who was Ben Hanks. And in third, Braden Kemp pulled in a third spot finish with 82 points. They literally finished the series in the same order.

To see more scores of the day and the series final standings check out the links below.
Super Mod Final Points
Mod Final Points
Series Points