Randy Merrit
Donald Fall
With only a few days remaining before the Blue Water Desert Challenge race weekend gets underway in Parker, AZ, October 12-14, there are already 157 entries pre-registered for this thrilling 2-day event. And with entries still being accepted until the end of day Friday, this year’s race should easily top 170.
Unlike all of the other Best In The Desert long distance races that are either a long loop race, or a point to point course, as is the Parker “425” or the recent General Tire “Vegas to Reno” courses, the Blue Water Desert Challenge is a unique 2-day multi-race format that features Best In The Desert’s Car, Truck and UTV classes running both days for combined results to determine the winners. This is a great viewing event for everyone that loves desert racing; spectators, racers and pit crew members included.
As a result of the multi-race format each day, some of the top off-road racers in the world get to compete in more than just one class of vehicle. Many of the Trick Truck and Class 1500 drivers are also running their back-up race vehicles or prerunners in the Sportsman class as well. With the exception of the Class 1500 cars, each race heat features groups of different class vehicles running at the same time, resulting in extremely close fender-to-fender race action. Due to the large number of vehicles entered, Class 1500 runs its own separate heat. But at the end of 2-days of racing, it comes down to racers taking home victories, bragging rights, walking away with as many championship points as possible and of course the money.
With four of six races in the books, Robby Gordon still holds on to the overall Best In The Desert points lead, but his lead in Class 1500 is narrowing with Garrick Freitas gaining ground on him. Among the Trick Truck drivers, Mark Weyhrich holds a slim lead over Steve Sourapas. Class 1000 is a real tight race with Philip Heynen barely ahead of the second place tie held by Carrie Smiley and Cody Reid. Bryan Folks holds a commanding points lead in Class 1100. Troy Vest sits atop the Class 1200 ranks for Protrucks. Hank Winter holds only a two-point lead over Ryan Mattox in Class 2000. Steve Alexander has a comfortable lead in Class 5000 in his bright yellow KC HiLiTES Baja Bug. Troy Messer is dominating the TrophyLite class so far this year. Al Hogan holds the point lead in a tight battle over Barry Karakas, Sean Backus, Randy Merritt and Travis Bozzano in the highly competitive Class 7200 “Mini Trick Trucks”. Dr. Macrae Glass holds the lead in Class 8000 and Tim Casey has Class 8100 all but locked up.
Racing gets underway at 6:15 Saturday morning and runs virtually non-stop until around 4:30 Sunday afternoon. The Blue Water Desert Challenge is like no other event on the Best In The Desert race schedule. If you can make it to Parker, it’s definitely a great opportunity to see the world’s top off-road racers in action. And if you can’t make it, tune into the many off-road racing based websites that will be covering it this weekend.
The Blue Water Desert Challenge is held in the Town of Parker, AZ with the start/finish line just one mile from the host hotel, the beautiful Blue Water Resort & Casino, right along the scenic Colorado River. It’s a great time to come to Parker; off-road race by day and play at the exciting Blue Water Resort & Casino by night.
Blue Water Desert Challenge Schedule of Events:
Thursday, October 11, 2012
8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration for the Time Trials – Class 1100, 1400, 1500, 7200
11:00 AM
One Escorted Practice Lap for Time Trials for Class 1100, 7220, 1500, 1400 in that order and then the Time Trials Follows
7:00 PM – 12 AM
General Tire Off-Road Appreciation Party
River’s Edge Cantina – Blue Water Resort & Casino
Friday, October 12, 2012
9:15 PM to 6:00 PM
Car & Truck Contingency & Technical Inspection
North Parking Lot – Blue Water Resort & Casino
Saturday, October 13, 2012
5:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 1st Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
6:15 AM – 1st Race Starts, Class 3700, 1700, 5100, 1900 (1800 2-Laps)
All Times Approximate after the 1st Race Starts
8:00 AM – Car and Truck Staging 2nd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
8:30 AM – 2nd Race Starts, Class 1100, 6000, 2000, 3000, 8100, 7100
9:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 3rd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
10:15 PM – 3rd Race Starts, Class 7200, 1000, 5000, 4400
11:30 AM – Car and Truck Staging 4th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
12:00 PM – 4th Race Starts, Class 1500
2:15 PM – Car and Truck Staging 5th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
2:45 PM – 5th Race Starts, Class 1400, 6100, 1200, 8000
Sunday, October 14, 2012
5:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 1st Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
6:15 AM – 1st Race Starts, Class 3700, 1700, 5100, 1900 (1800 2-Laps)
All Times Approximate after the 1st Race Starts
8:00 AM – Car and Truck Staging 2nd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
8:30 AM – 2nd Race Starts, Class 1100, 6000, 2000, 3000, 8100, 7100
9:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 3rd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
10:15 PM – 3rd Race Starts, Class 7200, 1000, 5000, 4400
11:30 AM – Car and Truck Staging 4th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
12:00 PM – 4th Race Starts, Class 1500
2:15 PM – Car and Truck Staging 5th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
2:45 PM – 5th Race Starts, Class 1400, 6100, 1200, 8000
Saturday and Sunday Races
3-Lap Classes = All Classes 3-Lap Classes with the exception of Class 1800 (2-Laps only)
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM – approximate
Awards Presentation – Bingo Room – Blue Water Resort & Casino