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CST AT THE SCORE TECATE BAJA 500
June 08, 2006
Prepped, loaded and ready to go CST was off to the 38th Tecate Baja 500 where more than 150,000 people were in attendance to watch the third event of the six race 2006 SCORE Desert Race Series. A record 438 racers from 7 countries and 28 states were up to the challenge, including 37 in the elite Trophy Truck division. Running in a clockwise direction, the 424.29 mile course would prove to be very tight and technical as only 222 competitors finished the race.
Starting 13th off the line the number 26 CST / Socalsupertucks.com trophy truck was in a great position to stay out of the dust which is a huge advantage to keeping the consistent pace we intended to run. Buy race mile 45 we had moved up a few positions in to 9th place and were running flawless so far, but a minor set back occurred when we hit a boulder that was placed in the road (a booby trap as some call it) by the locals. The boulder was placed out of sight just past a hump in the road and crossing over it the rear drive shaft was struck and bent out of shape requiring the back up shaft to be installed. Back on course weaving and winding through the pine forest section we were on our way again and heading for the first pit stop at race mile 171.
Winding down through the goat trail and jumping on to the highway at rm 117 where you make a 20 mile run down the highway at 60mph everything seemed to be fine, we hit the pit stop fueling the truck and checking the 37? Toyo Tires for any noticeable damage. As the number 26 truck launched out of the pit there seemed to be some type of fuel pressure problem causing a stall. The pit crews quickly isolated the possibilities to a malfunction of the fuel pump, they switched over to the back up and sent the truck on its way.
Heading up into the infamous Mikes Sky Ranch Loop, a very tight and rocky section of the course, a broken down trophy truck was stuck blocking the single lane road ahead. Co driver Randy Anderson jumped out of the truck to assist in clearing a path for driver Chris Robinson to navigate through, causing a short delay. Coming out of the loop with the CST team out of radio contact a technical difficulty had occurred with the power steering which would cause the number 26 truck to with drawl from the race at rm 256 due to limited steering making it very unsafe to continue.
?Coming out of town I felt really good and even with the few set backs early on I still liked the position I was in? stated Robinson ?After getting out of the truck numerous times clearing paths through the carnage and the power steering fighting us I did not feel that is was safe to continue into the dark with 200 miles ahead of us. There was just no way to get the truck back into race ready shape and finish in the 18 hour time limit. Primm is coming up in September and with most of the bugs worked out we should be ready to give it a run for a top 5.?
Four races in to it?s career, the number 26 CST trophy truck has completed 2 of 4 races
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SCORE LOGO
CONTINGENCY
FIRST CORNER THROUGH TOWN
RACE ACTION COMING
RACE ACTION GOING
FUN IN THE SAND
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