Racers survive Terrible heat

Monday, July 15, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

Results

Official finishers in the inaugural SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250, Round 4 of the six-race 2002 Optima SCORE Desert Series (255 miles, five laps on a 51-mile course). Total Starters: 134. Total Finishers: 75. PRO CARS AND TRUCKS

TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks) -- 1. Mark Post, Laguna Hills, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Ford F-150, 4 hours, 49 minutes, 6 seconds/52.92 mph (second overall, pro cars and trucks); 2. Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150; 5:09:28 (fifth overall); 3. Scott Steingerger, Cypress, Calif., Ford F-150, 5:25:43; 4. Brian Collins, Las Vegas/ Larry Ragland, Phoenix, Chevrolet Silverado, 6:37:29; 5. Darren Skilton, Long Beach, Calif., Kia Sorrento, 7:35:11. (10 starters, 5 finishers)

CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two seaters) -- 1. Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., Jimco-Chevrolet; 4:41:25/54.367 mph (first overall); 2. Wayne Lugo, Chino, Calif/Craig Stewart, Santee, Calif., 4:58.49 (third overall); 3. Dan Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevrolet, 5:14:49 (sixth overall); 4. Dale Ebberts, 31, Canyon Lake, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 5:19:29; 5. Andrew Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-Toyota, 5:30:24; 6. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford, 5:47:24. (10 starters, 6 finishers)

PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks) -- 1. Steve Barlow, Temecula, Calif., Ford F-150, 5:25:09/47.055 mph (10th overall); 2. Chet Huffman, Northridge, Calif., Ford F-150, 5:35:29; 3. Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevrolet Silverado, 6:55:16; 4. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, Calif., Ford F-150, 7:02:22; 5. Bruce Friedman, Scottsdale, Ariz., Ford F-150, 7:24:44. (6 starters, 5 finishers)

CLASS 1/2-1600 (VW-powered single or two-seaters - limited to 1600cc) -- 1. Kash Vessels, Tucson, Ariz., Chenowth, 5:59:02/42.614 mph; 2. Ken Browne, Englewood, Colo., Dunrite, 6:06:47; 3. Gustavo Vildosola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco, 6:20:42; 4. Brian Jeffrey, Acton, Calif., Jimco, 6:28:04; 5. Jake Maness, Red Stone, Colo., Jimco, 7:41:38. (8 starters, 5 finishers).

CLASS 3 (Short wheel-base 4x4, 4 laps, 204 miles) -- (2 starters, no finishers)

CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs) -- 1. Larry McCallum, Imperial, Calif., 5:50:46/43.618 mph; 2. George Seeley Jr., Glendale, Calif., 6:41:23. (2 starters, 2 finishers)

CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs) -- 1. Rob Taylor, San Diego, 7:47:09/32.751 mph. (8 starters, 1 finisher)

CLASS 7 (Open Mini Trucks) -- 1. Craig Turner, Yorba Linda, Calif., Ford Ranger, 6:01:11/42.360 mph. (3 starters, 1 finisher)

CLASS 7S (Stock Mini Trucks, 4 laps, 204 miles) -- 1. Eric Hardin/Jared Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., GMC, 5:27:11/37.410 mph; 2. Daniel Fresh, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Jeep Comanche, 6:07:49; 3. Darrell Herman, Ramona, Calif., Ford Ranger, 6:18:21. (7 starters, 3 finishers)

CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks) -- 1. Jim Beaver, Parker, Ariz., Ford F-150, 5:42:21/44.691 mph; 2. Dave Raimonde, Phoenix, Ariz., Ford F-150, 6:00:53; 3. Joe Patelli, Romoland, Calif., Chevrolet, 6:50:49; 4. Beny Canela, Indio, Calif., Ford F-150, 7:01:41; 5. Thomas Greer, Tucson, Ariz., Dodge Ram, 7:07:26; 6. Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye, Ariz., GMC Sierra, 7:17:48; 7. Keith Moore, Phoenix, Chevrolet Silverado, 7:44:33. (10 starters, 7 finishers)

CLASS 9 (VW-powered, Short Wheelbase, single or two-seaters, 4 laps, 204 miles) -- 1. Eric Fisher, Ensenada, Mexico, Garibay Challenger, 5:44:32/35.526 mph; 2. Ken Tapert, Henderson, Chenowth, 5:45:05; 3. Arturo Velasco, Beaumont, Calif., Chenowth, 5:58:02. (5 starters, 3 finishers)

CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc) -- 1. Chris Harrold, Chula Vista, Calif., Jimco-Honda, 5:02:10/50.634 mph (fourth overall); 2. Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., Jimco-BMW, 5:15:56 (seventh overall); 3. Ray Croll, Corona, Calif., Chenowth-Toyota, 5:23:04 (ninth overall); 4. Ron Brookshire, Alpine, Calif., Jimco-VW, 5:40:51; 5. Dave Sundquist, Peoria, Ariz., Jimco-Toyota, 6:19:18. (16 starters, 5 finishers)

SCORE LITES (VW-Powered, Limited single or two-seaters-1835cc) -- 1. Tom Ridings, Long Beach, Calif., Mirage, 5:54:52/43.114 mph; 2. Mike Voyles, Murrieta, Calif., Jimco, 5:58:34; 3. Brian Freeman, Las Vegas, Tatum, 6:33:00. (9 starters, 3 finishers)

CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans, 2 laps, 102 miles) -- 1. Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico, 3:28:15/29.387 mph. (1 starter, 1 finisher)

CLASS STOCK MINI (Stock, Production Mini Trucks, 4 laps, 204 miles) -- (2 starters, no finishers).

CLASS STOCK FULL (Stock, Production Full-sized Trucks, 4 laps, 204 miles) -- 1. John Griffin, Mission Viejo, Calif., AM General Hummer, 7:25:41/27.463 mph. (1 starter, 1 finisher) PRO MOTORCYCLES

CLASS 21 (126cc to 250cc) -- 1. Eddie Deanes/Carlos Molina, San Diego, Calif., Yamaha, 5:36.49/45.425 mph; 2, Eddie Zeller, Coronado, Calif., Yamaha YZ-250, 5:43:57; 3, Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, Calif., Yamaha WR 250F, 6:12:40. (3 starters, 3 finishers)

CLASS 22 (250cc or more) -- 1, Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif./Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif., Honda XR650R, 4:33:42/55.9 mph (first overall motorcycle); 2. Ty Davis, Hesperia, Calif./Russell Pearson, Las Vegas, Yamaha YZF, 4:39:18; 3. Andy Grider, Los Olivos, Calif./Danny Cooper, Henderson, Honda XR650R, 4:40:29, 4. Mike Childress, Wrightwood, Calif./Beau Hayden, Shadow Hills, Calif., Honda XR650R, 5:13:07; 5. Matt Gosnell/Dave Fry, North Las Vegas, KTM, 5:15:31; 6. Jose Meza, Fresno, Calif., Honda XR650R, 5:52:27; 7. Gabriel Manjarrez, Fallbrook, Calif./Martin Brineas, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda XR650R, 6:30:07. (9 starters, 7 finishers)

CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old) -- 1. Kevin Ward, Chatsworth, Calif./Daryl Hambleton, Acton, Calif., Honda XR650R, 5:21:28/47.594 mph; 2. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, Calif., Honda XR650R, 6:01:21. (2 starters, 2 finishers)

CLASS 40 (Riders over 40 years old) -- 1. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, Calif./Jon Ortner, Santa Barbara, Calif./Brian Schmuckle, Encinitas, Calif., Honda XR650R, 5:32:21 (46.035 mph); 2. Kenny Hayden, Shadow Hills, Calif., Honda, 6:42:01. (2 starters, 2 finishers) PRO ATVs

CLASS 25 (under 251cc) -- 1. John Gregory, Chula Vista, Calif./Doug Eichner, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 5:36:42/45.441 mph; 2. Jimmy Stephensen, Las Vegas, Honda TRX250R, 5:54:44; 3. Mike Johnson, San Diego, Honda TRX, 6:09:56, 4. Ryan Wheeler, El Cajon, Calif., Bombardier, 6:20:47. (7 starters, 4 finishers) SPORTSMAN

SPT BUGGY (4 laps, 204 miles) -- (1 starter, no finishers)

SPT MOTORCYCLE (250cc and above) -- 1. Bobby Black/Shawn Black, Stockton, Calif., Honda XR650, 5:40:06/44.986 mph; 2. Sam Jones, Henderson, Kawasaki, 5:46:01; 3. John Kuhlken, San Diego, Honda XR650R, 5:51:07; 4. Ron Purvines, Henderson, Honda XR650, 6:03:10; 5. Matt Lyman, Honolulu, Honda, 6:08:55; 6. Shaun Hanson, Murrieta, Calif. Honda, 6:14:58; 7. Corey Keysar, Monument, Colo., Yamaha WR426, 6:28:07; 8. Matthew Patyk, Solana Beach, Calif., Honda XR650, 6:48:38. (8 starters, 8 finishers)

SPT ATV -- 1. Steve Willenberg, Lakeside, Calif./Brett Frederickson, Santee, Calif., Honda 250, 6:29:27/39.286 mph. (2 starters, 1 finisher)

Despite blistering heat that hovered near 120 degrees at one point, Saturday's inaugural SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250 desert race was an unqualified success, according to SCORE president and CEO Sal Fish.

But that doesn't mean the head of the premier desert racing series isn't thinking of ways to improve the event next year.

"For an inaugural event, I think it was just fantastic and the racers seemed to love it," Fish said. "I learned an awful lot here about how I can improve it and make it a heck of a lot better.

"As part of that, do we make this an all-night race? Or what (else) can we do to improve it?"

In addition to the heat, organizers had to contend with a severe thunderstorm alert issued for southern Clark County on Saturday evening. There was talk of calling off the race before all of the cars and trucks had finished, because the start/finish line was located in a water detention basin.

Fish said such severe conditions are part of what make desert racing so special to the participants.

"We had just a little of everything, from the heat to the thunderstorm to people saying we've got to cancel it because there's going to be three feet of water in the (basin)," Fish said.

"It was a unique event and that's what makes our sport what it is. If you just have a start and a finish, it's just another event. But this is going to go down as a very unique event that people in the off-road community will talk about for a long time."

Fish said it would be almost impossible to move the event to the spring or fall because the six-race Optima SCORE Desert Series schedule is "pretty much locked in" from January to November.

He said he expected all of parties involved in the race, including Las Vegas-based sponsor Herbst Gaming and Terrible Herbst Oil Company, to bring it back to Henderson next year.

"I think what's going to happen now is the (Henderson) Convention and Visitors Bureau has to look at it and see how it worked out for them," Fish said. "I would find it hard to believe they wouldn't welcome (it again) ... because of what we did as far as room nights and people coming out to Henderson.

"The Bureau of Land Management has to re-evaluate it, and naturally the Herbsts are very pleased. I would like to see this as a long-time event in our series."

Though attendance appeared to be approximately 5,000 near the start/finish line, a SCORE spokesman said a preliminary BLM estimate put attendance near 10,000 for the day, including fans who watched from a remote pit location and unauthorized spots along the 51-mile course.

"As far as I'm concerned, we had a great day Saturday," Fish said. "I think it was a darn good event for an inaugural event. I'm certainly not complaining about anything.

"I just want to improve on the things we do at SCORE to get this race to the status that it can achieve as soon as possible."

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