Baja desert races may be legendary, but this course will be the real deal

Monday, July 7, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

2nd Annual SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250

Wednesday

4-5:30 p.m. -- SCORE charity driver bowling tournament, Terrible's Town Casino and Bowl in Henderson.

5:30-9 p.m. -- SCORE charity video poker tournament & silent auction, Casino Montelago at the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas.

Thursday

Noon-5 p.m. -- Driver registration, Henderson Convention Center.

6-10 p.m. -- Live draw for starting position and pool party, Terrible's Town hotel-casino, Las Vegas.

Friday

8 a.m.-noon -- Course reconnaissance (controlled speed pre-run for registered entries only).

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Driver registration, Henderson Convention Center.

5-10 p.m. -- SCORE tech, contingency & manufacturer's midway, Water Street, downtown Henderson.

6-7 p.m. -- IGT SCORE pit crew challenge, Water Street, downtown Henderson.

7-7:30 p.m. -- Driver's meeting, Henderson Convention Center.

7-9 p.m. -- Tommy Rocker concert, Water Street, downtown Henderson.

Saturday

6 a.m. -- Race Start -- GROUP A (8-hour time limit).

8 a.m. -- Race Start -- GROUP B (8-hour time limit).

6 p.m. -- Unofficial results posted, Terrible's Town hotel-casino, Las Vegas.

6 p.m. -- Post-race party, Terrible's Town hotel-casino, poolside.

7 p.m. -- Competition review board, Terrible's Town hotel-casino.

8 p.m. -- Awards, Terrible's Town hotel-casino, poolside.

It might be a stretch to compare this weekend's SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250 off-road race to the legendary Mint 400, which was in Las Vegas from 1968 to 1991, or Baja 1000, but the course being used for this year's race may top any track the sanctioning body has ever used for a race in the United States or Mexico.

SCORE International sanctions the three desert races in Mexico and three in Nevada that make up the 2003 SCORE Desert Series and SCORE president and CEO Sal Fish said the nearly 80-mile course being used for Saturday's Henderson's Terrible 250 may be the ultimate test of man and desert machine.

"Our race courses in the U.S. are tougher overall than the ones we race on in Mexico, but the history and the mystery of Baja makes those courses legendary," Fish said. "But we think we have put together something that will make some history in Nevada.

"Baja has its own lure but the course for (the) SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250 will start a new legend."

The course for Saturday's race begins on the Eldorado Dry Lake Bed, located off U.S. 95, about 7 miles south of the Railroad Pass hotel-casino, and winds through the McCullough Mountains to the west, circles the Jean Dry Lake Bed just east of Interstate 15 and doubles back through the McCullough Mountains to the start/finish line.

The course, which uses segments of the old Mint 400, includes several high-speed stretches, rugged washes and treacherous mountain-pass dirt roads barely wide enough for a full-sized pickup truck. In other words, Fish said, the perfect test for the estimated 150 drivers competing in the $500,000 race.

"It's a great, great race course with almost everything to offer a desert racer," Fish said. "It has supersonic high-speed power line roads, technical tight-twisty mining trails, dusty silt beds, whooped-out washes, dramatic hill climbs with mountain on one side and cliffs on the other.

"Before this race is finished, I'm sure racers and their weary teams will have a nickname for every rugged mile of it. As challenging a test it is for man and machine, it's almost unthinkable to consider that most of these desert warriors will race over it three times before they see the checkered flag. There will be a lot of survivors ... but they will all know they were part of a great race and will have lots of stories to tell."

Las Vegan Brian Collins, who called the course "fast but rough," estimated it would take him about 80 to 90 minutes to complete a lap in his Chevy Silverado Trophy Truck.

"It's real tight and there aren't a lot of areas to pass," said Collins, who is seventh in the SCORE Trophy Truck standings going into the race. "Dust is going to be an issue if you're not running up front and will keep the speeds down, but it should be a pretty good test."

Pre-race events begin on Wednesday with two charity events at Terrible's Town Casino and Bowl in Henderson and the Casino Montelago at the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas.

Thursday's events include a live drawing for starting positions, concert and fireworks show at Terrible's Town hotel-casino in Las Vegas. SCORE's contingency and vehicle inspection, a manufacturer's midway and the $7,000 IGT Pit Crew Challenge will be on Water Street in downtown Henderson on Friday.

Saturday's race, for cars and trucks in 17 Pro and two Sportsman classes, will begin at 6 a.m. for nine classes, including Class 1-2/1600 and SCORE LITE. The featured Trophy Trucks and Class 1 will be among the classes starting at 8 a.m. All vehicles will have an 8-hour time limit to complete the race.

Admission is free, but the only approved spectator areas are at the start/ finish line off U.S. 95 and the Pit B area on the Jean Dry Lake Bed off Las Vegas Blvd. South at Knight's Ranch Road near Jean.