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View Full Version : SCORE San Felipe 250. Feb 25-27



Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:20 PM
This Year the SCORE San Felipe 250 was held February 25th (contengency) and the racing started bright and early February 26th at 6am for the motorcycles and quads. The trucks and buggies left two hours later at 8am.

This year the course was 240.34 miles long starting in the town circle and ending there as well

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:21 PM
With such a long course, I was only able to capture photos as the racers passed by me at Race Mile 160.8, (RM 160.8) as I was actually helping Team McMillin with there buggies. Also at Race mile 160.8, we are about 2 hours of dirt road driving away from San Felipe so we headed out the night before to get there early. If you follow the dotted lines (these are the chase vehicle routes) up from San Felipe and out Zoo Road, then down to RM160.8, you'll see just how far we had to go :eek2:

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:22 PM
Here I an into my cousin Brett Callen who was riding the number 2a bike along with Ray Schooley, and Ray Schooley JR. A Yamaha YFZ with Epic suspension components, and Alba action backing. Here is walking the bike down through contengency showing of his sponsorship and talking with fans. In the race drawing held February 5th, his team was lucky enough to draw the first ATV starting position.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:23 PM
Another shot of the bike.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:24 PM
Along contengency row, more ATV's passed by, and I was able to get pictures of a few of them.

Here is 15a Joselito Muro of National City, Ca. and Joel Aldiete on their Mexican flag colored Honda TRX 450R

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:26 PM
Number 56A, Sportsman class, and their 450R

sharkinthepool
03-01-2005, 12:27 PM
More please that looks cool as he((

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:28 PM
Alot of thought is put into desert bikes, because of the type of racing they do. With up to 40 or 50 miles between pit stops, riders must also carry extra parts and tools to fix their own bikes incase of a break down. Here you can see 49A's front bumper storage, and his beefy a-arms

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:35 PM
Some of the other vehicles besides the ATV's are absolutely breath taking. A trophy truck or Class 1 Buggy here can top the 250,000 thousand dollar mark to build.....

The McMillin team this year had 3 Class 1 buggies, and 1. 1/2-1600 buggy entered. Scott McMillin took 1st place this year in his class, and over all other competitors (including the motorcycles :eek2:) with a time of 3:48:06, and an average speed of 63.22mph....now that is fast.

Here is Mark McMillin's Class 1 buggy.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:38 PM
Along with the race vehicle, you also need pit support on a massive level. Alot of the high dollar teams also had pre-runners that were equally as expensive as there race cars. Here is a beautiful example of a nicely done pre-runner.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:39 PM
After contengecy, some fish tacos con cerveza...;) , we headed back to our team to collect the tires, pit boxes and last minute instructions before we set out to our final location. Two hours later, we reached Rm 160.8. It was time to set up and go to sleep so we can be up early for the race.

Here is what it looked like on the way to our pit stop:

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:41 PM
The section of Race course that that we pitted on was a long 1 mile stretch of about 1-2 foot deep whoops. This would take a toll on riders because I could see them from far, but by the time they got to me a few look pretty beat up. Of course by the end of the race the whoops deepened to nearly 3 feet deep.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:44 PM
here is the starting order of the ATV's:

PRO ATVs
CLASS 25 (over 251cc) 17 started, 14 finished

1. 2a Ray Schooley/Ray Schooley Jr., Poway, Ca. Brett Callen, lakeside, Ca. Yamaha YFZ
2. 3a Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Chad Prull, Suzuki LTZ400
3. 4a Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif./Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif., Yamaha YFZ450
4. 5a Arturo Romero, Imperial Beach, Calif./Roberto Galindo, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda 400EX
5. 6a Nick Nelson, Tehachepi, Calif./Jason Greenhaw, Bakersfield, Calif., Honda TRX450R
6. 7a Peter Irving, Alamo, Calif./Eric Hassett, Fremont, Calif., Bombardier DS650
7. 8a Rogelio Aragon, El Paso, Texas/Jesus Chavez, Juarez, Mexico
8. 9a Ryan Wheeler/Terry Baker, El Cajon, Calif., Bombarier DS650X
9. 10a Jerry BronstrupNewhall, Calif./Shawn Bolding, Valencia, Calif., Suzuki LT500
10. 11a Miguel Bastidas, Holtville, Calif./Joel Leal, Mexicali, Mexico, Honda Lobo
11. 12a Jesus Marquez/Arnie Pruneda Jr., Chula Vista, Calif.
12. 13a Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nev./Cyle Chislock, Murrieta, Calif., Honda TRX450R
13. 14a Earl Thigpen, Murrieta, Calif./Scott Callen, San Diego, Honda TRX450
14. 15a Joselito Muro, National City, Calif./ Joel Aldiete, Honda TRX 450R
15. 16a Francisco Ruano, San Diego/Rafael Pinedo, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda TRX 450R
16. 17a Javier Robles Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Honda 250R 49a Kevin Thompson, 32/Josh Fink, 33, Phoenix
17. 49a Kevin Thompson-1st RS

CLASS 24 (under 251cc). 2 started, 1 finished.
1. 101a Kirk Schreier, 35, Phoenix/Shiloh Strunk, 23, Tucson, Ariz., Honda TRX250R

SPORTSMAN ATV
51a James Jordan
52a Crash Davis
53a Jorge Juvera V.
54a Bill Hackler
55a Ginn Downing
56a Christian Valles
57a Jose L. Escudero E.
99a Gil Castro-1st RS


There were other racers, but they were not listed in the line up.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:45 PM
In this type of racing, the racers leave the starting line with a 30 second interval, so they are racing the clock rather than each other. As they reached my pit, the first bike through, with a commanding lead was the 3a team suzuki, Alba action, Epic suspension bike ridden by Wayne Matlock and Chad Prull. They passed me at 9:49am, and were 21.5 minutes ahead of the 6a honda TRX 450R. Unfortunately about 20 mile from the finish line the motor on the 3a bike blew leaving them with a DNF after having such a great race.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:50 PM
after nearly 22 minutes the next ATV that appeared at 10:13am was the 6a bike ridden by Nick Nelson of Tehachepi, Ca. and Jason Greenhaw of Bakersfield, Ca. They were on the gas strong as they went by because only a minute behind them was the number 4a YFZ. The 6a bike would move on to finish in 3rd place with a time of 5:54:15.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:53 PM
at 10:14am, The Temecula Motorsports YFZ ridden by Mike Cafro of Carlsbad, Ca. and Danny Prather of Ramona, Ca. came blazing through. Above them you could see a familiar scene, as it appeared H-bomb films was catching the race action

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:55 PM
Hey maybe I'll be in the next movie.:D

Merriman
03-01-2005, 12:56 PM
The 4a bike as it came by. They would go on to finish in second place with a time of 5:54:04.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:01 PM
Unfortunately because of the dust, and the helicopters, I did not realize that the 13a honda TRX 450R was hot on the heels of the 4a YFZ, So I could only get a rear shot in the hast.

The 13a Honda piloted by Josh Frederickof Moapa, Nev, Cyle Chislock of Murrieta. Ca, and Levi Marana, past by me tryin to make a move on the 4a YFZ. They would later go on to win the race, and the overall for ATV's with a time of 5:53:59, and an average speed of 40.74mph.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:07 PM
6 minutes after 4a, and 13a passed the first CLASS 24 (under 251cc). 101a Honda TRX 250R came roaring by trying to keep ahead of his competition. PIloted by Kirk Schreier, age 35, of Phoenix. AZ. and Shiloh Strunk age 23, of Tucson, AZ. They too would go on to win there class with a time of 5:59:49 40.08mph. It appears the old 250R can still hang with the new four strokes.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:16 PM
Next to pass by was the 11a Honda/ Roll design 250R of Miguel Bastidas, Holtville, Ca. and Joel Leal, Mexicali, Mexico, at 10:20am. about 1 minute behind the 101a 250R, and about 7 minutes behind he 13a bike which was in their class. they would finish in 4th place with a time of 5:56:17.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:29 PM
Next to pass by at 10:23am on the big 9a. bombardier DS650 ridden by Ryan Wheeler and Terry Baker from El Cajon, Ca. This bike is a heavy duty machine with 12 inch front bead locks, and 26 inch tires :eek: It has more ground clearance than the average 4x4 quad. It is also running Epic suspensions newest a-arms. The same ones used by Kory Ellis in motocross.

They went on to finish in 6th place with a time of 6:15:01.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:33 PM
The 18a 450R ATV, which I have no information on, was on the gas trying to catch the leaders as he came by at 10:26am. He was 3 minutes behind the 9a ATV, but woth the 30 second interval between competitors at the start, he should of been about 1.5 minutes ahead time wise. I hope he finished up in the front.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:39 PM
Next to come by at 10:34am was the 17a Honda 250R and Javier Robles Jr. from Mexicali, Mexico. He too was making up time on the competition from his back of the field start. He would go on to finish in 7th place behind the 9a Bombardier with a time of 6:16:09.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:43 PM
The 2a YFZ450 piloted by Ray Schooley,Ray Schooley Jr of Poway, Ca. and Brett Callen of Lakeside, Ca. finally came through at 10:38am. They left the starting line first for all the ATV's so they had some catching up to do. They crossed the finish line in 9th place with a time of 6:33:44

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:46 PM
next was the number 49a Honda TRX 450R at 10:44am, rode by Kevin Thompson, and Josh Fink, of Phoenix AZ. They finished in 10th place with a time of 6:49:19.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:50 PM
The next ATV through at 10:45am, and the 1st sportsman class racer was the 99a TRX 450R of Gil Castro, Chula Vista, Ca. and Steve Willenberg of Lakeside, Ca. They would move on to win there class aswell with a time of 6:29:13 averaging 37.05mph.

In this beginner class there was 10 starters, but only 4 finishers.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 01:55 PM
Next ATV to pass by at 10:46am, was the 14a Temecula Motorsports Pro Honda TRX450, that is ridden by Earl Thigpen of Murrieta, Ca. and Scott Callen of Lakeside, Ca. (he is also mine, aswell as Brett Callen's cousin). They finished in 8th place with a time of 6:29:39.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:06 PM
The 16a Honda TRX 450R came through at 10:57am, just ahead of the first Trophy Truck. Piloted by Francisco Ruano of San Diego, Ca. and Rafael Pinedo of Chula Vista, Ca. They finished in 11th place with a time of 6:51:50.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:09 PM
next was a man who almost crapped his pants Why? Because the number 19 Terrible Herbst Trophy Truck was about to push him off into the weeds. The number 53a 400ex piloted byJ orge Juvera V., second in the sportsman class came cautiously by me shaking his head as my friend held out a roll of toliet paper for him :D . I am not sure if he went on to finish the race, but he did collect himself as I heard him back on the gas a minute later.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:14 PM
Next to come down the whooped out trail at 11:07am was the 15a Honda TRX 450R with their unique mexican flag plastic color schem. Ridden by Joselito Muro of National City, Ca. and Joel Aldiete. They went on to finish in 13th place with a time of 7:39:06

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:19 PM
On the only dirt bike motor conversion quad was Arturo Romero from Imperial Beach, Ca. and Roberto Galindo from Chula Vista, Ca. Passing me at 11:08am, hey needed to make up some time on their CRF/400ex conversion. They finished in 12th place with a time of 7:24:05.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:25 PM
A couple of Class 1 buggies and trophies trucks passed by before the next ATV. were I was standing these 2 classes, were by far the fastest through. Scott McMillin, and the Terrible Herbst went by our pit at over 100 mph. Fast enough to where I was running, rather than snapping photos. :uhoh: But here is a unique vehicle to the Baja. Everyone involved knows just what it is.

Here is Terrible Herbst class 1 "Truggy" (half trophy truck, half buggy)

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:27 PM
Next ATV through at 11:22am, was the 56a, TRX450R rode by Christian Valles with Mickey Mouse still hanging on.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:30 PM
At 11:35am number 51a, James Jordan on his raptor, in the sportsman class passed by trying to catch back up.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:35 PM
Here is number 59a, on his Bombardier passing by and reeling in the number 51a raptor. At this time he is 5th in his class but I am not sure if he finished. I hope so, but to make it 160 miles is an accomplishment alone.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:39 PM
Since most of the ATV's and Motorcyles have already passed, the other racecars, started to catch them. It is simply amazing how fast these guys drive.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:42 PM
At 12:01pm the 2nd place class 24 (251cc-below) came by. Unfortunately for number 102a. He would DNF.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:47 PM
Another Pro ATV, number 12a, on the TRX 450R came through at 12:04pm. He was the only racer I saw using the stock shocks. Jesus Marquez and Arnie Pruneda Jr. of Chula Vista, Ca. would finsh off the Pro-class in 14th place, and be the last in this class to complete the San Felipe 250. The other 3 riders that DNF'd did not make it far enough for me to get a picture of them. I wish them better luck next time.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:53 PM
With many of the top dollar race teams its not uncommon for them to have a helicopter following the race vehicle. This is an example of how a helicopter can help spot obsticales for its racer.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:55 PM
nearly a half an hour later, another sportsman racer came cruising by trying to last to the finish line (another 80 miles away)

Here is number 58a as he tries to complete this rugged course.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 02:59 PM
An hour later the last 2 quads, number 55a, and 54a finally came by. It almost seemed as if they were site seeing at the pace they were going. Hope they can do better for the next race.

Merriman
03-01-2005, 03:00 PM
And this concludes the ATV coverage of the 2005 San Felipe 250. Hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'll post more pictures of the trucks and cars, and a Baja Bug, that we helped repair so he could continue on later this week.

400grl
03-01-2005, 03:55 PM
Levi - those are great pics!!! Thanks so much for the excellent coverage!!!! :D :cool:

Crazie
03-01-2005, 07:56 PM
Yeah...nice pics!!! I see you're getting the hang of using a camera finally.:D

Admin
03-02-2005, 06:59 AM
Originally posted by Crazie
Yeah...nice pics!!! I see you're getting the hang of using a camera finally.:D

You kidding, he is a PRO. Great Coverage!!!!

Kilabanshee
03-02-2005, 04:12 PM
Great pics! Thanks for the coverage. I wonder If we'll be seeing this on the new huevos?

twisted threads
03-02-2005, 04:59 PM
Great pictures and Great coverage!!!! :macho

Z400central
03-02-2005, 05:49 PM
AWESOME PICS MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

sharkinthepool
03-03-2005, 06:46 AM
sorry for jumping in there so fast man! I just love those races. I try to watch as many as I can but coverage to Ohio is usually pretty limited!
Great coverage, I especially like the comment about the 53A that was up against the fence from the truck! "Holding the toilet paper out the window", adds some color to the photo!!:devil:

cdalejef
03-03-2005, 08:13 AM
Very nice report! I'm now pumped about the next BITD race. :macho

sharkinthepool
03-03-2005, 09:55 AM
Jeff have you run any of these races?
I am still blown away at the 250R's running these races, how can they make it that far? I have never had very good luck with 2 strokes.

cdalejef
03-03-2005, 11:18 AM
Yep, I ran the first BITD Parker 250 in January.
If you keep the 250R motor close to stock then it would easily do a 250 mile race or a 1000 mile race for that matter.

rob-u/21
03-03-2005, 05:54 PM
cool race report. I raced in the 99a 450r. We finished 1st in our class and 7th overall.

Vtr_Racing
03-03-2005, 10:12 PM
Those are some killer pics and good commentary as well. I was listening to the race on the internet. They had live feed from the Weatherman and we heard all of the action. Very cool. Finally somebody was able to pull that off.
Jeff, will see you at Terrible Towns. I missed the Parker race but our team still raced without me. Gotta get those points. Had some work issues to contend with so I will be ready to get out in the dez again.

cdalejef
03-04-2005, 06:28 AM
Right on! I hope to make it out to the fun run but not sure yet.

Vtr_Racing
03-04-2005, 06:44 AM
Originally posted by sharkinthepool
Jeff have you run any of these races?
I am still blown away at the 250R's running these races, how can they make it that far? I have never had very good luck with 2 strokes.

We ran the first half of last years Best in the Desert with a stock 250r motor, just a pipe and carb. Did very well with it. Almost won the 04 Parker 250 on it. Lost to Lynn Prosser and Scott Mitchell by about a minute in the Expert class. We just didnt have the horsepower they had running the DS and Raptor. Got passed on the high speed powerline road. The 250r is still a very competative bike. We have since put 330 in the old R but we are running a TRX 450r in BITD now.

http://www.socalmotocross.com/vtrracing/racing/parker250%60_04marcresize.jpg

cdalejef
03-04-2005, 06:57 AM
I can't believe they made us sign up in the amature class since we had never raced a desert event before. Then they kind of made us look bad on offroad.com about it. :(

desertratt45
03-04-2005, 08:31 AM
hey jeff if you guys do tt are you going to step up and race the pro class? or just stay in the expert class?

cdalejef
03-04-2005, 08:35 AM
Actually, they told us when we signed up that we had to ride the Sport class which we did reluctantly. Since we won by such a big margin in that class and placed so well overall, we called after the race and explained that we should be moved up. They told us we could run Expert at for the rest of the season and our points would transfer.

desertratt45
03-04-2005, 08:52 AM
ok cool welcome to the expert class then!:D

Vtr_Racing
03-04-2005, 02:18 PM
Originally posted by Jeff@QuadShop
I can't believe they made us sign up in the amature class since we had never raced a desert event before. Then they kind of made us look bad on offroad.com about it. :(

Im surprised they made you enter amateur. William Yokley has raced a few times and he entered pro. I saw you had posted somewhere that you were racing the Parker race. I think when people heard who it was they were very surprised that your team was entered in the amateur class, not know how it went down.
I think its great you guys are racin desert. Bring some more teams out!!!!!!!!!

cdalejef
03-04-2005, 02:30 PM
We didn't want to race amature but they told us we had too. I just made my flight reservation for the fun run on the 9th :macho

socallen85
03-05-2005, 12:23 AM
Parker was my first big desert race and we went straight to expert class, could have done better but 3rd place in Expert is ok for first race.:) see you all at Terrible's look for the Team Epic Racing Products and Bombardier Rig, say hi im the freak next to the Q55 Bomb


thanx for the coverage Levi the pic reminds me to lose weight

Duncanracer
03-05-2005, 09:27 PM
Originally posted by socallen85
Parker was my first big desert race and we went straight to expert class, could have done better but 3rd place in Expert is ok for first race.:) see you all at Terrible's look for the Team Epic Racing Products and Bombardier Rig, say hi im the freak next to the Q55 Bomb


thanx for the coverage Levi the pic reminds me to lose weight

Funny how you're wearing a bombardier T-shirt but pushing a YFZ through tech,,,,

socallen85
03-06-2005, 06:49 PM
i thought that was funny too when i saw that pic

im on a totally different team for SCORE we didnt have shirts, all i had was my team BOMB and EPIC shirt for BITD

it was definetely fun, BIG BIG thanks to Ray Schooley for giving me the oppertunity to race in Mexico