AKIQPilot Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) I’m headed up to Laughlin for the annual desert classic. Billy is down again to try for another podium in Unlimited Turbo UTV. I will be in the Hot Pit helping with refueling and buggy prep. All the big guys are here this week. Racers from SCORE, SNORE, Ultra 4, BITD, etc will be competing for their share in $600,000 in prize money. Its gonna be a fun race with lots of action. https://bitd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/LDC_2020Prgm-web.pdf I will be back in Havasu Saturday for the annual Mark Hahn 300 mile jet ski race at our trailer park. I will be helping one of the Stand Up teams this year. A pretty fun weekend of racing for sure. Edited February 20, 2020 by AKIQPilot 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 That is the trailer park where I live. My motorhome is about 100’ from the pits. Teams are already pulling in and getting set up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaturallyAspirated Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Lucky bastid! I like your retirement operation Tom. Neal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irv Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 1 minute ago, NaturallyAspirated said: Lucky bastid! I like your retirement operation Tom. Neal Was going to say the same thing. Tom knows what retirement it all about. Enjoying the things you love the most and having a ton of fun at the same time! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, NaturallyAspirated said: Lucky bastid! I like your retirement operation Tom. Neal Thanks Neal. For a gear head like me it doesn't get any better than this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 1 minute ago, irv said: Was going to say the same thing. Tom knows what retirement it all about. Enjoying the things you love the most and having a ton of fun at the same time! I am very blessed. I get to help teams compete and potentially win. 2 weeks ago my buddy Matt got 10th out of 154 racer in King of Motos at KOH. Today I will help Billy try to get to the top of the podium. In Pro Turbo Unlimited UTV. Saturday i will be helping in the jet ski race here at the Crazyhorse. Its pretty cool stuff for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irv Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Just now, AKIQPilot said: I am very blessed. I get to help teams compete and potentially win. 2 weeks ago my buddy Matt got 10th out of 154 racer in King of Motos at KOH. Today I will help Billy try to get to the top of the podium. In Pro Turbo Unlimited UTV. Saturday i will be helping in the jet ski race here at the Crazyhorse. Its pretty cool stuff for sure. Good for you, Tom. I don't have to tell you to enjoy it nor have fun because I know you already are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticCrusher Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1jkw Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Good job Tom and good luck to the guys you are helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 Got the car all prepped and ready to race. This is a night race for the UTV’s. Green flag drops at 9pm. Eight 15 mile laps. Should be fun. We are ready. Back at the hotel now. Gonna head down and check out the sights here in a few. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodtick Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 This beats the hell out of being a greater at Wallmart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 (edited) So we had a disappointing night. The front drive shaft snapped on the second lap. We picked Billy up at race mile 12 then headed back to watch the race. The course was brutal. No breeze meant the dust hung low. All the teams were flying but as the laps counted up the course was getting gnarly. Team Radios all across the pits were calling in with demise. At the end of the night Polaris had a good showing. The new Polaris buggies are fast and durable. Its just incredible what any of these buggies can endure. The Red Bull RZR was the Unlimited Turbo winner. Cognito buggy got 2nd in Pro Turbo Sierra got 3rd in Pro Turbo Blue RZR got first in Stock Turbo class Unofficial results of course Every finisher is a winner IMO. Edited February 22, 2020 by AKIQPilot 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 And tomorrow is the Mark Hahn 300. 10 miles 30 laps. The weather is gonna be nice tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodtick Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Anyone want to buy a cabin in the UP? I’m headed south to hang with my new bff Tom. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washedupmxer Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 https://www.facebook.com/groups/222949037794347/permalink/2839039859518572/?sale_post_id=2839039859518572 While your there maybe grab this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 (edited) I counted 37 boats in the sit down classes. 11 stand ups. A pretty good showing for sure. This is probably the ugliest day of the entire winter here. Its nice and warm, low 60’s, but the sun is only intermittent with a few sprinkles in between. There are a few all women teams. The seemed fairly prepared. Edited February 22, 2020 by AKIQPilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 This race is 300 miles. Thirty, 10 mile laps. They will come in and refuel every 5 laps or so. To refuel the boat has come out of the water and be 30’ from the wats edge. The teams build ramp systems on the beach so the wheelers have enough traction to drag the boats up. Some teams use a rail system that the boat just shoots up to get out of the water for refueling. Some use fancy trailers with turrets for spinning the boat around to relaunch. Most teams change drivers when they fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 Here is the start. Not sure if It will embed or not. 5079207B-32FB-4811-B930-13A0BBDC1B63.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 1 hour ago, AKIQPilot said: I counted 37 boats in the sit down classes. 11 stand ups. A pretty good showing for sure. This is probably the ugliest day of the entire winter here. Its nice and warm, low 60’s, but the sun is only intermittent with a few sprinkles in between. There are a few all women teams. The seemed fairly prepared. Man...you are really just diggin' the desert life, ain'tcha? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Zambroski said: Man...you are really just diggin' the desert life, ain'tcha? Well its hard not to like it. Great weather and something going on all the time. Now the sun is out and its almost 70. There is almost no reason to be inside except to sleep. The weather now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 5 minutes ago, AKIQPilot said: Well its hard not to like it. Great weather and something going on all the time. Now the sun is out and its almost 70. There is almost no reason to be inside except to sleep. The weather now. Yeah, We just finished the cloudiest month on record in MN and my wife was losing it.....reminding me of the southern ways of sunshine. She almost had a point there for a while then my brain started working again. I also remember getting into Ski Doos for about 5-6 years when there Pretty fun...just not sledding. Did you guys not travel a whole lot during your “working years”? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 The race is on about lap 20 now. The sun is out and things are warming up quick. This video is the 15th lap, it’s half way over. There are 4 boats on the lead lap in this clip. Some of the leaders came in for fuel and a driver swap. FF73A6DB-A0F9-485B-B002-4716E16457E1.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 14 minutes ago, Zambroski said: Yeah, We just finished the cloudiest month on record in MN and my wife was losing it.....reminding me of the southern ways of sunshine. She almost had a point there for a while then my brain started working again. I also remember getting into Ski Doos for about 5-6 years when there Pretty fun...just not sledding. Did you guys not travel a whole lot during your “working years”? We normally took 2 vacations every year when I was working. One with kids and one without. In 48 years of living in Alaska I have left the state at least 100 times. Left the country 15 times not including going to Canada. Driven out or back at least 15 times. Its safe to say we have done our share of traveling. Ive been to every state in the union and 20 different countries. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKIQPilot Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 There are 3 all women's stand up teams. They are all doing well and still on the lead lap. A couple of women are pretty old. 50 at least. They are pretty bad ass. On the left is my buddy Deans grandaughter. She is 19. Her partner Terra on the right is 50 or very close. These guys are in 2 place right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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