RUn2it

Riding mid day with the sun at your back with relatively smooth dunes will get you in trouble as there's no contrast (shadows) and you can launch off a dune without ever seeing it. Check it out next time mid day, face your shadow and look a hundred yards out the sand looks all the same light color, then look 90 deg left or right and you'll see light and dark texture, tire tracks and hi / lo spots. You might be surprised. Better to always be turning and following ridges as they seldom abruptly end and cross over going downhill, you can see way more of the other side than going uphill, gravity assists you downhill and uphill, as an example, as soon as your right front tire goes over the ridge (razor) your left rear unweights and the rear of the quad, and to a lesser extent rail, will want to slide out. Personally, being a quad and bike rider mostly I feel safer at night, I can tell if a rail is coming up the other side by their lights, daytime I haven't a clue till I see a flag, if it's not on a soft springy pole.

I just read the news on DDR a couple days ago, I can't think of any words that could add to the description of what a good guy Bert was that haven't already been said by everyone already, but I have a few pics from the 1st Regatta I want to share. I asked my friend Wade (Pete knows who he is) if he saw what happened on DDR and he had but didn't realize who it was till I told him about Bert pulling so many out with the Samurai then it hit him, his 1st trip out with his bad a$$ LT car he got stuck and BAM, there was Bert to pull him out. Funny, Berts hat in these pics say "AM~PM TOWING & RECOVERY". From now on when I see someone stuck, needing help or not, my reaction will always be the new international, driver needs assistance distress call ..... "BERT" pronounced "BERRRRRT!" Lee Bert's classroom, on recess I think Bert showing the big man crew how it's done These are the same pic but the 2nd one (last) will open up large to see who's there

The only place that printed warnings might be read is on the pass backside maybe. The "should be" number 1 rule of duning is never drive in a straight line, the dunes look 2-D, flowing turns will look more 3-D. Any boxers here? Harder to judge a punch straight at you. I asked Roma (Dakkar winner) if he carved and turned through the course dunes in the Dakkar and he lit up and said yes, he was always turning and his navigator would remind him. Pete, if the cage had not crumpled and they were wearing helmets, landing upside down likely would have caused basilar skull fractures without any HANS device and typical heavy consumer helmets. Ironic that a cage that doesn't collapse in this type of crash keeps the vehicle off the occupants but offers no deceleration and the abrupt stop is the terminal event. Remember the old stock cars that didn't crumple, easier to fix but needed a new driver. If anyone is considering an aftermarket roll cage you might want to ask if it's 4130, DOM, stress relieved etc and do some research, chromoly can hurt you, bend a straight piece into a u shape and if/when it fractures it can do a lot of damage to soft tissue. Not trying to talk you out of a new cage, just know what you are getting into, literally. And rest in peace to a duner who paid the highest price for the least amount of duning and his misfortune may save one of us with the wake up reality check that this kind of tragedy can bring.

Didn't see any mention of this, from Feb 24,this is a link to the press release story and some pics I shot. http://www.craveonline.com/lifestyle/articles/656901-mini-offers-ride-in-dakar-rally-winning-countryman Jay Leno was riding with Nani Roma (Dakkar overall winner) at 1st then they switched seats, the best part was Leno describing, in his typical comedic style, his experience behind the wheel. Nani gave me a rundown on all the different things on the MINI like water cooled rear disc brake calipers. The cars reported cost estimates range from $850k - $1 million and is heavy at 3800lbs.

check the float levels and check the fuel pressure if you run electric fuel pump.Sounds like float level is too high. Verify, run the rough till it stalls, pull a plug, is it wet/black? If it was sputtering then belch black smoke THEN run good I'd say smaller venturi's, so you probably have a stroker and bigger bore. Don't know anyone to recommend anymore.

Hey, enlarge FE135s pic, how many different critters made those tracks, look close to the front pushbar and a little up, tracks up/down with horizontal lines, and the lower right corner a flag whip pole sized straight line nearly horizontal. There's Kitfox, beetle and maybe raven tracks, but a straight line? Hoop snake, lol

If you score a vest they're not what they use to be, there's no photographers on the track in the corners anymore, no flagmen either. The credentials were for the year last time I checked, get better pics from the top of the stands. Hard to believe we both were at that Primm shortcourse race the 1st year of Lucas series. Where's that pic from you posted? looks like BITD long travel. Lee PS, if you go to LVMS Fri and go to the driver media signup trailer and act like your meeting somebody inside for pics or working you can get a wristband for all 3 days for $45, Fri is practice and qualifying and there's usually mayhem from watering or a little to radical lip on the ramp ups. See ya there

It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it, and I always wanted to be a somebody. If I don't then somebody else has to. They're related to the person that borrows tools and never puts them back, you know him, it's "Not Me", has to be, ask anyone.... "Who the fork took my Channelocks" answer = "Not Me" same guy every time. And next time somebody (or somebody else) says "I didn't do nothing", well, that's easy, it's nothing.... right there between the dots I was doing nothing, besides if they didn't do nothing they must have done something. Those same people can't remember nothing, well, you don't need to remember nothing, suppose you remembered nothing, how would you identify it, "hey, hand me that nothing" or "gimme a bucks worth of nothing" just doesn't work. This concludes todays chapter of "simple things for simple minds". Totally different subject, Vegas race is soon, probably what got this in the noggin. This race was Saturday at Surprise AZ, Renezeder 17, Deegan 38, and McGrath 2. Renezeder was pushed off the track by another driver and got going but didn't know the 38 and 2 were there. In 3130 shows McGraths driveshaft broke, I asked him if he was on the throttle on top of Renezeder and he said "on it hard", that driveshaft is slamming like crazy only 3-4 inches over Carls head. 3138 shows rearend housing broke both side of pumpkin, driveshaft, maybe needs a front wheel alignment. Last pic shows who got into Carl and started this deal. Oh yeah, Deegan is a lap down. I named it "The Saturday Surprise Double Decker special with a side of Deegan". Vegas will be "interesting". I'm expecting to see Pete there. Might as well throw another pic in there to show Pete what an awesome backdrop Vegas has.

Pete, I made you a card to see where it gets you.

Randog, O MASTER of the RED BEAST, command thy BEAST to rise thine head and journey on thy hind legs and emit thunderous sound, but verily resist temptation to over boost carelessly and breathe hell fire lest the BEAST smite thee and force thou to extract thy coveted coin to conjure up a potion to render thou turbo device whole once more.

Pete, wassup? You miss me ..... "NAAAAAAHHHHH" lol, remember that one? Hey LOORRS will be in Vegas this month, some good battles already gone down. If you go keep an eye on the Pro 4 99 & 32, started last year. Renezeder already has a 1st & 2nd in Pro 2 and 2-first place finishes in Pro 4. Been trying to get him to take the trucks to Dumont on the way home from the Vegas Speedway race, won't commit, he said he wanted to go in the Calico mines, and Whelchel..... he wants to fly in my plane but no way going in no damn mines. lol. Told him he could trust the mines and me but the plane is a different story. How's that big KTM doing? Any environmental impact studies? Minor soil samples? You got a handful there, and with the motorcycle too, lol, sorry See ya, Lee

To Mark: Money is tight; times are hard, so here's your friggin Bertday card!

I was wondering cause of the rounded profile. On the Quadzilla the stock swingarm is too short, pegs back too far and you end up sitting too far back and I tried Haulers with as flat a profile in the size I needed and at any speed but cruise (and who cruises?) the quad would either lift the inside tires and try to spit you off highside or would lift the fronts and you'd go straight before finished turning, even when sitting halfway on the tank, so put flat profiled SkatTrac Edge (chevron) on, they were lighter than any other, and then it was nice controlled slides at any throttle setting. I take a look at this forum from time to time, going to start going out soon with a 2 seater ....... ultralight and the old 250 quad I rode before the zilla. Hey, the 26th-28th this month the Lucas Oil OffRoad racing series will be at the Vegas Speedway if you know anyone into 4000lb trucks racing motocross style. Renezeder asked me to be the team photographer, couldn't think of a reason to say no. Anyways, be careful out there, especially things that are bigger than your quad and smart about the shadows, when the sun is over your shoulder behind you, no shadows and stuff will sneak up on you. You can always ride like a sailboat tacks in the wind when shadows are to the left or right from direction you want to go, left a ways then right. Quads riders are like pilots, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots. Later, Lee

Jodi, couldn't resist your pic, hope you don't mind. 1 is small like your post and the other is like opening yours in another window. Viewing at original size (native) will make them as clear/crisp as possible. By the way... how did the 2 Raptors rear tires compare, like hills, sliding, running through small choppy stuff? Lee small open in new window

Pete, you sure you're not rooting for Cyrils bike? Robbie should have panic revved it like he usually does, especialy when it teeters on the nose.

and the added track surface looked like it had 3/4 inch white rocks in it. Ouch .Did you see practice before they dozed flat the end of the sand section, alessi and a couple others went down and Dean Wilson slammed and his bike cartwheeled over the tuff blocks and nearly to the stadium downhill. And how about Mark Monea doing the off axis 360 FRONT flip, the ramp curve helps back flips but Monea tucks his head and grabs a handful of front brake. Here's the link (I think)--->

Like they said, Discount/Americas tires with the road hazard certs, and NO Carlisle, have 2 personal stories on that. The most I've paid for a Towmaster in years is $18.00, the cost of a Road Hazard warrantee.

So Pete, which way is the slide moving, starting to open or almost closed? Guessing it's moving back

Bert, just a guess, is this your car? :clown:

Only use a weapon if you truly fear for your life re; the person you shoot better be attempting to shoot or stab you and there's no alternative escape or all bets are off and don't be surprised if you face criminal prosecution and/or civil litigation for liability from relatives even if exonerated by the legal system, CCW or not. If there's no way out and you're choice is get shot or shoot and face the consequences.... it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Lots of calculation to do in the split second it takes to pull a trigger. Just something to consider....

so what camera did you use? Last year at the Home Depot Center they didn't care what still camera you had but the Staples Center wouldn't let you in with any lens longer than 3.5 inches. This year it was all the venues, no interchangeable lenses or zooms so I figured they could kiss my aperture.

Ojos Negros, where Pfluegers' truck hits guy taking photo <click for video

Easy, you hear trucks, move forward to see around others, people down course do the same to see around you, next thing you know .... I got a late start so cancelled or I'd been right in there taking pics, being lucky has never felt so crappy. and as far as it being the promoters fault, for them to barricade a 50 mile loop both sides through some rough terrain and police it, the entry fees would be so high to pay for that, nobody could afford or would pay so the only alternative is like BITD and let taxpayers pay for enforcement with the BLM, not to mention the closer the race to the southern Cal population centers the spectators #s compound. At least V2R has some spots especially up north with the course close or paralleling the roads.

One of the guys killed was standing next to his friend and his friends 7 yr old son when the truck rolled right toward them and the victim grabbed his friends son and threw him out of the way and was hit by the truck and died, that's an ultimate sacrifice. It hits hard when you think about it.