SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1248789
as the angles of the belts, and you realize things need to improve. So Jimco is implementing changes to its Class 10 builds. The days of a one-size-fits-all is over. It's tough in off-road desert racing because there are multiple drivers in one car. That's what we're working on. It makes a huge difference when you have driver ergonomics. It is so important in the vehicle because comfort allows for better focus at speed. Sometimes you have to make tough calls and that's why Jimco sits down with drivers to explain safety first. I learned these things from NASCAR, IndyCar, and NHRA. Out of all the safety devices in the car, seats, and belts are the most important." Elliot Pollock of Armada-Engineering is a firm believer in power-to-weight ratios. "Sometimes builders have different ideas, I focus on building a lighter, faster car," said Pollock. "With spec classes, you are limited on horsepower and the only way to add more is to shed more weight. We do this by using exotic materials with unique designs, which retain the performance and reliability. In most other forms of racing, power-to-weight is a major concern. That's what always baffles me in off-road racing. I know we need a strong machine, but you can't neglect power-to-weight." STORIES OF THE DRIVERS Broc Dickerson was one of the youngest drivers in SCORE when he began racing. He is now 19-years old and has raced in an Alumni Craft buggy for several years in Class 10. He's also a multi-time SCORE Baja Class 10 winner and season champion. "Class 10 is a fierce class," Dickerson said. "There's a lot of competition to get into it, but It is really fun. You don't have to worry about all the electronics like the bigger classes. Class 10 is not fancy and we had the car built strictly for Mexico, and it was strong. Reliability is critical." Dickerson says there is an emphasis on driving skills that help. "Performance came on at the low end of the power curve in my car from last year," he said. "A win comes down to driver skill to handle the curve in performance. It is the driver's class." Dickerson won the Class 10 Championship in 2017 but lost it in 2018 with a DNF at the SCORE Baja 1000. Still, he has nothing but praise for his Class 10 competition. "I came from short course racing and I was used to pushing cars to their limit," he said. "It is a really good entry class and a stepping stone to Class 1. All the competitors run neck and neck, all-out, and there are times when I'm completely blinded by dust and I have to rely on my co-driver and GPS. He tells me what to do and I listen." Dickerson plans to move into Class 1 when SCORE racing resumes this year and has been testing. "Hoping to put it at the top of the Class 1 podium," he said. FEATS OF DRIVING SKILL Another near impossible driving feat happened at the 1134-mile 50th Annual SCORE Baja 1000. "It was like a dream, kind of surreal," said SCORE Class 10 Champion Cody Reid. "Our Co-driver Adam Pfankuch kicked off the start and he passed the car off to Curt Geer with the pace being nice and consistent. Sammy Ehrenberg did the next 300-plus miles. The car was running flawlessly. The car was strong and our pace was quick for the race. FE ATURE CL ASS 10 SCORE JOURNAL 102