SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1503989
BAJA OUTDOORS New Gear That Can Improve Pit Crews And Relay Team’s BaJa Experience By Dan Sanchez Volunteers are the unsung heroes of every SCORE Baja race, living out in the desert to help racers with a full-working pit crew, or to relay vital information to teams and family members. The Baja desert goes through extreme temperature changes, cold at night and hot during the day, so the gear volunteers use is vital to their survival and comfort while staying exposed for three or more days in a row. The type of outdoor gear, such as clothing, sleeping accommodations, seats, food, and more, are just as important to these teams as much as their knowledge and abilities to work on vehicles efficiently and quickly. We asked those volunteers that spend races out in Baja, exposed and alone, what they do, and what kind of gear they use. We also found some outdoor gear that they could use to make their time out in Baja a little bit better. BFGOODRICH TIRES RELAY TEAM Kristen Flaherty and her husband Erin, are the BFGoodrich Tires Relay 14 team. You can find them at the highest peaks in Baja set-up with their van called Blanco Diamante, (white diamond). “It’s pure bliss when we are out in the wilderness of Baja in our van, " says Kristen. “It was custom-built by Erin, especially for doing a relay. When we’re out there for days on end, we typically have a flip-back tent and a back seat that folds out into a bed. We have a contained kitchen that pulls out and a water station container that uses a gold panning dish for a sink. We are away from anyone else so we have to be self-sufficient and bring everything we are going to need with us. As a relay person, Kristen is a big part of the safety aspect for racers, their chase teams, and their families. She started in the late 1990s doing this with her father Winford Deen and has been Relay 14 ever since. “The safety aspect is what a communication team is focused around,” she says. “We’re helping to make sure cars and chasers have complete communications, no broken chatter, and everyone knows what’s going on. We also work closely with SCORE ops to quickly and effectively take care of it.” Outdoor Gear And Wish List The type of gear Kristen and Erin use during their time outdoors includes electric jackets, a diesel heater in the van, a generator, and a 12-volt battery that is powered by solar panels mounted to the top of the van. “Less is more in our case, says Kristen. “We don’t have that much room in the van with all the gear and relay equipment, so we don’t want to carry any unnecessary stuff. One of the things I wish I had while operating the relay is a comfortable workstation that also helps me keep pens, paper, and binders organized.” PLAN STATION PRO PORTABLE WORK DESK This portable workbench measures 24” x 48” and can be easily folded to take up less space. The Plan Station Pro features a variety of storage compartments to hold everything from cell phones, files, pens, etc. and is made of a durable, heavy-duty fabric that holds two pieces of plywood as a work surface (not included). It can hang on any flat surface and open up to provide a workspace. DOMETIC GO COMPACT CAMP TABLE The Dometic Compact Camp Table is versatile, sturdy, and made for the on-the-go off-road or overlanding enthusiast. Large enough to accommodate four adults, the top is made from solid bamboo. The four aluminum legs are adjustable to three different heights, and the table folds in half for easy storage and comes with a carrying case. IGLOO TRAIL MATE COOLERS A new line of wheeled coolers from Igloo make it much easier to haul to a campsite. The coolers feature everything needed from a bottle opener to a butler tray and storage for drinks and more. It even has a stand for a mobile device like a phone or tablet, and holds 70 qts of ice, drinks and food. The Trailmate line also comes in 25, and 50 qt models without wheels and are 1.5” insulated with a heavy-duty handle and grips. MAG 7 PIT CREW One of the original all-volunteer pit crew services is Mag 7, which is a fully non-profit organization that provides much more than fuel, tires, and repairs for racers. “In general a group of volunteers for Mag 7 pits becomes like family,” says Mike Shatynski, Mag 7 Pit Captain. “It’s very similar to what you would experience in the military, and that’s why many of our volunteers are veterans. This type of teamwork helps many veterans who are missing that sense of brotherhood they experienced while in the military. When I can, I pull veterans out to pit with me and it helps their mental aspect of becoming a citizen again.” Mag 7 provides everything for racers including fuel, tires, mechanical repairs, and more. “We have different people who specialize in various tasks like welding, mechanics, etc..” said Shatynski. “Many of the pits are positioned about 20 miles from the highway so we’re typically out here alone with a team of three or four in each pit. We have to be ready before the race starts and we stay out here until the last vehicle comes through.” Outdoor Gear And Wish List While Mag 7 Pit volunteers have been active since almost the beginning of off-road racing, the gear they use to be out in the Baja desert is rustic. “We have portable canopies for shade and many of the team sleep on cots with a sleeping bag,” says Shatynski. “We typically sleep under the stars, and some may bring a tent that is set up away from the activity. We have to be careful what to bring because everything usually has to fit in one of our pickup trucks. This includes generators, welders, tools, and often several 55-gallon fuel drums on a trailer.” For Shatynski, the health of his crew is most important, and that’s why he wants to make sure they are comfortable. “If I know my crew is well fed and well rested, I know they will be able to perform at a top level when vehicles come into the pit,” he says. “We have every tool necessary as we are funded and refurbish everything from pit fees, but I wish we had more comfortable sleeping accommodations and soft chairs. Having a good table and something other than paper plates and plastic utensils would also be great. We also don’t have lots of portable water to do clean-up. We usually stay out for three days and don’t clean up and/or shower until after the race and we get a hotel room.” THE REV TENT The Rev Tent is a multi-platform, foldable tent that weighs only 25 lbs and can be used on a vehicle roof rack, in the bed of a pickup, or on the ground. This four-season, two-person tent has a built-in 4” foam mattress that sets up and breaks down easily into a zippered storage case made from 840D nylon and measures 47.25” x 42” x 8.5” KLYMIT CEDAR MESA COT Klymit makes a portable cot called the Cedar Mesa that features collapsible aluminum legs that fold and allow the cot to fit into a small, compact carrying case. Made from durable 300D polyester ripstop fabric, the cot is oversized for comfort and lightweight. KLYMIT KLYMALOFT SLEEPING PAD This pad features a plush foam topper that comfortably supports the body and is made from stretch polyester fabric. The Klymaloft Pad uses I-beam air chambers to create loft and stabilize the pad. WATERPORT WATER TANKS Available in 2, 4, and 8-gallon sizes, WaterPORT tanks make it easy to have extra water on site that is also pressurized for washing dishes or showering. The tanks can be mounted to vehicle roof racks with additional mounting kits and the tanks and hoses are made from food-grade plastics and are safe for drinking. The tanks can be pressurized with a pump or air compressor. VOICES FROM THE PIT Pit Crews Are A Vital Part Of SCORE Racing For Many Teams By SCORE Journal Staff Since the beginning of SCORE Baja racing, the logistics of running across vast amounts of desert required pit services along the way. Most teams don’t have the resources or people to have a pit crew in key areas to refuel and make repairs along the course. This is why volunteer pit crews were created and why they offer a vital role for many teams. Racers sign up for pit service for each race through the pit crew team’s website or via the SCORE International website. The services can range from simple refueling to taking care of any mechanical issues, tire changes, and more. For the most part, even if you didn’t sign up for a pit and needed help, any of the crews along the course will help racers in need. Along with one of the BFG Relay Teams and the Mag 7 Pit crew we spoke to, there are several other pit teams that offer their services and deserve to be highlighted. One of the most popular pit services in SCORE racing is the BFGoodrich Tires Pits which was started in 1982 by Bob Bower and then run by Frank De Angelo. The pit services are key to many SCORE racers needing fueling, tire changes, repairs, and full mechanical needs for UTV, truck, and moto teams. What makes the BFG pits so successful are the volunteers that provide a variety of talents. “These are hardcore enthusiasts who love the BFG brand and support off-road racing,” says Nate Hunt, Off-Road Racing Program Manager at Jackson Marketing Group (JMG). “Races like the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 are the most recognized in motorsports. It drives people to want to be a part of it. Some have been on our crews for 20 years to be a part of the reputation of BFG pits and being a part of the race.” BFGoodrich Tires Pits are also providing services to moto racers and are determined to improve safety and lessen their impact on the environment using improved fuel mats and better safety protection for refueling personnel. The BFG Pits have also given people an opportunity to experience SCORE races for the first time. “We brought some tire dealers from Ireland one time to work in one of the pits,” said Hunt. “Now they fly themselves from Ireland to Baja and come every year to be a part of the BFG Pits.” For nearly 40 years Baja Pits and its founder and president Carlos Orozco, have been supporting racers with essential services. “Baja Pits started with a casual conversation I had with Jim Julson, the founder of Jimco in the late 1980s,” said Orozco. “He and I talked about easier ways of transporting equipment from stage to stage, and how difficult it was to do at the time. That’s when Julson suggested that maybe I should create a pit service, and so the name Baja Pits stuck.” Organizing as many as 200 people across the Baja desert, the Baja Pit crews are primarily made of volunteers that do it for the love of racing and being able to help racers get to the finish. “It gives me a lot of satisfaction that some of our crew members are gaining positive life experiences,” says Orozco. “Some of these guys struggle in Mexico to just eat three meals a day, and I think Baja Pits makes a difference.” One of the added benefits of Baja Pits is their ability to communicate in both Spanish and English, allowing any racer to use their services and explain completely what they need. One thing, however, that speaks across all language barriers is food. During the event, the long days and sleep-deprived nights are quelled somewhat by the friendships that develop and the food that’s mostly barbecued at each pit. Food is the big motivator, according to Orozco. “Each person is fed very well, and my guys don’t eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” he laughed. “Specific people volunteer to do the cooking, whether it’s carne asada, barbecued shrimp, or tacos because a well-fed pit crew will want to do the job.”