"It's a beautiful
class that's also
difficult because
you're working
with old parts.
It's like racing
with one arm tied
behind your back!"
- Dennis Hollenbeck
As luck would have it,
Hollenbeck posted a DNF because
they didn't finish in the allotted
time. But neither did the rest of
the field. The entire Class 11 field
posted DNF's. So SCORE gave the
number 1121 VW of Hollenbeck's
team, the Honorary Baja 1000 win,
with a time of 50:35:04. It may
not have been the fastest win in
SCORE history, but it was a huge
victory for them that was truly
savored by a group of dedicated
racers who were willing to do
anything it took to complete the
race. "It wasn't just about finishing
the race," says Hollenbeck. "It was
a dream come true. It was our first
time running the Baja 1000 and it
was an incredible experience!"
It was the same for several other
members of the team, many of
whom had always wanted to race
and finish the SCORE Baja 1000.
"When the Baja 1000 started and
I was in the car, I actually felt like
crying because I was so happy,"
said co-driver Armando Salazar.
While Class 11 vehicles may
seem like they are the least likely
to finish, there are some high
points to driving in an old Beetle.
Hollenbeck explained one of the
things that puts a huge simile
on their faces, is when they pass
Unlimited Trophy Trucks or Class
One vehicles who are stuck in
deep sand or silt. "Off in a distance,
they can hear a vehicle coming
and ask, who's that? What's
coming," says Hollenbeck. "Then
they see it's a Class 11 vehicle and
realize their Trophy Truck can't
go through that section of the
course, but the Class 11's can!"
048
SCORE JOURNAL