SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/470914
I f one dares, you could compare SCORE's Class 10 race cars with the Western Zebra-tailed lizard. A Class 10 car thrives in long distance desert races because of its long wheel travel, robust power-to-weight ratio, a light body, and the ability to maintain momentum over grueling terrain. Likewise, the Zebra-tailed lizard runs really fast because it also has long legs, and a lightweight, streamlined body. The principals that help the lizard move quickly across the desert, are similar in theory to that used in Class 10 race vehicles. The right weight and wheel travel can allow the vehicle to "fly" over difficult terrain, without the need for high horsepower engines. Because of this, Class 10 vehicles are continuing to grow and are becoming a great jumping point for those wanting to get into SCORE desert racing, as well as for teams to be able to afford and maintain a second race vehicle. Class 10 vehicles are not new, but as teams and racers began to understand the advantages, more were being entered year after year. For example, back in 2010, the 43rd running of the SCORE Baja 1000 had 11 Class 10 race cars show up at the starting line. In 2012, the 44th SCORE Baja Mil, a total of 13 Class 10 cars took a swipe at the race course. The following year in 2013, the number of teams competing in Class 10 for the Baja 1000 had increased to 20 race entries. The numbers kept increasing so that at the 47th SCORE Baja 1000, the field grew to 24 competitors. Across the spectrum of the desert racing industry, growth in Class 10 race vehicles are a sign of SCORE 101 THE POPULARITY OF CLASS 10 PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GROW WITHOUT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. A CASE FOR CLASS 10 BY RICK SHANDLEY PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIMCO RACING 082 SCORE JOURNAL