The thing about XRRA rock...
The thing about XRRA rock racing is that you can't slow down if you want to win. This includes downhill sections. Each team ran the course two times and then two times in the other direction. Here Mike Hullfish aims for a tight turn on his way to the finish line.
The XRRA Eastern Final at...
The XRRA Eastern Final at the Badlands utilized the most brutal terrain that the quarry area had to offer. This is the same quarry we used for our Real Truck Club Challenge Obstacle Course competition. Here you can see all the competitors staged prior to the start of competition.
Kim Sears had some good runs...
Kim Sears had some good runs and showed some good action. The main jump had a tendency to kick the rear of the vehicles up if speeds weren't fast enough, which is what happened to Sears in this image. Sears went on to the Nationals and earned 15th Place for the season.
Most of the vehicles, but...
Most of the vehicles, but not all, in XRRA competition are custom-made. Maximum approach and departure angles and bulletproof drivetrains are mandatory building criteria.
Most of the competition rigs...
Most of the competition rigs are custom-built and they have to handle every discipline of off-highway travel well. One minute they're crawling boulders and the next they're catching big air.
In addition to the overall...
In addition to the overall brutal terrain, the course contained small obstacles specially designed to keep the drivers on their toes. Here Chris May jumps a hill on his way into a tight lefthand turn. May had a decent weekend earning a Fifth Place finish.
One thing you don't want to...
One thing you don't want to have to do is fight to get up a hill because that wastes time. The trick is to hit the hills with plenty of momentum and just hang on tight.
The Top Five finishers of the '08 Eastern Division Final
1 Tony Reitdorf
2 Brian Shirley
3 Rusty Bray
4 Ken Blume
5 Chris May
Band Of Parents
The XRRA is actively involved in supporting the Band of Parents. Band of Parents is an organization that is dedicated to helping find a cure for neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system that affects approximately 650 children in the U.S. every year. XRRA is a strong supporter of this organization and there is at least one competitor in the Series that donates his winnings to this worthwhile cause. More information on this organization and their battle to end this cancer can be found at www.bandofparents.org.