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February 7-13, 2010
Lucerne Valley, CA: The Hammers
SHANNON CAMPBELL TEAM MONSTER ENERGY
February 17, 2010 - Gilbert, AZ- The 2010 King of the Hammers was a race like no other thanks to Jeff Knoll and Dave Cole. Shannon Campbell/Team Monster Energy have been mentally preparing for this race since 2009. Arriving on the lake bed on Monday to test, prerun and put a strategy together like most teams is mentally exhausting. This year Shannon, driving the 2009 IFS buggy drew 72nd position and would be starting in the 36th row. Starting from the back is nothing unusual for this amazing team. As the green flag goes down Shannon switches into race mode and is on a mission.
In Shannon’s words:
At mile 35-Main pit I pulled in to fuel and have the car checked over. Leaving the main pit in actual 6th position. Headed to Aftershock and Sunbonnet I passed two more cars but just before Sunbonnet I realized I had taken a wrong turn. I went to back up and ran into the car I had just passed and unknowingly knocked the front diff out of gear. I put it into 4-Hi to get 4wheel drive and continued up Sunbonnet in 4th position. By the time I completed Sunbonnet the transmission was so hot it melted the drain plug washer and had drained the fluid. Just outside of the Masters pit the car quit moving. I got out and found the problem all the while kicking myself. I put fluid in and received more fluid as Rob McKenney and Nick Campbell came by. At this point I was down 30-40 minutes before pulling into Masters Pit. I looked the car over and was able to get back on course. I passed a few more cars but about a mile out of the Bessemer Mine/BFG Pit I had lost all tranny fluid. I realized that the steel braided hoses had gotten so hot that the rubber lining had disintegrated and because of the heat the front seal had let loose. Hearing what was going on-on the radio Rob and Nick told me to have the strap ready and they would tow me to the pit. Knowing this was the only legal way to get to a pit and get repaired and finish the race. Upon arriving at the pit the guys were ready to make the swap. This bunch of guys worked their butts off to pull the old transmission, put in the new one and replace the lines that were damaged. Several of the other teams pit crews came to offer assistance and/or parts. For that I am very grateful. With everything put back in order I was able to get back on course in 1 hour and 49 minutes. All I can say is that after all of that I was able to cross the finish line in 19th place.
I did not have transmission failure but driver failure. For as long as I have been competing I didn’t take the time to think about what just happened. In order to have Hi range I would have to have low range. For the amount of abuse I put the transmission through it lasted longer than it should have. Hughes Performance does build a tough tranny.
I would like to say “Congratulations” to Loren Healy on a great race and becoming the 2010 King of the Hammers. It takes a lot of support and commitment to finish this race and the guys from Farmington, NM know just how to do that.
I need to Thank a lot of people for their support-Rob McKenney/Nick Campbell for stopping twice during their race and still finishing in a solid 8th position, Casey Currie for guiding me through Sledgehammer, friends and family and all of my sponsors. Without their support and superior products I wouldn’t be able to do this.
Monster Energy, BFGoodrich Tires, Currie Enterprises, ARB, Howe Performance, Turn Key, Hughes Performance, Advance Adapters, Fox, Ron Davis, Walker Evans, Mastercraft, ProAm, KC Hilites, Powertank, Warn, Axial and Southwest Ground Control.
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