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Team Lovell Goes to the Top and Back
June 17, 2008 - The question I have been asking myself for the last couple days is “How exactly did that happen?” A couple unusual things happened to our team at the XRRA Round #3 in our hometown of Colorado Springs that that left me scratching my head. The twists of fate during the day were almost as extensive as the turns, climbs, and drops at the RAM Off-Road Park course.
As luck would have it, Roger and I received back to back positions in the running order again. This reoccurring coincidence causes logistics challenges but did not stop both of us from bringing in respectable times for our first runs; mine was only 9 seconds off of the fast time by Shannon Campbell. I saw that I needed to ask more from the truck so I pushed it harder on the second run. My co-driver Mark Hayward and I crashed off of ledges to fast, brutalized the tires and wheels on boulders, and had little regard for the drive train when landing from jumps. I think we laid down the fastest time of the day but had no time to check as a clunk in the rear end signified a broken gear set. On top of that, our trusty set of BFGoodrich Baja T/A KRT’s was no more. After seven destructive races on the set and five years competing on BFGoodrich, I had my first flat.
As soon as Roger’s second run was complete (this one his fastest yet) the team headed to the pits. We furiously tore apart the rear axle and scrambled to find a spare tire. As we pulled the gears out, I was puzzled to see no damage but was intent on focusing on the job at hand. In less than 30 minutes we had the axle reassembled, a new tire, and a damaged brake caliper removed. We had about a dozen helpers from other teams that jumped in without being asked - we owe them greatly.
Back to racing – I now lined for the dreaded gap jumps that have plagued me for years. Roger and I had both decided before the race - NO MORE! Time to face the fear - no longer would we bypass these jumps. Green flag – ease down the drop, mash the gas, 3rd gear, keep it straight, hold on…. Up and over sailed the FABTECH Ranger with the smoothest landing imaginable on the Dirt Logic shocks. Around we sped through the rest of the course to the checkered flag. As soon as we crossed the finish line my wife Natalie ran up with news that Roger’s truck would not start. Given our past ignition problems I focused on the distributor while everyone and anyone checked sensors and relays. Unfortunately, our 60 second window ran out and Roger was forced to take a DNF. We would later discover that high temperatures combined with the addition of fire shielding had caused the fuel pump to get to hot and loose pressure. Couldn’t it have happened any place but the starting line?
With Roger out of contention for the finals, I made my final run and discovered I had nearly a 40 second cumulative lead. Roger followed by clearing the gap jump and marking a fast time but the missed course would keep him from the final round. All Mark and I needed to do from here is be smart and play it safe. In the first round of the finals we picked up at least another ten seconds on second place. Only one run left…. We left the line and were consistent until we got to a dug out climb. I tried and tried but could not get the truck to transition correctly due to the huge holes. I kept trying spot after spot and finally spun up to the top but got tangled in a banner. We finished the course but it was all for not as we timed out. How did I loose it on what I do best - a climb?
The times were tallied and the FABTECH Ranger ended up in a strong 3rd Place. We are proud as a team to have a podium finish but I must admit I am a bit puzzled and disappointed by my performance during the last run. That’s why we race though, to test ourselves. Final placing has not yet been announced so we are not sure where Roger ended up. I should also add that upon further investigation, the gear set and ARB locker were fine, the clunk was coming from the damaged brake caliper.
We have quite literally no break in the schedule as we return to Cedar City, UT this weekend for WE-Rock Round #3 before returning to Colorado Springs for a race the following weekend. Stay tuned, more news shortly.
