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LOVELL CLAIMS XRRA SEASON OPENER
Double Win For Lovell Rock
Racing
Proformance Unlimited rocked Moab, Utah with another
winning combination. "We have put a lot of focus on this first race
and have everything in place to win. All we need to do now is drive
fast, states Brad Lovell." And fast they did. "We came from last
place to first place. I am amazed by what this truck can do, it is
blistering fast", states Brad. Lovell's Ford Ranger was backed by
Proformance Unlimited's 347 with 400 horsepower race engine.
Upon the Lovell's reaching the 20 point bonus ledge, Brad explains,
"Down I went and opened up all 400 horsepower as the front tires
landed. Without a bounce the rear tires contacted the ground and I
knew we just raised the bar for everyone behind us." The WE-Rock
victory gives Lovell Racing back to back wins and a season points
lead in both XRRA and WE-Rock, all in the same vehicle..
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TEAM LOVELL GOES TO THE TOP AND BACK
BY BRAD LOVELL
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.
LOVELLS PUNISH FABTECH ROCKCRAWLER
TEAM
ALMOST VICTORIOUS AFTER HARD DAY
Lovell Racing has returned
from the second round of WE-Rock action in Cedar City, UT. The
courses at the 3 Peaks OHV Park are always challenging and there was
plenty of terrain to make this competition entirely distinct from
the last. This, the third event in a series of four, was important
for the Lovells so they could cement their series lead going into
the final round.
Day #1 always seems to be the roughest day
for the team. This event would be no exception. While the last two
rockcrawls have been nearly mistake free, the FABTECH Ranger nipped
a cone on the first course. The second course, A2, started with the
pair easily missing a cone that was taken by all others.
Regretfully, the effort was for not as a bad bounce left the truck
hanging over the second gate with no way out but a risky front burn.
Brad gave it his best but ended up on his roof in need of recovery.
“At that point we knew we needed our best effort and some luck to
get back in the game,” recalls Brad, “In two courses we were about
50 points behind where we should have been.”
The brothers
kept their heads and cleanly navigated the remaining technical
courses. In fact, all the pair had to do was exit the finish gates
on the last course of the day. The lure of a bonus line caught
Brad’s eye, however, and he lined up for what would be another
costly mistake. Off a ledge and end over end the Ranger went. While
the ledge was not huge, the impact was hard enough to fracture the
radiator, bend tube, and leave bruises. The rough day left the
Lovells in 6th place and scrambling to repair a damaged vehicle.
Brad adds, “The whole family chipped in and we were lucky enough to
have Above All Rockcrawling weld our radiator. We were done in time
to get some rest and focus on day #2.”
Focus is exactly what
the team did and it resulted in a remarkable second day. Brad and
Roger made quick work of the remaining regular courses making all
the right moves where others had difficulty. The team made up enough
ground to be positioned in 2nd place going into the final round, but
still a far cry from leader Brian Errea.
The Lovells watched
in dismay as the final course deteriorated and holes were dug making
the first climb impassible for other contenders. “We did not have
much time to make a plan and it looked bad,” commented Roger, “We
fell in the same holes but luckily I found some decent rock.” Roger
muscled rock into the enormous holes and it proved just enough for
Brad to throttle trough before stabbing the brakes to avoid a cone.
They went on to a successful run and even cleared a treacherous
bonus that nearly caused yet another rollover. “I saw my wife
jumping up and down at the finish line and I knew we had done well.
We put the pressure on Errea,” recalled Brad. Errea was under the
gun, hit a cone, and had a heart stopping roll through the bonus
line. Luck was with him though as he landed on his wheels and
finished the course with seconds to spare. His efforts put him a
well deserved 3 points ahead of the Lovells.
The 2nd place
finish gives Lovell Racing a strong lead going in the final round to
be held in Donner, CA on July 18th. Stay tuned as the team competes
in their 3rd event in as many weeks at the R.O.C. Rock Race in
Colorado Springs, CO this weekend.
Team note: One of our
friends, Tom Guaraldo, died this last weekend while driving a new
rock racer near Colorado Springs. He was not wearing his seatbelt
while testing the transmission. He made a sharp turn, rolled, and
was partially ejected. After my hard roll in Cedar City, I have
little doubt that my seatbelt saved my life. Please, value yourself
and your family – wear your seatbelt. If it is a custom application,
check it regularly for damage.
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