The 2011 Baja 1000, as always we had a great time and would like to thank our sponsors, Hostility Clothing, The BEE-HIVE Sports Bar, Rigid Industries, FiberwerX, and Slime…
The 1000 started just like any other year for us, I quickly went from 5th to 2nd in the first 25 miles. #1549 pitted in Ojos Negros where we had a great stop and moved back to fourth place. Hassim Mendez got behind the wheel and we were back in 2nd place in no time, Hass handed the truck over to Tyler Bolland in Santa Catarina. Tyler lost a steering rack going over the summit, we replaced the rack and Tyler continued on when he lost that rack again. We did have another steering rack, but it was in Borrego, some 85 miles south. We got the rack and repaired the truck again only to time out at checkpoint 2 in the early morning hours. It was a great effort by the entire team and I am very proud of our efforts for the whole season. We never caught Randy Swink and never took the lead, Randy had a great day and was the only finisher in our class giving him the Championship. We brought home the 2nd place for the season. Congratulations to Randy Swink and his team, they are great competitors and always keep us on our toes. Here are a few pre race and tech shots.
Nick Tonelli is racing the Baja 1000 this weekend. This historic race is in its 44th running and is arguably the most grueling gnarly off road race on this earth. To add to the pressure Nick is racing for the class championship. Everyone keep their fingers crossed for our off road guys down there. Bring it home Nick and Crew!
Check out the new Toyota Nick Tonelli and Crew will be racing down south this go around! that thing looks rad! They are just crossing the border right now and should be all set to do some damage out there. The Beehive Trophy Ranger had some motor issues last race and Tyler Bolland stepped up with his truck and made this championship still a possibility, thank you Tyler!
The Bee-Hive Classic II - what a race this was for racers, fans and everyone involved!
We had a record number of entries for the Classic II ! So thank you to everyone who was a part of this event- whether you were participating, spectating, or just there- we appreciate everyone who is there to support local, entertaining, affordable and accessible racing for all!
The Classic II had people saying it was the most entertaining race they have seen- EVER!
Lets recap-
If racing isn't exciting enough- just watch these 1450 trucks as they QUALIFY to race! We had 5 laps to qualify the trucks for their positions to start the race. Dustyn Loppnow from Team Tonelli sheared both rear 35 spline axles and rolled 3 times during the most intense qualifying lap you have ever seen! Dustyn and Brian Loppnow walked away from the truck uninjured. We have uploaded the in-car footage of this incident so check it out on You-tube!
So qualifying was exciting but lets talk about the race. Unfortunately the damage done to the Loppnow truck prevented them from starting the race- but this is the Bee-Hive Classic, so Dustyn Loppnow walks away a winner for the most Carnage during the race!
Although Loppnow didn't actually get to race, Team Tonelli had Nick Tonelli, Breen Ford and Tyler Buquet still start the race. As soon as the green flag waved for the trucks to start the race, it was "Boys have at it" from that point on! On the second lap of the race #824 Agustin Valles lost control on the 3rd jump and as Nick Tonelli came up behind his truck and got ready to pass, the #824 backed up- slamming into the Bee-Hive Ranger! This resulted in a flat tire and broken 4-link-which meant the Bee-Hive was out of the race too soon!
Tyler Buquet and Breen Ford raced on for a few laps more finishing 19th and 14th, consecutively. Breen Ford had electricals issues and Tyler raced hard but only finished 6 laps.
In the meantime spectators had the opportunity to witness the race get even more exciting: a truck landing on the roof of another, flat tires, missing fenders, front clips flying, trucks catching on fire and more, all in a short 16 lap and approximately 15 mile race!!!!
24 out of the 28 entered trucks started the race. Only 10 of those 24 actually finished all 16 (0.8 mile) laps and 4 more trucks finished 15 laps! If you missed this one- it doesn't get any better than this!
We also have to congratulate the winner of the Bee-Hive Classic II and undefeated Ryan Desautels of the #1428 who also placed first in the very first Classic race back in June! Placing shortly behind Desautels in 2nd was #1429 Dan Vance! And of course in 3rd place- first time Bee-Hive Classic racer Marquis Pulido!
Great job to everyone involved, we hope to have you back next year for some of the most exciting racing of the season- the Bee-Hive 1450 Classic!
Also, a huge thanks to all our sponsors!
Thanks to the Bee-Hive Sports Bar, HB
Damon & Taylor @ Rigid Lighting,
Alex @ Hostility Clothing
Jason, Kelley & the whole crew @ Fiberwerx
Jeremy @ DezertRangers.com
Hassimz @ Engage Off-Road
Joe @ Slime
and Bill @ F-Word Industries
Carnage and rear view from the Bee-Hive TT Ranger during the Classic II
We would like to welcome a new team driver for Tonelli Racing!!!! 25 year old Tyler Buquet from San Diego has joined the team with his Toyota pick-up! Tyler raced our first Bee-Hive Classic in June and will be competing in the Bee-Hive Classic II, this coming Saturday on Oct. 1st!!!!
Tyler built his whole truck himself. He has ensured it to be extremely competitive with his super charged 1400 race truck built ready for some SNORE races in the future! Tyler participated in the Del Mar "Tuff Trucks" event and was covered in the Dezert People 9- a popular off-road racing film- in the "Tuff Trucks" portion of the video as well!! This is a driver with some sponsors and big plans coming his way, so watch out for him at the races and look forward to an exciting season of competitive off-road racing!!!!!!!
It is that time again, the 2011 all women drivers Powder Puff- RACE FOR THE CURE is just around the corner and we are ready to have a great race for an even greater cause! Every year the race raises over $100,000 for Cedars Sinai and for the fight against breast cancer. The race will be taking place in Barstow on October 8th, 2011!!! The Team Tonelli, BEE-HIVE ladies have been racing this event for the past 5 years!!!!! This year our team drivers racing the class 1400 truck for Nick Tonelli are: Maja Tonelli - Kat Wilson - Alexis Plant - and Bree Cloud.
Although the Trophy Ranger has traditionally been part of this event, there is a time conflict preventing the truck from being at Powder Puff- and the truck will be on display at another event. Dustyn and Brian Loppnow are lending the ladies their 1400 Loppnow Racing, MCC, BEE-HIVE, Rigid and Hostility truck this year in replacement of Nick Tonelli's Trophy Ranger. The ladies are excited to be competing against 14 other 1400 trucks, so get ready for some fantastic racing!!! SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!
We would just like to welcome our new team drivers Tyler Bolland from Idaho and Hassim Mendezs from Chino Hills!!!! They race the ENGAGE OFF-ROAD/ TOTAL MAYHEM RACING, SCORE Class 1500 Toyota Tacoma! Look out for the ENGAGE OFF-ROAD/ TOTAL MAYHEM RACING truck when they team up with the The BEE-HIVE, Hostility, and Rigid LED Lighting to wrap up the 2011 Season Championship at the SCORE TECATE BAJA 1000!!!!! Look forward to some great things to come in the 2011 racing season and in the near future for this team!!!
