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!!!
The Bee-Hive Classic II is just a couple weeks away coming up on Saturday, October 1, 2011!!!! We have even more entries than the first Classic and it is still a fun, exciting and affordable race for racers and FANS alike! So don't miss out on the Classic II, part of the Lucas Oil Regional Series, presented by Daystar at Glen Helen raceway!!!!! Here are some details and some new rules that have been updated since the first Classic...
BEE-HIVE 1450 Classic II @ Lucas Oil Regional Series presented by Daystar
1400 Nick Tonelli ......................The BEE-HIVE, HOSTILITY CLOTHING, RIGID LIGHTING, FIBERWERX 1401 Chris Ramey ...................................BFG TIRES, TOTAL CHAOS, FOX SHOCKS
1403 Marquis Pulido 1406 Rino Navera ....................................G BROTHERS, LONE KID, WICKED CREATIONS
1408 Brad Beintema...............SGC RACING, ES MOTORSPORTS, THR MOTORSPORTS, DAILY VISUAL 1411 Jason Russell 1415 Sean Keppler..............................ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS, WICKED CREATIONS 1419 Shawn Walters .............K&N, ORW,NICK’S AUTO CARE,CALIFORNIA YELLOW CAB,J&J ENGINEERING 1428 Ryan Desautels 1429 Dan Vance .....................................TOTAL CHAOS, CURRIE ENT. FOX SHOCKS 1431 Clifford Murray ...............................KILGORE TRANSMISSION, O.C. DRIVELINE 1432 Drew Mersereau.............................SAMS-Racing.com, GT Fast Mart,Sway-a-Way 1437 Corry Cottage
1440Frank Vernola 1450 Brett Sloppy 1453 Joey Chott.......................................CONCEP T 2 MOTORSPORTS, VINYL SHOP, 2 MAN WOLFPACK 1455 Breen Ford.......................................F WORD CLOTHING 1456 Kevin Siegel.................................... MARTINLANDSCAPE.NET, BEACH MEX GRILL 1459 Craig Reynolds 1460 Scott Slater
1464 Andreas Nicolaou.............................SGC MOTORSPORTS 1467 Jeff Musgrave ..GUARDIAN ROOF ENERGY SOLUTIONS, RACE TRUCK FACTORY, SNOW AUTO REPAIR 1473 Dustyn Loppnow.............................. MCC, BEE-HIVE, RIGID INDUSTRIES 1476 Santiago Ernest Picos......................DMZ Fab and Prep 1477 Eric Ludian 1478 Hassim Mendez............................... ENGAGE OFF-ROAD
1487 Joshua Williams...............................WILLIAMS CONSTRUCTION, AIRBEDZ 1489 Brent Veenstra................................. DESTROYER AUTOMOTIVE, PACKINGHOUSE BREWERY 1491 Ernie Serfas 1493 Vince Munoz ....................................MCC 1498 Tyler Buquet ....................................TONELLI RACING 700 Dan Chamlee......................................KMC, Factory Racing, RIGID INDUSTRIES 73 Brian Cannon ucasoilregional.com/
Cost:
$10 gate fee- Racers and Spectators so come out and watch the boys have at it racing.
Overnight Camping: Free with your $10 gate fee
Entry Fee- $150- Purse wil be enhanced by BEE-HIVE SPORTS BAR, RIGID LIGHTING, HOSTILITY CLOTHING, FIBERWERX, SLIME, F WORD INDUSTRIES and ENGAGE OFF ROAD More to be announced and details to follow
Membership Fee:
Annual 1 time Driver License Fee – $50
Transponder Fee: Free to all racers for this one. Sponsored by Ken Johnson (Thanks Ken)
Co-rider Fee (Open V8 Truck, Full Stock Truck, Mini Open Truck, Mini Stock Truck, Desert Buggies, BEE-HIVE Classic) – $40
Multiple Co-Drvers allowed as long as they pay the $40. and sign the waiver
Practice on Friday for an aditional $50.
BEE-HIVE CLASSIC II RULES
1) Roll Cages:
Cage must be securely mounted to the frame, any vehicle without stock steel doors must have door bars.
1 1/2" diameter tubing with a minimum wall thickness of .120"
2) Fuel Cell:
Safety fuel cells are required, cell must be mounted securely. Cell must fill and vent outside the vehicle. Cell must consist of a bladder inside a metal container.
3) Protective Clothing:
A)Driving suits must be 1 piece and cover the body from ankles to neck. Suits must be made from fire resistant material with the manufacturers fire resistant label attached.
B) Fire proof gloves will also be required.
4) Helmets:
Snell approved 2005 (M Helmets will be allowed Oct. 1)
5) Lights:
Each Vehicle must have a minimum of two rear facing brake lights, amber is optional.
6) Windows and Window Nets:
A)Safety nets are required, net must be fastened every 6 to 8 inches around the outside edge of the net.
B) Windshields will not be allowed.
7) Seats:
Seats must be securely mounted.
8) Safety Harness:
Harness must be 5 point with a 3" lap and 3" shoulder and 2" submarine strap. Belts must have manufacturers name and date and no older than 3 years.
9) Engine Displacement:
Unlimited
10) Transmissions:
Must have a functioning reverse.
11) Turbo Chargers and Super Chargers:
Allowed
12) Bumpers:
No hazardous bumpers front or rear.
13) Fenders:
All vehicles are required to have fenders, removal of fenders for any reason other than damage incurred during an accident on the course will not be allowed.
14) Floors:
Floors are required.
15) Brakes:
Brakes must be in good working condition as to lock up all four wheels.
16) Ignition:
Each vehicle must have a positive action ON-OFF switch in good working condition and labeled.
17) Doors and Latches:
All vehicles with operating doors must have a secondary door latch.
18) Fire Extinguishers:
A minimum of two fire extinguishers will be required. (This rule will not be enforced Oct 1)
19) Identification:
All vehicles must have black on white or white on black numbers. Numbers must be a minimum of 5 inches tall and placed where mud will not cover them. One # per side, one # front and back and one on the roof. In addition all vehicles must leave the appropriate space for BEE-HIVE 1450 Classic decals and sponsorship decals as we describe.
20) All interior tubes must have foam padding.
21) PITS
A) At all times the entrant assumes responsibility for the actions of his or her pit crew.
B) All Drivers must attend the Drivers meeting.
C) All starting procedures will be covered at the drivers meeting.
D) No vehicles race or otherwise will be allowed oncourse without written authorization from a Lucas Official.
E) Supplementary rules and regulations may be issued at anytime. We may amend, suspend or modify existingrules at anytime as we see fit.
FRIDAY:
2:00pm – Gates open for RV move in
2:30-6:30 Registration/Tech open
3:00-6:30 Practice ($50 fee to participate) ... 10:00pm – Gates closed
SATURDAY:
6:30am – Gates open
7-9:30am – Registration / Tech Inspection ($25 Late fee in effect after 9:30am)
8:45am – Media / Track Crew Safety Briefing
9:00am – Mandatory Driver’s Meeting
9:30-11:30am – Practice
11:45am-1:30pm – Heat Races
1:30-2:00pm – Track prep / Crew Lunch
1:25-1:30pm – Opening Ceremonies
2:00-6:00pm – Main Event
August 14, 2010 is a day that everyone in the off-road community will never forget. Tragedy affected everyone in our desert family on this day- and the Memorial Run proved that we as a community still continue to reach out to each other in support. The tragedy occurred out in Lucerne Valley during the annual California 200 MDR Night Race. A racetruck rolled during the race on the rockpile (a popular spectating spot) and into spectators killing 8 people and injuring many others. This tragedy affected us all- but it also revealed how strong a bond our desert family shares.
Several off-roaders showed up this weekend (August 13-14) honoring the memory of the ones who have fallen. At the same hour the race was supposed to begin last year-just before sundown- a CHP helicopter circled the crash site several times. After a moment of silence every off-roader was invited to finish their lost lap from the race the previous year. Racers lined up at the start-finish line and after a land-rush start proceeded to finish one lap of the race-course. Nick Tonelli finished his lost-50 mile-lap with co-rider Eric Hampton (a fellow racer) along with other racers, supporters and fans.
Thank you to everyone who went out to support each other- the fallen angels will forever remain heroes to friends, family and to the entire off-road community.
The MORE Freedom 250 Night-race will be taking place in Barstow this weekend Saturday July 16th! Dustyn Loppnow and Nick Tonelli are gearing up to race the 1400 class in the Barstow night with their new LED lights from Rigid Industries! Brian and Dustyn Loppnow will be driving the 1413 with Nick Tonelli co-driving! Don't miss the Bee-Hive Hostility Trophy Ranger out in Barstow- the truck will be out in Barstow for pre-running all weekend! Racing begins Saturday at 4pm, see you all there!
We would just like to congratulate our new team members for Rigid Industries, Dustyn and Brian Loppnow!!!!!!
Dustyn and Brian have been part of this team for years and Team Tonelli is so excited to be working with them along-side with Rigid Industries! We expect so many great things to come this season and in the history of our sport!!!!! The Loppnow's have been racing their 1400 Ford Ranger since 2005 and are great representatives of our sport! They have raced in MDR, MORE, SNORE, and the first ever Bee-Hive Classic short course race in Glen Helen!!
They are true grass-root racers and have a ton of heart for the sport! Congratulations again on the new sponsor and we look forward to working on a great season with the Loppnow's!!!
The Loppnow's In-Car from this past-weekend's Bee-Hive Classic Race!!!
This race was a blast!!!!!!! And an amazing turnout!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Ken Johnson, Lee and Poppy Perfect, everybody at Lucas and Glen Helen, DEZERT RANGERS, Damon and Taylor from RIGID LIGHTING, Will, Alex and the entire HOSTILITY CREW, Fiberwerx for the BBQ, The BEE-HIVE and CREW, and Nick Tonelli for the countless hours it took to make this happen!!!
Big thanks to all the trucks that entered!!!!! 1450 Racers once again showed how popular the class is and put on a great show for the fans!! We all had a great time this weekend and can't wait to do this again!!
