The #904 Can-Am Maverick Max, Elka Suspension CST tires race team was fully prepared and ready to race, the drive to Laughlin was uneventful and relaxing. Getting ready Saturday morning was a breeze and we were ready at the line at 7:15, the race finally got underway at 8:00 sharp and as we were lined up 24 we got of the line at 8:03am. We started the race well taking the hole shot on Saturday as they did a 3 way start. We pulled away to a comfortable lead from our starting group but as we approached the proving grounds (about a 1.5 mile stretch that is all whoops of different sizes and distance apart) another competitor was closing in, but as soon as we entered the whoops our Elka Suspension did its thing as we pulled out to a huge advantage through the proving grounds, when we exited this area of the track out competitor was nowhere to be seen.
With S3 and Lonestar starting in front of us we were looking forward to catching them when at about race mile 13, our car lost power and it sounded like an exhaust. This might have been a lucky thing as about a mile later the Lonestar car was sideways in the track right after a jump with the front end collapsed, it must have just happened as they were still in car. It was a little disconcerting as we could not see the car over the jump, had the 904 Can-Am Maverick been up to full speed things might have ended differently.
After this we continued to limp our way into the pits. Once there, the crew did a good job of analyzing the situation and determining it was not an exhaust leak. They found a spark plug wire that was disconnected, they fixed it and off we went. The car was running a full song again and we were passing a lot, as we had fallen about 6 minutes behind, then with about 1/3 mile to go to the finish the transmission let go. We had smelled burnt gear oil but I assumed it was someone in front of us and not us. Well this brought the car to a complete stop in a bad spot. We quickly got out of the car to flag other races to be cautious and then when it was clear we pushed the car around the corner, by the hot pits, and eventually to the finish line.
We finished 13th in the Turbo class and 42th overall. With the problems we encountered the crew spent the rest of Saturday replacing the transmission and getting the car ready for Sunday. Cory had to start 42nd overall and again was able to get the hole shot. By end of lap one, he had moved up to 6th in class on corrected time. Lap 2 had him up to 5th on corrected time but unfortunately on lap 3 something went wrong with the LR wheel bearing and that caused the knuckle to fail and the wheel to fall off. We had to send parts out to the car which Cory fixed and was only able to finish the 3rd lap as the leaders had already finished. Looks like we finished 14th in class and 36th overall. While this is certainly not the results that we had planned on, we are glad that the Lonestar team was ok and overall it was a safe race. Thanks to all those that help and support us but especially the Moms who let all the husbands go out there and compete on Mother’s day. Thanks to the crew, Can-Am motorcycles, Elka Suspension, CST tires, Tiger lights, PCI race radios, Foddrills, Summers Brothers Axles, Desert Toyz and BITD
