#61 TROPHY TRUCK UPDATE - February 12, 2011

Chad and Josh Hall took the TT to Primm, Nevada to test  the truck with Thad Stump.  Since Baja, the team doubled the front coilover spring rate, added a rear sway bar, added a viscous coupler, build axle minion seal retainers, limited the steering angle approximately five degrees and tuned the shocks.  Chad reported they still have a little work and some additional suspension tuning, but "it is really fast."


The truck is currently being prepared for 2011 races and the following events are confirmed -

MINT 400

AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI RALLY

BAJA 1000

BAJA 1000 - #61 Update

At 8:08 pm Friday November 19th, Rod Hall crossed the finish line at the 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and continued his streak as the only person to compete in each and every edition of the legendary off-road race. 



 The 2010 Baja marked a new era for Rod Hall Racing, as Rod, Josh and Chad Hall, the most winning family in Baja with 33 wins, debuted the #61 HALL USA in the premier Trophy Truck class.  The team has spent their successful career behind the wheels of production four-wheel drive vehicles and made the decision in 2009 to take their experience across the globe in search of overall wins in the top cross-country rally raids. 



The new 4WD #61 Trophy Truck was completed a mere three weeks prior to the Baja 1000 and the team felt the demands of the race to La Paz would serve as an excellent proving ground for the vehicle.  “We encountered issues that we fully expected, given limited testing before the race,” noted Chad Hall, eight-time Baja 1000 class winner.  “We have additional tuning and work to do, but our goal was to reach the finish line, and we accomplished that.”

LONG NIGHT FOR TRUCK #61 BUT LOOKING GOOD AS THE SUN RISES

It has been a long night for the Rod Hall Team but things are looking brighter as the sun starts to rise. Trophy Truck #61 has removed its 4 Wheel Drive and was stuck in a silk bed for about an hour at 3:00AM. The truck is moving smoothly now after great support with Josh Hall is the driver's seat.

Rod Hall and Team Race the 43rd Baja 1000

This morning, at 11:39AM the first ever Rod Hall Racing Trophy Truck went off the line. Chad Hall and co-driver Sam Cothrun are currently running the truck and will make a driver's swtich at BFG pit 4 where Josh Hall will take over with Josh Ogg.

Sam Edgar and Emily Miller are looking good and preparing for their start later this afternoon in the Stock Full Class driving the H1 Alpha. Keep checking back here and rodhallracing.com for updates on the new truck, team and photos!

Rod Hall Racing and BFGoodrich Celebrate the Career of Off-Road Legend Rod Hall

As the 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 quickly approaches, Rod Hall Racing and BFGoodrich will celebrate the history of off-road racing legend Rod Hall through a photo and story tribute during the month of October. 



To date, Hall is the most winning driver in Baja, has raced every Baja 1000 since it’s inception in 1967 – winning it 21 times in his class.  His records are impressive and span the globe.  Hall is known for more than the Baja – for his consistency, an impressive finish record and the longest unbroken string of wins – at 35.  To date, he has captured over 220 wins, and two years ago at the age of 71 he took home the SCORE Championships, the BITD Championships and the Toyota Milestone Award. 



With the help of photographer and journalist David Vowell, the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and BFGoodrich, we are able to present an impressive collection of historical photos from his entire racing career highlighted with his tales unique only to the colorful world of off-road.  Throughout October, we invite you to www.rodhallracing.com where a new photo will be posted daily, along with facts and stories.

Rod Hall Racing Extreme Outlaws 250 Recap

June 21, 2010 (Reno, NV) - The Xtreme Outlaws took over Reno, Nevada and the Grand Sierra Resort for a weekend of motorsports ranging from Freestyle Moto, Supermoto and a hair-raising 250-mile off-road race designed by Northern Nevada local and racing legend Rod Hall.  The course covered four sixty-mile laps in the mountains east of the city.  Last minute course changes took the racers through severe climbs and descents with spectacular views of the Sierra Mountain Range. 


Rod Hall Racing fielded two teams for the first year event.  Hall drove a vintage 1970 442 Olds formerly owned and raced by television star James Garner,  most famously known as “Rockford.”  Hall and the car were a highlight of the event as he led the field with police escort from the Grand Sierra Resort to the official start at the famous Mustang Ranch.  Hall raced the car until he lost an alternator.  A committed fan raced to a local parts store and bought a replacement.  The fix was made and he continued on course to showcase and shakedown the vehicle with media and sponsors taking the co-driver seat.


Emily Miller piloted the HUMMER H3 inline-5 with co-drivers Damien Michelin and Rob Henderson.  The four-wheel drive race truck was well suited to the course, however, she lost a brake line early on the third lap and ran over 60 miles through the mountains without stopping power.  After a final fix of the brakes, they ran hard, narrowly missing the Class 7 win by a mere 2 seconds.

1970 '442 James Garner Olds

Today, Rod Hall is in Mexicali for the start of the NORRA Mexican 1000.   The competition is a tribute to the original edition that took place in 1967.  This year’s race is a fully supported on and off-road rally open to vintage and alternative fueled vehicles. 


Hall is teamed up with Ron Johnson of Tacoma, Washington and as going to be driving the 1970 442 Olds that was originally built for James Garner.  Johnson acquired the car in 2007 and began restoration on what he described as a “incredibly beat up body.”  Today the car is in show-worthy condition and even has the original race engine found by Mondello Racing.  However, that is where the catch is.  Although an "original race motor" sounds great in theory, the team encountered a major setback when taking it for it's final test before loading it on the transporter.  They lost the race motor, forcing them to pull out of the race.  So as of today, people will have to be content to just see the car at tech and contingency where it is on display.   The 442 Olds will be on display next at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame located inside the famed National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.   The tentative plan is the team will then enter the Extreme Outlaws 250 race in Reno on June 19th for a shakedown run.

Chad Hall Racing the Silver State 300

This weekend - Saturday the 24th - Chad Hall will jump back into the Torchmate 7200 Ford Ranger - #7231 - to compete in the annual BITD Silver State 300. While race headquarters are in Las Vegas, the race promises to be not only a great course but a scenic one.  The route runs trhough the Pahroc Summit, Dalamar Valley, Cathedral Gorge and Caliente.  Although these names will be unknown to most of us, these are sites of amazing rock formations and serious mining history form the 1800's. As off-road racers, we race on the most beautiful course.


But enough about the scenery.  There are 15 trucks in the 7200 class alone this year and the competition will be tough.  However, Chad noted the truck was ready to race and he feels it is capable of the win. Since Parker, the front suspension has been reworked and the truck has a new engine with 500hp @ 7000 rpm.


You can follow the action live via Iritrack by clicking HERE.

Parker 425 - Recap

The Parker 425 was a three lap race this year and Chad Hall described it as surprisingly rough.  The youngest Hall was running Torchmate's 7200 class Ford Ranger in a field of 24 trucks.  Hall was 9th off the line, but was running in third when he passed the truck off to DOR Greg Jones at the midway point through the second lap.  Approximately 30 miles into Greg's run, the truck lost oil pressure and they lost the engine.  Chad believed the connecting rod broke.


Hall had tested the truck last week and is eager to work with the Torchmate crew to continue shock testing and tuning which he believes will make the Ranger a true top competitor.  The next race for Hall and the Torchmate mini-trick truck will be the Mint 400 - March 27th in Las Vegas.

Chad Hall Racing BITD'S Parker 425

Chad Hall will race the Parker 425 in the 7200 class. Last year, Chad competed in the Speed Technologies Class 10 car.  7200 is an exciting class - unlimited mini / mid sized trucks, also known as mini-trick trucks.  While suspension is unlimited, engines are limited to six cylinders and Hall noted the Torchmate Ford Ranger puts out 500hp.


Jake Povey who has been with Rod Hall Racing for many years is now managing prep of the truck at Torchmate Racing.  To learn more about Torchmate, click here.

12.28.09

It was incredible to wrap up the year with two exciting, close wins at the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.  Many thanks to the entire team - on the ground in Baja and running logistics from the US.  We appreciate all the great people and companies that are a part of our efforts. 

We anxiously watch the developments in the sale of HUMMER and look forward to racing in 2010. Our eyes will be on Team Gordon at Dakar and send them best wishes for a successful race.  Glad to see them returning in the Monster Energy Drink HUMMER. 

Happy New Year and see you at the races in 2010.

Rod Hall Racing and H3 trucks take two unofficial wins at the Baja 1000!

Mike Winkel and the H3 Stock mini crosses the finish line at 4:53pm to be declared the unofficial winner! This makes TWO unofficial titles for the Rod Hall Racing Team in the 2009 Baja 1000!

Both classes (Stock Full/Stock Mini) were tight battles for the drivers. Chad Hall completed the full course on his own with little to no errors during the race. Rod Hall, Emily Miller, and Mike Winkel all drove the H3 Stock Mini truck with mechanical issues and log jams but came through to take the win.

Congratulations to both trucks and the Rod Hall Racing Team!

Quote from the road...

"WOW, this is something to see, all 3 trucks @ RM537.5 so close you can't tell who is in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd! Ivan Stewart got in @ BFG5. We will need grand spoters!" - Rick Grabowsky

Chad Hall named unofficial winner of the Baja 1000!

At 10:52 this morning Chad Hall was named the unofficial winner for the Baja 1000 Stock Full Class! With a neck to neck race Chad remained calm and got the job done being the sole driver of the H3 for the full 672.85 miles.

The Stock Mini truck has been brought back in the race as well for a solid run by Emily Miller. We had a chance to touch base with Emily when she got out of the car, "I never felt tired and it was a clean run with great pace. I did my best to take care of the steering and I am confident that Mike Winkle will continue to catch up the lost time."

Currently Stock Mini #761 is 32 minutes behind the Honda Ridgline team and 3.5 minutes behind the Toyota team. "We are still in this!"

Congratulation to the entire Rod Hall Stock Full team, updates to follow about Stock Mini.

Early morning Update for the H3's!

It has been a cold and dark night in Baja while Emily Miller in the H3 Stock Mini and Chad Hall in the H3 Stock Full continue to push through the evening. The sun is slowly trying to peak through at 5:46am and both teams are looking forward to it. Emily Miller, currently at RM371 has be making back miles she she jumped in the truck. She has almost made the full loop from Pit 2 to 4 and should arrive within the hour.

had Hall has been pushing for the lead and has taken it again against his Baja 1000 2009 rival of the day, Kent Kroeker (#861)! They are currently at RM515. Keep checking back to Rod Hall Racing and Twitter for up to the minute race details!

Rod Hall Teams Look Strong Even with Mechanic Issues

Rod Hall Racing Teams are doing great and staying strong even through some mechanic issues. 10:09pm at the BAJA 1000 course and Chad Hall is sticking it out right behind the Factory Dodge team and driver, Kent Kroeker. He currently is at RM 319.

The Stock Mini truck #761 ran into a few issues with failed steering rack and pump power that has now been fixed and Mike Winkle is 40 miles outside of Pit 2 (RM167) where Emily Miller waits patiently!

For more updates follow the Rod Hall Team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rodhallracing1!

Chad Hall in head to head race at the Baja 1000!

It is 6:08pm and the Baja 1000 is well underway for our two Rod Hall teams. Chad Hall is in an impressive head to head race with the Factory Dodge car just half a mile behind them and in front of the Toyota and Honda teams. Chad currently is at RM191.

Our Stock Mini truck drove off the start line with Rod Hall in the drivers seat but shortly there after blew a steering rack seal and was not able to move for just under an hour. Rod stuck it out and was able to get the truck moving again and currently Mike Winkle is in the the drivers seat at RM111.

Josh Hall attentively sits at home as the two teams push forward. He calls it a typical Baja 1000...

"Looking at the way the race is unfolding it is a typical Baja 1000. No reason to be worried or feel like there is big drama because Truck 761 is 54 miles off the lead. This is the race."

Emily Miller just recently made it to Pit 2 and is suiting up to run her leg of the race in the dark.

Both teams sound good and the Baja 1000 continues...

BAJA 1000 BLOG - CONTINGENCY

Contingency was smooth today for both H3s. The guys were up early and the trucks were finished and back to the beach houses by 1:00. However, the morning took a turn when we received word from Josh Hall that he would not be able to return to Baja for the race. Earlier in the week, he had a family emergency which cut his pre-run short.

Josh is the Driver of Record on the blue H3 in the Stock Mini Class. Our initial plan was that he would take the truck off the line to BFG Pit 2 and then would jump in Chad Hall’s H3Alpha in the Stock Full Class at BFG 4 and race to the finish. Josh is such a tremendous driver. He is so unbelievably fast and skilled that we knew he would shake things up right off the line. Chad has soloed the race plenty, but given how rough the course is, he was happy to have his brother sharing the driving duties.

Needless to say, it is a good thing that Josh is at home – doing the right thing by being with his family right now back in the US. However, it is tough to not have him here with us. He and Chad do so much of the organization and team management and he is such a vital part of the race plan in this year’s 1000. Fortunately, Rod and Chad have so much experience in Baja and they were able to construct a solid race day plan. So once again for his 42nd time, Rod will take the truck off the starting line.

Stay tuned and keep on the BLOG and TWITTER tomorrow and watch the Stock Class races unfold. Our trucks leave the line at approximately 12 noon. Good night for now from Ensenada.

BAJA - PRE-RUNNING DAY 4

It's Tuesday morning and the team is having a home cooked breakfast at Rancho El Coyote - just west of Mike's Sky Ranch. This place is a must stay if you are in Northern Baja. It is completely off-the-grid and the hospitality is second to none. We spent the last two days on the San Felipe side and the course hasn't changed too much - rough and essentially huge whoops for miles. As Sam Cothrun called it, "the Mesopotamia of Whoops."

This is Day 4 of our pre-running and we have gotten alot accomplished. We are running the west side of the course today - and will stay in Erendira - a cool little village on the bluffs above the Pacific ocean.

The team meets us tomorrow afternoon in Ensenada. This year, we are happy to have Michelle Naranjo joining the team and covering the race and our progress via various outlets. You can find her posts at http://www.twitter.com/missmotormouth.

Race Update Information

Baja 1000 race updates here. Check back throughout the week and race. Team updates will be posted approx. every two hours once the green flag drops on Friday morning.