TJ Flores and Dr Kevin Colan win overall and Class 1 titles. |
CALIENTE, Nev. – The annual Dusty Times 250 here May 8-10 had a little of everything ranging from a heart-warming meet and greet at a local elementary school to non-stop action on a 60-mile course in an event that featured water, trees and something called “Oh My God Hill” that drops into the back side of this fascinating 100-year old town situated northeast of Las Vegas.
To the 1,200 residents living in this tiny railroad town, the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiast event is so cool that the people here literally await the drivers and their crew members with open arms.
SNORE kicked off the weekend with a meet and greet at Caliente Elementary where race cars were stationed and drivers handed out everything from shirts and hats to autographs and pictures. Thousands of pictures were taken as nearly 150 students joined Principal Pam Teel and her staff in what was an atmosphere of true blue All American fun complete with smiling faces and great times.
A day later, the quiet community suddenly found itself hearing the sounds of off-road racing machinery that echoed off the surrounding mountains as the limited amount of motels were booked with fans and competitors and every motor home spot within miles was also occupied.
By day’s end Saturday, two-time defending champion T.J. Flores had combined with Las Vegas chiropractor Dr. Kevin Colan to take the Class 1 and overall titles with a four-lap time of 5 hours, 17.39 minutes in a Valley Performance sponsored power plant that spent 90 percent of the race about 12 inches off the ground.
Flores drove the first two laps before turning over the driving duties to Colan, a
a 45-year resident of Las Vegas.
“Caliente is awesome,” said Colan, who formerly ran desert motorcycles. “There are streams and trees and it is outstanding.”
Colan said Flores turned two flawless laps before he took over for laps three and four.
“It was a nice race,” said Flores, adding that the team will race in the Midnight Special in Ridgecrest, Calif., Aug. 8. “We stayed steady all day long.”
While Flores and Dr. Colan were busy running roughshod over the four 60-mile laps, renowned Las Vegas competitor Rob MacCachren scored his third victory of the year in the 1600 class takin a five minute victory over fellow Southern Nevadan Kenny Freeman.
MacCachren and Freeman battled closely for part of the event and both lauded the race as fun competition with plenty of challenges that has made the race one of SNORE’s favorite stops on the six-race series.
“It was a good race,” said MacCachren, 44. “I built this car for Primm, the Mint and Caliente and we won all three races. I had a flat on the second lap. I was talking on the phone and hit a rock. This is one of my favorite races.”
MacCachren, who had an overall time of 5:28.09, said he and Freeman actually ran close during the event
“We ran bumper to bumper going into the water,” MacCachren laughed. “I got drenched and couldn’t see where I was going.”
Freeman, 52, who sat out the Mint 400, was happy with his performance.
“I just had fun,” said Freeman. “It was a great time. There is an area out there in the trees that’s only wide enough for one car. We had no issues at all though.
“I think we had a very successful race. Everything went smooth.”
In what became reminiscent of the Mint 400 – SNORE’s second race run in March – Dr. Michael Hanson repeated as the winner of Class 10 at Caliente with a time of 6:37.01.
Other winners included Clay Lenard (12); Courtney Collins (13); Eric Ludian (1450); Jeff Pfeffer (15); Clint Braun (18); Thomas Morales (5); Raul Solano (5-1600); Travis Bozzano (7); John Baker (7S); Sheldon Paul (8); Cody Rush (9); Dana Dague (Mini Metal); Felipe Neri-Sanchez (Stock Bug); and Steve Schwab (Stock Full).
A total of 71 cars started the event.
Class 1: 1. 100 T.J. Flores and Kevin Colan, 5:17.59.328; 2. 119 Byron Ashley, 6:02.48.328.3. 14 James Price three laps.
Class 10: 1. 1010 Michael Hanson, 6:37.01; 2. 1072 Matt Stevens, two laps.
Class 12: 1. 1288 Clay Lenard, 6:00.04.625; 2. 1277 Dave Campbell 6:08.38.203; 3. 1204 Cody Freeman, 6:09.47.375; 4. 1214 Jessica Freeman, 6:45.12.250; 5. 1299 Justin Smith, 8:23. 8:23.56.468.
Class 13: 1. 1367 Courtney Collins, 4:45.562; 2. 1380 Bill Shapley, 4:51.56.859; 3. . 1313 John Houlton, 4:54.28.531; 4. 325 Rick Rochelle, three laps; 5. Glen Davis, two laps; 6. 1363 Thomas High, 1 lap.
Class 1600: 1. 1603 Rob MacCachren, 5:28.09.187; 2. 1601 Kenny Freeman, 5:33.46.312; 3. 1622 Tom Craig, 5:38.09; 4. 1621 Orlo Cox, 5:45.17; 5. 1602 Derek Bradley, 5:45.41.531; 6. 1634 Jasper Dyer, 5:49.04.468; 7. 1689 Corey Torres, 5:58.17; 8. 1641 Robbie Madison, 6:16.11.625; 9. 1607 Don Wall, 6:21.15.781; 10. 1631 Patrick Nirschl, 6:23.01.812; 11. 1695 Mac Marmon, 6:31.54; 12. 1682 Jason Coleman, 7:11.50.843; 13. 1682 Jason Coleman, 7:11.50.843.
Class 18: 1. 1824 Clint Braun, 4:41.49.109; 2. 1811 Robert Dziuraweic, 4:51.18.046; 3. 1898 Chester Williams, 4:54.03.750; 4. 1803 Lonan Pies, 7:05.20.609.
Class 5-1600: 1. 550 Raul Solano 4:47.22.187; 2. 575 Patrick Dailey 4:58.46.890; 3. 599 Brandyn Kaylor 5:09.53.578; 4. 552 Glen Mayernick 6:06.19.031.
Class 7: 1. 7267 Travis Bozzano; 2. 7218 Robert Pickering; 3. 713 Charles Anderson; 4. 701 Robbie Woolworth; 5. 777 Jeff Harrison.
2. 701 Robbie Woolworth.
Class 7S: 1. 7123 John Baker; 2. 7111 Ben Williams.
Class 8: 1. 819 Sheldon Paul; 2. 832 Dean Schlingmann.
Class 9: 1. 973 Cody Rush, 4:49.40.250; 2. 971 Ryan Tyler, 5:10.40.828; 3. 947 Joe Forte, 5:39.20.359; 4. 988 Vicki Lenard, 6:44.51.812; 5. 913 Joshua Englestead, 7:07.51.906.
Mini Metal: 1. 702 Dana Dague, 7:18.58.812.
Stock Bug: 1. 1111 Felipe Neri Sanchez, 3:59.05.718; 2. 1101 Robert Johnson 5:50.30.390; 3. 1107 Richard Palasik 5:09.02.703.
4440: T.J. Flores was the first off the line in the Dusty Times 250. His teammate Kevin Colan picked up the driving duties on the third and fourth laps and took the No. 100 entry to the overall and Class 1 titles in the race run in Caliente, Nev.
4448: Rob MacCachren took the Class 1600 championship in the Dusty Times 250 to collect his third victory of the year in the car.
CONTACT: Mike Henle, 702-279-3483
Mike Henle is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer and author of the book “Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” He can be contacted at mhenle@aol.com or through his Web site www.mikehenle.com.
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