Desert Dingo Racing

Category: 2009 Baja 1000

  • International Diabetes Federation announces 2009 World Diabetes Day theme

    We’ve been working with the great people at the International Diabetes Federation in Brussels, Belgium since before our first attempt on the Baja 1000 back in 2007. We’re the official World Diabetes Day race car and take every opportunity at races to distribute information (like our hero cards) to race fans. We also do a drive-a-thon fundraiser to support the IDF’s education and awareness programs.

    They’ve just announced their new campaign for 2009-2013 and we’re looking forward to helping them spread the word. The key messages are:

    • Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
    • Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to
    • Know how to manage diabetes and take control

    They’ve done some great graphic design work and I’m hoping I can convince them to send us some of the posters to distribute at the Baja 1000 this coming November.

  • Men at work

    Shawn and Bob work on the co-driver side front drum brake.

    In advance of our first logistics meeting for the Baja 1000 on June 21 at Seth’s place, the team put in time doing advance prep on the car. Crusty continued stripping out the car, eliminating rust and painting any bare metal. Shawn and Bob worked on the brakes, replacing some bits that kept the passenger side wheel from rolling relatively freely. Richard pulled the fuel cell, power washed it in preparation for pulling the bladder and sponge, which apparently needs replacing every couple of years.

    We may have some interesting developments in the communications department. Photos from last weekend’s work are here.

  • Baja 500 in progress

    Hear Weatherman get really cranky with people, live on the radio.

    We’re saving up our pennies for the Baja 1000, but this is the weekend for the Baja 500. Nearly as fun as being in the car sucking in lungfuls of silt is listening to Weatherman get increasingly cranky with people who walk over his broadcasts, who are universally referred to as “Richard Craniums.” He’s also threatened to lock some kid in a closet full of spiders for playing with a radio and broadcasting over him. Then there was this:

    “Weatherman, radio check.”

    “You’re a 10.”

    “Is 10 good or bad? Is the scale from 1 to 10 or 10 to 1?”

    “10 is good. It goes from 1 to 10.”

    “Ok, thanks Weatherman. Out.”

    Thanks to the Race Dezert folks for rebroadcasting this.

  • This is not a picture of Francis the Mechanical Mule

    “A.J., when you visit Francis this weekend, get a photo,” I told him.

    “Ok,” A.J. said.

    This, obviously, isn’t a photo of Francis. It is, however, a photo of the aluminum ramps A.J. scored off Craigslist to get Francis (and our pre-running motorcycles and maybe my ATV) on and off of AWACS, which will be our mobile command center for all future races. The man knows his Craigslist and I defer to his mad skillz.

    The ramps, AWACS, the motorcycles and maybe Francis and my ATV will make their debut at the KC Hilites Midnight Special race in early August.