Brett Svatek did a piece on the team and I spent most of my time talking about eating.
INTERVIEW: Jim Graham – Desert Dingo Racing
The Sporting Life, February 24, 2010
Jim Graham and his Desert Dingo racing team set out to conquer the Baja 1000 in a car that most people wouldn’t feel safe driving to the 7-11…they are truly living The Sporting Life.
Bob jacks up 1104 in preparation for removing the engine.
1104 moved from my place over to Desert Dingo Racing HQ (aka “Richard’s place”) to begin winter tear down. Powerwashed, engine pulled, transmission pulled, light bar removed, CV joints pulled. We’ve got three months to prep the car for the first race of the 2010 season. A lot of ideas to improve it. Gallery of today’s photos here.
Also, this is the greatest off road video I’ve seen in ages. Props to Trophylite.
Bob Russell runs through an electrical systems check the night before the Baja 1000.
The folks at Wired.com’s Autopia blog did a great piece on the Rugged Text and Track satellite communications system from EMS SkyConnect and on our illuminated number panels from TrailGlow. You can check it out here…
This is what it looks like from here, thanks EMS SkyConnect. Click on the image to get the big picture.
A lot has happened since this post and the previous one. Tranmission got replaced, tie rod too. Jim said something about ball joints. The RV is pulling into Jeff’s at San Felipe and I expect he’ll be online shortly to help track the team. Chase 1 is meeting 1104 shortly at Pit 4. Everyone’s in good spirits. Thanks for all the messages of support.
We’d like to take a moment to share some exciting news and introduce you to two of our sponsors.
Desert Dingo Racing is competing this year using an SMS-based satellite communication and tracking system from EMS SkyConnect. “One of the greatest challenges that any Baja team is faces maintaining communication between the race car, chase teams and support vehicles, said team co-founder Jim Graham. “We’re the first team to use EMS SkyConnect’s TNT (Text and Tracking) system that will allow us to stay in constant communication and know where everyone is at any point during the race.” More info about our partnership with EMS SkyConnect here.
Desert Dingo will also be one of only two teams running electroluminescent number panels developed by TrailGlow Lighting . The panels look like typical number panels during the day, but light up as bright as neon at night, operating off of the race car’s 12-volt electrical system.
“TrailGlow’s INERGY number panels make it easier for other vehicles to see us and for people staffing checkpoints to record our number,” Graham said. The team will also be using an INERGY pit sign and safesty vests during the race which will make it easy for the race car to find the pits at night and keep team workers highly visible at night. More info about our partnership with Trailglow here.