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"Incident A: Racer rolled at mile marker 57
Incident B: Racer was found dead in his car at mile marker 66 of an apparent heart attack
Incident C: Racer endoed at mile marker 30 was found unconcious, but rescue workers quickly revived him.....
Just the facts so we don't have to speculate....
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Editorial - The MINT 400 Race
WEATHERMAN EXCLUDED FROM RACE SUPPORT!
Yes, you heard this correctly! Bob claims he was willfully excluded from supporting the race activities.
If true, this is another serious breach of safety protocol for the "Best In The Desert" racing association. From now on we'll call this association, the "Richest In The Desert".
LOADING>>>
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Editorial - The Mint 400 Race
Feigning Ignorance & The Results Scams
Back-To-Back-To-Back SCAMS
We are now looking at a series of race year scams with the BITD Mint400 race results!
After the 2015 race disaster, a behind the scenes strategy was engaged to change the format of the theMint400race. The racers were not contacted to 'work the details' on the changes that took place during the 2016 event.
The only racer who took part in the one public discussion about the subject was Cameron Steele. So, the abortion we witnessed at Primm on Saturday, was the result of Casey Folks being the lead and Matt and Cameron brainstorming the event race format.
They didn't know about the dyke jump? No, it just wasn't that important. What WAS important was fitting as many entries into Saturday as possible. Next, getting the Trick Truck overall winner, to finish prior to the days sunlight to have gone over the hill. Why? To shoot the TV show.
The main problem is that these events have now become more about the TV-Show productions and less about the sportmanship of the race results.
Back-to-back? Lofton didn't even 'WIN' last years event! He MAY have won this one, but now alas, we'll never know!
NO PEER REVIEW WAS PROVIDED FOR THIS RACE!
"No one knows who really won this race". Robby Gordon, last years first loser. MINT 400 2015
As was true of last years event, this year there is no race review, whatsoever. OK, we're alright with the 'Mad Max' format. First one across the finish line, wins, as long as you're on the 'presenters' tires!
But, be aware desert racing community, this is not sport. Merely recreation. Any claims of this activity being sport, are wrong.
Luckily for the promoter, Andy McMillin who was handed second place, obviously is NOT hungry enough. He's got a MINT win already.
Anyone else would not have accepted the unsportsmanlike and unprofessional way this finish was handled.
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Continuing Racer Reaction Reporting
Racer Rick Johnson: "We won't be doing anymore Grand Prix finish races or the Mint 200 anymore unless something changes. The race just isn't what it used to be."
Racer Bryan Freeman Said this morning: "The ONLY thing this EVENT is missing is 400 of kick you in the nuts, rough, nasty, rocky, silty, pissing blood, sore for days miles Finishing this race isn't the feat it once was.....its now on par with finishing the old Primm 300 race. I don't blame anyone for the wussification of the MINT 400, this day in (and) age with land management obstacles it is 10x more difficult to create courses that are worthy of the Mint labeling. It's a bummer that its this way, and makes me more appreciative of being able to have competed in this race when it was 400 miles of hell."
Keyboarder WannaBe Todd from El Cajon
"I guess they could add a lap and actually go 400+ miles, that would make it tougher. But lets not kid ourselves the Mint is for the most part the same as the Score Primm 300, but with a famous name and with tons of hype and marketing behind it."
Bill Woodward (Who was working with the BLM behind the scenes during this race) Said (3-15) today:
"The backdoor sale that screwed SNORE over is just that, over. I do have concern that if you bring all this hype and attention to the public about our sport. Distribute the revenue to make sure that something does not happen to get us shut down or more constraints. If more money needs to be spent to make this safer (a 2 day event) so that a TT does not ACCIDENTLY kill a couple racers in a utv, 1600 TL etc. in the dust. I seen it almost happen more than once. Being that this new technology , weight and speed of these advanced vehicles is the reason for having to change how races are ran I think its their wallet that should cover it. Not the slower vehicles in lower classes. Also giving them less time to race or shorter miles is also not the answer. Oh one more thing. I am glad that Casey and MM have the Mint. It was supposed to go to Roger."*
*More on these points, later...
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Proof: Overall winning times from the course on the north end of town.
2009: 8:27:35 (Andy McMillin)
2010: 8:37:29 (Roger Norman)
2011: 8:30:37 (BJ Baldwin)
Overall winning times from the course in Primm.
2012: 6:05:54 (Robby Gordon)
2013: 6:19:59 (Bryce Menzies)
2014: 6:14:29 (Andy McMillin/Steve Sourapas)
2015: 5:57:38 (Justin Lofton)
2016: 5:36:10 (Justin Lofton)
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RACE FALL-OUT CONTINUES!
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Have you listened to the Vegas shows yet?
CLICK HERE, STILL FRESH PICS!
BITD Blows the donkey
Golf Carts gifted finishes at the MINT! Time was running out during the second race, Casey announced 'just cross', you get a compete 'finish'. Lots of changes to make room for the Trick Trucks in the second race.
All in an attempt to get the overall winner Trick Truck to cross the finish and get to the podium, before all the light was gone for the TV show shooting!
So many mistakes at this years MINT, BITD runs in the opposite direction from last years MINT, BITD runs the 'dyke jump' as racers blow the jump and run headlong into the concrete block wall! DOH!
In the race carnage headlines this morning CLICK HERE
More BITD Race Rescue Comments:
Funny how only OFF-ROAD LIVE! keeps material like this public, as a priority!
Why doesn't the 'community'? Money Baby!
"I mentioned in the injury thread that there was some things we saw on the 1035 car that caused us to wonder how the injuries to the Driver had occurred. While we are continuing to gather information on what specifically broke in the car, we do know a little more about the crash and injuries sustained. I have been in contact with the car owner as well as the driver several times this week and they are anxious as well to determine the causes.
The 1035 car was approaching mile 58 on the course. The for an unknown reason rolled in an end over end crash that then transitioned to a barrel roll striking down on the drivers side and then coming to rest on their roof. The co-driver believes they rolled 3 times. there was a small fire once the car was inverted that was extinguished by other racers that were disabled at the same location.
The driver lost consciousness during the rollover.
Rescue crews made the determination to fly him to UMC in Las Vegas. He was released late that evening with a partial C7 fracture with no deficits. He is recovering at home.
Initial look at the helmet showed the helmet was cracked all the way through and the internal padding was crushed showing significant impact. This was a relatively new and current certified helmet. The helmet did not fail in anyway and the damage while significant shows that it did its job.
[Pictures LOADING of the crazy broken helmet]
The helmet damage was not from roll bar impact and instead was from impact with the ground outside the vehicle. From the front looking on at the car once it was up righted, you could see that both seats had shifted to the drivers side approximately 4 to 5 inches from center allowing the drivers side seat to actually stick outside the race vehicle. These were high quality Sparco seats on a experienced chassis fabricator. There was also a broken tube in the drivers door section indicating a very significant impact to that side of the Chassis.
What we are working with the team on to understand is a few things:
How are the seats mounted and what kind of tabs are used on the seat and chassis.
How are the belts mounted? BITD has become a SFI member this year. Seat belt mounting is one of the items that our tech department is working with racers to make sure they are compliant with. SFI mounting is very detailed and tested. We are also looking at the window nets also.
Anyway - That is what is going on with this crash as I know many asked and were curious. I believe that sharing knowledge like this allows everyone to look at their cars and always try and build the better mousetrap!"
"My Mint 400
No matter how many events my team does throughout the year, The Mint 400 is by far the biggest of them all for us. Planning for every Mint 400 race begins exactly one year previous at the previous race on what we can do to improve responses and help for racers, crews, spectators and staff.
This year was no different. A year ago we learned a few things that could make our responses better. A few things that would improve patient care and certainly a few things that could improve communication between operations, medical staff, responders and crews / families involved in any major incident. See just like any successful race team, planning and preparation put you in a position to give your best.
Motorsports Safety Solutions had 18 of our members volunteer for the day as well as 2 medics from American Medical Response and 4 more responders from Sundance Safety on stand by all over the course. This in addition to numerous retrieval vehicles and Best in the Desert staff meant that people were in place every few miles on the course to deal with just about anything that could occur.
For me personally, the morning started with looking at a few areas and trying to anticipate how we would deal with the massive crowds that were expected to attend. How could we ensure the best safety for everyone while maintaining the Great American Race experience? We also take a very active role in assisting Best in the Desert staff in anyway we can. From staging to crowd and traffic control.
Race number 1 – We have a start to The Mint 400
Starting just after dawn, the limited classes started their race. 220 vehicles left the line to tackle the course. After everyone was off the line, we adjusted a few things for spectator areas and got ready for the field to return to the Primm area.
A brief down time allowed me to head north and check on all our teams. We go to help a broke UTV get going and tow a disabled 10 car out to meet his team. Watched a few cars move down the course and spend time visiting with a few people out there support the race.
We headed back to Primm to get ready for race #2. Race #2 is the unlimited classes. 110 of the greatest off road racers climbed into their machines and readied for war on the desert and each other.
We have a Code Red…
Race mile 58 the 1035 car rolled and needed medical assistance. On scene in minutes, one of our teams assessed the situation and requested air transport for one of the occupants. Additional teams including myself converged on the area to assist. After being transported, we got the course cleared and assisted in clearing out numerous other disabled vehicles in the area before the freight train of Unlimited Vehicles would arrive in the area.
Returning to Primm as the Unlimited were completing lap one and starting lap 2, we stationed at the infamous Dyke Jump and got to watch some racing. A cloud of dust and a call on the radio alerted us to a rollover in which a Class 1500 rolled after landing the jump and striking the wall. Getting him turned over, and course clear in a less than a minute we then started on helping race car after race car in the Primm area. Rollovers, mechanical failures and stuck vehicles, The Mint 400 started to take its toll.
A few minutes later another driver needed our assistance. Being knocked unconscious in a rollover, a class 1500 racer needed transport with back and neck pain.
As the first finishers started coming through we were able to hear on the radio that Justin Lofton took the win. A big kudos to him and his team on a back to back of the Mint 400 victories. Was great to see for sure.
High point of the day for sure was seeing the Alexander Motorsports 6100 car finish strong last night with Ryan Hancock behind the wheel, and Jordan Poole on his right hand side the way it was supposed to be last year. It has been a hell of a year for these two, their team and their family. I think crossing the finish line was the biggest healing moment of the last 12 months. Not that it matters much compared to what they went through, but I know I it made me feel better.
Low point came as one of my team members resigned from my team at the end of the day as a result of how the spectators treated him while he was trying to keep people back at a safe distance. I demand of my team that we help in every way possible for any promoter that we are honored to serve. If that is crowd control, security officer or even trash man, then that is what we will do. I respect his decision as what we do is obviously not for everyone.
While a couple racers went to the hospital, word is they are released and recovering and that is the most important to me and my amazing team at the end of the day.""
First, the race rescue directors comment on just some of the 'incidents' "
"Ok - So we had 2 patients that were transported in separate incidents on the course. Both are stable and have been released from University Medical Center.
In the first incident, we flew a class 1000 driver by medical helicopter. and in the second, a class 1500 co-driver was transported by ground ambulance.
I was in contact with families / crew as late as midnight and both appear they will be fine. Once all the dust settles, we will give some more information as I believe there is something to be learned in the class 1000 crash that we may want to work with tech directors and car builders to improve for the future"
Another comment on another code red MINT 400 incident, "My teammates were first on sight of the 10 car crash. Thankfully he is doing okay now bc it was a pretty terrifying situation on hand when they saw the car crash, flames and an unconscious occupant."
David Nehrbass, BITD Race Rescue Director
Robby Hendrickson lays down the Heavy Smack Down for this event!
"The sport learned at Battle at primm a few years ago that we should NOT be going off the dyke jump in that direction. I guess BITD did not get the memo. This has happened before. And will happen again if we race that way. We should be going away from the apartments not into them. Lesson learned. Again. Hope everyone is ok."
Here are the UnOfficial Pronouncements
"After the first lap Starkey held on to the lead both physically and on corrected time, but that would soon change as they got deeper into the race. Going out on lap 2 Starkey had a 2 and a half minute lead on next fastest 1072 Keith Waibel and looked to try and increase that lead going forward, but there was another racer pushing from behind.
#2405 Nick Carloan had his work cut out for him if he was going to try and win the overall of the limited race because his class, while similar to a Class 1000, had to start behind them. With 35 1000 cars in the race he would have to push hard to get to the front, but thats exactly what he did. By the middle of lap two Carloan had only Starkey, Geoffrey Cooley and TJ Tuls (who was now leading physically) in front of him and by the end of the lap was only 5 seconds behind on corrected time.
The third lap was all Carloan as he kept increasing his time lead mile by mile, and in the end finished with a time of 6 hours and 9 minutes, almost 4 minutes faster then the next racer Starkey in the 1067 car.
Hard battles were fought all morning in the limited race with Brad Wilson winning Class 1100, Kevin Smith in Class 2000, Todd Jackson winning Trophylite, Skylar Gambrell in Jeepspeed, and the 7196 truck of Khris Kading taking the overall win in the 2 lap morning race. All classes in the morning, including the Vintage classes put on a great show to lead up to the unlimited race.
Just as the leaders for the morning race were finishing big boys started to leave the line kicking off the unlimited race at 12:30pm. Since Justin Lofton laid down the fastest qualifying time he had the privilege of starting first off the line solo. As we know from previous races and the limited race earlier in the day, starting first doesn’t always mean the fastest vehicle on time.
Lofton held the lead physically going into the second lap but it was Jason Voss who lead on time, only 16 seconds ahead of Rob MacCachren. Bryce Menzies, Lofton, Lalo Laguna, Jesse Jones, and Andy McMillin were all within a minute thirty of each other so it was still game on. By the end of lap two Menzies had moved into the lead but MacCachren now had the lead on time. Primm is both racers backyard so it would take a mistake by one of them for the other to take the lead.
The third lap is always the most challenging for the Trick Trucks because the course is beat up, nasty, and you have to deal with the dust and lapped traffic. Menzies starting having mechanical problems that eventually led to a DNF and let Lofton regain the physical lead. MacCachren also starting having a few issues which caused him to fall back some.
At about the halfway point on the final lap Lofton led Andy McMillin by roughly two and a half minutes. Andy said, “Knowing we needed to make up quite a bit of time, I put the pedal down and let it all hang out.” In the last 50 miles of the race McMillin was able to take back almost two minutes on time, but when all was said and done Justin Lofton was crowned the 2016 Polaris RZR Mint 400 Presented by BFGoodrich Overall
Jason Voss finished off the podium with Brett Sourapas and BJ Baldwin rounding out the top 5 overall and in Trick Truck.
Cody Parkhouse of Long Beach, California took top honors in Class 1500, covering three laps in 5 hours, 56 minutes 42 seconds, beating out second place Sam Baldi by slightly more than five minutes, according to unofficial results. Scott Bailey took third place, crossing the finish line 14 seconds after Baldi.
Class 6100 with a huge field of 30 trucks had some great battles as well with Parker 425 winner Alex Gonzales leading on time the majority of the race, but Christian Sourpuss would end up taking the win overtaking the lead on the last lap.
Troy Messer took home the win in 7200, grabbing the lead halfway through the race and never looking back beating Dallas Luttrell of TSA Motorsports by just under 4 minutes."
"Justin Lofton powered his Ford Trick Truck to a second consecutive Mint 400 win earlier today, besting some serious competition and clocking three laps in 5 hours, 36 minutes and 10 seconds, according to unofficial results released by Best in the Desert.
Justin "Lofton and his No. 41 truck beat out second place finisher Andy McMillin in the No. 31 Ford by nearly 42 seconds. McMillin, who won the race in 2014, has just returned to a full season of racing. Jason Voss, also piloting a Ford Trick Truck, claimed third place, taking the checkered flag in 5 hours, 43 minutes and 30 seconds.
Cody Parkhouse of Long Beach, California took top honors in Class 1500, covering three laps in 5 hours, 56 minutes 42 seconds, beating out second place Sam Baldi by slightly more than five minutes, according to unofficial results. Scott Bailey took third place, crossing the finish line 14 seconds after Baldi."
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CLICK HERE
FANDANGO Friday! March 18 Lofton Interview
CLICK HERE
OFF-ROAD LIVE! Monday, March 14 WRAP
The Racing Action!
03/12/2016 07:09 PM EST
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2:27:37
|  Finish Line #7 MINT 400 '16 E925 - OFF-ROAD LIVE ! MONDAY 4 PM WEST 7 PM E |   | |
03/12/2016 02:04 PM EST
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5:00:17
| MINT 4002016 Race #6 E924 - OFF-ROAD LIVE ! MONDAY 4 PM WEST 7 PM E | | |
03/12/2016 08:14 AM EST
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5:00:19
| MINT 400 Race #5 E923 - OFF-ROAD LIVE ! MONDAY 4 PM WEST 7 PM E | |
RaceDay, Saturday March 12, 2016
FINISH LINE DRAMA
At 6:18PM the race promoter calls Justin Lofton the winner. If I was Andy, I'd call for a recount, FO-SHO!
Literally, within minutes of crossing the finish line, both first and second place were determined by the promoter. In a race result that was concluded to be a matter of seconds, splitting the winner and loser, took just minutes.
6PM *Lofton at RM 104 Over 100mph, thru traffic, being held up by lapped traffic
*Parkhouse on the side of the course, stopped!
5:35PM Lofton at RM 70 LEADING NOW!
*Andy McMillin in second, physical positions.
5:25PM Race BreakOut?! Andy McMillin and Justin Lofton ROARING INTO THE FINISH!
| Civil Twilight | 6:11 PM PST | ||
| Nautical Twilight | 6:41 PM PST | ||
| Astronomical Twilight | 7:11 PM PST |
5:00PM On time Menzies at RM 55, Rob Mac, McMillin leading through Lap 3 of 3. Menzies having steering issues.
First 'Limiteds' race started at 6:05AM
Second 'Unlimited' race will start apprx. 12:20 PM
All vehicles (118 racers total) Started at 12:40 PM
LIVE MINT 400 TRACKING LINK HERE
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QUALIFYING RESULTS
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