BITD Blue Water Desert Challenge Coming October 11-13

Josh Burns / September 30, 2013

The Blue Water Desert Challenge in Parker, AZ, October 11-13, hosted by the Blue Water Resort & Casino, is the fifth event in the six-race 2013 Best In The Desert “American Off-Road Racing Series”. Unlike all of the other Best In The Desert long distance races that are either a long loop race, or a point to point course, as is the Parker “425” or the recent General Tire “Vegas to Reno” courses, the Blue Water Desert Challenge is a 2-day multi-race format that features Best In The Desert’s Car, Truck and UTV classes running both days for combined results to determine the winners.

Who’s signed up so far? Only the world’s best! Entries now include Class 1400 Trick Truck: Steve Sourapas, Jim Beaver, Shawn Wanzek, Steve Olliges, Jonathan & John Swift, Shawn Croll, Kyle & Curt LeDuc, Ken Losch, Jaaon Voss, Todd & Kyle Jurgensen, Troy Vest, James Horvath, Adam Lunn, Tracy Graf, Rob MacCachren, Dale Dondel, TJ Flores, Kevin Curtis, Steve Strobel, Scott Whipple, Gary Weyhrich. In class 1500: Chuck Hovey, Glen Towers, CJ Hutchins, Greg Foster, John Martensen, Luke Horschel, Victor Gruber, Sam Berri, Ray Griffith, Tim Hunt, Ben Napier, Levi Rockhill, Shelby Reid, Harley Letner, Garrick Freitas, Tom Wood, Pat Dean, Justin Lofton, Jon Walker…and the list goes on and on!!

Held along the picturesque Colorado River, this is the fourth year running of the Blue Water Desert Challenge, and it is quickly becoming a classic event welcoming in the fall season. As soon as the dust settled at the “Vegas to Reno race”, racers started telling each other, “I’ll see you in October at Parker.” The unique format still allows competitors to log in 150-miles of challenging desert racing over the course of two days. It also offers the racers to make adjustments and fine tune their vehicles for the second day of shoot-out style competition.

Unlike other Best In The Desert races where the Trick Trucks and Class 1500 cars compete head-to-head for the coveted first starting position and $1000 “Team Ford” Pole award, the Blue Water Desert Challenge features a different qualifying format. There will be individual qualifying sessions held Thursday before the race for Classes 8000, 1000/7200, 1500, and 1400. So for this race only, the sponsor of the Pole Award – Team Ford-Lincoln owner Steve Olliges announced that he would pay out the $1,000 Pole Award to the driver with the fastest overall qualifying time, between the Trick Trucks and Class 1500. The fastest qualifier among those two classes will take home the $1,000 cash purse, plus the beautiful “Team Ford” engraved Pole Award trophy to boast over with their friends and fellow competitors.

In another twist for qualifying, Classes 1000 and 7200 with be going head-to-head in their session. This is the result of some Class 1000 racers claiming they were faster than the 7200 trucks. Since those two classes will be running in the same racing heat, it was decided to let them shoot it out for the combined field starting order.

In addition, there is a new twist to the 8000 Class… the TEAM FORD Class 8000 Challenge! Team Ford is posting a special $5000 bonus for Class 8000 participants. First, Class 8000 will get their own Time Trials, competing only against other Class 8000, and will NOT be racing in the Class 1400 (Trick Truck) races. Plus, Team Ford is paying $500 to the winner of the Class 8000 Time Trials.

The Blue Water Desert Challenge is held in the Town of Parker, AZ with the start/finish line just one mile from the host hotel, the beautiful Blue Water Resort & Casino, right along the scenic Colorado River. It’s a great time to come to Parker; off-road race by day and play at the exciting Blue Water Resort & Casino by night.

Blue Water Desert Challenge Schedule of Events:
Thursday, October 10, 2012
8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration for the Time Trials – Class 1100, 1400, 1500, 7200

11:00 AM
One Escorted Practice Lap for Time Trials for Class 1100, 7220, 1500, 1400 in that order and then the Time Trials Follows

7:00 PM – 12 AM
General Tire Off-Road Appreciation Party
River’s Edge Cantina – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Friday, October 11, 2012
9:15 PM to 6:00 PM
Car & Truck Contingency & Technical Inspection
North Parking Lot – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Saturday, October 12, 2012
5:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 1st Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
6:15 AM – 1st Race Starts, Class 3700, 1700, 5100, 1900 (1800 2-Laps)

All Times Approximate after the 1st Race Starts

8:00 AM – Car and Truck Staging 2nd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
8:30 AM – 2nd Race Starts, Class 1100, 6000, 2000, 3000, 8100, 7100

9:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 3rd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
10:15 PM – 3rd Race Starts, Class 7200, 1000, 5000, 4400

11:30 AM – Car and Truck Staging 4th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
12:00 PM – 4th Race Starts, Class 1500

2:15 PM – Car and Truck Staging 5th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
2:45 PM – 5th Race Starts, Class 1400, 6100, 1200, 8000

Sunday, October 13, 2012
5:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 1st Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
6:15 AM – 1st Race Starts, Class 3700, 1700, 5100, 1900 (1800 2-Laps)

All Times Approximate after the 1st Race Starts

8:00 AM – Car and Truck Staging 2nd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
8:30 AM – 2nd Race Starts, Class 1100, 6000, 2000, 3000, 8100, 7100

9:45 AM – Car and Truck Staging 3rd Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
10:15 PM – 3rd Race Starts, Class 7200, 1000, 5000, 4400

11:30 AM – Car and Truck Staging 4th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
12:00 PM – 4th Race Starts, Class 1500

2:15 PM – Car and Truck Staging 5th Race (3-Lap Race) Staging Area
2:45 PM – 5th Race Starts, Class 1400, 6100, 1200, 8000

Saturday and Sunday Races
3-Lap Classes = All Classes 3-Lap Classes with the exception of Class 1800 (2-Laps only)

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM – approximate
Awards Presentation – Bingo Room – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Further information available from: www.bitd.com