Chad leads the pack.

So a couple of days ago we broke 7,000 downloads of the Desert Dingo Racing iPhone, iPad and Android apps (we’re at 7,354 as I write this) and I decided to try and figure out who all you all are and announced a contest. I said the first 20 folks who send me a photo with their mobile device showing the DDR app will get a hero card and whatever other schwag I dig out of my tub of stuff.

Chad S. of Las Vegas was first across the line. Chad writes:

I follow the desert dingos on my iPhone. The class 11s are the true racers of desert racing. From start to finish, it’s a challenge. I have a 5-1600 and am trying to build a class 1/2 1600 for my kids. Congrats on the 7000 mark.

Chad knows I’m flattery operated, but a 1/2 1600 for the kids is awesome five ways.

The hero card goes in the mail tonight.

One week to the Hawthorne 250.

From Crusty’s place to mine courtesy of Nation of Go’s iPhone app.

I really like what the Nation of Go folks are doing. Creating a social network for drivers of all sorts. I’m more frustrated with the technology, aka the iPhone, because it doesn’t multitask, you can’t play Words with Friends and do a NOG Drive at the same time. Call me biased because they did a feature on us on their cross country tour.

Anyway, here’s the route from Crusty’s place back to mine (I mis-labeled it.) You can find me on Nation of Go as DesertDingo.

P.S. We’ve just passed through 1,200 downloads of the Desert Dingo Racing iPhone and Android apps.

Car cam video from the first moto at last weekend’s “Bug Invasion I” at Prairie City, California.

We had green, red, white and silver VW Beetles racing the VORRA series this past weekend and a good time was had by all, apparently including the race fans. One of them came up to me afterward and said “It looks like Jelly Bellies racing out there.”

Team meeting this Thursday night and probably a work day this weekend. More video to come.

Bob Messner displaying the $20 cash money, 12-pack of PBR and the fabulous recycled bowling trophy he got for dominating Bug Invasion I in No. 1177

Back and sunburned from Bug Invasion I. Try as we might, we couldn’t flip 1107. We did DNF twice with blown fuse and fan belt issues, but “Bullet” Bob Russell got third place in the second moto. The great thing about racing Class 11 is the camaraderie (also the breakfast burritos, polish sausage, ribs and tri-tip).

I’ve got video from all three races that I’ll be posting shortly. For now you’ll have to settle with a photo gallery.

Lastly, thanks to everyone involved with VORRA for being so supportive of the return of Class 11s.

P.S. Watch for “Bug Invasion II – The Bugs Strike Back” in 2011.

You must watch this.

I’ll be briefing Skid this weekend that I’ve signed him up for the Super Moto and Scott and Carrie for the jumpy stuff.

Lefty and Bob, fresh off the first moto.

Wrapping up coverage of the VORRA season opener with this gallery of photos.

There’s nothing I can add. If you don’t have all day, skip to 4:45 for the roll and aftermath. The roll in pictures is here.

I think it’s time to spring for the HD GoPro Motorsports cameras.

You could cut the tension with a knife watching the tracking website update every once in a while.

The San Felipe 250 is underway and at least four of the six registered Class 11s are on the course. I’m suspecting the other two overslept and are parked out at the beach. Eric Solorzano has the lead, followed closely by our buddy Gustavo Garayzar. Scott says he’s already heard Weatherman call one person a “Richard Cranium”. You can track all the VW on VW action here.

This light bar has nothing to do with what I’m about to write, but it took me all winter to paint, clear coat and install the TrailGlow HIDs, so you’re gonna have to check it out.

We head out on Friday, March 19, for Prairie City for our first race of the 2010 season and between now and then we need to get the skid plate and bumper integrated, our transmission put back together and the engine installed. Piece of cake.

Creech is trailering 1107 to the race. Seth is cooking for everyone. Robert and Mike have been putting the finishing touches on the newly rebuilt engine. Skid will be there. Crusty and I will be working on integrating the skid plate with the rear bumper this weekend (technically, Crusty will be doing it and I’ll be standing around). Also, I’ve volunteered to do scoring because, as I told the organizers, “it makes it easier for me to black flag any other Stock Bugs that get too far ahead of us.”

Am I missing anyone?

While I can’t mention any names, I want to thank the anonymous sponsor who is providing us with equipment we need and who, for reasons I entirely understand, doesn’t want to be mentioned. Thank you.

So remember how, in the The Sporting Life interview, I said my favorite race vehicle of all time was one of the Kamaz trucks that won Dakar? Here’s a video and photos validating that statement.

Now if only I can convince our team manager to take a vacation to Russia in the winter.

Shot of Jason Mace (1169) doing visualization exercises in advance of his very first race at Battle at Primm.

The cool thing about running the blog is that you can pick on other racers and, unless they know how to configure WordPress, they’re pretty much powerless to fight back.

We’ve switched from SNORE to VORRA (our first race is in three weeks), but SNORE went first with the Battle of Primm out at fabulous Primm, Nevada. You can see Jason and all the other SoCal Class 11s in this video from OMA productions.

(thanks to Pepper Cote of Tut Tech Racing for passing along the photo of Jason)