Meet the Desert Dingos

Mike "Skid" Aquino, mechanic, driver
Skid is an experienced motorcycle rider/racer with many years experience in radical modification, chopping and bobbing of various modes of transportation. An artist and maker with a penchant for the dangerous and unusual. He's raced everything from go-karts to flame-throwing golf carts and circular saws. He's a consistent finalist in the world famous Power Tool Drag Races, profiled on the Discovery Channel's coverage of the 2004 event. First approached about running a Class 11 racer in the SCORE Baja 1000 by ronjon via Instant Messenger, Skid was initially reluctant. At the urging of an over-stimulated ronjon, he put "Dust to Glory" on his Netflix queue. The rest is history. Skid has Type II diabetes.

Jim "rj" Graham, PR, driver
Jim co-founded Desert Dingo Racing with Skid and sCary in 2006 after watching "Dust to Glory." Jim's racing career began in 2004 with Ishikawa Racing, campaigning the Champcar Toyota Atlantic Championship. He didn't technically race, nor would the rest of the crew let him work on the car, but he was allowed to unpack and pack the transporter, occasionally cook, and drag a long metal bar with a couple of wheels on it out to the pit area and back. He also handled PR for the team, securing coverage in the Mercury News, KNTV, CNBC and the Speed Channel. He watches NASCAR just for the commercials and thinks the final lap of the 2007 Daytona 500 was the coolest thing ever. Jim is responsible for Desert Dingo public relations, communications, and cleaning car parts.

Cary "sCary" McHugh, mechanic, driver
Cary's love of motorized sports was born early. From trikes and boyhood dreams of the races to years as a weekend mechanic with World Speed Motor Sports, a Formula Mazda Pro Series team, Cary's race career has careened forward at breakneck speed. Now that rent is paid, he's willing to blow some beer money on this race car and call it "a dream come true. Joining this team gives me an excuse to buy more tools," he was recently heard saying. Cary is responsible for wielding the largest hammer and pounding on metal to call attention to himself.

Richard Palasik, crew chief, mechanic, driver
Growing up in the desert of Borrego Springs, off-roading and racing is second nature to Richard. Richard sponsored and built a Street Stock Camero for Watsonville Raceway, then upgraded to a 410 Sprint car. He was crew chief for 3 yrs. at the now defunct San Jose Speedway, responsible for setting up the car, mud packing the track, and directing the pit crew. Richard's talents are many: he owned and operated a welding/fab shop in Santa Cruz , he has a Structural Steel C-51 contractor's license, and holds 10 different AWS welding certifications in mig, tig, arc, & flux-core. Richard has Type II diabetes.

Shawn Kovach-Long, mechanic, driver
Shawn was born and raised in San Jose, went to school in Santa Cruz, earned a private pilot’s license and sells real estate for a living. An experienced wrencher, he owns the fastest car on the team, a stunning blue Corvette, which he claims he's using to practice in preparation for the Baja 1000. "I'm looking forward to racing Baja. Anyone can drive a car around a drag strip or go fast and turn left. But it takes a special talent to pilot a rocketing stock VW across the Mexican desert at speeds approaching 30 mph."

Scott Anderson, mechanic, driver
Scott is a freelance mechanical engineer, prototype machinist and fabricator. Primarily employed in the design of medical devices, motorcycles have been a lifelong hobby. He's built two bikes of his own design and maintains a stable of about 10 others. He can't be left unsupervised with anything mechanical, lest he take it apart and put it back together. 40 years of wrenching, 30 years racing dirt bikes and 20 years racing GP road race machines have addled his mind sufficiently for the Baja event to look appealing.

Charlie Reynolds, driver, mechanic
Charlie grew up in a world of mini bikes, dirt bikes and go karts. Last year he became addicted to Class 11 racing when he and his brother modified a stock 1967 VW bug and raced in M.O.R.E (Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast). Charlie, a certified Eagle Scout, is trained in wilderness survival, navigation as well as first aid. We are excited to have him on our team and hope that we never need to call upon his "wilderness survival skills."

Carrie Molho, mechanic, driver
Former rat brain surgeon turned metal artist enjoys riding (and maintaining) street and dirtbikes, breaking/building/repairing/customizing random things, playing with squirrels, and hanging out in the desert. Certified wilderness first aid responder and burn barrel expert. Co-owner and racer of first place winner in the 2003 Shipyard Power Tool drag races with Scott-A (yes, Virginia, that was a belt sander). Six years experience as pit crew chief for Hell Kitty racing team (2 wheelers). Appointed exhaust and steering tender for the Desert Dingos, and general wrench monkey.

Seth "Blue Cross" Schrenzel, chase vehicle, driver, medic, logistician
Seth is a San Franciscan who specializes in event and trip logistics, and is a 10-year emergency room nurse. A long-time Burning Man staffer, Seth has been responsible for the logistics of several departments at Burning Man. He also will be bringing the chase vehicle, and will be providing chase services for Desert Dingo Racing. Seth's race experience is summed up as follows: "Sometimes I drive really fast on narrow dirt roads and jump my truck. Because it's fun."

Bob "Bus Boy" Russell, driver, mechanic, team sommelier
Bus Boy Bob has traveled all over North America in '77 VW Westfalia Camper Bus he restored. Proud Burning Man VW Bus Camp member with his lovely lady Lynda. Has owned many VW's, including three Rabbits, a '69 Bug, a '73 Super Beetle, a '69 Bus, an '82 Vanagon Camper, a '91 GTI and a '77 Westy. Fine dining waiter for 20 years but should have been VW mechanic! 20-year semi-pro bicycle racer and mechanic. "I can fix your VW or bicycle and answer any questions you have about the wine."

Max "MadMax" Davis, graphic designer
. . . sports and outdoor enthusiast as well as a motohead. Max has operated the Max Davis Company for 19 years. A one man design firm he has designed for Nike, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, San Jose Clash as well as many Harley-Davidson dealerships. He has 5 motorcycles, Êa 47 Merc as well as 7 bicycles. Passion for Travel and his father has type II diabetes.

Dennis "Crusty" Lange, co-driver, mechanic
Dennis built his first go-kart at 13. In the ‘70s he raced a D Production Austin Healey, winning several SCCA races. He worked as a race car fabricator for five years, building everything from Trans Am cars to Baja racers.Dennis is also providing sleeping accomodations for the team from Ensendada to Cabo San Lucas courtesy of his well-appointed RV

Marcus Guillard, photographer, chase driver
Sometimes photographer, sometimes builder, sometimes mechanic, but always ready to explore. Once a commercial photographer in New York and now a full time artist in San Francisco, Marcus is documenting the trip, the team, the car and the Baja. He also drives with Seth in the chase truck.

Alexandra "Octabootee" Nicholson, PR, interpreting, cultural attache
Alex is a Washington D.C.-based public relations professional. Her racing experience is limited to high-speed city driving, which is perhaps why she has been given the duty of team interpreter. Alex is a fully bilingual and will lend her Spanish skills to coordinating team efforts prior to the Baja 1000 and on the ground in Mexico.

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Roxanne Graham, webmaster, marketing, promotions
Roxanne works behind the scenes, managing the website, researching potential sponsor-partners and learning about diabetes. If you'd like to contribute to the new Diabetes section of our site, contact Roxanne at diabetes@desertdingo.com

Scottie Chapman, fabricator
Know as the Mythbusters "Mistress of Metal," Scottie has over 13 years of welding and metal fabrication experience under her belt, as well as racing experience. Her last race car was a '73 Lincoln Mark IV, which she raced in the enduro series, an extreme type of stock car racing done on a soapy wet track. She is excited as a chihuahua to have the chance to help the team. She also cooks a mean breakfast burrito