ECORS at DPG - Class B Recap

shawn

running dog lackey of the oppressor class
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Mar 13, 2005
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Raleigh, NC
It was barely halfway through the first lap, but Joe Darlington's Isuzu was already out of the race. His front axle quit pulling in the middle of the first rock section and the rest of the field was quickly piling up behind him. Mark Zabath, Darlington's co-driver, asked the first rig in line if they could give the Isuzu a push. Greg Slade didn't need to be asked twice. "I put it in 2nd gear, hit him, and kept in it. That Isuzu was too pretty anyway."


Watch the video by moorejunk1

With Darlington out of contention, it became a two car race for first place. Greg Slade's Wrangler, nicknamed Herbie, was quick in the trees and rocks. But it couldn't outrun Dylan Wiles' Cherokee in the open straights. Lap after lap the pair duked it out, but Dylan successfully prevented a pass by the more nimble YJ. The crowd had other ideas. As the racers snaked through the trees on one lap, spectators noticed a place where Greg might be able to cut the corner and get around Dylan. They shouted to Greg, "Go through the woods!" He pointed Herbie toward the hole and pinned the throttle.


Watch the video by caseyofisher

After the race, Dylan said, "I heard the crowd yell at the same time Greg did. I could hear his rev limiter coming. It was like we were both driving the new Priuses and the throttles were stuck." But Greg still wasn't quick enough, and his bumper hit Dylan's passenger rear tire.


Greg Slade chases Wade Sullens\' F-Toy into the mud
The impact caused the Cherokee to sideswipe a tree on the driver's side, but it seemed otherwise unscathed. Unfortunately, Dylan was knocked out of the race when the passenger side leaf centering pin sheared a few laps later. The bump from Greg might have done him in after all.

Meanwhile, Wade Sullens was quietly plugging along in third place. His F-Toy had driveshaft problems early in the day that put him too far back to contend for first. But Wade found some good luck in Dylan's misfortune and passed the blue XJ after it broke down to earn a second place finish.

Although Greg's Herbie Jeep won the race, victory didn't come cheap. The front passenger shock was seen flapping in the breeze during the early laps. A post-race inspection also revealed that the front driver's shackle tore itself out of the frame and both of his sprung-under Waggy springs were bent from collisions with rocks and other racers. Greg took the damage in stride, saying this is far from the first time he's had to repair Herbie's front suspension. He'll patch it all up and be racing again in no time.

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