Mongo Racing - Randy Merritt, professional racer - Hot Off the Press

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Randy Merrit | Mongo Racing


2010

----- Mongo Racing triumphs with a strong showing after a near tragic racing incident MONGO RACING PARKER 425 RACE REPORT by Steven Draper ----- Mongo Racing begins the Best In The Desert Racing Association 2010 season with a strong showing after a near tragic racing incident. Randy Merritt, Driver and Owner of the Mongo Racing KC HiLites Ford F-150, began the week preparing for the Blue Water Resort and Casino Parker 425 off-road race and the Parker “Downtown Experience.” On Thursday, February 4, 2010, after the conclusion of the Parker 425 time trials approximately 70 of the fastest off-road race cars and trucks were escorted to downtown Parker for a “Show and Shine.” This event included a live band, local racers with their cars or trucks and entertainment. The Parker Chamber of Commerce estimated over 2,000 people attended this event. Randy said, “The Downtown Experience appeared to be a real success and I hope more people will come down and enjoy what the local businesses have to offer at the next one in October. I heard rumor they want to do it again for the Blue Water Desert Challenge and I can’t wait to race in Parker again.” After the “Downtown Experience” ended, Randy opened up his shop to a few out of town racers that needed assistance in changes for the upcoming race. On Friday, February 5, 2010, Randy and Mongo Racing crew took the KC HiLites Ford F-150 to the Blue Water Resort and Casino for the Contingency Parade and Technical Inspection. Randy said, “The Blue Water Resort and Casino parking lot was packed this year with more venders and people than last year and it took us a couple of hours to get through the lines.” The Blue Water Resort and Casino “Parker 425” began early Saturday morning on February 6, 2010. The forecast was for partly cloudy weather at the start with a 60 percent chance of rain for the area around the race course by late afternoon. Randy Merritt and long time Navigator/Technician Chris Golding took to the “Parker 425” race course about 8:30 am in the number 8181 Mongo Racing KC HiLites Ford F-150. “Leaving the start line on California Ave in downtown Parker and racing out of town is a unique experience only to Parker,” said Randy. Randy started the race fifth in class and by mile marker 25 was in second place physically on the track. The time difference between the first and second on corrected time was to close to call for the lead at this point in the race. “By Mid-way, I was where I wanted to be; we were behind the first place truck and I could watch his every move,” said Randy. By mile marker 90 on the first lap, Randy driving the KC HiLites Ford F-150 had physically taken the lead and was 2 minutes ahead of the second place truck. Near mile marker 130 the race course crossed old Blue Water Dr. and after crossing the paved road the course droved about 10 feet in elevation abruptly. Randy said, “I made a mistake and didn’t slow down like I normally would have.” The end result of Randy not slowing down was a tremendously hard landing on front bumper of the KC HiLites Ford F-150. Randy stopped the truck and got out on his own, but would be taken to the nearby La Paz Regional Hospital complaining of severe lower back pain. Randy told Chris we are winning and to get back in the truck and finish the race. Randy also told Chris to get long time Co-Rider Steve Solaiza in the truck at the main pit. Chris initially did not want to leave Randy, but there was a Best In The Desert official there tending to Randy and Randy was threatening to get up off the ground and put Chris back in the truck himself. Chris put his helmet back on and climbed into the driver’s of the KC HiLites Ford F-150 for first time on race day. Chris drove the last 8 miles of the lap solo. “Chris looked like he had been driving the truck for a long time the way entered and navigated the “Python”, said Steve Solaiza. When Chris entered the main pit for the scheduled fuel stop, every thing was normal with the exception of passenger seat needing to be filled. Steve climb in and after buckling in, Chris accelerated off. Chris and Steve had a 20 minute lead over second place in class 8100. Chris was poised to maintain the lead and get the truck to the finish line. At mile marker 90, everything appeared to be going Mongo Racing’s way. The KC HiLites Ford F-150 still had an 18 minute lead on second and 51 minute lead on third places. After the KC HiLites Ford F-150 passed through Mid-way, mile marker 90, the clouds let lose of a brisk rain that didn’t let up for hours. After the end of the Second lap Chris had increased his lead and was now just trying to finish the race as the rain was now changing the track with each passing race vehicle. Chris made his last stop for fuel at the main pit and headed out for the 3rd and final lap. Approximately 7 miles Steve radioed in that they had broke a tie rod and would be down a few minutes making the necessary repair. The team knew the repair would take a few minutes, but all the necessary parts were on board the race truck to fix it and get going again. Chris and Steve finished the repairs in the rain and took off. The team told Chris and Steve the second place truck had still not entered the “Python” area. At mile marker 27, Chris and Steve, in the KC HiLites Ford F-150, had a almost an hour lead on the second place Class 8100, but the rain had not let up and was starting to fill the track with huge water puddles and running washes. Chris and Steve were now being challenged by Mother Nature to finish the race. Chris made passed pit 2 at mile marker 54, but the washes were running and Chris was stopped by four other vehicles stuck in the mud. Chris said, “I had no where to go so I had to stop and that caused us to get stuck there with them.” While Chris and Steve were stuck, Randy returned to the Main pit and rejoined the team in their attempt to win the “Parker 425.” Chris and the other vehicles had to wait for Best In the Desert officials to get them out of their current situation, but were told it would be awhile because of the weather. Chris and Steve were able to get out, but not after losing 45 minutes of their 1 hour 20 minutes lead. By now all the washes were running and no one had made any decisions on alternating the race course in an attempt to keep the race vehicles out of the running water so Chris stayed the designated track. By doing so Chris drove through water that was constantly entering the cab of the KC HiLites Ford F-150. Chris was able to drive the KC HiLites Ford F-150 past mile marker 70. Chris and Steve were forced to end their race day here. Chris and Steve were able to get a tow to Mid-way, mile marker 90, but the rain and water had already taken its toll on the KC HiLites Ford F-150 electrical systems. Chris tried repeatedly to get the truck to restart, but to no avail. The open cockpit and running water that entered the cab had cause catastrophic failure of several electronic systems. After the race Randy said, “I am proud to call these guys friends and have them on my team, they did everything they could do. I felt nothing was left undone in our attempt to win.” Randy added, “I do have a fractured L-2 vertebrate and muscle and ligament damage from the incident at marker 130, but I’ve already been to a doctor and back specialist and if everything goes right I’ll be back in the truck by the next race.” The next race for Mongo Racing is the Bilek 300 on April 23-25, 2010. Mongo Racing would like to thank their sponsors: Ford Trucks, KC HiLites, Sway-A-Way, Raceline, Bodyline Autobody and Paint, Royal Purple Lubricants, Goodyear Tires, YuKon Gear, Autometer UMP, CAMBURG Engineering, MSD Ignition, EBC Brakes, Mongo Made Custom Graphics. For more information on Randy Merritt or Mongo Racing please visit www.mongoracing.com. #### Randy Merritt Mongo Racing www.mongoracing.com 928 210-9972 Cell 928 669-2796 Home KC HiLiTES are the best forget the rest!!

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