\ Racing in Acton, MT 9/26/04 | Tom Mandera's Big Sky Binders

Racing in Acton, MT 9/26/04

In the past year, a new race site has opened up just outside of Billings, MT near the "town" (a trailer park and a bar) of Acton.





(Photo available for purchase at Intermountain Photography)



This site has asphalt 1/4 mile drag racing every weekend, and is now starting to host some "truck racing." In particular, CORR style side-by-side short-course "obstacle" racing on a man-made 1 mile track with full view for spectators, and the ability to drive a water truck around the course to keep the dust down.After loading up on my new and improved trailer..







I headed out for Bozeman on Saturday morning, where I picked up Blair Howze and the two of us drove over to the race site Saturday evening and dropped Little Devil off.



Racing started Sunday afternoon. I had to first remove my headlights - no glass on the track.









The course was fun. It was designed to hurt your body or your rig, and aside from a pair of doubles that very few people attempted to clear, everything was easily doable and at speed - which makes things fun for us and fun for the crowds. :D



My first heat went pretty well, though after getting a face full of mud I slacked off my pace and let Chris Brown run ahead of me a bit.



Second heat started badly when the throttle cable broke before the first turn. I managed to unlace a boot and finish the race - but hardly in a competitive manner. ;)



My thanks to Blair for running the video camera.



More pictures and video clips are available in the Image Gallery



It was a long late tow home, arriving home at about midnight, but the Scout emerged from the weekend even with no damage, and I felt physically fine.



Managed 6.75mpg in the Travelette, doing 75mph, and not slowing down on the hills. :D













You can also see additional photos taken by InterMountain Photography and available for purchase at:

http://www.intermountainoffroad.com