2011 BITD Parker 425 post-race quotes from some of the top finishers. More than 200 of North Americas best off-road racers have signed up for the 2011 running of the Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker 425. It was the 40th year that the city of Parker has hosted an off-road race along the Colorado River. A record breaking field of 34 Trick Trucks (equivalent of Trophy Trucks) entered that event. The starter list reads like a “who’s who” of the most renowned racers in the country. Pre-race the withdraw of the #2 Trick Truck, “Pistol” Pete Sohren, supposedly a sponsor jumped away. At the same breath Pete Sohren announced to team up with Armin Schwarz for the SCORE San Felipe 250. See the breaking news pistol vision here.

A bad weekend also for Robby Gordon on his fans. So far 2011 for Gordon it is 3 starts, 3 fails! Another DNF after a 3rd place qualifying, featuring the new Bud Light sponsor, at this BitD race.

Also, a strong running at the beginning of the race for Andy McMillin with a less stellar outcome. O-tone / Facebook Andy McMillin: “Here’s what happened. Tied on time with Rob Mac, at mile 137 on lap 2 I missed a 90 degree right hand turn on a fast road. Instead of trying to make the turn, I drove over the berm and into what I thought was open desert. Instead it was a 15 foot ditch. The Motec in our truck says we went from 93mph to 0 in a quarter of a second. I’m sore but I’ll be fine.”
Read the complete report at Puro Off-Road Parker 425

Roger Norman started 26th and finished 2nd, third overall, in the Crystal Bay Casino #8 Trick Truck class with Armin Schwartz joining the team for the 2010 Best In The Desert Vegas to Reno race. After a bad qualifying run put them into the 26th spot to start, they overcame about 11 minutes of downtime working on the truck and still climbed up into 2nd out of 48 Class 1400 Trick Trucks registered for Friday August 20, 2010 race.

“We had a great race and everything went really well overall! I am glad that Armin was able to join us for his first experience in a trophy truck. It is tough because it is completely different to drive than a Class 1 car, but he did a great job!” said Norman.

Armin Schwartz, a World Rally driver from Germany, took the drivers seat at Race Mile 308 with his navigator and crew chief Bryan Lytle as his co-driver. “I have been looking for quite some time to drive in a trophy truck, and am glad to be in a good truck with a great team,” said Armin Schwartz. “For me it was unbelievable what you can do with a truck. It fly’s very well, especially when you have unknown obstacles,” laughs Schwartz. “It was very exciting because we tried to increase the speed mile, by mile, and not have any stupid mistakes. It paid off as we only had one flat.”

The Norman Motorsports team had great pit stops all day long, even the drivers change was only a minute and a half. “I haven’t raced in a couple of months, and it took me about an hour to get into the groove and start clicking again. I will say I felt much safer driving in the dust knowing the motorcycles and ATV’s had lights, and we successfully used our Pass Alert system a couple of times,” said Norman who was a leader in the recent safety movement.

As a reminder, Norman Motorsports in El Cajon, CA will be hosting a fundraiser to benefit FAST-Aid, Cruz Roja and the Emergency Services of Erendira this Saturday August 28, 2010, doors open at 2pm. Become a Facebook friend of Roger Norman or Curtis Guise and RSVP to the event to attend this very special benefit event. Fans, Sponsors, and Friends are welcome, but must RSVP via Facebook.