This weekend marks the 2nd installment to the 2012 Ultra4 racing schedule, an event known as Cinco de Baja. As with any competition, it’s always good to have your notes in order so as to make the best of what will be an insanely busy and competitive weekend. Here’s 5 things you should really know ahead a time. Consider it your Cinco de Baja cheat sheet.

1) For those wanting to attend, or are just curious where this event is taking place, race location is approximately 12 miles outside of Rio Rancho, NM. Ultra4 has provided this link to the exact location of the race course.

2) The Cinco de Baja race takes place this Saturday, May 5th, which should now make obvious where the name comes from. Green flag will drop around 1pm MST with the course closing at 9pm MST. If you’re able to make it a day early, there will also be tech inspection and vendor row Friday May 4th at 3pm MST, outside of Gardunos Restaurant (2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE.). If you’re unable to make the event in person, don’t worry. We’ll be part of the live coverage team once again, pushing out text and photo updates throughout the day (cell service permitting of course). Live coverage will be made available on race day at http://ultra4racing.com/live/ .

3) The race course will consist of five 40 mile laps primarily featuring fast desert racing. Each lap will feature a 10 mile rock race detour, which should add that nice Ultra4 touch.

4) While this is the 2nd Ultra4 event of the year, it is the 1st event in the Trail-Gear Western Regional Series. For a complete breakdown of all three 2012 Ultra4 series’, follow this link.

5) With 45 drivers already signed up, and a $10,000 purse, Cinco de Baja promises to bring all the fierce competition we’ve all come to expect from Ultra4. The most up to date drivers list can be found here.

There you have it, enough details to get you ready for Saturday’s big race. Hope to see you out there, but for those that can’t make it we’ll see you online.

As the title suggests, above is a sneak peak of our prototype IFS center section. We’ll be posting more details as they develop, so stayed tuned on that. In the meantime, just a quick reminder next weekend marks the next Ultra4 race, Cinco de Baja. We’ll be there providing live coverage, so make sure you free up the computer on May 5th. That’s it for today, have a great weekend!

Not a bad way to kick off the TORC season. Last weekend, Brad Lovell of Lovell Racing grabbed a 2nd place spot on day one and a 6th place spot on day two for the Pro Light class. This was Brad’s first time out with our new prototype Pro Series Rotors and from what he’s told us, they worked flawless. Always a good thing! Anyhow, below is an after race press release direct from Lovell Racing. Next date for TORC is 5/26 & 27 in Red Bud, MI.

LOVELL GAINS FOOTHOLD IN 2012 TORC POINTS BATTLE
Colorado Springs, CO 4/25/12  –  The TORC banners are now coming down at Charlotte Motor Speedway but the excitement of high-flying door-banging action will not soon be forgotten. Tensions betweens teams was evident as each looked to determine where they would fit in the 2012 pecking order. Looking to prove themselves as a top team, the AMSOIL / Lovell crew had a weekend of highs and lows.

Friday qualifying was a bit of a setback for the team placing 4th and down nearly a second from the pole-sitter. “We got a lot of practice and hit the track at 100%,” said driver Brad Lovell, “I kept searching for the fast line because there was no groove worn in the track yet. I must have missed it.” Fortunately, with the starting inversion, the #44 AMSOIL / Torchmate Nissan started in position 3.

Lovell got a huge run off the start to push through the first turn to take the lead. As the rest of the pack battled Lovell sprung free and led the race for 4 laps before pushing wide in a hairpin allowing 2011 champion Andrew Caddell through. Lovell then faced pressure from CJ Greaves who put up a fight for the whole race but was unable to get enough grip to pass the BFGoodrich shod Nissan. The 2nd place finish is a strong statement from the Lovell team. “We have made substanial improvements to the truck in the past few months,” adds Brad,”It leaves a lot of time to wonder where you will end up once the season starts. We’re getting confident and know we are a podium team. Once we get confidence from that first win – watch out!”

With the inversion for round 2 racing based off of finishing positions of round 1, Lovell found himself on the 3rd row. The aggressive nature of TORC racing is always higher on the last night of racing and there was a lot of bumping and banging with Lovell in the middle of the fray. “It seemed like I would climb up a few spots then get nailed or have a spun truck in my line. It was frustrating but I stayed patient right up to the last few laps.”

Lovell was pushing on the bumper of the 3rd place truck on the final lap before an assault from Greaves sent him off the course and into a tire barrier. Undaunted, Lovell gained control looking to salvage a finish but got spun and pushed sideways off a jump by yet another truck. The #44 AMSOIL Nissan again went careening into the infield. Able to save a race ending roll, Lovell was forced to settle for 6th place. “Our finish was unfortunate but they wouldn’t be taking us out if they didn’t think we were a threat. We’re clearly focussed on our goal and not going to be intimidated.”

The AMSOIL hauler is back in Colorado with the team preparing to race two trucks in the CHCA Temple Canyon Hill Climb on May 12 & 13th in Canon City, CO. Roger will return to driving duties in the #232 rock racer after retiring the #4423 Ultra 4 in a violent crash on Pikes Peak last year. Brad will pilot his #44 Nissan pro-light in the high horsepower Comp Truck class. With class wins in this race, the brothers look to be highly competitive. The crew will then re-gear for TORC action in Red Bud, MI on Memorial Day weekend.

Spy shot of our prototype Pro Series rotor.

So, we had a guest blog post two days ago by Lovell Racing. TORC kicks off tomorrow, and we completely forgot to share something new we’ve been work on for Brad’s Pro Light. This photo shows our very first prototype Pro Series rotor. This guy is manufactured out of 400 series stainless, heat-treated, double disc ground, and finishes at a thickness of only .230″. The result should yield a highly heat & wear resistant, light weight rotor. Of course, we’ll find out this weekend just how well they work.

Nothing like sneaking something new in last-minute, but there you have it. Live coverage of all the short course action should be available tomorrow over at http://torcseries.com/ . Best of luck Brad and team Lovell Racing!

We have a guest blog post by one of our favorite teams, Lovell Racing. Below, they talk about the upcoming TORC short course season with Brad Lovell and his Spider 9 powered Pro Light. With two seasons under his belt, there’s no surprise all eyes are on Brad this year. One thing that’s worth pointing out from his post, the Crandon, WI race on 6/16 & 17 will also include Ultra4 vehicles. From what we’re hearing, there could be a big turnout for the Ultra4 class so be sure to stay tuned right here for that developing story. So, without further delay, enter Lovell Racing.

AMSOIL LOVELL RACING STAGED FOR 2012 TORC OPENER IN CHARLOTTE

Colorado Springs, CO 4/15/12  –  The Lovell Racing team is proud to announce their return to the Traxxas TORC Series Presented By AMSOIL. 2012 will mark their 3rd year chasing the Pro-Light championship and best shot at accomplishing their mission. The season starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and will be aired live on Speed this coming Friday night, April 20th.