Rod Hall Racing/Team HUMMER had another successful Baja 1000 with Rod Hall taking second in Stock Mini with his #760 H3 (and the season points championship) with Rick Pewe of our sister pub Petersen's 4WOR co-driving for part of the race. I co-rode for Josh Hall who brought his #863 to a third place finish in Stock Full. First place in Stock Full went to Chad Hall, along with the season points championship, in his #861 H3 Alpha. You can read more about my ride in the H2 in a future issue of Four Wheeler. Check out more about the team in the press release below...
Team HUMMER clinches stock class season championships with strong Baja performance
DETROIT – Team HUMMER once again demonstrated the inherent off-road capability of the HUMMER H3 as Chad Hall piloted his stock-full class #861 H3 Alpha to become the first stock class vehicle to finish the 2008 SCORE International Baja 1000.
The 2008 Baja 1000 marked the 41st anniversary of the grueling off-road race and covered 631.36 miles, starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. It ran from November 21-22, 2008.
Hall’s race in the H3 Alpha was virtually trouble-free with only one flat tire to repair during the entire race. Hall finished the race in 19 hours 22 minutes 47 seconds, averaging a speed of 32.58 mph. Hall’s victory marked his seventh Baja 1000 class victory and secured his first-ever SCORE International stock-full season points championship.
“I’ve raced HUMMERs in stock-full since 1993 and this is my first SCORE stock-full championship,” said Hall. “I was skeptical when they first asked me to race the Alpha, but race-after-race this truck has proven to be faster and more reliable than a lot of the higher horsepower trucks we compete against.”
Hall’s victory marks the second consecutive Baja 1000 in which he and the H3 Alpha were the first stock truck to cross the finish line. Hall also recorded class victories at this season’s Laughlin Desert Challenge and Baja 500.
Team HUMMER owner and off-road legend, Rod Hall celebrated his 71st birthday by piloting the stock-mini #760 HUMMER H3 to a second place finish, securing his third consecutive stock-mini season points championship.
Hall partnered with Mike Winkel to finish the race in 22:51:17, despite two flat tires and a steering seal failure caused by an impact with a large boulder.
“We ran a strong race, but just couldn’t make up the time we lost due to the early impact,” said Hall. “But it was enough to secure our third season championship in the H3, which speaks volumes about that truck’s durability and competitiveness.”
Hall’s season was highlighted by victories at the 2008 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, Baja 250 and Baja 500.
Josh Hall piloted Team HUMMER’s third entry, the #863 stock-full HUMMER H2 SUT to a third place finish after battling the desert and mechanical problems throughout the race. Hall and the H2 crossed the finish line in 24:50:06.
“It was a tough day for us and the team did a great job keeping the truck running for the finish,” said Josh. “We’ll take a look at the truck and components and get it dialed in to race for the Best in the Desert stock full season championship next month.”
All three Halls and their HUMMER trucks are in position to secure the stock class season championships at the Best in the Desert racing association’s final race, the Henderson FabTech Desert Classic, December 5, 2008, in Henderson, NV.
One of the three Halls has been the driver of record on a class-winning team in the SCORE Baja 1000 for the eighth straight year and 12th time in the 15 years-history of the stock class. With 30 class wins, the Halls continue to be the winningest family in the history of the race.
--Sean P. Holman
Tech Editor - Four Wheeler Magazine