The CORR 2005 season is over, but the work continues on. Ken and I stayed the week following our successful winning weekend in Chula Vista, CA in preparations for the 2005 trade shows. The truck was washed, waxed and fitted with the show body. Decals were checked over, the see through interior panels were added and then we were ready to show off our 2005 CORR Pro 2 off-road race truck. The truck is one year old and proved to the series racers that we’re planning on being in front of them for a long time. With 3 victories, and 9 top 5 finishes, we finished the season in 2nd place, only 16 points away from taking the Championship!
The first trade show was the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, CA on October 8-9. This show is geared to the off-road enthusiast, whether a racer, weekend warrior, or one of millions who have a truck that they want tricked out. Over 40,000 people visited the show, seeing the truck, and the sponsor booths that helped us put the
# 77 machine in the winners circle. We met with company representatives and talked about the season and what minor adjustments we’ll be making over the winter to make our truck even better.
After the Off-Road Expo, it was on to Las Vegas ! The annual SEMA Show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center hosts 2 million square feet OR… 22 miles…yes I said 22 miles…of displays containing everything to do with the automotive industry, and then some. Our truck was under the awning for the Kumho Road Show semi trailer.
Each year over 100,000 people come to the show, which is held the 1st week of November, to see the new products, talk to company leaders, and network with thousands of other automotive personnel to get the edge on the competition.We were also promoting the companies that have helped us beat our competition. With the help of AMSOIL, Kumho Tires, ATD, Fox, Gear Vendors, Wegners, and the others, we have proved to the world we are a first rate race team.
I signed hero cards, spent time at the trade show getting every moment of promotion for our sponsors while checking out the new off-road products that may help us get that last little edge to race to the front again and bring back home the 2006 CORR Championship title.
I even showed off the truck to the general public on Sunday as I raced down the road headed to the semi to pack up and head home in time for the CORR banquet, which was last weekend in Green Bay, WI. The team was there to accept the 2nd place award and to let them know to put my name on next season's 1st place trophy.
I would like to give a special thanks to Paul from AMSOIL for helping us out the last race and for helping prep the truck for the shows. In between the Pomona show and SEMA Show, we parked the semi in Las Vegas at a local AMSOIL Dealer's shop. That huge favor is thanks to Jim Cleary. He was happy to have it there and it even brought in some extra customers! Some even took photos of their vehicles in front of the semi.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone that helped make our season a good one. All the sponsors, my race crew, family and friends. Without them, this would not have been possible.
Always Racing,
The Flying Dutchman
Dan Vanden Heuvel
