Flying Dutchman Off-Road Race Team

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Crandon, WI
Round 10-11

Friday

Probably the biggest weekend of racing all year is known as ‘Fall Crandon.’ The second and final trip of the year to the most historic short course raceway in the world features the crowning of World Champions, as well as the $100,000 Borgwarner Cup Shootout.

Dan Sr. was asked to fill in on Saturday’s race for injured Pro-2 driver, Ross Hoek. Always eager to help fellow competitors, Dan accepted the offer. However, in order for Dan’s own Pro-2 truck to be eligible for the Borgwarner Cup race, rules state that it must run on Saturday as well. The decision was made for the youngest team driver, Mike to take the truck out for Saturday’s race.

Before Friday qualifying, all teams were present in downtown Crandon with the race vehicles. This festival is annual with a parade and team competitions and lets the teams show their appreciation for the fans at Crandon. The Flying Dutchman team was awarded ‘best dressed.’

Saturday

Light buggy
Jumping out of the Flying Dutchman Pro-2 from the morning’s practice, Mike had to hurry to make the start of his own Light Buggy race while 29 buggy drivers waited. Mike did not get a good start, coming around turn one out of the top ten. Caught up in very tight traffic, Mike was spun early in the first lap while making a pass. He was stuck against the wall and had to wait for every single driver to pass before backing up. Now in dead last, Mike went to work. He was so far behind, it took a full lap to catch the 29th place driver. Then, a massacre followed. In the next two laps, Mike passed 13 drivers. You could almost see the determination from the way he drove, never hesitating before making a daring move. As Mike moved up through the pack, buggies became few and far between. He was able to run down a few more drivers before the end, but just ran out of time. Mike came home with a tenth place finish.

Pro-lite
Dan Jr. lined up on the land rush in a field of 13 pro-lite trucks. Dan got a bad start, but started making moves right away. He passed seven trucks in the first two laps and was running very fast. Unfortunately, Jr’s truck lost power steering and he was forced to pull off on lap four.

Pro-2
For the first time ever, two of the Dutchmen were against each other. Dan Sr. in the Ross Hoek Motorsports Pro-2, and 21 year old Mike, in his dad’s Flying Dutchman Pro-2. However, the team had planned for Mike to only run a few laps, just enough to be eligible for Sunday’s cup race. Dan Sr. took off and ran carefully so he didn't cause any damage to a truck that wasn't his. The main goal was to stay clean, but Sr. also drove well. He was able to take advantage of several drivers throughout the race and came out in the top five.

Sunday

Light buggy
Today, 27 Light Buggies lined up and took the green. Going into turn one it looked like only two drivers had an advantage on Mike, but he headed to the outside and rode the berm. Running with more momentum, Mike got alongside second place and took the inside for the next corner. Second place was secured. Mike had to wait only three more corners before the leader opened the door in a slick area. Mike anticipated the mistake, and was in the perfect position to take the lead. As the rest of the top five drivers battled for position early in the race, Mike was able to build up a big lead. All he had to do was run the race careful and consistent, and Mike breezed to the checkers with a 14 second lead. This was Mike’s third win in the last five races.

Pro-lite
Jr was lined up on the inside for today’s race. He had a great reaction to the green and came out side by side for the lead. Dan knew he would be on the outside for the next corner and wisely tucked behind, not giving the third place driver a chance at the inside. Jr. held second until making a small mistake in a slick corner. It was enough to bump him back to third. He still ran strong in third until just before the halfway point, when the transmission suddenly locked up. The good looking run came to an abrupt end.

13th annual Borgwarner Cup
Dan Sr. was back in the Flying Dutchman Pro-2 for the 2x4 vs. 4x4 challenge race. His second quickest qualifying time allowed him a head start with seven other pro-2 drivers for the important start. In the first lap, the drivers found the track was very wet and slippery. The team planned for a dry race, so the tire cut was not working at all. Dan had no forward traction and struggled to stay in the top five. It only took three laps for the eventual pro-4 winner to catch Sr. and most of the pro-2 drivers. Dan held on and stayed clean for the rest of the race to come out third in pro-2 and eighth overall.

The team sends best wishes to Pro-2 driver, Ross Hoek, and a speedy recovery. Friends of Flying Dutchman and competitors of Mike were also injured over the weekend. Good luck to Josh Hintz and Dan Jr’s brother-in-law, Matt Gerald. Both broke bones during hard crashes in the Light Buggy races.

The WSORR season finale is September 22&23 at the new venue in Wheatland Missouri. Dan Jr. and Mike will both be looking to end their season on high notes. Dan Sr. will be racing the CORR series September 15&16 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster, California.