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- #601
Here is the rundown of our Finish. More and more Kurt and I were pushing the 45 a bit more. I wish I could share what we truly experienced. Driving through washes with the ruts so deep even as I throttled up to keep moving forward, we were basically pushing the sand over, around and under the front axle sometimes so deep the rocks and sand would fly over the hood into the cab hitting us. Laughing and joking the entire time. Kurt calling out lines and dangers, myself totally focused on steering, shifting and when it was possible jamming the T case from Low to High to give the motor a break. We were coming up to one major rutted sand hill with rocks on both sides, a sharp S curve towards the top. Kurt mentioning this was they had to tow the 4619 out a few years earlier. 1st gear low range pegged at 4400 RPM we hit the sand, We had to keep the RPM's up and power though. When we got to the top, I heard a " Hell Yeah " from Kurt. 2 or 3 times we would just pull over the let the faster cars go by then take a minute for the dust to settle. Once on the flat clean lakebed we pushed the 45 for a top speed of 53 MPH. We had talked about stopping before Heartbreak hill or whatever it was called. This was a steep rocky downhill which I had picked the wrong line pre running. 1st gear low range softly tapping the brakes we made it down, around and into the long beat up trail and around the mountain past backdoor and into the sand wash. Next climb Bronco Hill. The clamps and ratchet strap were still holding. We talked about the By-pass and I said were going for it. As we pulled to the top, I admit I stopped and took a minute to take it all in. Below us was the short course and the finish. We were going to complete a lap in the King of the Hammers Desert challenge. We started down and before I knew it Brad Lovell in his Bronco was passing us at the bottom. I focused on the course and came in for the checkered flag. As we pulled up to have the tracker removed Staff was telling us we were physically 3rd. I looked up to the grandstands and gave them a thumbs up. I can still see the smiles and hear the cheers. Somewhere off to the said were Wendy, My son Will the grandkids and the Team. I pulled out of line and was soon out of the truck my Grandkids running over with smiles and hugs. The entire Rusty Nail racing family and my wife Wendy all there to share the moment. This was my final KOH in the 45 were both getting older and I can honestly say we did more with this 61 year old Toyota than anyone thought possible, with a 66 year old dude driving LOL
