Off To The Races with Schampa

New team members, race success, and a great new sponsor, 2009 is looking good. This season Paladin Racing welcomes with great thanks, Schampa. Schampa is an international clothing and motorcycle apparel company that was started by Andy Myers and his wife Nora. Both Andy and Nora have a passion for motorcycle riding, desert racing, and with a moto to Never Stop Riding, Paladin Racing is confident that the support of Schampa, and this partnership will bring great success. Already this season Paladin Racing has endured the grueling and endless woops to finish the San Felipe 250. Paladin Racing Team Schampa teamed up with former Supercross privateer phenom Shane Donaca and celebrated an unofficial 2nd place finish at the Baja 500. With the help of Shane Donaca Paladin Racing has grown this season, starting and finishing two bikes at the Baja 500. Paladin Racing Team Schampa will also enter two bikes at this year famed Baja 1000 in November.

2008

2008 was another great season for Paladin Racing. With a finish at the Baja 1000 Paladin racing made it three for three, and once again finished 4th overall in class for the season.

Buckaroo Ball

June 21 was the 15th annual Buckaroo Ball in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Buckaroo Ball is a charity auction to raise money for at risk children, to which Paladin Racing donated their race bike from the 2007 race season. During a very successful evening of fund raising the race bike raised $6900 at the silent auction. It was also a great opportunity for Paladin Racing and our sponsors, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. During the event, in order for auction goers to learn about the race bike, Paladin Racing had a booth set up to showcase the race bike. This gave Paladin Racing the opportunity to share with hundreds of people our mission, showcase our sponsors, and the NFFF.

In the future Paladin Racing has plans to attend other event and continue to promote those who support our efforts and the NFFF.

Racing

March 14th Paladin Racing participated in the San Felipe 250. Racing with Patrick Dunn and Eric Meagher from Ketchum, Idaho, Paladin Racing survived a rugged whooped out course to finish 8th in class. Unfortunately a persistent knee injury and unavoidable surgery kept Patrick from racing the Baja 500, and an equally unfortunate rib injury sustained from a crash at the San Felipe 250 kept Eric from racing the Baja 500. Paladin Racing looks forward to their return for the Baja 1000.

On the road to Baja for the June 1 start of the Baja 500 Paladin Racing picked up rider Loren George. A Santa Fe native with many years of experience racing desert and enduro in the Southwest, Loren stepped in to help Paladin Racing to a 12th in class finish.

Last weekend, June 29, Paladin Racing member Craig Anstine raced the New Mexico Desert Racing Series Rattlesnake 100 in Espanola, New Mexico. Aside from a few mechanical issues it was a good weekend of racing with Craig finishing 7th in the 30+ amateur class.

From the desert to the Supermoto track Paladin Racing team member David Huckabee has been riding the rubber off his Bridgestones. Currently 2nd in points in the SMRI Supermoto series, Dave will be regaining his pro license, and is setting his sights on the AMA National Series.

Thank you

It has been a while since any information has been posted, but before I go into the details of what has transpired over the last four month, I want to say thank you to all who have continued to support Paladin Racing and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Steve Butz and Quentin Vestor at Bridgestone tires

Maggie Hall at MotorSports.com

Stephanie Finkel at Alpinestars

Karrie Mentry at N-Style

Alan Roach at Baja Designs

Paul Thede and Erick Hilton at Race Tech

Steve Zollinger at Scott's Performance

Lou de Miguel at DNA Specialty, Inc.

JT White at Sin City Motorsports

Adelanto GP

Last weekend Paladin Racing rider Craig Anstine traveled to Adelanto, CA for the Adelanto GP. The 12 mile coarse incorporated a couple sections of pavement, a very well groomed motocross track, with the bulk of the coarse being a very rough and whooped out desert section. However, it was not the coarse that posed a challenge. The start was a dead engine start; meaning that all competitors must start their bike at the drop of the start flag in order to begin the race. Although the dead engine start posed a bit of a problem, keeping Craig out of the race for the lead, once started the race was on. All in all it was a good weekend of racing, and good training for the upcoming San Felipe 250; the first race in the SCORE Off-Road Series.

2008

In 2007 Paladin Racing committed to racing for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Competing in, and finishing, the Baja 250, 500, and 1000, Paladin racing posted a 4th overall finish for the season.
In 2008 Paladin Racing will continue it’s effort to raise money and awareness for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, and again be competing in the SCORE International series, racing the San Felipe 250, the Baja 500 and Baja 1000.
Several team riders will also be competing in various other desert and enduro races including Adelanto, races in the New Mexico Desert Racing series, and the We Be Racing series, with races in Southern Utah, Southern Colorado, and Northern New Mexico.
At these races Paladin Racing will be setting up a booth to distribute informational flyers for the NFFF and raise money, and to promote our sponsors and supporters. Paladin Racing will also be securing a booth at several special events happening throughout the year on the plaza in Santa Fe New Mexico. These events include the Spanish Market for which people come from all over the world to attend, and the largest and oldest traditional event in New Mexico, Fiestas. Paladin Racing will also be working in conjunction with Sandia MotoCross Park in Albuquerque New Mexico to put on a fund raising event.
This year Paladin Racing will be working to expand the team and race two bikes. With your help we will continue to grow and the NFFF will continue to benefit.

Thank you Troy Lee Designs

On January 8 Sponsorship Coordinator John Powers visited Troy Lee Designs to present Troy and his assistant Mandy with a plaque and letter of appreciation. Troy Lee Designs helped support Paladin Racing and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation during the 2007 SCORE International Off-Road Series by providing helmets for the riders. In 2008, Troy Lee Designs has once again come through by helping Paladin Racing to acquire a bike for the 2008 season. Much thanks to Troy Lee Designs!

1300 miles to glory

First and fore most there are a lot of people to thank for this accomplishment; without whom this would not have been possible. We would like to give a massive thanks to Bridgestone Tires and DNA Wheel for carrying us through, FXR, Troy Lee Designs and Alpinestars for outfitting us with top quality protective riding gear, Sin City Motorsports for providing team apparel, Tag Metals, ASV, ARC, DeCal Works, Purely Custom, Motosport, White Brothers, N-Style Graphics, PMP, and Powerpegz for parts and accessories, and MRM, Codigo Seguridad, Dumonde Tech, and Newport Adhesives and Composites for their support. We also owe a big round of thanks to all the friends and family that put in a lot of time and effort during pre-running, and pitting for the race. Thank you all for helping us to the finish, and for helping us support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Congratulations to team member Erik Litzenberg, and now Melisa Litzenberg who were married in Cabo San Lucas during the start of the race.

In a race where almost half of those who started did not finish, our finishing was no easy task. From flat tires, cracked engine case, crashes, bent, broken and loose parts, to a search and rescue mission for an injured rider, with tremendous team work and perseverance, we were able to overcome every obstacle. All of which made the finish even more sweet.

With finishes in all three races (Baja 250, Baja 500, and Baja 1000), Paladin Racing earned a 4th place overall finish for the season. The bar has been set, and with our first full season under out belt in the SCORE-International Off-Road Series, we look forward to continued success and improvement for the 2008 season.

Thanks again to all of our sponsors, and to all those who helped. If anyone would like to help the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, please click on their address and visit their web site, or contact Craig Anstine at craigwthrdstns@gmail.com. Feel free to also visit our sponsors by clicking on their address. Thank you!

Compound Fracture

Due to a serious injury, Paladin Racing, with much compassion, announces that Denis Esperiquette will not be able to compete in the Baja 1000. We wish Denis a full a speedy recovery, and look forward to his return next year. At this time Paladin Racing has no replacement rider and will run the Baja 1000 as a six person team until further notice.

New Members

Paladin Racing is proud to announce the addition of two new riders to the team for the Baja 1000. Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Officer Dave Huckabee and Rick Beaman. Although from road racing backgrounds, both are skilled off-road riders, bringing experience and speed to the team.

Baja 500

On May 28, 2007 team members from Paladin Racing traveled from New Mexico and California, descending upon Ensenada, Mexico for the June 2 start of the Baja 500. With an 18th place finish in class at the Baja 250, after a mechanical mishap; the five person team supported by friends and family was ready, focused and confident going into the Baja 500. 420 miles and a wicked good time later, Paladin Racing was enjoying a 9th in class finish. Fired up and ready for more Paladin Racing now turns its focus to the pinnacle of off-road racing, the Baja 1000.