Joanne Races Pit Bull Tires UTV Race at King of the Hammers

| April 15, 2011

Story by Joanne Dolly-Gonzales

There was a lot of stuff on my table last year, and it was the challenge of the desert that was my final decision factor to enter in the ultimate off road race: 2011 Pit Bull Tires UTV Race at the Griffin King of the Hammers. You see, my right knee had been replaced April 8, 2010…and there is nothing gonna keep this girl down, ya know?

Frenchy (my Husband), bought me a Purple Polaris RZR in June ’10. In August, during the UTV Jam in Marysvale, UT the decision was made: I didn’t just want to do ‘the Hammers’, rather I HAD to do it. Driving in the hammers became my breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next few months. Nick Bullock was very motivating as he had done the Hammers the prior year, and completed the race despite the break downs. He also recommended that I dye my hair and put purple in it. Gads Nick is a hoot, so much so that I DID dye my hair and put purple in it!

The team was so easy to put together. Frenchy came up the idea of an ‘all woman driving team’. Darn, I love that man! He asked Brittany Cardone from HCR to drive the last half of the race, and I’d drive the first. Jim from HCR was working as the spotter/navigator and all the other things that we might need….like maybe a few rock rearrangements?

The week of the race came quick. The HCR team pulled into Hammertown and was immediately greeted by Mike Leighton from King Shocks. He directed HCR/Damon Cardon to their vendor site, and then he pointed Frenchy and I to the Best Part of Hammertown, the far end of pit row. We could see every rig that went into the desert and came back. What entertainment!

Contingency was the most problematic for me. It seemed like everything that was done was wrong or incomplete. My hats off to PRP, not only for my excellent seats but for having Rhino nets on hand that were a snug fit to my RZR. After the prerun Jim had King Shocks take a quick look at the set up and they were still spot on. Jim, Frenchy and our friend Montey Aldrige worked into the night to make sure that all the small, but very important details were handled.

The line up prior to the green flag was such fun for me! I’ve never been so jazzed before in my entire life. It was cold that morning and at the time the worst thing that could ever happen was that my hands went completely numb. I drove all the way to Elvis basically with numb hands. I can laugh at it now, but boy was it scary. But, by the time we were through Elvis my hands were as warm as toast. The pit stop is where we changed drivers. I could barely stand and walk, and there was young sweet Brittney. She hopped in with Jim and off they went. Oh to be young again.

We finished in 2 hours and came in 5th.

I learned so much about UTV and Ultra4 racing, and I know that there is so much more to learn. What a great group of people we met and Frenchy and I are so looking forward to the next King of the Hammers. I’ve even talked about having the chance to drive in an Ultra4 car. Can you imagine? What a rush. And these guys live it!

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UTV WEEKLY COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE RACE