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Where Machines Sink or Soar in the Sands of Sonora
The unforgiving beauty of the Sonoran sands set the stage for today’s Special Stage 4 (SS4). From the desolate, slippery road at the D.S.S., where solitude reigned and the distant train tracks whispered of long-forgotten journeys, to the near-invisible track blending into the barren expanse of the A.S.S., the terrain offered both awe and adversity. The course twisted through soft, loose roads before giving way to the towering dunes of the Grand Altar Desert—nature’s own coliseum where today’s competitors fought for every second.
Tremendous hurdles loomed large, with the Autos forced to tackle a condensed roadbook while the Motos faced the full brunt of SS4. Even with an abbreviated course, race cars were falling off in the glittery waves of khaki and lemon granules piled high from multiple millennia of erosion. The four-wheeled warriors had a great fight to wage. In the YXZ, Brock Harper and Steven Geist [#201] reached the final time clock at 2:46:51, trailed by Bill Conger and Angelo Vlcek [#203], who clocked in at 3:32:57 and rookies in the Bronco, Nathan Hayashi and Shane Hairsine [#210] taking Third at 5:50:54.
However, it was a short-lived victory for the Number 203 as another gremlin played tricks on their sleek silver buggy, forcing them out of the race once and for all. Meanwhile, the desert continued to claim its casualties. George La Monte [#206] fell victim to a broken radiator after a particularly hard landing off a small crest, proving once again that the Sonora Rally spares no one. But for those who endured, today’s finish line was a victory in itself. Yet some competitors didn’t even manage to roll up D.S.S.
While their adversaries spent hours struggling on course, the trio of Isuzus put in work in the bivouac. Merging three into two, the LAP Motorsports team sacrificed parts from one car for the betterment of the others, hoping to make one last stand at Special Stage 5. Other teams, however, knew when to throw in the towel, packing up their rigs for the long-haul home. Lance Webb and Kirk Callanoil [#205] were among them, deciding that the Altar would have to wait for another day to see them summit.
Gary Payne and Phil Ashworth [#202] took their Speed UTV as far as it would go on SS3, but alas it would go no further in SS4 due to a more serious mechanical issue. That’s not to say there weren’t heroes of the day. Despite not finishing one complete stage so far, underdogs Bruno Pinillos and his navigator Brad Goodfellow [#204] finally conquered the Sonoran desert, maneuvering their classic green Datson across the rigorous the aforementioned obstacles all the way to the A.S.S. checkpoint.
“I loved it. It was amazing! The dunes were huge. They remind me of Peru; they have big dunes like that too. I love that we were able to take the Datson through them, but the tire pressure was so low, I was scared of de-beading. However, it was just enough that we were able to make it through all of the soft sections. I had a blast. What an awesome stage,” –- Bruno Pinillos, #204
In the second half of the digital scroll, the bikes trudged on, wandering the desert like Kane (on a few cans of Monster). Riders soared across the dry lakebed, engines screaming as they clawed their way up massive dune faces, testing both man and machine in a true test of endurance. Just as in previous specials, today’s stage served up obstacles that knocked riders off their bikes left and right. Sand became both ally and enemy—some used it to their advantage, floating over the dunes with calculated precision, while others found themselves swallowed whole by its shifting depths.
Brendan Crow claimed victory in the Moto category with a commanding performance that will continue to set the tone for the remainder of the rally. Not far behind, Preston Campbell [#5] and Kyle McCoy [#4] pushed fiercely leaving only minutes between the three of them. Their battle unfolded with razor-thin margins that made for an exhilarating finish. Brandon Kraus [#15], alongside Sonora Rally veterans Mike Johnson [#7], and Jordan Huibregtse [#16] didn’t allow any breathing room either, coming in at 3:52:38 and 3:54:44.
“The dunes were really big and fun. Brendon caught me pretty early – like kilometer 25, and then we rode together most of the days. I ‘stuffed it’ a couple of times at the top of the big dunes and had to turn around, come back [down], and give it a second go. Bu overall, super fun, cool dunes.” –- Preston Campbell, [#5]
With the towering dunes of the Grand Altar Desert in the rearview, the competitors set their sights on the next stage, where fresh challenges await. The road to glory is paved with struggle, but as today’s racers proved, they are more than ready to meet the desert head-on.
For now, it’s time to regroup, recalibrate, and rest—because tomorrow, the sands of Sonora will demand even more.
