Zen Pro Girls Race Team

By John Pellan
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: October 17, 2010

Based out of San Diego ZEN PRO RACING is an innovative developed racing team formulated by multi-level racers. ZPR’s mission is the development of racing skills and to provide OHV/off-road vehicle safety courses.

Recently, during the popular 2010 SandFest in North Bend, Oregon, promoters Bre Miller and Jeff Urbach of Fullbore Innovations hosted several festivities in the warm Oregon sand. Patrons assembled from all corners of the nation with attendance of 8000 plus to both witness and participate in many of the fun events. Merchants and sponsors showcased their racing apparel, race manufacturers provided OEM and aftermarket equipment for assorted off-road vehicles, while food vendors provided an array of ethnic dishes and beverages.

Included in the events were the parents/kids relay race, a treasure hunt for the kids, slip and slide, music and entertainment by Chris Bryden of DJ Drama, and more. Barrel and ATV/UTV Pull races and a Poker Run were hosted by Temporary Insanity. A must attend Sandcross and Grandprix was hosted by PRD Productions. In short, this year’s SandFest was outstanding!

Besides the stellar events listed above SandFest 2010 featured an all-girls exhibition race that for many was the highlight of the week.

The ZPR Girls Team got started several years ago after auditions were held to develop a strong southwest, female endurance race team for the SCORE Baja Series. Since then, the ZPR Girls have developed incredible skills and the team has expanded to include riders in the northwest region.

Two teams went head to head against each other, the Fullbore Innovation’s girls race team of Bre Miller & Jessica Molner versus the Zen Pro Girls Team headed by Shaanon Crouch and Chelsea Crouch. Basically the best two girls from each team would race a three-heat, three-lap 100 yard relay race in the dunes at high noon to determine which team had the fastest females in the sand.

Cute girls modeling on sharp quads is always a hit, but cute girls racing sharp quads in the sand is even better. The Fullbore Girls vs. Zen Pro Girls Tournament was sponsored by FLY Racing and the American Sand Association (ASA). Dune Riders ATV Sales & Rentals provided additional ATV support as well as hosting accommodations for the team.

Driving and flying in for the event with only an afternoon’s worth of team practice leading into the next days first race event, team leader Mo Martinez took the girls to the dunes to provide winning techniques and allotted adequate practice time for the team to practice executing effective time-deducting maneuvers. In other words, this wasn’t a hokey ride in the sand and the ZPR team was serious about winning.

Girls Gone Racing
With wind gusts of up to 45 mph and blinding sand whipping across the course, the girls prepped for the event as both teams prepared to settle the score. The green flag dropped for the first heat and both starters left a huge spew of sand kicking out from under their rear wheels. Neck and neck for the first two laps and with only fractions of a second the Fullbore Team won the first heat.

Heat 2 was no different as stakes rose for the ZPR Team to uphold their dignity as this heat would determine the outcome of ZPR’s possible defeat. The green flag dropped again and once again the teams were neck and neck until the last turn when Fullbore’s team rider Jessica Molner was thrown off her ATV and the race was stopped due to a possible injury. After about five minutes, Jessica was able to recompose herself and decided to continue the race as the crowd cheered her on.

The Final
Each team had a win, so the last event would crown a champion. With tensions rising both teams lined-up at the starting line. The green flag dropped for the last time and the girls were hard on the gas. The crowd went nuts as both teams were side by side for the first lap. The first hand-off of lap one did not go well for Fullbore as Bre Miller took off too fast and got stuck in the sand for a few fractions of a second. This allowed ZPR’s Shannon Crouch to pulling away slightly. The lead didn’t last long however. On the second lap during her hand offf to her sister Chelsea Crouch, Team ZPR’s engine died at the relay point and Fullbore was able to catch up. The action couldn’t have been scripted better as the ladies were side by side on the third and final lap. In spectacular fashion both riders rode as hard as they could. In the end ZPR team rider Shannon Crouch pulled ahead by fractions of a second and held her slight lead to the checkers — winning the overall title!