Pro Quads, San Diego, CA 2004
- Updated: March 1, 2004
Farr’s second victory of the series moved him into the point’s lead with one round remaining.
Formula USA Pro Quad Series
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, CA
Feb 30, 2004
The ATV scene was alive and kicking in Southern California’s Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. While most of the Mid West and Eastern portion of the country shivered through extremely cold weather, Pro Quad riders and fans alike enjoyed perfect ATV Racing weather. Temperatures were in the high sixties.
In early heat race action, Kory Ellis (Alba/atvscene.com/Kenda/Fox) and Honda’s Tim Farr (Honda/Baldwin/DG) almost routinely won their heat races by leading start to finish. This time out Farr’s Honda boasted the fastest qualifying position, – three seconds faster than Ellis’ Yamaha.
Dana Creech rode hard and smooth to third place. Creech said he will probably stay in California and miss the final round to train for the GNCs.
Another day in the office for Tim Farr.
Over 50,000 rowdy spectators saw and felt their plastic chairs tremble when the twenty thunderous four-stroked ATVs launch from their starting position in the main event. Leading the pack was Ringoes New Jersey’s Pat Brown (Lost Creek ATV). Brown, fresh off his 4 Stroke A GNC MX National Championship, maintained his lead for several laps. Meanwhile, Farr meticulously picked his way past Dana Creech (danacreechracing.com) and knocked hard on 18-year old Brown’s back door. Meanwhile Kory Ellis worked every option possible on the hard to pass on racetrack to find clear vision of Farr and his fast approaching vanishing act. While trying to stake claim on Jason “Slam” Dunkelberger’s fourth place spot, Ellis ran out of track and ended his night lodged on a hay bale.
Earlier in the day, Keith Little (LSR/Sparks/Ogio) broke a piston in his YFZ and could not get one in time for the main event. As Little watched with the spectators in the stands, Farr put the moves on Brown on the track and quickly distanced himself from the rest of the pack. Farr would only have to deal with lapped traffic as closing laps approached. The battle for second through fifth looked like a freight train with Brown, Creech and “Dunk” all on the gas and shifting up. San Bernardino’s Darrelll Patton (John Burr Racing) saw slack at the end of the train and swiped his fourth place position with only a lap left.
The start of the Pro Quad main event is not for the weak.
Right to left: Farr, Brown and Creech top the podium.
Can you see a crash in order? Sure enough it happened. Farr got the worst of it with a possable broken finger.
The setting was set. Heat race winners Ellis and Farr were clearly the fastest of the bunch, but this time out Ellis could only watch Farr take the win.
“Are you kidding? I’m happy as can be with second. To be honest, I’m just thrilled to be riding with this caliber of riders in front of this many people”, said 18-year old Brown respectfully after being asked how Farr got past him.
Since Pro Quad series point’s front-runners Little and Ellis both had a horrible day in San Diego, it appears that Farr should win his fifth Pro Quad stadium championship. The fourth and final round of the series takes place in St. Louis, MO on Feb 14.
Weekend Warrior Manufacturer’s Race
The ATV manufacturers race, (sponsored by Weekend Warrior Trailers) didn’t go so good. Ellis representing Yamaha drifted off the line after starting in loose soil. This caused a chain reaction of misfortune. Jeremy Schell (Duncan/Roll/IMS) got wedged into Dana Creech, who was also representing Yamaha and Honda’s Tim Farr. The collision sent Schell, Farr and Creech on their heads. Farr suffered the worse end of the stick. It appeared that he broke his pinky finger on his left hand.
No, this isn’t a gay-pride parade marshall. It’s San Bernardino, CA’s Darrell Patton having fun in the pits as usual.
