BUGS INVADE GLEN HELEN

STORY AND PHOTOS BY: SHAUN OCHSNER

Classic Baja Bugs are always fun to watch and blast to drive. Mojave Off Road Enthusiasts hosted a Class 11 shootout at Glen Helen Raceway during the M.O.R.E. Freedom Cup race. Eight Class 11 Baja Volkswagen Bugs took to the track for two separate heat races.

Heat one was held in the evening hours on the Lucas Oil Short course track. There was no shortage of Bugs flying through the air and banging doors in the corners. When the race was over, just a few remained on the track. Blake Wilkey took the win in his brightly colored “Shreddy” Bug.

Racers and their crews spent the night making necessary repairs for the second heat race held early the next morning. The green flag dropped, and the bugs rocketed off for a land-rush start jockeying for position before they hit a huge sweeper turn with a large Glen Helen sign as the backdrop.

The course was 4 miles long with plenty of turns, twists and jumps. A lot of the motocross track was used for the race. There were steep hill climbs and downhill sections. The “Talladega” section proved to be fun for the racers. The course even stretched into the back canyon of the Glen Helen property. Rick Boyer held the lead on the first lap. Tim Sletten was right on Boyer’s tail and eventually made a move for the lead.

Directly behind both Sletten and Boyer was Blake Wilkey. While the rest of the field was attempting to catch up, some trying to find the correct gear on the hill climbs, Sletten, Boyer and Wilkey were putting their social distancing skills to the test up front. In the end with the combined heat races, Blake Wilkey took home the trophy.