SOHREN STRENGTH: RACING IN MEMORY OF PISTOL PETE

SAN FELIPE 250 SOHREN STRENGTH

Resiliency to Continue Family Legacy After Tragedy

Story By: La-Chelle Halliday Photos Courtesy of Paige Sohren and Brenda Bunch

Two years ago, and some change, the He was an average guy, racing in the off road community was shocked as a prominent and expensive trophy truck class wave was felt ripping throughout the tightly who made his voice heard not only through knit desert community, bringing everyone his comments but his driving skills on the to their knees in disbelief. On that January course. In a world of Snap On Tools, Pete day, time simply stood still as our lives in off was the King of Harbor Freight. His truck the road ultimately changed following the news brightest shade of yellow was held together of iconic trophy truck driver, Pete Sohren, on hope, duct tape and bailing wire, yet he succumbing to injuries while off-roading with was a reigning champion in the desert. The his daughters in San Felipe, Mexico. only man to have not just one, but two codrivers in his truck, one on either side of Sohren was primarily known as “Pistol the centered steering wheel, because two is Pete”, with a 6’2” stature accompanied by an obviously better than one. unconfined yet captivating brunette mullet and a loud straight forward approach, often getting A great mentor, an unbelievably supportive himself “bannedforlife” from message boards. father, yet Pete was always the opposing

SOHREN STRENGTH On that fateful day, Pete, along with daughters’ Paige and Farrah, we’re driving their SXS in the sand dunes near the Cortez Hotel. It was the day before the San Felipe Desert Mayhem 275, that would have been Farrah’s first race with her dad as she had just become of legal racing age, and the last of the Sohren family to get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, tragedy struck, sending both young girls to the hospital as the accident claimed two other lives, one of those being their father.

Upon returning home, Cami Sohren informed Farrah that the truck she was to race in Mexico was brought back, put into the shop, and would sit there until Farrah decides if she wanted to race. Her dad had built, and prepped the truck for Farrah’s first race, and had put her name on the visor intending the truck be used as such. The truck sat.

voice to any standard voice of reason. As a family man, Pete was dedicated and heavily involved with his children, teaching them to race, hunt, work on cars, but ultimately supporting any interests they had. He would dive in headfirst facilitating each child’s dreams to learn and create into a state of fruition. Moreover, the strong willed and often opinionated tenacity that flowed through Pete, was graciously passed onto his children because “Pistol don’t raise no wussies!”

Just before Christmas, Farrah felt more confident within herself and stated even though it was emotionally challenging, she wanted to race the San Felipe 250. After consulting with her siblings, Farrah began prepping for her first race. The trio began planning out graphics, reaching out to gain sponsors who originally were Pete’s, and a pit crew. Van began prepping the truck while Paige made all of the stickers, however working together became more of a way to honor their dad than being about Farrah’s first race.

As the race got nearer, tension began to rise as emotions were heavy with worries and doubt. Paige had stated, “we shouldn’t be doing this without dad,” or questioned why they were going to go racing as it was a dangerous sport. As the race was a week out, the family began testing when Farrah crashed and got a concussion, ultimately keeping her out of the driver seat. The family restructured their driving schedule with detailed trade offs to sufficiently allow everyone a chance in the truck while still competing with time to finish. Nerves were tense the morning of the race as the sibling began to ready themselves into the desert like Pete had done so many times before. The siblings jumped off the line, battling across the Mexican desert until the sun began to fade. They crossed the finish line just as the sun had set with zero mechanical problems and zero flat tires. The siblings took 1st place in their class, standing atop the bright yellow truck as they sprayed the crowd with the winning champagne.

Will the kids carry on the Sohren Legacy and race themselves?

Cami: After seeing them down there with them at the race, they know what they’re doing. They’ve been to enough races with their dad and have been to Mexico enough times. It is dangerous, they all know that. You accept that when you get into the truck. I have to accept that if they are aware of that, and they are making that choice, they are all adults now.

The resiliency of the Sohren family to continue pushing forward while still keeping their father’s memory and passion for Baja alive is beautiful and far beyond what one would expect in similar situations. Unbeknownst to Cami, the impact made on thousands of people was exponential in comparison to her thoughts of quietly partaking in the race for only their family’s healing. Pete may not have won as many races as his competitors, but he definitely won raising smart, strong, and compassionate children alongside his amazing wife Cami. Farrah is still in search of her first race.