Flying Dutchman Off-Road Race Report - TORC PerrisII

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   VANDEN HEUVEL TAKES TWO TOP-5 FINISHES AT PERRIS II

   /Round 13 ? 5th Place, Round 14 ? Runner-Up Podium/

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   Appleton, WI ( September 29, 2009) - Dan Vanden Heuvel and his  
Flying Dutchman Off-Road Race Team had their #77 Maxxis Tire ATD Chevy  
Silverado truly flying high all weekend during Rounds 13 and 14 of the  
Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL. The privateer team once again  
put the off-road racing world on notice as the red Chevy had two Top-5  
finishes, nearly taking the win on Saturday night.

    

   The layout at Perris Auto Speedway was the same when TORC raced at  
the facility in the spring. This time around TORC front man Ricky  
Johnson added a few new twists. A mogul section replaced the final  
portion of the rhythm section, the infield corners were banked more  
and the tabletop jump was slightly taller.

    

   The first visit to Perris saw the Flying Dutchman land on the  
podium for the first time in 2009. Since then the limited budget team  
has been a Top-5 finisher four other times, including a win at Bark  
River in Round 7. This stop in southern California would see the  
Dutchman put two strong finishes back?to?back.

    

   Friday night?s Round 13 action saw the red #778 starting from the  
pole position. When the green flag fell twelve 900 horsepower trucks  
barreled down the front straightaway in front of a nearly packed  
grandstand. Dan used the track?s cushion to the best of his ability,  
staying among the lead pack of drivers for all twenty laps. At the  
checkered flag, the Maxxis Tire ATD Chevy crossed the line in fifth  
place.

    

   The next morning the Flying Dutchman team went to work making a  
chassis adjustment to get the Independent Off-Road designed and  
fabricated truck to carry a little more speed through the technical  
infield section of the track. With crew chief Ken Vergauwen and Super  
Buggy Champion Shawn Morris making the trip with Dan and Mike, the  
truck prep went without any hitch.

    

   Saturday? PRO-2 race, the final round of the night saw Maxxis Tires  
take all the Wegner horsepower and torque it could produce, giving the  
red #77 the immediate lead. By the second lap Dan was six truck  
lengths ahead of second place. The distance between the top two trucks  
stayed that way all the way to the mandatory yellow. The unique design  
of the team?s Maxxis DOT tires allowed Dan to take racing lines the  
rest of the field couldn?t handle.

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   When the field went green the final ten laps were a real shootout.  
Lap after lap second place #11 MacCachern would dive low into the  
corners, as Dan went high and rode the cushion. Several times  
MacCachern would seem to have a slight lead coming out of the corner,  
but then Dan?s truck would just accelerate past the #11. Then with  
three laps to go, MacCachern made the pass for the lead stick. By then  
the two front running trucks had opened up a large enough lead that no  
other racer was able to challenge Dan the rest of the race. At the  
finish line festivities, the celebration by the Maxxis Chevy was so  
loud, many in the crowd thought he had won the race.

    

   ?You all know by now that my son, Mikey, designed and built this  
awesome truck,? exclaimed Dan Vanden Heuvel. ?We don?t have any  
outside money coming in to keep this program going, somehow the people  
that come along and volunteer their time, we seem to always work great  
together. It is very easy to make adjustments to this truck, and  
that?s all thanks to Mikey?s design. The Maxxis Tires we race with are  
the same tires you can buy for your truck right from the dealer. No  
other competitor can say that.  Charlie from ATD builds us a great  
tranny that stays together no matter what the conditions. Thanks also  
go to Super Buggy Champion Shawn Morris, along with my longtime crew  
chief Ken Vergauwen, who came out here to give us a hand and these  
guys are just awesome.?

    

   With the two top five finishes over the weekend Dan Vanden Heuvel  
is in sixth place, only six points out of fourth place in the 2009  
TORC PRO-2WD Championship standings.

    

   You can watch all the Round 14 action, including the PRO-2WD race,  
Sunday, October 4, at 11:00am eastern on ESPN2.

    

   The final weekend of the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series presented by  
AMSOIL is October 23-24 at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    

   In the coming week Dan and Mike will take the team transporter to  
Las Vegas to Jerry Daughtery?s shop to prep the truck for the Las  
Vegas race. Many thanks goes out to Jerry and his family for their  
hospitality.

    

   Dan Vanden Heuvel and his team also thank the continued support  
from the following companies:

    

   Maxxis Tires, ATD, AMSOIL, Mastercraft, HJC Helmets, Independent  
Off-Road, MSD Ignition, Autometer, Catco, Loctite, AirGas, Jaz  
Products, Miller Electric, and Phil?s Inc.

    

   Dan Vanden Heuvel Sr. and the Flying Dutchman Off-Road Race Team  
still have marketing opportunities available for the rest of the 2009  
TORC season.

    

   For more information about Dan Vanden Heuvel Sr. and the Flying  
Dutchman Off-Road Race Team, visit:

   www.flyingdutchmanoffroad.com[1]  or email: flydtmn77@aol.com[2]

    

   - Mike Reusche, race report ?www.mt-graphics.com[3]

    

   - Jeff Nemechek, photos ?www.jnlphoto.com[4]

    

Links:
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[1] http://www.flyingdutchmanoffroad.com/
[2] mailto:flydtmn77@aol.com
[3] http://www.mt-graphics.com/
[4] http://www.jnlphoto.com/