For immediate release:
Team Orbit wins Class Championship with Victory at
Heading into the last race of 2006, Team Orbit owner, Mike Ruane (
When the dust cleared the afternoon of Saturday, December 2, Roeseler was not just first in his class but finished an impressive 6th overall out of the 108 entries. With only a six cylinder, 4.0 liter engine, Team Orbit’s class 7200 Ford Ranger beat all but 5 of the big V-8 trucks on the course. Nick Cone (
“This was our best showing since our 3rd overall in
The truck ran virtually error free for the entire race. The only problem was a spark plug wire that kept coming loose, shutting down one of the cylinders. “We had to make a couple of unscheduled pit stops,” according to Cone. “It cost us a few minutes but not enough to affect the outcome.”
During the race it was apparent that Team Orbit was headed to a top 10 finish. “I decided to let Larry (Roeseler) drive the entire race. For a mini-truck to finish a Best in the Desert race in the top 10 is huge,” according to Mike Ruane.
This was the fourth class win for Team Orbit in 2006 and cemented another Class Championship for the four year old race team. After the race, Team Manager, Rick Hilblom, summed up the season. “Four firsts and one second for the year shows the dedication of our entire race team. Our volunteer crew and all of our sponsors contributed to our success this year.”
Team Orbit will take the next six weeks off. Their next race is the Laughlin Desert Challenge in
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Ruane Father / Son Team pilots TEAM ORBIT to Fourth Consecutive “Vegas to Reno” Win
Dayton, NV:
Team Orbit team owner, Mike Ruane (Palmdale, CA) and his son, Jason (Lancaster, CA) piloted the Team Orbit class 7200 Ford Ranger to another first place finish at the Best in the Desert sanctioned “Vegas to Reno” race on Friday, August 25. It was Team Orbit’s fourth consecutive “Vegas to Reno” class win. Wes Lewis (Hesperia, CA) and Nick Cone (Paso Robles, CA) shared the second seat duties to navigate and assist the entire race.
Dubbed the longest, single day off-road race in the United States, the “Las Vegas to Reno” race actually started south of Alamo, NV, 75 miles north of Las Vegas and ended in Dayton, NV, 15 miles east of Carson City. The course encompassed 584 miles of desert terrain. Of the 119 trucks that started the race, only 67 finished.
According to Mike Ruane: “The first half of the course was very dusty and silty. My job was to establish a pace and turn the truck over to Jason with us in a good position. I passed Shaun Wanzek (Lake Havasu City, AZ) early in the race to get into the second position.” When the team made a driver change at Pit 6, they were in second place, just 10 minutes off the mark.
Once in the truck, Jason Ruane made up the 10 minutes and passed Andy Waters while he was getting a new tire at Pit 10. “Nick and I didn’t even know we passed him, “said Jason after the race, “everyone on the team was so excited that maybe two or three guys on the radio were talking at the same time.” Once he had the lead Jason never looked back. Finishing in 13 hours, 50 minutes they only had one mishap. Just south of Pit 13 at mile maker 467, the Orbit truck got stuck in the silt between a Pro-truck and Class 1 buggy. That put them down for 45 minutes as they dug out and started rolling again. “All three teams worked together to get all of us out. It was dark and we were hoping another truck would not drive up behind us at full speed.”
This was the second class win Team Orbit in 2006. “We are currently 17 points ahead of Gary Dixon for the class championship,” said Team Owner Mike Ruane. “Our entire team is made up of volunteers and they came through for us today.” Their next scheduled race is the Las Vegas “300” just south of Las Vegas, near Jean, NV.
For immediate release:
Team Orbit takes 2nd at MORE “Balls Out 250”
Barstow, CA - 3/18/2006:
Larry Roeseler of Hesperia, CA teamed with Jason Ruane of Lancaster, CA to take second overall at the 2006 “Balls Out 250” near Barstow, CA on Saturday, March 18. The race, sponsored by the Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiasts (M.O.R.E.) attracted 146 cars and trucks. Sixty six finished the race. Roeseler and Ruane piloted the Team Orbit Motorsports class 7-unlimited Ford Ranger owned by Palmdale, CA resident and Jason’s father, Mike Ruane.
With Nick Cone of Templeton, CA in the second seat the entire race, Roeseler drove the first three laps of the five lap race posting the best lap time of the day for any vehicle on the course. Averaging 53.5 miles per hour on the first lap, Roeseler and Cone had a 4 second lead going into lap #2. During the second lap, the right rear wheel split at the bead lock weld causing a flat tire. The downtime dropped Orbit from the lead and they were never able to catch overall winner Ron Brant.
“This race is a good primer for what we face in the Best in the Desert series. We needed to give Jason some time behind the wheel,” said Roeseler. “He has been riding with me for the last year and it showed. He drove a great final two laps”
Jason Ruane was pleased with his efforts as well. “This was a great team effort,” stated Ruane. “Our truck was well prepared and Nick was a big help.
Team owner Mike Ruane was equally happy. “I am so proud of Jason and the way he drove. Larry is a great teacher. But for a little Class 7 truck to take second overall against the big boys is a testament to the dedication of our entire team. I thank them all.”
In February Team Orbit won the Parker “425” sponsored by the Best in the Desert racing series and will compete in the Terrible Town “250” the last weekend in April. This is the fourth year for Team Orbit and with three successful efforts behind them, looks forward to a great 2006 campaign.
For immediate release:
Palmdale Off-road Team wins
Barstow ,
Larry Roeseler of
Driving with Jason Ruane of
Roeseler piloted the Team Orbit Motorsports class 7-unlimited Ford Ranger owned by
Team Orbit , the 2004 class 7200 Champions in the Best in the Desert racing series started rough in 2005. According to Ruane, “We went through 4 transmissions in two races. We just built a new motor and I guess the torque was just too much for the trannies we were running.”
This is the third year for Team Orbit and their success has them teamed with Ford Truck Motorsports in future stock off-road races. Recently Team Orbit received delivery of a 2005 Ford F-250. Jason Ruane, 25, will be the primary driver when modifications are complete in June. “I learn a lot from Larry when I ride with him. He is so smooth.” Team Orbit hopes to debut its second truck at the
About TEAM ORBIT:
The TEAM ORBIT truck is a modified 2002 Ford Ranger. It is powered by a modified Ford, 4.0 liter, 6 cylinder, over-head cam engine capable of delivering 460 HP. The engine was built by Hot Weyer Performance of Canyon Country, CA. The main sponsors of TEAM ORBIT are B.F. Goodrich, American Racing, King Shocks, Johnson’s High Tech Performance, Tom’s Transmissions, Cone Industries, VP Racing Fuels, and OMF.