Toyota to debut 2010 4Runner at Baja 1000 - With Ivan Stewart

It sounds like this is a rare Toyota "in-house" build. It may have been built at the TAPG (Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds) near Phoenix, AZ.





TOYOTA 2010 MODEL YEAR 4RUNNER SLATED FOR THE SCORE BAJA 1000

http://www.toyotaracing.com/motorsports/offroad/news/2009/11-04-09-01.html

The Fifth Generation 2010 Toyota 4Runner to run in the “Stock mini” Class
TORRANCE, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2009) – Toyota will make history by entering its 2010 Model Year Fifth Generation 4Runner in the internationally renowned SCORE Baja 1000. With over 672 miles in length and a time limit of 31 hours, the Baja 1000 is one of the toughest desert races in the world.

Over 325 entries are expected from around the world to compete in the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 – the last desert race of the season scheduled for November 20-21, in Ensenada, Mexico.

Toyota will test its newest 4Runner and showcase the SUV’s capabilities and durability in the Mexican desert’s treacherous terrain. “Historically, only half of the racers finish this incredible test of man and machine, but we’re confident the Fifth Generation 4Runner will be a major contender in the stock mini class and can handle the grueling course”, said Les Unger, Toyota’s national motorsports manager.

One of the scheduled drivers will be the legendary Ivan “Ironman” Stewart – 22-time SCORE Baja race winner. Stewart has successfully conquered the toughest obstacles in off-road racing and was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. “I’m thrilled to have been chosen to be one of the drivers to once again prove the toughness and durability of Toyota vehicles. I’m sure the Fifth Generation 4Runner will be tough enough to survive even my Iron foot”, said Stewart. Co-driving the 4Runner will be the teams of Bob Ditner/Zach Zwillinger from the start line to Borrego Junction, Ken Ziesemer/Mark Sasaki throughout the San Felipe loop, Joe Nolan/Paul Williamsen from Borrego to Valle De La Trinidad, and Ivan Stewart/Bob Ditner from Valle De La Trinidad to the finish line. The 4Runner will run on General Tires and utilize the famous Baja Pits Organization throughout the course.

The 2009 Baja 1000 will be a single loop race – starting and finishing in Ensenada on the Pacific Ocean side of the magnificent peninsula and run through Mexican villages -- luring in tens of thousands of spectators.

The Fifth Generation 4Runner

The fifth generation 4Runner has an improved V6 engine with better fuel economy and 34 more horse-power than the previous V6. It also adds 17 inch wheels and two additional airbags-for a total of eight, providing buyers more than $1,700 worth of added content. However, the price of the popular four wheel drive V6 SR5 remains unchanged at $30,915. Vehicles will begin arriving at dealerships in late-November. For Fifth Generation 4Runner specs visit:
Toyota.com

http://www.toyotaracing.com/motorsports/offroad/news/2009/11-04-09-01.html

How Colorado Tried to Kill me Part 2

I don't swear what I'd call a lot, but I needed to. I was somewhere between wanting to sleep and scream. Wait till you do Black Bear, especially in the rain and without any other trucks. You will know what I'm talking about.
This town was so peaceful it was agravating at first. Since I was the only truck to come into town down black bear that morning I was upset that no one seemed to notice. I deserved an award! haha.

It must have been because everyone was drunk or high. The blues and brews fest was in town.

This town is so nice and quaint its hard to keep in mind that each place you see is 1 million and up. Most 3-5 down in town!!

I look a little "out there" and I was...

I don't care what anyone says. We both needed a beer after that and we were going to walk around Telluride for a few hours before doing Imogene pass anywho.

You can only see a couple of the runs on the ski mountain from town, but this resort is huge. I am planning on a short trip here this winter.

Mining history is everywhere. These crazy enterprising bastards used a converted truck on the mining rails for everything from people transport to mail.


This town is great, but snootey. After walking around for a while we decided to head over imogene. The second highest drivable pass in the US.


That little shack above was about 4 million........

This is the best way to get a good view of Black Bear pass. You can see the little switch backs we took down earlier.



The first of many many mines. I must have seen thousands.

The road went over some sketchy drops!


About half way up the pass was the town of Tomboy. This town looks to have been huge.





weeeeee!

The brick structure looks to have lasted the longest.



Thats the road you take up through Tomboy up to the pass.

High up on the pass

Up at the top, at least as high up as I could drive.




Checking the mail! Okay not really. Look but don't touch all of the mines and mine buildings. This poor guy lived up at the pass back in the day! Wait till you see the one guy who lived higher!

Yip
peyyyy
Time to head down?

No, there was actually a guy in a rental jeep that got hypoxia and was blocking the road down so we hiked to the highest point on the mountain.

Some very old vandalism from some miner back in the day perhaps.

View from the tip top.

holy crap I'm high up here.


Following the jeep (the wife drove the jeep with the daughter while the father got an IV in the chevy) and cop down the mountain.


Be careful of the rabid deer. You can tell them by their devious blue eyes. Pure evil.

Yankee boy mine. The rocks on the ground near here actually had visible gold flakes in them. Amazing!

Up at the top of Yankee boy basin you get to a difficult and steep trail that leads up to a beautiful lake.

At the top of yankee boy trail. We met some locals that were getting ready to summit one of the 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) from this point. I would love to try that.


hmmm. I'm thirsty and I feel so at home... Hmmmm. Oh yah, thats because this is twin falls. You know the water falls on every can or bottle of coors light AKA Colorado Coolaide. Yep, these are them.


We headed back to the Yankee boy mine where there were some legal places to camp and settled in for the night.



Good night!