Riviera Racing Thanks Capt. Mike & Mulege Marv

I am part of Riviera Racing’s #3 Trophy Truck team and after winning the Baja 1000 my 05 Dodge Ram CTD 4WD Chase truck had a strong odor of diesel and we later discovered it was slightly leaking fuel as we left the finish line in Cabo San Lucas headed to the hotel.

I later determined that I thought it was the #5 high-pressure injection line that was split at the seam behind the fitting screwed to the injector. We brazed the line, but she blew out at a different location on the line.

After extensively searching through La Paz and Cabo the only parts we could find were actually on boats in use and I couldn't talk anyone in loaning me the part until I got home...and don't blame them either.

Called back home and got what I thought was the correct part and the wife sent it out via Alaska Air (counter-to-counter). Waited for the two day process and went to pick it up and they directed me to Mexican Customs. Without going into all the details...I got reemed for $650 for the $25 dollar part or wait 4-days for it to clear customs.

I paid it and then found out the part was slightly different...it turned out that the line we needed was really the #4 high-pressure injection line and not the #5...my fault on this side..and later was told by Cummins that it's fairly a common mistake when ordering the lines.

So without wanting to wait another 3-4 days for the part...I went ahead and carefully bent up the #5 to fit the #4 and put it on. I was hoping to limp it home. And when I left Cabo headed for Orange County all was good.

I made it to just north of Mulege in the middle of the desert when my 23-year daughter saw via www.ionearth.com that I wasn't moving..(ION Earth is a satellite tracking system that can be view online or via the team system w/o the internet).

Stuck on the side of the Mexico Hwy 1 at KM 147 appeared to be my camping spot for the next few days until my daughter at home made a few calls and emails to some friends which discovered Capt. Mike to be at his vacation house in Mulege.

He was online and got the email right away and immediately called Brittany who directed him to me north of Mulege. He arrived with Mulege Marv in Marv's 1992 Dodge Ram Cummins truck. We strapped my 05 Ram to his house in Mulege and went to happy hour at Jungle Jim’s(That's another story-those guys in Mulege can party!)

We had a great dinner in downtown Mulege and then I stayed at Mulege Marv's guest house...rivals the Cabo Azul Resort that Mark Post has just built.

The next day, Thanksgiving Day, Capt. Mike flew me to Loreto in his Piper Commanche with Bob who was going on to La Paz with Capt. Mike for some biz ...pretty cool flying at 5,000 feet over the Sea of Cortez checking out the sights.

I caught an Alaska Air flight to LAX where my wife had all the injection lines for my truck. Spent the night at LAX Sheraton with the family on Thanksgiving night and headed back first thing in the morning via commercial flight early the next day to Loreto.

When it was my turn to push the button at Mexican Customs with a small backpack full of CTD high-pressure injection lines I was hoping it would blink green and allow me to pass without the thorough inspection and indeed it did.

Riviera Racing’s Loreto team member-Omar drove me to Mulege and I installed it and loaded up the truck for the blast home.

Left Mulege at 4pm and arrived home early Saturday morning with the truck purring without any issues...

Research seems that the #4 and #5 high-pressure injection lines are a common failure so if you are driving in remote areas take a spare with you and learn from my 6-day adventure.

Many thanks to Capt. Mike and Mulege Marv for the help and the nice digs along with Wild Bill who was in La Paz and searched for the parts up until I flew back to LA.

DB

a great end to a bad situation, right on mike!!!

I am not be an off-road race fan, but I sure can appreciate a great story about someone in need who was helped out----obviously helped quickly and without question.

Thanks for sharing another story about how this board can, and does help out those in need---or better said, how the people who belong to this board often respond in such positive ways.

Sure glad you made it home safe and sound--and it sounds like you had some good times in the middle of your problems---

Diane

[Edited on 11-26-2007 by jdtrotter]

we've all been stuck and needed help before - glad i could assist.
and Marv's the true rescuer as he had the right truck and experience available to safely tow Tim along those very dangerous curvey roads leading back to mulege from the north.

and yes, that party later in the Jungle was a good one!! thx DB for picking up the tab! never seen Bart blow the bugle before!

Quote:

Originally posted by Desertbull I made it to just north of Mulege in the middle of the desert when my 23-year daughter saw via www.ionearth.com that I wasn't moving..(ION Earth is a satellite tracking system that can be view online or via the team system w/o the internet). Stuck on the side of the Mexico Hwy 1 at KM 147 appeared to be my camping spot for the next few days until my daughter at home made a few calls and emails to some friends which discovered Capt. Mike to be at his vacation house in Mulege. DB

no prob

it was my pleasure Tim, glad i could help, and thank you for dinner and c-cktails. as i said you are welcome here anytime, next time we will get some fishing in !

Tim,
Glad you finally made it home intact. Wow! What an expensive $25 part. It is always great hearing how Nomads help Nomads in distress. Thank you Capt. Mike and M. Marv for being there for Tim.

By the way..........did Bart have to blow that bugle to get you guys out of Jungla Jim's at closing time?

the way i got it he blows it if/when someone buys a rounds for the whole bar.
it was pretty rusty..............or he was.