BajaNomad

Where's McMillins

TMW - 2-23-2008 at 09:54 AM

Interesting, I don't see any McMillin names on the SF250 entry list. I wonder if the housing problems have anything to do with it. McMillin recently unloaded, to another builder, a large area here in Bakersfield where they had planned to build homes. I assume if they were laying off a number of people it would not look good for them as a family to go racing.

David K - 2-23-2008 at 10:01 AM

No, it is because their friends from El Cajon pulling the trailer back for them were hijacked and robbed of everything, after the 1000. No more Mexico, enough is enough!

David K - 2-23-2008 at 10:08 AM

Let me add that is my thoughts from some inside sources, I have no direct contact with the McMillin team...

Tom, do you see any pro trucks entered?

bajalou - 2-23-2008 at 10:51 AM

They were not a Laughlin for that race either.

Roberto - 2-23-2008 at 10:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Let me add that is my thoughts from some inside sources


You mean like race-dezert.com?

TW, doesn't look like the Herbsts are in the starting list either.

Andy and other McMillins have stated clearly that until going to Mexico is safe, they will not travel to Baja to race.

Check out the home building economy

thebajarunner - 2-23-2008 at 12:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Interesting, I don't see any McMillin names on the SF250 entry list. I wonder if the housing problems have anything to do with it. McMillin recently unloaded, to another builder, a large area here in Bakersfield where they had planned to build homes. I assume if they were laying off a number of people it would not look good for them as a family to go racing.


Being in the land development and single family housing business for the past 30 years I can tell you that we are all laying pretty low these days.
'Nuff sed.

Roberto - 2-23-2008 at 12:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Being in the land development and single family housing business for the past 30 years I can tell you that we are all laying pretty low these days.
'Nuff sed.


I'm quite sure that's true, but I still don't believe that's the reason for the McMillins not participating. Besides the above stated quotes from them, they have just finished building a brand-new trophy truck that they will race in the U.S.

David K - 2-23-2008 at 03:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Roberto
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Let me add that is my thoughts from some inside sources


You mean like race-dezert.com?

TW, doesn't look like the Herbsts are in the starting list either.

Andy and other McMillins have stated clearly that until going to Mexico is safe, they will not travel to Baja to race.


No Roberto, from someone who works on off road race trucks and personally knows the El Cajon family husband who were pulling the McMillin trailer last November.

Roberto - 2-23-2008 at 04:11 PM

Ok, well, there are numerous posts on race-dezert where Andy and others from the family state that they WILL return to Mexico, but only when they feel safe. It would seem that moment has not arrived, and I don't blame them.

David K - 2-23-2008 at 04:54 PM

I don't blame them either... I was half surprised that Sal Fish didn't do something like a boycott of Mexico for one season to show Score is serious about the safety of racers and their teams. Let's hope there will be no more kidnappings or hijackings.

capt. mike - 2-24-2008 at 07:29 AM

i don't think the McMillians are hurtin for $$.
when you get that big in RE development you ride the cycles and poke your own bubbles as you need to.
when they sell their super King Air 350 i'll believe they need to rein it in a bit...:biggrin::biggrin:

BAJABAILADOR - 2-24-2008 at 08:01 AM

I'm with Capt. Mike on this one. McMillin's are $$$$$. A few slow years will not affect their race program.
Didn't they just run parker ?

TMW - 2-24-2008 at 12:45 PM

I seem to remember in the early 90s there was a housing slow down and the McMillin's downsized their racing program to a couple of races a year, mainly the 500 and 1000. As owners of a company that big, when you downsize everyone left does double duty or more. It's not if they have the money, of course they do. As a business selling to the public your image is very important also, perceptions are everything. They may have let go some people that have family members still working for them and in my opinion to spend thousands and thousands of dollars off road racing would not be the image I would like my employees or my customers to see. They bring a lot of their employees down for the races to pit etc, it's like a vacation with fun and games for them all. Everyone knows or should know there is no money to be made in off road racing. To quote Sal, if you want to become a millionaire in off road racing start with two million and you'll soon have one million.

It could be a combination of things and the robbery and crime are part of it. The Herbsts not being there would really surprise me. I know they retired the truggy, but I thought they were building a new one. Perhaps the 400 plus entries are gone at least for a while.

[Edited on 2-24-2008 by TW]

Roberto - 2-24-2008 at 01:03 PM

TW, one more time - the McMillins have been saying this is what they would do since the 1000.

You, of course, are free to believe what you want.

Gadget - 2-24-2008 at 01:11 PM

You all know of course, that this not a complete list as pre-running doesn't start until Mar 1. There is still time to enter. Starting positions have not been drawn. There are lots of names missing still, Robby Gordon to name just another big one.
Patience Grasshoppers....

bajalou - 2-24-2008 at 01:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
The Herbsts not being there would really surprise me. I know they retired the truggy, but I thought they were building a new one. Perhaps the 400 plus entries are gone at least for a while.

[Edited on 2-24-2008 by TW]


Herbst's are supposed to be building 2 new TTs. Looks like each brother will have his own ride. They didn't have their usual large pit set up in Laughlin either. And with McMillins missings, pit row looked a lot different.

TMW - 2-24-2008 at 02:07 PM

I should have went to the McMillin web site first. Daniel and Mark did race the BITD Parker 425 in different classes.

2008 Race Schedule
The McMillin Team plans to race in 5 - 6 races in 2008 - however, the actual schedule has not been confirmed.
Please note Racers marked with * means these are possible races - Check back for a confrmed schedule.

Events Dates Racers Links

SCORE - Laughlin Challenge McMillin Team will not participate this year. Race Bio
www.score-international.com


BITD - Parker 425 February 1st, 2nd, & 3rd, 2008 McMillin Race Team www.bitd.com

BITD - Terrible's 250 April 17th-20th , 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.bitd.com

MDR - King of the Desert April 26th-27th , 2008 Luke McMillin
Daniel McMillin www.mdrracing.com

SCORE - Baja 500 May 30th - June 2nd, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.score-international.com

MDR - Coyote Wash June 14th-15th , 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.mdrracing.com

SCORE - Las Vegas Terrible's Cup July 17th - 20th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.score-international.com

BITD - TSCO Vegas to Reno August 21st - 24th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.bitd.com

SCORE - Terrible's Primm 300 September 5th - 7th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.score-international.com

BITD - Silver State 300 September 26th - 29th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.bitd.com

MDR - Superstition 250 October 18th & 19th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.mdrracing.com

SCORE -Baja 1000 November 19th - 23rd, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.score-international.com

BITD - Henderson's 400 December 5th - 7th, 2008 McMillin Race Team* www.bitd.com

MDR - Bud Light Dash December 31st & January 1 McMillin Race Team* www.mdrracing.com