The first Zilla I ever rode was the one in my avatar. Owner Mike McGee rider of record and Charlie Lamson needed a rider for the '91 Baja 500 but I was already chasing/pitting another ATV. They called to ride the Nevada 500 later that year. First time riding one was the race quad in Ridgecrest the day before the Nevada 500. Rode the 'scenic' route tonopah to tonopah loop broke the rear shock spring, next pit greg row lends us his spare. We finished 2nd Class 25 3rd Overall ATV. Beating Greg, but losing to Doug Roll of Roll design on his banshee. Got asked to ride the next race the Baja 1000 if Mike finishes well he wins the Class 25 Championship. Prerunning in Baja with two bikes and one breaks down. I prerun alone down Diablo Dry Lake to Matomi Wash turn back north on Puertocitas Rd to north of the San Felipe airport runway. Looking for painted arrows on rocks & pink ribbon tied to shrubs for 6-7 hrs all by myself in a place I never been.... Yeah I got spooked a few times.
First week in November we're down there at contingency row pushing the Zilla thru downtown Ensenada to tech inspection. I see dirt bags Derek Nye, chat with him since he has connections to the magazines...which pays off. The race starts no problems I get on with two Prestone antifreeze bottles full of premixed race gas hooked to my butt pack with the radio in it in case of emergency. I ride to the bottom of Diablo Dry Lake pour in both bottles, my ass lighter by 4 gallons. Find out when I get to the next rider change at the San Felipe pit we are first overall ATV! Still gotta go thru the notorious San Felipe whoop section then over Mikes Sky Ranch to the west coast then up to Ensenada for the finish... 40 miles before the finish at Ojos Negros pit we are 4 minutes off the lead, but its cool all we needed was to get fourth in class to seal up the championship. Fog and poor conditions adds 17 minutes off the leaders finish. Mike locks up the year end points and is given some paltry amount of cash lol... I receive two trophys for two races on the Suzuki Roll C&J LT500. I get asked to race again but wasn't able to till the '93 Baja 1000.... That year it was punishing as you had to do two loops down to Matomi wash then back to Ensenada. Mike gets stuck in Laguna Salada mud next to Ricky Stator... After 6.5 hours the Zilla makes it to me I ride to zoo rd but the call is made to pack it in.... Derek sees me down there and no
**** my pic gets in the mag....ha!
I'm two out of three finishing the 1000
Sorry for the novel.