Gone Racin' to The XRL
 
We received an invitation to see an XRL event at Irwindale Speedway from Doug Stokes. Always ready to try something new, Roger Rohrdanz, and I went out to see what all the fuss was about. Out in the pits at the track, we came across some older model cars that looked as if they had seen better days, and drivers who were too fit and trim to be race car drivers. But then, looks can be very deceiving. Rick Seaman is the founder of this league. He is a stunt driver for the movie industry and runs his own stunt driving school. At yearly gatherings around the holidays, Rick organized contests to see who was the best stunt driver. Similar to the cowboy rodeos that were organized to test the skills of those early horsemen of the West, these stunt-driving contests evolved into a professional racing league, the XRL, or Extreme Racing League. Rick is the "Marshal." He does not exclude those who are not stunt drivers, but each and every racer who wants to compete must pass his watchful eye, and those that do not possess the skill, courage and common sense to put their cars and themselves through this harrowing sport are not allowed on the course. Lori Van der Veer races in car #62, and is a seasoned driver who not only holds her own against the men, but is often at the top of the point standings. With a matter of fact and cheerful attitude, she, like the other drivers, dons a helmet, but no fire suit, and heads out to the track as casually as if it were a stroll in the park. John Reeves, in car #45, works in the movie industry, but states that a number of the drivers are not stunt men. He says that the rules are simple, the cars are inexpensive, with standard roll cages, and safety harnesses required. Superchargers, nitrous oxide and turbos are not allowed. The cars are good and dependable older cars, with a large number of dents and scratches visible at a glance.

John went on to add that the XRL has just signed a contract with "Reality Central" to film the lives of the racers, and 13 events for next season. The usual race consists of the ten top finalists, who pair off against each other, and the winner receives about $450, second place around $250, and third place takes home $100. Points are awarded, and a champion is crowned at the conclusion of the season. The XRL started in 2001. Joe Granatelli, the son of Vince, raced for many years in Go-Karts, before meeting Rick Seaman, and joining the XRL. Joe found a Mustang chassis for $250, and put a motor with 200,000 miles on it into the car, and went racing. A very animated man whenever he mentions racing, Joe will tell you about each and every race, the victories and the defeats. The sport has a very strong impact on those who love it. Joe is the Big Shoe in this sport, recording 21 victories in the short time he has been in the XRL. Val Mehling crewed for Granatelli, then got his own car, #F-16, and like so many other XRL racers, is not a stunt driver, but an office worker who fell in love with the thrill of this type of racing. Ross Clay, and Normm Epperson are among many other mechanics, spotters, safety crew, and dedicated XRL volunteers, that make this sport function. Christine Dunn is the very beautiful and brave flag girl, who stands just inches from the action and starts the race.
 
The race course is two giant L shaped patterns with the two opposing cars about 200 feet apart and OPPOSING each other. Christine waves the flag with a swirling motion and two doorslammers race at full speed at each other as if this were some 1955 James Dean movie of rebellious teens playing road race chicken. Just as they seem about to collide, each driver executes a perfectly controlled 90 degree spin as they violently brake their cars, and now they are side by side as if in some ethereal drag race. The cars accelerate towards two barrels about a quarter of a mile away, and begin to flare towards the outside of the course. As the two screeching machines slam on their brakes and go into their slide, they are now FACING each other, with the slightest error ending in shrieking metal against metal. This maneuver brings their cars around in a 180-degree turn and they are now headed back toward the starting line, right at Christine, who has already seen two tons of flashing steel, go right by her. Both cars are now accelerating beyond 100mph with a wooden ramp in front of them. The ramp is only a foot high, and the driver has to go up the ramp on only two tires, so that it appears to be a simple task. But there is nothing simple in the XRL, for the ramp is precariously close to the finish line, and the ramp takes serious concentration for the end of the race is a BLOCK wall. That's right. These drivers have to end at the block wall, and they have to miss hitting Christine, and the spotters, and numerous barrels that have been put up to make it that much more difficult. The drivers come within 30 feet of the wall, HEAD ON, then slam on their brakes, twist the steering wheel and come into a controlled 90 degree slide so gently that they ease right into a box of blue barrels and come to a stop. The winner is the driver who stops first, without hitting ANYTHING. Any contact and you're out. This sport calls for guts, finesse, power and driving skill that would make a CHP officer blush. And yet the worst accident was a barrel knocked flying, which went past Christine, who is as nimble a starter as she is pretty. Joe Granatelli owned this day. His handling of the car was masterful, and the glides a work of art. "The Marshal" put Joe on the Hot Seat, which meant that Joe had to take on all comers that day, and one by one, Joe met the test, until the heat and constant racing took their toll and John Reeves made a perfect run and beat the master. That's what makes this sport so enthralling. You can lose a race in so many ways, but you can only win it with a perfect run. The XRL has demolition derby, figure eights and other racing sports beat when it comes to action, skill, handling and nerve. Whether the public warms up to this sort of sport is unknown, but one thing is certain, the participants in the XRL are having way too much fun to care.

Gone Racin' is at www.oilstick.com