For all the EPO participants and spectators, race day brings a certain anxious anticipation. You can practice and practice and practice till you go numb, burning tanks of gas after tanks of gas, feeling unstoppable as you romp from dune to dune. However, when race day is only a sun rise away, you find that you can’t seem to sleep; waking up every half an hour to make sure you set your alarm. And when the sun does rise on race day, everything changes. From the moment you open your eyes, you find that butterflies have found there way to the pit of your stomach. Everything is somewhat tingly; numb. This is because challenge lies ahead for you. Your senses are preparing. Are you ready? All those things that came natural to you while driving on your dune rides, leading a large group, feeling comfortable and singing songs are now jumbled in your head. This isn’t a Sunday dune ride. “How soon should I grab the turning brake? Where are my hands most comfortable on the wheel? Should I drive with my music on in my headset?” Everything that was so easy seems so confusing all of a sudden. That is the nature of race day. Until your gate drops, your nerves will eat at you; nothing tastes good, breakfast doesn’t sound appetizing, and you are only one gag away from sporadic dry-heaving. But that is the nature of race day. The anticipation could drive you mad, but the excitement of it all compels you to stick it out; you are a competitor. There’s nothing better.

When race day ends, and heart rates slow, an aura stands out amongst the spectators. Your aura in fact. You challenged yourself; you defeated those anxious demons, battled the butterflies, and came out a better, more disciplined person because of it. You now head down that long road that all racers travel. Over and over again will you repeat your run in your head, burned forever in your memory. “I could’ve shaved off two seconds in that corner if I would’ve just stayed in the grooves.” It will be an endless array of “What If’s” coming at you as if they were on a conveyer belt. All racers have that. It happens at all levels, it happens at EPO’s. When you receive your trophy, shirt, and accolades from your peers, you realize that you have never felt better in your life; wholesome, complete. No nasty butterflies in your stomach anymore, where just hours before they flourished. It is so worth it. You can’t wait for the next one. That is the nature of race day. That is why we do what we do.

YEEEEHHHAAWWWW, WHAT A SLAPPTACIOUS, ROCKIN EVENT THAT WAS. Slap was floating around with Mr. Red, and he was amazed at how Third Times A Charm went down. Congratulations EPO Members, STAFF AND ALL, for putting on a display of grace and style. There is no doubt that the talent in all of the first three qualifiers was stout. What does it all mean? It means when all is said and done, there will be one standing champion amongst the best of the best. Slap is geeked to all heck.

We had a few DNS’s for this event, and that is normal for any EPO. It saddens Slap, cuz folks want to finish, and the peeps want to see them run, but that is the nature of the game. Gotta thank Chummin for providing these wonderful pictures below. You'll be amazed at what he got on film. Now, here’s how the warriors from Third Times a Charm finished:

#27. Mellen MPZ DNS King Sand Car
#26. Sandy Cheeks DNS Chenowith
#25. KingSandCars DNS King Sand Car
#24. Welcome DNS VW
#23. SandStorm DNS SandStorm
#22. Coobie DNS Desert Dynamics


#21. CBM DNF Mosebilt


#20. Turbolark DNF MB Product Split time: 2:03.19


#19. JDMeister Split: 2:28.18 Funco Final time: 4:57.81


#18. Pipelayer Split: 2:04.15 SandWinder Final time: 4:11.47


#17. Mestoy Split: 2:04.19 JP Designs Final time: 4:07.43


#16. Pismonut Split: 1:56.03 Desert Dyn Penalty: 2 Final time: 4:02.87


#15. Josh Brewer Split: 1:58.60 King S C Final time: 3:59.00


#14. Bohica Split: 1:56.97 Funco Penalty: 1 Final time: 3:58.34


#13. SandTrap Split: 1:47.25 Funco Final time: 3:55.85


#12. 2DASAND Split: 1:54.53 Desert Dyn Final time: 3:51.81


#11. Tron Split: 1:53.63 Funco Final time: 3:50.66



Now for your top ten racers of Third Times a Charm and GNC Qualifiers:
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#10. Bradley Split: 1:52.00 Susp Unl. Penalty: 1 Final time: 3:48.71


#9. Nextesex Split: 1:54.47 SandRail Fab Final time: 3:47.68


#8. WildBill Split: 1:51.56 Susp. Unl Penalty: 1 Final time: 3:47.44


#7. Kevin Split: 1:49.75 Susp. Unl Penalty: 1 Final time: 3:45.59


#6. Painter Joe Split: 1:48.53 Extreme Final time: 3:39.38


#5. Kash Split: 1:46.72 Funco Penalty: 1 Final time: 3:38.28


#4. Duneflyer Split: 1:46.97 AllStar Final time: 3:35.37


#3. SandZilla Split: 1:48.41 Sand Limo Final time: 3:34.41


#2. Larry Split: 1:44.43 Susp.Unl. Final time: 3:28.13


And now, your Third Times a Charm EPO Champion

#1. John @ Outback Split: 1:43.47 Funco Final time: 3:26.50


Congratulations to John @Outback, what a brilliant display of driving. He powered through the course and came out the EPO Champ.


Here are your top drivers after the first 3 events; The Best of the Best; Warriors who will soon do battle to be crowned the Ultimate Sand Car Champion.
Tripod
Poule43
Jimmie Long Travel
Funco4Life
BeachHead
Dunitic
Ty One On
Deanasaurus
YFZ4KT
Screamin Ian
Gary Gall
Chad George
Mike Green
John@SU
OSotoGari
Duner21
Murrietta Joe
Grant George
Greg George
Don Techen
Bradley
Nextesex
WildBill
Kevin
Painter Joe
Kash
Duneflyer
SandZilla
Larry
John @ Outback
Tron
2DASAND
SandTrap
Josh Brewer
Blown Hallet
Glam_Mom

Damn, those are some nice pics.

One thing I think alot of people learned out there that day..

This is about all you see when OutBack is on the course..

Damn good pics by the Slappy Slave!

Great weekend

You guys sure throw a hell of a party after .

Good Times

gettin better there Chumly........

great job everyone!!!

and man great pics also

very nice

good job all, and another safe event

wow what a blast we had thanks slappy and to all the staffers for there hard work and i will drive it harder in the corners next time does anybody else have any more pics???

to all the drivers... they had their hands full that's for sure..

wow that is some excitement! just think of the bragging rights soon to come...

Racing

aint nuthin better...

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freakin bad ass time for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great pics, everyone looks great. Everything said by Slappy is 100% TRUE!!! Couldn't eat, sleep, drink...nothing! Just had to get on that track and RUN IT!


Frank

Great time for sure!

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Great Day Great People

Outstanding work Slappy and crew..

Thanks for the pics Slap!!! Had a BLAST!!!! Can't wait for the GNC!!!! ....reading down the list fot he GNC / YIKES!!! its going to be a nail biter on that day!!!!!


I will be happy to make it out alive with that line up!!!!

See you guys soon!!!!!! I need to go start turning some wrenches on the car.

Andy H

Had a blast Slap! And you nailed it with your description!
You're the best Slap! Thanks for all you do!!

cool pics congrats to all!

Awesome day!
Hmmm...why is my tire pointing right when I'm trying to go straight??

Great job guys!

Congrats. to all the racers who finished or didn't or didn't make it to the start. It's all a rush just getting ready and getting there. Such a good time.
Always a different track, different participants, different times. Always a bummer if your car breaks but funner to run the next time. Thanks all for some really great times!!

I'm in to the GNC once again..yahoo~ Running a different newer car this time- should stay together well. Let's race BOYS!

Thank you to all help put this on. I had as wonderful time. Great Pictures!

Congrats to all!!!

Great post Slappy!! Great pics Chummin!! Now for the tingly feeling, got it just looking at all these pics and names of the participants, thinking I am running against the best of the best at Glamis. Thanks Slappy, I am honored!!

Thanks to all involved, great times for sure. Dang a top ten in the GNC could be tuff to get.

No kidding!

Yeap, playing with you boys is rough! Don't think I will see my #10 in this one the GNC. Just slipped in by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin, in the last qualifier.. 11-15's got to battle it out. But with a 11 and a 12 I had a low # in that deal. YAHOO! I am ready to roll.

Heard the color of shirts will be fushia.. HOT PINK too. ha ha ha.

Gonna be great to watch this one and even better to run in it. Can't wait~

Why is'nt this open to more people.How can you name a champion when not open to others.

Only the elite are invited. Still not sure how I made it in.

easy..

the campion is the one who got first.

The reason its not open to everyone.. Volunteers can only do so much. Glamis is only so big. There are only 24hrs in a day and only 7 of those in a week. Currently for 30ish racers it takes 6 hours to have a race. If it took 12 hours, would you sit around all day waiting for your 4 minutes of glory?
Also, there are lots of people who decline these races because work etc. they cannot be held on weekends for obvious reasons.

edromofo,
Those that get invited are super active in this website. Guess I just told you how to get your invite..

C'mon Chum... 196 posts in 2 years is on the mark!!.....................................................

AWESOME!! great job everyone!

those are some beautiful pictures chum, looks like your havin fun clickin that camera.

Gee I wish I had more time to play on here but some of us have businesses to run.

Hey I guess this ^^^^^^^^^^^^ makes 200

great work guys and gals cant wait to see the gnc

Whats DNS? Did not start?
What happened to those guys?

Broke in practice

Well..broke is a strong word. Coobie just forgot to put gas in the tank.

that's true

Ah, the EPO.....the only place on earth where JD catches air!
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OH SNAP!!!!!

Congrats to all! Great pics Chummin.

So do we need to chip in and hire a pit crew for Coobie that can fuel up his buggy for him?

Thanks a lot.. Who knows when I'll see air again..

And girl.....................

Some of us broke on the way to the track

Still had a great time watching all the others race. Awesome job everyone!!!

A group picture of the participants pre-race...

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Congrats to the top 10...

Bradley
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Nextasex
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WildBill
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Kevin
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PainterJoe
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Kash
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Duneflyer
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Sandzilla
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Larry
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And the winner of Third Times A Charm....

John@Outback
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It was an awesome day with some good friends.....

Very nice pics hommie!

Great shots Yarder. . I fight with myself on where to stand for these - I give up the big jumps and lips for the technical parts.. I need to clone myself..