[raam]Race Across America: Day 1

June 12, 2010 ‑ 2:30 p.m.

Days of preparation have all come down to this, the Race Across America has officially begun and the Steve Redgrave Team (SRT) is off on a challenging adventure across country, writes Frank Dauerer, Land Rover Product Manager, Land Rover North America.

Team morale is great ‑ all of the riders are a bit nervous but mostly excited, and the whole crew has been working really well together to ensure that all goes well for the riders along this unbelievable journey. Here is a quick breakdown of how the rider rotation will work: all eight riders participate for the first eight miles, then six riders drop off through an area where vehicles cannot go. When we reach Borrego Springs, Calif., the rider number drops down to one.

We hope to reach Borrego Springs around 7:00 p.m. tonight. I will be driving one of the RV's for my first shift and will then move on to driving the LR4, the lead support vehicle, at 2:00 a.m. I will check back in later to give an update on the team's progression.

June 12, 2010 ‑ 8:48 p.m.

The fifth rider is now on the road as we enter Ocotillo Wells, Calif. I've been driving since the start of the race, and things have been going smoothly so far, except for a few minor hiccups along the way. The LR4 is truly the perfect vehicle for this cross country trip as its Terrain Response System can easily combat any surface we cross.

All of the riders are still in great spirits and the native Brits absolutely love the California landscape. Originally from California myself, travelling throughout the golden state has made me a bit nostalgic and really miss the west coast.

I'm excited to see what this journey has in store for us, but in the meantime, I think I'll try to get some sleep before my next shift starts.