Back from Argentina, well, most of them at least, the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners talk about the time they had this past week

   
By Pat Schutte

CORONA, Calif., (Jan. 9, 2009) – Some halfway around the world – top to bottom – the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners were traipsing around the latest installment of the legendary Dakar Rally, south of the equator in Argentina, having a blast on Monster Energy’s dime with Gordon and his Monster Energy/Hummer off road race team.

At last count pretty much all the contest winners have returned – sans a couple who are still down there living it up and following Gordon across the Argentine countryside and into neighboring Chile as the challenges for the overall ’09 Dakar Rally title.

But one thing’s for sure for the contest winners on this second of three legs (Baja, Dakar & NASCAR) that make up the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience: Everyone’s had an absolute blast.

“I was a little worried with this trip to South America and wanted to make sure that this trip was as good as the contest winners had at the Baja 1,000 last month,” said contest organizer Jason McCormick of Monster Energy. “After the week in Buenos Aires, Argentina everyone left with smiles on their faces and I knew everyone had a real good time. We all did a lot of amazing things in that short week and I tried to mix up a bit of fun with sense for the Argentinean culture.”

McCormick added, as several of the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners will agree to here in a bit, that Gordon himself played a big role in making sure everyone not only felt welcome and had a good time, but that they also felt they were part of the team (hence the term “Experience”).

“Man, we all out dancing in the streets on New Year’s,” said Gordon of he and the contest winners. “Then another night it was my birthday and we all were out partying again.” Gordon paused: “I honestly wasn’t really sure what to make of this when Monster approached me, but it couldn’t have turned out any better. I’m looking forward to having the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners out at a NASCAR race this summer and  hope we can put something together like this again.”

Monster Energy tracked down three of the contest winners, including Las Vegas’ Brittnay Burgos, Derek McNamara (Parma, Ohio) and Angela Saxton from Omaha, Neb., who made the trip with her Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest-winning husband, Doug.

Monster Energy: How’d everything go down in Argentina?

Brittnay: “Better than I expected. An amazing experience and a dream come true. Not too many people get to go down there, especially in the racing world. An amazing time and I loved every minute of it!”

Derek: “Oh, man, everything was great. Real good environment. Saw a lot of the racing and festivities. Got to check out the Monster/Hummer real close, stuff like that. Robby Gordon’s team really made us feel like we were part of the program.”

Angela: “Everything was very good. The Hotel accommodations were very nice, well-located and within walking distance to different places of interest.”

Monster Energy: What were some of the highlights?

Brittnay: “We all went as a group to the scrutineering (car inspection) the day before the start and there was TONS of people (see photo) down there, all the local Argentineans and Robby Gordon was up on the podium and he spotted us in the crowd and pointed to us and gave a shout out and after that everyone was looking at us like ‘Who are these people?’ Just cool that Robby acknowledged us like that out in public.”

Derek: “I’d say checking out the sights along the way to watch the racing, the different restaurants and that, the culture. The whole environment was cool. A real good experience. Robby was real nice when we met him down in Mexico (Baja) and this was just an added bonus, really. Spent New Year’s with him and he’s a real down-to-earth guy, same level as you are.”

Angela: “For me the highlight was New Year's Eve. We all have dinner together, the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners and Robby Gordon's crew. It was spectacular. Also, the presentation the day before of the race was fun. It was a long wait before Robby and Andy (Grider, co-driver) got up to the podium, but when they acknowledge that the contest winners, Monster representatives and the wives/girlfriends were there to support the team and it was very nice.”

Monster Energy: Were the locals down there pretty stoked on Monster?

Jason McCormick: “Monster Energy was something new to the people in Argentina. But with Robby and all his support vehicles with the black and green Monster Energy paint scheme, people were asking many questions about it. The Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners were all handing out stickers and Robby Gordon autograph cards to the crowds on hand every day. People were dying for more things and I am surprised that everyone was able to escape with their Monster Energy hats and back packs still in their possession!”

Brittnay: “I knew going down there that Monster wasn’t down there yet, but I also saw the reaction to Monster in Baja. I didn’t really expect much, but when my mom and I went to tech (inspection) to wander around and as soon as Robby and the Monster trucks pulled in it got real crowded. Everyone knew about Monster at that point. Robby Gordon and Monster. People would be chanting ‘Monster! Monster!’ So by the time the race actually started they definitely knew what Monster was.”

Derek: “They seemed a little confused at first. Not sure how much Monster is distributed down there. But the further into the week we got, the more familiar they became with the racers, race team and, eventually, the Monster brand. They definitely knew what Monster was by the time we left.”

Angela: “The locals were puzzle with the gear. They will try to trade their hats for ours and were asking "What is Monster?" Definitely, locals wanted to have some t-shirts or drinks or stickers or Monster something – the were pretty excited with Monster.”

Monster Energy: Which was more fun, Baja or Dakar?

Brittnay: “I would say…that’s a tough one…but I’d say Dakar. Mainly because since we got to know the team at Baja, at this point we had a better relation with them and were able to interact with the crew and Robby – more of a family than we were at Baja. Everyone treated us like they knew us for years and we just had an awesome time.”

Derek: “That’s actually a tough question. They were both cool in different ways, you know? Baja we were really close to the action and the ride-alongs were really cool, things like that. But Argentina and the Dakar was a little more laid back and casual – a real good time as well. So I couldn’t put one above the other.”

Angela: “They are completely different. Baja was more rustic and Buenos Aires was more sophisticated. I think it has to do a lot with the kind of cities they are.”

Monster Energy: Are you looking forward to the NASCAR race this summer?

Brittnay: “Yes, looking forward to it very much so. They said we might hit a road course rather than a loop-de-loop, so I’m excited to see where Robby excels at.”

Derek: “Oh, yeah. Definitely looking forward to that one. Close to home but a whole new environment and a totally different experience from the off road vehicles.”

Angela: “I am ready to pack again for NASCAR!”

Next up is the final leg of the Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience, a trip to California to check out Gordon in action on a NASCAR circuit. Stay tuned to MonsterEnergy.com and MonsterArmy.com for more on the Dakar Rally and upcoming Robby Gordon Experience contest!

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it Dakar, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along with the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot. The Monster Energy Robby Gordon Experience contest winners dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com