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BAJA 500 2013 LIVE! Starts RaceWeek Monday, May 27
UPDATE! May 21
BajaRacingNews.com Fanatics Pre-Run Reports!
"I ran from 301 to ojos. Beach section was the best prerun fun I have had
in a long time. From Santo Thomas to ojos was so rough, going to get
interesting on race day. Stream crossing at Race Mile 450 is going to be a muddy
mess. Be careful, there are a lot of rattle snakes out.
The summit is ruff the wash after it is really cool, gets ruff again
near the 3 , but it looks like they tried hard to keep you off the
endless whoops, road to mike is the same, after mikes it tightens up
alot, there are some pissed off ranchers down by colinet. built some
barracades. seems like somebody doesnt want going down the san rafile
wash either. co dogs were pretty tired after opening 50 gates. beach
sections were nice. The last 40 took took 3 hours.be careful at the
beginning and the end the course runs 30 ' apart....taco were good in Valley t.
We did from Ojos Negros skipped the summit then to Mikes Sky Rancho, from Mikes to Coyote
is probably the roughest tightest section i have seen in a long time,
probably since the old 90's Mikes days. There is absolutely zero room
for error in the section and since most will be here after dark its
those who race this section will have to strap their 2 pairs on tight.
We like shmucks drove our chase trucks through there, long bed 4 door
dodge cummins and suburban, and made it through but took almost 5 hours
to do 15 miles. Worked out because we ended up rescuing 2 of our
prerunners.
Ran
Mike's to Uropan yesterday in my Cherokee. From Simpson hill about
the next 20 miles my jeep was the right vehicle. From 270 to Uropan is
WFO pretty much. We cruised through the ranches and populated areas and
all locals sealed happy and waived. Please respect them as this is their
homes. Do a good job on closing gates so we can return. These cows are
their jobs and losing them would devastate them. There was an upset
rancher after Colonet. The Pacific section will be fast. Course is
really cool and fun."
UPDATE! May 20
OFFICIAL BAJA 500
RACE BRIEFING
1) COMPETITORS MEETING - will be held on Friday, May 31, @ 7:00PM LIVE! on BajaRacingNews.com All teams must have at least one banded competitor in attendance. 2) CAUTION - All competitors are reminded that off road racing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or even death. YOU MUST BEAR THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. 3) CAUTION - It is important to remember that SCORE cannot regulate the conduct of spectators. Be advised that spectators will engage in malicious activity by building ramps, digging ditches and placing objects onto the course. BE ALERT!! 4) CAUTION - The roads used for this race course are open to the public. You must expect at all times to encounter traffic on the race course, especially oncoming traffic. Expect the unexpected at all times. 5) COURSE MARKINGS - The race course is marked with red/white ribbon, orange arrows, yellow/green wrong ways, and mile markers every 5 miles. Markings are not guaranteed to remain in place. All race teams are strongly advised to race using the official GPS course file. 6) ENVIRONMENT - All competitors must do their part to protect and preserve the Baja ecological environment. Please instruct your team that it is mandatory and very important to properly dispose of all solid and liquid waste. 7) PASSING - Four Wheel Vehicles that are in a position to pass a Motorcycle or ATV must NOT ATTEMPT TO PASS UNTIL THE RIDER HAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE COURSE. RIDERS MUST REMAIN AWARE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC AND MOVE OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Riders, if you are caught by the first TROPHY TRUCK you must remain super vigilant and get off the course BEFORE you are caught by the next vehicle when possible. Riders must pull off the course to a safe distance and wait for dust to clear before re-entering the race. Four Wheel Vehicles are ultimately responsible for the safety of passing. Riders, if you rabbit to avoid being passed by a driver you will receive a DQ. Riders, get off the course early, if you wait for the four wheel vehicle to pull right up on you at night before pulling off the course you will be penalized. Riders, never race in the dust of a four wheel vehicle, you are putting yourself in extreme danger. If you are passed by a vehicle and you are still on course you are riding in the dust. Riders, if you are riding slow and you have been caught by the four wheel vehicles you are in extreme danger. Drivers, if you are love tapped by a competitor, move over, blocking traffic is unsportsmanlike and you can be penalized. 8) RADIO FREQUENCY - SCORE will use 151.625 (Weatherman Relay) for the main race operations radio frequency. Please use this frequency to report an emergency or ask for help. 9) HIGHWAYS ARE RESTRICTED AREAS - Pitting is not permitted on any portion of the paved highway surface. The paved highway is considered a restricted area because use of the highways is subject to permission by the Mexican Federal Highway Police. If your race vehicle breaks down on a highway section, you must remove it from the highway before making repairs. Transitional race travel on the highway sections must be done in a safe and prudent manner. Passing on the highway section must be made on the left-hand side only and within the 60 MPH speed limit. All competitors must possess a valid driver license while racing or pre-running. 10) SPEED ZONES & COURSE COMPLIANCE - The mandatory IRC tracking devices will be used to identify highway speed violations and course deviations. Between the summit and Borrego racers will have leeway from VCP to VCP. Washes are open only to the banks on either side and major silt beds are open. Short coursing is not allowed. Do not make new trails by cutting the course-that is short coursing. Do not deviate from the main course even a little bit when you are near ranches, spectators or wheat fields. The GPS course is the official course. EVERY participant must have a functioning tracking unit in order to be scored in the race. Participants must make sure that device is turned into HQ immediately after crossing the finish line. Failure to return the device after finishing the race will result in a DNF. The IRC HQ trailer will be located at the finish line. All competitors that DNF must return tracking recorders before race course closure to IRC at the finish line to receive proper placement in the Official Results and points. Please see Penalty Bulletin for more details. 11) FULL-STOP PHYSICAL CHECKPOINT RULES - You are required to enter the 4 Physical Full-Stop Checkpoints in a single file manner and come to a complete stop at the stop sign. The checkpoint corridor is not considered part of the race course. Entering and exiting all checkpoints must be done in a safe and prudent manner in order to guarantee the safety of all checkpoint workers. Passing is not permitted 300 feet before a checkpoint. Pitting is not permitted within 300 feet before and 100 feet after a checkpoint. 12) VIRTUAL CHECKPOINTS - The race course has Virtual Checkpoints (VCPs). The VCPs are strategically placed to discourage short coursing. However, the VCPs do not represent the only areas that require compliance. The entire course will be reviewed for compliance. The standard penalty for failure to clear a VCP within 120 feet is 10 minutes. The time penalty will increase as the deviation increases. In order to avoid confusion regarding the locations of the VCPs, it is essential to race using the official GPS course file and check for updates on the SCORE website. 13) SPECIAL RULES - No race vehicle shall be towed, pushed, pulled or transported by another vehicle further than 1% of the total distance of the race course (5.0 MILES), or within 1 mile of the Finish Line. However, wrist banded race vehicle occupants are permitted to push a disabled race vehicle across the Finish Line. At no time may any participant go backwards on the course. 14) FINISH LINE STOP - All race vehicles are required to make a full and complete stop at the Checkered Flag, which is located at the Tecate Arch. This stop must be made in a safe and controlled manner. 15) LATE REGISTRATION - will take place on Saturday morning at 5:00AM at the Casino Room of the Riviera Convention Center. Late Tech Inspection will take place on the staging line beginning at 5:00AM. 16) LATE STARTERS - A competitor who is late for his assigned start time will start at the back of the class that is currently starting. The elapsed time of a late starter begins with the competitor's DESIGNATED START TIME, not the late start time. 17) START/FINISH LINE – The TECATE ARCH will be in front of the Riviera Convention Center on Boulevard Costero. 18) STAGING MC & ATV - Motorcycles and ATV classes will stage at 5:15AM for a 6:00AM start. One vehicle every 30 seconds for class 22 & Class 21. For all other motorcycle/ATV classes 15 seconds in the following order: 30, 40, 50, 20, 60, 25, 24, SPTM/C>, SPTM/C<, SPTATV, 26. 19) GAP - There will be at least a full 3.5 hour gap between the last M/C starter and the first SCORE Trophy Truck starter. 2013 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 – Race Briefing page 2 20) STAGE & START OF VEHICLES - will begin staging at 9:30AM for a 10:30AM start. One vehicle every 30 seconds in the following order: TT, 1, 10, TT Spec, SL, 8, HM, 7200, BC, PT, 6100, 3000, TL, 4000, 1/2-1600, 5, 7, 7SX, 5-1600, 2, 2D, 3, 3700, 1700, 4400, SF, SM, 9, 11, 19, SUTK, SPBG, SLTK, SPUTV. 21) FOUR WHEEL STAGING - TT(9:15AM), 1(9:20AM), 10(9:25AM), TTS(9:30AM), SL(9:30AM), 8(9:35AM), 7200(9:40), PT(9:40AM), 1/2-1600(9:45AM), 5(9:55AM), 7(10:10AM), 7SX(10:15AM), 5-1600(10:20AM), 2(10:25AM), 3(10:30AM), SF(10:35AM), SM(10:40AM), ALL REMAINING CLASSES(11:00AM). 22) DRIVERS will have 22 HOURS / (22.8 MPH AVERAGE) from their designated start time to complete the race. DNFs will be scored to the furthest mile using the IRC tracking data. The First 42 miles of course closes to all vehicles outbound at 2:45PM in order to have a clear course for the first bikes coming back in. Checkpoint closing times are as follows: CHECKPOINT 1 - SANTA CATARINA ROAD X - MILE 91.90 - SATURDAY @ 6:00PM CHECKPOINT 2 - BORREGO @ HIGHWAY 3 X - MILE 203.71 - SUNDAY @ 12:00AM CHECKPOINT 3 - JARAMILLO @ HIGHWAY 1 X - MILE 336.26 - SUNDAY @ 4:00AM CHECKPOINT 4 - SANTO TOMAS @ HIGHWAY 1 X - MILE 413.45 - SUNDAY @ 7:00AM 23) Riders will have 16 Hours 45 minutes to finish. Pro Riders must average 30 MPH to finish the 501 miles. Sportsman Riders must average 23.7 MPH to finish the 397.6 miles. The cut off removes 103.4 miles of course and gives CHECKPOINT 1 - SANTA CATARINA ROAD X - MILE 91.90 - SATURDAY @ 10:30AM CHECKPOINT 2 - BORREGO @ HIGHWAY 3 X - MILE 203.71 - SATURDAY @ 2:00PM CHECKPOINT 3 - JARAMILLO @ HIGHWAY 1 X - MILE 336.26 - SATURDAY @ 6:00PM CHECKPOINT 4 - SANTO TOMAS @ HIGHWAY 1 X - MILE 413.45 - SUNDAY @ 8:30PM 24) PROTEST - To protest another competitor, you must submit a detailed written protest to SCORE/CRB (Competition Review Board) at the Finish Line. The protest must be filed within 30 minutes of the final competitor in class coming across the finish. SCORE will consult with the Competition Review Board Marshal, and the matter will be heard as soon as practical. To file a technical protest, present a written protest and a $500 cash fee to the Technical Directors Jake Velasco or Art Sevedra. 25) UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - will be posted at BajaRacingNews.com at 10am. 26) AWARDS CEREMONY - will be held at the Riviera Convention Center Outdoor Amphitheater on Sunday morning at 12:00PM. You must arrange to have your trophy accepted by somebody else if you are not going to be present. No trophies will be brought back across the border by SCORE. 27) SPORTSMAN RIDERS - mandatory cut off will be from RM 101.60 at Nuevo Junction. Sportsman riders only will race south through Jamou down the goat trail. From RM 101.6 to the bottom of the goat trail is 12.73 miles. This Highway section is a speed zone for Sportsman Riders so keep it under 60mph. You will ride towards San Felipe on Highway 3 through Valley de Trinidad and re enter the race course at RM 230 Mikes Sky Ranch Road. The pavement section will be 12.27 miles and will have 127 penalty data points for speeding. Do not exceed 60mph on Highway 3 as the penalties are severe. 28) QUALIFYING – Driver who qualifies must take the green flag. Qualifying driver must be banded before qualifying. Registration will be open at the qualifying area between 7am and 9am. Location of qualifying area will be sent to the e-mail listed on your registration on Tuesday May 28th. One vehicle off the line every 4 minutes starting a 9am. Practice will be controlled speed and is open between 7:30am and 8:30am. Qualifying area will be on private property and is open to qualifying teams and media only, no spectators. 29) FUEL – Drums and dump cans with fuel cannot be transported legally across the border. SCORE recommends purchasing the Official Fuels, VP and F&L which can be purchased on the SCORE website through registration. You can use any fuel supplier and brand of fuel and that includes Pemex. 30) HELICOPTERS - You must register on the SCORE website and attend the aircraft safety meeting. Ivor Shear of Corporate Helicopters will head up the meeting. 31) CHASING – Always drive safely. Be 100% prepared the day before the race. Expect the unexpected. Leave early and expect to be late to your destination. Make sure each chase vehicle has copies of insurance for all of your other chase vehicles. Carry the largest fire extinguishers you can and have a good medic bag in each chase. Keep your passport with you. Have a list of cell phone numbers, sat phone numbers and radio frequencies for your team and other teams. Never pit within 50 feet of the course, give yourself room for safety. Do not pit close to a turn. No chasing on course. Going backwards on course gets your team a DQ.
Document has been edited by me, Gary Newsome, Editor-in-chief.
SCORE 'Jefe' Roger Norman responds to sportsman "whining":
"You are running in Sportsman and you call yourself a professional? That is very funny that you would say that. I
will look today, if you are entered, I will refund your entry 100%. I
do not want to hear from you again on my e-mail. I am working diligently
to preserve the sport and all of my decisions are with that in mind.
Now the motorcycles are responsible for 90% of the medical claims.
Insurance companies are refusing to cover the sport. Think about it,
you have the most incapable amateur riders racing with trophy trucks and
getting passed by most of the cars. There are serious injuries and
sometimes death at every race. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF SCORE! If you are fast enough to compete in the Pro Class then you can race the entire 500. You do not need to race in our series, as it appears there is no 'fit' for you as an amateur, that will make you happy. This
is not the first time you have complained to me, but this will be the
last. If you are going to continue to whine about it, you will not be
racing at all.
Regards, Roger"
UPDATED May 18!
UPDATED May 17 Course Bulletin ""email from SCORE:
ATTENTION SPORTSMAN RACERS:
There will be a course cut-off for all Sportsman Motorcycles and ATV's in the upcoming Baja 500.
As some may remember, we had a short-cut for the Sportsman Classes in
the San Felipe 250 , we will have one for the Baja 500 and we will have
one for the Baja 1000 - it is how the sport is evolving. The Trophy
Trucks and Class 1 vehicles are catching up to the sportsman riders (who
have the least knowledge and experience about off-road racing) and
every year there has been serious accidents, some resulting in death. So
we are adding as much time as we possibly can add between the
motorcycles and vehicles.
The insurance companies are refusing to cover this sport. And the reason
is that the Sportsman motorcycles are getting hurt and the claims have
been numerous. The Sportsman Class pays the smallest entry fee and uses
most of the medical resources. The companies will not insure the race
without us doing something to protect the safety of the riders.
Our goal is to have a dedicated motorcycle race with it's own TV show
and sponsors etc. But right now, it is too dangerous for a Sportsman
motorcyclist to risk being hit by a vehicle. Therefore, we are taking
precautions to make the sport safer for our least capable riders. If you
are not an amateur, and have raced in other races in Baja and in the
US, then you could consider moving up to a pro class.
Edit
"we are asking for help in coming up with a solution, so everyone is
happy. The best solution that we have come to, at this point, is having a
dedicated motorcycle event the day before. We are diligently working on
finding sponsorship for this."
There are so many factors that go into organizing a race and we are
doing our best for the preservation of the sport and its future.
Ensenada - Ojos Negros - El Alamo - Highway 3 crossing - El Rayo - down
to Laguna Salada - San Matias - San Vicente - Santo Tomas - Ojos Negros -
Ensenada
UPDATE: May 13
Teams: If you haven't already rode the course, you're behind the teams that have, many have already hit the new sections that will be announced "Officially" on Tuesday.
Fans: Some behind the scenes intel on the American held Baja races in Mexico: The chosen 'free workers' who volunteer to course mark and the hired companies, either by 'sponsorship' or contracted services who set-up the "SCORE" race courses, distribute course maps weeks, sometimes months ahead of the publicly "official" release of the event 'race-course-maps'. These sources release the info to friends, so that they pre-run the race course, before everyone else.
Only on BajaRacingNews.com, will you get the same intel as the SCORE 'freebies'.
Rules? This is Baja racing! In Mexico!! Ain't No Rules! At least, ain't no rules to really follow...just don't get caught, right!?
Here, SCORE employees and sickophants (sp) publicly pound the public that they know more than you and the rest of the customers of SCORE, the course route and that they have driven (pre-run) more than YOU have. Advantage the "insider rule-breakers". A SCORE tradition!
The list of regular braggadocio's blew up today. Scotty, 'a SCORE employee' sez: "80 miles new sections Coyote west via San Rafael canyon to Paraiso Hotel
in Colonet south toward Camalu inland...then back north from Camalu and
west toward Chipwrecks on the coast past Cuatros Casas; cut directly
across Mesa Colonet before resuming same clapped out roads through town
of Erendira to Santo Tomas", I road this yesterday.
Cammy, the ultimate SCORE suckoff, sez "We just rode the epic silt beds of I think 2004 and they are all nice
and packed now... someday I'm sure we'll be back out there. It was warm 2
weeks ago and I'm guessing north Baja not getting any cooler before
June 1". "Tres Hermanos over to Urapan, Santo Tomas to Coast and then south to Colonial Vincente Guerro, East up the wash and up and over to the back road north to San Pedro Martir road, then back way into Coyote and up the crappy canyon and the back way down to Mikes Sky Ranch, down the main Mikes road and left to EJ Killowas, into the back of Trinidad, up Goat trail and into bottom of pine forest right up to Laguna Hansen. Stay on route to 08 1k backwards around Rumarosa area, Compadre and then
back way down and into Ojos, Right at the gate in Ojos and back to
Ensenada".
"THE RACE COURSE WILL BE MARKED AND
OPEN TO PRERUN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15."
"" 2013 TECATE SCORE BAJA 500 PRERUNNING RULES FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES STATED IN THIS PRERUNNING BULLETIN WILL RESULT IN A TIME PENALTY OR DISQUALIFICATION, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. PLEASE FOLLOW THE PRERUNNING SCHEDULE CAREFULLY. MEXICAN LIABILITY INSURANCE AND GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS ARE IN EFFECT FOR PRERUNNING ONLY DURING THE DATES AND LOCATIONS INDICATED. PRERUNNING IS NOT RACING!!! PRERUNNING IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREVIEW THE RACE COURSE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME EXERCISING A HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION AND PROCEEDING AT A SAFE, REASONABLE AND CONTROLLED SPEED. BE ADVISED THAT ALL ROADS ON THE RACE COURSE ARE OPEN TO LOCAL TRAFFIC DURING PRERUNNING. UNSAFE PRERUNNING IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, BUT IS ALSO VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE LOCAL CITIZENS. PRERUNNING IN AN UNSAFE MANNER WILL SUBJECT THE DRIVER TO LEGAL JEOPARDY WITH THE MEXICAN POLICE. IT WILL ALSO SUBJECT THE TEAM TO A RACE PENALTY. THINK WISELY FIRST, RATHER THAN REGRETTING YOUR UNSAFE ACTIONS LATER. USE GOOD JUDGEMENT WHILE PRERUNNING. PRERUNNING DATES AND INFORMATION: THE RACE COURSE WILL BE MARKED AND OPEN TO PRERUN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15. BEGIN PRERUNNING IN OJOS NEGROS AT THE HWY3@KM39 JUNCTION. END PRERUNNING WEST OF OJOS NEGROS AND EXIT THE RACE COURSE ACROSS OPEN FIELD TO HWY3@KM36. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PRERUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN ENSENADA AND OJOS NEGROS AT THIS TIME. --------------------------------------------- OUTBOUND PRERUNNING IS PERMITTED FROM THE ENSENADA START LINE TO OJOS NEGROS HWY3@KM39 ONLY ON THURSDAY, MAY 30 AND FRIDAY, May 31. TO AVOID DANGEROUS TWO-WAY TRAFFIC: ABSOLUTELY NO INBOUND PRERUNNING FROM WEST OF OJOS NEGROS HWY3@KM36 BACK TO THE ENSENADA FINISH LINE. FOLLOW EXIT MARKINGS AT THE END OF PRERUN AREA TO EXIT THE COURSE ACROSS OPEN FIELD TO HWY3@KM36. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PRERUNNING RULES STATED IN THIS BULLETIN WILL RESULT IN A TIME PENALTY OR DISQUALIFICATION, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.""
UPDATED April 23, 2013
Baja Racing News LIVE! BAJA 500
Nearly 300 entries expected
BAJA 500 to be held May 30-June 2 in Ensenada, Mexico. Pre-running opens May 15 as 36 SCORE Trophy Trucks already in starting grid. Entries from 35 U.S. states, 15 countries expected to celebrate SCORE’s 40th anniversary.
Following Tuesday’s night LIVE!
drawing for starting positions, Southern California desert racing ace
Robby Bell, the defending overall winner, will be the first motorcycle
off the starting line in the upcoming 45th annual BAJA 500
desert off-road race.
Exciting International Desert Off-Road Racing Continues! BAJA Racing>>>
Entries from around the world continue to arrive for the Historic BAJA 500, to be held May 30-June 2 in Mexico’s
Baja California North, starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, the seaside
port on the Magnificent Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.
With SCORE Trophy Trucks and unlimited Class 1 open-wheel desert
race cars qualifying for starting positions, Bell is certain of his
starting position on, Saturday, June 1.
Baja Racing is celebrating its 40th year as the world’s craziest motorsports, desert
racing, in 2013 and this race is traditionally one of the
most popular events on the sanctioner SCORE schedule. Most the world’s best desert
racers will be in action at this year’s 45th anniversary of the BAJA 500, the original desert race produced by Race Sanctioner SCORE, on July 26,
1974.
It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts with the green
flag on Saturday (June 1) dropping first for the motorcycles and ATVs at
6 a.m. and several hours later for the cars and trucks.
Racers Notes
One of the top motorcycle desert racers in the world, Bell, 26, of
Menifee, Calif., is a three-time SCORE season Class 22 point champion
and he has four overall motorcycle wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500
including last year. In the 2012 race, Bell and teammates David
Pearson, Panaca, Nev. and Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., ended the
15-year win streak by Honda, giving Kawasaki its first BAJA
500 overall win since 1996. Bell/Pearson/Hengeveld ride the No. 4x
Monster Energy THR Motorsports Kawasaki KX450.
DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY RACE
To enjoy the history-making anniversary race, entries from up to 35
U.S. States and 15 countries are expected with competition offered in
40 Pro and 7 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.
Entries have already been received from Hawaii to Florida in the U.S.,
the U.S. territory of Guam, along with entries to date from the
additional countries of Australia, Austria, Belize, Canada, Denmark,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and host country Mexico. A
total of 169 entries were accepted in time for Tuesday’s drawing and
more than 100 additional entries are expected before the green flag
drops.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER - QUALIFYING A FIRST…
For the first time in SCORE Baja racing history, qualifying for
starting positions will be held. On Thursday, May 30, qualifying for
both the SCORE Trophy Truck and the unlimited Class 1 will be held over a
special course near Ensenada.
A total of 36 SCORE Trophy Trucks and 20 Class 1 entries will
qualify for their starting positions on Thursday (May 30), marking the
first time there has been qualifying in the storied history of SCORE
Baja racing. For the top two car and truck classes, their drawing
identified their qualifying order in each class.
Drawing the first qualifying positions in their respective classes
were B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, in the No. 1 Monster Energy Baldwin
Motorsports Chevy Silverado SCORE Trophy Truck and Eduardo Laguna,
Mexicali, Mexico, who drives the No. 117 Speed Energy RPM Racing
RGM-Chevy open-wheel race car.
BAJA RACING HISTORY
The race will feature a course of just over 500 miles that includes
new or seldom-used areas as several new festivities will be held
surround the event as the celebration continues for the 40th season of
SCORE International desert racing.
Race Sanctioner, SCORE-International, has also announced the pre-running on the race course will
begin officially on Wednesday, May 15, except for the portion from the
start to Ojos Negros (approximately 35 miles), which will be used in
both directions during the race.
When finalized by Roger Norman and SCORE Race Director Jose Grijalva, the
historic race course will be another memorable example of all that
Mexico’s Baja California has to offer, including high-speed dirt trails,
sandy, rocky and silty natural terrain, majestic Baja washes and
canyons, stretches along the seashore with elevations from sea level to
over 4,000 feet. The course will be another jewel reflecting the stark
beauty of Baja California.
This BAJA 500 Historic race course will be presented for the first
time, LIVE! ONLINE on BajaRacingNews.com on Tuesday, May 14.
ENTRY LEADERS
While SCORE Trophy Truck with 36 has the most entries of any class
in the race including 4-wheel vehicles, other car/truck classes with
double figure entries so far are Class 1 with 20 and Class 10 with 19. Leading the Pro motorcycle classes is the open Class 22 with seven entries in the start drawing. Class 24 leads the ATV classes so far with four and leading the Sportsman Motorcycles the SPT M/C> with 16 so far.
A BAJA SAFARI FIESTA…
Colorful race week festivities will include several first-time
events for Members attendance, the Baja Safari Mexico Club has scheduled Special Tours, starting with qualifying for Trophy Truck and
Class 1 followed by the SCORE Kick Off Party on Thursday,
May 30 from 7 p.m. until Midnight at the start/finish line area in the
heart of Ensenada. Exclusive Access will be provided, to all these noted activities, including the Baja Racer’s Autograph Party and
vehicle display starting at 6 p.m.
Special LIVE! ONLINE Coverage will be featured on Friday, May 31. Race Fanatics will see the day-long, pre-race Manufacturer’s
Midway and Contingency Festival in the start finish line area in
Ensenada, LIVE! ONLINE.
During the race on Saturday, June 1 the SCORE hospitality area, will be part of the Start/Finish line compound.
Baja Safari Members and Fans ONLINE will enjoy LIVE! Race Images
streaming from the race course as well as updated Event Proceedings and Race Results and
Internet tracking displays of the race vehicles/competitors on BajaRacingNews.com
BajaRacingNews.com LIVE! From BAJA 500…
The Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, in the heart of Ensenada,
will again be the site of many of the activities surrounding this years BAJA 500. Racer registration will be held
at the Riviera on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 30-31, June 1) and
the LIVE! ONLINE Coverage at BajaRacingNews.com will provide public internet access and live race updates, vehicle tracking and unofficial
elapsed times.
In the Cathedral Room at the Riviera will be mandatory pre-race racer’s meeting on Friday
(May 31). The post-race awards celebration will be in the outdoor
Riviera amphitheater at noon on Sunday (June 2).
The start/finish line for the race will once again be adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center as well.
GRAND HISTORY
The BAJA 500 is one of the top motorsports events in
the world. It was started originally in 1969 by the NORRA organization.
Mickey Thompson and his SCORE International organization were asked by
Mexican government to take over the event in 1974. Sal Fish ran and
later owned and produced the Tecate SCORE BAJA 500 for 39 years until he
sold SCORE to Roger Norman in December of 2012.
Ensenada has been the heart and soul of the BAJA 500
as the popular summertime race. This year will mark the 40th time it
has started and 36th time it has finished in Ensenada. In its 40th year as the Americans Mexico race sanctioner
in 2013, the three-race 2013 SCORE Desert Series, with all three
massive special events held in Baja California, Mexico. The season
started with 27th Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 (March 9-10). Both
starting and finishing in Ensenada, the other two events on this year’s
calendar will be the 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 (May 31-June 2) and the
46th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 (Nov. 14-17).
Baja Racing News EXCLUSIVE!
RacePull Results from April 23, 2013
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (36) (Qualifying Order) 1 B.J. Baldwin 50 Zak Langley 21 Gus Vildosola 84 Nick Vanderwey 76 Jesse Jones 9 Mark Weyhrich 11 Rob MacCachren 59 Craig Potts 70 Bryce Menzies 19 Tim Herbst 48 Jimmy Nuckles 18 Juan C. Lopez 10 Greg Nunley 23 Dan McMillin 55 Mark Workentine 44 Todd Jergensen 78 Jesse Ashcraft 98 Gary Weyhrich 26 Jay Reichert 20 Robbie Pierce 45 Gary Magness 3 Mark Post 85 Justin Davis 51 Kory Scheeler 14 Heidi Steele 88 Sergio Salgado 7 Steven Eugenio 57 Mike Palmer 91 Troy Herbst 39 Ron Whitton 15 Armin Schwarz 28 Alan Pflueger 77 Robby Gordon 35 Jason Voss 16 Cameron Steele 34 Ken Losch
CLASS 1 (20) (Qualifying Order) 117 Eduardo Laguna 138 Randy Wilson 153 Ronny Wilson 101 Justin Matney 100 Cody Parkhouse 122 Jose Canchola 120 Corey Keysar 131 George Peters 110 Josh Rigsby 115 Todd Tuls 182 Brady Turner 141 John Martensen 114 Lyle Bask 188 Jon Walker 154 Vince Galewick 150 Erick Jacobs 170 Hiram Duran 187 Ryan Sharman 119 Erik Harp-2nd RS 179 Ron Gibbs-1st RS
CLASS 1/2-1600 (8) 1610 Kevin Price 1615 Jesus Velez 1649 Eliseo Garcia 1636 Christian Celaya 1688 Rodrigo Elorduy 1697 Jorge Sampietro-3rd RS 1605 Miguel Cortez-2nd RS 1648 Wes McKenzie-1st RS
CLASS 3 (1) 301 Chris Wilson
CLASS 5 (2) 500 Kevin Carr 521 Cody Kellogg
CLASS 5-1600 (2) 552 Carlos Rivera 555 Clyde Stacy-1st RS
CLASS 7 (1) 700 Dan Chamlee
CLASS 7200 (4) 7223 Darren Skilton 7298 Jonathan Brenthal 7207 Steve Kovach 7206 Joe Ramirez
CLASS 7SX (1) 749 Eduardo Gonzalez-1st RS
CLASS 8 (5) 801 Jose Leon 808 Rick Sanchez 809 Arturo Benavides 830 Enrique Lara 802 Derek Fletcher-1st RS
CLASS 10 (19) 1016 Cody Robinson 1023 Lee Banning 1062 J.J. Schnarr 1001 Andrew Myers 1008 Mark Lawrence 1004 Victor Valdes 1055 Kash Vessels 1048 John Hsu 1011 John Langley 1089 Arnoldo Gutierrez Jr 1000 Mike Lawrence 1031 Mike Johnson 1039 Matt Cullen 1042 Lars Ferry 1003 Perry McNeil 1021 Chris Boyer 1080 Peter Hajas 1053 Brad Wilson 1066 Mike Shaffer
SCORE LITES (3) 1209 Rafael Navarro IV 1299 Leonardo Rayos-2nd RS 1218 Ricardo Malo-1st RS
CLASS 11 (3) 1101 Rene Rodriguez 1162 Greg Piraino-2nd RS 1100 Eric Solorzano-1st RS
CLASS 19 (4) 1903 Mark Schelbert 1905 Marc Burnett 1917 Derek Murray 1932 Matt Parks
In Motorcycles, the BIG Match-ups are:
Robby Bell-David Pearson-Steve Hengevel VS Colton Udall- Timmy Weigand-David Kamo VS Kurt Caselli-Ivan Ramirez-Mike Brown.
Pro Motorcycles CLASS 22 (7) 4x Robby Bell 13x Nicola Dutto 1x Timmy Weigand 6x Mark Adams 2x Kurt Caselli 14x Kendall Norman 7x Arron Wright
CLASS 21 (4) 120x Adam Neuwirth 114x Carlos Valenzuela 106x Kenneth Slater 127x Jim O’Neal
CLASS 30 (6) 329x Brad Baker 301x Cliff Cook 302x Javier Hernandez 306x Robert Riggs 304x Jay Rabjohn 303x Ryan Gutile
CLASS 40 (3) 405x Andrew Lloyd 403x Oscar Fazz 402x Mike Prunty
CLASS 50 (2) 501x Carlos Valdez 500x Marc Prince
Pro ATVs CLASS 25 (1) 11a Ryan Lea-1st RS
CLASS 24 (4) 103a Alejandro Avalos 101a Thomas Wright 102a Shawn Robins 111a Eric Dwiggins
Sportsman SPT BUGGY (1) 1503 Jorge Valdes
SPT UNLIMITED TRUCK (1) 1444 Jim Bunn – 1st RS
SPT LIMITED TRUCK (1) 2069 Charles Johnson Jr.
SPT M/C< (5) 216X Hironori Okada 229x Tim Fields 203x Fred Sobke 206x Richard Ameen 249x Mark Winkelman-1st RS
SPT M/C> (16) 291x Stephen Ankeny 268x Eric Saltzer 275x Alan Martinez 299x Servando Cazares 284x William Salazar 257x Thierry Mas 258x Hironobu Tabata 256x P. Trent Whisenant 267x Bill Cotton 289x Scott Darkow 259x Tsuyoshi Nameki 260x Tomohiro Murakami 271x Bob Russell 294x Todd Powell 290x Stuart Gordon 266x Scott Dolphin
Baja Racing News is a product of the Publisher, Gary Newsome and in no way represents any of the sponsors, advertisers or race organizers. We are an online news service, not a baby sitting service. No whiners or kooks! No Richard Craniums!
Gary Newsome Publisher
About Gary Newsome, Publisher
I am a retired US Veteran and Voice of America Editor, Living in Ensenada, Mexico. Also raced with the Balboa Datsun Team in the early days of Rally and Off Road on the west coast, in National City, California.
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