EXTRAS!
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BAJA 1000 COVERAGE BY
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2012 HISTORIC LOOK-BACK AT THE START OF BAJA RACING
SWEET BAJA 1000 2009 VIDEO ON HULU
BAJA 1000 2012 DAILY-INSIDER
UPDATES! UPDATES! UPDATES!
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Last Report: Sunday, November 11:
RACE COURSE CHANGES, BORDER CROSSING CHANGES, TEAM NEWS, ALL FOUND HERE! #1
SPEED Mex Pit Support
Special LIVE! Webcast from the BAJA 1000 Pit Support Race Briefing at 1 PM 11-11-12 HERE!
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NOVEMBER 10
Southern Baja's Jimmie Jeffries OUT of BAJA 1000
Special LIVE! Webcast from the BAJA 1000 Pit Support Race Briefing at 1 PM 11-11-12 HERE!
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DAILY UPDATES CONTINUED
NOVEMBER 10
Southern Baja's Jimmie Jeffries OUT of BAJA 1000
Jimmie told BajaRacingNews.com Today: "Pre- running for the SCORE 1000 our sponsor asked to drive the car. Not soon after he hit a rock and rolled the car . Dingo reinjured his back and Abel's
dad who was in the rear injured his also. We couldn't replace Dingo or the pre-runner immediately and Abel didn't get to practice so we withdrew from
the 1000. I'm also having medical difficulties."
Electric Vehicle Never Was Really In For This Years Baja 1000 CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE
25 Years of BAJA 1000 Winners
1986 Mark McMillin/Ralph Paxton, Chenowth Porsche
1987 Bob Gordon/Malcolm Smith, Chenowth Porsche
1988 Mark McMillin, Chenowth Porsche
1989 Robby Gordon, Ford Pickup
1990 Bob Gordon/Robyn Gordon/Robby Gordon, Chenowth Chevy
1991 Larry Ragland, Chevy Pickup
1992 Paul Simon/Dave Simon, Ford Ranger
1993 Ivan Stewart, Toyota SR5
1994 Jim Smith, Ford Pickup
1995 Larry Ragland, Chevy Pickup
1996 Larry Ragland, Chevy Pickup
1997 Larry Ragland, Chevy Pickup
1998 Ivan Stewart, Toyota Tundra
1999 Larry Ragland, Chevy Pickup
2000 Dan Smith/Dave Ashley, Ford Pickup
2001 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley Jr., Jimco Chevy
2002 Dan Smith/Dave Ashley Ford Pickup
2003 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley Jr., Jimco Chevy
2004 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smith Built Ford
2005 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smith Built Ford
2007 Mark Post/Rob MacCachren/Carl Renezeder, Ford F-150
2008 Roger Norman/Larry Roeseler, Ford F-150
2009 Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Chevy Silverado
2010 Gus Vildosola Jr./Gus Vildosola Sr., Ford F-150
2011 Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Ford F-150
NOVEMBER 9
Joe Bacal races the BAJA 1000 in Stock Full Class
NOVEMBER 8
RACE BULLETIN!
SCORE is very pleased to announce that the Loreto Mayor's Office has repaired the damage to the race course that resulted from the recent Hurricane. As a result, the original race course will be used from Race Mile 809 to 836.
There will not be a major course change in Loreto, so please follow the original Loreto course as outlined in the gps file and course mileage notes. However, there is a minor course change at Race Mile 831.20 just before the Loreto Dump. A diagram and gps file is here CLICK HERE!
NOVEMBER 7
***In Moto News
In a 60-point hole by scoring no points after a crash at round five left him with a broken shoulder, Kurt Caselli stayed in the hunt for the AMA Racing/Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship by winning every race he finished, including the ninth and final round near Lucerne Valley, California. Going into the finale, he trailed 2007 champ David Pearson by eight points, setting this scene: To repeat as champion, Caselli needed to win and have Pearson finish third or worse. FMF/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Team star Caselli did just what he needed to do at the finale, essentially leading from start to finish and winning for the seventh time in the nine-round tour. Once he finished, he could only turn around and wait to see where Pearson finished. His heart undoubtedly sank when the THR Motorsports rider rolled up less than two minutes later, the second man to take the checkers. But minutes later, officials from the 100s Motorcycle Club that hosted the race penalized Pearson five minutes for not refueling on top of a BLM-required catch mat. As witnessed by many, Pearson pulled into his pit area not far behind Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s David Kamo, whom he’d been chasing for most of the 40-mile first loop.
Tired of eating dust, Pearson decided to make up some time in the pits, so when he grabbed his dump can from his startled pit person, continued down the pit refueling himself and dropped the can at the end of pit row. “I pulled an ‘innovative’ move in the pits,” he said. “There’s nothing in the rule books against it. Leaving the pits, Kamo missed the course anyway and I was able to get by him.” And while it may not have been prohibited by AMA rules, the rider instructions stipulated refueling be done on top of a mat, thus the penalty–five minutes–demoting Pearson to an official sixth place finish in the race and handing the championship to Caselli. But there was no celebrating in either camp. Pearson filed an appeal with the AMA, throwing the championship in limbo. “I feel bummed,” Caselli said. “It’s a bummer for a national series to come down to a protest for the number-one plate, and it definitely takes away from what I feel I’ve done all year. The championship isn’t won–it’s earned.” Later in the week, AMA Off-Road Racing Manager Chuck Weir related, “The request for appeal was denied due to the Riders Instructions [which] contains a requirement that a mat be used during refueling. This violation was witnessed by the Referee and that becomes a ‘Statement of Fact’ and is non-appealable.
The results will stand.” Thus, the final tally: Caselli, 210 points, Pearson, 203. In a written statement from THR Motorsports, Pearson expressed his regret: “I want to apologize to all my sponsors, fans and organizers for this. They (THR Motorsports, Bob Bell and my team) put a lot of time and money into me winning the AMA Championship. I think this experience was costly, but I can learn a lot from it as a rider and a person. I saved a couple of seconds, but it cost me an entire championship.” And while Caselli somewhat belatedly clinched the title for the second year in a row, he probably didn’t celebrate immediately after the AMA decision since he was already headed to Baja where he and the FMF/KTM crew will be facing both THR Motorsports and JCR Honda for not only the Baja 1000 win but with it, the SCORE championship.
NOVEMBER 6
KING OF BAJA TEAM
The "King Of Baja" Team of Jesse Jones and Bryce Menzies are teaming up once again in Baja. They first teamed up at the 2012 Baja 500 sharing pits and logistics—the move paid off netting Bryce the overall win and his second consecutive Baja 500 win and Jessie reaching the podium in third place. They're stepping up their collaboration for the Baja 1000 by and sharing driving duties of Jones' Trophy Truck - a move that without a doubt, strikes fear in the trophy truck field. The 45th BAJA 1000 is a point-to-point peninsula run that starts in Ensenada, Baja California Sur and finishes 1121.55 miles south in La Paz, Baja California Sur. From the start of the race to the finish, the Raptor will be running as fast as possible. The Jones/Menzies crew have to manage their logistics carefully. Assets need to be in place when the truck pulls in to pit. Mechanical difficulties, course conditions, the weather; racing in Baja is always a challenge. The most carefully detailed plans can change instantly.
Crews need to think on their feet and adapt to the situation. Some crews are in place in remote sections that have limited access. Others run the length of the peninsula, sometimes leap frogging each other to stay in contact with the race truck. If they fail to keep up they get left behind, no longer able to assist. "Pre-running is well underway with Jessie and Bryce planning out which sections they will drive," said Joe Weining, Jones Motorsports crew chief. “The 1000 is a huge under taking with a lot of moving pieces that have to be orchestrated perfectly.
We'll have close to a dozen chase trucks loaded with full crews to keep the truck in contention for the win.” “Combining two of the best teams in racing has been great,” said Bryce Menzies, “We have the best drivers and the best team. We look forward to the same winning results at the 1000.”
As race fanatics, “we're excited to have both Jesse and Bryce behind the wheel of the trophy truck,” said MONSTER Mike of OFF-ROAD LIVE!.
Baja Racing News LIVE! http://www.bajaracingnews.com/
will again have the BAJA 1000 LIVE ONLINE. “These guys have what it take to win and give us our third consecutive Baja 1000 win and our 11th SCORE Baja Trophy Truck win a row.”
Jesse Jones Honors · 2001 Class 8 SCORE Championship · 2005 Vegas to Reno BITD 1st Place Trick Truck · 2005 Trick Truck BITD Championship · 2010 Trophy Truck SCORE Championship · 2010 SCORE San Felipe 1st Place Trophy Truck · 2010 SCORE Primm 1st Place Trophy Truck · 2010 SCORE Trophy Truck Champion.
Bryce Menzies Honors · 2007 Single Buggy Champion · 2007 "Rookie of the Year!" · 2009 BITD Class 10 Champion · 2009 LOORRS Pro 2 Challenge Cup Winner · 2010 LOORRS Pro 2 Challenge Cup Winner · 2011 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Winner · 2011 SCORE Baja 500 Winner · 2011 SCORE Trophy Truck Champion · 2011 TORC Pro-2 Champion · 2011 DIrtsports Driver Of The Year · 2012 SCORE Baja 500 Winner · 2012 TORC Pro-2 Champion.
NOVEMBER 5
RACE COURSE CLOSED AROUND LORETO
SCORE Official Paul Fish today said the course through the Loreto area is still not cleared. For now the course takes the Highway around the area, and it may stay that way for the race. Local officials are still promising to clear the course for the race, but we will see as this is a big task.
Unfortunate to have to add more highway miles to the race but there are still over 1000 miles of dirt in this race and it is going to be very challenging as always. There are so many washouts on the course that could end your race at any moment - this is going to be an advantage to those who prerun and map out the dangers and then the navigators are going to have to stay focused on that little TV in front of them - harder on the single seaters for sure.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ALL-ELECTRIC BAJA 1000 ENTRY UPDATE...SRD Motorsports admits, "it may only make a 100 mile event". Michael Breem: "We haven't even figured out how were doing it yet" and "We're just having fun, it's not a serious racing effort"
NOVEMBER 4
This video is better than the TV coverage today of the Baja races! Why Doesn't the Baja Races have any TV Coverage Today? Not even recorded events, let alone Live! Baja Insider Exposes the TRUTH Today! BLAST FROM THE PAST! 25th BAJA 1000 VID
BAJA 1000 INSIDER EXCLUSIVE
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BAJA 1000 INSIDER EXCLUSIVE
Continues>>>
CLICK HERE FOR THE GREEN KTM MOTO BAJA 1000 2012 TEAM
OFF-ROAD LIVE! at 4pm MONDAY Night
Baja Tourism SPECIAL. The Good, the BAD and the Ugly. Over 100 years of Baja Tourism Expertise and the reality of what's happening on the ground in Baja California, from Cabo to Tijuana.
BAJA 1000 2012 Motorcycle Press Release
Motorcycles At The Heart Of BAJA 1000 As Honda, Kawasaki And KTM Set For Overall Battle Among 90 Bikes 1,121.55 Mile 45th Anniversary Of Granddaddy Of All Desert Races Has At Least One Member Of Last 15 Straight Overall Motorcycle Champs Entered In Race Down Mexico’s Baja Peninsula
Ever since the first known record run occurred in 1962, by Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr., motorcycles have been at the foundation and the very heart of Baja racing. Next week’s 45th BAJA 1000 will showcase over 90 motorcycle teams along with the factory team showdown for the overall victory for teams from American Honda, Kawasaki and KTM. Most with an average of three riders each, from all over the world, the field includes nearly 30 racers who will attempt the arduous journey riding solo the entire 1,121.55 miles to earn the glory of the IronRider award.
The granddaddy of all desert races, which is the season-finale of Baja racing for the racing year will be held on Mexico’s magnificently mysterious Baja California peninsula next week. With the bone-jarring course traveling on both sides of the peninsula, the world’s most famous desert race will start in Ensenada, Baja California and finish all the way down the peninsula in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Pre-race activities begin officially with racer registration starting next Sunday (Nov. 11). MOTORCYCLE MANIA For motorcycles, SCORE offers seven Pro and two Sportsman classes of competition, five based on engine size and four on age groups, but clearly at the forefront of every SCORE Baja race is the Class 22 open motorcycle division. And at the epicenter of this year’s race will be three factory-supported teams led historically by 22-time overall winner American Honda who will be challenged by talented teams from Kawasaki, who has won this race nine times and returns for the first time since 1996, and KTM who has never won this race. With 10 days before the green flag drops on Thursday, Nov. 15, additional late entries are expected up to race morning.
BAJA TIMING PERSPECTIVE
As a point of reference regarding the significance of the two-wheel racing machines in this legendary event, motorcycles have had the overall fastest time among all cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, an astonishing 36 times in the first 44 years of this race. SCORE recognizes the difference in divisions so it presents three overall winner’s trophies, one each for the fastest motorcycle, car/truck and ATV. But when identifying the fastest vehicle to cover the total distance it has almost always been motorcycles.
FACTORY FEATURE
Entering this year’s race, KTM and Kawasaki have won the first two races while the powerful Honda team is winless. A total of just six points separates the three factory teams. In the Orange corner is Kurt Caselli, Murrieta, Calif., leading the KTM team which has 146 points after two of three races. In the Red corner is Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif., rider of record for the Honda team with 144 points while in the Green corner is Robby Bell, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who leads the Kawasaki team which is third in points with 140. Teams on Honda motorcycles have won the BAJA 1000 for the last 15 years while prior to that Kawasaki had a nine-year winning streak (from 1988 through 1996).
This year, Caselli and Ivan Ramirez, Ensenada, Mexico, brought their KTM team to the winner’s circle in March at the 26th annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 and Bell, with help from David Pearson, Panaca, Nev., and Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., brought their Kawasaki team to the top of the podium in June at the 44th BAJA 500. Meanwhile, Udall, with co-riders Timmy Weigand, Valencia, Calif. and David Kamo, Caldwell, Idaho, finished a close second in both of this year’s previous SCORE Baja races on their Honda. As challenging as the three teams are themselves, in addition to battling each other, they must also contend with the infamous, ever-changing, oft-treacherous course that stretches out down the rugged Baja California peninsula and all of the added obstacles it brings to the battle. In order to win the race, racers must first "beat the Baja".
STARTING GRID
In this year’s elapsed-time race with vehicles starting one every 30 seconds, starting fourth in Class 22 which has 11 entries to date will be the FMF/Bonanza Plumbing/KTM Factory Off-Road Team No. 5x KTM 450SX-F of Caselli who will be the rider of record for a four-person team that includes Ramirez, Mike Brown, Murrieta, Calif. and Quinn Cody, Los Olivos, Calif. Cody has added incentive as he was a rider on the winning Honda team each of the last four years. Brown won an XGames gold medal in Enduro X this past summer. Seventh off the starting line on the THR Motorsports No. 8x Kawasaki KX450F will be Bell, who won this race in 2007 and 2008 on a Honda, with a four-person team that includes Pearson, Hengeveld and Destry Abbott, Peoria, Ariz. Hengeveld won seven overall titles in this race riding for Honda and Abbott and Pearson are both champions from the AMA Hare and Hound Series in the USA. The veteran desert racer Abbott, 40, has five AMA Hare and Hound national titles as well as six gold medals at the international ISDE competition. Wearing the crown that his challengers are seeking, Udall, the defending series point champion who is still looking for his first overall win in this race, will be the rider of record on JCR Honda’s No. 1x Honda CRF450X that will start 10th with his co-riders being Weigand and Kamo joined by 11-time Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 overall champion and JCR Honda team owner Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif. Weigand was one of three riders on the overall winning Honda team in this race in 2009. The 11-time SCORE season point champion, Campbell, 41, who hasn’t raced in a SCORE race for the past few years but seldom goes a day without riding somewhere, has been in race-mode training as he prepares to race with an international Honda team in the upcoming Dakar Rally.
BAJA LEGEND SPEAKS
JCR Honda’s Johnny Campbell, proclaimed ‘king of SCORE Baja racing’ for all of his racing accomplishments south of the border, is a bit anxious entering this year’s race, “We have another great Honda team, but both Kurt (Caselli) and Robby (Bell) have proven they can beat us. I’m really not sure if I really be needed to ride this year, but just like Colton, Timmy and David, we all will be as prepared as humanly possible and you can be sure that Honda will be swinging for the fences against some superb competition. “These teams are so equally matched, I really think the difference this year will be preparation and unless something unforeseen happens, which it can and does in Baja, whoever is ready and has the best-prepared support crews down the peninsula will win the 45th anniversary of the unbelievable SCORE Baja 1000. I was part of the winning team in the new millennium race in 2000, the 35th (2002) and the 40th (2007) and it would be humbling and very special for all of us to add this title to our JCR Honda collection.”
MORE BIG M/C NUMBERS
Leading the motorcycle racers entered this year with at least one class win and who are still competing on two wheels with at least three wins in this event are Richard Jackson, Acton, Calif. (12, racing this year in the age group Class 60), Campbell (11, Class 22), Hengeveld (10, Class 22), Jeff Kaplan, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (10, Class 40), Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (10, Class 50 and Class 21), Francisco Septien, Ensenada, Mexico (6, Class 21), Cody (5, Class 22), Scott Myers, Menifee, Calif. (5, Class 21), Brian Pinard, Temecula, Calif. (5, Class 40), Gerardo Rojas, San Vicente, Mexico (4, Class 21), and Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas (3, Class 30).
GREEN FLAG
The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. next Thursday (Nov. 15) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 11:30 a.m., or four hours after the last ATV leaves the line. The fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 20 hours. Completing its 39th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the event is the finale of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series. The race will start on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada. The adventure will finish on the outskirts of La Paz on Highway 1 near the Grand Plaza Hotel, race headquarters for the southern half of the event.
TIME TRAVEL
This year will be the 38th time in the first 44 years of the storied race that it has started in Ensenada and it will be the 19th time in has finished in La Paz. It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a racer. Since 1967, the legendary race has been run over the mysterious and majestic Baja California peninsula.
PRE-GREEN FLAG
Pre-race festivities next Wednesday (Nov. 14), for the BAJA 1000, including the vastly popular tech and contingency of all vehicles and the SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boulevard Costero in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider briefing will also be held next Wednesday (Nov. 14) at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral Room at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Racer registration will be held at the San Nicolas Resort Hotel from starting this Sunday (Nov. 11) through next Wednesday (Nov. 14).
POST GREEN FLAG
As the celebration continues throughout all day next Friday (Nov. 16) and next Saturday morning (Nov. 17) while official finishers cross the line and tales are added to the legacy of the event, the post-race awards fiesta will be held on the Malecon in downtown La Paz, starting at 5 p.m. next Saturday, (Nov. 17). The entire race will be conducted on Pacific Standard Time.
BY THE NUMBERS
While entries will be accepted up to race morning, late entries will be assigned the next available number and starting position within each class. The car and truck classes with the most entries to date are SCORE Trophy Truck (39), Class 1 (23), Class 1/2-1600 (13), Class 10 (12) and Class 5 (10). Among the motorcycle and ATV classes, Class 22 for open motorcycles has the most entries to date with 11 and Class 40 (riders 40 years old and over) with 10. Leading the entries in the seven Sportsman classes in the race is Sportsman Motorcycle over 450cc which has 36 entries and Sportsman ATV which has 11 entries so far.
PRE-RUNNING
Pre-running on the majority of the race course from Ojos Negros to La Paz began Friday (Oct. 26) and pre-running from the start line in Ensenada to Ojos Negros will be allowed only next Tuesday and Wednesday during race week (Nov. 13 and 14).
COURSE NOTES
This year’s historic 45th anniversary race will run down the length of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula. The challenging race course for this year is somewhat similar to 2010, but longer than the last time the race finished in La Paz, although the terrain has obviously changed significantly because of weather conditions and natural use. This year even more changes are occurring because of Hurricane Paul that came through the southern portion of the course several weeks ago.
With eight mandatory checkpoints and 70 virtual checkpoints and 12 short pavement speed zones with speed limits of 60 miles per hour spread down the peninsula plus the finish line, the course starts on the Pacific Ocean-side of Baja California in Ensenada and heads southeast to San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez before heading south through Coco’s Corner, Bahia de Los Angeles, San Ignacio, back to the Pacific at San Juanico, then back to the Sea of Cortez just above Loreto, back to the Pacific near Ciudad Insurgentes heading down along the Pacific through Santa Rita before turning back east and down into La Paz for the finish.
All entries are provided with GPS programs defining the course and all are required to utilize special data recording devices that plot the actual route and speeds each vehicle takes during the mammoth race.
BAJA 1000 INSIDER EXCLUSIVE
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November 3
The 2012 BAJA 1000 Race Course,
STORY BEHIND THE HEADLINES
The Insiders Report from Loreto, Baja South: The municipal government of Loreto began Thursday to provide the means for repair of the road that will run the 2012 BAJA 1000, desert off-road race.
Announced by the Secretary General (like a City Manager in the states) of the Loreto Municipal government, Flavio hired/licensed Davis Higuera. The hiring is meant to keep the roads open and get permits ready for land owners to carry out the BAJA 1000 off-road event. The race, is an obligation of the Loreto government and State government, which was acquired upon signing the agreement with the state government and the group Score International.
The Loreto official said that the local government is functioning with the support of local entrepreneurs who made available some of its machinery, it began repairs after severe damage caused by the rains of Hurricane "Paul ".
Just months ago, Loreto was bankrupt. The local government in tatters, after the ruling PRD party stole all the goverments money and was proven to be linked to drug cartels. The same can be said of the state government. The "Narco Governor", who sheltered the most wanted drug criminals of Mexico, was ousted and the former government charged by state legal authorities with financial crimes.
In one of the previous BAJA 1000 events, the former Loreto mayor stole the 'reconstruction' money delivered from SCORE to repair ejido lands damaged by the previous race. During the 2007 BAJA 1000 preparations, SCORE was barred from using ejido lands south of Loreto, because the repairs were never accomplished. That's why this years course goes along the coast and not inland over ejido lands, south of Loreto. SCORE is barred from arranging its courses without the approval of the ejido lands.
Davis Higuera said, as it pertains to the municipality of Loreto, are about 120 kilometers of which are part of the route of this years, BAJA 1000. Critical in this section are 37 miles from Loreto to San Javier, which WAS paved until the hurricane. The rest is of the course is 'dirt' and the most damaged by the torrential rains of a few weeks ago. Yet, he said, the instructions of the Mayor, Jorge Alberto Aviles Perez, are to comply with the commitment of the present local and state governments and can contribute to the development of this off-road event that generates significant money from tourism service providers and also provides the opportunity for Loreto to be promoted, worldwide.
In just days, the event will run through Loreto. Heavily damaged course routing was ignored by SCORE course markers, who proved how silly many desert off-road racing know-it-alls there are, 'helping' the race organizer.
Pictures and videos of the yahoos getting mired in quicksand and mud have reflected badly on the Americans who put on the event. Rather than working with the Loreto locals, the Americans ran headlong with their GPS guided overkill trucks, right into the muck and mire created by the rains of the last three months. More than 26 inches of rain, just in Baja South.
The Americans ran out of the basic of course marking ribbon! They did not have 'Official' course markers and they ignored miles of unreachable sections of race course access roads and large swaths of the official race course.
Now, with SCORE announcing course changes and the local government 'sending in the heavy dozers', the public is beginning to understand the true nature of these races in Mexico. Firstly, they are not sanctioned by a racing organization. SCORE is an Entertainment company, much like the WWE.
Secondly, the actual courses are made by the state government, according to approvals by the local land owners. "Designing" these courses are a fallacy, its more of an negotiation, rather than a work of art.
Lastly, the course through Loreto will be graded in spots. The course has been rerouted because of storm damage, however, the entire section west of the coast route south of Scorpion Bay is a promotional piece for the state, formerly federal effort, to launch Loreto as a world class tourist destination. Problem is the federal corporation built to develop and promote Loreto died a few years ago, in the midst of the collapse of the world-wide economy.
BAJA SOUTH TOURISM FAIL. Airline seats have left Loreto long ago. Today, seats are leaving the capital of Baja South, La Paz. Alaska Airlines announced this week all its flights to La Paz are ending in April 2013.
The culture of Mexico, embracing discord and drug sales, collapsed the last governments and effectively destroyed the trust of international travel to Mexico. Investors and travelers alike. The collapse of the recent economies didn't help either.
Baja is desperate to recover. Many small towns, off the beaten path, Route 1, have not been resupplied since the storms and many other communities are lucky to have running water, electricity and a decent roadway. The same conditions from the mid-sixties, when the BAJA 1000 originated.
BAJA 1000 INSIDER REPORT
November 2
CLICK HERE TOBY PRICE RACES BAJA 1000
CONNECTED WORLD MAG BAJA 1000 STORY
SEMA SHOW BEST TRUCKS CLICK HERE
EV-1 AT SEMA LIVE PHOTOS CLICK HERE
SEMA PIC GALLERY CLICK HERE FOR BAJA ENTRIES
November 1
Robby Gordon Bails From BAJA 1000!
His new Stadium venture names a chief exec today, think he's got alot on his mind?
Officially Withdrawn (W/D) from the 2012 BAJA 1000 is only half of the REAL STORY
Right now, Robby couldn't care less about the BAJA 1000. Gordon is building his Stadium series and the time and trouble the Mexican desert off-road race is taking a toll on the ex-Nascar racer.
He hasn't even preran the course yet! Because Clyde Stacy, his bankroll, wants a Baja Championship, Robby will team up with the PIN Trophy Truck crew from Mexicali. Problem is, PIN runs BFG Tires and Robby runs Toyo Tires. The insider fight over the tires will ruin this effort.
Robby's bad pull for position forced Robby and Clyde to decide to put all their resources into the Class 1 effort to win that class and the PIN Trophy Truck. Stay Tuned...
CLICK HERE FOR ODDS ON FAVORITES!
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October 31:
Race Course Details Emerge!
CLICK HERE FOR RACE COURSE CHANGES!
MORE RACE COURSE CHANGES! HERE CLICK!
BAJA 1000 LIVE! COURSE NOTES
This year’s historic 45th anniversary race will run down the length of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula.
The challenging race course for this year is somewhat similar to 2010, but longer than the last time the race finished in La Paz, although the terrain has obviously changed significantly because of weather conditions and natural use.
With eight mandatory checkpoints spread down the peninsula plus the finish line, the course starts on the Pacific Ocean-side of Baja California in Ensenada and heads southeast to San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez before heading south through Coco’s Corner, Bahia de Los Angeles, San Ignacio, back to the Pacific at San Juanico, then back to the Sea of Cortez just above Loreto, back to the Pacific near Ciudad Insurgentes heading down along the Pacific through Santa Rita before turning back east and down into La Paz for the finish.
All entries are provided with GPS programs defining the course and all are required to utilize special data recording devices that plot the actual route and speeds each vehicle takes during the mammoth race.
Pre-Running Continues Throughout the BAJA 1000 Race Course - Over The Baja Peninsula CLICK HERE
So far- Baja Racing Teams have hardly touched the entire race course. In Baja South, miles and miles are under water. Many of the deep sand talc beds of southern Baja have turned into QuickSand and mired in mud.
In Baja North, or north of El Arco, lots of gotchas and wash outs on the course will prove daunting for those racers who haven't pre-run the course.
ONLY ONE Starbucks open in NYC!
New York City only has ONE Starbucks open after Superstorm Hurricane Sandy wiped out the east coast early this week. That makes it equal with Baja Mexico, with only ONE Starbucks, the HORROR!
Craig Stewart Talks About Baja Race Spectating
Craig Stewart, son of Ivan Stewart discusses the risks of racing and spectating at the Baja races: ""At the 1999 Baja 500, Craig and his wife, Sherrie Stewart were in the crowd. At Enseanda, watching the race, when the late Jason Baldwin, rolled his massive Trophy Truck into the spectating crowd.
Sherrie sustained minor injuries, but Craig took a hit to the head that cracked his skull. “He doesn’t remember what happened,” Sherrie says. “Things are so different down in Mexico. They didn’t stop the race, and they didn’t tell other people what had happened. I was sitting there holding Craig and his dad (Ivan) drove by.
Ivan actually finished the race and got all the way home before he learned about the accident.” SCORE president Sal Fish arranged for Craig to be life-flighted back to the States where he could receive the medical care he needed. “To this day, I still get headaches from that accident,” says Craig. “It took about five years for my vision to return to normal. I couldn’t drive cars during testing because my eyes couldn’t focus fast enough.""
Reports from Baja Mexico LIVE! LOADING>>>
October 30
UPDATED! CLICK HERE, Will The Electric Desert Off-Road Racer (EV-1) Team Show Up in Ensenada?
CLICK HERE FOR THE SPECIAL OFF-ROAD LIVE!
BJ Baldwin Interview, Racer Review and EXCLUSIVE Author Rod Koch Interview from
Dicks Last Resort Interview on Baja racing history of the BAJA 1000
October 29
*Many desert off-road racing teams are in Las Vegas for SEMA this week, reducing their seat time on the BAJA 1000 race course prerun work.
*Author Rod Koch, BJ Baldwin and more on OFF-ROAD LIVE! Today, BAJA 1000 History & Event UPDATES
at 4pm LIVE! BJ Baldwin reports LIVE! from Baja, saying the San Felipe section of the course is very bad, south to Bay of LA and onto San Ignacio is fast.
BJ is in San Ignacio and is prerunning Baja south, in the next following days. BJ says all the reports to him about Baja south, says the course is "Complete Crap"!
*If Bryce Menzies appears to be preoccupied at this years Baja 1000, maybe its because Bryce is now taking over Travis Pastrana's rally team efforts. Red Bull kicked out Travis and placed Bryce into the rally racing seat!
*TESTING: This weekend, McMillin Racing and Vildosola Racing were spied testing at Plaster City.
McMillin Racing had at least three rigs and trailers, with prerunners and their Trophy Truck. The team made their way back to San Diego early on Sunday, around 9 am.
Vildosola racing made their way to testing at Plaster City late Sunday. Their Trophy Truck was heading east to Plaster City at 4:30 pm, as the full moon rose over the desert, east of San Diego.
Baja South: CLICK HERE FOR Race Mile 907 BAM! With Lovell Racing Prerunning Baja South
BAJA 1000 INSIDER REPORT
October 28:
Baja North: CLICK HERE AND JOIN US PRERUNNING IN SAN FELIPE BAJA NORTE MEXICO BAJA 1000 2012 LIVE!
October 27
NO COURSE MARKERS SOUTH OF SAN IGNACIO!
SCORE CREW ONLY RIBBONS BAJA SOUTH!
QUICKSAND CONDITIONS WHIP AMERICANS!
OCTOBER 26
CLICK HERE FOR FIRES IN BAJA NORTE!
OCTOBER 25
CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS DAILY UPDATES>>>
October 25 Continued...TODAYS HEADLINE FROM LA PAZ:This is the most rain received by the state of Baja south in 26 Years!
The first course marking crew south of San Ignacio has reported to Baja Racing News LIVE!
""What is the most current course status: A rancher made a road block, on the' authorized' race course, near Race Mile 1093. We went around to the paved highway just past the little tienda and went back in near race mile 1098. The Baja 1000 race course is all is good from race mile 1098 to the finish line, today.
Yesterday, 4 trucks and 8 people worked all day to mark just 80 miles. We buried a Raptor and a F150 4x4 Prerunner to the floorboards. Lots of digging, lots of cut branches, 60 feet of tow strap, 3 hours and my Cherokee finally got the F150 out - I couldn't budge the Raptor. With the F150 strapped to the Raptor and my Jeep strapped to the F150 we finally got the Raptor out.
""When prerunning use SPEED Mex's Exclusive eCourse Products if you can, they include all the latest information, even the stuff the state doesn't know. One man's danger is another mans blip of the throttle. There are way too many DANGERS"".
The F150 4x4 got buried trying to drive around a long section of flooded main line - looked like the smart thing to do until it sunk to the frame. We decided to drive right up the main line in the middle of the road (mind you no one had driven through here since the storm) even though the water was 18 inches deep for several hundred yards; and had the Raptor hang back in case I got stuck. Turned out I relearned and old Baja lesson - the main lines are many years old and hard packed, even under the water - never even spun a wheel, got to the other side and watched the Raptor cross with no effort. Stay on the road where you can!
Baja Racing News LIVE! asked, So how did the Raptor get stuck? ANSWER: ""Trying to pull out the F150 it slid sideways and the right wheels got off the main line a few inches and it sunk that side to the running boards, left side was high and dry on the packed but muddy road.""
There is water that is not passable near ~RM 910 - the course marking crew came back out to paved route one and went around and then backwards up the course to mark the other side. Everything else from ~RM 900 to ~RM 991 is passable but there are some very wet areas and deep water.
The crew continued their reporting, ""We tested the middle of the road, unless it breaks down with more traffic, it was passable. We did go around several spots where there were dry bypass routes. We were able to mark from race mile 990 to 1045 . we ran out of ribbon at that point."" [Thanks, SCORE-International!]
Since we were by ourselves we only went for one bonzai run after some shoveling to make a ramp. We left a note at the start , no 2wd unless it is going 100 mph near race mile1055. The next day, we went from race mile 1085 to the finish with no problems, it is much better over here.
The main problems with the damaged course is that the top 3 or 4 inches on the top might dry out but underneath the crust it's still very wet. It's very difficult for the water to evaporate through the crust for weeks! There are tracks all over the official race course and chase access roads, that just end when folks get buried.
The race course though San Javier wash still has water running as of mid-week. Where the wash meets paved route one, race mile 840 there is no race route. Lots of water, rocks and up rooted trees, lots of storn damage. Further up paved route one, the first of the washouts at race mile 842 as you start the climb the damaged paved route up to the hamlet and mission town of San Javier.""
Stay Tuned To Baja Racing News LIVE! for more
course marking reports.
CLICK HERE FOR PreRunning Pics UPDATED!
OCTOBER 25
BAJA 1000 Desert Off-Road Race LIVE!
LIVE! BajaRacingNews.com ONLINE
CLICK HERE!
BULLETIN!!! CLICK HERE!
San Diego Into Mexico Crossing NOW!
San Ysidro Gates Into Mexico Changed October 24
TOP TIPS! Racing Odds BAJA 1000
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OCTOBER 24:
Famous Las Vegas resident and
BAJA 1000 Desert Off-Road Racer, Tied
To Prince Harry Trystee in Las Vegas!
A 'Famous' Desert Off-Road Racer, from Las Vegas has been confirmed to have had known and partied with the same hottie model that Prince Harry had a drunken fumble recently, on a party weekend in Las Vegas.
The model, who resides in San Diego, claims she's been in jail for a month, since the explosive claims were made public.
The racer, who commonly makes the party rounds in Vegas on a regular basis, has refused comment since the explosive allegations were made early this week.
CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED ARTICLE!
October 23:
Baja Safari BAJA 1000 Travel Tips
A new Android mobile app that helps motorists figure out the best time to enter the United States at crossings from Mexico and Canada. “Best Time to Cross the Border” is a new service that is accessible on the Web – http://traffic.calit2.net/border/ – and also as an Android app via https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.calit2.ports the Android Market (aka Google Play).
Border crossers can also search for the Android app under the name “Best Time to Cross the Border” in the Google Play store. Border wait times are compiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and updated hourly.
The developers at UC San Diego download that data within minutes so users of the Android app or the related Web site – http://traffic.calit2.net/border/ – can click on any border crossing and see current waits for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and even pedestrian queues where they exist. . (See the wait time trends for the Tijuana/San Ysidro border crossing here: http://traffic.calit2.net/border/border-wait-times.php?type=passenger&port=250401.) Caltrans is now linking to the Border Wait site from its San Diego real-time traffic map at http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/d11tmc/sdmap/showmap.php (see “Border Crossing Wait Times” under Quick Links).
CLICK HERE FOR PRERUNNING PICTURES & VIDEOS
Baja Safari Travel Club
LIVE UPDATES^^^
OCTOBER 22 - Reports From Baja South:
Report from Baja Racing News reporter Hector Ancina: ""Wardani really is an idiot, he said:"We started marking today - San Ignacio to Loreto. Everything is passable and none of the water is more than 16 inches deep. There are some bad washouts in high speed sections so use caution and mark your GPS's really well. Course marking this year is mostly only ribbons with only a few arrows and no cautions, so you will need to do your own homework." Then he got all his equipment stuck in quicksand!""
Hector: "the reality is, there are some significant water hazards throughout the course south of San Ignacio."
North of our location here, there is a rancher stopping pre-runners in the area before El Cuarenta near RM650.
It's wet in Baja North this morning, after the remnants of Hurricane Paul rolled over the region yesterday, Sunday October 21. More rain is expected Tuesday.
Don't underestimate the problems south of San Ignacio. Small towns off of the main paved roads are already running out of cold beer, the drama!
LOCAL REPORT: "The beaches of the southern peninsula are a mess because of the debris that washed up on shore and some of the arroyos are still flowing with dirty brown water and storm debrisl. Parts of the road to Colonia Zaragoza washed away along with some light standards. Earlier, like many other small towns of southern Baja, the people of Colonia Zaragoza could not pass the arroyo to travel into town. The arroyo storm water flow is subsiding. We never lost power but did lose internet/telephone service for half of a day (Tel-Mex). The three new bridges between Puerto Escondido and Ligui washed out. Destroyed! It took ten years for the government to originally build those structures.
The road between the Mirador and the Clam Shack is gone as well.
This reality, the conditions translate into traffic delays for weeks. Dirt detours around all breakages and rebuild construction will last for months. The small dirt/mud access routes to the race course, which none of the race teams are reporting, are a disaster.
You'll hear some glowing reports that you can drive now from San Ignacio to La Paz. The reality is, it's a slog. Triple the time over a "good" condition Route 1."
A good prerun strategy is to run the central Baja 1000 course for the next week then hit the southern sections as soon as possible, when conditions allow.
Many team strategists are telling Baja Racing News that the central sections are the key to victory in this years race. If a team can get to San Ignacio well ahead of their competition, they can forward their support crews into the southern sections, first, to combat the wicked course conditions everyone is expecting.
Even by mid-November, storm related course conditions will impede even the best prepared teams, in southern Baja.
Exclusive! Robby Gordon Doesn't Show Again, for Rosarito race event! Second time this year!
Rosarito racing event 2012,
earlier this year, Gordon was advertised for both of this years dirt truck races. We hoped he would show for the one this weekend. Nope! Another fail for the caped crusader of off-road racing!
Robby keeps saying he's a fan of Baja, but he keeps on dumping trash on the people of Baja, by not showing up for these races.
Rosarito should've been the next big thing for racing. In 2007, Baja Safari Sponsored Class racers in a field three times the size of races in the area today. Lets hope the race organizers get their act together for the benefit of Baja and Rosarito.
Only a cardboard cut-out of Robby Gordon showed up at the Rosarito event this past weekend! Sad for the fans and very sad for Rosarito as a destination. Proves that Mexican promoters don't have a clue.
CLICK HERE FOR THE HURRICANE PAUL ARCHIVES
LIVE UPDATES^^^
OCTOBER 19
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED DAMAGE REPORTS
BajaRacingNews.com EDITORIAL:
On a weekend that many desert off-road racing teams planned on starting their pre-running plans, this one will be different.
The storms in Baja south over the last two months have changed this race from one of experience and speed to that of knowledge, speed and seat time.
Many of these teams do not have enough seat time. They'll fail first. They may even fail during the most basic of prerunning. Because much of the southern third of the course will not be able to prerun' for a week or two, some teams may never get to see the southern part of the course until during the actual event.
The teams who have family history in Baja racing will win this event. They've seen the course to La Paz over decades, a mere devastating hurricane will not stop them from knowing and riding over these hurdles. Arriba!
Editor, Gary Newsome
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BAJA 1000 COVERAGE BY
Baja Racing News LIVE!
CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS BAJA 1000 RACE COVERAGE AND THE BAJA 1000 RACE RESULTS ARCHIVES
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES ON THE BORDER CROSSING NEWS FROM SAN DIEGO
OCTOBER 18
Course marking efforts postponed until one week prior to the race. With travel conditions in Baja South so wild, BFGoodrich and SCORE have postponed course marking teams until late in the pre-running schedule, like just before the event goes down.
OCTOBER 17
HURRICANE PAUL Downgrades to Tropical Storm Thrashes Baja with Winds and Rains "CLICK HERE FOR BULLETIN"
Combined with lasts months rains, mosquitos, mud (mucho lodo) and blocked access and race routes should be expected south of San Ignacio, into next month, November.
OCTOBER 14
Baja South racer joins Vildosola for Baja 1000
After an arduous process of planning, pilot Luis Ramirez Jr BCS project completed on the 45th of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, joining Vildosola Racing teamed with Gustavo (Sr) and Tavo Vildosola (Jr) the Mexican team trophy truck to compete in the fastest category of this spectacular off-road competition.
Luis Ramirez Jr, a "cabeño", citizen of Los Cabos Mexico, was very happy for this opportunity to return to one of the off road challenges most relevant in the world and also do it with a team as important: "I feel very excited and privileged to be part of the team Vildosola Red Bull Racing, which is one of the favorites to win this year's Baja 1000 and thus repeat what they did in 2010, I know it is a big responsibility, but I have the experience and expertise sufficient to give maximum me the benefit of the team and all the Mexican fans. "
Pictured: Vildosola senior (left), junior (center) and Ramirez (right).
Note that on 28 October the BCS starts pilot with tours of the legendary route peninsular and also start with advertising for the team, they will end up the same day of the contingency. The 2012 Baja 1000 will be held from 14 to 17 November, with a route that starts in Ensenada and ending in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
Later, Luis Ramirez Jr declared himself ready for this challenge and thanked Vildosola family and all his team for providing this great opportunity: "We are ready to live up to the occasion. Vildosola Racing, a well known commodity in Mexico, Ramirez is a team player and he is convinced that the support of Mexicans along the route will be critical. Depart in the 28th position, will be a difficult start, but it is a long and complex career, and hope to be the first to receive the checkered flag".
Finally, the pilot of 27 years said: "I never thought I would have this opportunity, but I believe that with God all things are possible, this time I was surprised. Running the Baja 1000 is always a dream, a desire that any off road rider wants to fulfill. Ramirez said today, "I cannot wait to work with Vildosola Racing team to make history again".
San Diego based Vildosola racing has not been on the podium for a few years. They also claimed to race the Dos Mares 500 recently, only to bail, claiming they had significant mechanical issues that year and could not race in that event. The teams failure to run the race, they ended up disappointing the entire state of Baja Sur. Baja South is considered to be the most enthusiastic fanatics of their official state sport, desert off-road racing.
During the 2006 CABO 500 Desert Off-Road race, an FIA authorized, national off-road race in Mexico, Ramirez battled Danny Anderson of Las Vegas for the overall win. Danny Anderson won that battle for the title of "King Of Cabo in 2006". The CABO 500 Desert Off-Road race is held every spring in Los Cabos Mexico, the event finishes 'on the Golden Sands of Cabo San Lucas'.
San Diego based Vildosola racing has not been on the podium for a few years. They also claimed to race the Dos Mares 500 recently, only to bail, claiming they had significant mechanical issues that year and could not race in that event. The teams failure to run the race, they ended up disappointing the entire state of Baja Sur. Baja South is considered to be the most enthusiastic fanatics of their official state sport, desert off-road racing.
During the 2006 CABO 500 Desert Off-Road race, an FIA authorized, national off-road race in Mexico, Ramirez battled Danny Anderson of Las Vegas for the overall win. Danny Anderson won that battle for the title of "King Of Cabo in 2006". The CABO 500 Desert Off-Road race is held every spring in Los Cabos Mexico, the event finishes 'on the Golden Sands of Cabo San Lucas'.
MORE TEAM NEWS...
All German Motorsports continues to sort out mechanical issues, including engine and drive-line issues
Baja 1000 2012: AGM-Jimco X6 Trophy Truck - hot tests in Mexican desert.
"The summer break was long in the Baja racing competitons championship, but now the countdown is on for the season highlight: From 14th to 17th November, the Baja 1000 throws the ultimate desert challenge at Armin Schwarz and All German Motorsports. To prepare optimally for this legendary rally, the crew put their AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck through four days of testing in the Mexican desert near Ensenada. (San Felipe)
Despite air temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius (the Europeans who run AGM need to convert to North Americn standards) and some of the roughest routes on the planet (just because SCORE refuses to repair the roads it destroys in racing at San Felipe), the tests proved to be ‘no sweat’. "Over the four days we drove about 400 miles all up, and the tracks couldn’t have been more diverse," reports Armin Schwarz. "One of the two routes is the worst you can get at the Baja 1000".
It’s the passage around San Felipe with humps (they're called whoops here in America) a metre deep. We worked at keeping the truck at a constant speed." "In this section you’re going at around 85 to 90 miles an hour and it’s important to maintain this speed over the extremely bumpy 60 mile stretch, because if you go slower here you lose a lot of time. If you can go a little faster you can better adjust your speed depending on whether you’re pursuing someone or if someone is chasing you or to see how you’re doing in the race."
After four exhausting days in the Mexican desert, Armin Schwarz returned feeling pleased. By and large, the last "rehearsal" leading up to the Baja 1000 ran perfectly. The new parts worked well. The AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck was fitted with a new torque converter from partner Schaeffler. "This hydraulic clutch worked very well," reported Armin Schwarz. "We hope this helps for a better overall performance, because the car has a much better response and you can adjust the settings more precisely." This gave Schaeffler precise readings on the torque input and output of the converter. "These are things that we simply guessed previously. The manufacturers here in the U.S. don’t have any fixed data."
Partner Liqui Moly supply the special oil that is required. In addition, All German Motorsports continued working on honing the suspension set-up, especially the rear dampers. "Our Trophy Truck still kicks a bit, especially on the smaller bumps. And when you reduce this, you have better ground contact," explains Armin Schwarz. "The engine was also revised and at the test it was at the same level as it will be for the Baja 1000 – with over 700 hp on the axle our engine maker Danzio has upped the ante."
Of course there are always technical hiccups during testing, but they were quickly sorted out in an unconventional way. [Editors note here: AGM better get its act together, now, otherwise this new "Trophy Truck" project will soon be called a fail]
The main shaft caused problems. "We had Jeff Hemphill from Schaeffler here, who is the head of the technical department in the United States. He had a close look and could immediately give his feedback to the gearbox manufacturer, where he thought the fault lay. We assume it won’t happen in the race," says Armin Schwarz. Jeff Hemphill was not the only guest at the tests - partner Liqui Moly brought Franz Engstler to Ensenada, a full-time driver in the World Touring Car Championship.
"First, Franz was amazed at the extreme surfaces we tackle. He remarked that his wheel travel was too short even to driver over the kerbs on the circuit. So when he saw what we were doing he realised that wheel travel is everything," said Armin Schwarz with a grin. "Franz was really impressed with what the car could do. But I was also impressed with how fast Franz could drive the pre-runner and the Trophy Truck. He was able to quickly gauge how to approach the huge humps and what speed was right. That’s not usual for a race car driver - he did a really good job!"
Also taking a turn in the cockpit were rally drivers Alex Fiorio and Andi Mancin, with the latter two looking at the possibility of providing back up for Armin Kremer in the Buggy at the Baja 1000. After testing, the AGM-Jimco X6 Score Trophy Truck was transported straight to partner K & N. They had developed another new air filter, installed it and made a dyno available for AGM. Now the desert monster will again be aligned back at the team HQ and every detail checked. On 2 November the whole team travels back to Ensenada, where the Baja 1000 pre-run takes off the next day. The task is then to look at all the main routes and the many possible side tracks and to work out the perfect pace notes.
"At this point, I would like to thank all our partners for the great cooperation and support for the Baja 1000," said Armin Schwarz."
Banning Motorsports recovers from Parker Demoltion Derby and plans Baja 1000 efforts
"After the great drive Lee put in on Saturday, the 1000 car would have a much better starting position in heat three on Sunday, at the Parker Demolition Derby. Originally, Cory Boyer was supposed to drive the car. He will be sharing driving duties at the upcoming Baja 1000 so it was decided he should get some seat time in race conditions.
Cork won class 2000 in heat two, which made him late to the starting line. Fernie was pressed into duty again to take the wheel of the 1000 car. Fernie and Chris set a blistering pace on lap one running the second fastest time. They continued a great run on lap two. On lap three they had moved up; positioning themselves for a second place finish.
Coming into the finishing straight disaster struck, they ran out of gas a mere 50 yards short of the checkered flag. All the sections on the course filled with deep sand on Sunday caused the racers to spend more time at full throttle which burned much more fuel. It was no consolation but several others had run out also. Despite the setback, the team was able to get going again and finished the two day race in sixth place in class, eighth overall in heat three.
Banning Motorsports will be contesting the 45th annual SCORE Tecate Baja 1000 November 14-17. The class 1000 car will be carrying # 1048 and will be driven by Lee Sr., Cory Boyer, Rick Graf and Lee Jr. Co-driving will be Chris Godfrey, Allan Dillmuth and Nicholas Ambris. The course starts in Ensenada and ends 1121.55 miles later in La Paz, Baja California. The race will require a huge team effort but that’s nothing new for the Banning Motorsports team."
OCTOBER 12
Weather Hits Northern part of the BAJA 1000 2012 race course. Heavy rain strikes Baja mountain ranges. Tijuana and Ensenada regions receive varying amounts of the wet stuff.
CLICK HERE FOR RAINFALL TOTALS
CLICK HERE FOR WEATHER MAP
Rare for the deserts of Baja Mexico.
BAJA 1000 INSIDER CONTINUED...
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Some of the teams that will race the BAJA 1000 this year, are getting rained on in Parker Arizona for the Bluewater Challenge, being held this weekend.
Teams like BJ Baldwin, Robby Gordon and Rob Mac are in competition Saturday and Sunday. GO HERE>>> CLICKY! FOR Complete Coverage.
Menzies PreRuns Race Course
Notice the clouds and wet street in the pic
OCTOBER 11
BAJA 1000 Race Course not routed and not marked over two-thirds of Baja South.
PreRunning teams are reporting large stretches of the race course HAVE NOT been marked:
Baja North, at least 75% of the race course is not marked.
Baja South, at least 85% of the race course is not marked.
Your GPS and Tulip maps will get you through until the course is fully marked. Reports say the entire course will be physically marked in the next three weeks.
OCTOBER 10
PreRunning Teams Report in to
BajaRacingNews.com
Mark Post, Trophy Truck #3 Scratched!
POST KILLS ENTRY AFTER BAD Race PULL
Chad Ragland sez today: "Unfortunately the #3 Trophy Truck will not be racing this years Baja 1000 - huge bummer. Looking for another ride now."
Complete Race Course Tulip Notes &
Graphic Map Displays ONLINE NOW
OCTOBER 8
LIVE! FROM OFF-ROAD EXPO
CLICK HERE FOR THE EV-1 STORY
OCTOBER 6
CLICK HERE FOR THE SANCTIONS
BAJA 1000 2012 RACE COURSE MAP
CLICK HERE FOR THE TIRE SPONSOR
BAJA 1000 2012 RACE COURSE/PITS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR THE TEAM RACING
BAJA 1000 2012 RACE COURSE MAP
'Pistol' Pete Sohren First Off The Line for the 45th
BAJA 1000 in November!
Pete Sohren Draws First SCORE Trophy Truck Start, And Ridgway Will Be First Motorcycle
Racers From 31 States, 16 Countries Already Entered In Granddaddy Of All Desert Races
39 SCORE Trophy Trucks Entered To Date As Race Starts In Ensenada And Finishes In La Paz
Early Prerunning For Race Down Mexico’s Magnificent Baja California Peninsula Started Friday
Veteran Arizona desert racer Pete Sohren has received the first starting position during Saturday’s live drawing at the Off-Road Expo for November’s 45th running of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. While Sohren, who lives in Glendale, Ariz., will pilot his No. 2 Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy Truck, starting first among the motorcycle and ATV classes will be Chris Ridgway on a Honda CRF450X.
This year’s granddaddy of all desert races, the drawing for the mammoth finale of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series was held in the unique SCOREville exhibit at this weekend’s Off-Road Expo at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.
The SCOREville exhibit in Building 6 at the Off-Road Expo is a salute to SCORE Baja Legends and the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame concludes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
A solid total of 210 vehicles officially entered in time for Saturday’s drawing for the legendary motorsports adventure down Mexico’s majestic Baja California, with race week festivities scheduled for Nov. 14-17. This year’s historic 45th anniversary race will run down the length of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula. It will start in Ensenada, Baja California and finish in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
In addition to static displays of vintage and current desert racing vehicles along with autograph sessions with many of the stars of the sport, both past and present, this was the third time in race history and first since 2007 that the drawing was held at the popular Off-Road Expo.
SCORE’s Sal Fish, CEO and president since soon after SCORE started in 1973, unveiled the official course map for the 1,121.55-mile race Saturday just prior to the start of the drawing.
With late entries accepted up until race morning, nearly 300 entries, from nearly 20 countries and 40 U.S. States, competing in 35 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, truck, motorcycles and ATVs are expected to compete in this year’s international adventure.
In addition to the 31 States represented on the entry list to date, racers have officially entered from 16 countries. In addition to the USA, entries so far have come from Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway and the US Territory of Guam.
It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a racer. Since 1967, the race has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.
This year’s race will start for the 38th time in Ensenada and finish in La Paz for the 19th time. Completing its 39th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the event is the finale of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series. The race will start on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada and finish on the outskirts of La Paz on Highway 1.
The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. (Thursday, Nov. 15) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 11:30 a.m., or four hours after the last ATV leaves the line in the elapsed-time race.
The post-race awards celebration will be held on the malecon in La Paz on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
The featured SCORE Trophy Truck division for high-tech, 850-horsepower unlimited production trucks had 39 vehicles entered in time for Saturday’s start draw.
For the first time in race history, a female driver of record-Monica Greenhill of Crowley, Texas, will start first in the unlimited Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars. There were 19 Class 1 vehicles in the drawing.
Class 10 had 11 entries and among the motorcycle and ATV classes, Class 22 for open motorcycles has the most entries so far with 11.
Leading the six Sportsman classes in the race is Sportsman Motorcycle over 250cc which had 28 entries in the drawing.
45th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
Nov. 14-17, 2012
Final round of five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico – 1,121.55 miles
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico – 1,121.55 miles
TOTAL ENTRIES: 210 (31 States, 16 Countries) (as of 10/10/12)
PRO CARS & TRUCKS:
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (39)
2 Pete Sohren
93 Chris Kemp
20 Rob MacCachren
23 Daniel McMillin
12 Kory Scheeler
34 Ken Losch
97 B.J. Baldwin
1 Bryce Menzies
31 Andy McMillin
9 Mark Weyhrich
76 Jesse Jones
18 Juan C. Lopez
19 Tim Herbst
14 Cameron Steele
94 Steve Strobel
50 John Langley
88 Sergio Salgado
59 Craig Potts
26 Jay Reichert
73 Rob Reinertson
16 Cameron Steele
62 Billy Bunch
53 Jose Flores
84 Nick Vanderwey
13 Ed Stout
92 John Clark Gable
48 Jimmy Nuckles
21 Gus Vildosola
45 Gary Magness
10 Greg Nunley
37 Tommy Greer
49 Ryan Arciero
15 Armin Schwarz
3 Mark Post
57 Mike Palmer
77 Robby Gordon
71 Rick D. Johnson
39 Ron Whitton
60 Mike Voudouris
2 Pete Sohren
93 Chris Kemp
20 Rob MacCachren
23 Daniel McMillin
12 Kory Scheeler
34 Ken Losch
97 B.J. Baldwin
1 Bryce Menzies
31 Andy McMillin
9 Mark Weyhrich
76 Jesse Jones
18 Juan C. Lopez
19 Tim Herbst
14 Cameron Steele
94 Steve Strobel
50 John Langley
88 Sergio Salgado
59 Craig Potts
26 Jay Reichert
73 Rob Reinertson
16 Cameron Steele
62 Billy Bunch
53 Jose Flores
84 Nick Vanderwey
13 Ed Stout
92 John Clark Gable
48 Jimmy Nuckles
21 Gus Vildosola
45 Gary Magness
10 Greg Nunley
37 Tommy Greer
49 Ryan Arciero
15 Armin Schwarz
57 Mike Palmer
77 Robby Gordon
71 Rick D. Johnson
39 Ron Whitton
60 Mike Voudouris
CLASS 1 (19)
101 Monica Greenhill
102 Ronny Wilson
103 Luke McMillin
104 Buddy Feldkamp
105 Tony Miglini
106 Clyde Stacy
107 Jon Walker
108 Brian Wyborny
109 Samuel Araiza
110 Josh Rigsby
111 Tom Koch
112 Brad Etter
113 Travis Chase
114 Erik Jacobs
115 Todd Tuls
116 Rudy Cortez
147 Patrick McCarthy (3rd RS)
148 Cody Parkhouse (2nd RS)
149 Cory Kruseman (1rst RS)
CLASS 1/2-1600 (7)
1601 George Peters
1602 Brad Maurer
1603 Rob Archibald
1604 Arturo Velazco
1605 Hiram Duran
1606 Jesus Velez
1649 Eliseo Garcia (1rst RS)
CLASS 3 (2)
300 Donald Moss
349 David Moore (1rst RS)
CLASS 5 (5)
501 Sandy Hall
502 Drew Belk
503 Cody Kellogg
500 Kevin Carr
519 Vince Wavra
CLASS 5-1600 (3)
551 Erich Reisen
578 Trevor Anderson
579 Clyde Stacy
CLASS 6 (3)
617 Gavin Skilton
600 Heidi Steele
619 Eduardo Laguna
CLASS 7 (1)
700 Dan Chamlee
CLASS 7SX (2)
740 Elias Hanna
759 Justin Fisher
CLASS 8 (3)
801 Francisco Monroy
802 Alfredo Carballlo
839 Rodolfo Iribe
CLASS 10 (11)
1001 Cam Thieriot
1002 Mike Lawrence
1003 Chip Prescott
1004 Dean Grizzle
1005 John Martensen
1006 Ross Savage
1007 Peter Hajas
1008 Mark Lawrence
1009 Matt Cullen
1048 Lee Banning
1049 Rick Boyer
SCORE LITES (6)
1204 Brent Parkhouse
1202 Matt Drever
1201 Pedro Velasquez
1203 Juan Guillen
1248 Otoniel Huerta
1249 Moises Torres
CLASS 11 (3)
1101 Alfonso Lacarra
1102 Eric Solorzano
1149 Mark Murrell
STOCK MINI (2)
761 Andy Bell
762 Rod Hall
PROTRUCK (1)
1350 Chelsea Magness
CLASS 4 (3)
401 Mike Shaffer
402 Jim Kirby
439 Derek Fletcher
CLASS 7-2 (3)
721 Dave Sykes
720 Reid Rutherford
723 Riggs Lennon
CLASS 2 (1)
219 Clyde Stacy
BAJA CHALLENGE (2)
BC1Steve Hilbert
BC2 Bud Brutsman
SCORE SUPER 8 TRUCK (1)
Bob Dixon
PRO MOTORCYCLES:
101 Monica Greenhill
102 Ronny Wilson
103 Luke McMillin
104 Buddy Feldkamp
105 Tony Miglini
106 Clyde Stacy
107 Jon Walker
108 Brian Wyborny
109 Samuel Araiza
110 Josh Rigsby
111 Tom Koch
112 Brad Etter
113 Travis Chase
114 Erik Jacobs
115 Todd Tuls
116 Rudy Cortez
147 Patrick McCarthy (3rd RS)
148 Cody Parkhouse (2nd RS)
149 Cory Kruseman (1rst RS)
CLASS 1/2-1600 (7)
1601 George Peters
1602 Brad Maurer
1603 Rob Archibald
1604 Arturo Velazco
1605 Hiram Duran
1606 Jesus Velez
1649 Eliseo Garcia (1rst RS)
CLASS 3 (2)
300 Donald Moss
349 David Moore (1rst RS)
CLASS 5 (5)
501 Sandy Hall
502 Drew Belk
503 Cody Kellogg
500 Kevin Carr
519 Vince Wavra
CLASS 5-1600 (3)
551 Erich Reisen
578 Trevor Anderson
579 Clyde Stacy
CLASS 6 (3)
617 Gavin Skilton
600 Heidi Steele
619 Eduardo Laguna
CLASS 7 (1)
700 Dan Chamlee
CLASS 7SX (2)
740 Elias Hanna
759 Justin Fisher
CLASS 8 (3)
801 Francisco Monroy
802 Alfredo Carballlo
839 Rodolfo Iribe
CLASS 10 (11)
1001 Cam Thieriot
1002 Mike Lawrence
1003 Chip Prescott
1004 Dean Grizzle
1005 John Martensen
1006 Ross Savage
1007 Peter Hajas
1008 Mark Lawrence
1009 Matt Cullen
1048 Lee Banning
1049 Rick Boyer
SCORE LITES (6)
1204 Brent Parkhouse
1202 Matt Drever
1201 Pedro Velasquez
1203 Juan Guillen
1248 Otoniel Huerta
1249 Moises Torres
CLASS 11 (3)
1101 Alfonso Lacarra
1102 Eric Solorzano
1149 Mark Murrell
STOCK MINI (2)
761 Andy Bell
762 Rod Hall
PROTRUCK (1)
1350 Chelsea Magness
CLASS 4 (3)
401 Mike Shaffer
402 Jim Kirby
439 Derek Fletcher
CLASS 7-2 (3)
721 Dave Sykes
720 Reid Rutherford
723 Riggs Lennon
CLASS 2 (1)
219 Clyde Stacy
BAJA CHALLENGE (2)
BC1Steve Hilbert
BC2 Bud Brutsman
SCORE SUPER 8 TRUCK (1)
Bob Dixon
PRO MOTORCYCLES:
CLASS 22 (11)
2x Chris Ridgway
3x Mark Samuels
4x Radek Burkat-S
5x Kurt Caselli
6x Warren Strange
8x Robby Bell
9x A.J. Stewart
7x Arik Swan
10x Jason Miller-S
1x Colton Udall
12x C.R. Gittere III-S
CLASS 20 (1)
179x Gabriel Williams-S
CLASS 21 (7)
101x Ulises Fierro
102x Megumi Shiono
103x Francisco Septien
104x Jim O’Neal
105x Yoshiaki Hoda
106x Aaron Lindsey-S
107x Brandon Prieto
CLASS 30 (4)
301x Francisco Arredondo
300x Mike Johnson
303x Ryan Gutile-S
349x Chris Parr-S
CLASS 40 (9)
400x Jeff Kaplan
401x Chuck Shortt
402x Larry Brown
403x Robert Creemers
404x Lloyd Andrew-S
405x Mike Prunty
406x Paul Thomas
407x Feisal Somji
408x Oscar Fazz
CLASS 50 (5)
501x Marc Prince
502x Dirk McFarlane
503x Robert Smith
548xMark Winkleman (2nd RS)
549x Mark Jerman (1rst RS)
CLASS 60 (1)
601x Al Perrett
PRO ATVS
CLASS 25 (4)
2a Brandon Brown
1a Wayne Matlock
4a Craig Christy
5a Charles Laviolette
CLASS 24 (2)
101a Nick Nelson
102a Shawn Robins
CLASS 26 (1)
219a Joe Rice (1rst RS)
SPORTSMAN:
2x Chris Ridgway
3x Mark Samuels
4x Radek Burkat-S
5x Kurt Caselli
6x Warren Strange
8x Robby Bell
9x A.J. Stewart
7x Arik Swan
10x Jason Miller-S
1x Colton Udall
12x C.R. Gittere III-S
CLASS 20 (1)
179x Gabriel Williams-S
CLASS 21 (7)
101x Ulises Fierro
102x Megumi Shiono
103x Francisco Septien
104x Jim O’Neal
105x Yoshiaki Hoda
106x Aaron Lindsey-S
107x Brandon Prieto
CLASS 30 (4)
301x Francisco Arredondo
300x Mike Johnson
303x Ryan Gutile-S
349x Chris Parr-S
CLASS 40 (9)
400x Jeff Kaplan
401x Chuck Shortt
402x Larry Brown
403x Robert Creemers
404x Lloyd Andrew-S
405x Mike Prunty
406x Paul Thomas
407x Feisal Somji
408x Oscar Fazz
CLASS 50 (5)
501x Marc Prince
502x Dirk McFarlane
503x Robert Smith
548xMark Winkleman (2nd RS)
549x Mark Jerman (1rst RS)
CLASS 60 (1)
601x Al Perrett
PRO ATVS
CLASS 25 (4)
2a Brandon Brown
1a Wayne Matlock
4a Craig Christy
5a Charles Laviolette
CLASS 24 (2)
101a Nick Nelson
102a Shawn Robins
CLASS 26 (1)
219a Joe Rice (1rst RS)
SPORTSMAN:
SPT BUGGY (4)
1401 Todd Welling
1402 Robert Becker
1403 George Jackson
1449 Jim Bunn (1rst RS)
SPT UTV (5)
1801 Douglas McCrady
1802 Chris Koch
1803 Thomas Graves
1804 Greg Row
1805 Dave Broome
SPT M/C 250< (6)
201x Brett Robinson
202x Darren Elia
203x Gregory Gilbert
204x Patrick Christensen
205x Philip Kegel-S
249x Mark Winkelman
SPT M/C 250> (28)
251x Yukio Higuchi-S
252x Tomoki Hayashi
253x Tetsuya Naito-S
254x Adrian Ruiz
255x Akiro Saito-S
256x Bill Baker
257x Matt DeVall-S
258x Christopher Amos
259x Robert Gumser
260x Carlos Sanchez
261x Hideki Sugiyama
262x Hideyuki Sumiyoshi
263x Kris Meeke-S
264x Tetsuya Hirasawa
265x Sebastien Bouchard-S
266x Olaf Satre
267x Kevin Murphy-S
268x Yuji Kikuchi
269x Gary Walker
270x Brady Sharp-S
271x David Haller-S
272x Naoki Kusano
273x Tibi Imbuzan-S
274x Ron Weinmeister
275x Yusuke Hino
276x Thierry Mas-S
277x Risto Niemi
278x Jeff Kawell-S
279x Yvan Perroud S
SPT ATV (5)
51a Dave McFarland
52a Juan Dominguez
53a Moises Saiza
54a Paul Engen
99a Daniel Montano
1401 Todd Welling
1402 Robert Becker
1403 George Jackson
1449 Jim Bunn (1rst RS)
SPT UTV (5)
1801 Douglas McCrady
1802 Chris Koch
1803 Thomas Graves
1804 Greg Row
1805 Dave Broome
SPT M/C 250< (6)
201x Brett Robinson
202x Darren Elia
203x Gregory Gilbert
204x Patrick Christensen
205x Philip Kegel-S
249x Mark Winkelman
SPT M/C 250> (28)
251x Yukio Higuchi-S
252x Tomoki Hayashi
253x Tetsuya Naito-S
254x Adrian Ruiz
255x Akiro Saito-S
256x Bill Baker
257x Matt DeVall-S
258x Christopher Amos
259x Robert Gumser
260x Carlos Sanchez
261x Hideki Sugiyama
262x Hideyuki Sumiyoshi
263x Kris Meeke-S
264x Tetsuya Hirasawa
265x Sebastien Bouchard-S
266x Olaf Satre
267x Kevin Murphy-S
268x Yuji Kikuchi
269x Gary Walker
270x Brady Sharp-S
271x David Haller-S
272x Naoki Kusano
273x Tibi Imbuzan-S
274x Ron Weinmeister
275x Yusuke Hino
276x Thierry Mas-S
277x Risto Niemi
278x Jeff Kawell-S
279x Yvan Perroud S
SPT ATV (5)
51a Dave McFarland
52a Juan Dominguez
53a Moises Saiza
54a Paul Engen
99a Daniel Montano
S-Indicates Solo Rider
RS-Rear Start
Entry Removed Before Start
RS-Rear Start
OCTOBER 5
Ivan Ramirez Racing Baja 1000, WORCS Champ
OCTOBER 4
Course PreRunning Maps Released
The BAJA Plane Crash
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
Made at "Laguna Salada", Mexicali
UPDATED:
Laguna Salada is the site of numerous famous desert off-road races. Including the MONSTER Mike 500 that runs every year. During this real-life experiment, just days later, an international event ran very close to the crash site.
Original Story:
Last April, a Boeing 727 crashed in the Mexican Desert of Baja California on the “Laguna Salada”. This Sunday, October 7th that Discovery Channel will broadcast this event in its television program “Curiosity” at 6pm.
Many universities and institutions participated in the event, in which scientific experiments were conducted, that the main focus was to understand the effects of a plane crash in order to improve aircraft safety. The Ministry of Tourism of Baja California informed that in this event, other smaller planes were used to guide the 727 after the pilots who operated it jumped out with parachutes. The 727 was then guided with remote controls that were nearby in the smaller planes. A total of 49 cameras were used inside and out of the plane in this experiment, which included 12 different viewing angles from land and a few test dummies with sensors to measure the effects of the accident.
OCTOBER 3
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE $$$ TEAMS
PRERUNNING THIS YEARS RACE
Just Like MONSTER Mike Reported on
OFF-ROAD LIVE! Monday Night, the teams
on a shoestring have all gone away, they can't afford the high costs of Baja Racing and we're left with the Millionaires of Off-Road racing, without drug-testing and race skills-means testing. No race license is required! A perfect formula for DISASTER.
"Official prerunning" doesn't start for another month, but the monied teams already have their GPS files from 'Official Vendors' and they are nailing down this years course before the 'Official Release' of the map this weekend.
Stay tuned for the unreported incidents, crazy pics and vids. The inside word on who will steal this years BAJA 1000 title to La Paz, Mexico!
Welcome to "Baja Racing"! Just remember you heard it here first!
OCTOBER 2, 2012
Baja Racing News LIVE!
BAJA 1000 2012 Start Position Drawing
LIVE! on Saturday at 3 PM at
BajaRacingNews.com
Start Draw Entry Deadline For Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Tuesday For Saturday’s Start Position Drawing On Baja Racing News LIVE! from Off-Road Expo
Today (Tuesday, Oct. 2) is the deadline for officially entering the 45th anniversary of the legendary LIVE! coverage of the 2012 BAJA 1000 vaunted desert race in order to be included in this weekend’s drawing for starting positions Saturday LIVE! ONLINE from the Fairplex in Pomona.
The LIVE! Baja Racing News Coverage from the Off-Road Expo will salute SCORE Baja Legends and the Baja Racing Club Hall of Fame with autograph sessions both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m., the live drawing for starting positions, by class, for the legendary motorsports adventure down Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, will be held on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The official course map for the 1,117-mile race has been released to the public EXCLUSIVELY on BajaRacingNews.com and will be unveiled "Officially" Saturday, just prior to the start of the drawing. This year’s historic 45th anniversary race, with festivities set for Nov. 14-17, will run down the length of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula. It will start in Ensenada, Baja California and finish in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
Nearly 300 entries, from nearly 20 countries and 40 U.S. States, competing in 35 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, truck, motorcycles and ATVs are expected to compete in this year’s international adventure. While late entries will be accepted up until race morning on Nov. 15.
Saturday’s LIVE! Baja Racing News ONLINE WEBCAST of the drawing will include primary drawing of the top 12 finishers from this year’s 2012 Baja 500 in both the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division and the unlimited Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars.
The top 12 SCORE Trophy Truck finishers in June were Bryce Menzies, B.J. Baldwin, Jesse Jones, Dan McMcMillin, Mark Weyhrich, Andy McMillin, Chris Kemp, Juan C. Lopez, Kory Scheeler, Ken Losch, Rob MacCachren and Pete Sohren.
In Class 1, the top 12 finishers in the June SCORE Baja race were Luke McMillin, Clyde Stacy, Buddy Feldkamp, Cody Parkhouse, Lyle Bask, Tony Miglini, Ronny Wilson, Jon Walker, Monica Greenhill, Scott Schovajsa, Mark Stevens and Damen Jefferies.
Among the SCORE Baja legends expected to participate Saturday’s autograph session are Sal Fish, Rod Hall, Walker Evans, Ivan Stewart, Larry Roeseler, Larry Ragland, Dave Ekins, Gus Vildosola, Gus Vildosola Jr. and Chad Ragland. MacCachren and B.J. Baldwin are expected to join the group for Sunday’s session.
In addition to classic race cars, trucks and motorcycles among the vehicles on display will be two of the current marquee SCORE Trophy Trucks, the division for hi-tech, 850-horsepower unlimited production trucks. On display at the Off-Road Expo will be the No. 21 Vildosola Racing Red Bull Ford F-150 driven by Mexico’s father/son team of Gus Vildosola/Gus Vildosola Jr. and the No. 20 MasterCraft Racing Rockstar Ford F-150 driven by Rob MacCachren/Robbie Pierce.
The 2012 Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo might be the greatest collection of off-road companies, parts, equipment, gear, and experts assembled in America with over 300 exhibitors. From off-road racing to rock crawling, trail riding to sand sports, motorcycles to ATV’s and camping to adventure travel, the event provides the unique opportunity to meet and talk with the most knowledgeable people in the off-road industry.
With a full weekend of excitement, event features include the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Exhibition Course, Toyota off-road test drives, Yamaha ATV/UTV Demo Track, High-flying Freestyle Motocross action, autograph sessions with off-road celebrities, the Overland Adventure Travel Pavilion, Miss Off-Road Expo Contest and live music all weekend on the Bud Light Entertainment Stage.
In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings each race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 27th consecutive year, a total of 24 drivers are still in the hunt for the awards for the 2012 SCORE Desert Series after four rounds in the five-race series.
Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award. All categories, except Engine Builder and Original Buggy Chassis Manufacturer, will be determined by public on-line voting while Engine and Buggy awards are determined by season points.
OFF-ROAD LIVE! BAJA 1000 SPECIAL SHOWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 4 pm - PreRunning Show
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 4 pm - Mexican Insurance Show
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 4 pm - History & Race Course Show
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 4 pm - Competitor Review Show
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 4 pm - Baja Tourism Show
BAJA 1000 2012 LIVE! SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12 OFF-ROAD LIVE! RADIO SHOW 4 PM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 - ENSENADA Mexico
- RACER REGISTRATION - 9:00AM TO 5:00PM
- CONTINGENCY ROW - 10:00AM TO 5:00PM
- TECHNICAL INSPECTION - 10:00AM TO 6:00PM
- RIVIERA CONVENTION CENTER
- COMPETITORS MEETING - 7:00PM
- Baja Racing News RADIO LIVE! 9 PMon Baja Racing News.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 - RIVIERA CONVENTION CENTER
- LATE REGISTRATION - 5:30AM
- MEDIA CENTER - 6:00AM
- LATE TECH - 5:30AM
- MOTORCYCLE & ATV START- 6:30AM
- FOUR WHEEL START- 11:30AM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 - ENSENADA TO LA PAZ
- 2012 BAJA 1000 PENINSULA RUN CONTINUES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - LA PAZ FINISH LINE
- RACE ENDS AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - LA PAZ ON THE MALECON
AWARDS PRESENTATION - 5:00PM
ALL TIMES LISTED ARE PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (PST)
(Above) The prelim Baja 1000 2012 Course Map
ONLY Baja Racing News LIVE! Covers the LIVE! BAJA 1000 from Baja Mexico. MORE>>>
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FAVORITE WEATHER MAP
CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS LIVE!
BAJA 1000 COVERAGE BY
Baja Racing News LIVE!
CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEARS BAJA 1000 RACE COVERAGE AND THE BAJA 1000 RACE RESULTS ARCHIVES
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES ON THE BORDER CROSSING NEWS FROM SAN DIEGO
LIVE UPDATES^^^
----------------------------------------------------
The 2012 BAJA 1000...LIVE! RACE REPORTING
Starting in Ensenada Baja California and finishing in La Paz, Baja Sur (South), Baja Racing News LIVE! will be presenting LIVE! ONLINE RACING event for the 7th Seventh time.
Join us in November 2012 from San Diego all the way to La Paz, with the LIVE! ONLINE RACE, Baja Racing News LIVE!
The CASINO ROYALE BAJA 1000
LIVE! ONLINE ONLY HERE!
CLICK HERE FOR THE 50 Years of the BAJA 1000 EXCLUSIVE SERIES
Baja Racing News LIVE!
Edited and Posted By: Gary Newsome, Baja Racing News LIVE! Editor
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