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SCORE - Baja 500 - 2,010
By: Roberto L. Miranda
This time, I was there as spectator, not as part of any chase crew or any racing team. Scott and Brady were there racing Josh Rigsby’s car, and they took the entire week off for the usual stuff, the pre-run, registration, contingency, drivers meeting, you name it. Dust from previous race (MORE 500) damaged my camera, but I managed to share Gabby’s pictures with all you guys.
06/05/10: I woke up really early, like 3:00am and drove to Rusty’s place. The plan was to leave Carlsbad at 4:30am and reach Ensenada before the race started. Crossing the USA/Mexico boarder was easy, just like a regular stop at any traffic light. We got our car insurance using the drive-thru windows and it was harder to find a Jack in the Box for breakfast.
We took “La Cuota” or toll road, in spite that the “Via Libre” or Interstate is also available for use. Almost everyone pays for better roads, so we did the same. The toll is like $3.00 three times, so you do the math. The military check points were all over the place. My best guess is that they took over from police in order to fight crime and drugs. You feel intimidated but safe at the same time.
By the time we arrived to Ensenada, bikes and quads were gone. We went to Ojos Negros, where Rusty’s friends were located, and hopefully, watch the Trophy Trucks there, racing. Few miles before reaching our destination, the traffic suddenly stopped due to a Military check point. In a blink of an eye, people were driving by a side road in complete chaos. Why people follow the rules in home town, but screwed the rules somewhere else? I don’t get it, but that is how it works all over the world. We keep ourselves on a leash; we patiently wait our turn, even if we need to fight for it, in fact, we had a battle scar from that episode.
The military check point at Ojos Negros, and the traffic jam is well known by the Baja’s enthusiast. I don’t get why Americans forget their driving habits when they are down there, especially chase trucks. Their behavior must be an example to follow, not otherwise. Planning is part of the race strategy, so a well known delay is no reason to bend the rules, is not good for the sport. I totally understand why some rancheros hate the racers, but also realized the huge impact on local economy, and that is why the event is still alive, otherwise, it would not longer exist.
Anyhow, the military check point is history and we look for our friends. By the time we arrived, to continue driving for the race course was not possible, so we stayed close to pavement and watch the race from there.
A helicopter announced the fun part without saying a word; everyone was in frenzy and ready to roll. Few minutes later the first chase truck flied by and the party begun. They jumped from one side to other in no time, leaving a cloud of dust and smiles behind. The speed is something that you must experience live, is way better than the movies. Slower classes arrived and the speed slowed down a bit. If motorsports moves you, this race is something that you must watch in your lifetime, and if you have a chance to race it, even better.
Our ice-chest was loaded with no alcoholic beverages. We totally forgot about the beers but our friends had plenty, so that was not an issue at all. Gabby brings her own vodka bottle, with passion fruit juice, so we were covered in that aspect very well.
As soon as the racers go by, or people think so, anarchy is the best word to describe the chaos down there. Hundreds of cars coming from all roads funnel into the military check point, and again, reviewing each car caused a huge traffic jam. Racers that arrived late, had the worst nightmare right there.
Even 18 wheelers trucks were in the wrong side of the road, followed by Federales (local police) but no one did anything to clear the mess, so we patiently wait for an hour or so, and hired a local band for $20 and enjoyed some rancheras songs.
The band was not the greatest, but if you have the extra money in your pocket, why not? Everyone enjoyed the music, the applauses for all over the place at the end of each song let us know that. When the traffic was a little bit better, we drove to Ensenada. We had tacos and quesadillas for lunch and wait for the first bikers to cross the finish line. I was not brave enough to try the sea food in local street vendors, next time, for sure. So many people eating it can’t be wrong.
Rusty’s friends went to La Paz, specifically at Pueblo Nuevo. Their party continues in a local tavern down there. They highly recommended the town for dinner, so we stop by. We ended up in a very nice restaurant, ocean view and excellent service. We had lobster with Mexican caviar and Mexican chop-suey (rice and beans). Live music was available one more time, way better musicians but our pockets were empty at the end of the day, so we skipped it somehow.
In our way back, we stopped at a rest station. We had coconut juice and some other stuff. The place was quite unique, but is not clear to me who built it; for sure the government is not behind it. Homeless looking like people were recovering scrap metal (car pieces) from the Clift with such rudimentary equipment that I’m still amazed as of how they performed that duty.
In spite of having plenty of locations to stay overnight at Baja, crossing the Mexico/USA boarder on Sunday would be wild. So, we chose to do it Saturday night. Took us less that an hour to cross the boarder and I was in my bed by midnight, happy and ready to go back in the first chance that comes across my way.
By: Roberto L. Miranda
Photos: Gabby Troconis
By: Roberto L. Miranda
This time, I was there as spectator, not as part of any chase crew or any racing team. Scott and Brady were there racing Josh Rigsby’s car, and they took the entire week off for the usual stuff, the pre-run, registration, contingency, drivers meeting, you name it. Dust from previous race (MORE 500) damaged my camera, but I managed to share Gabby’s pictures with all you guys.
06/05/10: I woke up really early, like 3:00am and drove to Rusty’s place. The plan was to leave Carlsbad at 4:30am and reach Ensenada before the race started. Crossing the USA/Mexico boarder was easy, just like a regular stop at any traffic light. We got our car insurance using the drive-thru windows and it was harder to find a Jack in the Box for breakfast.
We took “La Cuota” or toll road, in spite that the “Via Libre” or Interstate is also available for use. Almost everyone pays for better roads, so we did the same. The toll is like $3.00 three times, so you do the math. The military check points were all over the place. My best guess is that they took over from police in order to fight crime and drugs. You feel intimidated but safe at the same time.
By the time we arrived to Ensenada, bikes and quads were gone. We went to Ojos Negros, where Rusty’s friends were located, and hopefully, watch the Trophy Trucks there, racing. Few miles before reaching our destination, the traffic suddenly stopped due to a Military check point. In a blink of an eye, people were driving by a side road in complete chaos. Why people follow the rules in home town, but screwed the rules somewhere else? I don’t get it, but that is how it works all over the world. We keep ourselves on a leash; we patiently wait our turn, even if we need to fight for it, in fact, we had a battle scar from that episode.
The military check point at Ojos Negros, and the traffic jam is well known by the Baja’s enthusiast. I don’t get why Americans forget their driving habits when they are down there, especially chase trucks. Their behavior must be an example to follow, not otherwise. Planning is part of the race strategy, so a well known delay is no reason to bend the rules, is not good for the sport. I totally understand why some rancheros hate the racers, but also realized the huge impact on local economy, and that is why the event is still alive, otherwise, it would not longer exist.
Anyhow, the military check point is history and we look for our friends. By the time we arrived, to continue driving for the race course was not possible, so we stayed close to pavement and watch the race from there.
A helicopter announced the fun part without saying a word; everyone was in frenzy and ready to roll. Few minutes later the first chase truck flied by and the party begun. They jumped from one side to other in no time, leaving a cloud of dust and smiles behind. The speed is something that you must experience live, is way better than the movies. Slower classes arrived and the speed slowed down a bit. If motorsports moves you, this race is something that you must watch in your lifetime, and if you have a chance to race it, even better.
Our ice-chest was loaded with no alcoholic beverages. We totally forgot about the beers but our friends had plenty, so that was not an issue at all. Gabby brings her own vodka bottle, with passion fruit juice, so we were covered in that aspect very well.
As soon as the racers go by, or people think so, anarchy is the best word to describe the chaos down there. Hundreds of cars coming from all roads funnel into the military check point, and again, reviewing each car caused a huge traffic jam. Racers that arrived late, had the worst nightmare right there.
Even 18 wheelers trucks were in the wrong side of the road, followed by Federales (local police) but no one did anything to clear the mess, so we patiently wait for an hour or so, and hired a local band for $20 and enjoyed some rancheras songs.
The band was not the greatest, but if you have the extra money in your pocket, why not? Everyone enjoyed the music, the applauses for all over the place at the end of each song let us know that. When the traffic was a little bit better, we drove to Ensenada. We had tacos and quesadillas for lunch and wait for the first bikers to cross the finish line. I was not brave enough to try the sea food in local street vendors, next time, for sure. So many people eating it can’t be wrong.
Rusty’s friends went to La Paz, specifically at Pueblo Nuevo. Their party continues in a local tavern down there. They highly recommended the town for dinner, so we stop by. We ended up in a very nice restaurant, ocean view and excellent service. We had lobster with Mexican caviar and Mexican chop-suey (rice and beans). Live music was available one more time, way better musicians but our pockets were empty at the end of the day, so we skipped it somehow.
In our way back, we stopped at a rest station. We had coconut juice and some other stuff. The place was quite unique, but is not clear to me who built it; for sure the government is not behind it. Homeless looking like people were recovering scrap metal (car pieces) from the Clift with such rudimentary equipment that I’m still amazed as of how they performed that duty.
In spite of having plenty of locations to stay overnight at Baja, crossing the Mexico/USA boarder on Sunday would be wild. So, we chose to do it Saturday night. Took us less that an hour to cross the boarder and I was in my bed by midnight, happy and ready to go back in the first chance that comes across my way.
By: Roberto L. Miranda
Photos: Gabby Troconis
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