Baja 1000

Rider at Mile 328 of the Baja 1000. Four-wheel vehicle known as a Truggy.

SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had been the only SCORE race in the United States. The Baja 1000 allows various types of vehicle classes to compete on the same course - from such small and large bore motorcycles, stock VW, production vehicles, buggies, Trucks, and custom fabricated race vehicles. The course has remained relatively the same over the years with the majority of events being either a point-to-point race from Ensenada to La Paz, or a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada.

The name of the event can be misleading as the mileage varies for the type of event ("Loop" of approximately 650 miles starting and finishing in Ensenada, or "Point to Point" also known as the "Peninsula Run" of 900 to 1,100 miles from Ensenada to La Paz) and has represented kilometers in the past. Because the Mexican government was proud to play host, the race was initially called the "Mexican"1000 up to 1972.

The first official race started in Tijuana, Baja California, on October 31, 1967, and was named the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. The course length that year was 849 miles (1,366 km) and ended in La Paz, Baja California Sur, with the overall winning time of 27 hours 38 minutes (27:38) set by Vic Wilson and Ted Mangels while driving a Meyers Manx buggy.

From 1967 to 1972, the race was organized by the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) and grew in popularity with ABC's "Wide World of Sports" sending Jim McKay to cover the 1968 event, and attracting new participants like the late Mickey Thompson, Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones and movie actor James Garner. By 1971, major sponsors such as Olympia Brewing Company and Minolta Cameras began to support Parnelli Jones in his Dick Russell designed and Bill Stroppe prepared "Big Oly" Bronco and Larry Minor in a similar Stroppe prepared Bronco.

In October 1973, the price for a barrel of crude oil shot up 70% overnight as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) launched the Arab Oil Embargo. Fearful competitors would abandon the idea of competing and stay home, NORRA abanbdoned the race - despite assurances from the Federal government run Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) fuel prices would remain stable - and announced they would hold an event in the state of Arizona.

It was at that time in history, Baja California governor Milton Castellanos handed over sanctioning of the event to a non-profit Mexican corporation called the "Baja Sports Committee" (BSC). BSC renamed the event the "Baja Mil" (Baja 1000) and scheduled the race to run on the original dates chosen by NORRA. Though NORRA held a competing event in the United States that same weekend, BSC successfully ran the race from Ensenada to La Paz like the years prior. Unaware of the challenges, BSC found promoting Baja races more difficult than anticipated. Instead of giving up the race, the Mexican government requested help from Short Course Off-Road Enterprises (SCORE) in hosting and promoting future Baja races. Through negotiations with Mickey Thompson and his SCORE organization, the Government agreed to give exclusive rights to SCORE to hold Baja races and also reluctantly allowed SCORE to cancel the event for 1974. SCORE hired Sal Fish as president and took control of the Baja 1000 from that year on with the Baja 1000 race resuming under new control in 1975.

Prelude to the event

1962: The first timed run

When Jack McCormack and Walt Fulton of American Honda decided to hold a long-distance run to prove the reliability of Honda's new CL72 Scrambler, they approached well known off-road dirt biker and local Honda dealer Bud Ekins for suggestions. Bud suggested the Tijuana to La Paz route (Federal Highway 1) which was 950 miles (1,530 km) of rocks, sand washes, dry lake beds, cattle crossing, mountain passes, and paved road. Bud Ekins declined to perform the run because of Triumph Motorcycles ties, but Dave Ekins (Bud's brother) and Billy Robertson Jr. agreed to perform the trip for American Honda. After pre-running the peninsula in Fulton's Cessna 180, they began the journey to La Paz just after midnight on March 22, 1962. While being followed by two journalists in an airplane and using telegraph offices at the Mexican border and in La Paz, Dave Ekins recorded the first official timed run in 39 hours 56 minutes (39:56) with a total distance of 952.7 miles (1,533.2 km). The event received coverage in the Globe, Argosy, and Cycle World magazines, earning awe and respect for Honda and the Baja run. The Globe and Argosy accounts also included close encounters with death and other dangers which Ekins claims were "colorful additions".

Four wheels vs two

Wanting to beat the existing motorcycle record and to help fuel sales of the Meyers Manx, Bruce Meyers used his original prototype buggy called "Old Red" for an attempt at breaking the record set by Ekins. After pre-running a course south to La Paz, Ted Mangels and Bruce Meyers started the record-breaking attempt back to Tijuana from La Paz at 10:00pm on April 19, 1967. With journalist from Road & Track magazine following the two to witness the attempt, the final official time was 34:45 beating Ekins' run by more than 5 hours. Upon returning to the United States, the journalist documenting the run sent out press kits with photographs and a news release with the headline "Buggy Beats Bike in Baja." to hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Soon, more stories of adventure, close calls, and broken speed records received media coverage around the world. Following the event, Bruce Meyers and his Meyers Manx became an overnight sensation and the competition between four wheels and motorcycles for the fastest Baja run began.

In the following months, more attempts at breaking the record would take place. One of the attempts included a multiple vehicle run organized by Ed Pearlman (Mexican 1000 founder) that ended in an official four-wheel drive record being recorded but with the overall time falling short of the record set by Meyers. On July 4, 1967, an American Motors Rambler American sedan would leave Tijuana at 9:00am to successfully break the record set by Meyers with an overall time of 31 hours.

History

As the timed runs recorded via telegraph became popular, a need for an organized event to compete for the quickest Baja run was starting to grab the attention of other competitors. Once Ed Pearlman caught word of Meyers' run, Ed convinced Dick Cepek, Claude Dozier, Ed Orr, Drino Miller and journalist John Lawlor to give a run to La Paz a try. In June 1967, Pearlman and group left Tijuana and immediately ran into mechanical troubles. This trip provided much downtime for Pearlman to brainstorm the idea of the National Off-road Racing Association (NORRA). After Pete Condos and Perlman put up the funds to incorporate NORRA, the group announced an official recognition of the previous record setters and created classes that related to the type of vehicle used to break the record. During the later part of summer, NORRA named the event the "Mexican 1000 Rally" and announced the first official race from Tijuana to La Paz was to be held on November 1, 1967.

Vehicles

Honda CRF450X; winner of the 2006 Baja 1000. Taken at the San Jose Motorcycle Show.

Although motorcyclists participate and are often the overall winners, many competitors drive modified or stock 4-wheel vehicles such as cars, trucks, ATVs and dune buggies. Race teams consist of factory-supported groups that build custom fabricated vehicles and provide chase vehicles via helicopter, to the much smaller and less glamorized sportsman teams competing in an all-stock vehicle with no chase vehicle support at all. Stock Volkswagen Type One Beetles are modified for use in off-road terrain, known as Baja Bugs, have been a common sight throughout the event duration, but the factory-supported all-spaceframe Trophy Truck entries are the most visible.

In contrast to the current factory EX supported modern race vehicles that overall the car and truck classes, Erik Carlsson drove a basically stock front wheel drive Saab 96 V4, finishing third in 1969 and fifth in 1970.

Baja course

• Point-to-point: A point-to-point race is one that starts and ends in two different locations. The start is traditionally held in Ensenada but has been held in Tijuana and Mexicali as well. The course length varies for a point to point but is often over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and ends in La Paz.

• Loop race: A loop race is one that starts and finishes in the same location. Traditionally the race starts and ends in Ensenada but has started/finished in Mexicali as well. The course length averages 830 miles (1,340 km).

Sabotage and booby-traps

Each year there are reports of spectators sabotaging or booby-trapping the course by digging holes, blocking river flow, or burying and hiding obstacles. Racers are warned to beware of large crowds of spectators in remote parts of the course since it may indicate hidden traps or obstacle changes. Many of the booby traps are not created to intentionally injure the contestants but are created by the local spectators as jumps or obstacles for spectator entertainment. The haphazardly-designed jumps, created by the spectators, are very dangerous as the contestants may inadvertently enter the booby-trap at unsafe speeds, resulting in damage to the vehicles or injuries to competitors or spectators. Awareness of booby traps and course alterations are often part of race-day strategy and convey an advantage to the best prepared teams — nonetheless given the danger the traps pose, it is customary for competitors to quickly communicate course hazards to other competitors through on-board radio communications and radio relay.

Overall winners

	Cars & Trucks			Motorcycle
Year	Drivers	Vehicle	Time	Riders	Vehicle	Time
1967	*Vic Wilson, Ted Mangels	Meyers Manx VW	27:38	J.N. Roberts, Malcolm Smith	Husqvarna	28:48
1968	Larry Minor, Jack Bayer	Ford Bronco	21:11:32	*Larry Berquist, Gary Preston	Honda	20:38:28
1969	*Larry Minor, Rod Hall	Ford Bronco	20:48:10	Gunnar Nilsson, J.N. Roberts	Husqvarna	21:35:52
1970	*Drino Miller, Vic Wilson Miller	VW	16:07	Mike Patrick, Bill Bowers	Yamaha	18:31
1971	*Parnelli Jones, Bill Stroppe	Ford Bronco	14:59	Malcolm Smith, Gunnar Nilsson	Husqvarna	16:51
1972	*Parnelli Jones, Bill Stroppe	Ford Bronco	16:47	Gunnar Nilsson, Rolf Tibblin	Husqvarna	19:19
1973	*Bobby Ferro, Johnny Johnson	Funco VW	16:50	Mitch Mayes, A.C. Bakken	Husqvarna	18:42:51
1974	No Race			No Race
1975	Malcolm Smith, Dr. Bud Feldkamp	Hi-Jumper VW	18:55:49	*Al Baker, Gene Cannady	Honda	18:22:55
1976	Ivan Stewart	Chenowth VW	12:17:28	*Larry Roeseler, Mitch Mayes	Husqvarna	11:30:47
1977	Malcolm Smith, Dr. Bud Feldkamp	Funco VW	15:10:42	*Brent Wallingsford, Scot Harden	Husqvarna	14:37:07
1978	*Mark Stahl	Chenowth VW	12:55:42	Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson	Husqvarna	14:37:07
1979	Walker Evans, Bruce Florio	Dodge Pickup	20:48:27	*Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson	Husqvarna	19:48:04
1980	Mark Stahl	Chenowth VW	13:33:55	*Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson	Yamaha	12:45:13
1981	Mark McMillin, Thomas Hoke	Chenowth VW	20:29:14	*Scot Harden, Brent Wallingsford	Husqvarna	17:14:05
1982	Mickey Thompson, Terry Smith	Raceco VW	19:40:23	*Al Baker, Jack Johnson	Honda	17:25:27
1983	Mark McMillin, Ralph Paxton	Chenowth VW	20:29:14	*Dan Smith, Dan Ashcraft	Husqvarna	14:48:10
1984	Mark McMillin, Ralph Paxton	Chenowth VW	16:27:09	*Chuck Miller, Randy Morales	Honda	14:34:34
1985	Steve Sourapas, Dave Richardson	Raceco VW	17:54:55	*Randy Morales, Derrick Paiement	Honda	17:44:42
1986	Mark McMillin, Ralph Paxton	Chenowth Porsche	18:26:28	*Bruce Ogilvie, Chuck Miller	Honda	18:05:52
1987	Bob Gordon, Malcolm Smith	Chenowth Porsche	13:15:04	*Dan Ashcraft, Bruce Ogilvie	Honda	12:02:14
1988	Mark McMillin	Chenowth Porsche	18:07:09	*Paul Krause, Larry Roeseler, Danny LaPorte	Kawasaki	17:53:16
1989	Robby Gordon	Ford Pickup	18:04:07	*Larry Roeseler, Danny LaPorte, Ted Hunnicutt Jr.	Kawasaki	17:53:16
1990	Bob Gordon, Robyn Gordon, Robby Gordon	Chenowth Chevy	12:30:45	*Larry Roeseler, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Danny LaPorte	Kawasaki	11:11:45
1991	Larry Ragland	Chevrolet Pickup	16:37:35	*Larry Roeseler, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Marty Smith	Kawasaki	13:35:25
1992	Paul Simon, Dave Simon	Ford Ranger	16:53:02	*Danny Hamel, Garth Sweetland, Paul Ostbo	Kawasaki	16:50:12
1993	*Ivan Stewart	Toyota SR5	13:29:11	Danny Hamel, Larry Roeseler, Ty Davis	Kawasaki	13:57:23
1994	Dave Ashley, Dan Smith	Ford F-150	10:43:43	*Danny Hamel, Larry Roeseler, Ty Davis	Kawasaki	10:20:47
1994	Jim Smith	Ford TT	10:28:56
1995	Dale White	Chevy Truck	21:57:03	*Paul Krause, Ty Davis, Ted Hunnicutt Jr.	Kawasaki	19:31:19
1995	Larry Ragland	Chevrolet TT	20:14:12
1996	Ryan Thomas	Chenowth	15:53:56	*Paul Krause, Ty Davis, Greg Zitterkopf	Kawasaki	14:11:02
1996	Larry Ragland	Chevrolet TT	14:38:59
1997	Doug Fortin	Chenowth	14:31:02	*Johnny Campbell, Tim Staab, Greg Bringle	Honda	13:19:59
1997	Larry Ragland	Chevrolet TT	13:53:46
1998	Ivan Stewart	Toyota	19:08:20	*Johnny Campbell, Jimmy Lewis	Honda	18:58:48
1999	Larry Ragland	Chevy	14:26:36	*Johnny Campbell, Tim Staab	Honda	14:15:42
2000**	Dan Smith, Dave Ashley	Ford	32:15:39	*Johnny Campbell, Tim Staab, Craig Smith, Steve Hengeveld	Honda	30:54:12
2001	Doug Fortin, Charlie Townsley	Jimco Chevy	14:35:42	*Johnny Campbell, Tim Staab	Honda	13:51:40
2002	Dan Smith, DaveAshley	Ford	16:19:03	*Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell, Andy Grider	Honda	16:17:28
2003	Doug Fortin, Charlie Townsley	Jimco Chevy	16:24:02	*Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell	Honda	15:39:52
2004	Troy Herbst, Larry Roeseler	Smithbuilt-Ford	16:18:14	*Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell, Kendall Norman	Honda	15:57:37
2005	Larry Roeseler, Troy Herbst	Smithbuilt-Ford	15:06:19	*Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell, Mike Childress	Honda	14:20:30
2006	Andy McMillin, Robby Gordon		19:15:17	*Steve Hengeveld, Mike Childress, Quinn Cody	Honda	18:17:50
2007	Mark Post, Rob MacCachren, Carl Renezeder	Ford	25:21:25	*Robby Bell, Kendall Norman, Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell	Honda	24:15:50
2008	Roger Norman, Larry Roeseler	Ford	12:40:33	*Robby Bell, Kendall Norman, Johnny Campbell	Honda	12:29:10
2009	Andy McMillin, Scott McMillin	Chevy	14:19:50	*Kendall Norman, Timmy Weigand, Quinn Cody	Honda	13:27:50
2010	*Tavo Vildósola, Gus Vildósola	Ford TT	19:00:04	Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody	Honda	19:20:52

*Best overall time.

**Officially the race was called the Baja 2000 (1726 miles) for the year 2000.

Notable competitors

American actor Paul Newman was the oldest participant when he competed in the 2004 event at age 80.^[1]

• Steve Appleton, President/CEO Micron Technology
• Ron Bishop,^[1] Only motorcycle racer to compete in every Baja 1000
• Erik Carlsson
• Anna Jo Cody - First Female to complete the baja 1000 solo.
• Patrick Dempsey
• Walker Evans
• Elliot Forbes-Robinson^[1]
• James Garner^[1]
• Brendan Gaughan^[1]
• Rod Hall - Most class wins in history, competed in every race
• Beccy Gordon - sister of Robby
• Bob Gordon - father of Robby and Beccy and off road legend
• Robby Gordon^[1]
• Mike Groff^[1]
• Robbie Groff^[1]
• Roberto Guerrero^[1]
• Jimmie Johnson^[1]
• Rick Johnson^[1]
• Parnelli Jones^[1]
• Michel Jourdain, Jr.^[1]
• Danny LaPorte
• Hiro Matsushita
• Hershel McGriff^[1]
• Corky McMillin
• Steve McQueen^[1]
• Chad McQueen^[1]
• Rick Mears^[1]
• Roger Mears^[1]
• Rod Millen
• Larry Minor^[1]
• Michael Nesmith^[1]
• Paul Newman^[1]
• Gunnar Nilsson^[1]
• Ted Nugent^[1]
• Danny Ongais^[1]
• Travis Pastrana
• Don Prudhomme^[1]
• Larry Ragland - several trophy truck class wins
• J.N. Roberts
• Larry Roeseler^[1]
• Armin Schwarz
• Jim Smith
• Malcolm Smith^[1]
• Marty Smith
• Ivan Stewart
• Danny Sullivan^[1]
• Jūgatsu Toi^[1]
• Mickey Thompson^[1]
• Johnny Unser^[1]
• Jimmy Vasser^[1]

Current and past classes

Trophy truck vehicle Class 10 vehicle Stock Mini vehicle

Cars and Trucks

• SCORE Trophy Truck: Open Production Unlimited Trucks.
• SCORE Class 1: Unlimited open-wheel single- or two-seaters.
• SCORE Class 1/2-1600: open-wheel single- or two-seaters to 1600 cc.
• SCORE Class 2:
• SCORE Class 3: Short wheelbase 4X4.
• SCORE Class 4:
• SCORE Class 5: Unlimited Baja Bugs.
• SCORE Class 5-1600: 1600cc Baja Bugs.
• SCORE Class 6: V6 powered tube chassis trucks
• SCORE Class 7: Open mini trucks.
• SCORE Class 7S: Stock mini trucks. (3000cc)
• SCORE Class 7SX: Modified mini trucks. (4000cc)
• SCORE Class 8: Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks.
• SCORE Class 9: Short wheelbase, open-wheel single- or two-seaters.
• SCORE Class 10: Open-wheel single or two-seaters to 2000cc.
• SCORE Class 11: Stock VW Sedans.
• SCORE Lites Class 12: VW limited open-wheel single-(1776cc) or two-seaters(1835cc).
• SCORE Class 17: Jeepspeed
• SCORE Stock Full: Stock full-sized trucks.
• SCORE Stock Mini: Stock mini trucks. (4300cc)
• SCORE Baja Challenge: Limited, identical open-wheel Baja touring cars.
• SCORE Sportsman Buggy:
• SCORE Sportsman Truck:
• SCORE Sportsman UTV:
• ProTruck: Limited Production Trucks governed by the Baja ProTruck Off-Road Race Series

Motorcycles

• SCORE Class 20: 125 cc or smaller two-stroke and 250 cc or smaller four-stroke motorcycles.
• SCORE Class 21: 126 cc to 250 cc.
• SCORE Class 22: 250 cc or more.
• SCORE Class 30: Riders over 30 years old.
• SCORE Class 40: Riders over 40 years old.
• SCORE Class 50: Riders over 50 years old.
• SCORE Class 60: Riders over 65 years old.

ATVs

• SCORE Class 21: HONDA.
• SCORE Class 25: 251 cc or more.

See also

• SCORE International
• Dust to Glory, the documentary about the 2003 race
• Chasing the Horizon
• Baja 500 (Ensenada loop in June)
• San Felipe 250 (San Felipe, Baja California loop in February or March)
• Mini-Baja

References

• Fiolka, Marty (2005). 1000 Miles to Glory. Arizona: David Bull Publishing. ISBN 1-893618-36-6.
• Ekins, Dave. "A Ride Down the Peninsula". http://www.elchineroconcepts.com/A%20RIDE%20DOWN%20THE%20PENINSULA.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-24. 
• SCORE International (2006). "2006-2010 Off-Road Racing Rules and Regulations".
• SCORE International. "2009 New Classes & Existing Class Rule Amendments
• 2009 Baja 1000 Press Release

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af} "SCORE crown jewel since 1967 (October 6, 2005)". Desert Racing. http://www.desertracing.com/news/2005/1010_score_baja1000.html. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 

External links

• Official SCORE International website
• 1967 Baja 1000 ( Twenty Seven Hours To La Paz - Video )
• General description of 4-wheeled off-road classes.