Baja 1000

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Team 12L- 1st TT Legend at the 2017 Baja 1000 finish line Mike Coleman, Gus Vildosola, Scott Bailey and Rodrigo Ampudia Team 12L- 1st TT Legend at the 2017 Baja 1000 finish line.jpg
Team 12L- 1st TT Legend at the 2017 Baja 1000 finish line Mike Coleman, Gus Vildosola, Scott Bailey and Rodrigo Ampudia

The Baja 1000 is an annual Mexican off-road motorsport race held on the Baja California Peninsula. It is one of the most prestigious off-road races in the world, having attracted competitors from six continents. [1] [2] [3] [4] The race was founded by Ed Pearlman in 1967 and is sanctioned by SCORE International. [5] [6] The race is the final round of a four-race annual series, which also includes the San Felipe 250, the Baja 400 and the Baja 500. The 2017 Baja 1000 marked the 50th anniversary of the race. [7]

Contents

The Baja 1000 has various types of classes, including Trophy trucks, Dirtbikes, Truggys, Side-by-sides, Baja Bugs and Buggies, [6] all competing at the same time on the same course. The course has remained relatively the same over the years, with about every other event 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. A "Loop" can be 600 to 850 miles starting and finishing in Ensenada or "Point to Point", also known as the 900.

Race history

1962: The first timed run

When Jack McCormack and Walt Fulton of Honda's American subsidiary decided to hold a long-distance run to prove the reliability of the new Honda CL72 Scrambler motorcycle, they approached well-known off-road motorcycle racer and local Triumph and Honda dealer Bud Ekins for suggestions. [8] [9] [10] Ekins 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 crossings, and mountain passes, with few paved roads. Ekins declined to undertake the run because of his professional association with Triumph but suggested that his brother Dave Ekins and the son of another Southern California Honda distributor, Billy Robertson Jr., could accomplish the trip for American Honda. [8]

After performing an aerial pre-run over the peninsula in Fulton's Cessna 180, Ekins and Robertson 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). [8] [9] [10] [11] 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 wheels

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 10:00 pm on April 19, 1967. With a 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 five 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 that ended in an official four wheel 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 9:00 am to successfully break the record set by Meyers with an overall time of 31 hours.

1967: The Mexican 1000

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. In response to Meyers' record setting run, Ed Pearlman convinced Dick Cepek, Claude Dozier, Ed Orr, Drino Miller and journalist John Lawlor to make the run to La Paz. In June 1967, Pearlman and group left Tijuana and immediately ran into mechanical troubles. This trip inspired Pearlman to organize an off-road race down the Baja peninsula by creating the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA). [8] After Pete Condos and Pearlman 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 the peninsula.

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, 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 NORRA and grew in popularity, with ABC's "Wide World of Sports" sending Jim McKay to cover the 1968 event. It attracted new participants like the late Mickey Thompson, Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, movie actor James Garner, and Mary McGee, the first woman to compete in the event. 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.

1973 oil crisis and SCORE

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. With fear that competitors would abandon the idea of competing and stay home, NORRA cancelled the 1974 Baja race–despite assurances from the Federal government run Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) that fuel prices would remain stable–and announced they would instead hold an event in the state of Arizona.

It was at that time in history that 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 as in 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 SCORE International 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 (a year where motorsport was curtailed in the United States because of the oil crisis). 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.

The 1979 race was notable for Walker Evans’ overall win in a Dodge truck, the first truck to win the overall title of the race. [6] In 2012, the racing organization was purchased by Roger Norman and continues to run under his presidency.

RPM Trophy Truck at the 2015 Baja 1000 qualifying RPM Trophy Truck qualifying.jpg
RPM Trophy Truck at the 2015 Baja 1000 qualifying

Vehicles

The Baja 1000 is open to entrants competing in several classes, ranging from dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides, buggies, truggy and custom fabricated race vehicles. Race teams range from factory-supported groups that build custom fabricated vehicles and provide chase vehicles via helicopter to much smaller and less glamorous sportsman teams competing in all-stock vehicles with no chase vehicle support. Stock Volkswagen Type One Beetles 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 tend to dominate 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

Qualifying

The starting order is generally determined by a random draw, except when preferential starts are given to those who finished in top positions in the previous race/season, or when qualifying is held. For Trophy Trucks & Class 1 vehicles, qualifying for the Baja 1000 is now held during SEMA at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Overall winners

YearRouteFour-WheelersMotos & Quads
DriversVehicleTimeRidersVehicleTime
1967 Tijuana-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Vic Wilson
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Mangels
Meyers Manx VW 27:38 Flag of the United States.svg J.N. Roberts
Flag of the United States.svg Malcolm Smith
Husqvarna 360 Cross28:48
1968 Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Larry Minor
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Bayer
Ford Bronco 21:11:32 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Berquist
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Preston
Honda 305cc CL77 Scrambler20:38:28
1969Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Larry Minor
Flag of the United States.svg Rod Hall
Ford Bronco20:48:10 Flag of Sweden.svg Gunnar Nilsson
Flag of the United States.svg J.N. Roberts
Husqvarna 500 TWIN21:35:52
1970Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Drino Miller
Flag of the United States.svg Vic Wilson Miller
VW 16:07 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Patrick
Flag of the United States.svg Phil Bowers
Yamaha RT1 36018:31
1971Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Parnelli Jones
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Stroppe
Ford Bronco14:59 Flag of the United States.svg Malcolm Smith
Flag of Sweden.svg Gunnar Nilsson
Husqvarna 400 Cross16:51
1972 Mexicali-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Parnelli Jones
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Stroppe
Ford Bronco16:47 Flag of Sweden.svg Gunnar Nilsson
Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin
Husqvarna19:19
1973Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Ferro
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Johnson
Funco VW16:50 Flag of the United States.svg Mitch Mayes
Flag of the United States.svg A.C. Bakken
Husqvarna18:42:51
1974No Race
1975Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Malcolm Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Dr. Bud Feldkamp
Hi-Jumper VW18:55:49 Flag of the United States.svg Al Baker
Flag of the United States.svg Gene Cannady
Honda XL35018:22:55
1976Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Ivan Stewart Chenowth VW12:17:28 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Mitch Mayes
Husqvarna11:30:47
1977Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Malcolm Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Dr. Bud Feldkamp
Funco VW15:10:42 Flag of the United States.svg Brent Wallingsford
Flag of the United States.svg Scot Harden
Husqvarna14:37:07
1978Mexicali-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark Stahl Chenowth VW12:55:42 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Johnson
Husqvarna14:37:07
1979Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Walker Evans
Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Florio
Dodge Pickup20:48:27 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Johnson
Husqvarna 39019:48:04
1980Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark StahlChenowth VW13:33:55 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Johnson
Yamaha YZ49012:45:13
1981Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Thomas Hoke
Chenowth VW20:29:14 Flag of the United States.svg Scot Harden
Flag of the United States.svg Brent Wallingsford
Husqvarna 43017:14:05
1982Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Mickey Thompson
Flag of the United States.svg Terry Smith
Raceco VW19:40:23 Flag of the United States.svg Al Baker
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Johnson
Honda XR500R17:25:27
1983Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Ralph Paxton
Chenowth VW20:29:14 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Dan Ashcraft
Husqvarna 500XC14:48:10
1984Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Ralph Paxton
Chenowth VW16:27:09 Flag of the United States.svg Chuck Miller
Flag of the United States.svg Randy Morales
Honda XR500R14:34:34
1985Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Steve Sourapas
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Richardson
Raceco VW17:54:55 Flag of the United States.svg Randy Morales
Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Paiement
Honda CR50017:44:42
1986Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Mark McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Ralph Paxton
Chenowth Porsche 18:26:28 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Ogilvie
Flag of the United States.svg Chuck Miller
Honda XR600R18:05:52
1987Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gordon
Flag of the United States.svg Malcolm Smith
Chenowth Porsche13:15:04 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Ashcraft
Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Ogilvie
Honda XR600R12:02:14
1988Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Mark McMillinChenowth Porsche18:07:09 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Krause
Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Danny LaPorte
Kawasaki KX50017:53:16
1989Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon Ford Pickup18:04:07 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Danny LaPorte
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
Kawasaki KX50017:53:16
1990Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gordon
Flag of the United States.svg Robyn Gordon
Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon
Chenowth Chevrolet 12:30:45 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
Flag of the United States.svg Danny LaPorte
Kawasaki KX50011:11:45
1991Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ragland Chevrolet Pickup16:37:35 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Smith
Kawasaki KX50013:35:25
1992Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Paul Simon
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Simon
Ford Ranger 16:53:02 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Hamel
Flag of the United States.svg Garth Sweetland
Flag of the United States.svg Paul Ostbo
Kawasaki KX50016:50:12
1993Mexicali-Mexicali Flag of the United States.svg Ivan Stewart Toyota SR5 13:29:11 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Hamel
Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Ty Davis
Kawasaki KX50013:57:23
1994Mexicali-Mexicali Flag of the United States.svg Jim SmithFord TT 10:28:56 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Hamel
Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Ty Davis
Kawasaki KX50010:20:47
1995 Tijuana-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ragland Chevrolet TT20:14:12 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Krause
Flag of the United States.svg Ty Davis
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
Kawasaki KX50019:31:19
1996Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ragland Chevrolet TT14:38:59 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Krause
Flag of the United States.svg Ty Davis
Flag of the United States.svg Greg Zitterkopf
Kawasaki KX50014:11:02
1997Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ragland Chevrolet TT13:53:46 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Staab
Flag of the United States.svg Greg Bringle
Honda XR600R13:19:59
1998 Santo Tomás-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Ivan Stewart Toyota 19:08:20 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Lewis
Honda XR600R18:58:48
1999Ojos Negros-Ojos Negros Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ragland Chevrolet14:26:36 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Staab
Honda XR650R14:15:42
2000**Ensenada-Cabo San Lucas Flag of the United States.svg Dan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Ashley
Ford32:15:39 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Staab
Flag of the United States.svg Craig Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Honda XR650R30:54:12
2001Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Doug Fortin
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Townsley
Jimco Chevrolet14:35:42 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Staab
Honda XR650R13:51:40
2002Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Dan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Ashley
Ford16:19:03 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Andy Grider
Honda XR650R16:17:28
2003Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Doug Fortin
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Townsley
Jimco Chevrolet16:24:02 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Honda XR650R15:39:52
2004Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Troy Herbst
Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Smithbuilt-Ford16:18:14 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Honda XR650R15:57:37
2005Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Flag of the United States.svg Troy Herbst
Smithbuilt-Ford15:06:19 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Flag of the United States.svg Mike Childress
Honda XR650R14:20:30
2006Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon
Chevrolet19:15:17 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Mike Childress
Flag of the United States.svg Quinn Cody
Honda CRF450X18:17:50
2007Ensenada-Cabo San Lucas Flag of the United States.svg Mark Post
Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren
Flag of the United States.svg Carl Renezeder
Ford25:21:25 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Bell
Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Honda CRF450X24:15:50
2008Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Roger Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler
Ford12:40:33 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Bell
Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Campbell
Honda CRF450X12:29:10
2009Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Scott McMillin
Chevrolet14:19:50 Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Timmy Weigand
Flag of the United States.svg Quinn Cody
Honda CRF450X13:27:50
2010Ensenada-La Paz Flag of Mexico.svg Tavo Vildosola
Flag of Mexico.svg Gus Vildosola
Ford F-150 TT19:00:04 Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Quinn Cody
Honda CRF450X19:20:52
2011Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Scott McMillin
Ford Raptor TT14:51:36 Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Flag of the United States.svg Quinn Cody
Flag of the United States.svg Logan Holladay
Honda CRF450X14:14:25
2012Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg BJ BaldwinChevrolet TT20:00:59 Flag of the United States.svg Colton Udall
Flag of the United States.svg Timmy Weigand
Flag of the United States.svg David Kamo
Honda CRF450X20:09:30
2013Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg BJ BaldwinChevrolet TT18:36:10 Flag of the United States.svg Colton Udall
Flag of the United States.svg Timmy Weigand
Flag of the United States.svg David Kamo
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Honda CRF450X18:29:14
2014Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren
Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Flag of the United States.svg Jason Voss
Ford TT22:31:27 Flag of the United States.svg Ricky Brabec
Flag of the United States.svg Robby Bell
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Hengeveld
Flag of the United States.svg Max Eddy Jr.
Kawasaki KX450F24:24:01
2015Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren
Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Ford TT15:38:33 Flag of the United States.svg Colton Udall
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of the United States.svg Justin Jones
Honda CRF450X16:29:08
2016Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren
Flag of the United States.svg Jason Voss
Ford TT17:12:58 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Jones
Flag of the United States.svg David Kamo
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Daymon Stokie
Flag of the United States.svg Colton Udall
Honda CRF450X18:16:42
2017Ensenada-La Paz Flag of Mexico.svg Juan C. Lopez
Flag of Mexico.svg Apdaly Lopez
Ford TT19:53:36 Flag of Guatemala.svg Francisco Arredondo
Flag of the United States.svg Shane Esposito
Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg Max Eddy Jr.
Flag of the United States.svg Ty Davis
Honda CRF450X21:07:16
2018Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Steele

Flag of the United States.svg Pat Dean

Ford TT16:24:02 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of the United States.svg Justin Jones
Honda CRF450X16:23:26
2019Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of Mexico.svg Alan Ampudia

Flag of Mexico.svg Aaron Ampudia

Ford TT16:10:35 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg David Kamo
Flag of the United States.svg Max Eddy Jr
Flag of the United States.svg Shane Esposito
Honda CRF450X17:34:28
2020Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Luke McMillin

Flag of the United States.svg Larry Roeseler

Ford TT19:10:25 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of the United States.svg Justin Jones
Honda CRF450X20:50:30
2021Ensenada-La Paz Flag of the United States.svg Luke McMillin

Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren

Chevrolet TT20:45:59 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of Mexico.svg Brandon Prieto
Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Honda CRF450X23:07:18
2022Ensenada-Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Luke McMillin

Flag of the United States.svg Rob MacCachren

Chevrolet TT16:37:45 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Morgan
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Samuels
Flag of the United States.svg Kendall Norman
Honda CRF450X18:51:30
2023La Paz–Ensenada Flag of the United States.svg Bryce Menzies
Flag of the United States.svg Andy McMillin
Flag of Mexico.svg Tavo Vildósola
Ford TT22:35:33 Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg Juan Carlos Salvatierra
Flag of the United States.svg Carter Klein
Flag of Argentina.svg Diego Llanos
Flag of the United States.svg Shane Logan
Flag of the United States.svg Corbin McPherson
KTM 450SX-F26:33:41

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

Notable competitors

Most overall car wins

Most overall motorcycle wins

Other notable drivers

Current and past classes

Four-Wheelers

Motorcycles

  • SCORE Class 20 : 125cc or smaller two-stroke and 250cc or smaller four-stroke motorcycles.
  • SCORE Class 21 : 126cc to 250cc.
  • SCORE Class 22 : 250cc 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.
  • SCORE Sportsman MC > 250cc: Sportsman riders 250cc (2-stroke) or 450cc (4-stroke) or greater.
  • SCORE Sportsman MC < 250cc: Sportsman riders 250cc (2-stroke) or 450cc (4-stroke) or less.

ATVs

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Johnson</span> American motorcycle racer

Richard Bernard "Ricky" Johnson Jr. is an American former professional motocross, off-road truck and stock car racer. He competed in AMA motocross and Supercross during the 1980s and, won seven AMA national championships. He later switched to off-road racing. He won the Pro 2WD Trophy Truck championship in the 1998 Championship Off-Road Racing and 2010 TORC Series. He also won the Pro 4WD class at the 2011 and 2012 TORC Series. In September 2012, Johnson won the 4x4 world championship race at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway and later that day won the AMSOIL Cup pitting the two and four wheel drive trucks. Johnson won the 2014 Frozen Rush, the first short-course off-road race on snow.

Richard Cepek was an American off-road motorsports hall of fame member. He is known for starting a 4x4 offroad tire and parts supplier in 1963. Dick Cepek Tires was one of the first off-road enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Hall (racer)</span> American racing driver (died 2019)

Rod Hall was an American professional off-road racer. He was inducted in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. He has spent his entire adult life around four-wheel-drive vehicles. He competed in fifty straight Baja 1000 races and had class wins in 25 of them. At his death, he had the most desert off-road race wins.

David Lawrence Ekins is an American off-road motorcycle racer who pioneered the sport of desert racing in the 1950s. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob MacCachren</span> American racing driver

Rob MacCachren is an American off-road racer from Las Vegas, Nevada. MacCachren won over 200 off-road races including six editions of the Baja 1000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series</span>

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, also known as LOORRS, was a short course off-road racing series in the United States and also in Mexico beginning in 2015. The series featured events in Arizona, California, Nevada, Missouri and hosted a weekend of racing in Ensenada, Mexico at Baja International Short Course near Estero Beach. The title sponsor for the series was Lucas Oil Products, whom also owned, sanctioned, and operated the series. It effectively replaced the CORR series starting in 2009.

The Baja 500 is a Mexican off-road motorsport race on the Baja California Peninsula that is sanctioned by SCORE International. The course has remained relatively the same over the years with the majority of events being a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada. Race course mileage varies and is usually slightly under 500 miles.

The SCORE San Felipe 250 is a 250-mile Mexican off-road motorsport race that takes place near San Felipe on the Baja California Peninsula. It was first held in 1982 and is sanctioned by SCORE International.

Terrible's SCORE Primm 300 is an off-road race that takes place yearly in Primm, Nevada in September. The Primm 300 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. The event includes various types of vehicle classes such as stock VW, production vehicles, buggies, trucks, and custom fabricated race vehicles. The race consists of 4 loops on a 69 mile course on the east side of Interstate 15 near the Nevada-California state line. The main pits and start/finish area are just north of Buffalo Bills Resort. Due to environmental concerns chasing is not allowed, pits are permitted only in designated locations, spectator access is limited but available.

Vildosola Racing is the professional SCORE Trophy Truck #21 off-road racing team based in San Diego, California. It is owned and operated by Gus and Tavo Vildósola. The team races in numerous off-road circuits, including SCORE/Tecate Baja series and Best In The Desert (BITD).

Gustavo Vildósola Perez Tejada, better known as Tavo Vildósola, is a Mexican off-road racer and entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Off-road racing</span> Format of racing

Off-road racing is a form of motorsports consisting of specially-modified vehicles including cars, SUVs, trucks, motorbikes, quadbikes and buggies racing in off-road environments.

The National Off-Road Racing Association is a desert off-road racing association.

Ed Pearlman is a co-founder of the National Off-Road Racing Association (1966), the first exclusively off-road racing organization, and its first president. The inaugurating event of NORRA was "Mexican 1000 Rally", which has become the Baja 1000. In 1978, he established the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

References

Notes

  1. "Can-Am Wins the Prestigious Baja 1000 Race in Mexico". can-am.brp.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. "Baja 1000 defends their title of Best Motorsports Race". 10best.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  3. "Baja 1000 Interesting Facts". redbull.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  4. "5 Reasons Why the Baja 1000 Is the World's Craziest Offroad Race". mensjournal.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  5. "SCORE OFF-ROAD RACING – SCORE-International.com". score-international.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "SCORE crown jewel since 1967 (October 6, 2005)". Desert Racing. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  7. SCORE. "2017 Schedule". Score-International. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "A Ride Down The Peninsula". budanddaveekins.com. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Honda's First Four Years in America: and you thought it was easy". motohistory.net. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "American Honda Motor Company and Honda Motor Company". budanddaveekins.com. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  11. "Honda's First Four Years in America". motohistory.net. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  12. Geddes, Ryan (November 5, 2008). "Score International Baja 1000 Review (Wii)". IGN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  13. "Rob MacCachren". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  14. "Mark McMillin". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  15. "Larry Ragland". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  16. 1 2 "Larry Roeseler". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  17. "David Ashley". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  18. "Robby Gordon". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  19. "Malcolm Smith". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  20. "Ivan Stewart". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  21. "Johnny Campbell". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  22. "Steve Hengeveldref". Hot Shoe Hall Of Fame.
  23. "Justin Morgan". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  24. Burns, Josh. "Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody Earn 2010 SCORE Baja 1000 Motorcycle Victory." Off-Road.Com. http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/race/kendall-norman-quinn-cody-earn-2010-score-baja-1000-motorcycle-victory-52939.html November 18, 2010 Retrieved 1:35 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2014 (PDT).
  25. "Jack Johnson". Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
  26. Alan Ampudia and Toyo Tires Win the 52nd SCORE Baja 1000 Overall
  27. "StackPath". www.toyotires.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  28. "Baja 1000 preview: Can Ken Block win?". November 17, 2021.
  29. Kelioh, Graham (April 16, 2019). "Jenson Button takes on The Mint 400". Motor Sport. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
    Chokhani, Darshan (November 25, 2019). "Button spent nearly 17 hours stranded in unique Baja1000 Experience". FormulaRapida.net. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  30. Justin Davis and the Green Army Team Win Back-to-Back in SCORE, Class 1 Unlimited
  31. Bryce Menzies, Andy McMillin renew partnership for Baja 1000
  32. Cody Parkhouse
  33. Jeff Proctor
  34. Cameron Steele

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