BajaNomad

Baja 1000 "Great Facts"

LaTijereta - 11-2-2004 at 06:54 PM

Checkout who is "Grand Marshal":tumble:

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123

November 2, 2004

F A C T S H E E T
2004 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

WHAT: 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race
Final event of the five-race 2004 SCORE Desert Series

WHEN: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, November 16-20, 2004

WHERE: Ensenada-Baja California, Mexico (65 miles south of U.S./Mexico Border) to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

WHO: Nearly 300 entries from 30 U.S. States, and 10 countries, competing in 26 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs

COURSE: TOTAL MILEAGE: 1,016.3 miles (14 checkpoints). Starts in downtown Ensenada adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, finishing on the outskirts of La Paz adjacent to the tourism office. Starting on the pacific Ocean side of the Baja California peninsula, the course immediately heads southeast to San Felipe (rm 179.83) through Ojos Negros and Alamo where it turns south along the azure Sea of Cortez. Passing through Puertocitos, San Luis Gonzaga, and Bahia de Los Angeles (rm 376.3) before heading about 20 miles further south and then turning southwest through El Arco/San Francisquito junction (rm 445.68) and winding a bit back east to San Ignacio (rm 550.5, KM 73 on Highway 1). The course then heads sharply southwest back to the Pacific Ocean at El Datil (rm 618.31) and down to San Juanico (rm 658.8) before a backwards ?C? loop down past Loreto at San Javier (rm 740.98) to across Hwy 1 just north of Ciudad Insurgentes (rm 794.5). The course then runs south along the Pacific Ocean past Ciudad Constitucion and Santa Rita (rm 901.2) before finally turning slightly northeast (rm 972.34) for the final run to the finish line in La Paz. The 13 checkpoints will be located at the following race miles on the course?Ck. 1-50.04 (North of Tres Hermanos), Ck. 2-83.32 (Santa Catarina), Ck. 3-136.92 (Diablo Dry Lake), Ck. 4-214.59 (South of San Felipe, Hwy 5, K52.5), Ck. 5-298.95 (Coco?s Corner), Ck. 6-376.3 (Bahia de Los Angeles), Ck. 7-551.75 (San Ignacio), Ck. 8-618.31 (El Datil Fish Camp), Ck. 9-745.45 (San Javier), Ck. 10-820.69 (Ciudad Insurgentes), Ck. 11-927.83 (Rancho Santa Fe), Ck. 12-976.80 (Abandoned Rancho), Ck 13-1000 (Top of Mini Summit) and finish line-1016.3 (La Paz).

PRE/POST RACE SHEDULE:
TUESDAY, Nov. 16--(All times PST)
Racer Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Media Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 17--(All Times PST)
Racer Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Media Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Contingency Row, across from San Nicolas Hotel, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Technical Inspection, End of Contingency Row, 10 a.m. - 6p.m.
Mandatory Racer Meeting, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 7p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 20--(all times PST)
Posting of Unofficial Results?Race in Progress, Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Posting of FINAL UNOFFICIAL Results?Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, 10 a.m.
Competition Review Board?Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, 11 a.m.
Awards Celebration-Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz-1 p.m.
START: In front of the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in downtown Ensenada
FINISH: Adjacent of the tourism office, outskirts of La Paz
RACE DAYS SCHEDULE THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY, Nov. 18-20--(all times PST)
Late Registration & Tech, Rivieria del Pacifico Convention Center, 6 a.m.
RACE STARTS: (Thursday, Nov. 18) Motorcycles, ATVs-6:30 a.m.; Cars, Trucks-9:30 a.m. (Approx.)
STARTING ORDER: (One vehicle every 30 seconds; 60-second interval for TT, 1, 10, 8, PT, SL, 1-2/1600)
Motorcycles/ATVs--22, 30, 40, 21, 50, Sportsman M/C>, Sportsman M/C<, 25, 24, Sportsman ATV
Cars/Trucks--TT, 1, 10, 8, PT, SL, 1-2/1600, 5, 7, BC, 7S, 7SX, 5/1600, SF, SM, 9, 3, 17, 11, Sportsman Car, Sportsman Truck, Sportsman Legend
TIME LIMIT: All vehicles will have a 40-hour time limit from the time they start.

SANCTION:
Sanctioned and produced by SCORE International-Los Angeles
CEO/President--Sal Fish; Vice-President?Paul Fish; Oscar Ramos?Attorney; Administration--Sue Johnson 818.225.8402

SPONSORS: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire of SCORE; Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle of SCORE; Centrix Financial, CL Bryant-VP Racing Fuel-official fuel of SCORE; Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Herbst Gaming, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein; Signpros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie?s, Fideicomiso Publio para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada, Cotuco and Advanced Color Graphics.

TELEVISION:
The race will be televised as a one-hour NBC Sports special in December on the NBC Television Network. The show is produced by Aura360. The telecast will air on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Anchor for NBC will be emmy-award winner sportscaster Al Trautwig. A special pre-run preview segment, including NASCAR?s Robby Gordon, will air during the Jeep World of Adventure Sports on Saturday, Dec. 4. CNBC?s ?Bullseye?, with host Dylan Ratigan, will also produce segments to air Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Additionally, The Learning Channel?s Rides weekly program (Tuesday?s at 10 p.m. EST/PST), produced by Brentwood Communications, will be developing a Terrible Herbst Motorsports show called ?Terrible Baja? to air in 2005.

TERRIBLE?S BAJA BONUS PURSE:
Through the sponsorship provided by Herbst Gaming of Las Vegas, this year?s race includes the added $40,000 Terrible?s Bonus Purse. The overall 4-wheel winner will receive $20,000, the first overall motorcycle will earn an additional $2,000 and the first overall ATV will earn an additional $1,000. The winner in all other classes with at least 10 starters will also pick up a $1,000 Terrible?s Bonus.

TOP DRIVERS & RIDERS:
SCORE Trophy-Truck: 1 Ed/Tim Herbst, 4 Gus Vildosola/Rob MacCachren, 8 Dan Smith/David Ashley, 3 Mark Post/Curt LeDuc, 12 Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, 81 Mark Miller/Ryan Arciero, 4 Robby Gordon/Steve Barlow, 28 Alan Pflueger, 66 Jason Baldwin, 16 Cameron Steele/Ed Stout, 2 Pete Sohren/Cameron Steele, 9 Darren Skilton, 45 Ted Hunnicutt/Jeff Lewis/Cory Susag, 7 Jesse Jones/ Scott Steinberger; Class 1: 111 John Marking/Chris Harrold, 124 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, 109 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, 100 Dale Ebberts/Ernie Castro Jr., 114 Chuck Hovey, 117 Gary/Mark Weyhrich, 110 Mark McMillin/Brian Ewalt, 112 Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, 101 Bobby Baldwin, 121 Corky McMillin/Brian Ewalt, 107 Mike Groff/Jimmy Vasser; Class 1-2/1600: 1649 Brian Jeffrey/Adam Pfankuch, 1604 Rob MacCachren/Bruce Fraley, 1615 Cameron Steele; Class 3: 300 Donald Moss; Class 5: 500 George Seeley; Class 5/1600: 550 Marcos Nunez, 553 Dave Collier; Class 7: 700 Craig Turner, 706 Hector Salazar, 705 Dan Chamlee; CLASS 8: 807 Nick Vanderwey, 800 Dave Sykes/Dave Westhem, 801 Tom Bradley, 806 Curt LeDuc; Class 10: 1000 Martin Christensen, 1005 Steve Myers, 1009 Mark Hutchins, 1002 John Cooley; SCORE Lite: 1205 Tom Watson, 1210 Blaise Jackson, 1213 Mark Kyle; Stock Full: 860 John Griffin, 863 Rod Hall/Josh Hall, 878 Mark Handley; Protruck: 227 Matt Scaroni, 226 Al Hogan; Baja Challenge: BC9 Robert Sutton/Rod Millen/Jeff Zwart/Paul Newman, BC 2 David Sutton/Ryan Thomas, BC 4 Michel Jourdain Jr./Michel Jourdain Sr., BC 5 Danny Sullivan/Scott Goodyear/Sebastien Bourdais/Paul Page, BC8 Kate Sutton/Vitor Meira/Rhys Millen; Class 22: 1x Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell; Class 30: 300x Jim Ferguson Class 40: 400x Jim O?Neal/Tim Withers/Jeff Kaplan, Class 50: 500x Richard Jackson/Bob Wadlow/Mark Force, 548x Chris Haines/Jack Johnson/Malcolm Smith; Class 21: 100x Joe Desrosiers; Class 25: 1a John Gregory, 10a Ruben Martin.

HISTORY OF START/FINISH:
In the 37-year history of the SCORE Baja 1000, this will be the 30th time the race has started in Ensenada and the 16th time it has finished in La Paz. It has also started three times in Mexicali (1972, 1993, 1994), twice in Tijuana (1967, 1995) and once each in Santo Tomas (1998) and Ojos Negro (1999). It has finished in Mexicali twice (1993, 1994), once each in Ojos Negro (1999) and Cabo San Lucas (2000). The last time this race ended in La Paz was 2002.

TIRE STREAK:
BFGoodrich Tires, long a staple in desert racing, has been the tire of choice for 18 consecutive overall 4-wheel vehicle winners.

ENGINE WINNERS:
in 4-wheel vehicle competition, VW motors have produced 12 overall winners, followed by Ford and Chevy (tied with 9), Porsche with 3, Toyota with 2, and Dodge with 1.

CHASSIS WINNERS:
Among 4-wheel vehicles, Chenowth has produced the chassis for 10 overall winners, followed by Ford with 9, Chevy with 5, Toyota, Funco, Raceco and Jimco with 2 each and Miller, Hi-Jumper, Dodge, and Meyers Manx with 1 each.

MOTORCYCLE WINNERS:
In motorcycle competition, Honda leads with 14 overall victories, followed by Husqvarna with 11, Kawasaki with 9 and Yamaha with 2.

SCORE GPS DATA LOGGERS:
Attempting to help increase safety, verify route and speed, SCORE is requiring the mandatory use SCORE GPS data loggers in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Class 1, Class 10 and Protruck. With equipment and monitoring services provided by RallyTrack.com, Lakewood, Calif., SCORE hopes to begin using these special ?black boxes? in all classes during the 2005 SCORE Desert Series schedule.

GRAND MARSHALL:
Parnelli Jones, the legendary Hall of Fame racer whose victories include the 1963 Indy 500 and the 1971 and 1972 SCORE Baja 1000, will be the Grand Marshall for this year?s race, following in the footsteps of Mario Andretti, who was the first honoree for this award last year. Jones is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

THEY JUST KEEP ON GOING, AND GOING...:
When veterans Rod Hall and Ron Bishop strap on their racing helmets and take the green flag, they will keep their incredible streaks alive of being the only two racers who have competed in all 37 SCORE Baja 1000 races. Hall, who will turn 67 on Nov. 22, will co-drive with his son Josh in Stock Full as well as Terry Henn in Stock Full, doubling his opportunity for another class win. Bishop, 61, is the only individual who has run all 37 races on a motorcycle. This year, Bishop will co-ride with a team led by veteran Gene Dempsey in Class 50 for riders over 50 years young. Hall is the all-time winningest racer in this event with 17 class wins and Bishop is a member of the AMA Hall of Fame.

TIGHT OVERALL POINTS:
SCORE points are determined both on final finishing position and number of vehicles which started the race within the individual class. After four events, the team of Brian Jeffrey/Adam Pfankuch has earned 301 points are the overall point leaders and lead Class 1-2/1600 as well in their Dunrite-VW. In what has developed into one of tightest overall point battles in SCORE history, just 38 points separate the top five heading into the season finale in Mexico, and they are all in Class 1-2/1600. In second in overall points is Las Vegas? Rob MacCachren (Fraley-VW?291), while third is Leonardo Navarette with 268 in a Jimco-VW. Fourth is Travis Fletcher with 264 in a Baja Shop-VW and fifth is Rick Boyer with 263 in a Lothringer-VW.

KARTEK BONUS:
The 2004 SCORE Overall Point Champion will also earn the $10,000 Kartek Off-Road bonus.

TOYOTA AWARDS:
The race will also determine the winners of this year?s $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Award winners. Presented to every racer who completes every required race mile this season, this is the 18th year of this Toyota Awards program with SCORE.

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCKS:
A SCORE record of nearly 30 SCORE Trophy-Trucks are expected to take the green flag. The marquee SCORE racing division featuring 750-horsepower unlimited production trucks includes cross-over drivers in addition to the talented field of regulars and a very close point?s race for the season championship. Nine of 10 previous season point champions are entered and 53 of 66 SCORE Trophy-Truck race winners are represented as well along with eight of the previous 10 SCORE Trophy-Truck winners in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Las Vegas brothers Ed and Tim Herbst are the winningest team in the history of the class with 11 race wins in the No. 1 Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150, while Dan Smith/David Ashley, Riverside, Calif., are second with nine wins in the No. 8 Enduro Racing Ford F-150. Third is Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz., with seven. Ragland is racing this year with veteran Brian Collins of Las Vegas, who has one win in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

MAN OF TRIPLE-STEELE:
ESPN announcer Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., is a second-generation desert racer who is attempting to drive in three vehicles this year, two in SCORE Trophy-Truck and one in Class 1-2/1600. He is regular in Class 1-2/1600, where he is driver of record in the No. 1615 Prep by Jake-VW. In SCORE Trophy-Truck, Steele debuted his new No. 16 Board Ford Motorsports Ford F-150 in September?s SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, and has is now also teamed with Pete Sohren in the No. 2 Board Ford Motorsports Ford F-150. On the airwaves, Steele is an ESPN announcer for Supercross, X-Games, and the Indy Racing League. Obviously, Steele doesn?t sleep much.

CROSSOVERS:
As always, several crossover racers are entered this year, including NASCAR?s Robby Gordon (SCORE Trophy-Truck) along with Champ Car?s Jimmy Vasser with Indy Car veteran Mike Groff (Class 1) and SCCA sports car racing legend Elliott Forbes Robinson (Class 10). Legendary supercross/motocross rider Ricky Johnson will drive with Chad Ragland (SCORE Trophy-Truck). Scheduled to race in the special Centrix Financial Baja Challenge class (Baja touring cars) are Champ Car regulars Sebastien Bourdais, of France (current series point leader) and Michel Jourdain Jr., of Mexico, Indy Racing League regular Vitor Meira, of Brazil (2004 IRL Rising Star Award), 1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan, former Indy Car drivers Scott Goodyear and Roberto Guerrero, Pikes Peak Hill Climb record setters Rod Millen, Rhys Millen and Jeff Zwart. In Class 30 for motorcycle riders over 30, Jimmy Lewis, the editor of Dirt Rider magazine and the 1998 SCORE Baja 1000 overall motorcycle winner with Johnny Campbell, is leading a factory BMW team.

MOVIE TIME-?Dusty to Glory? Update
Filmed at last year?s race?From the creators of Step Into Liquid, Dust to Glory is an all out action-adventure documenting the most notorious and dangerous race in the world, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Rivaling the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, the race across Mexico?s Baja Peninsula is unpredictable, grueling and raw ? much like the uncharted American West of the 1800s. To capture the rich photographic quality of the desert and the intense action of the race, director Dana Brown?s D2G film team utilized 55 cameras, four helicopters, a four-passenger buggy camera car and a crew of over 80. A true event of sheer human determination, the feature-length documentary film is being distributed by IFC Films and is scheduled for its theatrical release in April of 2005.

CELEBRITY DRIVERS:
As noted above, racing in two vehicles in SCORE Trophy-Truck and one Class 1-2/1600 will be ESPN sportscaster Cameron Steele. Riding in the motorcycle Class 30 will be Jimmy Spencer, Editor of Dirt Rider, who also won the overall motorcycle title of this race in 1998 with Johnny Campbell. Driving in the special Centrix Financial Baja Challenge class (Baja touring cars) will be: Centrix CEO Robert Sutton and film legend an accomplished race-car driver and Champ Car team owner Paul Newman, 1996 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 overall 4-wheel vehicle winner and 4-time class winner Ryan Thomas, noted Hollywood stuntman Rich Minga, the 1987 SCORE Overall point champion who has one Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 class win, five seconds and eight thirds, and noted motorsports sportscaster Paul Page, former SCORE racer Brian Coats who has one career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win.

WINNINGEST TEAM:
How about 26 Class wins, including nine overall wins for the Class 50 motorcycle team (548x) of Chris Haines (10 class wins), Jack Johnson (9 class wins, 4 overalls) and Malcolm Smith (7 class wins, 5 overalls).

TWO-TIMERS:
This race always has a few ?bravehearts? who enter in two classes, hoping for double wins. The most notable one?s this year are: Rod Hall (two in Stock Full), Rob MacCachren (SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1-2/1600), Pete Sohren (two in SCORE Trophy-Truck), Curt LeDuc (SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 8) and Jim O?Neal (motorcycle?Class 40 and Class 50).

BAJA CHAMPS-OVERALL:
Entered in this year?s event are 20 racers who have combined for 65 overall wins in either the 4-wheel or motorycle divisions. The leaders are: Larry Roeseler, 10, (all on a motorcycle); Johnny Campbell has won seven straight (all on a motorcycle), Malcolm Smith have five overalls (two in m/c and three in 4-wheel) and with five overall wins each in the 4-wheel division are Mark McMillin and Larry Ragland.

BAJA CHAMPS-BY CLASS:
Entered in this year?s event are 111 racers who have combined for incredible 289 class wins. The leaders in multiple class wins entered this year are: Rod Hall with 17 (first overall), Larry Roeseler with 12 (third overall), Chris Haines with 10 (fourth overall), David Ashley and Jack Johnson with 9 each, Mark McMillin and Dan Smith with 8 each, Johnny Campbell, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Malcolm Smith and Eric Solorzano with 7 each.

SCORE Malcolm Smith IronRider:
Several motorcycle riders will attempt to run the race solo, with no co-riders. If they succeed, they will each receive one of the new SOCRE Malcolm Smith IronRider awards. So far, these are the riders who have confirmed they are riding solo: Class 22?5x Robert Barnum, 6x Bert Schramm; SPT Motorcycle 250cc>--264x Masanobu Kameda, 296x Jorge Lizarraga, 298x Louie Montano

FAMILY TIES:
Desert racing has always been about family teams and this year?s Tecate SCORE Baja1000 is a prime example of that fact. This year?s starting grid currently includes 81 brothers racing together and 16 racing separately. The race also has 39 fathers racing with their 48 sons and 12 fathers whose 16 sons are racing in separate vehicles.

TRES GENERATIONS:
One racing family, the McMillins, will have three generations in this year?s race. Corky McMillin and his sons Mark and Scott will drive three separate vehicles in the unlimited Class 1. Scott drives with his son Andy, who is driver of record.

BROTHERS TOGETHER:
Among the brothers racing together are: Ed and Tim Herbst (SCORE Trophy-Truck), Donald and Kenneth Moss (Class 3), Kelly and Spencer Beal (Class 3) and Nick and Michael Vanderwey (Class 8).

FATHER/SONS?TOGETHER:
Among the other father and sons racing together are Curt LeDuc and his sons Mark and Kyle in Class 8, Marty Coyne and his son Travis in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Mark Hutchins and his son C.J. in Class 10, Andy McMillin and his father Scott in Class 1 and Buddy Feldkamp and his father Bud in Class 1.

FATHER/SONS-SEPARATELY:
Besides the McMillins, other father-sons who will race in separate classes include Gus (SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK) and his son Gus Vildosola Jr. (Protruck), B.J. Baldwin (SCORE Trophy-Truck) and his father Bobby (Class 1), and Larry Ragland and his son Chad, both in SCORE Trophy-Truck.

elgatoloco - 11-2-2004 at 07:13 PM

Wow! Cool stuff! Can't wait to see it up close and personal!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!

More Facts

TMW - 11-3-2004 at 08:57 AM

November 2, 2004

281 total entries to date
Honda team of Hengeveld/Campbell have nine straight overall SCORE
Motorcycle victories heading into 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000


American Honda, BMW, KTM all to have a factory team in Mexico, Nov. 16-20;
10 trying for new SCORE Malcolm Smith IronRider Award.


LOS ANGELES?Motorcycles started the legend of desert racing in Mexico?s Baja California and their presence is still felt as the record-setting Honda factory team of Steve Hengeveld and Johnny Campbell will lead nearly 100 entries in the motorcycle and ATV portion of this month?s 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
The season finale of the five-race 2004 SCORE Desert Series--the world?s foremost desert racing series, the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will be held Nov. 16-20 as a rugged peninsula odyssey of 1,016.3 miles from Ensenada in Baja California to La Paz, in Baja California Sur.
To date, an impressive total of 281 vehicles have officially entered this year?s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. When registration is complete, nearly 300 vehicles competing in 26 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs are expected to compete in Mexico. Among the motorcycle and ATV classes, Class 22 (Open motorcycles) has 12 entries and Class 25 (Open ATVs) has 11.
The colorful history of motorcycles in the granddaddy of all desert races includes the vintage exploits of motorcycle legends Malcolm Smith, J.N. Roberts, Larry Roeseler, Jack Johnson, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Paul Krause and the late Danny Hamel. For 30 of the first 36 years, motorcycles have recorded the fastest overall times in the event. The last 4-wheel vehicle winner to beat the time of the motorcycles was Ivan Stewart, who did it in 1993 while winning the unlimited Class 1 in Toyota SR5 pickup truck.
For motorcycles, Honda has won 14 overalls, followed by Husqvarna with 11, Kawasaki 9, and Yamaha 2.
The amazing Smith, 63, Riverside, Calif., a five-time overall winner in the SCORE Baja 1000, including twice on a motorcycle (1967, 1971), has introduced with SCORE the new SCORE Malcolm Smith IronRider award for motorcycle and ATV riders who complete this year?s race riding the entire distance solo. Nearly a dozen riders are expected to make the grueling attempt, nearly all on a motorcycle.
Smith, who won his three overall 4-wheel vehicle titles in 1975 and 1977 with Bud Feldkamp and in 1987 with Bob Gordon (father of NASCAR regular Robby Gordon), was featured in the historic 1971 motorcycle documentary ?On Any Sunday?, in which he starred with the late Steve McQueen.
Smith will be back in the saddle after an absence of several years. He will be a part of a SCORE Baja 1000 ?Dream Team? this year, riding in Class 50 (motorcycle riders over 50 years old) with Chris Haines, 53, Dana Point, Calif., and Jack Johnson, 52, Las Vegas on a Honda XR650R. Between them, the ?Dream Team? has 26 Class wins, including nine overall wins. Haines has 10 class wins, Johnson has nine and four overalls and Smith has seven class wins, including five overalls. Smith still maintains a strong presence in Baja, supporting the people of Mexico through an orphanage in Valle de Trinidad that bears his name.
Since 1997, the motorcycle battle in the most storied desert race of all time has been all about Honda?s Johnny Campbell. Six of this year?s riders have combined for 13 overall motorcycle victories in this race.
Drawing the first start in the motorcycle and ATV classes this year was the legendary American Honda racing team of Hengeveld, 29. Oak Hills, Calif., and Johnny Campbell, 33, San Clemente, Calif. The pair has won an amazing nine consecutive SCORE races. Campbell also has seven consecutive overall motorcycle victories in this race, including three with Hengeveld (2000, 2002 and 2003).
Sharing seat time on the No. 1x Honda XR650R, Hengeveld also has one other motorcycle class win in this race. In 2002, Hengeveld/Campbell set an average speed record in this race for a motorcycle, averaging an
incredible 62.45mph, finishing a very similar course to this year in just over 16 hours. The third team member this year will be talented newcomer Kendall Norman, 19, of Santa Barbara, Calif. Each riding for approximately one-third of the grueling race, Campbell will start the race in Ensenada, followed by Norman will make his debut by riding the middle section, and Hengeveld will bring it the last 330-plus miles to the finish in La Paz.
?To say I?ve been blessed with some incredible good fortune in SCORE races in Baja, is a major understatement,? said Campbell, a devout Christian who has raced with Honda since 1992 and has been an American Honda employee since 1995. ?We have already pre-run this course once in its entirety, and will do it several more times before race day. Individual preparation, pit and chase crew support and the world?s best desert motorcycle are keys to victory, and while we do have our assigned sections to ride, anything can happen during a race like this one so we will memorize the entire route, not just our part. I guess you could say that my blood is Honda Red because I have never raced on another motorcycle than a Honda.?
With different objectives, joining Honda to attack the Baja will be factory teams from KTM and BMW.
Pre-race festivities will be held around the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in Ensenada and the San Nicolas Hotel, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 16-17. The race will start on Thursday, Nov. 18, in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center with motorcycles and ATVs getting the green flag at approximately 6:30 a.m., followed by the car and truck classes at approximately 10 a.m. Vehicles will start one every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race. The finish line will be on the outskirts of La Paz adjacent to the tourism office. While the fastest finishers will complete the rugged route in approximately 16 hours, each vehicle will have a 40-hour time limit to become official finishers in the historic event.
Two-time Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 overall motorcycle champion Scot Harden, Menifee, Calif., is spearheading the KTM effort, bringing the Red Bull KTM U.S. Dakar Rally Team to Baja to hopefully contend for the overall and Class 22 motorcycle victory. Joining Harden, 48, in Baja will be his KTM Dakar teammates Chris Blais, 23, Apple Valley, Calif., Kellon Walch, 21, Las Vegas, and Andy Grider, 31, Los Olivos, Calif.. Blais and Grider are experienced SCORE Baja racers and Walch was the young lion selected from the Red Bull KTM rider search program to complete the team.
The team will ride a specially prepared factory KTM 700cc LC4 motorcycle just for this race and KTM has also announced it was field a full factory team in the entire 2005 SCORE Desert Series.
?Last year we rode our 950cc twin KTM Dakar Rally bike in Baja as a training exercise with the goal of simply finishing the event,? said Harden, the KTM U.S. Dakar Rally team chief. ?This year, we have a very competitive motorcycle in the LC4, and are looking for much better results. We know we have our work cut out for us. Honda, for sure, is a formidable team, we have a lot of respect for the track record they have earned in Baja. We do think that having more major manufacturers entered will add a lot of interest to this year?s SCORE Baja 1000.?
Veteran rally racer Jimmy Lewis, Costa Mesa, Calif., who was the overall motorcycle winner in the 1998 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 riding with Johnny Campbell, is leading the special BMW factory effort which will feature a mammoth 1200cc engine on a BMW GS motorcycle. Lewis, who is the editor of Dirt Rider magazine when he isn?t racing or running riding schools, has put together a veteran team with significant Baja experience. The 1200cc engine will be the fastest motorcycle to ever race a SCORE race, with top-end speeds approaching 130 miles per hour.
Joining Lewis, 36, for the BMW effort will be Tim Morton, 37, Escondido, Calif., Jonah Street, 32, Ellensberg, Wash., and Dave Donattoni, 41, Thousand Oaks, Calif. The team will race in Class 30 for riders over 30 years old and the riding order is expected to be Street, Donattoni, Lewis and Morton.
?This motorcycle is incredible, kind of like going into a boxing match with a nuclear weapon,? said Lewis, who was part of the BMW Dakar Rally team in 1999, 2000 and 2001. ?Our team is a collaboration of our Dakar Rally team and this new GS1200 twin-cylinder motor that is clearly a prototype and while its weight will make it slower in the rough terrain, no one will be faster on the fast sections. We have received considerable assistance for this program from BMW-Germany as well as BMW-Mexico.?
The only person in race history who has competed on a motorcycle in this race all previous 36 years, Ron Bishop, 61, of Escondido, Calif., is entered this year with a veteran team led by Gene Dempsey in Class 50 (riders over 50) on a Honda XR650R. Bishop is a four-time class champion in this race.
Leading the ATVs into the Baja desert will be teams led by defending series champion John Gregory on a Honda TRX450R, Mexico?s Ruben Martin on a Bombardier DS650 Baja X and Earl Thigpen on a Honda Roll Design.
The classes with the most entries to date are SCORE Trophy-Truck (26), Class 1 (25), Class 1-2/1600 (24), SCORE Lite (15) and Protruck (14).
The post-race SCORE Survivor Award?s Celebration will be held Saturday afternoon in La Paz and is scheduled to be held at the Crowne Plaza Resort, adjacent to the official finish line of the race.
Pre-race festivities on Wednesday, Nov. 17, for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer?s Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. across from the San Nicolas Hotel. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider briefing will be held Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Riviera CC. Racer registration will be held at the Riviera CC from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
The popular event will feature the $40,000 Terrible?s Baja Bonus purse, which includes a $20,000 bonus to the first overall 4-wheel vehicle, provided by Herbst Gaming of Las Vegas. The first overall motorcycle will also receive $2,000 and the first overall ATV will earn an added $1,000 from the Terrible?s Baja Bonus.
The race will also culminate the chase for both the $10,000 Kartek Off-Road bonus and the $12,000 Toyota True-Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards. The Kartek Off-Road bonus goes to the 2004 SCORE Overall point champion. This is the 18th year of the Toyota awards.
Celebrating its 31st anniversary this year as the World?s Foremost Desert Racing Series, the SCORE Desert Series is returning to Mexico for the last of three races held annually in Baja California.
The race will be televised as a one-hour NBC Sports special in December on the NBC Television Network. The show, produced by Aura360 in association with NBC Sports, will air on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The NBC anchor for the show will be veteran Emmy-Award winning sportscaster Al Trautwig. A special pre-running preview segment with Terrible Herbst Motorsports and NASCAR?s Robby Gordon will air on the Jeep World of Adventure Sports, also produced by Aura360, on Saturday, Dec. 4.
CNBC?s ?Bullseye? show, with host Dylan Ratigan, will also produce special-angle segments scheduled to air Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 during the daily show at 3 p.m. (EST).
Additionally, The Learning Channel?s Rides weekly program (Tuesday?s at 10 p.m. EST/PST), will produce a Terrible Herbst Motorsports profile show to air early in 2005.
SCORE official sponsors for 2004 are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle and C.L. Bryant-VP Racing Fuels-official fuel supplier. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Herbst Gaming, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein, Signpros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie?s Performance Products, and Advanced Color Graphics.
Additional sponsors of this year?s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are: Cotuco, Fideicomiso Publico para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada and Centrix Financial of Denver.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2004 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com .

Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
SCORE Class 22 and All-Time Overall Motorcycle Winners
1967?J.N. Roberts/Malcolm Smith
1968?Gary Preston/Larry Berquist
1969?J.N. Roberts/Gunar Nilsson
1970?Phil Bowers/Mike Patrick
1971?Malcolm Smith/Gunnar Nilsson
1972?Gunnar Nilsson/Rolf Tibblin
1973?Mitch Mayes/A.C. Bakken
1974?No Race
1975?Al Baker/Gene Cannady
1976?Larry Roeseler/Mitch Mayes
1977?Brent Wallingsford/Scot Harden
1978?Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson
1979?Jack Johnson/Larry Roeseler
1980?Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson
1981?Scot Harden/Brent Wallingsford
1982?Al Baker/Jack Johnson
1983?Dan Ashcraft/Dan Smith
1984?Chuck Miller/Randy Morales
1985?Randy Morales/Derrick Paiement
1986?Chuck Miller/Bruce Ogilvie
1987?Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunicutt Jr.
1988?Paul Krause/Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte
1989?Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte/Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
1990?Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr./Danny LaPorte
1991?Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr./Marty Smith
1992?Danny Hamel/Garth Sweetland/Paul Ostbo
1993?Danny Hamel/Larry Roeseler/Ty Davis
1994?Danny Hamel/Larry Roeseler/Ty Davis
1995?Paul Krause/Ty Davis/Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
1996?Paul Krause/Ty Davis/Greg Zitterkopf
1997?Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab/Greg Brinkle
1998?Johnny Campbell/Jimmy Lewis
1999?Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab
2000?Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab/Craig Smith/Steve Hengeveld
2001?Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab
2002?Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell
2003?Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell
2004 SCORE Desert Series
Pro Motorcycle Point Leaders
(With Class, Rider of Record, hometown, vehicle, wins, points)
CLASS 22 (Over 250cc, 11 Total Racers, Wins)
1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., Honda XR650R (2), 129
2. Chuck Dempsey, Van Nuys, Calif., Honda XR650R, 113
CLASS 21 (Under 250cc, 7 Total Racers, Wins)
1. Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, Calif., Yamaha YZ250 (1), 121
2. Alfredo Contreras, Tijuana, Mexico, Yamaha YZ250 (1), 72
CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old, 15 Total Racers, Wins)
1. Gerardo Rojas, VicenteGuerrero,Mex., Honda XR650(2), 135
2. James Bartnick, Carlsbad, Calif., Honda XR650R, 112
2. Jim O?Neal, Chatsworth, Calif., Honda XR650R, 112
CLASS 40 (Riders over 40, 4 Total Racers, Wins)
1. Jim O?Neal, Chatsworth, Calif., Honda XR650R (2), 126
2. Jim Ferguson, San Francisco, Honda XR650R, 106
CLASS 50 (Riders over 50, 2 Total Racers, Wins)
1. David Flores, Reseda, Calif., Honda XR650R (1), 119
2. Richard Jackson, Acton, Calif., Honda XR650R (1), 70


Yeah Mateo!!!!

capt. mike - 11-3-2004 at 09:13 AM

we are gonna have one helluva time amigo!

I am going south sat to pick up 2 guys prerunning TTs now and need rides back to phx for work mon. I have a high case of baja "mil" fever.......:coolup:

elgatoloco - 11-3-2004 at 09:38 AM

:spingrin::tumble::biggrin::cool:


LarryK - 11-3-2004 at 09:54 AM

TW, Thanks a lot for the info. Every one of those winners has a story. I have some about the 1970 winners, but this is not the place to talk about them.
What our readers do not know is that all of those early wins were done without GPS, air cover etc; the lighting systems and suspension on those bikes were very limited.

Thanks a lot.

bajalou - 11-3-2004 at 09:56 AM

Great posts - thanks guys

:biggrin::biggrin:

Missing Fact

wornout - 11-19-2004 at 11:17 AM

The 2004 Baja 1000 marks the first time the vendors do NOT come to contingency. I went to Ensenada on Wednesday to watch the vehicle inspections and to talk with the vendors about dune buggy parts. There wasn't a USA parts vendor there. You couldn't buy a shock or distributor if you needed to. From what I heard is they had a bad experience at customs, in June, when they came down for the Baja 500. Does anybody know if this is true?

TMW - 11-20-2004 at 08:04 AM

A couple of hours before contingency was to close during the Baja 500, the Mexican customes suddenly appeared and shook down the vendors to the tune of several thousand dollars. The vendors said it's basically a break even deal to be there and not worth it, especially the way it was done. Some were going to setup at the BFG pit drop in San Diego but I don't know if that happened.