BajaNomad - Maybe Time For Baja Moto Road Race

Maybe Time For Baja Moto Road Race

LancairDriver - 1-16-2021 at 11:21 AM

Since recently there are some nice paved roads in Baja a “Isle of Man” style motor cycle race would be a very popular event, be a big boost to the economy, and fit in well with local preference of getting as close as possible to the action. Only possible if COVID is finally contained however.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iPjc1sp4Eo

RocketJSquirrel - 1-16-2021 at 11:23 AM

Love it. Far bigger cojones than mine!

Don Pisto - 1-16-2021 at 12:25 PM

we had one! 1987 La Carrera Classic II.......they shut down hwy 3 and raced between Ensenada and San Felipe. btw thats the great Duane Summers on the 713 Ducati!

[Edited on 1-16-2021 by Don Pisto]

AKgringo - 1-16-2021 at 12:41 PM

Right behind the bikes on the stage, is bike with a side car. I can't think of a more terrifying ride than that!

pacificobob - 1-16-2021 at 02:24 PM

the isle of mann TT[tourist trophy] is about my favorite motor sport event to watch.
it would be cool to do it here.

RocketJSquirrel - 1-16-2021 at 02:40 PM

I asked a friend that lives in London about going and he said the island is totally booked up at huge prices and filled with hot groupies (sounds like a wonderland to me!).

RocketJSquirrel - 1-16-2021 at 02:46 PM

What's a man to do?

del mar - 1-16-2021 at 02:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RocketJSquirrel

I asked a friend that lives in London about going and he said the island is totally booked up at huge prices and filled with hot groupies (sounds like a wonderland to me!).

not this year.........

RocketJSquirrel - 1-16-2021 at 02:47 PM

Yes. not this year. Though maybe the "hotties" as the Brits say, are there.

LancairDriver - 1-16-2021 at 04:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto

we had one! 1987 La Carrera Classic II.......they shut down hwy 3 and raced between Ensenada and San Felipe. btw thats the great Duane Summers on the 713 Ducati!

[Edited on 1-16-2021 by Don Pisto]

I didn’t know about that. Wonder why it didn’t keep going...financial?political? Who knows.

pacificobob - 1-17-2021 at 08:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Right behind the bikes on the stage, is bike with a side car. I can't think of a more terrifying ride than that!

if you have yet to see the isle of mann sidecar action...check it out.. hair-raising!
such a race between Tecate and san Felipe would be highly entertaining.

https://youtu.be/iGnEC8S-bcE. link to IOM sidecar video

[Edited on 1-17-2021 by pacificobob]

[Edited on 1-17-2021 by pacificobob]

Baja Ducs

motoged - 1-17-2021 at 11:28 AM

My first moto trip to Baja was in 1993 on my R80GS.....a few years after my first trip to Baja.....to kayak Isla Espiritu Santu for 10 days with sister and two others.

The R80 had the suspension improved (Ohlins rear/Race Tech forks) and some other mods that made it a sweet bike (but as I learned, still too heavy to really enjoy the desert).

When I pulled into Catavina on my way down, I rolled into the Pemex on the east side of the highway for fuel.

Two guys on Ducatis, wearing leathers, were ahead of me. The guy who finished fueling first pulled over and kept his bike running, and seemed quite impatient with his partner who was a bit slower with the fill-up. Our brief conversation lead me to understand they were doing a Sandy Eggo to Cabo loop run and were on their way back to SD..... they said they did this several times and were looking to improve their times....

Those Ducs have a nice quack :cool:

BajaTed - 1-17-2021 at 11:38 AM

TRE Motorsports has hosted road rallies for Porsche enthusiasts before.
Following the Federales @ +200 KPH in their Dodge Chargers was priceless. They know where all the Topes where and would flash their light bars for us.
BTW, I hold the track record for the Bajamar development perimeter road course, let me know when you would like to challenge my Porsche

thebajarunner - 1-17-2021 at 12:52 PM

Been there, done that

The 1972 Mexican 1000 (the final NORRA race) started in Mexicali and ran flat out on the highway to the road up to Valle de Trinidad. We smoked that baby in our pickup. The final stretch from Villa Constitucion to La Paz, likewise on the pavement.
No speed control, no "special stage" stuff.... just flat out balls to the wall racing.

and, modesty almost forbids, but not quite, we took second in the pickup class that included Mickey, Walker and all the Stroppe guys.

BajaNomad - 1-17-2021 at 01:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto

we had one! 1987 La Carrera Classic II.......they shut down hwy 3 and raced between Ensenada and San Felipe. btw thats the great Duane Summers on the 713 Ducati!

I didn’t know about that. Wonder why it didn’t keep going...financial?political? Who knows.

I believe there were financial - and/or perhaps logistical - issues. As noted, they did shut down that highway for public travel during the event itself. There were 4-wheel vehicles competing too.

Not really a place for spectators, this was mostly an event for the participants. There were gnarly accidents (sometimes covered in magazines). Perhaps there was a lawsuit? Perhaps they tore up too many of the highway safety barriers? Just speculation.

Don Pisto - 1-17-2021 at 01:48 PM

some kid I never heard of beat Duane by two seconds with an average speed of 108mph........boys were haulin' the mail!

pacificobob - 1-17-2021 at 07:51 PM

I've met guys on sport bikes on the mainland. often from Tucson or Phoenix just doing a high speed "vuelta " Phoenix to los moches and back in some very small period of time.

LancairDriver - 1-18-2021 at 08:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaNomad

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto

we had one! 1987 La Carrera Classic II.......they shut down hwy 3 and raced between Ensenada and San Felipe. btw thats the great Duane Summers on the 713 Ducati!

I didn’t know about that. Wonder why it didn’t keep going...financial?political? Who knows.

Understandable. Probably most of the reasons stated killed the event.

MulegeAL - 1-18-2021 at 09:07 AM

Closing long sections of Baja highways is not practical this century. Somebody has to tell the cows and goats too.

More feasible would be timed hill/mountain climbs on the various twisty sections of Baja roads, a Baja version of Pikes Peak. This could be a rolling circus, racing various sections over a week long event down the peninsula. Could mix paved and dirt climbs too, for a King of the Climbs boasting rights.

The newly-paved climb from Loreto up the canyon to the mission was my favorite twisty track climb in Baja until the next hurricane wrecked it about 10 years ago. That was peg dragging bueno camino!

[Edited on 1-18-2021 by MulegeAL]

David K - 1-18-2021 at 09:53 AM

Al, they repair that road after the washouts. Almost an annual thing. In 3 years ago, there was only about a 100 meter dirt section of the 21 paved miles.

The Observatory road would be possible paved, hill climb challenge, too. Even if just to the park entrance, 83 kms from Hwy. 1, at 8,000 feet.

del mar - 1-18-2021 at 12:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Al, they repair that road after the washouts. Almost an annual thing. In 3 years ago, there was only about a 100 meter dirt section of the 21 paved miles.

The Observatory road would be possible paved, hill climb challenge, too. Even if just to the park entrance, 83 kms from Hwy. 1, at 8,000 feet.

since 2017, this really a fun event!

David K - 1-18-2021 at 01:08 PM

You see, it was a good idea, afterall! LOL

MulegeAL - 1-18-2021 at 06:54 PM

del mar,
Hey thanks for that. Gives me an excuse for coming back earlier!

Have you done this, what do you think?

BajaNomad - 1-18-2021 at 08:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by del mar

since 2017, this really a fun event!