My family and I are driving down to watch the Baja 500 I have never seen a race in Baja and I have lots of questions. I have been reading lots of
posts where people ask questions without giving much background information I'll try and give enough information. (Probably too much-Grin) There will
be the four of us two adults and two kids age 12 and 9 plus Mocha the Chocolate Labrador
Previous Baja travel, we drove down to see the whales two years ago staying Geurro Negro then driving back up and camping at BOLA and Bahia Gonzaga
and out thru San Felipe. we are self sufficient.
Vehicles, stock 97 Land Cruiser towing a small tent trailer, (12" wheels) I have used the Land cruiser, it has plenty of desert pinstripes etc. I'm
not emotionally attached to the tent trailer so if we drag it over some ruts and rocks no worries, I'm packing the wheel bearings on the trailer and
the truck is serviced and ready to go. I also have tools spare parts and a factory service manual.
Racing experience, my brothers and I started racing at age 11 with XR75's and moved up to bigger bikes as we got older. We raced practically every
weekend, every Easter and Thanksgiving was spent at California City, so many great memories. Then one day (twenty plus years ago) I quit, sold my
bike, threw away all my trophy's and riding gear and went sailing, I have been racing sailboats ever since. My wife of 19 years has never seen me
ride, I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about buying a dual sport and start riding again. Like I said too much information....just
letting you all know we wont be setting our lawn chairs on the outside of the corner and the dog will be on a leash. (short)
The trip plan/itinerary.
Leave Santa Barbara early Friday morning 3:30-4:00 AM drive across the border at TJ then to Ensenada we hope to make it in time to see contingency at
approximately 10:00 AM. At around 12:00 we will drive south and find a campsite on the beach south of Erindira. Then we set up camp and Kayak, surf
fish and play in the sand etc.
Saturday wait for the racers to come by watch the spectacle and generally have a good time.
Sunday wake up eat breakfast, goof off, pack up and get on the road by 11:00 then we wait in line at the border and get home to Santa Barbara by 11:30
PM or so.
I'm choosing this area to camp and watch the race from based on the ability to play on the beach before and after the racers go by.
Finally the questions.
Does this look like a good plan? I know its Baja be flexible but you got to start somewhere.
What about my driving time estimates? I don't want to drive at night.
Will I be able to find safe parking in Ensenada? Or should I just drive straight to the beach and set up camp?
Will the trophy trucks be coming by Erindira in the daylight?
Any recommendations on a campsite or area to go to would be appreciated.
Should we bag the beach thing and camp at Mikes sky ranch, or some where else on the course?
Thanks in advance,
Mattbufeo - 5-9-2006 at 08:57 PM
rvrfish,
You just may not be allowing enough time. If you get away from SB by 0400h, you'll be pressed to make it to Ensenada by 1000h, IMHO. It can
be done, but there isn't much wiggle room there.
Your choice of Erindira is fine, but it will also be the choice of a multitude of others. It's Race Mile 311 and I'm sure that there will be pitting
there as well as myriad spectators. Point is get there earlier rather than later. Places will fill in later in the day on Friday.
Maybe someone will respond here who will have pre-run and can give you an idea about the arrival of motos/vehicles at RM 311.
You have a competitor, Andy Grider, just north of you in Los Olivos. I know he won't be on a moto since he's still healing from the Dakar accident,
but he just may be behind the wheel in a 4-wheeler this time.
Stay off the course until long, long after the last ones are through...
Oh, and enjoy!!
The only thing better than watching, is doing it!!!
Been there, done that, it don't get no better!!!TMW - 5-10-2006 at 07:07 AM
Bikes leave at 6am and 1st bike to RM311 should be around noon on Sat. 1st Trophy Truck will leave around 9am and be at RM311 around 3pm. There should
be plenty of racers during the daylight hours and many still coming by well into the night. You might want to leave Thursday evening and stay
overnight closer to the border.surfer jim - 5-10-2006 at 07:14 AM
Sounds like a good plan to me.The Erindira area is very user friendly....good road in and easy beach roads to find camping....
Bikes should arrive early afternoon and first trucks sometime after 3 PM....
Parking in ENSENADA with a trailer on Friday will be a challenge....EVERYBODY is there with trailers and parking is hard to find....you may be able to
find some paid parking lot closer than searching for the free street parking...good luck on that....
I have a feeling that you may decide to pass up the Ensenada stop when you get there.....especially with kids/dog/ trailer....might be more trouble
than it is worth....just go directly to Erindira....set up early afternoon and enjoy the day......David K - 5-10-2006 at 07:34 AM
rvrfish, your plan sounds good... Santa Barbara to Tijuana that early in the morning should not be over 4 hours, then another 1.5-2 to Ensenada (with
stops)...
The advice of setting up camp upwind is critical! Also camp not too close to the road! Lot's of sites south of Erendira...
Have a blast!
My son and I camped along the 2003 Baja 500 course... He took some good photos of the racers: http://vivabaja.com/500
This one was a bit too close!:
[Edited on 5-10-2006 by David K]TMW - 5-10-2006 at 12:58 PM
There is a large parking lot area across from the Ensenada Inn. Several of the racing teams park in there. There is a security guard on the swing down
gate. Tell him your with a race team if he ask. Someone may want to stay with the vehicles while you go to contingency, maybe split it up. It's a bit
of a walk but you'll be OK. As you pass the convention center contingency will be on your left. You'll pass thru the light and then there are a couple
of stop signs before the next light. Turn left at this second light and Las Palmas hotel will be on your right. A block or so is the Ensenada Inn on
the left. The big parking lot is on your right. Have fun.rvrfish - 5-10-2006 at 07:46 PM
Thanks everyone for the advice, our plan has been modified,
We will leave Thursday night and stay in SD then early Friday cross the border. Drive straight to Ensenada and see how we feel, we might stop, we?ll
check out the parking by the Ensenada inn and if it looks good we will look at the race trucks.
It sounds like we want to get our campsite before 1:00-2:00 on Friday.
If you see a black Land Cruiser with a tent trailer, fighting kids and a brown dog chewing on a pink kayak, stop and say hi, I?ll have a cold beer
for you.
Best,
MattDavid K - 5-10-2006 at 09:15 PM
You will have a great time Matt!
Take photos and write us a trip report when you return, please...
rvrfish - camp spot
Mike Supino - 5-11-2006 at 12:49 PM
You mentioned "on the beach south of Erindira"
I think that north would possibly be better.Mike Supino - 5-11-2006 at 08:13 PM
Wanting to not argue............
there is a lot of open area above Erindera
San Diego KOA
John M - 5-12-2006 at 05:34 AM
Very handy to the border - just off the 805 freeway
Originally posted by soulpatch
Although there is a campground south of the rivermouth that looks decent and has a nice beach.
That would be The Baja Malibu Sur R.V. Park... Here's the beach there (photo taken 7-00)
[Edited on 5-12-2006 by David K]
North of Erendira
John M - 5-12-2006 at 12:23 PM
A nice cove, photo attached, lies about 7 or 8 fairly easy miles north of Erendira. Name on the Baja Almanac, page 7, about K/5 along the margins, is
shown as La Calavera. This was an almost deserted fishing village - no supplies of any kind. On the hillside above is the name spelled out in large
white letters of stone. From the Baja 500 map it appears the race will pass this location at about race mile 317 so it will be later in the day no
doubt.
John M.rvrfish - 5-16-2006 at 08:31 PM
Hello again,
Been busy working
I have the Almanac in front of me; I think you all are correct, north of Erendira looks like a better bet for some type of organized camp.
Another question,
Do the rules require the teams to pit in certain areas? Or is it up to the team to decide the location?
Best,
Mattthebajarunner - 5-16-2006 at 09:03 PM
You can pit anywhere you wish, usually the pit area is near a checkpoint, or near a place where there is a major slowdown point.
Don't listen to any of the advice re "where to watch" except to stay upwind.
You need to get there early enough to see where the actual course is located. Then you find one of two situiations: Either you get next to a real
nasty natural hazard where there will be lots of action like a stream bed or a big whoopie-doo, or you get up high where you can see the racers for a
fairly lengthy line of sight, either coming or going.
People make the mistake of getting 'buried' on the course, then just getting a quick (and I mean quick) glimpse as they pass by.
Given the fact that most of the fast guys are averaging well over 50 mph these days, mile 317 will put you just 5 or 6 hours after the start.
Enjoy!!TMW - 5-17-2006 at 07:23 AM
And don't be on the outside of a turn. Bad things can and do happen. Be safe.thebajarunner - 5-17-2006 at 01:22 PM
TW is absolutely correct!
Being on the outside of a turn is tantamount to being "on the course"
One way to find action spots is look for groups of spectators.
They usually (although not always) have figured out the good viewing spots and stake out those positions.
I know that whenever we saw lots of spectators ahead we slowed up, just automatic.... if they were there, it was for a reason. Usually a very rough
and high bouncing reason.David K - 5-17-2006 at 04:00 PM
If you see a professional photographer set up, then you KNOW you found a good spot!!
