BajaNomad

'06 Baja 500 Photos at RM 246

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:23 PM

Baja Angel and I helped The Squarecircle spot racers using 'Baja Pits' and radioed the next pit down line (Pit #7, RM 257) and relayed also to Pit #5 near Mike's Road and Hwy. 3, RM 172.

We met up with other members of Baja Pits and the Pit Boss, Carlos on Friday for last minute instructions.

PHOTOS NOW AT: Baja 500 & Mision Santa Catalina

One of our racers had an unusual co-rider!

[Edited on 9-22-2006 by David K]

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:24 PM

He really seemed to enjoy it!

We headed out and arrived at our planned destination just as it was getting dark.

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:25 PM

It was really HOT on race day...

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:30 PM

The first racer to arrive was Bike # 6X at 11:28 am and he had a tremendous lead!

The bike with the dog (608X) was the last two wheeler we were pitting to pass us, at 5:24pm (minus the dog!?)... So the bikes were really spread out!

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:32 PM

We were located on a split in the road/ race course... the older road was the left fork and was used by just a few racer (but the fastest ones)... It dropped off the mountain more steeply than the newer graded road.

In the background is Valle Trinidad...

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:34 PM

Baja Racers use all types of vehicles... trucks, buggies, VWs, Hummers... most are highly modified and a few (like Class 11) are very stock!

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:36 PM

Some were moving so fast, I couldn't get the camera to click fast enough!

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:39 PM

and another...

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:42 PM

This quad (and others) were mixed up with the faster trucks!

Quads in our team passed us between 2:55 pm and 10:02 pm!

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:44 PM

This truck was not badly damaged as were so many others we saw...

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:46 PM

Some of the racers were running close...

[Edited on 6-6-2006 by David K]

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:51 PM

Here the lead buggy took the short cut, so quickly that the one behind couldn't react and continued straight...

David K - 6-5-2006 at 10:57 PM

As I said earlier, most of the trucks had a lot of body damage or missing body pieces!

This was the last photo I took before dark...

Our final two Baja Pits team racers to pass us Sunday morning were Baja Bug #519 at 12:37 am and Buggy #901 at 1:00 am...

Two Class 11 VWs passed us before we shut down our operation at 2:00 am.

David K - 6-5-2006 at 11:04 PM

When we headed north later that Sunday morning, we took the race course where it dropped into Valle Trinidad to climb out of the valley... some really rough stuff in there.

We saw stuff like this from just a few hours earlier!

(I have several more photos of racers that I may get reduced to post here, if you would like...)

TMW - 6-6-2006 at 07:21 AM

It's got to be exciting when a TT catches you on a ATV. Then another and another. I think I would stop for a rest. Great pix DK.

tunaeater - 6-6-2006 at 09:29 AM

TW as you know that has happened to me a few times. It is pretty crazy. It's hard to concentrate on racing when you are having to look over your shoulder every few minutes. It is definitely easier at night when you can see their lights coming through. Most were very patient and would not get to close until I pulled over. Some would get right on you and sound the horn. It's hard to hear them with your helmet and motor noise. Thats one reason why I switched to class 21. It's a lot funnier not to have to worry about TT's and cars.
We finished 8th in our class out of 13 starters. Time was 12:46 hours. We were planning between 10-11 hours. We lost a lot of time in the beginning. Our bike went down 7 times with 5 riders. We crashed on every leg except the last 80 miles. Nobody was hurt very bad just bumps and bruises. Our bike was wicked fast almost too fast in some sections. I was calling it el diablo when I was racing. It took me about 40 minutes before I felt at least a little comfortable on it. We needed more time on the race bike to prep. At least we know what to expect now for the Baja 1000. We are very happy to finish after all that happend to us. 2 Baja races and 2 finishes 5th in SF 250 and 8th in Baja 500..Now we will focus on getting to La Paz...Take care Paul

TMW - 6-6-2006 at 11:58 AM

Paul we figured something happened between check 1 and check 2. Radio report had you 30 minutes behind lead bike at ck 1 running 2nd or 3rd in class and a little over 2 hours at ck 2 running somewhere around 7th or 8th in class. The bike came by us looking good at Jamau jct RM155. Later someone at Score asked the Weatherman a status report on bike 103X. He said the mayor of Ensenada wanted to know. The Weatherman said well if the mayor of Ensenada wants to know he'll give it to him. Turns out some offical in the state government is friends or family (not sure which) with the rider of record. You must keep pretty good company. Sorry we didn't get to the Trinidad pit until after you left for the coast.

capt. mike - 6-6-2006 at 12:10 PM

TW and Paul - did any of you spot planes on the strips at Ojos Negros or Valle de Trinidad?

tunaeater - 6-6-2006 at 12:33 PM

I didn't see any planes.

tunaeater - 6-6-2006 at 12:38 PM

TW we had our radios set to our frequecies when we arrived to VDT. Somebody saw our pit numbers and told us weatherman reported 103 out of the race. We confirmed with weatherman and he said yes 103 is out but a 4 wheel vehicle not 103x. This took about 15 minutes. So for a while we were confused and thought we were out of the rcae because they were taking so long to bring the bike in. I almost started drinking when I heard the news we were out...

FUN !

djh - 6-6-2006 at 01:13 PM

Thanks for the photos, DK. My brother and I have a vintage Formula Vee (1968 RCA) that we race in the SOVREN group in the Northwest.... The 250, 500, and 1000 get my juices flowing.... With a place in Loreto now... well maybe one year soon....!! I've planted the idea with several of our buddies from the same group to see if a Baja car / team is in the cards....

Thanks again for the photos!!

djh

David K - 6-6-2006 at 05:01 PM

My pleasure djh!

Congrats for your second Baja finish Paul!

Capt. Mike, we didn't see any fixed wing aircraft over the racers or at the Ojos (Real de Castillo aerodrome) runway or noticed any on the ground at Trinidad... LOTS of helicopter however!

TMW - 6-6-2006 at 07:58 PM

Capt. Mike I saw a plane on Friday at Ojos but nothing at Trinidad, but then I don't know where the airport at Trinidad is.

David K - 6-6-2006 at 08:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Capt. Mike I saw a plane on Friday at Ojos but nothing at Trinidad, but then I don't know where the airport at Trinidad is.


Here it is Tom... (just south of town, between the two roads that head south)... the road on the left is what takes you to the Simpson Ranch, past our location for the race...

TMW - 6-7-2006 at 07:27 AM

Thanks David.

bajaandy - 6-7-2006 at 06:41 PM

David,

We saw 608X come through at the pacific coast west of San Vicente (RM304) and the dog was ON THE BIKE. We were all hooting and hollering so loud! It was classic.

Thanks for the great photos. I'll see if I can scounge up a few to post as well. (I'm still behind on posting del Diablo pics!)

David K - 6-7-2006 at 07:14 PM

Great... wow, we sure didn't see the dog! Almost to the relief because having a dog ride the entire race seemed inhumane... But, the dog looked happy didn't he/she?

TMW - 6-8-2006 at 07:30 AM

I heard the rider and dog were to do the first and last 40 miles. Maybe they thought it better to do something not as rough. They have done several races together but this was their biggest. I think the dog was 3 yrs old and had been riding since he was 6 months. Dog had an arm band on his collar.

bajataco - 8-2-2006 at 06:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
One of our racers had an unusual co-rider!


Cool pics David ;D The dog is just incredible. I found a pic that Pat Chicas at ORC took, of the dog on a bike at the start of the race...




:o The number on the bike is 608X. A quick look at the SCORE race results shows that 608X Mike Schelin registered times at all CP's and FINISHED the race with a time of 17:49:36 :D I wonder if the dog rode the whole way???

More cool pics of the man & his best friend here (photos by Mike Hobbs, ORC)

http://bbs.off-road.com/photobb/data/3467/DSC_1816.JPG

http://bbs.off-road.com/photobb/data/3467/DSC_1815.JPG

http://bbs.off-road.com/photobb/data/3467/DSC_1814.JPG

David K - 8-2-2006 at 07:47 AM

Hi Chris...

See TW's post above yours... the dog was only on the first and last 40 miles... it wasn't on the bike when it passed us.

jimgrms - 8-2-2006 at 08:45 AM

Back in the late 60's i had a boston terrier that would trail ride with me in calif buu if he got scared he would bite you finally stoped taking him as i was afraid i would hurt him mfor that matter i was afraid i would hurt me to,, a question when is the next baja race ?

bajalou - 8-2-2006 at 08:53 AM

For SCORE, next one in Baja is the 1000 in Nov.

CODE has one the 12th in Jucame

David K - 9-23-2006 at 12:01 AM

Since the Nomad switch which temporarily dumped attached photos... you can see them now here: '06 Baja 500 & Mision Santa Catalina

Ken Cooke - 9-23-2006 at 09:32 AM

Great pics. Thanks for sharing!