BajaNomad

San Felipe race being moved!

TecateRay - 2-26-2007 at 12:29 PM

Just on the SCORE website - due to irreconcilable differences the San Felipe race will be moved to a different Baja venue.

This is really going to hurt the merchants, restaraunts, motels and bars in San Felipe. I hope the ejidos are happy.:mad:

Anyone got any rumors about where the race might go?

bajalou - 2-26-2007 at 01:09 PM

I know some of the Ejido board members and they have told me the same thing Hose A. What they have been wanting is the money paid to them. The person supposed to dole it out to the landowners (Tourist Bureau Ensenada) hasn't passed it on.

[Edited on 2-26-2007 by bajalou]

TecateRay - 2-26-2007 at 01:21 PM

It's the same old story. Sure makes it tough on all involved except those who "short-stop" the money. It's too bad it had to come to this, but I sure hope it gets straightened out in time to allow us to get to San Felipe next week.

TMW - 2-26-2007 at 01:48 PM

SCORE may have the bikes do just one lower loop of 133 miles start to finish and the car/trucks do two loops. They did something like that in the 500 race in 92.

surfer jim - 2-26-2007 at 02:05 PM

I was thinking this might happen....just running the bottom loop twice....better for watching if you ask me.....

Breaking news

BajaRob - 2-26-2007 at 03:08 PM

The San Felipe 250 will not be held in San Felipe this year. Negotiations between the City of San Felipe and one of the Ejidos broke down this morning. Score has announced that there will be a change of venue, most likely Ensenada. The Ejido pendejos will cost the City hundreds of thousands of dollars and a real loss of prestige as well as the plans of thousands to see the race.

BajaRob - 2-26-2007 at 03:20 PM

The new course map is not yet available but will soon be posted @ score-international.com.

TMW - 2-26-2007 at 03:46 PM

I'd like to have it run out of Mexicali. Start off hwy 2 at north end of Laguna Salada, south and west over the summit, north thru Laguna Hanson and La Rumorosa and down the switch back trail and back to the start/finish line. I'm sure that would be a 200 mile loop.

Minnow - 2-26-2007 at 04:50 PM

THE BAJA 250 RACE WILL START IN ENSENADA AND FINISH IN SANTO TOMAS
February 26, 2007
Due to irreconcilable differences between the City of San Felipe and one of the San Felipe Ejido land groups, the race is being moved to Ensenada. SCORE deeply regrets any inconvenience this may cause, however, this situation has absolutely nothing to due with the past
or present conduct of SCORE International.

Can you imagine the amount of scrambling around for hotel rooms that is going on right now? The hotel owners in Felipe are still going to want to charge for all the rooms that have been reserved also. Anyone ever want to visit Felipe cheap.:lol: I got a few friends that are going to have a few rooms they are not going to need.

[Edited on 26-2-2007 by Minnow]

TMW - 2-26-2007 at 05:51 PM

I just book a hotel suite in Ensenada.

Minnow - 2-26-2007 at 06:03 PM

The deck has been reshuffled for sure. Works out great for me though.

tripledigitken - 2-26-2007 at 06:07 PM

Typically what is the start time Saturday?

We are leaving for Baja Sur on Sat am from San Diego, and want to avoid being held up getting past Santo Tomas.

Any input from Race Fans will be appreciated. Any other time I would stick around and watch the action.

Thanks,

Ken

bajalou - 2-26-2007 at 06:13 PM

6am for Motorcycles, then Quads, then about 10am for the big 4 wheel stuff.

Minnow - 2-26-2007 at 06:37 PM

Ken, it is not this saturday though, it is next. No official word yet on exactly where the course will be though. It might be tough going on that stretch of road.

David K - 2-26-2007 at 07:11 PM

Ejidos get the El Stupido Award!

They think doing this at the last minute will help them get money any better? San Felipe will lose...

tripledigitken - 2-26-2007 at 07:16 PM

Thanks Lou and Minnow,

I understand its the 9th-11th. How early would we need to be in Ensenada do you think to get through on the highway to Santa Tomas before they close it down? If we were in Ensenada say at 4 am would we be ok?

Surely Highway 1 won't be closed until the entire race is completed? :wow:

Worst that could happen we will find a good place to park at 4 am and have to jam it on Sunday to Mulege. :coolup:

Ken

David K - 2-26-2007 at 07:17 PM

Until there is a course map posted, we won't have any idea... Higways remain open even if racers are on it... Fun to be passed by an 800 horse power pickup!

TMW - 2-26-2007 at 07:27 PM

If you get to Ensenada at 4am you shouldn't have any problems getting thru. The bikes usually start lining up about 5am or so for a 6am start. They will probably line up in front of the convention center for the start so if your there at 4am again it shouldn't be a problem. Since they will finish in Santo Tomas they most likely leave Ensenada to the east as they did in the 1000. You should be well south and past any race activity, but don't stop for breakfast until you past the KM103 area otherwise you could get into crasy chasers.

tripledigitken - 2-26-2007 at 07:43 PM

Thanks TW!

We'll just book it till we get past Santo Tomas, should be in Santo Tomas before they even leave the s/f line.

Know all about the Chasers. One year we were returning from Baja Sur and played chase with a Team truck, an F250 if I remember.

He would fly past us, then we would see him at a stop, and boom we would get passed again. Happened about 3 times. I noticed he had both rear view mirrors swung into the truck to narrow his profile for passing!

He didn't need to see behind him.............nobody was passing that dude on that run.

capt. mike - 2-27-2007 at 05:32 AM

crap..........that kills my plans. i only want to go to ensenada in the summer.

San Felipe will be missed. guess i'll just fly docs that weekend, its a Sams trip too.

wornout - 2-27-2007 at 06:55 AM

And all along I thought the building boom would kill the SCORE race in San Felipe. Little did I know it would be the locals and/or the 'government official' who was suppose to pass on the already received SCORE money, to the Ejido folks.

Course Start..

LaTijereta - 2-27-2007 at 07:26 AM

Race will start at Ave Ruiz, as in year's past..
No problem getting through downtown Ensenada.:yes:

jimgrms - 2-27-2007 at 07:54 AM

Its getting kinda close to the wire and still no coarse map,, proably not much prerunning

TecateRay - 2-27-2007 at 09:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaRob
The Ejido pendejos will cost the City hundreds of thousands of dollars and a real loss of prestige as well as the plans of thousands to see the race.


Why are they pendejos? I'm sure we don't have the whole story, but it sounds like they got screwed last race. From their viewpoint, why should they deal with this one?

--Larry
I think the real Pendejo is the one (or more)who kept siphoning off the money/services that was supposed to go to the landowners. Now both the landowners and the town's business people will take a huge hit. All the while the Ensenada business folks are grinning from ear to ear.

I don't believe this is the first time the landowners have been stiffed for the money and maybe they just decided to make a point the only way they could.

That said, I'm still really bummed out that I won't be in San Felipe this weekend. As a huge off road race fan and long time pit crew member for over 30 years I'm also really concerned about what this could mean for the future of all off road racing in Baja. :no:

Let's hope they can fix this thing in time for next year - well we can hope, but I'm not very optimistic.

roverdude - 2-27-2007 at 09:55 AM

Sure this has nothing to do with the land grab by Pat Butler's El Dorado Ranch which negates a land parcel given to the University of Baja California by the ejidos? Maybe, it's an accumulation of too much "getting screwed" and they've had enough?

bajalou - 2-27-2007 at 10:00 AM

TecateRay , I agree with you completely. When you're caught in the middle your choices are pretty limited.

So ,let me get this straight

Hook - 2-27-2007 at 11:34 AM

An official from some Ensenada Tourist Bureau has absconded with the previous years money and now the race has been moved from SF to Ensenada?

What a strange twist........:?:

Roberto - 2-27-2007 at 11:45 AM

What makes anyone think that the rumors posted here are anything close to fact?

Only on the internet do a bunch of folks who don't have all the information post their opinion on page after page of posts.

Minnow - 2-27-2007 at 12:37 PM

I have to agree with Roberto. The powers at be are not saying what happened. Rumors are flying everywhere. The only thing that matters is that the race has moved, plan accordingly.

Hook - 2-27-2007 at 12:43 PM

I agree with Roberto, too. That's why I posed it as a question.

burro bob - 2-27-2007 at 01:13 PM

The Ejido had several things they were complaining about.
The money not received from past races was one of them. Most realized that there wasn't much they could do about getting money from years back but wanted to ensure that it didn't happen again.
Who was to be paid for this years race was another. SCORE and San Felipe merchants only wanted to pay the couple of people who's parcels the race passed over. The Ejido wanted compensation for all members of the different Grupos the race passed through. This goes along with the communal nature of the Ejido. From what I have heard the San Felipe merchants passed on the amount of $$ the Ejido was asking for as too much. Again the "rent" for the race was going to funded by the merchants and not the racers.
The biggest problem is the land use dispute with Pat Butler and El Dorado ranch. I will not go into these disputes except to say that the Ejido has lost every single one. Every contract they ever signed, with any one, about what has come to be know as El Dorado Ranch has been a disaster. Poorly worded contracts, with few benefits for the average Ejido member has been the norm. They are tired of being taken to the cleaners. There is now a question about access roads and who controls and maintains them as far as the Ejido is concerned. With that in mind they say no other right-of-way or permission for access will be given until the current situation is settled to their satisfaction. Problem is the courts sided with Butler again so their is little chance that will be resolved in a manner they are happy with.
The race was blocked by the actions of one Grupo. Grupo Cajon voted not to allow access to lands they control. Without the permission of all the grupos that affect the route it was not possible to find a route suitable to SCORE.
It only took about 9 or 10 people, the majority of the members of Grupo Cajon, to put an end to the race. Yesterday I talked to a lot of people in the Ejido. Far and away the majority, 75%, wanted to have the race. While many had reservations about the past, most thought is was a real bad to idea to kill the race. There is a feeling of embarrassment for many of them.
Rob Kinson
Parcel 150
Grupo Cajon
Ejido Plan National Agrario

Latest Info

LaTijereta - 2-27-2007 at 01:19 PM

February 27, 2007

B U L L E T I N

21st Tecate SCORE Baja 250 moved to Ensenada

Round 2 of the SCORE Desert Series to run
from Ensenada to Santo Tomas on March 10

LOS ANGELES—Because of ongoing political issues beyond its control, SCORE International was notified by the municipal authorities of San Felipe Monday that next week’s 21st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 250 could not be held there, forcing SCORE to secure a new venue. SCORE has announced that next week’s race will start in Ensenada and finish in Santo Tomas, Baja California, Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean side of the majestic peninsula. The race has previously been held in San Felipe, on the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula.
“Due to irreconcilable differences between the city of San Felipe and one of the San Felipe Ejido land f the majestic peninsula. The race has previously been held in San Felipe, on the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula.
“Due to irreconcilable differences between the city of San Felipe and one of the San Felipe Ejido land groups, the race is being moved to Ensenada”, said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO and President. “SCORE deeply regrets any inconvenience this may cause, however, this situation has absolutely nothing to do with past or present conduct of SCORE International. We are sincerely grateful to the city of Ensenada, Santo Tomas and the other areas along the new race course for allowing us to move this great event to another course.”
With a race-record field of 374 entries, to date, from 15 U.S. States, Mexico, Canada, England, Italy and New Zealand, Round 2 of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, will be the first of three races produced annually by SCORE in Mexico.
The race will be webcast live with video and audio on the SCORE International website at www.score-international.com, with production provided by Digital 1 Unlimited in association with SCORE Television partner Aura360.
The finish line area for the point-to-point course of approximately 215 miles will be Santo Tomas, located 30 miles south of Ensenada. All vehicles will have a 9-hour time limit in the elapsed time race and vehicles will start in 30-second intervals.
SCORE officials expect to have the new course map posted on the SCORE website by Friday and the course will be marked and pre-running from Ojos Negros to the finish line in Santo Tomas will open this coming Saturday (March 3).
A race-record of 374 entries have been received to date, preparing to compete in 27 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes. The green flag will drop at 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, for the motorcycle and ATV classes, followed by the car and truck classes three hours later at approximately 10 a.m. The start line will be at the end of Avenida Ruiz in Ensenada, approx. two miles east of downtown.
To date, a race-record of 374 official entries from 15 States and six countries have officially entered the Tecate SCORE Baja 250, led by the unlimited Class 1 with 39, the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division with 36, Class 1-2/1600 with 28, SCORE Lite with 26, Class 10 with 21 and Class 22 and Class 30 with 16 each. So far, 220 of the entries are cars or trucks and 154 are either motorcycles or ATVs. Late registration will be accepted up until race morning, virtually guaranteeing a final starting grid of more than 350 for the first time in the colorful 20-year history of the popular race. The previous entry record of 362 set last year and last year’s 341 starters were the most in the event’s history.
Pre-race festivities at the Tecate SCORE Baja 250 will include the colorful SCORE Midway and tech inspection in downtown Ensenada from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday (March 9).
At 10 a.m. on Sunday (March 11), the awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel. Racer registration will be held at the San Nicolas from 2-7p.m. next Thursday and 8:30-4:30 p.m. next Friday.
The 2007 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $75,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded to several 2007 SCORE Class point champions along with the run for the $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official tire sealant, Airstar America-official space lighting provider and Red Bull,--official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Communications, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2007 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

21st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 250
Ensenada to Santo Tomas, Baja California, Mexico
Schedule of Events
(subject to change)

Thursday, March 8, 2007
2pm-7pm--Racer Registration-Grand Ballroom, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada
2pm-7pm--Media Registration-Grand Ballroom, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada

Friday, March 9, 2007
8:30am-4:30pm--Racer Registration-Grand Ballroom, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada
9am-5pm--Media Registration-Grand Ballroom, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada
10am-5pm--Contingency Row-Ensenada
10am-6pm--Tech Inspection-Ensenada
7pm--Mandatory Racer Meeting-Cathedral Room, Riviera Del Pacifico Cultural Center-Ensenada

Saturday, March 10, 2007
5:30am-11am--Late Registration & Tech-Start line, end of Avenida Ruiz
5:30am-Noon--Media Center Open-Start line, end of Avenida Ruiz
9am-8pm—Media Center Open-Finish line, Santo Tomas

Sunday, March 11, 2007
7am--Posting of Unofficial Results, Lobby, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada
8am--Competition Review Board, Lobby, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada
10am--Awards Celebration, Poolside, San Nicolas Hotel-Ensenada

Saturday, March 10, Race Schedule (approx. 215-mile course)

START LINE-end of Avenida Ruiz FINISH LINE-Santo Tomas (Vehicles start one every 30 seconds)

6am--MOTORCYCLES/ATVs—22, 30, 40, 21, 20, 50, 60, SPT M/C>, SPT M/C<, 25, 24, SPT ATV

10am (approx)--CARS/TRUCKS—TT, 1, 10, 8, PT, SL, 1-2/1600, 5, 7, 5/1600, 7S, 7SX, SF, SM, 9, 3, 17, SPT TRK, SPT CAR, 11, SPT UTV

TIME LIMIT: All vehicles will have a 9-hour time limit from the time each vehicle starts to complete the course

Minnow - 2-27-2007 at 01:29 PM

Buro Bob: If you information is correct, this is going to create tensions between the Ejido in question that the other Ejido's and business owners in the area for years to come. Throw in the El Dorado ranch situation>>>>......... I will be staying away from SF. Apparently, so will SCORE.:o

burro bob - 2-27-2007 at 01:40 PM

Minnow
I agree it will create tensions between the Ejido and merchants in San Felipe.
Most of the Ejidatarians appreciate all the money spent by the tourists. You don't have anything to worry about with them. The merchants of San Felipe will still be happy to see you also, now more than ever.
This is the result of the action of a few not of many.
burro bob

Roberto - 2-27-2007 at 01:55 PM

A lot of the information posted by Burro Bob coincides with this: http://www.lacronica.com/edicionimpresa/Hoy/Mercados/2007022...

Course Route

David K - 2-28-2007 at 01:41 AM

Just saw this on SCORE web site... Route Description:

Approx. 210 miles

Ensenada (start)

Ojos Negros

Tres Hermanos

El Alamo

Km. 77

Nuevo Jcn.

Goat Trail

Valle de Trinidad

San Vicente

Erendira

Santo Tomas (Finish)

[Edited on 2-28-2007 by David K]

[Edited on 3-1-2007 by David K]

Baja250-r.JPG - 44kB

TecateRay

BajaRob - 2-28-2007 at 06:15 AM

You are right, the pendejo is the one who did not pass on the money. The SF 250 has been re-named the Baja 250 and will probably never return here. The Ejidotarios have assured that. What a shame.

baja829 - 2-28-2007 at 11:44 AM

BURRO BOB WROTE:

"The biggest problem is the land use dispute with Pat Butler and El Dorado ranch. I will not go into these disputes except to say that the Ejido has lost every single one. Every contract they ever signed, with any one, about what has come to be know as El Dorado Ranch has been a disaster. Poorly worded contracts, with few benefits for the average Ejido member has been the norm.----"

Your general comments were informative and correct to a point, but your comments about El Dorado Ranch were not. All in all, there are some unhappy Ejidatorios -- a small handful -- unhappy with Butler. All of the rest (including the small handful) have benefited greatly, financially and otherwise, due to the development. The purchase of the Ejido, and the individual payments to each and every member of the group, jobs, scholarships, and all kinds of other benefits, have changed their lives forever. You didn't mention all of those beneficial contracts. The other two close Ejidos (Delicias & Matomi) only wish they could have benefited similarly. However, they are benefiting indirectly, as people move South. Land sales, land leases, home sales, some new small businesses -- none the size of what's going on in the North side of town -- but, there's lots of work, and a shortage of workers as development moves South.

The most recent El Dorado event, once again, a small handful, was over land (the Ejido) gave to the University in Mexicali, land they no longer owned, bordering Ejido land. El Dorado went to Court and won that fight. They had already purchased and paid for that land. Ejidatarios had set up an encampment on Ranch land, and when removed, by Court Order, they set up their camp a little further South, on Ejido land. The next thing we hear, is they don't want to permit SCORE to use their lands. That is their right, but it was qite short-sighted on their part.

Whether or not this is retailiation against El Dorado, or because some official failed to pay them for past land use, it's a done deal and the whole of San Felipe loses, substantially, including and especially all of the Ejido businesses on the North end.

Just the bad publicity alone, willl impact the town and surrounding areas for years to come. There's another race at the end of the month and we have the 500 and 1000 as well. SCORE and others will look at the situation very closely before they think about coming back.

Substantial development was inevitable. One cannot imagine the risks and costs involved, as we all came here, many years ago, to enjoy the solitude -now the world wants to join us, as happens in beautiful places everywhere. It's called growth. It's never done as peacefully as one would like, and although, in the long term, the benefits here are greater to the locals who have new or better businesses, better education for their children, a better standard of living, and most importantly, job opportunities that never exisited here before. A vibrant economy has blossomed -- due to development.

It's no longer a town of the haves and have nots, not to say that poverty no longer exists -- it's no longer a fishing village - no more fish -- and that was just seasonal. It's tourism! The major percentage of Mexico's GNP - throughout the Country. It's as important to this area, as it is to Palm Springs, San Diego, Las Vegas, etc. A major shift has occurred and all of us are witness to it. The last 3 years have seen incredible growth, more than I'd like, but it's not just "my town".

I truly hope that the pain of losing the 250 will be enough for locals to figure out a better way for everyone --, not to "get even" or just satisfy a few. If it's as simple as an Ejido Representative not passing on the money, there's an obvious easy solution that the Ejido needs to resolve. If it's more than that, they need to figure that out as well. This action was a poor resolution over all. That's the reality.

burro bob - 2-28-2007 at 01:23 PM

Baja 829
I'll stand by my words as being 100% correct
I made no comment at all about the economic impact of El Dorado Ranch. I was speaking about all the different contracts and agreements the Ejido PNA has made over the years.
The first of these contracts, leasing most of their land for 30 years, was signed in 1988, with a Mexican corporation to develop the Ejido lands for tourism. These rights were sold to National Pen Corporation then to Pat Butler. When Pat bought El Dorado it already consisted of 6 different corporations, 3 in Mexico, 1 in the US and 2 in the British Virgin islands. This contract primarily benefited only a few families. The Ejido was to get a small percent of the profits. Silly Mexicans didn't understand how easy it was to never show a profit. Most of them thought "net" meant something you catch fish in.
Then the laws changed and it became legal for the Ejido to sell land outright. But as long as the original 30 lease was in place only El Dorado could develop anything.
The Ejido decided to sell the land El Dorado is on to Pat Butler thus canceling the 30 year lease. The Ejido had no leverage in the deal. They could either take the chump change Pat offered or they could wait 18 more years for the end of the lease. There were enough hungry, broke families in the Ejido that they decided to take the money. They felt they had been had again when they saw Butler turn around and start "selling" that same land back to the ranch members for about a 1000% markup.
The newest conflict is because of yet one more poorly worded contract. Pat built the new road so he could close the old state funded road through El Dorado. He needed to do that so he could make El Dorado a gated community. The new road was supposed to be the dividing line between the Ranch and the rest of the Ejido. Because of the wording and the fact that Butler choose to ignore a prior verbal agreement he now owns both sides of that road too. So now the Ejiditatians have to drive through a concentration camp to get to their ranches in Vally Chico.
My guess is you don't know any Ejiditarios much less hang out with any on a regular basis.
As for the all rest about all the benefits of development all I can say is "Spoken like a good real estate agent"
burro bob

baja829 - 2-28-2007 at 02:04 PM

"BURRO" BOB - first of all, I'm not a real estate agent, never have been and never will be.

Your comments sound like one of those El Dorado land owners who weren't willing to buy their leased lots when it was privatized. If so, I too am a "Pioneer" and I didn't buy my lot either, but wish I had. I've had a home in the South Campos for 18 yrs. on leased land, at one time offered to me for a nomial $15,000, now I couldn't buy my 100' ocean front for $200,000, so I'll continue to lease, just like those wealthy people who live in Palm Springs and lease from the Cabazon Tribe and other tribes throughout the Coachella Valley.

The bottom line is business and it's no different at the Ranch than at any of the other Campos which have been sold to outside investors, some for millions, many for less,from some of the same Ejidatarios. Each developer purchased with the intent of selling lots -- look at Playa del Oro and any one of the other 15-20 developments now under construction. Some were good deals for all concerned -- and some renters got hurt as well.

There's no concentration camp out there - what a poor analogy --fences yes, to protect the land, homes, etc., within the Ranch which is kind of an "open" gated community.

Your facts, are further off now than they were originally. The original 30 yr. lease was extended for another 30 before it was purchased by Butler. When the laws were changed, he purchased it for a very large lump sum AND IN ADDITION, he paid an amount which I'm not exactly sure of at the moment, but which was published and verified of about $26,000, per person. This was paid to every individual Ejidatario, regardless of age, birth to whatever.

Those personal funds were put to very good use by many of them - thus all the development in the Ejido and along both sides of the road leading into San Felipe.

With regard to knowing the Ejidatarios, I do. Many are close friends, in fact from all 3 of the Ejidos, so I hear alot from all sides on the issue, fact and fiction. I have checked out my facts, but I'm not mad at anyone, just disappointed. Disappointed that all this beautiful land is going to change and be developed to capacity; disappointed at the in-fighting among the Ejidatarios, both within their Ejidos and outside and some of the residents; and disappointed that the racers who race down our good new road will mess it up, along with the desert, and the extra traffic they bring to town, but also resigned that what they, and others, like you and me, bring to the area will benefit everyone, in every way. San Felipe can ill afford to lose the racers, the developers and the tourists. We, as retirees, don't have a corner on the market in this little place on the map. We could move I guess, but somehow, all or part of this junk will follow us anywhere. All of this is not one person's, group of persons or one developer's fault.

honda tom - 3-1-2007 at 09:09 AM

A friend of mine owns a home in sf. he took me to the 250 9 years ago and i havent missed 1 since. After a couple of years and not being able to keep my mouth shut for 2 weeks after coming home, friends started coming with me. (bikes pre runners quads..... and money). last year there was at least 20 people in our group... even 6 guys flew down in a king air. After hearing the news about the move of the race, I had to make calls to 2 groups, totalling 11 people, that wont be coming. I'll still be coming with 3or4 others but thats because we"ll be heading down to gonzaga and calameje. with the race so far from SF its not worthwhile to bring these people there for a race weekend. the money wont be coming either. I feel bad for those restarants and merchants. OFF ROAD RACING IS GOOD FOR MEXICO! I think SF residents will regret that this happened.

TMW - 3-1-2007 at 01:23 PM

I could be all wrong on this, but I think that as time goes by those involved in San Felipe will cool off and come together for the good of the community. I would not be surprised to hear that the Baja 500 goes down to San Felipe this year as it did years ago.

burro bob - 3-1-2007 at 02:47 PM

Baja829
Not sure where you are getting your facts but there never was an extension on the original 30 year lease. The Mexican officials always said there would be an extension when the original lease was close to expiring. But there was no extension in place when Pat bought his property.
There is a huge difference between El Dorado ranch and any of the beach campos. Campos like Playa de Oro were purchased from individual owners (or individual families) that had title to those campos. El Dorado Ranch Estates was purchased from ~240 owners that had title to that land in common.
The $26,000 figure you give is correct. Each of the ~240 Ejidatarios got that much. Pat Butler paid aprox $6,400,000 for about 35,000 acres. Comes out to around $180 per acre. Wow what a wind fall. There is no "in addition". That 6.4 million was all they got.
I am not at all sorry I didn't "privatize" my lot at El Dorado. I found some other sucker and got my money back out of it. Sorry if you don't like my characterization of El Dorado as a concentration camp. But when you have chain link fences with barbed wire on top, guard towers, and hourly security patrols shining lights in your window all night long It seems like the only thing it can be called is a concentration camp.
What is an "open gated community"? I believe Orwell would call that newspeak.

burro bob

bajalou - 3-1-2007 at 03:24 PM

Living in El Dorado for about 12 years, and being friends with several people of the Ejido, my take is exactly like burro bob writes. My wife is VERY unhappy about the guarded gates etc. She feels like a prisoner. That wasn't why we came here, but we know all things change.

David K - 3-1-2007 at 05:59 PM

Lou, if I want to drop by to see you guys when I am passing through, how do I get by the guards? Pay a Mordida? Or is there no chance of a surprise visit?;)

bajalou - 3-1-2007 at 07:56 PM

They don't bother gringos much - Just tell them you're coming to see me and they should let you through. 6150, B8, lot 16 is my address.

meme - 3-2-2007 at 08:35 AM

There were 43 break-ins in Eldorado last spring/early summer(in a VERY short time) due to security people not being in those towers & no secuity to speak of at the gates or patroling roads in EDR. So it don't take long to find out what happens if EDR does not have those gates, towers, security etc.
Many that have bought & built in the Ehido also live behind chain link fences/or walls around property & must put up with crime there as they have little or no security as far as I know from friends I have living there.
I'm sure none of us REALLY want to live with these things but I'm also sure it's all here to stay & we will see more & more of it as time goes by.
San Felipe is growing and so will crime.