BajaNomad

Baja 1000 crowds in Ensenada

TheColoradoDude - 11-20-2009 at 09:55 PM

Just wondering from anybody in the Ensenada area if the crowds have died down or will it still be busy for the next couple days. I am in Rosarito now but looking to take a friend to Ensenada to the fish market and couple places south of town. If it's too crazy we will probably drive down on Monday and then exit on MX 3 thru Tecate.

Great parade and people here today in Rosarito!!! Puerto Nuevo was a ghost town.

Thanks for any and all information about the Baja 1000 and Ensenada.

:coolup:

David K - 11-20-2009 at 10:05 PM

The race is running right now and continues well into tomorrow (Saturday 21st).

k-rico - 11-21-2009 at 07:52 AM

I was there last night from about 6 PM to 11PM. No problem finding a parking spot in the main parking ramp along the harbor next to Sanbornes. In the main tourist area there were few people. I actually saw bars that were entirely empty. No crowds whatsoever. Little traffic on the streets. I was hoping for a lively Friday night. It was dead. MAYBE bigger crowds today.

David K - 11-21-2009 at 08:02 AM

Too bad for Baja... just think how much worse business would be without the Baja 1000!

k-rico - 11-21-2009 at 08:16 AM

The Baja 1000 didn't look like it had much of an effect.

I was really surprised. An empty bar is an empty bar with or without the Baja 1000. We walked past what looked like to be a really nice new restaurant at dinner time, a couple of blocks from the start/finish line. Only the waiters were there, standing around doing nothing.

I was wondering where the people were that live in the vicinity. Friday night, they weren't even out and about. Even looked like the movie theater was empty, maybe closed.

We should have stayed in quaint and charming Tijuana.


[Edited on 11-21-2009 by k-rico]

David K - 11-21-2009 at 08:30 AM

Could it be that instead of being in a bar, the people were watching the race? I mean, why go all the way to Ensenada for a bar... when the world's greatest off road race is happening there? There are bars and movie theatres in other places, afterall... Perhaps tonight after the race, the bars will be packed?

k-rico - 11-21-2009 at 08:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I mean, why go all the way to Ensenada for a bar... when the world's greatest off road race is happening there?


But, that's exactly why we went. I was looking for a big event type atmosphere. Especially because the race started and finished there. I wanted to go to a party.

I watched the races before, camped out at the beach and in the mountains. Hardly spent any money at all those times.

Tonight might be better.

DENNIS - 11-21-2009 at 08:52 AM

Tonight will be better. What would help the overall business picture would be if the cruise ships would dump their cargo in town early evening. Untill something like that happens, the Ensenada tourism industry is going to have to realize the world has changed. Ensenada is no longer a casual day trip from the border.
They're also going to have to realize that a street full of nice bars and restaurants by itself is an inadaquate reason to call any place a viable tourist destination and when the sun goes down, the remaining two attractions, Guadalupe Valley and La Bufadora, are closed.
Current events have again become a factor. The rock thrown killing of that young girl on the toll road is anything but bad press. It's real.
Ensenada has a huge problem of identity.

bajabass - 11-21-2009 at 08:55 AM

The real party people work the chase trucks, checkpoints, fuel stops, ect. I am driving down to La Mision this afternoon, but I won't even go near Ensenada tonight. The will all be heading back today and tonight. It will probably be a zoo tonight and all day Sunday. Look out for a big back up coming out of Ensenada at the tollbooth/ military checkpoint northbound! I think you will find all you can handle at the usual places on the main drag. Check out Tequilas, a couple doors from Anthony"s. The family that owns it introduced me to my wife. Good people.

bajaguy - 11-21-2009 at 09:24 AM

Drove through town last night at about 5PM....a little crowded by where the vendors had their booths set up, byt otherwise no problems......South of town, ditto.

Usual Friday night traffic

David K - 11-21-2009 at 09:37 AM

For sure, tonight's the party... the race will be over!

There is a winner for every class not just the fastest m/c and fastest truck.

Taco de Baja - 11-21-2009 at 12:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Could it be that instead of being in a bar, the people were watching the race? I mean, why go all the way to Ensenada for a bar... when the world's greatest off road race is happening there?


"Greatest off-road race"? ...
I think the Dakar Rally ranks up there, and maybe greater...Plus you get to see cool vehicles like these :yes:
I wonder how a Unimog (and mog-type vehicles) would do on the Baja 1000?





postholedigger - 11-21-2009 at 11:45 PM

They'd probably have a problem with rolling over.

TMW - 11-22-2009 at 10:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
The Baja 1000 didn't look like it had much of an effect.

I was really surprised. An empty bar is an empty bar with or without the Baja 1000. We walked past what looked like to be a really nice new restaurant at dinner time, a couple of blocks from the start/finish line. Only the waiters were there, standing around doing nothing.

I was wondering where the people were that live in the vicinity. Friday night, they weren't even out and about. Even looked like the movie theater was empty, maybe closed.

We should have stayed in quaint and charming Tijuana.


[Edited on 11-21-2009 by k-rico]


You missed it. The crowds are there the days leading up to the race and the morning of and day after. Thursday evening at the rider/drivers meeting the convention center was over flowing. The race people don't stay in town when the race is going on. When the racers leave the start line the chase crews and spectators leave to follow the race. I was there for the start of both the bikes and cars. Rolled out on hwy 3 east at 11:30am with constant flow of traffic to and from San Felipe. In Ensenada Thursday the streets were full for contingency. Resturants and hotels were flowing. First bikes back around 8:30pm with cars 3-4 hours later. On Saturday there was a constant stream of traffic heading back to Ensenada on hwy 3. The last bike had until 2:36pm and last car about 7:40pm to finish Saturday.

postholedigger - 11-22-2009 at 11:22 PM

The military check points weren't clogged up at all. The border was your typical Sunday border crossing...about 2 hours to get across.

k-rico - 11-23-2009 at 09:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
The Baja 1000 didn't look like it had much of an effect.

I was really surprised. An empty bar is an empty bar with or without the Baja 1000. We walked past what looked like to be a really nice new restaurant at dinner time, a couple of blocks from the start/finish line. Only the waiters were there, standing around doing nothing.

I was wondering where the people were that live in the vicinity. Friday night, they weren't even out and about. Even looked like the movie theater was empty, maybe closed.

We should have stayed in quaint and charming Tijuana.


[Edited on 11-21-2009 by k-rico]


You missed it. The crowds are there the days leading up to the race and the morning of and day after. Thursday evening at the rider/drivers meeting the convention center was over flowing. The race people don't stay in town when the race is going on. When the racers leave the start line the chase crews and spectators leave to follow the race. I was there for the start of both the bikes and cars. Rolled out on hwy 3 east at 11:30am with constant flow of traffic to and from San Felipe. In Ensenada Thursday the streets were full for contingency. Resturants and hotels were flowing. First bikes back around 8:30pm with cars 3-4 hours later. On Saturday there was a constant stream of traffic heading back to Ensenada on hwy 3. The last bike had until 2:36pm and last car about 7:40pm to finish Saturday.


Yes, that's what I've concluded. Friday night was picked to celebrate a birthday and we thought combining the two would be a good idea. Plus, several folks I talked to all said Friday night would be party time in Ensenada. They were wrong. Next time I'll be there for the start of the race.

bajabass - 11-23-2009 at 09:11 AM

Hit the border at 8 last night. It took almost 2 hours. I usually am through in 1 hour. Lines seemed slow, but not to many race rigs. Spectators?

Mexicorn - 11-23-2009 at 12:08 PM

OK OK enough of those same old pictures of those same old cars.


Where the Tecate/Corona girls?

postholedigger - 11-23-2009 at 05:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexicorn

Where the Tecate/Corona girls?


Lined up at the finish line.

postholedigger - 11-23-2009 at 05:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabass
Hit the border at 8 last night. It took almost 2 hours. I usually am through in 1 hour. Lines seemed slow, but not to many race rigs. Spectators?


I got to the border around 4:30 and was through in about 2 hours as well. There were a couple of race teams creeping alongside me. Last time I came down for one of these, I crossed back into the US via Otay and noticed alot more racers in the line than this time at San Ysidro.