BajaNomad

Mexican off road clubs

astrobaja - 9-12-2010 at 02:32 PM

Hi all,

Anyone have a contact list for Baja off road clubs? We get 3 or 4 distinct clubs (all Mexican clubs) making runs which go through our property over the course of the year. Now we have signs marking where our land starts at both ends along with por favor no tire basura signs but yesterday a tour came through and littered like crazy beer cans every 200 feet! Its annoying and we really don't want to prohibit access with a gate but I'd like to let them know that if they continue to litter it may happen! Can't they just keep the cans and recycle them for a little cash?

[Edited on 9-12-2010 by astrobaja]

mtgoat666 - 9-12-2010 at 02:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
Hi all,

Anyone have a contact list for Baja off road clubs? We get 3 or 4 distinct clubs (all Mexican clubs) making runs which go through our property over the course of the year. Now we have signs marking where our land starts at both ends along with por favor no tire basura signs but yesterday a tour came through and littered like crazy beer cans every 200 feet! Its annoying and we really don't want to prohibit access with a gate but I'd like to let them know that if they continue to litter it may happen! Can't they just keep the cans and recycle them for a little cash?

[Edited on 9-12-2010 by astrobaja]


unfortunately, knuckle draggers cannot be retrained. can't teach an old dog new tricks. people have been complaining about litter since dawn of time, and the knuckle draggers have heard it before and continue to litter.

put up a gate and a sign saying "road closed due to past bad behaviour of knuckle draggers, violators will be shot," and buy a 30-06 rifle with scope and use it often.

p.s. next time a mex club comes thru, ask them for list, and tell them to take a message back to their clubhouse, spread the word, tell them that they got 3 opportunities,... after 3rd litter bug group, shut them out

[Edited on 9-12-2010 by mtgoat666]

astrobaja - 9-12-2010 at 02:56 PM

well goat don't wanna be so draconian about it! Besides one of the big clubs which came through right after the jan storms actively promoted NOT littering, and apologised for the hangers on which were not part of their club which did litter! So don't lump them together so easily! I figure if I circulate our desires to the right people the message will register!

Ken Cooke - 9-12-2010 at 05:07 PM

Unlike the simplicity that Mtn Goat 666 tends to preach, land use issues are integral to the 4WD community in accessing land and keeping trails open for recreational purposes.

http://www.baja4x4.org is the best place to begin with many 4WD clubs in Baja, Mexico listing their 4WD clubs' site from this main forum. Likewise, if you are in need of road-building help or supplies, this would be a good place to begin your search for help, as organized 4WD Clubs are responsible people who police themselves from irresponsible behavior such as breaking bear bottles and dumping trash on 4WD trails.


A large Tijuana club - Los Zopilotos http://www.zopilotos4x4.com/ can also help spread the word. I have led several 4WD trips through Baja, Mexico and I look to Baja as being a locale that I will always enjoy due to the wide-open locales, great camping, and history of the peninsula.

Thanks for keeping your land open for our use!:yes:

Here's photos from some past events

...in the Tecate area.




...in the Laguna Salada area.



...in the Coco's Corner area.

astrobaja - 9-12-2010 at 05:51 PM

Thanks for the links Ken, I will post the no littering requests there!

Ken Cooke - 9-12-2010 at 09:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
Thanks for the links Ken, I will post the no littering requests there!


CG is on top of the issue, and he will be talking with the locals in Tijuana and pass the information along with the clubs in Ensenada as well. Thanks for working with us 4 wheelers.

TMW - 9-13-2010 at 09:09 AM

Astrobaja were these 4 wheel drive clubs? Since the road to Mikes Sky Ranch is in bad shape I at first thought it would have been motorcycle people. There are several MC tour groups that I know of but none would allow beer on the trail. Tim Morton does MC tours and spends a lot of time in Baja. He may know of such clubs that you speak of. He can be reach by going to his web site at www.bajaboundmoto.com and emailing him. I know Tim Personally and I know he would like to meet you and would help in getting the word out.

Dusty Times shows several Off Road race groups you could contact .

San Quintin, Heraclio Patino 011 52 616-5-22-07.
Club Automovilistico, San Vicente, Ramon Castro and Ruben Acevedo 616-37-7-0034 this number doesn't seem right. They also list a Jan Wright at 011 52 617-46834.
Ensenada Baja Off Road Racing, Elisio 011-52-646-1818989. Aaron 011-52-646-1715230.
Vicente Guerrero Off Road Club, Profo Cenovio Gamboa, 011-52-616-6-21-91 (2-6pm).

Other contacts:
CODE Racing out of Mexicali -11-52-686-553-4087.
ZR Promotions, Mexicali, 686-564-6653 email at info@zrpromo.com.

Contacting these clubs etc could put you into contact with the right people to get the word out.

BajaGringo - 9-13-2010 at 09:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Dusty Times shows several Off Road race groups you could contact .

San Quintin, Heraclio Patino 011 52 616-5-22-07.
Club Automovilistico, San Vicente, Ramon Castro and Ruben Acevedo 616-37-7-0034 this number doesn't seem right. They also list a Jan Wright at 011 52 617-46834.
Ensenada Baja Off Road Racing, Elisio 011-52-646-1818989. Aaron 011-52-646-1715230.
Vicente Guerrero Off Road Club, Profo Cenovio Gamboa, 011-52-616-6-21-91 (2-6pm).

Other contacts:
CODE Racing out of Mexicali -11-52-686-553-4087.
ZR Promotions, Mexicali, 686-564-6653 email at info@zrpromo.com.

Contacting these clubs etc could put you into contact with the right people to get the word out.


As far as the local SQ area, Heraclio is a close friend of mine and I know the family of my good friend Meņo is active in the off-road/racing community as well. I will talk to both to see how they can help you out...

TMW - 9-13-2010 at 10:02 AM

Wide Open Baja is a group that does tours in buggies.
http://www.wideopenbaja.com
phone 1-949-635-2292

They use their buggies for the tours. I met them at Mikes Sky Ranch a couple of years ago. They also set their buggies up to race in SCORE in the BC class. Usually celebs like TV and movie stars and company CEOs race. Kind of expensive for the average joe. But they take care of everything.

TMW - 9-13-2010 at 10:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
no tire basura signs but yesterday a tour came through and littered like crazy beer cans every 200 feet!

Can't they just keep the cans and recycle them for a little cash?

[Edited on 9-12-2010 by astrobaja]


Mike I had the same problem at my work site on Mt Breckenridge east of Bakersfield. People would drive up for the beautiful mtns and throw their beer cans , pop cans and wrappers all over. All they had to do was throw the cans into the back of the pickup bed or put it in a bag and take it out. Someone must have bought a 30 pack of Bud Light one time because they were all up the mtn for 30 miles.

astrobaja - 9-13-2010 at 12:32 PM

Ken -- thanks so much for helping to get the word out! Drop by for a beer anytime!

TW-- nope the tours I'm talking about are all Mexican offroad car groups. The last bunch through was from Tecate I think, they had big yellow flags on their jeeps. I know the bike tours you are talking about and they have never littered! The last hummer military group that went through checking for growers camped near the house, they also left quite a mess, perhaps its a cultural thing. Just getting tired of picking up after people, no littering seems like a simple rule to me!:D

thanks for all the help!

BajaRoadrunner - 9-13-2010 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by astrobaja
, perhaps its a cultural thing. Just getting tired of picking up after people, no littering seems like a simple rule to me!:D

thanks for all the help!


I agree on the cultural thing. I'm mexican by the way.
I've been on many runs with mexican off-road clubs (and some american); and many times end up picking some trash, I usually ride at the end of the caravan for that reason. And every time we stop for something I watch people leave their trash right where they were sitting or standing. SAD. It's difficult to overcome "habits" (or ignorance?) even if many of them try or at least claim they do.

I mostly pick up plastic drink containers and beer cans. The lame logic or idea of these guys on the beer cans is that somebody will pick them up in order to get the money from the recycling as in the city many people make a living by doing that.
Sometimes I will just make a comment like "hey, don't litter" through the cb but of course everybody it's just too sensitive about it. I'm not a diplomat either :tumble:

On the other hand, I know many guys that encourage their club members to not litter and participate in cleanups. I agree with Ken on the organized clubs comment, especially clubs that originate or are related to Baja4x4.org were trash is a well known and discussed issue. But as you may imagine, there is still a lot more work to do in educating people.
I will post comment on the Baja4x4.org forum that Ken mentioned especially for the yearly trip to SPM, maybe next year it can be a cleanup run.

Don't worry Astro, the word will spread.

David K - 9-13-2010 at 05:22 PM

If they could hall it in FULL... it should be even easier to HAUL IT OUT, empty!!!

My son and I watched the Baja 500 from a point off Hwy. 3 near Independencia... We were the first ones to set up camp the afterbnoon before the race, and ny the time the racers arrived, there were dozens of 'locals' perhaps from Ensenada who came and parked along the course to enjoy the race.

The landscape was free of trash before they came, and we were there until most had left.. and without exception, they all left their empty beer bottles and more on the ground when they left. We loaded up as much of their bottles as I had trash bags for... But, a dump truck would have been needed to clean up their mess. :rolleyes:

Hopefully, their habits will improve... as ours did back in the 1960's.

Race photos from our location then: http://vivabaja.com/500