BajaNomad

Effect of Baja 1000 on travel to Gonzaga

BajaBret - 10-11-2010 at 05:19 PM

Hi to all. I am new to this site and want to thank everyone in advance for any helpful info you can offer. I have been planning for some time now to drive to the Gonzaga area and camp & fish at Papa Fernandez with my 11 year old son on Sat, Nov 20. I just found out that that the Baja 1000 starts on the 18th and goes right through there. This raises several questions/concerns. First of all, will the road be closed to public traffic or worse, will I find myself driving on a race course? Is Papa Fernandez going to crowded with drunken race fans ( I am sure I could hang with a few:). Should I have any (more than the usual, obvious) safety concerns? I have traveled to this area many times but not in the last 3 years and this is the first time I have taken my son to the Sea of Cortez. Hoping for a stellar trip! Muchas gracias for any insights.

Bret

David K - 10-11-2010 at 05:29 PM

The race will be a exciting event to witness... but if you are over a mile away, all you will hear is some engine noise, see some dust, and that will be it (as they race by). Most of the action will be after dark around Gonzaga... the fastest trucks and buggies will arrive close to sundown... then continue passing there all night.

The course is on Hwy. 5 from 15 miles north of Puertecitos to Coco's Corner. The road is open, but it really is not a good idea to be on it during the race... and specially going north.

For the month before the race, pre-running is done... but the roads are for public use and the racers know that pre-running is not a race, at race speed... but they will go faster than us, because they can. Do be careful driving north during pre-running time.

On the paved highway, the racers cannot exceed 60 mph... and have GPS devices that will rat on them if they do... and they are heavily penalized.

See http://www.score-international.com for more details.

[Edited on 10-12-2010 by David K]

BajaBret - 10-11-2010 at 05:47 PM

Would it be safe to assume that all racing activities around the Papa Fernandez area will be over by Sat, Nov 20?

David K - 10-11-2010 at 07:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBret
Would it be safe to assume that all racing activities around the Papa Fernandez area will be over by Sat, Nov 20?


The race begins in Ensenada on the 18th... motorcycles first... early, then a 4 hour gap before the Trophy Trucks and other four wheeled race cars begin... one evey 30 seconds... It is a race against the clock, not each other.

I believe TW may have said in one of the other 1000 threads here that the Trucks may start to arrive about 4:30 (bikes about 11-12?)... and will be passing by until all those in the running are gone. That will be the next morning (19th)... No more racing by the afternoon of the 19th is my guess.

In 2006 we pitted the 1000 at El Crucero... 55 miles south of Gonzaga. The fastest bikes started passing us at noon and the fastest trucks about 5 pm. Sounds like they are adding one more hour gap between the last bike and the first truck this year. Gonzaga is just over an hour sooner than El Crucero... so bikes starting about 11 am and trucks starting about 5 pm... this is only a guess.

BajaBret - 10-11-2010 at 07:50 PM

Thank you so much! very helpful,

Bret

TMW - 10-12-2010 at 09:16 AM

Now go catch some fish and have lunch ready when Tunaeater comes thru on bike 272X. He'll be hungry and thirsty.

motoged - 10-12-2010 at 12:28 PM

Accommodations in Gonzaga might be limited due to race fans, etc hanging around after the race passes through....

If you are self-contained....have a good time.

Pacifico - 10-12-2010 at 12:33 PM

Bret,

You should be fine on the 20th. I believe that racers need to be through the checkpoints by certain times or they get disqualified. So, you should not have any more racers going through on the 20th....If they aren't through Gonzaga by the 18th or 19th, they have already lost the race!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

surfer jim - 10-12-2010 at 12:50 PM

Racers will be long gone by Saturday...the washboard road will still be there.

BajaBret - 10-12-2010 at 09:33 PM

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts. I have decided to stick with my plan. Can't wait to get on that old washboard! I always come self-contained...you just never know. Hey Tunaeater, stop by PF, but only if you like fresh sierra, trigger ceveche and cold Tecate. All the best,

Bret

David K - 10-13-2010 at 02:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBret
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts. I have decided to stick with my plan. Can't wait to get on that old washboard! I always come self-contained...you just never know. Hey Tunaeater, stop by PF, but only if you like fresh sierra, trigger ceveche and cold Tecate. All the best,

Bret


Tunaeater would enjoy that, if he is done racing!

bufeo - 10-13-2010 at 02:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBret... Can't wait to get on that old washboard! ...Bret


Actually, Bret, the race will change some aspects of the road. While many of the ruts may be deepened, especially on turns/curves where the berms will build up, the washboard gets knocked off. To us, the road always seemed better after some high-speed hammering.

Allen R.

bonanza bucko - 10-13-2010 at 06:44 PM

We're on the brink of being a civilized place here in Gonzaga Bay. No such place would allow the lunatics who drive over these terrible roads at high speeds to do that. When we grow up we will require that these @#$&^%s do their lunacy someplace that is not inhabited by sane people.
BB

redhilltown - 10-13-2010 at 11:27 PM

I dunno Bucko..."sane" and Baja are usually not used in the same sentence! ;D