A Trip Down South -- Baja 1000 -- El Arco

A good friend of mine called me earlier in the year to see if I wanted to help pit the THR Kawasaki motorcycle in this year's Baja 1000. It would be a run down the peninsula to La Paz and I didn't have to even think about it -- I WAS IN.






Bikes were ferried to Ensenada, parts were packed and we were ready to head south. First night was a stay in San Q at Jardines. The place needs no more hype as it's always booked so I'll leave it at that.

The following morning we bailed for Guerrero Negro. We made a quick stop in El Rosario for gas and firewood, paying an exorbitant amount of pesos for the wood, which we never used. Oh well. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.



Taken from the dirt road that goes to San Felipe, near Laguna Chapala.







I want to give a shout out to Shari in Bahia Asuncion. I had never stayed in Guerrero overnight and she recommended Cowboy. She even called and made us a reservation. Good thing cuz the whole town appeared booked and we would've been sleeping in the desert if not for her.

We woke up race day at the break of dawn and headed to our pit -- El Arco.



Would this tire be needed for Team Kawasaki's bike? We would find out soon..........






We arrive at El Arco in about an hour. Cool area. Great people. Well fed cows.






A bucket of copper, taken from the El Arco mine site




Baja Pit team



















More copper piles or something............










We were all set up and ready to go...............the bikes were expected around 3PM. We were visited by the team Kawasaki helicopter. They refueled and my buddy spoke with alternate racer aboard the chopper. He would race if one of the racers went down.









The mining office had satellite internet so we and the mining crew checked for updates. The anticipation was building. The bikes were almost here.............








Sometime around 3PM, Team Honda came screaming by. No chopper, little to no warning, and no pit. Just gone. Into the desert the rider was absorbed.



We heard 8X (Kawasaki) would be next and they were. Destry Abbott came screaming in like a rock from a catapult. He pulled in with the look of stoic determination, gassed up, and took off in less than 10 seconds.

The only words from his mouth were "how far ahead?"

He was asking about Honda. My friend told him -- and like that -- Destry was gone.

Our work, was done. Time to relax and enjoy the rest of the race!!!

More to follow........


[Edited on 11-20-2012 by Ateo]

Part 2:





















A "trophy" -- as the kids referred to the Trophy Trucks -- approaches with an eery haze.



A rider settles down in my chair for a rest. Some background on him from my friend: Ken Kosiorek riding an XR650R goes by the name of "The Baja Turtle". He rides his XR650R from San Diego to the race the day before, sleeps in the desert overnight, rides to the race start, rides the race, sleeps in the desert again, then rides back to San Diego and stores the bike and Fun Bike Center. He stops and eats at every pit!
























Around 4AM I realized I needed some sleep or I'd be wrecked the following day so off to the front seat of my truck I went.


The mood the following morning was a little slower paced. The racers coming thru now had obviously had problems the day before and were running on sheer will. The mood was very light though. People were laughing and a little out of their minds.
















The jail at El Arco. No kidding.





We were done. Time to head to Bahia de los Angeles to wash the dust off.

We said good bye to some new friends and headed out the road back to the trans-peninsular highway.

More to follow......................

[Edited on 11-20-2012 by Ateo]

Bonus part of the trip -- Bahia de los Angeles.










Breakfast at Alejandrinas:





Rain:





Gotta Peso:




That was it.



Thanks to the Bell family for letting me be an insignificant part of your stellar organization for this one day. It is with great pride that I say this.

And to that friend who made this adventure a possibility, thanks for the invite. You know where we stand. Mil gracias amigo.

Jon

very healthy foto burst! wish i was there ('cept no surf and 1000 miles in 2 days!) split the driving! next time lemme know how to put some $ towards the goal.....

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view very healthy foto burst! wish i was there ('cept no surf and 1000 miles in 2 days!) split the driving! next time lemme know how to put some $ towards the goal.....

Well written Senor.......... thanks we really enjoyed it.

Great shots, thanks much

Still running VW's