Baja 1000 "Great Facts"

Checkout who is "Grand Marshal"

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123

November 2, 2004

F A C T S H E E T
2004 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

WHAT: 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race
Final event of the five-race 2004 SCORE Desert Series

WHEN: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, November 16-20, 2004

WHERE: Ensenada-Baja California, Mexico (65 miles south of U.S./Mexico Border) to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

WHO: Nearly 300 entries from 30 U.S. States, and 10 countries, competing in 26 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs

COURSE: TOTAL MILEAGE: 1,016.3 miles (14 checkpoints). Starts in downtown Ensenada adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, finishing on the outskirts of La Paz adjacent to the tourism office. Starting on the pacific Ocean side of the Baja California peninsula, the course immediately heads southeast to San Felipe (rm 179.83) through Ojos Negros and Alamo where it turns south along the azure Sea of Cortez. Passing through Puertocitos, San Luis Gonzaga, and Bahia de Los Angeles (rm 376.3) before heading about 20 miles further south and then turning southwest through El Arco/San Francisquito junction (rm 445.68) and winding a bit back east to San Ignacio (rm 550.5, KM 73 on Highway 1). The course then heads sharply southwest back to the Pacific Ocean at El Datil (rm 618.31) and down to San Juanico (rm 658.8) before a backwards ?C? loop down past Loreto at San Javier (rm 740.98) to across Hwy 1 just north of Ciudad Insurgentes (rm 794.5). The course then runs south along the Pacific Ocean past Ciudad Constitucion and Santa Rita (rm 901.2) before finally turning slightly northeast (rm 972.34) for the final run to the finish line in La Paz. The 13 checkpoints will be located at the following race miles on the course?Ck. 1-50.04 (North of Tres Hermanos), Ck. 2-83.32 (Santa Catarina), Ck. 3-136.92 (Diablo Dry Lake), Ck. 4-214.59 (South of San Felipe, Hwy 5, K52.5), Ck. 5-298.95 (Coco?s Corner), Ck. 6-376.3 (Bahia de Los Angeles), Ck. 7-551.75 (San Ignacio), Ck. 8-618.31 (El Datil Fish Camp), Ck. 9-745.45 (San Javier), Ck. 10-820.69 (Ciudad Insurgentes), Ck. 11-927.83 (Rancho Santa Fe), Ck. 12-976.80 (Abandoned Rancho), Ck 13-1000 (Top of Mini Summit) and finish line-1016.3 (La Paz).

PRE/POST RACE SHEDULE:
TUESDAY, Nov. 16--(All times PST)
Racer Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Media Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 17--(All Times PST)
Racer Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Media Registration, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Contingency Row, across from San Nicolas Hotel, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Technical Inspection, End of Contingency Row, 10 a.m. - 6p.m.
Mandatory Racer Meeting, Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center, 7p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 20--(all times PST)
Posting of Unofficial Results?Race in Progress, Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Posting of FINAL UNOFFICIAL Results?Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, 10 a.m.
Competition Review Board?Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz, 11 a.m.
Awards Celebration-Crowne Plaza Resort-La Paz-1 p.m.
START: In front of the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in downtown Ensenada
FINISH: Adjacent of the tourism office, outskirts of La Paz
RACE DAYS SCHEDULE THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY, Nov. 18-20--(all times PST)
Late Registration & Tech, Rivieria del Pacifico Convention Center, 6 a.m.
RACE STARTS: (Thursday, Nov. 18) Motorcycles, ATVs-6:30 a.m.; Cars, Trucks-9:30 a.m. (Approx.)
STARTING ORDER: (One vehicle every 30 seconds; 60-second interval for TT, 1, 10, 8, PT, SL, 1-2/1600)
Motorcycles/ATVs--22, 30, 40, 21, 50, Sportsman M/C>, Sportsman M/C<, 25, 24, Sportsman ATV
Cars/Trucks--TT, 1, 10, 8, PT, SL, 1-2/1600, 5, 7, BC, 7S, 7SX, 5/1600, SF, SM, 9, 3, 17, 11, Sportsman Car, Sportsman Truck, Sportsman Legend
TIME LIMIT: All vehicles will have a 40-hour time limit from the time they start.

SANCTION:
Sanctioned and produced by SCORE International-Los Angeles
CEO/President--Sal Fish; Vice-President?Paul Fish; Oscar Ramos?Attorney; Administration--Sue Johnson 818.225.8402

SPONSORS: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire of SCORE; Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle of SCORE; Centrix Financial, CL Bryant-VP Racing Fuel-official fuel of SCORE; Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Herbst Gaming, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein; Signpros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie?s, Fideicomiso Publio para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada, Cotuco and Advanced Color Graphics.

TELEVISION:
The race will be televised as a one-hour NBC Sports special in December on the NBC Television Network. The show is produced by Aura360. The telecast will air on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Anchor for NBC will be emmy-award winner sportscaster Al Trautwig. A special pre-run preview segment, including NASCAR?s Robby Gordon, will air during the Jeep World of Adventure Sports on Saturday, Dec. 4. CNBC?s ?Bullseye?, with host Dylan Ratigan, will also produce segments to air Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Additionally, The Learning Channel?s Rides weekly program (Tuesday?s at 10 p.m. EST/PST), produced by Brentwood Communications, will be developing a Terrible Herbst Motorsports show called ?Terrible Baja? to air in 2005.

TERRIBLE?S BAJA BONUS PURSE:
Through the sponsorship provided by Herbst Gaming of Las Vegas, this year?s race includes the added $40,000 Terrible?s Bonus Purse. The overall 4-wheel winner will receive $20,000, the first overall motorcycle will earn an additional $2,000 and the first overall ATV will earn an additional $1,000. The winner in all other classes with at least 10 starters will also pick up a $1,000 Terrible?s Bonus.

TOP DRIVERS & RIDERS:
SCORE Trophy-Truck: 1 Ed/Tim Herbst, 4 Gus Vildosola/Rob MacCachren, 8 Dan Smith/David Ashley, 3 Mark Post/Curt LeDuc, 12 Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, 81 Mark Miller/Ryan Arciero, 4 Robby Gordon/Steve Barlow, 28 Alan Pflueger, 66 Jason Baldwin, 16 Cameron Steele/Ed Stout, 2 Pete Sohren/Cameron Steele, 9 Darren Skilton, 45 Ted Hunnicutt/Jeff Lewis/Cory Susag, 7 Jesse Jones/ Scott Steinberger; Class 1: 111 John Marking/Chris Harrold, 124 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, 109 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, 100 Dale Ebberts/Ernie Castro Jr., 114 Chuck Hovey, 117 Gary/Mark Weyhrich, 110 Mark McMillin/Brian Ewalt, 112 Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, 101 Bobby Baldwin, 121 Corky McMillin/Brian Ewalt, 107 Mike Groff/Jimmy Vasser; Class 1-2/1600: 1649 Brian Jeffrey/Adam Pfankuch, 1604 Rob MacCachren/Bruce Fraley, 1615 Cameron Steele; Class 3: 300 Donald Moss; Class 5: 500 George Seeley; Class 5/1600: 550 Marcos Nunez, 553 Dave Collier; Class 7: 700 Craig Turner, 706 Hector Salazar, 705 Dan Chamlee; CLASS 8: 807 Nick Vanderwey, 800 Dave Sykes/Dave Westhem, 801 Tom Bradley, 806 Curt LeDuc; Class 10: 1000 Martin Christensen, 1005 Steve Myers, 1009 Mark Hutchins, 1002 John Cooley; SCORE Lite: 1205 Tom Watson, 1210 Blaise Jackson, 1213 Mark Kyle; Stock Full: 860 John Griffin, 863 Rod Hall/Josh Hall, 878 Mark Handley; Protruck: 227 Matt Scaroni, 226 Al Hogan; Baja Challenge: BC9 Robert Sutton/Rod Millen/Jeff Zwart/Paul Newman, BC 2 David Sutton/Ryan Thomas, BC 4 Michel Jourdain Jr./Michel Jourdain Sr., BC 5 Danny Sullivan/Scott Goodyear/Sebastien Bourdais/Paul Page, BC8 Kate Sutton/Vitor Meira/Rhys Millen; Class 22: 1x Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell; Class 30: 300x Jim Ferguson Class 40: 400x Jim O?Neal/Tim Withers/Jeff Kaplan, Class 50: 500x Richard Jackson/Bob Wadlow/Mark Force, 548x Chris Haines/Jack Johnson/Malcolm Smith; Class 21: 100x Joe Desrosiers; Class 25: 1a John Gregory, 10a Ruben Martin.

HISTORY OF START/FINISH:
In the 37-year history of the SCORE Baja 1000, this will be the 30th time the race has started in Ensenada and the 16th time it has finished in La Paz. It has also started three times in Mexicali (1972, 1993, 1994), twice in Tijuana (1967, 1995) and once each in Santo Tomas (1998) and Ojos Negro (1999). It has finished in Mexicali twice (1993, 1994), once each in Ojos Negro (1999) and Cabo San Lucas (2000). The last time this race ended in La Paz was 2002.

TIRE STREAK:
BFGoodrich Tires, long a staple in desert racing, has been the tire of choice for 18 consecutive overall 4-wheel vehicle winners.

ENGINE WINNERS:
in 4-wheel vehicle competition, VW motors have produced 12 overall winners, followed by Ford and Chevy (tied with 9), Porsche with 3, Toyota with 2, and Dodge with 1.

CHASSIS WINNERS:
Among 4-wheel vehicles, Chenowth has produced the chassis for 10 overall winners, followed by Ford with 9, Chevy with 5, Toyota, Funco, Raceco and Jimco with 2 each and Miller, Hi-Jumper, Dodge, and Meyers Manx with 1 each.

MOTORCYCLE WINNERS:
In motorcycle competition, Honda leads with 14 overall victories, followed by Husqvarna with 11, Kawasaki with 9 and Yamaha with 2.

SCORE GPS DATA LOGGERS:
Attempting to help increase safety, verify route and speed, SCORE is requiring the mandatory use SCORE GPS data loggers in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Class 1, Class 10 and Protruck. With equipment and monitoring services provided by RallyTrack.com, Lakewood, Calif., SCORE hopes to begin using these special ?black boxes? in all classes during the 2005 SCORE Desert Series schedule.

GRAND MARSHALL:
Parnelli Jones, the legendary Hall of Fame racer whose victories include the 1963 Indy 500 and the 1971 and 1972 SCORE Baja 1000, will be the Grand Marshall for this year?s race, following in the footsteps of Mario Andretti, who was the first honoree for this award last year. Jones is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

THEY JUST KEEP ON GOING, AND GOING...:
When veterans Rod Hall and Ron Bishop strap on their racing helmets and take the green flag, they will keep their incredible streaks alive of being the only two racers who have competed in all 37 SCORE Baja 1000 races. Hall, who will turn 67 on Nov. 22, will co-drive with his son Josh in Stock Full as well as Terry Henn in Stock Full, doubling his opportunity for another class win. Bishop, 61, is the only individual who has run all 37 races on a motorcycle. This year, Bishop will co-ride with a team led by veteran Gene Dempsey in Class 50 for riders over 50 years young. Hall is the all-time winningest racer in this event with 17 class wins and Bishop is a member of the AMA Hall of Fame.

TIGHT OVERALL POINTS:
SCORE points are determined both on final finishing position and number of vehicles which started the race within the individual class. After four events, the team of Brian Jeffrey/Adam Pfankuch has earned 301 points are the overall point leaders and lead Class 1-2/1600 as well in their Dunrite-VW. In what has developed into one of tightest overall point battles in SCORE history, just 38 points separate the top five heading into the season finale in Mexico, and they are all in Class 1-2/1600. In second in overall points is Las Vegas? Rob MacCachren (Fraley-VW?291), while third is Leonardo Navarette with 268 in a Jimco-VW. Fourth is Travis Fletcher with 264 in a Baja Shop-VW and fifth is Rick Boyer with 263 in a Lothringer-VW.

KARTEK BONUS:
The 2004 SCORE Overall Point Champion will also earn the $10,000 Kartek Off-Road bonus.

TOYOTA AWARDS:
The race will also determine the winners of this year?s $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Award winners. Presented to every racer who completes every required race mile this season, this is the 18th year of this Toyota Awards program with SCORE.

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCKS:
A SCORE record of nearly 30 SCORE Trophy-Trucks are expected to take the green flag. The marquee SCORE racing division featuring 750-horsepower unlimited production trucks includes cross-over drivers in addition to the talented field of regulars and a very close point?s race for the season championship. Nine of 10 previous season point champions are entered and 53 of 66 SCORE Trophy-Truck race winners are represented as well along with eight of the previous 10 SCORE Trophy-Truck winners in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Las Vegas brothers Ed and Tim Herbst are the winningest team in the history of the class with 11 race wins in the No. 1 Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150, while Dan Smith/David Ashley, Riverside, Calif., are second with nine wins in the No. 8 Enduro Racing Ford F-150. Third is Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz., with seven. Ragland is racing this year with veteran Brian Collins of Las Vegas, who has one win in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

MAN OF TRIPLE-STEELE:
ESPN announcer Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., is a second-generation desert racer who is attempting to drive in three vehicles this year, two in SCORE Trophy-Truck and one in Class 1-2/1600. He is regular in Class 1-2/1600, where he is driver of record in the No. 1615 Prep by Jake-VW. In SCORE Trophy-Truck, Steele debuted his new No. 16 Board Ford Motorsports Ford F-150 in September?s SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, and has is now also teamed with Pete Sohren in the No. 2 Board Ford Motorsports Ford F-150. On the airwaves, Steele is an ESPN announcer for Supercross, X-Games, and the Indy Racing League. Obviously, Steele doesn?t sleep much.

CROSSOVERS:
As always, several crossover racers are entered this year, including NASCAR?s Robby Gordon (SCORE Trophy-Truck) along with Champ Car?s Jimmy Vasser with Indy Car veteran Mike Groff (Class 1) and SCCA sports car racing legend Elliott Forbes Robinson (Class 10). Legendary supercross/motocross rider Ricky Johnson will drive with Chad Ragland (SCORE Trophy-Truck). Scheduled to race in the special Centrix Financial Baja Challenge class (Baja touring cars) are Champ Car regulars Sebastien Bourdais, of France (current series point leader) and Michel Jourdain Jr., of Mexico, Indy Racing League regular Vitor Meira, of Brazil (2004 IRL Rising Star Award), 1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan, former Indy Car drivers Scott Goodyear and Roberto Guerrero, Pikes Peak Hill Climb record setters Rod Millen, Rhys Millen and Jeff Zwart. In Class 30 for motorcycle riders over 30, Jimmy Lewis, the editor of Dirt Rider magazine and the 1998 SCORE Baja 1000 overall motorcycle winner with Johnny Campbell, is leading a factory BMW team.

MOVIE TIME-?Dusty to Glory? Update
Filmed at last year?s race?From the creators of Step Into Liquid, Dust to Glory is an all out action-adventure documenting the most notorious and dangerous race in the world, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Rivaling the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, the race across Mexico?s Baja Peninsula is unpredictable, grueling and raw ? much like the uncharted American West of the 1800s. To capture the rich photographic quality of the desert and the intense action of the race, director Dana Brown?s D2G film team utilized 55 cameras, four helicopters, a four-passenger buggy camera car and a crew of over 80. A true event of sheer human determination, the feature-length documentary film is being distributed by IFC Films and is scheduled for its theatrical release in April of 2005.

CELEBRITY DRIVERS:
As noted above, racing in two vehicles in SCORE Trophy-Truck and one Class 1-2/1600 will be ESPN sportscaster Cameron Steele. Riding in the motorcycle Class 30 will be Jimmy Spencer, Editor of Dirt Rider, who also won the overall motorcycle title of this race in 1998 with Johnny Campbell. Driving in the special Centrix Financial Baja Challenge class (Baja touring cars) will be: Centrix CEO Robert Sutton and film legend an accomplished race-car driver and Champ Car team owner Paul Newman, 1996 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 overall 4-wheel vehicle winner and 4-time class winner Ryan Thomas, noted Hollywood stuntman Rich Minga, the 1987 SCORE Overall point champion who has one Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 class win, five seconds and eight thirds, and noted motorsports sportscaster Paul Page, former SCORE racer Brian Coats who has one career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win.

WINNINGEST TEAM:
How about 26 Class wins, including nine overall wins for the Class 50 motorcycle team (548x) of Chris Haines (10 class wins), Jack Johnson (9 class wins, 4 overalls) and Malcolm Smith (7 class wins, 5 overalls).

TWO-TIMERS:
This race always has a few ?bravehearts? who enter in two classes, hoping for double wins. The most notable one?s this year are: Rod Hall (two in Stock Full), Rob MacCachren (SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1-2/1600), Pete Sohren (two in SCORE Trophy-Truck), Curt LeDuc (SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 8) and Jim O?Neal (motorcycle?Class 40 and Class 50).

BAJA CHAMPS-OVERALL:
Entered in this year?s event are 20 racers who have combined for 65 overall wins in either the 4-wheel or motorycle divisions. The leaders are: Larry Roeseler, 10, (all on a motorcycle); Johnny Campbell has won seven straight (all on a motorcycle), Malcolm Smith have five overalls (two in m/c and three in 4-wheel) and with five overall wins each in the 4-wheel division are Mark McMillin and Larry Ragland.

BAJA CHAMPS-BY CLASS:
Entered in this year?s event are 111 racers who have combined for incredible 289 class wins. The leaders in multiple class wins entered this year are: Rod Hall with 17 (first overall), Larry Roeseler with 12 (third overall), Chris Haines with 10 (fourth overall), David Ashley and Jack Johnson with 9 each, Mark McMillin and Dan Smith with 8 each, Johnny Campbell, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Malcolm Smith and Eric Solorzano with 7 each.

SCORE Malcolm Smith IronRider:
Several motorcycle riders will attempt to run the race solo, with no co-riders. If they succeed, they will each receive one of the new SOCRE Malcolm Smith IronRider awards. So far, these are the riders who have confirmed they are riding solo: Class 22?5x Robert Barnum, 6x Bert Schramm; SPT Motorcycle 250cc>--264x Masanobu Kameda, 296x Jorge Lizarraga, 298x Louie Montano

FAMILY TIES:
Desert racing has always been about family teams and this year?s Tecate SCORE Baja1000 is a prime example of that fact. This year?s starting grid currently includes 81 brothers racing together and 16 racing separately. The race also has 39 fathers racing with their 48 sons and 12 fathers whose 16 sons are racing in separate vehicles.

TRES GENERATIONS:
One racing family, the McMillins, will have three generations in this year?s race. Corky McMillin and his sons Mark and Scott will drive three separate vehicles in the unlimited Class 1. Scott drives with his son Andy, who is driver of record.

BROTHERS TOGETHER:
Among the brothers racing together are: Ed and Tim Herbst (SCORE Trophy-Truck), Donald and Kenneth Moss (Class 3), Kelly and Spencer Beal (Class 3) and Nick and Michael Vanderwey (Class 8).

FATHER/SONS?TOGETHER:
Among the other father and sons racing together are Curt LeDuc and his sons Mark and Kyle in Class 8, Marty Coyne and his son Travis in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Mark Hutchins and his son C.J. in Class 10, Andy McMillin and his father Scott in Class 1 and Buddy Feldkamp and his father Bud in Class 1.

FATHER/SONS-SEPARATELY:
Besides the McMillins, other father-sons who will race in separate classes include Gus (SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK) and his son Gus Vildosola Jr. (Protruck), B.J. Baldwin (SCORE Trophy-Truck) and his father Bobby (Class 1), and Larry Ragland and his son Chad, both in SCORE Trophy-Truck.

More Facts

Yeah Mateo!!!!

we are gonna have one helluva time amigo!

I am going south sat to pick up 2 guys prerunning TTs now and need rides back to phx for work mon. I have a high case of baja "mil" fever.......

Great posts - thanks guys

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