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the awesome hombre to my left...

Excuse my ignorance - who is that?

Forgot about Roger Mears - I was in a Nissan TV ad with him circa 1990.

willardguy - 8-25-2017 at 10:47 AM

the awesome hombre to my left...

Excuse my ignorance - who is that?

Forgot about Roger Mears - I was in a Nissan TV ad with him circa 1990.

papa fernandez...

StuckSucks - 8-25-2017 at 10:58 AM

the awesome hombre to my left...

Excuse my ignorance - who is that?

Forgot about Roger Mears - I was in a Nissan TV ad with him circa 1990.

papa fernandez...

Ah, thanks. Awesome candidate for the list.

BajaNaranja - 8-25-2017 at 12:22 PM

I'll go ahead and nominate Serge Dedina, current mayor of Imperial Beach and founder of Wildcoast / Costasalvaje, as a legend whom I've met in Baja, while surfing a semi-remote region.

Great guy, humble, friendly both in the water and out, and working hard to protect unspoiled areas.

He's also been instrumental at pushing the right buttons to fight the federal bureaucracy and force them to address the ongoing Tijuana -> Imperial Beach sewage issue.

norte - 8-25-2017 at 01:29 PM

Interesting topic, as legends are always defined by ones own standards......and then there are those that are legends in their own mind.

norte - 8-25-2017 at 01:36 PM

Jaime Bravo and Raquel Martinez.

You could meet many people who became legends when visiting Tijuana in the 60's

[Edited on 8-25-2017 by norte]

shari - 8-25-2017 at 02:10 PM

So many legends in Baja and as mentioned...legendary has many facets. I've had the pleasure of hangin with Coco, Sammy Diaz, a few governors, Graham MacIntosh, Dennis!!!!, Bernie(DEP), Doug Means...jajaja. ...had the pleasure of taking Malcolm Smith on a panga ride to race some whales too.

DENNIS - 8-25-2017 at 02:13 PM

....................Ed Tabor.......... Jack Smith..... Fred Hoctor.....
....Walter Nordhoff.......John Steinbeck..............

[Edited on 8-25-2017 by DENNIS]

BigOly - 8-25-2017 at 02:15 PM

Met Bobby Van Wormer, Gene Kira and Jimmy Smith years ago. Without them, Ray Cannon and a few others there would be no Baja for me.

[Edited on 8-25-2017 by BigOly]

DENNIS - 8-25-2017 at 02:21 PM

Greg Niemann:

https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=35WQOduN1F4C&pg=PA2...

DENNIS - 8-25-2017 at 02:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by shari

So many legends in Baja and as mentioned...legendary has many facets. I've had the pleasure of hangin with Coco, Sammy Diaz, a few governors, Graham MacIntosh, Dennis!!!!, Bernie(DEP), Doug Means...jajaja. ...had the pleasure of taking Malcolm Smith on a panga ride to race some whales too.

....and you for me Mon Shari. You and Juan have carved heaven out of the wilderness. No easy task. Luv ya.......

bajabuddha - 8-25-2017 at 02:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Interesting topic, as legends are always defined by ones own standards......and then there are those that are legends in their own mind.

I met David K once.

JZ - 8-25-2017 at 02:46 PM

Not a legend, but whatever happened to FlyFishingPam who use to post on here all the time?

rancho guillermo - 8-25-2017 at 02:54 PM

JZ..thanks for the lead in...Being a newbie here...let's add Nomad legends, which a few have already. Will be impossible for us that have not met any yet...and might add fuel to the fire of who is a legend...but let me ask this...Who was the first Nomad? When was "Baja Nomad" started? And sadly sounds like a lot of good ones have crossed over to the other side or just dont post. To each their own..Thanks for letting newbies be a part of this...Chow.

David K - 8-25-2017 at 03:14 PM

Well, to 'meet', would be (to me) to at least talk with a person, introduce yourself, etc.

I am no legend and many of the Baja authors already mentioned would just say they were pursuing their passion, driven by the magic that is Baja California.

The authors of Baja books inspired me to write about Baja, and so I have.

Here is a partial list of Baja authors I have met in person and exchanged words with and usually got an autograph from or even formed friendships with, legends and heroes to me:

Howard Gulick (Lower California Guidebook)
Ray Cannon (The Sea of Cortez)
Mike McMahan (There It Is: Baja!, + wall maps of Baja)
Tom Miller (The Baja Book)
Choral Pepper (Baja California: Vanished Missions, Lost Treasure, Strange Stories Tall and True)
Marvin Patchen (Baja Adventures by Land/Air/Sea)
Graham Mackintosh* (Into a Desert Place, & 3 more)
Greg Niemann* (Baja Fever, Baja Legends)
Herman Hill (Baja's Hidden Gold)
Baja Bernie* (Mi Baja, No Hurry, No Worry and more)
Ann O'Neil (Loreto, Baja California, First Mission and Capital of California)
Ed Vernon (Las Misiones Antiguas, A Maritam History of Baja California)
Harry Crosby (The Kings Highway in Baja California & others)
Robert Jackson* (Missions and the Frontiers of Spanish Americ, and more)
Francis Weber (The Peninsular California Missions, The Missions & Missionaries of Baja California)
Dave Werschkul (Saints and Demons in a Desert Wilderness)
David Brackney (The Auto Club Baja Travel Guide)
Jimmy Smith (The Grinning Gargoyle Spills the Beans)
Gene Kira (Baja Catch, King of the Moon, The Unforgettable Sea of Cortez)

(*Nomad members)

Well known Off Road Racers I have met & spoken with, include:

Mickey Thompson
Walker Evans
Roger Mears*
Cameron Steele
Ivan Stewart

I was next to Parnelli Jones and he said to me, "just warming up the tires" when he drove in from pre-running the first miles of the 1973 Baja 1000, the day before the race. Others, too...

Baja Personalities (some):

Mama Espinoza
The Clam Man
Coco
Papa Diaz
Walt Hussong (great grandson)
Dick Daggett

There were others, like Don Johnson, Papa Fernadez, etc. but I was with my folks and didn't talk directly with them.

If I think of others, I will edit in... this is just off the top of my head.

[Edited on 8-10-2021 by David K]

David K - 8-25-2017 at 03:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by rancho guillermo

JZ..thanks for the lead in...Being a newbie here...let's add Nomad legends, which a few have already. Will be impossible for us that have not met any yet...and might add fuel to the fire of who is a legend...but let me ask this...Who was the first Nomad? When was "Baja Nomad" started? And sadly sounds like a lot of good ones have crossed over to the other side or just dont post. To each their own..Thanks for letting newbies be a part of this...Chow.

Doug Means is the founder and is 'BajaNomad' here. I am the oldest active Nomad following Doug... it was in 2002. The week Doug started this forum, about 8 others joined before I got home to sign up when Doug told me it was ready. but I think only one posted before vanishing? You can see three versions of the member list here, just click Member List... it's at the top.

rancho guillermo - 8-25-2017 at 03:46 PM

Thanks David....

StuckSucks - 8-25-2017 at 04:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by rancho guillermo

Who was the first Nomad? When was "Baja Nomad" started? And sadly sounds like a lot of good ones have crossed over to the other side or just dont post. To each their own..Thanks for letting newbies be a part of this...Chow.

Just found this post from Oct 3, 2002:

Sr.vienes - 8-25-2017 at 04:44 PM

I'm sure everyone knows the joke "Do I know Pancho Villa, why we had lunch together".
I "met" most of the Baja off road racers listed on this forum during the mid 80's in various Nevada races. That is they rammed me, pushed me or politely honked the passing horn. That kinda counts as meeting, right?

blackwolfmt - 8-25-2017 at 06:25 PM

would be cool to meet Roger..Pompano he's gotta be a Baja legend

LaTijereta - 8-25-2017 at 06:35 PM

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by LaTijereta]

Jack Smith "God and Mr. Gomez"

GypsyJan - 8-25-2017 at 09:11 PM

And other books about Baja

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Smith_(columnist)

Fred Hoctor

GypsyJan - 8-25-2017 at 09:19 PM

Author of Baja Haha and many, many articles for Western Outdoor magazine.

http://www.mexfish.com/enad/enad/af010908/af010908.htm

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by GypsyJan]

David K - 8-25-2017 at 09:32 PM

You met them?
Nice!
Paulina knew Fred...

Last But Not Least, Erle Stanley Gardner

GypsyJan - 8-25-2017 at 09:36 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Stanley_Gardner

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by GypsyJan]

Hi David, Yes I Met Fred

GypsyJan - 8-25-2017 at 09:51 PM

At his home in Punta Banda in 1983. He was a wonderful host and so entertaining.

I was invited to Jack Smith's home on Mt. Washington in L.A. and he was gracious, but very reserved; there were many people in his house and he was happy to retreat to his library and talk about Baja to a young novice.

I met Erle Stanley Gardner at my father's house in Ojai, CA and it was like meeting Hemingway.

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by GypsyJan]

LancairDriver - 8-25-2017 at 10:16 PM

Mama Espinosa- met first of many times after before hwy 1 completed
Don Johnson- Many encounters in trips to Mulege for years
Roger "Pompano"- Encounters around Mulege and Conception Bay
Bill Alvarado- When he ran the hotel at Chivato
Lou Federico- Builder of Hotel Mulege and Chivato hotel met at Sirenidad on one of his few trips down after leaving Baja.
Diaz Family- Flying into BofLA before new airport was built.

David K - 8-26-2017 at 03:31 AM

Quote: Originally posted by GypsyJan

At his home in Punta Banda in 1983. He was a wonderful host and so entertaining.

I was invited to Jack Smith's home on Mt. Washington in L.A. and he was gracious, but very reserved; there were many people in his house and he was happy to retreat to his library and talk about Baja to a young novice.

I met Erle Stanley Gardner at my father's house in Ojai, CA and it was like meeting Hemingway.

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by GypsyJan]

Very cool.
My parents and I drove to Temecula (~1967) in hopes of meeting him and buying one of his J.W. Black custom scooters (a Pak-Jak or a Burrito). His secretary, Jean Bethell (married her at some point) was there and said we just missed Erle as he had left for Baja!

My mom and dad were great at pushing me into the Baja way of life and never stopped encouraging me to explore, draw maps, go camping, all as soon as I could drive... Baja was my 'recreational drug'!

My Baja legends... on maybe our final Baja camping trip for the three of us, near Punta Final, 1983... champagne, of course!

DENNIS - 8-26-2017 at 07:15 AM

You met them?
Nice!
Paulina knew Fred...

I think Fred designed that little fishy doodad she uses on her signature.

Marc - 8-26-2017 at 08:01 AM

Herman Hill

David K - 8-26-2017 at 12:01 PM

Great photo Marc!

Paco Facullo - 8-26-2017 at 01:25 PM

Only Mexican legend I've met was Don Javier Delgado Corona
owner of La Capilla in Tequila Mexico. One of the top 10 cool bars in the world....
I enjoyed one of his famous Batangas and a couple shots of Fortaleza tequila with a beers back.....

Here in the USA,

Henry Fonda ( in his house )
Marlon Brando ( in his house )
Tony Curtis ( in his house )
Carlo Ponte ( in his house ) unfortunately Sophia Loren wasn't there , DARN !!!
Ron Jeremy ( at a Howard Stern live broadcast ) Thankfully I didn't say "in his house" or his "bed"
Bill Walton ( at a dead show ) of course....

..Oh and Bill Roecker ( he filmed me catching a tuna on the Vagabond out of San Diego )

..Oh and again,,, 3 of the Z-Boys of DogTown,

Allen Sarlo ..( Met many times )
Chris Cahill....( he grew up one block over from me )
and met Jay Adams ,.. once

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by Paco Facullo]

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by Paco Facullo]

[Edited on 8-27-2017 by Paco Facullo]

Marc - 8-26-2017 at 02:02 PM

Great photo Marc!

I used to talk to this old guy sitting at the bar in Guillermo’s. He was always telling stories and was quite friendly. I didn’t know who he was. A few years ago (2012) as I was looking through the library in the Museo this same old dude walks by and tells me that this one book is the best one there and he wrote it. Well, I bought it and was able to look him up later for him to sign it for me. He died a while ago while driving north. Herman was one of a kind for sure.

StuckSucks - 8-26-2017 at 02:22 PM

Does this guy count?

chuckie - 8-27-2017 at 05:45 AM

I know I am Iconic, and may have achieved Legend Status...Please don't add my name to your lists without getting permission from my people....

chippy - 8-27-2017 at 07:35 AM

the awesome hombre to my left...

Excuse my ignorance - who is that?

Forgot about Roger Mears - I was in a Nissan TV ad with him circa 1990.

papa fernandez...

And all this time I thought it was Gerardo Rivera :lol:

bent-rim - 8-27-2017 at 08:30 AM

Gotta Peso?

DENNIS - 8-27-2017 at 08:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bent-rim

Gotta Peso?

Good one.

LancairDriver - 8-27-2017 at 12:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bent-rim

Gotta Peso?

I think Gotta Peso was a fixture in Baja long enough to qualify as a legend. :lol:

I should have included him in my previous post.

willardguy - 8-27-2017 at 01:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajapages/tales/Mechudo.html

the awesome hombre to my left...

Excuse my ignorance - who is that?

Forgot about Roger Mears - I was in a Nissan TV ad with him circa 1990.

papa fernandez...

And all this time I thought it was Gerardo Rivera :lol:

must be the mustache, still looking for al capone's vaults!

tiotomasbcs - 8-27-2017 at 01:13 PM

A very Legendary Baja trip by mule, Donkay and Mike Younghusband. Remember reading and following his adventures here on Nomads especially riveting when he was trapped along the coastline and a rescue mission was launched by other Nomads. Friends and I later hung out with Mike and crew here in Peskys! He looked good last year when he visited again. Tomas

shari - 8-27-2017 at 02:09 PM

Oh geeze...yeah I am adding Gotta Peso and Mike Younghusband to my epic legend list....now while Gotta Peso spins an extraordinary yarn, I think Mike has him beat....he told some of the funniest stories I have ever heard...he could easily do stand up comedy at the bar in Loreto!

fishbuck - 8-27-2017 at 02:17 PM

I miss good ole Gotta Peso.

I met Baja Bernie once at the Pyramid Resort book signing. A very interesting man. He had a real connection to early baja. And he was a pretty good storyteller too!

[Edited on 8-27-2017 by fishbuck]

Correct Me if I Am Wrong

GypsyJan - 8-27-2017 at 02:38 PM

But I think no one has mentioned Don Jimmy Smith "The Grinning Gargoyle". His daughter Sara was a regular poster on Baja Nomad.

Also, Skeet from Loreto, a skilled pilot and a passionate advocate of the Baja fishermen and the Mexican culture.

[Edited on 8-27-2017 by GypsyJan]

David K - 8-27-2017 at 03:19 PM

Very good Gypsy, yes, they both had great stories of Baja in the 60s and 70s.

BigOly - 8-27-2017 at 03:40 PM

I posted that I met Jimmy Smith in L.B.

Met Bobby Van Wormer, Gene Kira and Jimmy Smith years ago. Without them, Ray Cannon and a few others there would be no Baja for me.

"Jimmy Smith; One of Baja's living Treasures"

GypsyJan - 8-27-2017 at 03:42 PM

http://www.mexfish.com/baja/baja/af021200/af021200.htm

willardguy - 8-27-2017 at 03:48 PM

nobody gonna mention Alfonsina a true baja legend? classic memorial day fiesta's! :coolup:

bajabuddha - 8-27-2017 at 03:52 PM

How about unsung heroes, like Jim Christopher of Mulege.... or Saul Davis of same.

chuckie - 8-27-2017 at 04:03 PM

YES YES, and Jorge Yee....

Sr.vienes - 8-27-2017 at 05:39 PM

My Baja Legend (besides Jimmy Smith) was Don Juan Corona. His property abutted ours two or three KM Northish from La Ribera right next to the usually dry lake. He functioned as our ATM as we could take almost any amount of dollars and he would disappear into the thorny bushes and come out with pesos. He claimed to have drank a liter of Tequila everyday since the age of seventeen, the bottle pile by his old adobe ranch house along with Cocos' fence can be seen from space. He never left his ranch and his many friends and relations were expected to bring him what he might need and any visitor better bring the aforementioned liter of Tequila.
He's been gone for awhile now but I think people are still digging out in them bushes.

norte - 8-27-2017 at 06:05 PM

wonder how many Mexicans consider these people legends? Mow many Mexican legends do you know besides Poncho Villa?

LancairDriver - 8-27-2017 at 07:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by norte

wonder how many Mexicans consider these people legends? Mow many Mexican legends do you know besides Poncho Villa?

I didn't personally meet or know him, but how about Francisco Munez, widely acknowledged as the best bush pilot ever to fly Baja. Flew passengers to Baja mostly in the 50's and 60's.

LancairDriver - 8-27-2017 at 07:38 PM

Here is a link with more info on two Baja Legends. Francisco Munez and Don Johnson.

http://www.mexfish.com/mulg/mulg/af030721/af030721.htm

Also Consider This

GypsyJan - 8-27-2017 at 07:42 PM

http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajapages/tales/Mechudo.html

[Edited on 8-28-2017 by GypsyJan]

norte - 8-27-2017 at 08:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by GypsyJan

http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajapages/tales/Mechudo.html

[Edited on 8-28-2017 by GypsyJan]

Now that is a legend worth sharing. Thank You Jan.

David K - 8-28-2017 at 06:56 AM

Thanks for posting a link to something on Fred's web page. That reminded me we have a Baja Nomad friend who passed away shortly after his 2006 book was published. Mike Humfreville's book, In the Shadow of the Volcano, contains the story of two times he and Mary Ann spent time at Bahía de los Angeles. On Fred's web pages, are all his posts (2002-2006), preserved: http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/BajaWithMik...

Tomas Tierra - 8-28-2017 at 07:29 AM

Pachico Mayoral, el Padrino de las Ballenas.. Muy legenderio!! D.E.P.

We met him through his family in San Jose de Gracia

Edit: Victor "Pengua" Murillo of El Datil.. El Rey de Los salitrales!

[Edited on 8-28-2017 by Tomas Tierra]

StuckSucks - 8-28-2017 at 08:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by GypsyJan

Great catch! While wandering Baja in the 80s, Fred along with Joe Cummins were two of my biggest sources of information (a big thanks to both!).

Howard - 8-28-2017 at 08:53 AM

Got a Peso?

Hope he is doing OK.

chuckie - 8-28-2017 at 10:17 AM

Norte? It's "Pancho Villa" FYI: His real name was "Doroteo Arango"

KurtG - 8-28-2017 at 03:33 PM

I'm surprised to see no mention of Arturo Grosso, famous road builder and proprietor of Rancho Chapala. Older brother of Mama Espinosa. Died in 1977 but still at the (new location) ranch when the highway was new.

David K - 8-28-2017 at 03:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by KurtG

I'm surprised to see no mention of Arturo Grosso, famous road builder and proprietor of Rancho Chapala. Older brother of Mama Espinosa. Died in 1977 but still at the (new location) ranch when the highway was new.

Good addition. He made it possible for the first Jeeps and trucks to drive to Gonzaga Bay after his work in 1955.
There are so many...
I recommend Greg Niemann's book ('GregN' here on Nomad)...

http://www.gregniemann.com/bajalegends.html

www.gregniemann.com

bajafreaks - 8-28-2017 at 04:21 PM

I'm a general contractor and recently built a home for Vic Wilson the winner of the 1st Baja 1000, he also won it again a few years later. He's in his early 80's right now but very fit, we've become friends and yes he has some stories to tell.

DENNIS - 8-28-2017 at 04:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajafreaks

I'm a general contractor and recently built a home for Vic Wilson the winner of the 1st Baja 1000, he also won it again a few years later. He's in his early 80's right now but very fit, we've become friends and yes he has some stories to tell.

I remember Vic Wilson. He had a gas station on the Coast Highway in Newport Beach. I bought an old Lifeguard Jeep from him.

La Capilla & Fortaleza

MexicoTed - 8-28-2017 at 11:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Paco Facullo

Only Mexican legend I've met was Don Javier Delgado Corona
owner of La Capilla in Tequila Mexico. One of the top 10 cool bars in the world....
I enjoyed one of his famous Batangas and a couple shots of Fortaleza tequila with a beers back.....

Here in the USA,

Henry Fonda ( in his house )
Marlon Brando ( in his house )
Tony Curtis ( in his house )
Carlo Ponte ( in his house ) unfortunately Sophia Loren wasn't there , DARN !!!
Ron Jeremy ( at a Howard Stern live broadcast ) Thankfully I didn't say "in his house" or his "bed"
Bill Walton ( at a dead show ) of course....

..Oh and Bill Roecker ( he filmed me catching a tuna on the Vagabond out of San Diego )

..Oh and again,,, 3 of the Z-Boys of DogTown,

Allen Sarlo ..( Met many times )
Chris Cahill....( he grew up one block over from me )
and met Jay Adams ,.. once

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by Paco Facullo]

[Edited on 8-26-2017 by Paco Facullo]

[Edited on 8-27-2017 by Paco Facullo]

Paco, I was just in Tequila drinking a Batanga & Fortaleza in La Capilla.

Ted

Enrique2012 - 8-29-2017 at 10:05 AM

Pancho - Bahia San Rafael
Ramona - From the Saw Mill
J.D. Rockefeller - Catavina

DanO - 8-29-2017 at 04:45 PM

My friend Sergio Gomez invited me to breakfast once with him, his brother Pepe, and their father Romulo Gomez Sr., the patriarch of the Gomez family chronicled in Jack Smith's "God & Mr. Gomez." Pepe cooked huevos con chorizo while Romulo Sr. gave me sh*t for my poor Spanish skills, much to Sergio's amusement. Romulo Sr. passed in 1994, and the door to one of his old work trucks hangs over my fireplace now, courtesy of his sons, who are gone now as well.

Door.jpg - 33kB

Santiago - 8-29-2017 at 07:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DanO

My friend Sergio Gomez invited me to breakfast once with him, his brother Pepe, and their father Romulo Gomez Sr., the patriarch of the Gomez family chronicled in Jack Smith's "God & Mr. Gomez." Pepe cooked huevos con chorizo while Romulo Sr. gave me sh*t for my poor Spanish skills, much to Sergio's amusement. Romulo Sr. passed in 1994, and the door to one of his old work trucks hangs over my fireplace now, courtesy of his sons, who are gone now as well.

I dare not say "Book 'em", but that was nice.

Marc - 8-30-2017 at 08:18 AM

Thanks for posting a link to something on Fred's web page. That reminded me we have a Baja Nomad friend who passed away shortly after his 2006 book was published. Mike Humfreville's book, In the Shadow of the Volcano, contains the story of two times he and Mary Ann spent time at Bahía de los Angeles. On Fred's web pages, are all his posts (2002-2006), preserved: http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/BajaWithMik...

I enjoyed reading his stories on Fred's site. I was BAJAKID back then. I think he is buried in the cemetery in BOLA?

David K - 8-30-2017 at 10:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc