BajaNomad - Baja License Plates

Baja License Plates

Baja Bernie - 4-4-2005 at 04:53 PM

Just had to share this--as the wife and I were tooling south this past Saturday ( heading to the Pyramid Resort to work on planning for the next Book Signing with Keri) we came upon an SUV with the plates--LABAJA--I laughed and pointed it out to Lu. I passed him and slowed down so he could read mine. I watched in the rearview mirror as he poked his passenger and pointed to my plates--MIBAJA---My Baja trumps The Baja anytime.
I often end up in minor confrontations with Mexicans when they challenge me with--"What do you mean YOUR Baja." I laugh and agree that it is really their Baja but that they have made me so welcome over the past forty years that I really feel that it is OUR BAJA. These plates have caused several friendships to form as a result of breaking the ice and getting a conservation going. I recently gave one of my books (Mi Baja No Hurry No Worry) to a Mexican guy in Puerto Nuevo after he had challenged me on my plates. We went in to eat and he came in later and told me that he had read ab out four chapters and that I described the coast just as it was when he was a young surfer in the late 60's.
Really a neat way to meet new people.
He offered to sell my books in his shop on the main drag. Looks like we will do it this summer.
A real small world if you work on making it so.

El Jefe - 4-4-2005 at 05:04 PM

My old VW van was plated OLABAJA, and there were a lot of great memories created in it, including falling in love with my Baja-proven wife.

A head-on collision with a drunk killed that sweet old bus, and the junk yard guy wouldn't let me take the plates off. Some years later a new Caddy passed me on the four lane to Ensenada, his new plates...OLABAJA.

I tried to catch up with him since I was driving the Dodge replacement van plated BAJAOLA. But he was too fast for me. I kept the BAJAOLA plates through two vans and finally gave them up when I got the new truck; cheapskate that I was not wanting to pay the annual vanity plate fee.
I did keep the front plate for old times when I sold the Van.

[Edited on 4-5-2005 by El Jefe]

David K - 4-4-2005 at 05:24 PM

Back in 1980, seven character plates were begun in California... When I went to DMV to register this plate, they were surprised that it wasn't taken... but I got it. It was originally the blue plate, but changed to white when I bought my third Subaru and the blue clashed with its color.

Back then, before Jimmy Smith's book (with its chapter 'The Baja??'), and hearing how Canadians called Baja California ... 'The Baja' to me was short for the Baja peninsula or the Baja 1000... in any case, it was all that needed to be said to describe the wild land of off road adventure... and was my CB handle (since 1973)... In 1997 my ex sold our Subaru 4WD, and gave me the plate as she knew it had sentimental value to me...

MrBillM - 4-4-2005 at 05:48 PM

My 2001 Dodge plate is: AMOBAJA. It first graced my 1976 FJ55 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon, then my 1969 GMC, my 1989 Dodge Ram. Currently, my 1989 has: 2PERCBU.

The kids at the Army Checkpoints are always asking me if "I really love Baja" ?

As an aside, I have various decals on the back window of my Camper Shell. On one side is a Bush/Cheney 2004 next to an American Flag. On the other is a Viva Bush next to the Mexican flag. At one army checkpoint, a trooper pointed to each and questioned why it wasn't Fox and not Bush next to the Mexican Flag. It seemed logical to him. I just shrugged.

Logical

Dave - 4-4-2005 at 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
At one army checkpoint, a trooper pointed to each and questioned why it wasn't Fox and not Bush next to the Mexican Flag. It seemed logical to him. I just shrugged.

Fox is the president of Mexico but GW is the president of the World. :biggrin:

my plate says BAJA VDA

BajaVida - 4-4-2005 at 06:08 PM

is anyone surprised?

Bruce R Leech - 4-4-2005 at 06:08 PM

Fox is the president of Mexico but GW is the president of the World

:lol:

dont say that at the checkpoint :lol:

Ken Bondy - 4-4-2005 at 06:37 PM

My Hummer's plates are HUMBAJA.

++Ken++

tim40 - 4-4-2005 at 08:17 PM

So you are all of the people that are making it tough to find the baja plate for my new jeep. You left a few though and I will post which one I select in the next several days.

Tucker - 4-4-2005 at 08:20 PM

Mine reads "Baja California Sur", with a bunch of other letters and numbers, no vanity plate fees!

jrbaja - 4-4-2005 at 08:24 PM

:lol:

tucker

Baja Bernie - 4-4-2005 at 08:24 PM

OH!!!

capn.sharky - 4-4-2005 at 09:16 PM

You may have noticed that the new license plates in Baja Sur are made of cardboard that is plastic coated. Even the Mexicans think this is too cheap and want the old metal ones back again.

Bob H - 4-5-2005 at 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Back then, before Jimmy Smith's book (with its chapter 'The Baja??'), and hearing how Canadians called Baja California ... 'The Baja' to me was short for the Baja peninsula or the Baja 1000... in any case, it was all that needed to be said to describe the wild land of off road adventure... and was my CB handle (since 1973)... In 1997 my ex sold our Subaru 4WD, and gave me the plate as she knew it had sentimental value to me...

David, I'm really surprised you didn't keep that plate "alive". Wow. For those who have their vehicles registered in California you can go to this link, pretend that you are ordering a personalized plate and see if it's available or not. Interesting stuff... https://vrir.dmv.ca.gov/ipp/PerLicensePlateServlet
Bob H

Bruce R Leech - 4-5-2005 at 09:22 AM

my plate 432ket397 :lol:

California Vanity plates

Baja Bernie - 4-5-2005 at 12:22 PM

I was told at DMV that plates relating to 'Baja' were the most in demand of all vanity plates issued in California. Lot of people love the place and are willing to pay money to show their feelings about a magical place.

Take a look at the site that Bob H posted.

I hadn't noticed the paper BCS plates...

Tucker - 4-5-2005 at 12:28 PM

A lot of the cars just have big shiney spots where the "placa" is supposed to be.

MrBillM - 4-5-2005 at 04:21 PM

One of the plates I thought about years ago for my Baja Bug was VOY BAJA, but my wife said there was NO WAY she would ever again ride in it with those plates.

Along those same lines, I thought about GREAT 69 for my 1969 GMC Truck. Wife said NO.

Years ago, while working in Palm Springs, I saw a Caddy at the Post Office that said GREEK ME. Since it was Palm Springs, I wasn't quite sure if the old guy was advertising his ethnicity or proclivities.

David K - 4-5-2005 at 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H

Quote:

Well, when you have children, and am not rich, money priorities change... also, I was told that 'The Baja' was mine and that I only needed to pay for the years since it was last used ('97) to reactivate it. So, 8 years X $35... right? Anyway with 'Viva Baja' and 'got baja?' stickers on my truck, you all will know it's me if you drive up from behind... just honk and wave!

Paulina - 4-5-2005 at 06:02 PM

We had two baja plates. BUENOSI was on our off road trailer, SIBUENO was on the truck. I too gave them up with the $ crunch situation. If my weekly yellowish retirement ticket ever cashes in I will try to get them back again.

P<*)))><

elgatoloco - 4-5-2005 at 06:45 PM

My dad got K55 BAJA, I got BAJA K55, sister has B C K55.

David K - 4-5-2005 at 06:51 PM

Since the Pyramid Resort is at K 57, will you guys come to the Book Signing April 23?