BajaNomad - Where to spectate the San Felipe 250

Where to spectate the San Felipe 250

WideAngleWandering - 3-13-2023 at 12:35 PM

I just realized I'll be in Baja during the San Felipe 250. I'd assumed we'd stop in SF that weekend on the way north. Seeing there is a race on I won't even bother trying to get a motel. I want to camp somewhere near the action. I started out this trip at the Mint 400 in Nevada so now I have racing on the brain.

https://score-international.com/raceinfo/course-map-2023-san...

The course map has them running the desert south of town near the airport, through Laguna Diablo, and in the area north of highway 3.

I am familiar with Laguna Diablo but that might not be the best place to spectate as I imagine they'll just be hauling ass across the lake bed.

Where else might be good to go? I'm in my land cruiser and would like to get off the beaten path and away from the biggest crowds. At the same time I don't want to get trapped on the wrong side of the course, get in anybody's way, or be stuck in the mud. Laguna Salada looked pretty wet on the drive down highway 5.

I would roll into San Felipe to see the tech inspections on Friday, then go make camp somewhere and watch the racers on Saturday. Then leave that afternoon or Sunday morning. Crossing in Tecate.

Where would you go to spectate?

[Edited on 2023-3-14 by WideAngleWandering]

PaulW - 3-14-2023 at 09:19 AM

The most popular spectator place will be, as always, powerline and Zoo road. Unsafe near the 150 mph trucks, but you don't have to stand nearby. You will find dry camping in the bushes with many other campers.
For sure There will be other good places, But seeing the crazy people is part of the watch.
RM 12/165 approximately. Access on a paved road. Go early because it will be gridlocked from Friday PM thru Sunday. Expect lots of walking.
Keep your stuff locked up.

David K - 3-14-2023 at 09:56 AM

Race map and potential discussion post: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=98612

I like the Sulfur Mine... this year is just after RM 240. Both routes look to convege there. The only negative would be that it is near the end of the race, so closer to late afternoon for most action and many will have dropped out before reaching that point.

It may be possible to see the start or the early part of the race, then move south (after some fish tacos, of course)!

VWTim - 3-24-2023 at 03:11 PM

I didn't download the GPX, but there should be decent accessible camping near RM70. There's an access rd off Hwy 5 that gets you back there. We spent a night there for the 1000 a few months ago.

WideAngleWandering - 3-24-2023 at 04:11 PM

I dont have a PC with me or I'd load the map into the ol Garmin but I imagine between the prerunners, spectators, and route markers it'll be easy to find where the course is.

Are you looking at rm70 for motos near the bfg pit or rm70 for trucks/cars up by La Ventana? The latter looks like it could be a great spot as rigs come out of the mountains but not sure how accessible it is.

4x4abc - 3-24-2023 at 10:46 PM

good spots that aren't too crowded are not easy to find

El Chinero Pass is a good one
31° 33.572'N, 115° 13.970'W
the area around Danger1 and 2 is good
31° 34.044'N, 115° 11.404'W

you want to get there early the day before to allow for a couple of hours of scouting
2 days before is even better

I used to work for a photo agency for race photos
we were a bunch of photographers scouting the racetrack a whole week before the race to check for action potential (jumps, tight turns, rocks) and backgrounds (a Cardon is always a plus).
then the day before the race we were assigned each a good spot and drove out the day before the race to location
sometimes you had to camp another night at your spot when there were still racers on the track and driving against track can be very dangerous
10 great years!

WideAngleWandering - 3-25-2023 at 05:41 AM

Thanks for the ideas! I'll be out there with an old canon a1 and a long lens. Hoping for some fun shots.

PaulW - 3-25-2023 at 08:31 AM

31° 33.572'N, 115° 13.970'W is VCP38
Access it a big deterrent for VCP38 as is danger 1 & 2
One has to drive on the race roads with prerunners using both areas up until Friday PM
GPS track required to locate and reach both recommendations.
=== ===

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

good spots that aren't too crowded are not easy to find

El Chinero Pass is a good one
31° 33.572'N, 115° 13.970'W
the area around Danger1 and 2 is good
31° 34.044'N, 115° 11.404'W

you want to get there early the day before to allow for a couple of hours of scouting
2 days before is even better
/rquote]

4x4abc - 3-25-2023 at 10:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

31° 33.572'N, 115° 13.970'W is VCP38
Access it a big deterrent for VCP38 as is danger 1 & 2
One has to drive on the race roads with prerunners using both areas up until Friday PM
GPS track required to locate and reach both recommendations.
=== ===

both tracks have plenty of room to pull over and parallel tracks - just drive in race direction, not against it
you'll hear them coming early enough

for VCP38 come from the north
for Danger 1&2 come from the south

PaulW - 3-25-2023 at 11:12 AM

Agree about VCP 38 access. There are several tracks from Hwy5 Km134 to get to the danger places. I have used those tracks many times.
== ==

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW

4x4abc - 3-25-2023 at 11:58 AM

if anyone is interested - I have all the tracks in the area
can post them if you like me to

mjs - 3-25-2023 at 06:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

if anyone is interested - I have all the tracks in the area
can post them if you like me to

I'd like to see those if you please.

4x4abc - 3-25-2023 at 08:33 PM

you only need the access track from La Ventana - everything else is covered by the race files
look for VCP 38 and Danger 1&2

Attachment: 4x4 rural mining La Ventana.kmz (3kB)
This file has been downloaded 115 times

Attachment: 250 race.kmz (210kB)
This file has been downloaded 131 times