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bigzaggin
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Posts: 441
Registered: 5-27-2004
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Mood: way too ites
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Feelings on the 1000...
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the race. It seems like an excuse for hundreds of macho gearheads in wraparound shades to tear up Baja
roadways, but it is a storied institution that was certainly going on well before my first excusion south.
Just curious, how do those of you who actually live in Baja feel about the race? Do you greet it with dread or excitement? And how do the Mexicans
themselves (excepting Coco) feel about it? Does it actually pour a substational amout of cash into Baja?
curious...
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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There is not an empty seat at any taco stand up and down Baja right now!
Plus, the motels are full
Even the tire shops will be busy with repairs.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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a trophy truck team may spend as much as a month pre race in running, logistics, pit set up, etc - maybe 15-30 staff all who need food and a bed. this
from one with whom i am very familiar - he may spend $30,000 and more on the 1000 not including the actual running of the race and his truck. and
he'll have maybe half a dozen support rigs, trailers and pre runners down there using gas etc. = so basically that's one TT team and there are what,
33 TT teams, then there are 450 some entries all classes dumping $$$$ into the mex economy. the mexican nationals love it and party/line the course.
if it wasn't a good deal for all they'd can it, the gov't. IMHO.
sure, there's trash left and the course is scarred but they use the same route more or less each year for either the la paz shot or the enenada loop.
a huge sport with a growing following. have to juggle the good and bad i guess. humans need diversions. wish i was there this year, maybe next time.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Don Alley
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Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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I'm not a fan of all that goofy stuff people do with infernal combustion engines but it brings a little excitement, a lot of money and when it's all
done, it's done without screwing anything up. I don't think I'll see the race but I've enjoyed seeing the race cars in town and out on the road
pre-racing.
As for the Mexicans, they love this stuff. Rody Amaya is a local (Ciudad Constitution) BCS hero and state senator famous for a past Baja 1000 victory.
There are tons of Mexican offroad race enthusiasts.
Lots of race folks have been in the hotels and resaurants. Ca-Ching!
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Paula
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Posts: 2219
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Location: Loreto
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... maybe a little damage to some roads. I love the back way from Rancho Viejo to Comundu, but one little stretch is so life threatening I'm afraid
to drive it again (actually Don drove it, I just enjoyed the view and gave encouragement as we edged through a narrow bouder-y hump on the edge of a
very high cliff while expecting to plunge to our deaths). People have said that the racers caused that mess.
I think most people see a sedom driven piece of road as a worthwhile sacrifice for the pleasures and profits of the race. Not wanting to be a crabby
old troglodite, I'll defer to them
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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The Race Today
For the first time in many, many years I drove out to the course today along with some neighbors from Percebu and other Campos, setting up camp next
to the old Puertecitos road across from the Sulphur mine. There were hundreds of vehicles already out in that area and there were as many Mexican
plates as there were U.S. For the most part, all had a good time and there were only a very few A-Hs in the crowd.
I, too, have some mixed emotions regarding the race, but overall, I think it provides an economic plus to a lot of Mexicans in Baja and the majority
of the ecological damage comes from the spectators and the trash they leave behind rather than any real damage from the racers themselves.
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Hook
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Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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Seems like with all that money being pumped into the economy, some of it could be used for trash pickup. But that would be something the government
would have to handle and, well............
The harm to the environment from the racing cant be that bad.
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Dave
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Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bigzaggin
how do those of you who actually live in Baja feel about the race? |
As long as I can't hear it or eat dust I could care less. However, if it ever, even minutely affected my quality of life I would spend
every waking moment trying to figure out how to sabotage it. 
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Sharksbaja
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Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
| Quote: | Originally posted by bigzaggin
how do those of you who actually live in Baja feel about the race? |
As long as I can't hear it or eat dust I could care less. However, if it ever, even minutely affected my quality of life I would spend
every waking moment trying to figure out how to sabotage it.
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That's hilarious Dave, coming from a resident of Rosarito
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Agree with sharks....
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Location: South of the broder
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Like many Baja residents, feel it adds to the quality of my life.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Race Aftermath
Anyone hear any details about the Post-Race Watch crash on Hwy 5 at KM49 ? Late yesterday afternoon, there was a lot of people calling for help. An
ambulance and Dr. Lopez were headed south to the site and they were saying at least one person was dead.
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sylens
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Ensenada
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Mood: ando bajando
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5 injured
is what's reported to date.
two youngsters run over by a car driven by 18 year-old mexican who lost control. one is in critical condition.
a mom and nine year-old daughter hit and wounded (not gravely).
the fifth was a man hit on the head by a pipe that fell off one of the racing vehicles.
have heard nothing about deaths.
lili
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bigzaggin
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Posts: 441
Registered: 5-27-2004
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Mood: way too ites
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Don't know about that crash - hope things are okay - but this was actually really enlightening for me. For some reason I had - wrongly - assumed a
lot of locals (ex-pats especially) approached the race like an annual cancer. It's seems that's not true. It's incongruous with my view of ex-pats
as fiercly protective isolationists, but obviously the 1000 culture is not in my blood (Personally, jacked suspension, roll cages and circus tires are
not my cup of tea. But that's just me - I don't really like Creed or flames and I've never worn sunglasses on the back of my neck).
However, I do disagree that the race doesn't eff-up roads. Many times have I driven portions of the route before and after and it is ALWAYS way
worse apres - deep ruts, chunky moguls, etc. And I have the luxury of a solid truck.
Anyway, safe passage to all racers.
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mtgoat666
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Posts: 18398
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Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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The race seems to provide thrills to knuckleheads and gear heads, but too bad those knuckleheads and gearheads don't clean up after themselves or
repair the roads they destroy.
Off roading for the sake of motoring seems to be a pretty dumb way to enjoy the wilderness. I wish knuckleheads and gearheads would confine their
noise and destruction to small confined ORV parks instead of spreading their destruction all over the wilderness.
The US banned the long cross country races that used to occur in the US, because they were so destructive. Too bad the gringos all went to Mexico to
trash someone elses country. And, no, just because some locals enjoy it or benefit economically does not make it right.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
a trophy truck team may spend as much as a month pre race in running, logistics, pit set up, etc - maybe 15-30 staff all who need food and a bed. this
from one with whom i am very familiar - he may spend $30,000 and more on the 1000 not including the actual running of the race and his truck. and
he'll have maybe half a dozen support rigs, trailers and pre runners down there using gas etc. |
Corky McMillin, may he rest in peace, was inducted in to the off road motor sports hall of fame in August of this year.... his kids and grand kids
continue the McMillin's involvement in the Baja 1000 today. The McMillins will spend 10's of thousands of dollars... even have helocopters chasing
their rigs through the course... more here.................
http://www.mcmillinracing.com
Bob H
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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My 2 cents worth
First off, to blame the race for the idiot kid that runs over people after watching the race is pretty lame.
How many crashes (and riots) occur after soccer games in Mexico? hmmmmm???
Next, in the 12 years that I raced in Baja I saw overwhelming excitement on the part of everyone living there, even the ranchers whose roads we were
shredding were out there cheering us on.
Someone said "hundreds of thousands of dollars" go into the local community.
Interesting math, there. If some 200,000+ Gringos go down for the race that means they each spend between $1 and $2 (U.S.) on their visit?!
Try multiplying 200,000 by at least $100 per head, that works out to $20,000,000. If it is closer to $1000 per head, then try $200,000,000.
Chump change- right??? NOT!!!
The instant that the whole thing goes sideways the government will step in and start extorting big bucks from SCORE and the whole thing will die, and
I do not expect that to happen in my lifetime.
Final note-
Don't forget what Hemingway said....
"There are only three sports> Mountain climbing, bull fighting and motor racing> everything else is just games."
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18398
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: |
Don't forget what Hemingway said....
"There are only three sports> Mountain climbing, bull fighting and motor racing> everything else is just games." |
Motor racing is sport? Motor racing is nothing more than planting a fat ass in a seat and pressing the accelerator. Requires no more skill than
Nintendo or Tiddlywinks. For much of his life Hemingway was a lard ass, and probably couldn't do much more than shoot, fish and drive a car. He
certainly couldn't do antything requiring athleticism.
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TacoFeliz
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Posts: 266
Registered: 7-22-2005
Location: Here
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| Quote: |
Motor racing is sport? Motor racing is nothing more than planting a fat burro in a seat and pressing the accelerator. Requires no more skill than
Nintendo or Tiddlywinks... |
Wake up and smell the high octane!
Call it what you want, but it takes major skill, cranks the adrenaline into the red zone and is exciting to participate and watch.
Perhaps you should climb a tree, cut the soles off your shoes and learn to play the flute.
 
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3718
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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TacoFeliz, you are kinder than I.
When I hear those kinds of comments about motor racing I just smile, shake my head and keep on trucking.
If you haven't been there, you should not knock it,
if you have been there, you never go back to stick and ball stuff.
Flute in the tree, sort of has a ring to it...
good advice, for sure!
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