TMW
Select Nomad
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Baja 1000-What About You
Bob Bower a former BFG trainer ( now retired) and co-driver for many top off-road race drivers, including Robby Gordon, wrote this several years ago.
Every year as the 1000 comes along he is asked to send it out for us to read again and remind us of the dangers, not on the race course but the
highway.
From Bob Bower:
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
I will be blunt. Not brief. This may be the wrong time for brevity.
Deal with it.
It is possible that there will be at least one less member of the greater off-road community
around, come November 20, 2011.
Someone could die because of their involvement in the Baja 1000.
Dead. Gone.
Will it be you?
"Of course not". "No way". "That stuff happens to other people!"
If it pleases you, just toss this thing now. After all, it's just the ranting of one of those
guys who never lacked an opinion, or wasted the opportunity to thrust it upon you. Now is the
time. There's a trash can around here somewhere. Toss it if you want to.
If, on the other hand, you might be open to what one guy with a little experience has to
offer, read on.
People, the single biggest danger to our safety as we involve ourselves in this race is us. Us.
We represent the single largest jeopardy to our own well being out of all the freak things that
could happen. On the surface, it would seem that those most in danger of clobbering
themselves are those that have less experience down there. I wonder.
I am one of those with experience, and I know how seductive it is to tell myself that my
experience gives me license to risk more than those without it. "The rules are for the new
guys" "I can compress time frames". "I can eat later". "I don't need to take a nap". "If I follow
this stupid overloaded truck all night, I'll miss my deadline". "I've got great lights, and I can
see past all 6 vehicles ahead of me and take them all in one pass".
This race is one long son of a gun. All drivers will feel the pressure to drive past sunset. It's
a given. It's a must! There are loads of stories about Baja at night. What is interesting is that
very few of the really scary stories come from the race cars. The most amazing and most
tragic come from the highway travelers. Is that you? Have you had "Your Story" yet? It's out
there, waiting for you. There have been times when the situation happens very far north. Like
a tanker full of fish crashing around Santo Tomas, and closing the highway for over 5 hours.
Now your time frames are shot. What do you do?
The history of what goes on and how we deal with it is not something to take lightly.
Motorhomes crash. People fly, land, and suffer. Tractor-trailer rigs roll over and burn. A
pickup full of drunk locals veers over the line and smacks a perfectly good Bronco with chasers
in it.
It is not a case of "Will it happen?", but a fact that it will happen. To whom, we don't know.
We will know when the flash comes on the radio. Not right away mind you, but only after all
the wrong information has had its chance to stab the hearts of those that know names, and
care.
Know this. Medical assistance for emergencies comes late, and is lacking. You have to hope
that someone associated with the race will be close by and help you. It is first aid at best.
Worse is going through a nasty wreck, and you coming through it fine, but your buddy is
bleeding and out cold. You were behind the wheel. How do you feel? He trusted you to take
care of business so he could sleep.
Here is what you should do to increase your chances of staying out of harms way.
Eat food even if you are not hungry.
Drive for a maximum of 6 hours and give it to your partner.
(There is only one Ironman)
Leave early.
Plan on getting to your destination late.
Don't drink alcoholic stuff. Period.
Do not use drugs. Period.
Ask yourself, "Are we important enough to the people in the race car that they will
feel good about us getting maimed trying to catch them?"
Ask yourself, "Would I do this if my kids were with me?"
Now ...
Think about the great time you will have when you make it back home.
Think about the great feeling of being involved in the toughest off-road race in the world,
and getting back home to tell the tales.
Think about how those at home will roll their eyes, and be patient, when you start on one of
your stories.
Think about how proud of yourself you will be when you hear a horror story about someone
else and realize you did things the right way, and went through the danger successfully.
It may sound corny, but think about how happy your Mom & Dad, or wife, or sister or
brother, and yes, your kids, will be when you talk to them after you are home, safe and sound.
You've just had the adventure of a lifetime, and you are back! Wagging your tail, your mouth
going like a ducks butt, telling everyone what an experience it was.
I'm going to the Baja 1000. I am going to have a ball. I won't forget a moment. It will be the
biggest, baddest damn race ever.
And, I'm coming back from it.
With stories. With experiences. With laughs. With memories, and with the pride that comes
of doing a good job.
What about you?
BB
"Life Is A One Lap Racel"
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
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Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Great article TW, thanks for posting.
We've been participating in SCORE races for several years, I was fortunate to be on the team as a rider in the past but work in support of the team
these days. We have been involved in our share of "HOLY chit" moments and I can tell you from personal experience that it isn't fun. I acknowledge
that the uncontrollability and unpredictability of our environment is a big part of the allure of the Baja races.
As the riders on our team have improved, the speeds have increased and the need to "get there" to assist them, the dangers have grown exponentially.
Although my son's team is currently in second place in class 22 he has decided to pull out of the Baja races. The dangers are just too high, his
responsibilities to his family and the employees of his company outweigh the satisfaction that he gets from racing Baja. I've heard it before and hope
he makes it stick this time. I get physically sick on race day worrying about him and the rest of our team.
Having "been there, done that" enough times now I would like nothing more than to re-tell the old stories of Baja racing rather than tell new ones,
I've got enough tee shirts.........dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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TecateRay
Nomad
Posts: 346
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: La Mesa, CA
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Being in a chase truck on the highway is usually the most dangerous part of the race. If you are out on the road race day just follow Bob's
guidelines. Remember, the guy or gal you are chasing for doesn't want to win at the cost of you being in the hospital or dead just because you tried
to make that next pit or road crossing.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64615
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Race starts tomorrow AM
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6337
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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BTW, DK:
Bob Bower is a close friend of mine. He spend a lot of time on the road (as well as Off The Road), so we don't get to spend as much time together as
we'd like. Our wives do get together about once a month.
Bob is a Nomad and is an occasional lurker and even more occasional poster.
We initially met during one of the 1000's.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64615
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Cool... I don't think I know him, but maybe TW does?
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks TW... a good mind set to live with... and it comes from the "sport" off road racing .. . now isn't that something .... 
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13039
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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excellent piece that should be posted before all Baja 1000 races....just as a reminder.
We once had the misfortune to have to drive on the highway during a race and it was the most frightening drive EVER...several Holy chite moments and
very near misses involving chase vehicles...I will hopefully never do it again...why take the risk.
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