Baja 1000 - Plus 50 Team in the Top Ten!!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 5:25PM We Win!!!
After a disappointing loss of the Baja 500 by a mere 39 seconds, our team was able to put together an effort that surpassed our expectations.
For openers, we won the 50+ class and finished an incredible 7th overall in all the motorcycle classes.
This was especially satisfying considering that this was a point to point race down the Peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz. The norm has been to do loops out from Ensenada, then returning after making the required mileage. Somehow that never seemed to be the legendary Baja 1000 I read about as a small boy and thought, “someday I am going to race that.” This makes it all the more satisfying to complete the race while being on such a good team that everyone involved put out great efforts and their commitment showed.
A rider named Steve Williams and I did the first 235 miles divided between us. It didn’t start out that way, but I will get to that.
Steve started for us at around 6:45 am in Ensenada and rode through a gang of riders and even more dust. I have done the start on one of these before and it is the absolute worst time of the race because you are constantly catching people and eating their dust.
Since a rider takes off every 30 seconds there is a never ending string of riders making dust that lingers on the course. Steve did a great job and handed the bike off to me at around mile marker 78. I later found out he missed a turn and lost about a minute before he got back on track. Still he had put us in about 17th place overall and we were leading the 50+ class. He said other than that one mistake he had a really good ride. He also said he was taking some video and will try to get it to me to post here so the mx43.com readers can take a ride on the course!
It was my turn, with a bit of a twist. I was originally supposed to get on the bike at mile marker 128. Unfortunately one of our riders got sick and was not able to ride the section between Steve and myself, so I inherited that section the morning of the race! Fortunately since it was the section between us I didn’t have to try to get somewhere else and risk missing the bike and screwing up the whole team. But unfortunately that meant I would be riding this section for the first time during the race. I was a little nervous since I didn’t know any danger spots, potential booby trap spots or even which direction I would go as I headed out.
The section turned out to be some of the most fun riding I would do that day, tight by Baja standards, 2nd and 3rd gears. It was not your typical 75 mph average. It was like a fire road motocross for the first 6 miles. Then it opened up into sand washes that increased the speeds and I spent most of that time in 4th and 5th gears. After that the course crossed a lot of open area where you were riding on the roads the local farmers use to get to their fields. Those roads were pretty much 5th gear tapped out at 95mph until you came to a gate to change direction. It was interesting and fun. I passed 2 riders in this section. The bike worked amazingly well in this section with the Precision Concepts suspension working so well it never so much as even took a bad hop. It was impressive.
I reached mile marker 128 and it was a gas stop for us. After pitting for fuel it was time to ride my assigned section. I was a bit more comfortable because I had done my homework and ridden this area several times in preparation. I knew most of the danger zones and areas for potential problems, aka booby traps.
This would be approximately 105 miles that would include sand washes meandering through the hills, high speed whoop sections, a dry lake bed that went for miles, fire roads and more whoops that deteriorated into whoops made up completely of ROCKS!
The dry lake bed had me holding the bike wide open for what seemed like 15 minutes at 95 mph! Incredible if you have never done that, I hadn’t since it was not really necessary during pre running. The bike owner Jim Dizney did a fantastic job on the motor he put together. That thing never missed a beat at redline the whole way across the lake bed.
In the lake bed I passed a sign that read, “Jose’s Beer & Soda” and even though I was a bit thirsty I resisted the urge to stop for a beverage, but had to laugh as I went by thinking what would the guys think if I did stop!
The next gas stop was just before we went down a whooped out road that led to a dump! I mean that literally, a DUMP with garbage, tires, etc. I took a few pictures during pre running because I didn’t think anyone would believe me.
From there it went to San Felipe, turned and headed toward the town of Puertocitos on an old whooped out road. Since we were near San Felipe and that means more spectators, guess what happens……..
More vehicles on the course and one jump built up on the course for the local’s entertainment. I have to give these guys credit though, they at least knew how to build a jump and not just put in a kicker that can send you over the bars. These guys did a good job and made a ramp leading up the face that gave you quite a bit of air if you were carrying any speed. I have to admit I backed off a little from 5th gear and dropped to 4th until I could see that it was a decent take off and appeared to be ok on the other side. I hit it and sailed quite a distance much to the approval of the spectators judging by the cheers that erupted as I took off. Since they did such a good job and didn’t make it dangerous I backed off when I landed and gave them the thumbs up for their thoughtful participation.
In this same area I passed 5 cars/trucks, 2 quads and 2 motorcycles not always going in the same direction and I don’t remember seeing a helmet on any of them. They probably just forgot them at home. Yee Haw, more Cerveza!
So another 25 miles of whoops, rocks and road wash outs I arrive at the next gas stop to hand off to Jim Dizney at mile marker 235.
Jim is suited up and ready to go, we exchange information and away he goes. The rest of the race I have to get second hand knowledge since it continues south and out of range of cell phone service.
The rest of our team did a great job keeping the bike moving toward the top ten places. They encountered a lighting problem during the night that was fixed at the next pit. The rider, Jimmy Sones had to ride for about 20 miles with just his helmet light! Good Job!!!
Then someone took a trip over the bars, he probably doesn’t want his name in print though………….but recovered to keep it going toward our 7th overall finish!
Adios, mi Amigos!
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