The Baja 2000 by Ray Woodward

The "Dos Mil" was an experience that still blows my mind a full week after the award ceremony. I hope to give you a view of the event in somewhat of a chronological order so I hold the rambling to a minimum. The race was a millennium version of the famed BAJA 1000. The course was laid out to loop north and then east from Ensenada and then crisscross the BAJA peninsula all the way south to the tip at Cabo San Lucas a planned 1726 miles in all. With some last minute changes the race was listed as 1686 miles officially. "Three years of off road racing to be completed in 80 hours or less". Off road is something of a misnomer as the course consisted of some paved roads, even short stretches of the main Baja highway, Federal 1 but most of the track was dirt roads of varying descriptions and difficulties.

Prepping

We started working on the car in early October when our organizer George Jackson returned from summering in Colorado. The FAT modified engine had been removed and the bus tranny had been rebuilt over the summer. The chassis, one of two built in Georgia by a company called the "Georgia Peach Co." has a 122-inch wheelbase. We were running in the 14 class, which limits many suspension changes. Our assigned number was 1404.

New CV joints and 8 new Fox shocks were added. The power steering unit was checked and a beefed up steering column was added to replace the column broken in a previous race. The front ball joint suspension was reworked and all brakes were gone over.

A GPS and Radio with intercom and 2 new 130-watt lights were added to compliment the two 75-watt lamps on the car already as this was to be a three-night race. Tubes of silicon and yards of wire ties complimented the omnipresent duct tape as all what if scenarios were at. The car, helmets and fire suits were inspected for the SCORE safety requirments. All engines were engraved to assure no engines were swapped.

On our first trip to the festivities a setscrew backed out of the shifter and we lost 2nd and 3rd gear until the screw was replaced. All spare time was spent shaking down the car with a short 15-mile section of the course pre-run due to the rains causing washouts in the areas near Ensenada.

Our evenings were spent going over race plans and getting something to eat. Try getting a table for twenty-some at most any restaurant.

The Start

Sunday found the skies clear and sunny for the start of the "Dos Mil" as the race had become to be known. Two wheelers were turned loose at 30-second intervals starting at 6AM follower by the quads. The trophy trucks headed the big iron start at 9AM. With the juices of excitement flowing, expectations on high, Ricky Martin blaring, we waved our car away at 10:20 and the race/chase was on. A total of 267 entries were to leave the line that day.

The first disappointment was to realize that the radio in the car was limited to about 5 miles at best. As we lost contact we loaded up for a 80k trip south to our first contact point as the car made a 140 mile loop to the north and east of Ensenada and support was already in place for that loop.

As we waited at the meeting spot, while the expected time of arrival came and went, hope soon diminished. Then a faint voice on the radio. Then stronger. Then request for repairs. The car was limping in after a rollover. The front shocks were pumping oil and the radio antenna mount was broken. Front shocks were removed and 2 rears were moved forward. Why didn’t we bring the old shocks for service parts? New antenna mount was fashioned, gas dumped, a quick inspection, the front end tightened and out roared the 1404 with a new driver and renewed spirits. The car took the rollover well.

Setting the Pattern

Off into the night we hurried to our next assignments. The chase team running to remote areas with 5 or 10 gallons of gas to assure the car could reach the next pit stop. The main chase crew with 5 drums of 111 octane gas and tools and parts stayed as close to the main highway as was practical. At intervals of 100 plus miles one or two 90-pound dump cans were splashed into the car and refilled for the next fueling. The car checked and necessary adjustments made and off the car sped usually with a different crew. A major miscalculation made the chase crew late to a contact point. Fortunately the car crew was able to beg some gas from the BFG pit crew and the race continued. For 2 days the routine was try to catnap, service the car and then get down the road to the next checkpoint. Things were going well with not even a flat tire for over a 1000 miles but the lack of sleep was showing.

The Bubble Burst

With something over 1400 miles logged the bubble burst with a big thud. With many course markers becoming souvenirs for some Mexican kids, our car got in a hole with several other racers. While powering out a King Kong adjuster broke. The car was out of the hole but it had no suspension on the right side. Using the high lift jack as a torsion bar the driver limped into the BFG pit area at La Paz. A couple of hours later with some tire pieces, a block of wood, and much mechanics wire. The car sat reasonably level. The BFG pit crew noticed some frame cracks and broke out the welder. With a dump of gas the "Snarlin’ Cholla" entry limped off into the night. About 18 hours left to make 200 plus miles in a badly broken car. The next check was made at about a 20 mph average and hopes began to rise. The patch was holding. I think she can. The next fifty miles were made at a slower pace but only 50 miles left with six hours to make it. If nothing else happens....

Off To The Bullring

No more gas needed, no more repairs to be made so off goes the chase crew to the bullring and official finish line in Cabo San Lucas. Never has 4 hours gone so slowly. Worry and wait and have a cerveza, worry and have a cerveza and wait. Do it again. Look there is a dust trail coming.... A car coming in but it’s not the 1404. Finally with less than 2 hours left here she comes. WE DID IT! ALL THE WAY!

Tears of joy, elation overcoming exhaustion. Pictures, hugs, cervezas, Fourth in class but at the finish line. Our primary objective reached. Not an ache or pain evident in this group of 50 to 60 year olds.

In The Car - The Ride

As a co-driver with no racing experience I expected to see limited time in the car. That was no problem with me. My first time in the car as co-driver was scheduled to be somewhere around the 800 mile marker and my driving portion about 100 miles later for 50-60 miles. I only half expected the car to be running by then so I didn’t permit myself to get too excited about running the race.

As usually happens in unusual circumstances, plans changed. I was asked to hop in early as co-driver for George Jackson. George is our most experienced race driver so I planned to have a nice midnight buggy ride of reading gages, looking for route markers and road hazards while operating our anemic radio. Out of the pit and down the road we go into the night. George was driving at a pace that didn’t stress the car but chewed ups the miles. Our whole race plan was to average around thirty so as to save the car and finish the race.

Into the night we sped, chatting on the intercom, reading gages, finding course markers when lights came up from the rear very fast. Since its not a good thing to be nurfed by a truck going 60 when you are going 40 we opted to pull over and let him pass. Down the road, taking the left and rights and bumps and dips all in stride. Out of the night, George hollers "silt" and the whole world goes black. My first silt bed and every off road racers nightmare. The car plows into a sea of black powder as if splashing into a river. The silt flows up the hood blocking the lights and flowing on up the hood and into the cockpit. We were instantly covered with black talcum powder. Shifting to low and hitting the throttle brought the nose of the car up and the lights became usable. Wiping our face shield gave limited vision and we are moving through it.

Lights shine off to our right about 50 yards. A truck was off the course and is mired in silt. On we crawl but we are moving. George working hard to find a line that will get us through this mess. Lights ahead.... A truck is stuck and we have no room to pass. We wait and let them use our lights to see to dig out. A car passes off on the right. He has found a path. The truck is moving He turns left and up onto a berm. George starts to inch forward with plans to follow the truck. He starts to turn the wheel.... "Stop!" I yell as the truck slides sideways into deeper silt and his lights are buried. We decide to try the right bank and see whet happens. Good guess... Out of silt with a sticky throttle and a sticky shifter. A couple of bumps knock off much of the remaining silt and on we go into the rising sun and to the next pit stop where some carb cleaner gets rid of the sticky control problem. The end of the ride and if It wasn’t for my screaming kidneys they couldn’t have got me out of the car.

In The Car - The Drive

The next night fell and that’s when we were late getting to our meeting point. We caught up to the car at a BFG pit in San Ignacio and it was my time to drive. With some game plan adjustments made we were off into the night. Easy thru the sleeping town of San Ignacio. Out of town and on a graded road., The car was beginning the feel more comfortable to me. I had only had 5 minutes practice time before the race. Good road... 45mph then 50 then 54-55 as the 1600 cc engine sounded good so I kept it there. My co-driver, Jake Maness of our Colorado group, telling me what to expect and how to attack the situations. The road was still good but narrower some 20 miles later, then some vados appeared as black holes. Onto the brakes... see bottom... its clear... onto the throttle. Jake says "off road racing is drag racing from one bump to the next" . Road is getting narrow and rocky, but the car is responding to my every command. Signs and arrows ahead. Left turn off the road onto a two track. Slower now but still a good pace for an old man.

Around a bend and then out go the light. My very own silt bed. Oh boy!! Down to first gear and don’t stop. Wipe the visor and try to keep the car straight by the seat of the pants method. The lights dimly show a tree to the right. Jake hollers to steer away from it. Passed the tree and some lights ahead. A truck is stuck and they are waving us left. Up into some bushes and passed the truck. This path ends on a patch of firm ground with trees blocking the way. Stop, catch a breath, and plan the next path of attack. Wallowing through the silt with the engine working hard churning the tires, moving the steering wheel left and right to move silt from in front of the front tires, we keep moving. Looking for a way out. Finally, a patch of rocks and then a two track. We are out and moving again with a sticky throttle and brakes that need to be pumped , but on we roar.

Then another silt bed, in and passed another stuck car and out. No problem... Down the road. Slower now because the brakes need one or two pumps.

Another silt bed... in and out. Jake says "I am doing well", I tell him "your lucky".

"Why" he asks, I tell him "its the co-driver that has to push".

On we go into the rising sun. Blinding us in several occasions. All of the sudden mile marker 1000 is behind us and the sun is shining and we are cruising along the beach with fisherman waiting for the tide to float their pangas. Through the town of San Jaunico with to early risers waving us on. Into a BFG pit and get some gas and a quick check. Pressing on we pass through the town of La Purisima and on to the score check point at mile 1077.

With the swapping of the crew here my stint behind the wheel ended but I was so pumped that I didn’t realize it until we had strapped our replacements in and gassed the car and watched it roar off. During glad hands and hugs, Jake informed me that we had covered 160 miles in just under four hours. We passed two racers and being so late in the race, no one passed me. Yes, I am proud of my first and only stint as and official "off road racer" and I thank my wife for all of her help and support.