Author: Dominic Clark - SCORE
Over 400 entries, racers from 44 U.S. States, 27 countries— 1,134.40-mile odyssey down Mexico’s Baja California peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz; late, Motorcycles/quads start at Midnight (PT) on Wednesday, cars/trucks/utvs at 10 a.m.(PT) Thursday Streaming--Contingency, Start Line, Finish Line, Vehicle Tracking at www.score-international.com to be televised as a two-hour special on El Rey Network
ENSENADA, Mexico—While the last of the late entries check-in, racers practice one more day on the course, race crews finish all of their detailed logistics in preparation and all the over 300 course workers get into position, more history will be made starting Wednesday when the green flag drops atmidnight PT for the Pro and Sportsman motorcycle and quad classes at this week’s 50th annual BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000. Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads will begin their arduous adventure on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. PT.
GOLDEN BAJA MIL
The world’s most iconic, oldest, prestigious and longest continuously held desert race, this year’s 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 is being held over a 1,134.40-mile rugged race course down Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, starting in Ensenada, Baja California Norte and finishing in La Paz, Baja California Sur.
SPLIT-START
Commemorating the first race, motorcycle and quad classes will start at midnight (PT) on Wednesday, and the car, truck and UTV classes will begin their journey in the elapsed-time race 10 hours later at 10 a.m. (PT) on Thursday. While the fastest vehicles are expected to complete the course in approximately 19 hours, all vehicles will have 48 hours from the time each starts to complete the course and become an official finisher of the 50th anniversary race.
The start line in Ensenada is once again located on Blvd. Costero in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. The finish line in La Paz will be located adjacent to the Grand Plaza Hotel on the outskirts of the city just off of Highway 1.
SUPER STREAMING/TRACKING
Featuring live drone coverage from multiple locations on the race course, BCII TV of Los Angeles is producing the live streaming of this year’s BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000.
Accessed on the SCORE App and the SCORE website, streaming coverage will include Wednesday’s contingency row, Wednesday night’s moto/quad start, Thursday morning’s opening ceremony and the car/truck/UTV start as well complete finish line coverage from La Paz. Thursday and Friday will include live race coverage from out on the course. Extensive finish line interviews will also be broadcast via SCORE live.
Announcers for SCORE live are Rat Sult, Donovan White and Dave Arnold. SCORE live will also be linked through SCORE Youtube and SCORE facebook in addition to the SCORE website.
Tracking by STELLA3 racer tracking system of all the vehicles in the race may also be accessed through the SCORE website.
THE COUNT
With late, on-site racer registration ending Wednesday, there are an astonishing 406 total entries so far with racers from 44 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, two U.S. Territories and 27 countries officially signed up to compete.
In addition to the United States, the U.S. Territories of Guam and Puerto Rico and host country Mexico, the other countries with racers entered are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, England, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong/China, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa and Spain.
MORE NUMBERS
Entering this week’s late, on-site registration window, led by the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division with 39 entries, 15 total classes have double figures in terms of entries. While several other classes have nearly reached at least 10 entries, the other classes with double figure entries are: Class 10 (34), Trophy Truck Spec (26), Pro UTV FI (25), unlimited Class 1 (20), Pro Moto Ironman (19), Class 1/2-1600 (18), Pro UTV (17), SCORE Lites (13), Baja Challenge (12), Class 7 (10), Class 5-1600 (10), Class 11 (10) and leading the Sportsman classes are SPT M/C (27) and SPT Quad (16).
SCORE SAFETY
Part of the significant and ever-expanding SCORE safety initiatives will be at their highest level at this year’s BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000.
This year’s race will utilizing the new STELLA tracking system and there will be 25 rescue vehicles and ambulances stretched along the race course provided by Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).
There will also be three dedicated rescue vehicles with full complement of extrication tools, medical supplies and professional Fire-Rescue crews monitoring and advancing along with the race.
There will be two medical Air Ambulances staffed with a critical care nurse and paramedic.
The SCORE Medical/Rescue Helicopter is staffed with two advanced life support rescue paramedics and supplies.
“Weatherman” race communications will be at three locations with one fixed on Mount Diablo and two in separate airplanes following the race course for constant communications and safety for the participants.
Over 50 satellite radios/phones will be utilized for direct safety communications along the course. There will also be full internet capability throughout the command centers and Rescue units monitoring live updates, locations, communications and any race-related emergencies that may arise.
The event’s experienced staff of medical and rescue/safety professionals will also be using standard VHF radio communications as well as cell phone communications.
SALIDA Y LA META
This year’s race will start for the 43rd time in Ensenada, Baja California and finish for the 21st time in La Paz, Baja California Sur. The start line will once again be adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada with the first several spectator-friendly miles running up the Ensenada Arroyo.
The course will finish just off of Highway 1 in the outskirts of the city at the Fidepaz Marina, adjacent to the Grand Plaza Hotel, official race headquarters in La Paz.
WHO ELSE BUT SAL!
Sal Fish, 78, the iconic desert racing promoter who owned SCORE International for 38 years, is the Grand Marshal for the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000.
Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Fish, who lives in Malibu, Calif., has earned more awards in his life than most racers have won races and was the face of SCORE from 1974 until he sold the company to Roger and Elise Norman on Dec. 20, 2012.
BFGOODRICH TIRES UNMATCHED
BFGoodrich Tires is celebrating four decades as a major player in SCORE Baja racing. In addition to being the official tire of SCORE International for nearly four decades and the title sponsor of this year’s race, BFGoodrich Tires has produced the tire of choice for 28 of the overall 4-wheel vehicle winners in the SCORE Baja 1000, including 28 of the last 31 years along with a record-run of 20 straight from 1986 through 2005. In total, BFGoodrich Tires has now be the tire of choice for the overall 4-wheel vehicle winner in 86 SCORE Baja races including 31 in the SCORE Baja 500.
BFGoodrich Tires also provides unmatched pit support for racers using their tires with eight full service pit areas and more than 200 support crew personnel spread along the race course and complete radio relay the entire race course.BFGoodrich Tires will also award $50,000 contingency money to the overall winners of this year’s 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 running exclusively on their tires.
VIVA BAJA!
As it has for over four decades, SCORE has put together another memorable race course for the 50th anniversary, this one is a point-to-point race, with all of the foreboding, unforgiving terrain that both the northern state and southern state of the majestic Baja California peninsula has to offer. SCORE CEO/president Roger Norman and SCORE Race Director Jose A. Grijalva have designed and finalized this year’s race course of 1,134.40 miles. This year’s golden course will have five physical checkpoints along the way to the finish, 147 virtual checkpoints and 20 speed zones (37mph or 60mph for a total of 162.87 pavement miles).
Starting in the heart of Ensenada in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, the course travels east to Ojos Negros before launching its weaving way south to the finish line in La Paz.
The five checkpoints will be located at Coco’s Corner (race mile 312.30), Mujica Baja Sur (RM 524.22), near Loreto (RM 784.11), road crossing at the Lopez Mateos Highway (RM 930.58) and at Loma Amarilla (RM 1,033.65).
EL REY NETWORK
The four-race 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship in Baja California, Mexico along with the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience and the SCORE Baja 1000 Qualifying in Las Vegas are all airing on El Rey Network in the United States. International distribution is by way of syndication. The season-ending 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 will have a two-hour show produced while the other race shows are each one-hour telecasts.
El Rey Network is available in 45 million homes across the country through cable and OTT providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 341 and Dish Network Channel 253. For more information on how to watch El Rey visit http://elreynetwork.com.
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire & Official Race Title Sponsor, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, Axial R/C-Official R/C Vehicle, El Rey Network-Official Television Partner, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.
SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, 4 Wheel Parts, The Satellite Phone Store, Satellite Del Norte, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, CETTO Vineyards.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Baja California Sur State Government, Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics.
Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: XXII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Tijuana Comite de Turismo and Convenciones, Comite de Marcadotecnia Turistica, Asociacion de Hoteles del Noroeste.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.
