SCORE Baja 500 Course Raises Eyebrows with Desert Racers
By DirtNewz.com Staff
Rancho Santa Veronica, Baja California (May 16, 2006)
SCORE CEO/Founder Sal Fish once commented, “Desert racing isn’t for wusses!” The first weekend of prerunning is in the books and the buzz among the off road racing community is all about an 80-mile section described as Baja dense jungle.
Already a handful of whiners are complaining about the difficulty of the course and some have said that the trucks won’t make it though with their body panels still attached. The little used route heads into the Pine Forest north of El Compadre Trail. After passing Compadre Trail, the course goes faint and gets tight for the next 80-miles, which includes downed trees, bushes and very limited visibility.
A racer who wished to remain anonymous said, “I had to zoom in the GPS to nearly 300 feet before we could stay on the marked race course. At any time you can venture off the course and head into the wilds of Baja. The course is yet to be “burned” in by prerunning traffic and that will come in the weeks to come, however race teams better do their homework.”
Each year, a host of racers complain about the race course, however one must take into consideration that the race is a challenge of man and machine against the wilds of nature. Every team is challenged in a similar manner and this race is all about overcoming the defying odds of off road desert racing. Nothing is predictable and teams will be challenged both mentally and physically throughout the race.
Smiling from ear-to-ear a veteran Baja racer commented, “He who does the most homework and prepares for the unthinkable, will have the best chance to win and I think that will be me.”
SCORE Media Guru – Dominic Clark recently described this year’s race in one of the SCORE Baja 500 press releases quoted here, “Round 3 of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series, the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, featuring a race-record of over 400 entries competing in 25 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 2-4 in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, over 150,000 spectators are expected to enjoy the world's best desert racers in action around the picturesque deserts, beaches and forests of Baja California at this year's Tecate SCORE Baja 500.”
Are you looking for a little weekend excitement? If so, the SCORE Baja 500 is right around the corner. Stay tuned to DirtNewz for the latest reports from prerunner central.
