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2007 Baja 1000 plans announced

Plans For 40th SCORE Baja 1000 Announced Historic adventure from Tijuana-Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas To honor the 40th Anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Festivities for the celebration to include spectacular events In ...

Published: Dec 15, 2006, 7:08 PM

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Plans For 40th SCORE Baja 1000 Announced

Historic adventure from Tijuana-Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas To honor the 40th Anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

         Festivities for the celebration to include spectacular events

         In addition to 1,200-plus mile granddaddy of all desert races

TIJUANA, Mexico--Starting the launch of a nearly year-long anniversary celebration, plans for next year's 40th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race were unveiled today during a media conference at the Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico. With major festivities planned in Tijuana and Ensenada along with a 1,200-plus mile race to the tip of the Baja California peninsula in Cabo San Lucas, the 2007 granddaddy of all desert races will be held Nov. 10-16.

In making the announcement, Sal Fish, SCORE CEO and President, praised the efforts of government and tourism officials in both states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, saying, "We would not be here today if it were not for the coordinated efforts and cooperation of both of these Mexican states and its counties. This anniversary celebration is a monumental undertaking and it will be the most memorable in the long and storied history of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in large part due to the dedicated efforts of the people of the Baja Peninsula."

Starting with special festivities in the heart of Tijuana on Saturday, Nov. 10, and a unique parade of vehicles, and all of the colorful traditional pre-race pageantry will once again be held in Ensenada on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 11, and all day Monday, Nov. 12).

The green flag will drop in Ensenada on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 13 and the last checkered flag will drop in Cabo San Lucas during the early morning of Friday, Nov. 16. In between Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, the 1,200-plus mile course will traverse much of the ruggedly majestic Baja California peninsula.

Nearly 500 sturdy adventurers, from over 40 U.S. States and 20 countries, are expected to compete 28 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"The SCORE Baja 1000 continues to draw interest from all over the world and we now find second and even third generation racers appearing at the starting line with their family patriarchs cheering for their children," said Fish. "This event continues to be the focal point of the SCORE Desert Series each year and to celebrate our 40th anniversary may just add the most colorful chapter to the legacy of the SCORE Baja 1000."

Among the festivities planned for Saturday (Nov. 10) in Tijuana are: a special SCORE Baja Leap competition at the Tijuana River bed. At the Tijuana City Hall Plaza a SCORE Baja Pit Crew Challenge will be held, followed by a Xtreme MX Acrobatics show. Concluding Saturday's pre-race celebration will be a memorable SCORE Baja 1000 40th Anniversary Welcome party on Revolution Avenue.

On Sunday (Nov. 11) Tijuana pre-race celebration will culminate with a historic parade of SCORE entries from Tijuana's Bull Ring (where the legend began in 1967) through the main streets of Tijuana down the Toll Road to Ensenada, starting at 11 a.m. and arriving at 2 p.m.

Once in Ensenada, all of the popular and traditional pre-race activities will be held. On Sunday, Nov. 11, the arrival fiesta of the race entries will be held at the Ventana al Mar from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with autograph sessions, photo opportunities, a vendor village and live music.

Also on Sunday, racer registration will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the San Nicolas Hotel.

Monday's pre-race activities (Nov. 12) in Ensenada will continue with racer registration at the San Nicolas (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and the colorful SCORE manufacturer's midway, contingency and tech inspection of all race vehicles from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. adjacent to the San Nicolas. The pre-race driver/rider briefing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral Room of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.

The magnificent start of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will once again be on Blvd. Costero starting with motorcycles and ATVs at 6:30 a.m. followed by the cars and trucks at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The start will once again include the extremely popular and spectator-friendly run up the Ensenada Wash.

While exact details of the race route are still being finalized, SCORE officials said it will be similar to the 2006 SCORE Baja 1000 before heading over to Todos Santos and then to an amazing three-day long finish line SCORE Survivor's Celebration in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

In its first 39 years, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 has started 32 times in Ensenada, three times in Mexicali (1972, 1993, 1994), twice in Tijuana (1967, 1995) once in Santo Tomas (1998) and once in Ojos Negros (1999). The legendary race has finished in Ensenada 18 times, in La Paz 17 times, in Mexicali two times (1993, 1994), once in Ojos Negros (1999) and once in Cabo San Lucas (2000).

The famous and not-so-famous have tried their hand at conquering the Baja and they have come from all walks of life. Mark Thatcher, son of Great Britian's then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, raced in the 1982 SCORE Baja 1000. Celebrities James Garner, Ted Nugent and the late Steve McQueen all battled the Baja in the early 1970s and many racers from other forms of motorsports crossed over to try their skills.

Among the drivers from other arenas who have tested the Baja were Indy Car racers Rick and Roger Mears, Parnelli Jones, Danny Ongias, Danny Sullivan, Jimmy Vasser, Buddy Rice, Sebastien Bourdais, Oriol Servia, Roberto Guerrero, Michel Jourdain Jr., Johnny Unser and Mike and Robbie Groff, NASCAR's Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Boris Said and Brendan Gaughan, SCCA legend Elliot Forbes-Robinson, World Rally Champion's Armin Schwarz, world motorcycle champions Malcolm Smith and Larry Roeseler, Motocross legends Ricky Johnson, Travis Pastrana and Jimmie Johnson (now a NASCAR champion), drag racers Don Prudhomme and Larry Minor and legendary SCORE founder and motorsports innovator Mickey Thompson. Academy Award winning actor, racer and race team owner Paul Newman raced in the 2004 event. Jesse James, of 'Monster Garage' fame, and Hollywood film and TV star Patrick Dempsey have both raced this classic in both 2005 and 2006.

Next year's race will commemorate the achievements of legendary desert racers like Rod Hall, Ron Bishop, Johnny Johnson, and Larry Roeseler. Hall, with a record 18 class wins (including one overall win in 1972), and Bishop are the only two racers who have competed in 39 SCORE Baja 1000 races. Hall will be a favorite in the Stock Mini class while Bishop, is once again be back where he always has--racing every year on a Motorcycle. Johnson, now retired, had 15 class wins, amazingly in eight different classes. Roeseler, has won 15 times in this race, including 12 overall wins (10 on a motorcycle). Roeseler will share driving duties again this year with seven-time SCORE Class 1 season point champion Troy Herbst. Roeseler and Herbst are the three-time defending Class 1 race winners in this race.

Lured by the same siren that enraptured the Ekins brothers in the 1950s, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 remains as the No. 1 target of adventurers the world over, not to mention the cadre of pro and semi-pro desert racers who consider it the fitting climax to their racing season each year. Only 2007 promises to combine the best of the first 39 years into one masterful, once-in-a-lifetime event.

For more information regarding SCORE International, contact 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

-credit: score

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