My race plans fell apart so lets go to the Pacific side of the Baja 500 course this time and explore. Hmmm, Erindira? What's there? Well, lets find out. The turn off is at roughly km80 south of Ensenada on Mex 1. The first three miles were freshly paved and then turned to dirt filled potholes for the next ten. Round the corner and stop at the Alto in front of the police/ambulance/fire station. Two mercados, a liquor store, a motel and a couple of taco stands and I am north of town. I pass Castro's fishing Camp and come to a SCORE course marker which points in two directions. One is up and over the hill strait ahead and the other follows the main road around Punta San Isidro. I round the point and find a wonderful beach and open area for camping. There are two RV's parked and I ask about race viewing and setting up camp. It turns out they are three nurses and one EMT LA County Fire from Huntington Beach and they ride. The tent goes up, the bike comes off and I head up to Santo Tomas following the course. Its a relatively fast part with some sand and rocky areas for thirty miles. I stopped and talked with some surfer types I met at km40 rest area for ice & beer. Back into Erindira for a great Mexican Cheese Steak Sandwich and back to camp with the nurses. Share Beach; Eric & Dee Anna brought their four y/o son and Bruce & Patti were observing a rigorous workout schedule designed to increase their family size. We sat around the campfire playing "I went to the market and bought some _ _" They mentioned that I should secure my gear as they had some visitors the previous night who borrowed some kitchen utensils and a cooler without permission. While there is safety in numbers and the beaches were free to camp on, some security precautions are adviseable as some of the locals did seem to travel by night on scavage hunts. It turned out Eric was a guide for a couple of Baja motorcycle tour companies. We discussed places to ride, things to see, route markers and trail conditions. He was a wealth of information and helpful for those places where the trails separate into various directions. Early on race day I went into town where the taco stand prepared some Juevos Rancheros (always unique) and speculate about when the first vehicle would come through. 60 mph means 11am. 50 mph means 12am. And the consensus was 1 pm. I returned to camp and the place was starting to fill up. Aparently there were fewer spectators here relative to last year, but that and the overcast weather didn't stop the ice-cream guy from making the rounds: I lifted the top off a XX big one and got my camera ready. 1230 and the helicopters started arriving: Then, at Race Mile 313: He was only twenty minutes ahead of a KTM????? My jaw dropped as Orange flew by and I missed the photo op. I had expected more competition from the open class bikes, but the bikes came through representing all the classes including the over 60 y/o entries. Somehow I missed my NASCAR guy Robby Gordon in his Hummer (Looks like he has better support for his off-road efforts than NEXTEL Cup). Now it turns out the this was the intersection of the either/or decision on the other side of Punta San Isidro. A few riders took the long way around: While most took the hill: There was also a veer off the main course which went right through our camping area, of which a couple of race bikes surprised us: About 4pm all hell broke loose when #1 B.J. Baldwin was first over the hill: This one is of interest from right to left; Pro Tek Chase Crew with the flags, the 211x CheerLeader Squad, VW Tourag chasing TT dust: There was only one close call when a TT came over the hill to pass a Class 1. The TT crossed in front of the Class 1 who had momentum and tried to pass right. The TT ran him off the road, up the mountain, and into his dust.........And they kept coming into the night: Now what do you get when you combine the night with wine, HID headlights and Nurses? You guessed it. My neighbors staggered onto the course and entertained the straglers with the Full Monty. Oh, what a night. The 20 hour time limit killed the Baja Bugs which continued to come through sporadically. In the morning I woke up to this and a couple of stock trucks still on the course: A couple of StarBucks Ice Coffees and I am off to the south. My basic plan was to head south to find the ship wreck. I wanted to check out the area set aside for the planned seaport at Bahia Colonet, get gas in Camalu and find someplace to eat. I turned off the race course and headed south at a large unmarked intersection. I Went through the closed gates at Johnson Ranch and ended up at another intersection to Colonet. The road south went through some agricultural lands and I had to navigate some fence lines to continue. I finally found the path accross the dry riverbed at Bahia Colonet and came up on the beach again.This was one of those spots where you just want to enjoy the beauty. But, somebody wants to build a deep water port to compete with Long Beach Harbor. I sure hope not. I continued along the beach and wound around to 4 Casas (San Francisquito?), another Hostel location. I ran into some ADVriders Mike & Michele from Scotland & Australia. They were riding overloaded 1150GSA and a KLR with no brakes (just replaced in Mexico City). They were just up from Argentina, crossing by boat in Panama to save $100 and headed to Alaska. http://www.the-girl-is-a-liability.blogspot.com and http://www.argentina-alaska.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. I almost missed it because of the housing developments at Punta San Jacinto but saw it from the south and returned for the mandatory photo: I continued on to Camalu where the road intersects Mex 1 at the stop light & Pemex. Gas was 66 & 81 $/liter and they were out of rojo: On the return leg, I met some fellow riders on the road from Chula Vista who had a 70 y/o gentleman chasing them in a sand rail. He made it with ease through the whooped out race course and chewed up rock washes. They said I could stay with them at Castro's Camp and mentioned another Hostel right on Punta San Isidro which I noticed on my return. These places offer a little more security and shower facilities for $5/nite. The coast road separates from the race course and winds around some extinct volcanoes. Just before the Erindira wash the race course passed these flower fields: Race Results to illustrate the variety of classes for overall position: Position Overall / Number / Class / Rider of Record / Time 1. 1x Class 22 open ROBBY BELL (Factory Honda) 8:51:11 2. 12 Trophy Truck LARRY RAGLAND 9:10:58 3. 71 Trophy Truck ROBBY GORDON (Mr NASCAR) 9:14:55 4. 1 Trophy Truck B.J. BALDWIN 9:17:32 5. 7x Class 22 open CHRIS BLAIS (Factory KTM) 9:18:39 6. 3 Trophy Truck MARK POST (Arrested, Baja 250) 9:25:30 7. 313x Class 30 over 30 y/o JIM O'NEAL 9:26:41 13. 118x Class 21 under 450cc CARLOS CASAS 9:55:21 16. 106 Class 1 open car B.J. RICHARDSON 9:59:30 19. 081 Dakar Truck MARK MILLER 10:00:38 28. 402x Class 40 over 40 y/o BRETT HELM 10:07:02 29. 1a Frikkin' Quad's DANNY PRATHER 10:09:07 33. 083 Dakar Truck GINIEL DE VILLIERS 10:18:44 38. 151x Class 20 under 250cc RYAN PENHALL 10:33:14 49. 280x Sportsman over 250cc BILL EDDINGS 10:43:33 52. 500x Class 50 over 50 y/o JIM O'NEAL 10:45:12 62. 122x Class 21 under 450cc CHAD ERL (Uptite) 10:55:06 127. 213x Sportsman under 250cc ENRIQUE LEGASPY 12:08:59 140. 272x Sportsman GARY BARR (Alabama Ironman) 12:20:45 155. 102x Class 21 under 450cc ANNA JO CODY (All Girl Team) 12:41:04 213. 601x Class 60 over 60 y/o JOHN CARMONA 14:49:01 DNF 9 entries for Sportsman Rhino Off to Telluride next week...........
Great pics & report, but ya sparked my interest, what caused your race plans to go kaput? care to share? P.S. enjoy Telluride, I hear its pronounced ( To-Hell-U-Ride)
Hey Ruffus, hope you heal up and ride soon. I had a couple of irons in the fire. The big one was Chad Erl and Uptite Racing. But he was so far behind the power curve he was lucky to finish (122x). They left just in time for Contingency and no time to pre-run. Best for me to stay out of the way. I pick my daughter up from college next week, offload her apartment stuff, and take her out to Colorado to assume my other life: Telluride Bluegrass Thursday, June 21 (The Summer Solstice) 11:00am Gates Open 11:15 - 12:15 Chris Thile 12:30 - 1:45 Crooked Still 2:00 - 3:15 The Avett Brothers 3:30 - 4:45 Jackie Greene 5:15 - 6:45 Telluride House Band featuring Béla, Sam, Jerry, Edgar, Darol, Bryan 7:15 - 8:30 Emmylou Harris w/ John Starling & Carolina Star 9:00 - 10:30 Counting Crows Friday, June 22 10:00am Gates Open 10:30 - 11:30 Greensky Bluegrass 11:45 - 1:00 Infamous Stringdusters 1:15 - 2:15 Mike Marshall & Hamilton de Holanda 2:45 - 4:00 The Jerry Douglas Band 4:30 - 5:45 Chris Thile & The How to Grow a Band featuring Bryan Sutton 6:15 - 7:30 Guster 8:00 - 10:00 Béla Fleck & the Flecktones 10:30 - Midnight Los Lobos Saturday, June 23 10:00am Gates Open 10:15 - 11:30 Band Contest Finals 11:45 - 12:45 Sarah Jarosz w/ special guests Mike Marshall & Ben Sollee 1:00 - 2:00 Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile 2:15 - 3:30 The John Cowan Band 3:45 - 4:00 Telluride Troubadour Finalist 4:15 - 5:45 Yonder Mountain String Band 6:15 - 7:30 A very special performance by Tony Rice w/ Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas 8:00 - 10:00 Sam Bush Band 10:30 - Midnight New Orleans Social Club Sunday, June 24 10:30am Gates Open 11:00 - 12:15 Abigail Washburn w/ the Sparrow Quartet 12:30 - 1:45 Andy Statman Trio 2:00 - 3:15 Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet 3:45 - 5:00 Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman & Friends 5:30 - 6:45 The Dougie MacLean Band 7:15 - 8:30 Chick Corea & Béla Fleck 9:00 - 11:00 Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Thanks, I hope to ride soon, good luck on your move. What kind of light do you have on your bike, & did you have to modify the stator to run it?? it looks sweet
LaserLight HID from George Erl at UP-TITE Racing. The bike was Chad's pre-runner for 2006 Baja 1000. They are using a TC450 this year with a re-wound stator and dual LaserLight HID setup. The mount isn't as adjustable as the Baja Designs and no need for stator modification with the single unit. It's really an effective pencil beam out to 300 meters with good peripheral light for side road obstacles/animals. It works great as long as there is no other traffic. In fact, it was no problem going over that either/or hill at Punta San Isidro in the dark. I was embarrased in traffic as the low beam is left hand over lens. And dust looks like a wall, but I was able to manuever to the left easily to pass. It is certainly a great comfort not to worry about being caught in the desert after the sun goes down. I should have briefed my neighbors that I don't have a back before dark edict. They were planning to pack all my gear and notify the local police when I arrived late:grinner
have you thought of adding a small secondary light for street use? something like what I got under the factory unit, it's small, has a fog & driving beam, not offensive to oncoming vehicles, brighter than factory
I make an effort to avoid riding on city streets at night. Mexico is a very tolerant country and the police don't bother me in the daytime; but, the bike is lacking a lot of safety equipment for night use due to the race wiring: no horn, no signals, no brake light, and questionable registration(working on it). If I get stuck in San Jose del Cabo after dark, I slip out the back way to the coast road. Riding the open highway is not a good idea for a motorcycle at night. Aside from the narrow roadways, no shoulders, open range cattle, and excessive speed; it seems every other passing vehicle has bad or mal-adjusted headlights. I used to be polite with my roadbike and dim them. But this became a huge safety issue as I couldn't see squat. It is much safer to make the call to speed up, slow down, or manuever in lane to avoid blinding oncoming traffic with excessive lighting when passing. So, to answer your question, you have a sweet unit. BigDog has a sweet Baja Designs unit. You ride in Canada. BigDog rides in the States. And, I ride my Husky only in Baja. When I get my Mexican License Plate I may test the California authorities later, but I am not inclined to install lighting just for street use. Besides, when I come to a stop and put my feet down, the light automatically lowers:grinner
Robby Gordon's website posted his "corrected time was good enough for a second place overall finish". And team Ragland/Collins were "this year's overall winners". Since the SCORE website hasn't posted official results yet, does this mean Team Factory Honda died in 2007 Baja 500? What about Team Factory KTM? Did they unseat Factory Honda?????????
I don't blame you, I drove my Jeep to Los Cabos in 2000, soon as it gets dark, the critters come out to play. I'd pull over, do some minor offroading to get out of eyesight of the road & pitch a tent, get an early start in daylight