'07 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 F A C T S H E E TS

[Blanco]

> May 15, 2007
>
> F A C T S H E E T
> 2007 Tecate SCORE Baja 500
>
> WHAT:
> 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Desert
> Race—Round 3, of the six-race 2007
> SCORE Desert Series
>
> WHEN:
> Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 31-June 3,
> 2007
>
> WHERE:
> Ensenada-Baja California, Mexico (65 miles south of
> U.S./Mexico Border at San
> Diego)
>
> WHO:
> Over 475 entries from 31 States; Mexico, Austria,
> Canada, England, France,
> Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, South
> Africa & New Zealand
>
> COURSE:
> TOTAL MILEAGE: 420.11 miles (4 checkpoints).
> Starts in downtown Ensenada adjacent to the Riviera
> Cultural Center and
> finishes at Campo de Softball Jose Negro Soto
> stadium, 11th & Espinoza, in the
> heart of Ensenada. Starting and finishing in
> Ensenada, this year’s tight and
> technical course will run in a clockwise direction,
> running East into the middle of
> the peninsula, then South, followed by a West travel
> section, turning north,
> then East, North and back West for the final charge
> back into Ensenada. The
> course travels in a clockwise direction for the
> second straight year and second
> time since 2003, with just the first 16.13 miles
> from the start being used
> both ways. From Ojos Negros, the outgoing course
> heads due South. The first
> 112.25 miles of the course is the same route as used
> in March’s Tecate SCORE Baja
> 250 to Valle de Trinidad. The course goes southeast
> from Ojos to El Alamo
> (rm65.48) and back northeast to Highway 3 at K78+
> (rm78.06). After running 1.19
> miles on the highway, the course turns east then
> immediately south paralleling
> Highway 3 through Santa Catarina (rm86.32) and along
> the infamous Goat Trail
> before merging into Highway 3 south just after K117
> (rm110.7) to run on pavement
> to K138 (rm122.91). The course then heads South,
> Southwest and up and around
> Mike’s Sky Rancho, rm142.66, and back down around
> behind Rancho Meling and back
> up through Rancho El Coyote, rm208.32. The course
> then winds north towards
> Valley de Trinidad and down Simpson’s hill,
> turning West at rm252.62. Shooting
> across to Highway 1 at K102, rm281.49, the course
> goes north on pavement to
> K96, rm285.53. At this point, the course winds West
> and then North for a sprint
> along the Pacific Ocean, turning back inland and
> NorthEast at rm326.94. At
> rm340.85, Highway 1, K51+, the course turns North at
> Santo Tomas, to Uruapan at
> K42, rm348.55 where it turns East and north through
> the Cerro San Antonio
> mountains dropping back down west of Ojos Negros
> eventually joining the outgoing
> course at K25 (rm398.29).
> Checkpoints: CK1-Santa Catarina, rm86.32; CK2-Buena
> Vista, rm197.13; CK3-San
> Vicente, rm286.36; CK4-Rancho San Antonio, rm385.36.
>
> PRE AND POST RACE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
>
> THURSDAY, May 31, 2007--(all times PDT)
> Racer Registration, San Nicolas Hotel, 2p.m.-6 p.m.
> Media Registration, San Nicolas Hotel, 2p.m.-6p.m.
>
> FRIDAY, June 1, 2007--(all times PDT)
> Racer Registration, San Nicolas Hotel, 9a.m.-4:30
> p.m.
> Media Registration, San Nicolas Hotel, 9a.m.-5p.m.
> Contingency/Tech Inspection, adjacent to San Nicolas
> Hotel, 10a.m.-6p.m.
> Mandatory Racer Meeting, Cathedral Room, Riviera del
> Pacifico Cultural
> Center, 7p.m.
>
> SUNDAY, June 3, 2007--(all times PDT)
> Posting of Unofficial Results-San Nicolas Hotel,
> 8a.m.
> Competition Review Board-San Nicolas Hotel, 9a.m.
> Awards Celebration-San Nicolas Hotel, 11a.m.
>
> RACE DAYS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
>
> SATURDAY/SUNDAY, June 2-3, 2007 (all times PDT)
> (Subject to Change)
>
> START: In front of the Riviera del Pacifico
> Cultural Center in downtown
> Ensenada.
> FINISH: Campo de Softball Jose Negro Soto stadium,
> 11th (Calle Once) &
> Espinoza-Ensenada.
>
> Late Registration AND Late Tech, start line, 5a.m.
> Motorcycles & ATVs-6a.m.; Cars & Trucks-10 a.m.
> (Approx)
>
> CLASS STARTING ORDER: (One vehicle every 30 seconds)
> Motorcycles/ATVs--22, 30, 40, 21, 20, 50, 60, SPT
> M/C>250cc, SPT M/C<250cc,
> 25, 24, SPT ATV.
> Cars/Trucks: TT,1,SIT,10,8,PT,SL,1 2/1600, 5, 7,
> 5/1600, 7S, 7SX, SF, SM, 9,
> 3, JS1, JS 3, SPTTRUCK, SPTCAR, 11, SPT UTV
>
> TIME LIMIT:
> All vehicles have an 18-hour time limit to cover
> the course.
>
> SANCTION:
> Sanctioned and produced by SCORE International-Los
> Angeles CEO &
> President--Sal Fish; Vice-President—Paul Fish;
> Attorney/Mexican Liaison—Oscar Ramos;
> Administration--Sue Johnson
>
> BLACK BOXES:
> SCORE requires that special ‘black boxes’ will
> be mandatory on all entries.
> The Loggers, provided and monitored by
> RallyTrack.com, record the GPS data of
> all vehicles along with vehicle speed, especially in
> speed-limit areas.
>
> SPONSORS:
> Current SCORE official annual sponsors are:
> BFGoodrich Tires-official tire,
> Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel
> supplier, Bilstein-official
> shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official
> Mexican auto insurance, American
> Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official
> tire sealant, Airstar
> America-official space lighting provider and Red
> Bull-official energy drink, Bosch
> Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors
> are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola
> of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc.,
> Blue C Communications,
> Kartek, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American
> Suzuki, NAPA Chassis, SignPros,
> Cotuco, Fideicomiso Publico para la Promocion
> Turistica de Ensenada, P.C.I.
> Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products,
> Advanced Color Graphics.
>
> TOP RACERS:
> SCORE Trophy-Truck: 1 B.J. Baldwin, 19 Tim/Ed
> Herbst, 82 Ryan Arciero/Bob
> Shepard, 3 Mark Post/Rob MacCachren, 71 Robby
> Gordon, 86 Josh Baldwin, 7 Scott
> Steinberger, 12 Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, 28 Alan
> Pflueger, 38 Garron
> Cadiente, 4 Gus Vildosola/Gus Vildosola Jr., 2 Pete
> Sohren, 16 Cameron Steele, 77
> Travis Coyne, 96 Bobby Baldwin, 31
> AndyMcMillin/Scott McMillin, 4 Gus
> Vildosola/Gus Vildosola Jr., 17 Carl Renezeder, 39
> Ron Whitton, 85 Todd Wyllie, 22 Damen
> Jefferies; Class 1: Larry Roeseler/Troy Herbst, Mark
> McMillin, Danny/Dale
> Ebberts, Chuck Hovey, B.J. Richardson, Robert Ross,
> Pat Dean, Steve Sourapas, John
> Herder, Ronny Wilson, Darren Hardesty, Max Theriot,
> Brendan Gaughan, Armin
> Schwarz;
> Class 1-2/1600: Daniel McMillin/Caleb Gaddis, L.J.
> Kennedy/Sammy Ehrenberg;
> Class 3: Donald Moss; Class 5: George Seeley, Chris
> Bowman; Class 5/1600:
> Marcos Nunez, Mario Reynoso, Adolfo Aguilar Jr.;
> Class 7: Dan Chamlee, Shannon
> Dierkop; Class 7S: Mike Horner; Class 7SX: John
> Holmes; Class 8: Nick Vanderwey;
> Class 10: Lobsam Yee, Mark Weger; SCORE Lite:
> Cameron Steele/Kash Vessels,
> Tim Noe/Tom Watson, Stan Potter/Dan Worley; Stock
> Full: John Griffin, Terry
> Henn, Josh Hall; Stock Mini: Rod Hall, Gavin
> Skilton, Rod Millen; Class 22: Robby
> Bell/Kendall Norman, Chris Blais/Dave Pearson; Class
> 21: Shaun Hanson, Anna Jo
> Cody; Class 30: Francisco Septien, Gerardo Rojas;
> CLASSES 30 & 50: Jim O’
> Neal; CLASS 40: Kent/Scott/Kurt Pfeifer; CLASS 50:
> Eizaburo Karasawa; CLASS 25:
> Danny Prather/Mike Cafro, Wayne Matlock/Chad Prull.
>
> CLASSES:
> The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Desert Race features 28
> Pro & 6 Sportsman classes
> for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. Class
> winners will be decided along
> with the overall race winner in Pro 4-Wheel, Pro
> Motorcycle and Pro ATV. Pro
> Class Descriptions:
>
> Cars & Trucks
> SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)
> SCORE INT’L TRUCK (Unlimited Int’l Production
> Trucks)
> CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters)
> CLASS 1-2/1600 (single or two-seaters to 1600cc)
> CLASS 3 (Short wheelbase 4X4)
> CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs)
> CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs)
> CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks)
> CLASS 7S (Stock mini trucks)
> CLASS 7SX (Modified, Stock mini trucks)
> CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks)
> CLASS 9 (Short wheelbase, single or two-seaters)
> CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc)
> SCORE LITE (Limited single-1776cc-or
> two-seaters-1835cc)
> CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans)
> STOCK FULL (Stock full-sized trucks)
> STOCK MINI (Stock mini trucks)
> PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks)
> CLASS 17 (Modified, Class 3 Jeep Cherokees)
>
> Motorcycles
> CLASS 22 (250cc or more)
> CLASS 21 (126cc to 250cc)
> CLASS 20 (Up to 125cc)
> CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old)
> CLASS 40 (Riders over 40 years old)
> CLASS 50 (Riders over 50 years old)
> CLASS 60 (Riders over 60 years old)
>
> ATVs
> CLASS 25 (251cc or more)
> CLASS 24 (250cc or less)
>
> 2006 TOP FINISHERS:
> OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
> 438 Total Starters
> 221 Total Finishers
> 1. Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Larry Ragland, Cave
> Creek, Ariz., Chevy Silverado
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 2. Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 3. Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach, Calif., Ford F-150
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 4. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry Roeseler, Hesperia,
> Calif., Smithbuilt-Ford
> (Class 1)
> 5. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 6. Garron Cadiente, Mesa, Ariz., Ford F-150 (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 7. Bob Shepard, Phoenix, Chevy CK1500 (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 8. Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 9. Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif./Ernie Castro
> Jr., Newport Beach, Calif.,
> Jimco-Toyota (Class 1)
> 10. Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif./Brian Ewalt,
> Bonita, Calif., Jimco-Chevy
> (Class 1)
> OVERALL MOTORCYCLE--1. Robby Bell, Murrieta,
> Calif./Kendall Norman, Santa
> Barbara, Calif., Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
> OVERALL ATV--1. Danny Prather, Ramona, CA/Mike
> Cafro, Carlsbad,CA, Honda
> TRX450R (Class 25)
>
> 2005 TOP FINISHERS:
> OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
> 345 Total Starters
> 179 Total Finishers
> 1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 2. Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Poway, Calif.,
> Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
> 3. Jason Baldwin, Laguna Beach, Calif., Ford F-150
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck
> 4. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Curt
> LeDuc, CherryValley, CA Ford
> F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 5. Damen Jefferies, Oak Hills, Calif., Porter-Chevy
> (Class 1)
> 6. Marty Coyne/Travis Coyne, El Centro, Calif., Ford
> F-150 (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 7. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 8. Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif./Steve Sourapas,
> Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.,
> Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
> 9. Corky McMillin, Bonita, Calif./Gary Arnold, El
> Cajon, Calif.,
> Chenowth-Chevy (Class 1)
> 10. Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Larry Ragland, Phoenix,
> Chevy Silverado (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> OVERALL MOTORCYCLE--1. Mike Childress, Wrightwood,
> Calif./Mouse McCoy, Santa
> Monica,
> Calif., Honda XR650R (Class 22)
> OVERALL ATV--1. Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nev./Cyle
> Chislock, Murrieta,
> Calif./Levi Marana, Hemet,
> Calif., Honda TRX450R (Class 25)
>
> 2004 TOP FINISHERS:
> OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
> 300 Total Starters
> 181 Total Finishers
> 1. Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 2. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry Roeseler, Hesperia,
> Calif., Smithbuilt-Ford
> (Class 1)
> 3. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Jerry
> Whelchel, RanchoSM, CA, Ford
> F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck
> 4. Jason Baldwin, Laguna Hills, Calif., Ford F-150
> (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 5. Josh Baldwin, San Diego, Ford F-150 (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 6. Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Poway, Calif.,
> Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
> 7. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE
> Trophy-Truck)
> 8. Dan Smith/Dave Ashley, Riverside, Calif., Ford
> F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> 9. Dan Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy
> (Class 1)
> 10. Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., Jimco-Chevy
> (Class 1)
> OVERALL MOTORCYCLE--1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills,
> Calif./Johnny Campbell,
> San Clemente, Calif., Honda XR650R (Class 22)
> OVERALL ATV--1. Ruben Martin/Gilberto Santana,
> Tijuana, Mexico, Bombardier
> Baja X (Class 25)
>
> DEFENDING CLASS CHAMPIONS:
> A total of 19 of the 22 defending Pro class winners
> (3 classes had no
> finishers) from last year are entered so far,
> although two of them have switched
> classes. Besides Ragland/Collins, Bell/Norman and
> Prather/M. Cafro, other racers
> who will be back to defend their class titles are
> Larry Roeseler, Hesperia,
> Calif./Troy Herbst, Las Vegas (Class 1,
> Smithbuilt-Ford), Gerardo Iribe,
> Ensenada, Mexico (Class 1-2/1600, Curry/ISRT-VW),
> Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif.
> (Class 3, Ford Bronco), Marcos Nunez, Ensenada,
> Mexico (Class 5/1600, 1600cc VW
> Baja Bug), Dan Chamlee, Summerland, Calif., (Class
> 7, Ford Ranger), John Holmes,
> Olivenhain, Calif. (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), Nick
> Vanderwey, Phoenix (Class
> 8, GMC Sierra), Tim Noe/Tom Watson, El Centro,
> Calif. (SCORE Lite, Jimco-VW),
> Terry Henn, Walnut, Calif. (Stock Full, Hummer H2),
> Rod Hall, Reno, Nev. (Stock
> Mini, Hummer H3), Rob Reinertson, Woodside, Calif.
> (Protruck, Ford F-150),
> Jason Trubey, Bullhead City, Ariz. (Class 21, Suzuki
> RMZ450), Jim O’Neal,
> Chatsworth, Calif. (Class 50, Honda XR650R).The
> three class winners from last year
> who have switched classes are: Darren Hardesty,
> Ramona, Calif. (from Class 10
> to Class 1), Dave Bonner, Norco, Calif. (from Class
> 5 to SCORE Lite), and Jim O’
> Neal, Chatsworth, Calif. (from Class 40 to Class
> 30).
>
> VW TOUAREGS:
> Volkswagen America is binging two of its factory
> race teams from the Dakar
> Rally to run in a special SCORE Int’l Truck class.
> Drivers are American Mark
> Miller and South African Giniel De Villers
>
> CROSSOVER/CELEBRITY RACERS:
> Among the crossover/celebrity racers entered in this
> year’s Tecate SCORE Baja
> 500 are:
>
> -Robby Gordon, NASCAR Team Owner/Driver (No. 71
> SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> -Brendan Gaughan, NASCAR Truck Series driver (No.
> 126 Class 1)
> -Ricky Johnson, Legendary Supercross and MX rider
> (No. 28 SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> -Armin Schwarz, 7-time World Rally Championship race
> winner (No. 127 Class 1)
> -Cameron Steele, TV Sports Announcer-Supercross,
> X-Games, Champ Cars
> (Racing in three Classes--No. 16 SCORE Trophy-Truck,
> No. 1213 SCORE Lite and
> No. 16x Class 22)
> -Jesse James, West Coast Choppers, star of old
> Monster Garage TV show (No. 54
> SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> -Rod Millen, Pikes Peak Hill Climb record holder,
> Mickey Thompson Series
> champ (No. 761 Stock Mini)
> -Mark Miller, 2-time SCORE Baja 500 overall winner,
> 4th in the 2007 Dakar
> Rally (No. 81 SCORE Int’l Truck)
> -Giniel De Villers, Dakar Rally vet, 2nd in 2006,
> 11th in 2007 and won 4
> stages (No. 83 SCORE Int’l Truck)
> -Rhyss Millen, Pikes Peak Hill Climb class winner,
> National Drifting champ
> (No. 40, SCORE Trophy-Truck)
> -Jamie Galles, former Trans Am, Toyota Atlantic
> racer, (No. 110, Class 1)
> -Max Thieriot, budding Hollywood actor, (No. 101,
> Class 1)
> -Shawn Highland, Freestyle MX star, (No. 15x, Class
> 22)
> -Trigger Gumm, former motorcycle long jumping world
> record holder, (No. 114,
> unlimited Class 1)
>
> FEMALE RACERS:
> While there are numerous female co-drivers/riders in
> this race, the three
> ladies who are driver/rider of record are: Heidi
> Steele, Class 7SX, Anna Jo Cody
> who will be leading a 3-rider all-female team in
> Class 21, Jessica McCreary
> who will be riding solo in the Sportsman Motorcycle
> under 250cc class. Among the
> female co-riders are Nancy Emde (Class 50) and
> Brittany Sanchez (Class
> 5/1600).
>
> MEDIA CENTER:
> Race day: Remote facility at Start and Finish Lines
>
> MEDIA CONTACT:
> Dominic Clark, guest-San Nicolas Hotel,
> 011.52.646.176.1901

[Grimm]

Wow, almost 500 entries and there were only 300 in '04.

[Blanco]

Busy pre-running begins Saturday in Mexico on rugged
420.11-mile race course for 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 500

June 1-3 race in Ensenada has entries from 31 States, 13 countries;
Course map available at www.score-international.com

LOS ANGELES— With the course map, course notes and GPS coordinates released Monday, pre-race activity steps up significantly starting Saturday when the world’s best desert racers officially begin their pre-running and course logistics activities for next month’s record-setting 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world.
Round 3 of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, will feature over 475 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. It will be held June 1-3 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 at this year’s race.
With late entries excepted up to race morning, over 475 entries are expected from 31 U.S. States from Hawaii to Rhode Island as well as Mexico, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 2) for the motorcycle and ATV classes in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, followed by the car and truck classes three hours after the last ATV at approximately 10 a.m. The 455 vehicles entered to date include 261 cars and trucks and 194 motorcycles and ATVs. There will be an 18-hour time limit in the elapsed-time race.
This year’s massive field will challenge the very technical and rugged 420.11-mile course. Pre-running, or repeated practice driving and riding the course will be allowed up to the day before the race (Friday, June 1).
Back to defend their overall 4-wheel vehicle and SCORE Trophy-Truck title is the team of Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz./Brian Collins, Las Vegas, in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado. Returning as the overall motorcycle and Class 22 champs is the team of Robby Bell, Murrieta, Calif./Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., on the No. 1x Honda CRF450X. Back to defend their overall ATV and Class 25 victory is the team of Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., on the No. 1a Honda TRX250R.
Starting and finishing in Ensenada on the majestic Baja California peninsula, this year’s tight and technical course will run in a clockwise direction, running East into the middle of the peninsula, then South, followed by a West travel section, turning north, then East, North, Northeast and back West for the final charge back into Ensenada.
The race course is very similar to last year’s brutally-tough adventure, with a few notable exceptions.
This year’s course will not go through the Pine Forest east of Ojos Negros and the first 112.05 miles will be the same route as used in March’s 21st Tecate SCORE Baja 250 through Tres Hermanos, El Alamo and down to Valle de Trinidad.
The most significant course change from a year ago is the addition of a new 50-mile stretch never before used in the 34-year history of SCORE Baja races. After winding back to the Pacific Ocean and up to Santo Tomas, the new section will run from Uruapan at race-mile 348.55 through the Cerro San Antonio mountains and back down to west of Ojos Negros at race-mile 398.29.
The clockwise direction of travel will also have the racers run down the infamous Simpson Hill, instead of the incredibly-tough uphill route used in 2005.
“This will be an extremely challenging race course,” said Paul Fish, SCORE Vice-President who has worked closely with his uncle Sal Fish, SCORE President/CEO and Mexican officials in designing a dynamic race course.
“We have been able to add an amazing section on the way back to the finish and this area will provide many more stories to the legend of SCORE Baja racing. We sincerely appreciate all of the assistance we have received from local ranchers and government officials in defining the race route for this year’s 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 500. This year’s course will also have the shortest two-way section we have ever had in this race.”
On the Southern-most part of the course behind Mike’s Sky Rancho, the course has again added length by going south and west around Rancho Meling before rejoining last year’s course around Rancho Coyote.
The diverse terrain and altitude variation also includes an awe-inspiring sprint along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean of approximately 30 miles starting around race-mile 300.
Several crossover/celebrity racers are already entered in this year’s race, led by NASCAR’s Robby Gordon and Brendan Gaughan. Both second generation desert racers, Gordon, Mooresville, N.C., who has won this race three times, is a NASCAR Cup Team Owner/Driver and is entered in SCORE Trophy-Truck while Las Vegan Gaughan, who is a NASCAR Truck Series driver, is entered in Class 1.
Gordon, whose last win in this race was 2005, will again be pulling double-duty, competing in the SCORE race in Baja on June 2 and the NASCAR Cup race in Dover, Del.
Seven-time World Rally Championship race winner Armin Schwarz of Austria is returning to Baja for the second time to race in Class 1 and Pikes Peak Hill Climb record holder Rod Millen of New Zealand is back again to race in the Stock Mini class.
Supercross and AMA motocross legend Ricky Johnson, Encinitas, Calif., has signed on as a second driver in this race and the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, in SCORE Trophy-Truck.
Millen’s son Rhyss Millen, also a Pikes Peak Hill Climb veteran and a national drifting champion, will be a co-driver for Chet Huffman, Northridge, Calif., in SCORE Trophy-Truck.
Jamie Galles, of Albuquerque, N.M., a former Trans Am and Toyota Atlantic racer, will be a co-driver for Josh Rigsby, Santa Fe, N.M., in Class 1.
Shawn Highland, Temecula, Calif., a star of the freestylemx.com international tour, will co-ride with Marc Burnett, Chula Vista, Calif. and 2005 SCORE Baja 500 overall motorcycle winner Mike Childress, Wrightwood, Calif., on the No. 15x Suzuki RMZ450.
Trigger Gumm, Mission Viejo, Calif., is a motorcycle long jump former world record holder who is entered in the unlimited Class 1.
The three celebrity drivers who are all SCORE regulars are Cameron Steele, Jesse James and Max Thieriot.
Steele, San Clemente, Calif., who is a TV sports announcer for Supercross, X Games and Champ Cars and whose wife Heidi Steele races in Class 7SX, has entered three classes once again—SCORE Trophy-Truck, SCORE Lite and Class 22.
James, Sunset Beach, Calif., whose wife is legendary motion picture star Sandra Bullock, is the CEO of the world-famous West Cost Choppers company and was the star of the old Monster Garage television series. He races in SCORE Trophy-Truck.
Thieriot, 18 of Petaluma, Calif., is a budding Hollywood actor with several supporting roles to his credit, races in Class 1 with his father Cam Thieriot and Glenn Harris, Camarillo, Calif., who are both veteran desert racers. Max Thieriot’s film credits include The Pacifier (2005), Astronaut Farmer (2007) and a co-starring role in this summer’s release of the Nancy Drew mystery movie. He drew the first starting position in the unlimited Class 1 which has a race-high 52 entries.
To date, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: Class 1 (52), SCORE Trophy-Truck (39), SCORE Lite (27), Class 1-2/1600 (23) and Class 51/600 (20).
Leading the Motorcycle classes in entries so far are Class 22 (23), Class 30 (20), Class 40 and Class 21 (18 each). Class 25 for open ATVs has 16 entries. Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 50 entries and SPT ATV has 18.
The starting line area will once again be in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in downtown Ensenada, Mexico. The finish line will be where it was last year--inside the Campo de Softball Jose Negro Soto stadium at 11th Street (Calle Once) and Espinoza Avenue in Ensenada. The stadium is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the start line area. Vehicles will start in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race.
Pre-race festivities at the 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will include the colorful SCORE Midway and tech inspection between the San Nicolas Hotel and the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in Ensenada from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday (June 1). Racer registration will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the San Nicolas Hotel from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday (May 31) and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday (June 1).
The mandatory racer’s briefing will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday (June 1) in the Cathedral Room at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
At 11 a.m. on Sunday (June 3), the awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel.
As SCORE officials finalize the course layout for this year’s race, pre-running will begin on Sat., May 19.
The 2007 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $75,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded to several 2007 SCORE Class point champions along with the run for the $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official tire sealant, Airstar America-official space lighting provider, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Communications, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

[steveG]

Nice write up Cam. Good job.