Baja 500 Adventures?

[dirt_lover]

for anyone who didnt see the race yesterday..just wanted to say that it was awesome as always..but if anyone that raced is back from ensenada i think we all want to hear your story..:)

[Brokenbronco]

So...What did, or didn't happen?

[Dust]

So...What did, or didn't happen?

x2!!
All I got to do is move my junk across the state!:(

Dust

[fj40]

Spend the day with about 150 boys scouts tryng to earn merit patches....
Saturday evening listening to the weatermans live feed, and checking on chupas progress.
The feed got very interesting in the early hours of sunday, GO BOB!!

[jonnyslick]

Well, I’m back. All I can say is that it was a difficult weekend.

First off I just want to send out some prayers to the family of Chris Lokken, the 157 team, and the 1505 team.

He was the co-dog in car 157 of Red Belly Racing. They broke down at rm 195 and he hitched a ride down the course in sportsman truck 1505, evidently to Baja Pits at rm 208. Unfortunately 1505 left the course, likely in the night fog and rolled down a steep embankment at RM 197. Chris was in the back of the stretched cab race truck where there were no belts or seat per reports. The 1505 driver and co-driver were uninjured. Chris was pronounced dead at the scene.

http://thh.fbox.net

Secondly, I just want to take some time to say a big thank you to all the guys on the Shaffer JeepSpeed team and the guys helping us pit from both Northern NV and Southern NV. They all did a great job at what they were supposed to do and really had their stuff down pat. I’m just sorry we let the team down and didn’t make it to the end.

As far as class 3 goes, I got to see all the entries and have some great pics I will be posting up later this week (my camera is still in San Diego and I won’t get it back until this weekend). Got some GREAT pics of the Moss Bronco and Chupa before the race and some nice pit stop photos of Raffo’s rig. Dylan’s rig was looking great coming through, but I didn’t have the cam out in time to get a picture of it.

Now to our race. Mike Shaffer had a great rig. He took the first half of the race with his co-driver and short of loosing a side vent and getting stuck behind some traffic for about 2 or 3 hours due to a traffic pile up, he had a perfect run. Eric P. and I took control of the Jeep about the ½ waypoint. I started out driving. Took a little while to work out my jitters in the new rig, but eventually we were doing good and at one point were in the lead for our class. Around 2 am in the morning we had just made check point 3 and passed pits and were heading out toward the coast when we hit disaster. According to GPS we were right on the money, coming toward the end of a field we thought we had the Jeep lined up crossing a huge wash but we missed by about 10 feet. Jeep went into the wash hard, hit hard and suffered quite a bit of front driveline damage. Got it towed back to the pits and patched it up. Two hours later with Eric behind the wheel we lost the electronic shifter for the tranny and we were shifting it manually, then like maybe 20 mins later we lost 4wd. After that we tried to keep going, but just keep getting bogged in the sand. After getting stuck twice the team made the final decision that it was over, I think we were at mile 310.

I really hate it for Mike and the entire crew because the Jeep was running in the front of its class. The team did a great job and the Jeep was built right, I guess that’s just part of Baja.

Again, if anyone has any updates on the 1550 team, please post them up. My prayers go out to them. Hope everyone else is safe and OK. I’ll get pics up later in the week.


**EDIT**
I'm looking at the results on the SCORE website and it looks as if no JeepSpeeds in our class finished. The rest of the results actually look like below average finish results. What do you all think? Do the finish numbers look low to you or is that just me?

[Blanco]

I'm sure you do. ;)

I'll post my Storys later with Pics...

The Run Down...

Moss Bros win with BIG lead over Dylan Evans in 2nd Place... http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/wiggle%20tongue.gif

Just teasing you Guys Kreg & Dylan, Its all ment in fun.. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/13_4_9.gif

& Both Raffo & the Chupacabras DNF'ed

I dont dont know what happened to The Chupacabra team but it looks like Raffos Blazer lost its Transfer case around RM386..

I know That Chupa got back on the course under his own Power Because as BajaBronco13(Chris) & I were out searching for the RetroBlazer The Chupas came by us at high Speed towards the finish line ( Or home maybe. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif )

& then a sort time after that we got word From Raffo & Ricardo on the radio that they found the Guys safe & sound. :D

We at this point were having mechanical issues our self ....

& Raffo Said they were good & handle it & that we should head home..

We stopped & delt with our issues & started heading towards the boarder once arriving in line at the boarder it took almost 4 hours in line! :rolleyes:

But we made it home safe in sound..

I hope everyone else did as well...

[jonnyslick]

so did anyone find anymore out about the 1505 team?

[Brokenbronco]

so did anyone find anymore out about the 1550 team?

Look here http://www.unlimiteddirt.com/offroad/forum/topic,282.0/

[jonnyslick]

Look here http://www.unlimiteddirt.com/offroad/forum/topic,282.0/

Man, that's horrible. See how sketchy second hand radio info is. I'm going to revise my original post.

[chupakabras]

oh man, i don't know what to say, that's so sad, it gives me chills, i drove all that section, and just to think about it, its, i don't know, i'm n shock, our prays for he an his family,

[fj40]

so did anyone find anymore out about the 1550 team?

Like I posted before, I was glued to the WM feed forum & ion tracker page, sow got all the details, and confirmed this morning when Baja Pits pit #5 boss came to visit, they were the closest to check point 2, and were relaying info back and forward between WM, check 2, score op´s, BFG pit and a BFG vehicle that transported a EMT to the accident site.
At times it got confusing as several car #´s were thrown in to the mix (720, 1550, 1505 & 1144)
the time line goes like this... car 157 broke down in rm 195 ant the codriver hitch a ride in the back of truck 1505 to get to check point 2, just 2 miles ahead...
In rm 196 they lost control and rolled down a ravine (200 ft approx, is what they reported) and this was observed by the crew of check 2 who send some guys to help, car 720 was contacted via radio to stop and inform and pass the info that car 1505 had rolled and that one of the passengers was unconscious and not breathing,
From here on it got very frustrating as medical help was close but could not get there fast and helicopters are grounded at night. Shock treatment, CPR instructions and encouraging cheers to the impromptu rescue team were relay from several bases to a handheld in the site, all this until the EMT was able to get there.... later it declared the injured driver 1140 (a code, not a car #) turns out this was the co-driver of 157, the co-driver of 1505 was O.K. and the driver was hurt but later refused medical attention.
From here on, they moved the transmit to a secure frequency.
my thoughts go out to the crew and families of 157, "GODSPEED" fellow racer!!
Hats off to the guys from check 2, we were cheering for you too... and everyone who relayed info and instructions via radio and on line. Next time I have a chance to talk to the Weather Man, I´ll be sure to thank him, just for being there for us.... Gracias Bob!!

[Yikes]

Well, it was quite the day Saturday. We never found Raffo racing or Blanco, so we just did our own thing. We being the wife and I. It was nice spending time alone for a change.

After walking around contingency, we headed down to the wash to watch the TT's come through. Then walked back up to the start and met Chupakabras and Moss Bros racing.

We left Ensenada and drove down the one hwy hoping to encounter Raffo's crew somewhere along the way, but it never happened. By 3pm we made our way to Erendira. The pic below is on the road down to the little town.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/526431/fullsize/erendira.jpg

Then we hung out with a couple of the course workers and waited for the TT's to come through. After watching motorcycles for what seemed like forever, we could hear a sound that made chills run up my spine. A TT was in the pass on the opposite side of the mountain range about 10 miles away. You could hear the motor revving at 7-8 grand, on-off-on-off-ooonnnnnnnn .....and then the helicopter blades shortly after. Five to ten minutes later we could see the helicopter come around the end of the mountains followed by billowing clouds of dust from the TT. It was incredible! Not another sound was heard except the wind on our faces.

I was poised for some great shots when the TT's finally came through, but my camera wasn't working well......or maybe it was the camera-man. :doh0715: Erendira was at mile 310 of the course and as I told my wife, the first truck through that point would most likely take the win. Larry Ragland was first through and he was on it!....oops on the pic

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/526435/fullsize/ragland.jpg

Then Collins came through. This pic would have been great with a decent camera.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/526430/fullsize/collins.jpg

Then I believe it was Gordon, Baldwin and Cadiente.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/526429/fullsize/cadiente.jpg

After that, we shot down near the water to watch some more. Andy McMillin came through at around 100mph just tearing it up. I don't know which TT this is.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/526436/fullsize/tt.jpg

After that we headed back to Ensenada. On the way out, we saw Herder racing shoot up a hill between the switchbacks that I'm sure I would have been spinning the tires on in 4wd. Those guys are all bada$$es.

We came across the border at about 1am after waiting in line for an hour. I can't imagine coming home later in the day Sunday. But I can't wait to go again and I definitely can't wait to slide the helmet on the first time and give it my best. After telling my wife what it will cost just to get the rig prepped to race, she says "Let's do it!" I'm in love all over again.

Sorry for the lack of Class 3 pics. We we only got 2hrs of sleep Friday night and were not that enthusiastic about the picture taking. Next time we'll plan a little better.

[chupakabras]

nice story, and nice meeting you , see yah the next time.

[Blanco]

Now this is funny! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/HistericalSmiley.gif

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140125875987

I wonder what He'll get for it..

[Yikes]

Now this is funny! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/HistericalSmiley.gif

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140125875987

I wonder what He'll get for it..

Wow! Didn't take long for that to surface........and already at $20.

[Brokenbronco]

11 bids, it's at 26 bucks.

[jonnyslick]

15 bids and $177 ... hahaha ... free money!

[Blanco]

Wow, maybe we should start gathering that stuff too. :confused:

[jonnyslick]

no kidding ... next time i'll stop the friggin' car and throw it in the rear ...

stop stop ... it's a fender ... stop it's a hood ...

hey if you can't win the race, might as well make money!

[Blanco]

no kidding ... next time i'll stop the friggin' car and throw it in the rear ...

stop stop ... it's a fender ... stop it's a hood ...

hey if you can't win the race, might as well make money!

http://bestsmileys.com/lol/5.gif

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/187244/fullsize/omfg1.jpg

Its up to $255.00!!! :eek: Soon these things will be worth more than the parts new! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/17.gif

[Blanco]

I'm assuming this has been posted? :confused:

But I just found it on YouTube.

YouTube - 2007 BAJA 500 CLASS 3