Kreg Donahoe
11-20-2007, 03:54 PM
Baja Friends and Family,
Team Donahoe has made it home safe and sound from another Baja adventure less one member (Bob Bower) who is celebrating Thanksgiving in San Ignacio. I’m sure he is fine and eating turkey burritos as I write this. I wanted to forward this to all my friends who race and Love going to Baja.
Ok this is fricken scary (see below story). We need to re-think our Baja trips… Any input would be great!!!
Bob Bower, I think a re-vision of “What about you” is in order.
Here are some of my thoughts that need to be added to the list of things to do while driving the highways in Mexico and should be added to “What about you”
Always caravan with at least two trucks.
Stay a min of 300 yards behind for reaction time
Have radio contact between trucks. (THIS IS A MUST)
SAT PHONES ARE A MUST with pre-programmed numbers of loved ones and emergency contacts. (SCORE OPPS NUMBERS)
If the race goes to LA Paz or CABO plan for a 3 day trip home. 2 days is pushing your luck and 1 day is just stupid.
Complete Northern and Southern Chase teams are a must. (NEVER CHASE THE WHOLE RACE)
Try not to drive at night.
DON’T TRUST ANYONE…But be respectful.
GET A TRAUMA KIT!!!! The standard first aid kit that SCORE requires is not enough down there. Most Mexican ambulances are nothing more then a van with a bed in them with NO medical supplies.
Put a kill switch in your chase truck truck!!!!
LOCK EVERYTHING!!!!
IONEARTH Style tracking units look like a good deal for chase trucks!!!!!
Moreover then the highways dangers of a crash or getting trucks and equipment stolen, now we have to think about being kidnapped at gun point. How do we protect ourselves? The only thing I can think of is team work. No one should travel alone… no one! I’m writing this as my buddy Bob Bower is traveling through Mexico with his wife in his Bronco by themselves. For the first time I’m worried even for a guy who knows Mexico like the back of his hand. SO if any of you can add to my list …Please do.
Sal, What else can we do? What can you do? How can we help?
I absolutely love Racing in Baja. This was my 23 year as a competitor and I have gone down to the 1000 Ten years before that racing with my Dad. It is woven in the Donahoe family life. Hell I built my business and life around it. I want my son Parker to experience it. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT SAFER!!!!!! Or very soon families like the Donahoes wont be going to Baja.
Feed back?
Kreg Donahoe
President
Donahoe Racing
951.279.8000 x101
www.donahoeracing.com
Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Tony T / El Chinero [mailto:tellier@mindspring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:40 AM
To: Queso - sponsored by Race-Dezert.com
Subject:
Tony T
tellier@mindspring.com
Begin forwarded message:
From: ACEUNIF@aol.com
Date: November 20, 2007 7:54:41 AM PST
To: tellier@mindspring.com
Subject: Mexico is getting tough--unsure if you already have seen this data
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:22:58 -0800
From: johnmarking@yahoo.com
Subject: Fwd: FW: Chris Hall - Mexico
To: mnbayerle@aol.com
>
> Subject: Chris Hall - Mexico
>
>
> I just got off the phone w/ Chris' wife Debbie. I
> know some of you heard about this already, aside
> from the multiple people that have been killed this
> race on the highway and the trucks we have heard of
> being ripped off, this is by far the most
> disturbing.(just got off the phone w/ Chris)
> Approximately midnight last night Chris, his
> wife and their 2 kids were coming home from Cabo,
> they were towing a 30' weekend warrior of Scott
> McMillin and following a caravan of other McMillin
> chase trucks. They were the last in line and fell
> back slightly. As they approached the last toll
> booth before Tijuana (heading North on the toll
> road) They were pulled over by a police car. As
> soon as they pulled over (in sight of the toll booth
> and right in front of a hotel) a car pulled in front
> of them and approx. 8 masked men, armed with guns
> jumped out. They made Chris pull forward past the
> hotel, then they got into the truck with them and
> drove off the main road. They stopped on a dirt
> road and made Chris unhook the trailer because they
> did not know how. The whole time they had guns to
> their heads telling them they were going to kill
> them. They made them all get into the truck with
> their eyes covered and their heads down, guns to
> their heads & being told they were going to die.
> They drove into the hills, no clue how far, they
> stopped and threw Tyler (Chris' son) out into a
> ditch. They threw Debbie out a little further up,
> she said she crawled back to Tyler and tried to
> cover him up, pleading for their lives. They threw
> a sleeping bag over Tyler & Deb & told them they
> were going to die. They made Chris and his daughter
> get out of the truck and get on their knees with
> their heads down in the ditch next to the the
> covered up Tyler and Deb, they would not let them
> talk to each other. They kept telling them they
> were going to die, all the while Chris said he could
> hear his wife and kids pleading for their lives.
> After a while (chris was not sure how long) they all
> jumped into Chris's truck and left. They were
> stranded in the middle of nowhere with only what
> they were wearing. The thieves took all they had on
> them, luckily they were alive. They began walking
> west toward the highway and after about an hour they
> heard a dog barking and saw some light. As they got
> closer a man walked out, heard them and went back
> inside, only to come out again with a gun. He shot
> it into the air and they all ran, trying to get
> cover. They made their way to a small neighborhood
> outside of TJ. They knocked on doors for a while,
> finally a lady let them in and called the police.
> The police did not want to do anything, they gave
> them a ride back to the border and told them there
> was nothing they could do, they were lucky to be
> alive.
>
> Thankfully they are all ok, at least physically.
> With the other recent stories like this going around
> it seems like Mexico is no longer even a slightly
> safe place. I know some of you are planning on
> going down to Mexico for Thanksgiving, I would urge
> you to reconsider your plans. It is not worth your
> life or the lives of your families. These stories
> are not BS, this is happening a lot more frequently
> and it seems the police are a part of it or just
> don't care.
>
>
>
>
> Keith Danczak
> Crew Chief
> TSCO Motorsports
> 619-520-6214
> 928-345-8346
>
>
>
=
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
Team Donahoe has made it home safe and sound from another Baja adventure less one member (Bob Bower) who is celebrating Thanksgiving in San Ignacio. I’m sure he is fine and eating turkey burritos as I write this. I wanted to forward this to all my friends who race and Love going to Baja.
Ok this is fricken scary (see below story). We need to re-think our Baja trips… Any input would be great!!!
Bob Bower, I think a re-vision of “What about you” is in order.
Here are some of my thoughts that need to be added to the list of things to do while driving the highways in Mexico and should be added to “What about you”
Always caravan with at least two trucks.
Stay a min of 300 yards behind for reaction time
Have radio contact between trucks. (THIS IS A MUST)
SAT PHONES ARE A MUST with pre-programmed numbers of loved ones and emergency contacts. (SCORE OPPS NUMBERS)
If the race goes to LA Paz or CABO plan for a 3 day trip home. 2 days is pushing your luck and 1 day is just stupid.
Complete Northern and Southern Chase teams are a must. (NEVER CHASE THE WHOLE RACE)
Try not to drive at night.
DON’T TRUST ANYONE…But be respectful.
GET A TRAUMA KIT!!!! The standard first aid kit that SCORE requires is not enough down there. Most Mexican ambulances are nothing more then a van with a bed in them with NO medical supplies.
Put a kill switch in your chase truck truck!!!!
LOCK EVERYTHING!!!!
IONEARTH Style tracking units look like a good deal for chase trucks!!!!!
Moreover then the highways dangers of a crash or getting trucks and equipment stolen, now we have to think about being kidnapped at gun point. How do we protect ourselves? The only thing I can think of is team work. No one should travel alone… no one! I’m writing this as my buddy Bob Bower is traveling through Mexico with his wife in his Bronco by themselves. For the first time I’m worried even for a guy who knows Mexico like the back of his hand. SO if any of you can add to my list …Please do.
Sal, What else can we do? What can you do? How can we help?
I absolutely love Racing in Baja. This was my 23 year as a competitor and I have gone down to the 1000 Ten years before that racing with my Dad. It is woven in the Donahoe family life. Hell I built my business and life around it. I want my son Parker to experience it. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT SAFER!!!!!! Or very soon families like the Donahoes wont be going to Baja.
Feed back?
Kreg Donahoe
President
Donahoe Racing
951.279.8000 x101
www.donahoeracing.com
Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Tony T / El Chinero [mailto:tellier@mindspring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:40 AM
To: Queso - sponsored by Race-Dezert.com
Subject:
Tony T
tellier@mindspring.com
Begin forwarded message:
From: ACEUNIF@aol.com
Date: November 20, 2007 7:54:41 AM PST
To: tellier@mindspring.com
Subject: Mexico is getting tough--unsure if you already have seen this data
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:22:58 -0800
From: johnmarking@yahoo.com
Subject: Fwd: FW: Chris Hall - Mexico
To: mnbayerle@aol.com
>
> Subject: Chris Hall - Mexico
>
>
> I just got off the phone w/ Chris' wife Debbie. I
> know some of you heard about this already, aside
> from the multiple people that have been killed this
> race on the highway and the trucks we have heard of
> being ripped off, this is by far the most
> disturbing.(just got off the phone w/ Chris)
> Approximately midnight last night Chris, his
> wife and their 2 kids were coming home from Cabo,
> they were towing a 30' weekend warrior of Scott
> McMillin and following a caravan of other McMillin
> chase trucks. They were the last in line and fell
> back slightly. As they approached the last toll
> booth before Tijuana (heading North on the toll
> road) They were pulled over by a police car. As
> soon as they pulled over (in sight of the toll booth
> and right in front of a hotel) a car pulled in front
> of them and approx. 8 masked men, armed with guns
> jumped out. They made Chris pull forward past the
> hotel, then they got into the truck with them and
> drove off the main road. They stopped on a dirt
> road and made Chris unhook the trailer because they
> did not know how. The whole time they had guns to
> their heads telling them they were going to kill
> them. They made them all get into the truck with
> their eyes covered and their heads down, guns to
> their heads & being told they were going to die.
> They drove into the hills, no clue how far, they
> stopped and threw Tyler (Chris' son) out into a
> ditch. They threw Debbie out a little further up,
> she said she crawled back to Tyler and tried to
> cover him up, pleading for their lives. They threw
> a sleeping bag over Tyler & Deb & told them they
> were going to die. They made Chris and his daughter
> get out of the truck and get on their knees with
> their heads down in the ditch next to the the
> covered up Tyler and Deb, they would not let them
> talk to each other. They kept telling them they
> were going to die, all the while Chris said he could
> hear his wife and kids pleading for their lives.
> After a while (chris was not sure how long) they all
> jumped into Chris's truck and left. They were
> stranded in the middle of nowhere with only what
> they were wearing. The thieves took all they had on
> them, luckily they were alive. They began walking
> west toward the highway and after about an hour they
> heard a dog barking and saw some light. As they got
> closer a man walked out, heard them and went back
> inside, only to come out again with a gun. He shot
> it into the air and they all ran, trying to get
> cover. They made their way to a small neighborhood
> outside of TJ. They knocked on doors for a while,
> finally a lady let them in and called the police.
> The police did not want to do anything, they gave
> them a ride back to the border and told them there
> was nothing they could do, they were lucky to be
> alive.
>
> Thankfully they are all ok, at least physically.
> With the other recent stories like this going around
> it seems like Mexico is no longer even a slightly
> safe place. I know some of you are planning on
> going down to Mexico for Thanksgiving, I would urge
> you to reconsider your plans. It is not worth your
> life or the lives of your families. These stories
> are not BS, this is happening a lot more frequently
> and it seems the police are a part of it or just
> don't care.
>
>
>
>
> Keith Danczak
> Crew Chief
> TSCO Motorsports
> 619-520-6214
> 928-345-8346
>
>
>
=
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.