November in Mexico means different things to different people. To the off-road monster like me it means only one thing, the S.C.O.R.E. Baja 1000. It is absolutely amazing to me that some people have never heard of the most famous off road race in the world. At least, the most famous off road race in the world for this race fan.

I had left San Felipe just after breakfast and headed south on the race course to meet my riding partner who was prerunning the 1000 course north from Bahia de Los Angeles. I was riding by myself and we were scheduled to meet at CoCo 's junction sometime around noon. Gas being the problem, as it always is in Mexico, I was carrying 2, one gallon plastic oil bottles full of "hi test race gasoline" on my tool belt. ( It's sort of like becoming a rolling bomb.) At 6 pounds per gallon, that's 12 extra pounds hanging on my waist, to say nothing of the feeling that I have just become a suicide bomber. You can imagine I was a little anxious to get the gas in the tank as soon as possible. The plan called for riding out about 30 miles and pouring one gallon in the tank and leaving the other gallon hidden behind a tree for the return trip. Just south of Puertecitos I found a giant cardon cactus, behind which I could stow the extra gallon and have a great marker to find it on the way back.

Everything went well, but on the way back, what should I find, on the road next to my cardon cactus but six motorcycles stopped, one with a flat tire. Of course I stopped to offer my assistance, and collect my gasoline from behind the cactus.

You see, I know there are people in this world that don't know about the Baja 1000, but I'll bet you that none of them are Mexican. There were an estimated 300,000 spectators along the 709 mile course for this years race. (The S.C. in S.C.O.R.E. stands for Short Course.)

The 38th Tecate Score Baja 1000 was run on November 19th and there were more than 300 real fast race drivers on the roads around Ensenada Racers like NASCAR's Robby Gordon, Indy Racing League's Buddy Rice. Larry Ragland, one the greatest motorcycle racers alive, now driving a 4 wheeler, Curt LeDuc, Ryan Arciero, Rob MacCachren, Jason Baldwin and too many other great racers to mention here. Oh, maybe just one more for you T.V. buffs. You know Sandra Bullock? She is now married to none other than Jesse James of the T.V. show "Monster Garage"(ya, that's right, the guy with all the tattoos). Jesse drove Number 54 in the Trophy Truck class. Outside of marrying Sandra, he hasn't been that lucky, he drew the 31st starting position out of the 32 drivers in the class. Since this was written before the race I have yet to learn how he finished or if he did finish. I'll check the internet as soon as I get out of the hospital.

If you missed the action, you weren't the only one. I was in the hospital getting my shoulder put back together. You can learn all about that on the NBC Network December 10. It is also reported that it will be aired on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on December 18. But if you really want to get the feel for what the Baja 1000 is all about, cough up the $4 and rent "From Dust to Glory", by Bruce Brown, at your local video rental store. Are you old enough to remember "Endless Summer"? It was a Bruce Brown creation that kept us surfer dudes entertained a long time ago? "From Dust to Glory" may not be as good as "Endless Summer" but it gave me chills. My wife even liked it and she hates things that go fast. I now have another personal hero. He's named after a rodent? Watch the movie!

Send me an email at bajaskip@mexinsure.us to let me know what you think!