2007 Baja 500

This might prove to be a chronologically interesting post. First will come some info about the race that just took place last weekend ... then will most likely come a post-race training run over the course (a few days from now), following that will be the "prequels" of the 3-4 weeks of pre-running/prep leading up to the 500. So here goes...

The machines...

















The men...











The madness...







The meeting...






My transportation...







First off – for those of you that think your bike stable is relatively complete, start saving up… :)












You might want to set aside something for a new tool roll too…




































These guys had meetings discussing … well, going really really fast I suppose.





















Probably no better way to run a new bike than with top mechanics & the bike’s designer there.












The team needed some welding & a couple small parts fabbed up – called a friend of mine in town & he came over with an employee who knew some local guys that could to TIG work – that’s Hans Trunkenpolz talking with Eddie & one of his employees about what needs to be done.






That name should be very familiar to most… here’s a hint just in case:
Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen

Eddie is a huge racing fan. For any long-time Baja people out there – his dad had a team way back that raced Edsels in the Baja 1000!

Don’t think this is him, but a cool photo of an Edsel in Baja nonetheless…






So … parts welded/made, the bike was ready to race.







Meanwhile, just across town …

Another team was prepping their gear. Flyingo!!! Setting up the comm. System in his helmet.





A few blocks away, Cyril Depres was doing the same.





I was out with these guys:





The Austrians were relaxing:





And 304x was getting bedded down:





Tomorrow was going to be an early start.

Actually, earlier than anyone expected…



Everyone probably got to bed a little later than would be considered wise – moot point. About 3 AM there was a huge crash just outside our window.

The noise of course woke us up … after a few moments of processing, Dave’s first words … “that’s not good!” summed up the situation. Based on the closeness of the sound there was a good chance someone had blown a corner & plowed through the parking lot, taking out vehicles & motos along the way…

Turns out is was a wrong turn, right in front of the hotel, just not into the parking lot.





Police were on scene really quick – EMT’s a bit later, fortunately it seemed all the occupants were relatively ok as far as we could tell. Between the crash, sirens, & general commotion that followed, there wasn’t much more sleep to be had.


Next morning Dave & chase crew headed out to their spot & I went to the start with Jake. This guy was already in place waiting:





Then 304x got set up.






Surfphoto wasn’t there just yet…












I went back to the start as the bikes got lined up.





















After 304x took off, walking back the line & found Antonio with 421x:






And then they were off … I spent the rest of the day meeting with a few other teams around town, so no pics of the course … in fact next time the camera came out was for the relatively brutal border wait…










Just got back & already looking forwarded to going down again (leaving Friday… :)