Baja 1000

Race history

1962: The first timed run

When Jack McCormack and Walt Fulton of Honda's American subsidiary decided to hold a long-distance run to prove the reliability of the new Honda CL72 Scrambler motorcycle, they approached well-known off-road motorcycle racer and local Triumph and Honda dealer Bud Ekins for suggestions. Ekins suggested the Tijuana to La Paz route (Federal Highway 1), which was 950 mi of rocks, sand washes, dry lake beds, cattle crossings, and mountain passes, with few paved roads. Ekins declined to undertake the run because of his professional association with Triumph but suggested that his brother Dave Ekins and the son of another Southern California Honda distributor, Billy Robertson Jr., could accomplish the trip for American Honda.

After performing an aerial pre-run over the peninsula in Fulton's Cessna 180, Ekins and Robertson began the journey to La Paz just after midnight on March 22, 1962. While being followed by two journalists in an airplane and using telegraph offices at the Mexican border and in La Paz, Dave Ekins recorded the first official timed run in 39 hours 56 minutes (39:56), with a total distance of 952.7 mi. The event received coverage in the Globe, Argosy, and Cycle World magazines, earning awe and respect for Honda and the Baja run. The *Globe *and *Argosy *accounts also included close encounters with death and other dangers, which Ekins claims were "colorful additions".

Four wheels vs two wheels

Wanting to beat the existing motorcycle record and to help fuel sales of the Meyers Manx, Bruce Meyers used his original prototype buggy called "Old Red" for an attempt at breaking the record set by Ekins. After pre-running a course south to La Paz, Ted Mangels and Bruce Meyers started the record-breaking attempt back to Tijuana from La Paz at 10:00 pm on April 19, 1967. With a journalist from Road & Track magazine following the two to witness the attempt, the final official time was 34:45, beating Ekins' run by more than five hours. Upon returning to the United States, the journalist documenting the run sent out press kits with photographs and a news release with the headline "Buggy Beats Bike in Baja" to hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Soon, more stories of adventure, close calls, and broken speed records received media coverage around the world. Following the event, Bruce Meyers and his Meyers Manx became an overnight sensation, and the competition between four wheels and motorcycles for the fastest Baja run began.

In the following months, more attempts at breaking the record would take place. One of the attempts included a multiple vehicle run organized by Ed Pearlman that ended in an official four wheel record being recorded but with the overall time falling short of the record set by Meyers. On July 4, 1967, an American Motors Rambler American sedan would leave Tijuana at 9:00 am to successfully break the record set by Meyers with an overall time of 31 hours.

1967: The Mexican 1000

As the timed runs recorded via telegraph became popular, a need for an organized event to compete for the quickest Baja run was starting to grab the attention of other competitors. In response to Meyers' record setting run, Ed Pearlman convinced Dick Cepek, Claude Dozier, Ed Orr, Drino Miller and journalist John Lawlor to make the run to La Paz. In June 1967, Pearlman and group left Tijuana and immediately ran into mechanical troubles. This trip inspired Pearlman to organize an off-road race down the Baja peninsula by creating the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA). After Pete Condos and Pearlman put up the funds to incorporate NORRA, the group announced an official recognition of the previous record setters and created classes that related to the type of vehicle used to break the record. During the later part of summer, NORRA named the event the "Mexican 1000 Rally" and announced the first official race from Tijuana to La Paz was to be held on the peninsula.

The first official race started in Tijuana, Baja California, on October 31, 1967, and was named the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. The course length that year was 849 mi and ended in La Paz, with the overall winning time of 27 hours 38 minutes (27:38) set by Vic Wilson and Ted Mangels while driving a Meyers Manx buggy. From 1967 to 1972, the race was organized by NORRA and grew in popularity, with ABC's "Wide World of Sports" sending Jim McKay to cover the 1968 event. It attracted new participants like the late Mickey Thompson, Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, movie actor James Garner, and Mary McGee, the first woman to compete in the event. By 1971, major sponsors such as Olympia Brewing Company and Minolta Cameras began to support Parnelli Jones in his Dick Russell-designed and Bill Stroppe-prepared "Big Oly" Bronco and Larry Minor in a similar Stroppe-prepared Bronco.

1973 oil crisis and SCORE

In October 1973, the price for a barrel of crude oil shot up 70% overnight as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) launched the Arab Oil Embargo. With fear that competitors would abandon the idea of competing and stay home, NORRA cancelled the 1974 Baja race–despite assurances from the Federal government run Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) that fuel prices would remain stable–and announced they would instead hold an event in the state of Arizona.

It was at that time in history that Baja California governor Milton Castellanos handed over sanctioning of the event to a non-profit Mexican corporation called the "Baja Sports Committee" (BSC). BSC renamed the event the "Baja Mil" (Baja 1000) and scheduled the race to run on the original dates chosen by NORRA. Though NORRA held a competing event in the United States that same weekend, BSC successfully ran the race from Ensenada to La Paz as in years prior. Unaware of the challenges, BSC found promoting Baja races more difficult than anticipated.

Instead of giving up the race, the Mexican government requested help from SCORE International in hosting and promoting future Baja races. Through negotiations with Mickey Thompson and his SCORE organization, the Government agreed to give exclusive rights to SCORE to hold Baja races and also reluctantly allowed SCORE to cancel the event for 1974 (a year where motorsport was curtailed in the United States because of the oil crisis). SCORE hired Sal Fish as president and took control of the Baja 1000 from that year on with the Baja 1000 race resuming under new control in 1975.

The 1979 race was notable for Walker Evans’ overall win in a Dodge truck, the first truck to win the overall title of the race. In 2012, the racing organization was purchased by Roger Norman and continues to run under his presidency.

Vehicles

The Baja 1000 is open to entrants competing in several classes, ranging from dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides, buggies, truggy and custom fabricated race vehicles. Race teams range from factory-supported groups that build custom fabricated vehicles and provide chase vehicles via helicopter to much smaller and less glamorous sportsman teams competing in all-stock vehicles with no chase vehicle support. Stock Volkswagen Type One Beetles modified for use in off-road terrain, known as Baja Bugs, have been a common sight throughout the event duration, but the factory-supported, all-spaceframe Trophy Truck entries are the most visible.

In contrast to the current factory EX supported modern race vehicles that tend to dominate the car and truck classes, Erik Carlsson drove a basically stock front wheel drive Saab 96 V4, finishing third in 1969 and fifth in 1970.

Baja course

• Point-to-point: A point-to-point race is one that starts and ends in two different locations. The start is traditionally held in Ensenada but has been held in Tijuana and Mexicali as well. The course length varies for a point to point but is often over 1000 mi and ends in La Paz.
• Loop race: A loop race is one that starts and finishes in the same location. Traditionally the race starts and ends in Ensenada but has started/finished in Mexicali as well. The course length varies from 600 to 850 miles, depending on the course route.

Qualifying

The starting order is generally determined by a random draw, except when preferential starts are given to those who finished in top positions in the previous race/season, or when qualifying is held. For Trophy Trucks & Class 1 vehicles, qualifying for the Baja 1000 is now held during SEMA at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In popular culture

• In the film Timerider (1982), the hero Swann is competing in the Baja 1000 when he inadvertently stumbles on to a time warp experiment and is sent back to the Old West in the 1870s.
• In the 1980's television action series The Fall Guy, in the 4th season episode "Baja 1000", first aired on 28 November 1984. The series hero, Hollywood stunt man and part-time bounty hunter Colt Seavers (played by Lee Majors), is in the race, competing against villains trying to knock him out of the race in any way they can.
• The documentary Dust to Glory (2005) follows contestants of the 2003 Baja 1000.
• Baja: Edge of Control is a 2008 video game about the Baja 1000 developed by 2XL Games and published by THQ for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
• In the film F1 (2025), the main protagonist, Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt), competes in the Baja 1000 for a small team pro bono after his second retirement from Formula One, and footage of the event features throughout the end credits.

Overall winners

**Officially the race was called the Baja 2000 (1726 miles) for the year 2000.

Notable competitors

Most overall car wins

• 7: Rob MacCachren
• 6: Andy McMillin
• 5: Mark McMillin and Larry Ragland
• 4: Larry Roeseler, Luke McMillin
• 3: David Ashley, Doug Fortin, Robby Gordon, Ralph Paxton, Dan Smith, Malcolm Smith and Ivan Stewart

Most overall motorcycle wins

• 11: Johnny Campbell
• 10: Larry Roeseler
• 8: Steve Hengeveld and Kendall Norman
• 7: Mark Samuels and Justin Morgan
• 5: Ty Davis, David Kamo
• 4: Quinn Cody, Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Jack Johnson, Justin Jones, Tim Staab and Colton Udall

Other notable drivers

• Alan Ampudia
• BJ Baldwin
• Ron Bishop
• Ken Block
• Pete Brock
• Jenson Button
• Erik Carlsson
• Kurt Caselli
• Anna Jo Cody
• Marc Coma
• Justin Davis
• Chuck Dempsey
• Patrick Dempsey
• Walker Evans
• Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff
• Elliot Forbes-Robinson
• Tanner Foust
• James Garner
• Brendan Gaughan
• Tony Gera
• Bob Gordon
• Beccy Gordon
• Mike Groff
• Robbie Groff
• Roberto Guerrero
• Rod Hall
• Chris Harris
• Riley Herbst
• Troy Herbst
• Larry Janesky
• Tanner Janesky
• Jimmie Johnson
• Ricky Johnson
• Austin Jones
• Parnelli Jones
• P. J. Jones
• Michel Jourdain Jr.
• Michel Jourdain Sr.
• Danny LaPorte
• Justin Lofton
• Apdaly Lopez
• Kristen Matlock
• Hiro Matsushita
• Mike "Mouse" McCoy
• Mary McGee
• Hershel McGriff
• Corky McMillin
• Steve McQueen
• Chad McQueen
• Casey Mears
• Rick Mears
• Roger Mears
• Bryce Menzies
• Rhys Millen
• Rod Millen
• John Morton
• Michael Nesmith
• Paul Newman
• Gunnar Nilsson
• Bruce Ogilvie
• Danny Ongais
• Cody Parkhouse
• Travis Pastrana
• Robbie Pierce
• Christopher Polvoorde
• Toby Price
• Jeff Proctor
• Don Prudhomme
• J.N. Roberts
• Alexander Rossi
• Armin Schwarz
• Jim Smith
• Eric Solorzano
• Cameron Steele
• Danny Sullivan
• Mickey Thompson
• Jūgatsu Toi
• Johnny Unser
• Jimmy Vasser
• Frank "Scoop" Vessels
• Gus Vildósola
• Tavo Vildósola
• Paul Weel

Current and past classes

Four-Wheelers

• SCORE Trophy Truck: Open Production Unlimited Trucks.
• SCORE Trophy Truck Spec: Open Production stock engine Trucks.
• SCORE Class 1: Unlimited open-wheel single-or two-seaters.
• SCORE Class 1/2-1600: open-wheel single-or two-seaters to 1600cc.
• SCORE Class 2: Unlimited 2.2-liter buggy.
• SCORE Class 3: Short wheelbase 4x4.
• SCORE Class 4: Unlimited 2.2-liter open wheel.
• SCORE Class 5: Unlimited Baja Bugs.
• SCORE Class 5-1600: 1600cc Baja Bugs.
• SCORE Class 6: V6 powered tube chassis trucks
• SCORE Class 7: Open mini trucks.
• SCORE Class 7S: Stock mini trucks. (3000cc)
• SCORE Class 7SX: Modified mini trucks. (4000cc)
• SCORE Class 8: Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks.
• SCORE Class 9: Short wheelbase, open-wheel single- or two-seaters.
• SCORE Class 10: Open-wheel single or two-seaters to 2000cc.
• SCORE Class 11: Stock VW Sedans.
• SCORE Lites Class 12: VW limited open-wheel single-(1776cc) or two-seaters(1835cc).
• SCORE Class 17: Jeepspeed
• SCORE Stock Full: Stock full-sized trucks.
• SCORE Stock Mini: Stock mini trucks. (4300cc)
• SCORE Class M-Truck: Utility vehicle
• SCORE Baja Challenge: Limited, identical open-wheel Baja touring cars.
• SCORE Sportsman Buggy:
• SCORE Sportsman Truck:
• SCORE Sportsman UTV:
• ProTruck: Limited Production Trucks governed by the Baja ProTruck Off-Road Race Series

Motorcycles

• SCORE Class 20: 125cc or smaller two-stroke and 250cc or smaller four-stroke motorcycles.
• SCORE Class 21: 126cc to 250cc.
• SCORE Class 22: 250cc or more.
• SCORE Class 30: Riders over 30 years old.
• SCORE Class 40: Riders over 40 years old.
• SCORE Class 50: Riders over 50 years old.
• SCORE Class 60: Riders over 65 years old.
• SCORE Sportsman MC 250cc: Sportsman riders 250cc (2-stroke) or 450cc (4-stroke) or greater.
• SCORE Sportsman MC

ATVs

• SCORE Class 21: Honda.
• SCORE Class 25: 251cc or more.

References

• Fiolka, Marty (2005). 1000 Miles to Glory. Arizona: David Bull Publishing. .
• SCORE International (2006). "2006–2010 Off-Road Racing Rules and Regulations".
• SCORE International. "2009 New Classes & Existing Class Rule Amendments
• 2009 Baja 1000 Press Release

Notes

References

1. "Can-Am Wins the Prestigious Baja 1000 Race in Mexico". can-am.brp.com.
2. (July 21, 2017). "Baja 1000 defends their title of Best Motorsports Race". 10best.com.
3. "Baja 1000 Interesting Facts". redbull.com.
4. (December 9, 2019). "5 Reasons Why the Baja 1000 Is the World's Craziest Offroad Race". mensjournal.com.
5. "SCORE OFF-ROAD RACING – SCORE-International.com".
6. "2017 Schedule".
7. "A Ride Down The Peninsula". budanddaveekins.com.
8. "American Honda Motor Company and Honda Motor Company". budanddaveekins.com.
9. "Honda's First Four Years in America". motohistory.net.
10. "Rob MacCachren".
11. "Mark McMillin".
12. "Larry Ragland".
13. "David Ashley".
14. "Robby Gordon".
15. "Malcolm Smith".
16. "Ivan Stewart".
17. "Johnny Campbell".
18. "Larry Roeseler".
19. "Steve Hengeveldref".
20. "Justin Morgan".
21. Burns, Josh. "Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody Earn 2010 SCORE Baja 1000 Motorcycle Victory." Off-Road.Com. http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/race/kendall-norman-quinn-cody-earn-2010-score-baja-1000-motorcycle-victory-52939.html November 18, 2010 Retrieved 1:35 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2014 (PDT).
22. "Jack Johnson".
23. [https://media.toyotires.com/2019Baja1000win Alan Ampudia and Toyo Tires Win the 52nd SCORE Baja 1000 Overall]
24. "StackPath".
25. (November 17, 2021). "Baja 1000 preview: Can Ken Block win?".
26. Kelioh, Graham. (16 April 2019). "Jenson Button takes on The Mint 400". FormulaRapida.net.
27. [https://www.race-dezert.com/home/ustin-davis-and-the-green-army-team-win-back-to-back-in-score-class-1-unlimited-16190.html Justin Davis and the Green Army Team Win Back-to-Back in SCORE, Class 1 Unlimited]
28. "SCORE crown jewel since 1967 (October 6, 2005)". Desert Racing.
29. [https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/10/bryce-menzies-andy-mcmillin-renew-partnership-for-baja-1000/ Bryce Menzies, Andy McMillin renew partnership for Baja 1000]
30. [https://ultra4racing.com/drivers/Cody%20Parkhouse Cody Parkhouse]
31. [https://offroadracer.com/who-the-hell-is-jeff-proctor/ Jeff Proctor]
32. [https://ormhof.org/cameron-steele Cameron Steele]