Baja 400 2024: Ensenada set for 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing

• 424.96-mile race is R3 of 4-race 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship;
• Start/finish line compound on Blvd Costero adjacent to Riviera del Pacifico CC;
• Saturday—motorcycles/quads start-4:15am PT, cars/trucks/utvs-9am PT

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—Entering three days of on-site racer registration and late-entry registration this week in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, 183 total vehicles have officially entered so far for Saturday’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
Continuing its sixth decade of SCORE International this year, the third-round of the four-race 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship is being held over a technical, rugged race course of 424.96 miles around much of the Northern part of the majestic Baja California peninsula. It will start and finish on Boulevard Costero in Ensenada, adjacent to the iconic Rivera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Race-week festivities start Tuesday and go through Sunday.
All Motorcycle and Quad classes will run a course of 434.52 miles and Sportsman moto and quad classes, will run a reduced course of 393.91 miles for this year’s SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
All four 2024 SCORE races are being held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the ninth consecutive year.
With classes for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads, racers from 22 U.S. States, and 11 countries have entered so far. The elapsed-time race will start at 4:15 a.m. PT on Saturday for the motorcycle/quad classes followed by the start of the car/truck/UTV classes at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday.
While the fastest finishers are expected to finish in approximately eight hours, all vehicles will have a 16-hour time limit from the time each starts to become an official finisher in this spectacular elapsed-time event.
SCORE LIVE
From the state-of-the art SCORE Studio in El Cajon, Calif., host Brandon Johnson provide exclusive race coverage, along with vehicle tracking, live drone, and in-car camera footage from various locations around the race course.
Legendary SCORE racer who will be working with Johnson during the race-days in-studio will be Wes Miller.
Popular Rat Sult, in his ninth season with SCORE, will be the host announcer on the SCORE ramp during contingency, the race start, and finish in Ensenada. Kevin Johnson will be assisting Sult with interviews on the ramp.
For the Method Race Wheels Qualifying on Wednesday starting at 7 a.m., hosts in the SCORE Studio for SCORE Live were Austin Farner and Nicholas Isenhouer.
SCORE LIVE may be viewed on the SCORE website, SCORE APP, SCORE Facebook page and the SCORE International YouTube Channel.
DOUBLE DIGITS
The race includes 31 entries in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division (Including eight in SCORE TT Legend for SCORE Trophy-Truck drivers over 50 years old), the marquee racing division for high-tech, 1000-horsepower unlimited custom trucks.
Besides SCORE Trophy Truck, the other Pro four-wheel vehicle classes with double figure entries and their totals are Trophy Truck Spec with 26 entries, Pro UTV Open with 18 entries, Pro UTV FI with 13 entries, Class 10 with 12 entries, and Pro UTV Stock with 12 entries.
Among two-wheel classes in this race, Pro Moto Unlimited has seven entries and Pro Motorcycle Ironman (solo riders) has five entries.

More on www.scoreinternational.com

Source: Score International / Gabriel Garcia
Photo: GetSome Photo

• The third round of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship will feature teams from 22 U.S. states and 12 countries

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—Arturo Salas Jr, from Tecate, Baja California, will be the fortunate first to start at the front in the motorcycle divisions in next week’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
This extra prize was awarded to him after winning the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500 in June in the Pro Moto Unlimited class. He will be aiming for his third overall SCORE win this year.
The third round of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship will take place from Sept. 10 to 15 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. The race course will differ for the cars in the pro classes, covering 424.96 miles, while the pro motorcycles will cover a greater distance of 434.52 miles. The Sportsman classes will also have different distances, with motorcycles racing 393.91 miles and cars 384.35 miles.
With qualifying for the SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE Trophy Truck Legend, and the Trophy Truck Spec class scheduled for next Wednesday, the finalists from the previous SCORE Baja 500 in June will start the SCORE Baja 400 in the same position where they finished the previous SCORE race.
Meanwhile, competitors who did not participate in that race were part of a drawing to determine their starting positions.
The pre-race contingency row, start, and finish will take place on the Boulevard Costero in Ensenada, in front of the Riviera Center of Ensenada. Additionally, there will be a new feature with Nelson Ranch serving as the timing start and finish area, who will need to drive at normal traffic speeds from that area until reaching the tourist zone of Ensenada to receive the checkered flag adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero.

ON THE BOARD
With over 210 entries anticipated at the third race of the 51st season of SCORE desert racing, 182 total entries have been received so far for the newest SCORE event, with racers representing 22 U.S. States, and 12 countries. The countries with at least one racer so far are United States, host country Mexico, U.S. Territory Puerto Rico, Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, France, Ecuador, New Zealand, and Venezuela.
DOUBLE DIGITS
With double-digit entries to date are the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck (high-tech, unlimited, 1000-horsepower, custom trucks) with 31, Trophy Truck Spec, (SCORE Trophy Trucks with spec engines) with 26, Pro UTV Open with 18, Pro UTV FI with 13, Pro UTV Stock and Class 10 with 12.

MORE FIRST STARTS
Among the racers who will start first in their respective four-wheel vehicle classes in this year’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, based on the results of the last race are Cody Reid, Apple Valley, Calif. (Class 1, No. 168), Francisco Vera, El Rosario, Mexico (Class 10, No. 1000), Cayden MacCachren, Las Vegas (Pro UTV Open, No. 1821), Phil Blurton, Auburn, Calif. (Pro UTV FI, No. 2944), Daniel Chamlee, San Felipe, Mexico (Class 7, No. 700), David Pedder, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Pro UTV NA, No. 1984), Francisco Beltran, La Paz, Mexico (Pro UTV Stock, No. 3921), Daniel Goodrich, Chula Vista, Calif. (Class 1/2-1600, No. 1606), and Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico (Class 11, No. 1111).
Besides Salas Junior in Pro Moto Unlimited, among the other motorcycle first starts will be the teams led by Armando Ortiz, Tijuana, Mexico (Pro Moto Limited, No. 110x), Ethan Wheeler, Ocean Beach, Calif. (Pro Moto 30, No. 317x), Mike Prunty, Temecula, Calif. (Pro Moto 50, No. 547), Francisco Septien, Ensenada, Mexico (Pro Moto 40, No. 411x), and Patricio Cabrera, Chile (Pro Moto Ironman, No. 745x).

GREEN FLAG
The 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, will be an elapsed-time race with staggered starts as the green flag on Saturday, Sept. 14 will drop first for the motorcycles and quads at 4:15 a.m. (PT) and 9 a.m. (PT) for the cars, trucks and UTVs. While the fastest vehicles are expected to finish in around eight and one-half hours, all vehicles will have a 16-hour time limit in the 424.96 mile-race and 434.52 mile-race to become official finishers in the popular race.

ROBERTSON, A GREAT LEGENDARY MARSHAL
San Diego’s Doug Robertson, a legendary Class 5 SCORE champion driver, has been selected by SCORE to be the Grand Marshal for this month’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
Robertson, and his late brother Don Robertson, built their own Class 5 unlimited VW Baja Bugs and together they were both stellar racers in the late 1970s.
Sponsored by the Bilstein shock absorber company that was just starting to grow in the United States after starting decades before in Germany, the Robertson brothers were admired in their Bilstein race cars.
Doug and Don were the 1977 SCORE Overall and Class 5 season point champions. Their Overall championship is the only time in the history of SCORE that a Class 5 vehicle has won the overall point title.
The brothers started out as teenagers on motorcycles in the desert and then got involved with some Jeep racers as codrivers. Their first event was the Ensenada 300 in 1973.
Among their individual Class 5 victories were the 1977 and 1979 SCORE Baja 500 and the 1976, 1977 and 1979 SCORE Baja 1000.
Working in management for several decades, Doug Robertson became the President of Bilstein USA and retired in 2010. While there, in addition to a prolific presence in SCORE racing, Bilstein became the standard in NASCAR racing, winning 10 straight championships.

Source: Score International / Gabriel Garcia
Picture: GetSome Photo.

Alan Ampudia will be aboard No. 10 SCORE Trophy Truck No. and his brother Rodrigo Ampudia Jr will be driving No. 2910 Can-Am Maverick R in Pro UTV FI

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico- Team Papas and Beer will be looking to win the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, in two different classes, with Mexico brothers Alan Ampudia, 33, and Rodrigo Ampudia Jr, 39, both of Ensenada, racing in next month’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
Round 3 of the four-race 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held Sept. 10-15 in Ensenada, Baja California.
Alan Ampudia will be behind the wheel of his Team Papas and Beer SCORE Trophy Truck No. 10 Ford Raptor Mason AWD, who will try to beat the 424.96-mile race course, which will start and finish on Ensenada's Boulevard Costero, to become the first Mexican to win the overall SCORE Baja 400.
Ampudia Jr will drive his Team Papas and Beer No. 2910 Can-Am Maverick R, trying to win the Pro UTV FI class.
Never in the history of this newest SCORE race has a Mexican racer been able to win the overall in cars/trucks/utvs, something that Alan Ampudia will try to do just two days before the celebration of the 214th anniversary of Mexican Independence, which will be a very special date for the Aztec fans and for him.
Alan Ampudiais currently second in the 2024 SCORE Desert 2024 World Championship in the SCORE Trophy Truck class with 235 points, four less than leader, Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildósola Jr, after winning the 37th King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 and his 10th place in the 56th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.
Rodrigo Ampudia Jr changed classes this race, as he raced the SCORE San Felipe and the SCORE Baja 500 in the Pro Stock UTV class, but was unable to finish either of those two races due to mechanical problems in his Can-Am. His challenge now is greater in the Pro UTV FI (Forced Induction) class.

POPULAR ‘CHAVO’ OF BOLIVIA IS BACK
After missing June's SCORE Baja 500, Bolivia's greatest athlete in history Juan Carlos ‘Chavo’ Salvatierra, 43, of Bolivia, will be back in the deserts of Baja California aboard the No. 1x KTM XCF-450 motorcycle with the Chavo Salvatierra Racing/KTM team, hand in hand with a constellation of motorcycling stars, including Shane Logan, 22, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Corbin McPhearson, 23, Hurricane, Utah, and Callum Norton, 24, Australia.
Salvatierra, who raced in nine editions of the Dakar Rally in South America, is current SCORE point champion in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, having also won the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, on a peninsula race course, but which went in reverse, for the first time in the history of “The Mother of All Off-Road Races”, starting in La Paz, Baja California South, and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California.
Callum Norton, who is an official KTM athlete, is one of the new figures of motorcycling in Australia, trying to emulate the steps of Toby Price, who will also be present at the SCORE Baja 400, but as an official Team Australia driver in the SCORE Trophy Truck No. 46, alongside Paul Weel.
Almost a year ago, Juan Carlos Salvatierra won the 4th SCORE Baja 400 overall and in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, so he will be defending his crown in Ensenada, remembering that, back then, he rode the 384.66 miles route in 8 hours, 52 minutes and 58 seconds.

SCORE BAJA 400 ‘FEVER’ RISES
As of today, the number of teams registered for the SCORE Baja 400 is 165, with racers from 22 U.S. States, as well as the U.S. Territory Puerto Rico, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Venezuela, and host country Mexico.
The class with the most entries so far is the SCORE Trophy Truck with 31, including eight SCORE Trophy Truck Legend teams for drivers 50 years of age and older, followed by the Trophy Truck Spec class with 26. Also with double-figure entries to date are Pro UTV Open (15), Pro UTV FI (12) and Class 10 (11).
Among motorcycles, the class with the highest number of entries is Pro Moto Unlimited with seven, followed by the Pro Moto Ironman and Pro Moto 30 classes with five entries each.

SO MUCH FUN IN BAJA
SCORE will feature a 424.96-mile race course for the pro class trucks and cars, while the bikes in the pro classes will travel a longer distance, 434.52 miles, and in the case of the sportsman classes, their race course will feature 393.93 miles for motorcycles/quads, while the cars will travel 384.35 miles.
The first motorcycle start will be at 4:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, Sept, 14 on Boulevard Costero in Ensenada, and the cars will receive the green flag at the same place at 9 a.m. PT.
All competitors will have a 16-hour time limit to finish the race. The fastest car or truck is expected to finish the race in approximately eight hours, while the first motorcycle in the off-road adventure is expected to complete the course in about nine hours.

BAJA BEAUTY RACE COURSE
The race course will run counterclockwise, starting, and finishing on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
From the start, the route will pass through Rancho Nelson, Rancho Cascabeles, and then cross the Highway No. 3 at kilometer 33, to head towards Rancho Grijalva in Ojos Negros, and climb towards the mountains of the Uruapan ejido, then take federal Highway No. 1, at the height of the Acambaro market, for 6.56 miles of pavement at controlled speed, until reaching the Santo Tomás for an area of high-speed roads, as well as the beach at Punta Cabras and the ejido Erendira.
The racers will have to enter the San Vicente wash, to continue to the Lopez Rayon ejido, Malibu Beach, Cerro Solo and the Johnson Ranch, to then go around the Punta Colonet ejido, returning by the highway to Llano Colorado, take the road to La Calentura, Los Llanitos, go to Valle de la Trinidad, go up to the Leandro Valle ejido and exit by the access road to the Mike Sky ranch.
Again, the race will go on part of the Federal Highway No. 2, to go up to the famous area of ‘The Goat Trail’, then following the route through the ejido Jamau, the ejido Santa Catarina and will take the new highway, at kilometer 78, for a short speed zone, until heading to kilometer 77, going into Cerro Colorado, the stream of El Mezcal, Ojos Negros and until arriving at the Rancho Nelson and back to Boulevard Costero in the heart on Ensenada.
For the motorcycles, the route will be separated from the cars by nine miles, with enduro type roads, which will demand the maximum from the riders to try to cross the finish line on Boulevard Costero.
The race course will have two physical checkpoints, No. 1 will be at Ejido 27 de Enero (race mile 196.45), and No. 2 on the access road to Mike's Ranch (race mile 287.51), as well as 307 VCP´S and a total of 12 controlled speed zones for a total of 43.59 miles.
BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE, will have two pits for teams registered with them, the first one before reaching Cerro Solo (mile 136.55) and the second one in San Matías (mile 288.25).

ALMOST PARTY TIME IN ENSENADA
Summer break for the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship is over, as registration continues for the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing. Round 3 of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization will be held Sept. 10-15 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, a colorful port city known as ‘The Off-Road Capital of the World’.
On Friday, Sept. 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Ensenada's Boulevard Costero, the contingency row will take place, a totally family-friendly event with free admission to the public.
The awards celebration will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Cathedral Room of the Riviera del Pacifico Center at 11:30 a.m., an event that will be broadcast live on SCORE's different internet platforms and will be hosted by Rat Sult, the official voice of SCORE for the last nine years.

METHOD RACE WHEELS QUALIFYING
SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend and Trophy Truck Spec classes will hold the Method Race Wheels Qualifying session on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Starting with at 7 a.m. PT at a private venue, this event is closed to the public.
The Method Race Wheels Qualifying will determine the starting order in those three classes for the race, as this is the first time in the history that all SCORE four races will hold a qualifying session.
SCORE Live will air the Method Race Wheels Qualifying through the SCORE website.

Source: Score International / Gabriel Garcia
Picture: GetSome Photo.

A magnificent race course through classic areas of Baja California, plus some new areas, is the challenge chosen by SCORE President Abelardo Grijalva for the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing.
The official course map is now available for downloading at https://score-international.com/journal_v2.php?pagenum=24.
The third round of 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, to be held in Ensenada, Baja California, Sept. 10-15.
SCORE will feature a 424.96-mile race course for the Pro Trucks and Cars, while the Pro Motorcycles and Quad classes will travel 434.52 miles; for all Sportsman Moto and Quad classes, their race track will be 393.91 miles, and the reduced course for Sportsman 4-wheel vehicles will be 384.35 miles.
Abelardo Grijalva, SCORE President and Race Director, along with Rodolfo Fernandez, SCORE Co-Race Director, have laid out a route that will be a real challenge for the more than 220 race teams, who will travel next month to “The Cinderella of the Pacific”, from countries Australia, Canada, France, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, New Zealand, the United States, and host Mexico.
The first motorcycle start will be at 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 14 at the Boulevard Costero. Trucks and Cars will receive the green flag on Boulevard Costero at 9 a.m.
All competitors will have a 16-hour time limit to finish the race, so the fastest car is expected to finish the race in 8 hours, while the first motorcycle should finish the desert adventure in 9 hours.

A COURSE WITH THE BEST OF BAJA
The race course will run counterclockwise, starting and finishing on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
From the start, the route will pass through Rancho Nelson, Rancho Cascabeles, and then cross the Highway 3at kilometer 33, to head towards Rancho Grijalva in Ojos Negros, and climb towards the mountains of the Uruapan ejido, then take federal Highway No. 1, at the height of the Acambaro market, for 6.56 miles of pavement at controlled speed, until reaching the Santo Tomás for an area of high speed roads, as well as the beach at Punta Cabras and the ejido Erendira.
The racers will have to enter the San Vicente wash, to continue to the Lopez Rayon ejido, Malibu Beach, Cerro Solo and the Johnson Ranch, to then go around the Punta Colonet ejido, returning by the highway to Llano Colorado, take the road to La Calentura, Los Llanitos, go to Valle de la Trinidad, go up to the Leandro Valle ejido and exit by the access road to the Mike Sky ranch.
Again, the race will go on part of the Federal Highway No. 2, to go up to the famous area of ‘The Goat Trail’, then following the route through the ejido Jamau, the ejido Santa Catarina and will take the new highway, at kilometer 78, for a short speed zone, until heading to kilometer 77, going into Cerro Colorado, the stream of El Mezcal, Ojos Negros and until arriving at the Rancho Nelson and back to Boulevard Costero in the heart on Ensenada.
For the motorcycles, the route will be separated from the cars by 9 miles, with enduro type roads, which will demand the maximum from the riders to try to cross the finish line and finish on Boulevard Costero.
The race course will have two physical checkpoints, No. 1 will be installed at Ejido 27 de Enero (race mile 196.45), and No. 2 on the access road to Mike's Ranch (race mile 287.51), as well as 307 visual checkpoints and a total of 12 controlled speed zones for a total of 43.59 miles.
BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE, will have two pits for teams registered with them, the first one before reaching Cerro Solo (mile 136.55) and the second one in San Matías (mile 288.25).

ENSENADA, THE HOME OF THE SCORE BAJA 400
Summer break for the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship is over, as registration continues for in the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing. Round 3 of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization will be held Sept. 10-15 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, a colorful port city known as ‘The Off-Road Capital of the World’.
On Friday, Sept. 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Ensenada's Boulevard Costero, the contingency row will take place, a totally family-friendly event with free admission to the public.
The awards celebration will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Cathedral Room of the Riviera del Pacifico Center at 11:30 a.m., an event that will be broadcast live on SCORE's different internet platforms and will be hosted by Rat Sult, the official voice of SCORE for the last nine years.

Source: Gabriel Garcia / Score International

• Three Decades of ‘Monsters of the Desert’ in SCORE racing;
• Baja legends have paraded through the SCORE Trophy Truck, including Rob MacCachren, Ivan Stewart, and Larry Ragland

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico-To talk about SCORE Trophy Truck is to talk about the greatest show on earth, a class that already has 30 years of existence, since the idea of attracting the most important automotive companies ignited in the mind of the iconic former SCORE owner Hall of Famer Sal Fish.
Vehicles that have amazed millions of people in the deserts of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nevada, Arizona, and California, as well as its fame has spread beyond the borders of the North American continent, to Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
There have been 153 races for the marquee ‘Monsters of the Desert’ class for two-wheel and All-Wheel Drive unlimited custom trucks, with more than 1000 horsepower. With a cost of more than US$1 million dollars and the ultimate in technology, they are considered by racers, engineers, and fans around the world as the Formula 1 of desert racing.
Showcased in different feature films, like Dust to Glory and Dust2Glory, SCORE Trophy Trucks have also appeared in different videos of companies focused on off-road racing, or even video games on consoles such as Xbox 360 and Play Station 4, which speaks of the high impact of this class in this sport.
Celebrities such as the creator of the motorcycle company West Coast Choppers, Jesse James, one of the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball, Bobby Patton, former Indy Car Series drivers Robby Gordon and Danny Sullivan, former NASCAR Series drivers Jimmie Johnson, Brendan Gaughan and Justin Lofton, as well as past Dakar Rally winners Nasser Al Attiyah and  Toby Price, have all raced in SCORE Trophy Truck at least once.

THE G.O.A.T. OF OFF-ROAD
Rob MacCachren, 59, Las Vegas, is the winningest driver in the 30-year history in the SCORE Trophy Truck, by adding 20 career victories through the deserts of Mexico and the United States, who is considered the most complete and winningest driver in Off-Road, who was also the first champion of this class, in 1994, as part of the Venable Racing team and the Rough Riders, a project that was headed by the Ford company at the time.
The track record of “Big Mac” is immense. He has won everything in this sport, including four SCORE Trophy Truck season point championships (1994, 2007, 2018 and 2021) with which he is now living a new stage in his sporting career, as official driver of the Fastball Racing team and focused on improving the newest version of Jimco Racing, an All-Wheel Drive SCORE Trophy Truck.
 MacCachren won the Baja 1000 in the SCORE Trophy Truck in 2007, as part of the Riviera Racing team alongside Mark Post and Carl Renezeder, then in 2014, 2015 and 2016, alongside Jason Voss and Andy McMillin, to return to the top in 2021 and 2022 with Luke McMillin, aboard the No. 1 McMillin Racing Chevrolet 1500.

ANDY ON THE HUNT FOR BIG MAC
Andy McMillin, 36, San Diego, is an exceptional talent, having learned many of the secrets of the sport from his late grandfather Corky McMillin, as well as his father Scott McMillin and uncle Mark McMillin. Andy McMillin has 12 career race wins in the history of the SCORE Trophy Truck, making him the closest active driver who can reach Rob MacCachren's 20 victories in the future.
‘Bebo’ McMillin, has established luxury alliances in this sport, next to Robby Gordon, winning in 2006 the Baja 1000 in the SCORE Trophy Truck, and the overall of the peninsula event, or also with the same ‘Big Mac’, prevailing in ‘The Mother of all off-road races’ at his side, in 2014 and 2015.
Now as part of the McMillin Racing team alongside his cousin Dan McMillin, 36, San Diego, California, Andy is bringing his passion for the sport, his driving skills and his experience in the deserts of Baja California to fight for the checkered flag in the four races of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship.

‘TAVO’, THE MEXICAN WARRIOR
Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr., 42, Mexicali, Baja California, is the Mexican driver with the most career race wins in the SCORE Trophy Truck with seven, several of them alongside his father Gustavo Vildósola Sr. Tavo won the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, alongside Bryce Menzies and Andy McMillin, in a historic ride, starting the race for the first time in the port of La Paz, Baja California Sur and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California.
‘Tavo’ is the current leader of the SCORE Trophy Truck in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship with 239 points, still in search of his first crown in this class with his team Vildosola Racing, who has a very aggressive driving style and thousands of Mexican fans in this sport.

A TERRIBLE LEGACY IN SCORING
Ed Herbst, 63, and his younger brother Tim Herbst, 61, Las Vegas, Nevada are among the most winners in the history of the SCORE Trophy Truck with 11 victories, starting their steps in this class in 1996 with the Ford F-150 of the president and owner of the Ultra Custom Wheels company, Jim Smith. Later the developed to their own Trucks, created by the mind of Mike Smith, including a 4x4 truck that was released in 2000 and now under the new version of their company, 1 Nine Industries.
Tim Herbst also won four SCORE Trophy Truck championships alongside his older brother Ed, in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003, precisely that year, was the last year they won a SCORE race in this class. Thinking of leaving that bad streak behind this year, with the help of experienced driver Pat Dean, who has become Tim's ideal partner.

NEXT ROUND, 5th SCORE BAJA 400, Presented by VP Racing
 From Sept. 10-15, the third round of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held in Ensenada, Baja California, the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, an event in which more than 35 SCORE Trophy Trucks are expected to be in action, within the 394.17 miles race course, which will start and finish on Boulevard Costero.

METHOD RACE WHEELS QUALIFYING
SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend and Trophy Truck Spec classes will hold the Method Race Wheels Qualifying session on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Starting with at 7 a.m. PT at a private venue, this event is closed to the public.
The Method Race Wheels Qualifying will determine the starting order in those three classes for the race, as this is the first time in the history of this that all SCORE four races will hold a qualifying session.
SCORE Live will air the Method Race Wheels Qualifying through the SCORE website.

Source: Score International (Gabriel Garcia)

• Las Vegas’ Bryce Menzies, has established dominance in SCORE's newest race, the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, by winning the last three editions of the race overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck.
• He starts as the heavy favorite to take the checkered flag again on Round 3 of the four-race 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, to be held Sept. 10-15 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

Menzies, a former short course champion in both the old CORR and Lucas Oil series, is the leader of the Menzies Motorsports team and sits third in the SCORE Trophy Truck with 229 points after finishing fourth in the King Shocks 37th SCORE San Felipe 250, as well as another fourth-place finish in the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500.

Learning many of the secrets of off-road racing from the most complete driver of all time, Rob MacCachren, as well as Larry Job, Menzies is a driving ace and has 10 career SCORE Trophy Truck race victories, winning the SCORE Baja 1000, SCORE Baja 500, and SCORE San Felipe 250 on at least one occasion overall.
Menzies Motorsports team's No.7 Mason Motorsports Ford Raptor All Wheel drive will be in Ensenada, Baja California on the 394.17-mile race course, which will start and finish on Saturday, Sept. 14 on Ensenada's famous Boulevard Costero.

INCREASING NUMBERS
As of today, the number of registered race teams is 88 for the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, highlighting that there are racers from 18 states of the United States, as well as from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Venezuela, and the host country Mexico.
The class with the most entries so far is the SCORE Trophy Trucks with 27, including 5 SCORE Trophy Trucks Legend, while second is the Trophy Truck Spec class with 20, figures that will continue to rise in the coming weeks at the SCORE office in Ensenada, as well on the official SCORE website.

AMADO, AN ADVENTURER FROM VENEZUELA
Alirio Amado, 46, from Venezuela, resident of The Woodlands, Texas, who is the current SCORE champion in the Pro Moto 40 class, so in this SCORE Baja 400 he will be aboard his motorcycle No. 400x Yamaha WR450F, thinking about achieving his first 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship victory, after finishing third in the SCORE San Felipe 250 and third place in the SCORE Baja 500.
For this SCORE Baja 400, Amado, who wears the colors with much pride and also honoring the memory of his friend Juan Zunino from Argentina, who passed away in 2023 during the SCORE Baja 500 pre-run, will join forces with Ignacio Laviosa, 44, Zephr Hills, Florida. Alirio Amado is currently third with 190 points in the Pro Moto 40 class, just 20 points behind championship leader Francisco Septien, of Ensenada, who currently has 210 points.

THE ODDS ARE WITH CHAMLEE
Dan Chamlee, 62, Montecito, Calif., but who also shares his time with his family at his home in San Felipe, Baja California, is the top winner of the SCORE Baja 400 in Class 7, always driving his No. 700 Ford Ranger in his four victories, making him the rival to beat in September.
Chamlee, who has won 19 Class 7 season point crowns in the last 20 years—including 18 straight, comes in from winning the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500 in Class 7, recovering from an unexpected retirement this past March during the SCORE San Felipe 250, to be second in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship with 150 points.

THE FUN OF THE PRE-RUN IS APPROACHING
On Saturday, Aug. 31 at 8:00 a.m. the SCORE Baja 400 race course will be open for pre-running, highlighting that this activity is exclusive to teams officially registered for the race, who must drive at low speeds on the road, cities, as well as in the ejidos through which the race course travels.
Thursday, Aug. 29, race teams will have access to the SCORE Baja 400 GPS route files at www.score-international.com, as well as race information, including course details.

METHOD RACE WHEELS QUALIFYING
SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend and Trophy Truck Spec classes will hold the Method Race Wheels Qualifying session on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Starting with at 7 a.m. PT at a private venue, this event is closed to the public.
The Method Race Wheels Qualifying will determine the starting order in those three classes for the race, as this is the first time in the history of this that all SCORE four races will hold a qualifying session.
SCORE Live will air the Method Race Wheels Qualifying through the SCORE website.
Start order for all of the other classes in this race will be determined by the finishing order from the previous race along with a random draw for positions within each class for entries that did not compete in the previous race.

Source: SCORE International

• Competition Heats Up
• Colton Udall 3rd Time
• Dakar Rookie Jordan Strachen-Malle Moto
• Full Entry List Reveal +55 Senior Class

More than 35 motorbike racers are locked into their final preparations getting their machines and teams to San Quintin for the 10th Edition of Baja Rally Powered By RALLY COMP, a Six Day competitive odyssey through the heart of the Baja California Peninsula.

COLTON UDALL #5
Atop the entry list in Rally Pro is multi-time SCORE Champion Colton Udall who will make his 3rd attempt (P4 in 2018 and P2 in 2019) under the the BajaBound Insurance banner. Well known for his JCR Honda Racing roots, Udall's longevity in the off-road racing world is insulated by his career in bike building, rider training and Champion Adventures Baja Tours.

"It's always a good time in Baja", Colton says, "I've had 2 good rally finishes under my belt but still have that championship to add to the mantle. Something about the unique routes and format of Baja Rally is drawing me back so I'm psyched to get to the starting line."

JORDAN STRACHEN #73
Canadian speedster and well rounded enduro ace Jordan Strachen-Reed has just been accepted to make his 2025 Dakar Rally debut in Saudi Arabia. He makes his Six Day Baja Rally debut as an organization-supported rider in the Malle Moto category to train and prepare for the big stage this January.

+55 SENIOR CATEGORY MAKES OFFICIAL DEBUT
Although previous Baja Rally editions have allowed +55 Senior riders as a classification, 2024 marks the first year the category takes the lion's share of entries, with at least 8 riders throwing their figurative hats into the ring. "We've had a Senior Category before," explains Baja Rally General Director Mauricio Parra, "Now we have a larger field of candidates, that makes it feel more official for us to promote this group of experienced racers and hopefully more to come."

Source: Baja Rally

 South Australia’s Riverland will be the epicentre of off road in July as the Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park hosts Round Three of the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC).

Renowned for its scenic beauty and rich tourism offerings, South Australia’s Riverland attracts visitors from around the globe.

The region boasts cellar doors, restaurants, local food vendors, and activities centred around the majestic Murray River, making it a beloved destination for many.

Off road enthusiasts eager to experience the event on 26-28 July will be in for a treat, with the Loveday 400 draw to competitors from across Australia and New Zealand. The event promises a thrilling display of Australia’s best crews featuring trucks and buggies across the classes, with the iconic Loveday Tavern only metres from the action throughout the day.

The Loveday 400 has earned a stellar reputation as a spectator friendly off road event thanks to the efforts of the organisers.

Park owner Tony Whateley emphasised their commitment to delivering an affordable and enjoyable event.

“We have gone to great lengths to keep the cost down for spectators in today’s economic climate,” Whateley said.

“Adult entry has been lowered to just $30 per person for the whole weekend to cover our costs. Entry includes camping behind the tavern over the three days with a modern shower and toilet block.”

Jody, the kitchen organiser for the event, added: “A full menu and drinks will be available over the weekend. Spectators are welcome to bring their own supplies but please follow the Riverland’s fruit fly policy. No BYO is allowed in the Tavern and spectator areas due to our liquor licence restrictions.”

The 2024 Loveday 400 takes place on 26-28 July 2024, at Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park.

For more information, visit the Loveday website.

Source: AORC

Following a memorable Tatts Finke Desert Race, the focus of the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship now turns to the popular Loveday 400 event.

Hosted at the impressive Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park in South Australia, entries are now open for the event which takes place on 26-28 July and sees competitors tackle a purpose-built off road course that has proved to be a welcome addition to the AORC calendar.

Prologue takes place on Friday with a 7km short burst around the venue, before 10 laps split across Saturday and Sunday of 40km each – making a total of 400km for the event across four sections.

Last year’s Loveday 400 was won by nine-time AORC champion Shannon Rentsch, while the 2023 Championship was also decided at the event with Travis Robinson and Andrew Pinto claiming honours. The round was also the penultimate event for the 2023 AORC season, however this year the event is the third round of the Championship – meaning the title battle remains well and truly up for grabs.

The event also promises to be a special one for spectators with camping available at the track.

Loveday Tavern will be serving food and drinks throughout the weekend, with entry to the event just $30 for the entire weekend’s action.

Event organiser Tony Whateley said the course was in perfect condition ahead of the return of the AORC.

“The Loveday track is a drivers track, you have to work hard driving this track,” Wheatley said. “It’s well known for having great jumps as well so it will be a weekend to remember.”

Entries for the event are open through the Motorsport Australia Event Entry system.

The 2024 Loveday 400 takes place in Loveday, South Australia on 26-28 July.

Source: AORC