Baja 500 2023: 32 Desert Thoroughbreds set for Score Baja 500

The mysterious and magical roads of the Baja California peninsula will be the main attraction of the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000. The race course map is now available for everyone at www.score-international.com, covering 869.13 miles for pro classes of motorcycle and trucks, all starting and finishing their adventure on the Boulevard Costero, adjacent to the Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.

From Nov. 11 to 17, the excitement of the fourth and final round of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship will take place in "The Cinderella of the Pacific," with nearly 300 teams expected from Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, South America and North America in a new chapter of the world’s most important desert race, which has captured the attention of millions for over five decades.
Since its inception in 1967 as the Mexican 1000 by NORRA to its evolution into the SCORE Baja 1000 under Mickey Thompson and Sal Fish, this legendary desert race has reached levels of admiration that place it alongside the Dakar Rally in Africa and Europe, the Indianapolis 500, and even the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula One.
For the Sportsman classes of motorcycles, cars, trucks, and UTVs, the route will cover 736.61 miles, with all competitors having a 36-hour time limit to complete the elapsed-time SCORE Baja 1000.
Motorcycles and Quads will start receiving the Green Flag on the Boulevard Costero of Ensenada on Friday, Nov. 15, at 12:15am PT, while cars/trucks/UTVs will depart from the same area in front of the iconic Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center at 9am PT.
Overall winners are expected to complete the desert journey in approximately 15 hours for cars/trucks/UTVs, while motorcycles/quads will take 16 hours. The raceroute will showcase the best of the northern Baja California peninsula in terms of terrain, starting just steps from the Pacific Ocean, then crossing to the other side of the peninsula to advance at night along the Sea of Cortez, surrounded by the majesty of nature in this part of Mexico.

ROUTE TO GLORY
From the start of the SCORE Baja 1000 on Boulevard Costero in Ensenada, it then heads by road, at a moderate speed, towards Nelson Ranch. Competitors then proceed to Ojos Negros, Ejido Uruapan, Santo Tomas, Ejido Erendira, Punta Colonet, Ejido Jaramillo, San Quintin, Ejido Nueva Odisea, El Rosario, Catavina, Guayaquil, La Bachata wash, San Ignacito, Gonzaga, the infamous Matomi wash, Llanos de San Martin, El Azufre wash, Puertecitos old road, Chanate wash, Morelia Junction, Diablo dry lake, Las Minitas wash, El Chinero, La Ventana, Ejido Saldana 2, El Arrajal wash, the San Matias wind farm, the San Matias crossing highway, Valley of Trinidad, the popular Goat trail, Ejido Jamau, Santa Catarina, Kilometer 77, Ojos Negros, Real del Castillo, Nelson ranch, and back to Ensenada.
There will be three physical, full-stop checkpoints. CP No. 1 will be at Ejido El Papalote (race mile 209.69), No. 2 at Rancho San Martín (rm 378.5), and No. 3 at San Matias (rm 731.85).
There will also be a total of 494 Virtual Check Points (VCPs along the race course.
A total of 20 speed-controlled zones are part of this SCORE Baja 1000 race course, covering 125.42 miles, with sections where competitors must maintain a speed of 37 miles per hour, and in other areas, the maximum speed will be 60 miles per hour.

REGISTRATION OPEN
This morning, the registration period opened for racers, navigators, and race teams, as well as for media outlets covering the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000. Registrations can be completed at www.score-international.com, where the forms are already available to sign up and be part of the world's largest extreme adventure in motorsport and automotive racing.

PRE-RUNNING OPENS OCT. 26
On Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8am PT the pre-running for the SCORE Baja 1000 course will open for officially registered teams, marking the start of this special phase of desert racing, starting just past Ojos Negros. All participants are reminded to drive at moderate speeds, not racing speeds, during the reconnaissance, as well as to respect traffic laws in Mexico and the urban and rural areas through which the race course will pass.

METHOD RACE WHEELS QUALIFYING
Tuesday, Nov. 12 starting at 7am PT, the Method Race Wheels Qualifying for the SCORE Baja 1000 will take place for the SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legends, and Trophy Truck Spec classes at a private venue.
Spectators are not allowed at the Method Race Wheels qualifying session, but SCORE Live will air the activity on the SCORE website and SCORE social media channels.
Method Race Wheels Qualifying will determine the starting order in these three classes for "The Granddaddy of All Desert Races," marking the first time in SCORE history that all four events have qualifying, generating greater economic impact in the event locations, such as San Felipe and Ensenada.

MUCHA FIESTA IN ENSENADA
For this SCORE Baja 1000, contingency row will be divided into two days: Wednesday, Nov. 13, and Thursday, Nov. 14. This popular activity will take place in the heart of Ensenada, on the Boulevard Costero, both days from 8am to 5pm (PT), with free entry for the public.
The awards ceremony for the SCORE Baja 1000 will be on Sunday, Nov, 17, at 12pm (PT) in the Cathedral Room of the Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center. This event will be open to the general public, marking the conclusion of the 57th anniversary of this legendary desert race.

Source: Score International

 San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico – September 29th 2024 — The highly anticipated Six Day Baja Rally 2024 has officially begun, bringing together passionate riders from around the world to compete in one of the most challenging and scenic off-road races. Organized by rally veterans Mauricio Parra and Scotty Bloom, and sponsored by Rally Comp, this event promises intense competition, camaraderie, and adventure over six exciting days of rugged terrain.
As the sun rose over the misty shores of San Quintín, riders gathered at Hotel Santa María to prepare for the event. The fog rolling in from the Pacific created a surreal atmosphere, with the sound of waves crashing on the shore blending with the hum of motorcycles being fine-tuned. Old friends shared stories, while new competitors eagerly lined up for registration, marking the official start of Six Day Baja Rally 2024.

Technical Inspections: Safety First with Dave Pearson
Dave Pearson, a renowned rider and veteran of the Dakar Rally’s Malle Moto class, took charge of the technical inspections. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Pearson is ensuring every rider and machine is prepared for the extreme conditions ahead.
"Safety is always the top priority," Pearson explained. "The basics are crucial—helmets, water, and first aid kits are mandatory. Then we get into the details of the bike: checking the tire beads, spokes, and ensuring the Rally Comp is operational." Pearson's rigorous checks guarantee that riders are equipped not only to race but to do so safely.

The Baja Rally uses the Rally Comp, a GPS-based navigation tool that helps riders stay on course, track their progress, and, if needed, call for emergency assistance. This technology, combined with Pearson’s thorough inspections, gives riders peace of mind as they tackle the rally’s demanding stages.

Newcomers Ready to Leave Their Mark
Among the fresh faces at this year’s rally is Carlos Rocha, a Mexican-American rider, in the Senior Classification, representing the U.S. on his Husqvarna. Calm and composed, Rocha shared his passion for the sport: "Motorcycles have always been in my heart. Being here, competing with so many talented riders—it’s a dream come true."
Rocha is just one of many new competitors eager to test their skills against seasoned veterans, adding a layer of excitement to this year's event.

Racers' Meeting: Final Preparations and Safety Briefing
Later in the day, riders gathered for the mandatory meeting at Hotel Mission Santa María’s ballroom. The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation as teams reviewed strategies and discussed safety protocols to ensure everyone understood the challenges ahead. The meeting emphasized the importance of preparation and teamwork for the coming days.
Victor Orellana, an event tracking and dispatch manager working with Baja Rally and Rally Comp, explained the crucial differences between traveling neutralization points and full-stop zones. “Gas stops are typically in areas where they want riders to stay, so nobody can gain an advantage. You fill up and take a little break, but you need to remain in the neutralization zone,” Orellana explained. “Then there’s the traveling neutralization zone, where the clock is paused, and riders go from point A to point B without being timed. These are usually transits through delicate areas and cities, where the race clock is paused to let riders get through safely."
Orellana’s expertise stems from his role as the creator of www.chasingwaypoints.com a podcast focused on rally raids, local events, and the rally scene. His role in tracking riders during the race ensures real-time monitoring and emergency response if needed.

Jordan Strachan: Focused on Dakar 2025
Canadian rider Jordan Strachan, a fan favorite, shared his mindset heading into the Baja Rally, with his ultimate goal set on Dakar 2025. "I try to stay calm," Strachan said. "My focus is on keeping the bike steady, warming up, and letting things fall into place."
Strachan’s strategy revolves around patience. "I’ll take it easy in the early stages and push harder when the time is right. Consistency is what will get me to the finish line safely."
When asked about his biggest challenge, Strachan was clear: "Staying safe. It’s not about outright speed for me—it’s about endurance and making smart decisions." He acknowledged the strength of his competitors as well. “There are so many good riders out here. Colton’s going to dust me—he’s fast, and an unreal rider. Same with Tony and Mike. All those guys are strong racers.”
Despite the tough competition, Strachan remains focused on his own performance, knowing that endurance and consistency will be key to a strong finish.

Source Baja Rally

• American driver Bryce Menzies of the Menzies Motorsports team won the race for the fourth consecutive year in the SCORE Trophy Truck class on the 424.96-mile race course, while the Slam Life Racing team was the top performer in motorcycles on the 434.52-mile race course

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico – After an exciting week in Ensenada, Baja California, Bryce Menzies, 37, Las Vegas, Nevada, won the overall in the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, while Justin Morgan and Tyler Lynn were the overall motorcycle winners with the Slam Life Racing team.
Menzies crossed the finish line on Boulevard Costero Ensenada, driving his Ford Raptor No. 1 from the Menzies Motorsports team, in 7 hours, 53 minutes, and 57 seconds. This was his fourth consecutive win in the SCORE Baja 400 and his first in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship. This was his 11th victory in the history of SCORE Trophy Truck, a class created by the “Godfather of Off-Road,” Sal Fish, tying him with legends of the sport like former NASCAR Series and IndyCar Series driver Robby Gordon, Larry Ragland, Ed Herbst, and Tim Herbst.
Alan Ampudia, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, finished second in the SCORE Trophy Truck No. 10 of Team Papas and Beer after 7:56:51 of intense battle through Ensenada, marking his second podium in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship.
A total of 192 race teams participated in the SCORE Baja 400, which featured two start and finish sites: Boulevard Costero in Ensenada and Rancho Nelson in the Piedras Gordas ejido. Of these, 140 crossed the finish line, resulting in a 72.91% finish rate.
This SCORE Baja 400 have participants from U.S. Territory Puerto Rico, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, United States, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Venezuela, and host country Mexico.
According to Baja California tourism officials, the economic impact of the race is expected to be $8.5 million of dollars, with more than three weeks of events for the competing teams, including track reconnaissance, the awards ceremony held at the Riviera Social and Cultural Center Salon Catedral, and their return to their home countries via the Scenic Highway.

MORGAN AND LYNN END SALAS DOMINANCE
Justin Morgan, 34, El Cajon, California, and Tyler Lynn, 23, Mona, Utah, from the Slam Life Racing team, were the overall Motorcycle winners of the SCORE Baja 400, ending Arturo Salas Junior’s two-race winning streak. Salas, 22, Tecate, Baja California, finished second after a very intense battle along the 434.52-mile race course.
Morgan and Lynn shared time on the No. 7x Honda CRF450X motorcycle, taking the checkered flag after 8:46:56. Salas Junior crossed the finish line in 9:01:24, setting the stage for another epic battle in November during the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000, which will be held from November 10 to 17 in Ensenada, Baja California.

VILDOSOLA AND JOHNSON, UNBEATEN
Gustavo Vildósola Sr., from Mexicali, Baja California, and Ricky Johnson achieved their 11th consecutive win in the SCORE TT Legend class (SCORE Trophy Truck drivers over 50 years old, driving their Ford Raptor Number 1L from the Vildósola Racing team, with a time of 8:24:25.
With this victory celebrating Mexico’s 214th Independence anniversary, Vildosola Sr. and Johnson are aiming for a new sweep in the SCORE season, while Tim Herbst and Pat Dean finished second in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend, making their debut in this class after previously competing in the SCORE Trophy Truck.

SPECTACULAR WIN FOR QUINN AND HERDER
In Class 1, the Wilson Motorsports team emerged victorious with their Jimco No. 138 open-wheel desert race car, with Kyle Quinn, Long Beach, Calif., and John Herder, Tucson, Ariz., sharing driving duties along the route, marking their second win of the SCORE season with a time of 8:44:27.
Quinn and Herder outperformed a group of seven participants, with Cody Reid, Apple Valley, Calif., finishing second in Class 1. Reid drove his Alumi Craft-Chevrolet open-wheeler through the deserts, beaches, and mountains of Baja California.

VIVA MEXICO AND SAMPIETRO
Jorge Sampietro, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, won the SCORE Baja 400 in the Trophy Truck Spec class with his Mason Truck-Chevrolet, with an official time of 8:31:57. This is his first win in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, dedicating his victory to the people of Mexico for the 214th anniversary of their country’s independence.
In Class 10, Bruce Yee, 24, from Rosarito Beach, Baja California, secured victory driving solo in his Alumi Craft-Honda open-wheel desert race car from the Yees Motorsports team, against a group of 12 rivals from the United States and Mexico. Yee also won the 37th edition of the King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 earlier this year.
Rodrigo Ampudia Junior, 39, Ensenada, Baja California, won the Pro UTV Forced Induction class, another great result for “The Mexican Armada” in the SCORE Baja 400, with an official time of 9 hours, 48 minutes, and 42 seconds in his No. 2910 Can-Am Maverick R from Team Papas and Beer.

‘MINI MAC’ PERFECT SEASON
In the Pro UTV Open class, Cayden MacCachren, 22, Las Vegas, achieved his fourth consecutive SCORE win and third of the year for the official Polaris team. He is on a direct path to the annual title, creating a stellar story in Off-Road, just as his legendary father, Rob MacCachren (the G.O.A.T. of off- road racing), continues to do.
Cayden drove his Polaris RZR Pro R No. 1821 to the finish on Boulevard Costero of Ensenada, stopping the clock at 9:5:51, beating his teammate Brock Heger, El Centro, Calif. by almost 2 minutes in a magical adventure on Mexican soil.

ROBERTS, A “STEEL ATHLETE”
In the Pro Moto Ironman class, Brian Roberts, 35, Hemet, Calif., became the winner after completing the 434.52-mile race course without relays on his Honda CRF450X No. 788x motorcycle, with a time of 10:48:29 seconds. This was his first win of the year.

MILLEN, A WINNING CELEBRITY IN BAJA
Action movie star Rhys Millen, 51, New Zealand, won in Class 7, substituting for Richard Fant, who could not attend the race. Millen finished with a time of 10:20:22 seconds.

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR FLEMATE
Oliver Flemate, 46, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, achieved a double win in the SCORE Baja 400, first in SCORE Lites and then in Class 11, with the support of Antonio Espinoza, 30, Ensenada, Baja California. Flemate had a busy week in his city, with limited time due to his multiple activities. He completed the SCORE Lites race with a time of 10:50:59 over the 424.96-mile route, and in Class 11, his time was 15 hours, 21 minutes, and 14 seconds, marking his third win of 2024 in this class.

Picture: GetSome Photo.

Gus Vildosola top qualifier in SCORE TT Legend; Trey Gibbs top qualifier in Trophy Truck Spec. 186 entries to date from 22 States, 11 Countries; S/F line in front of Riviera CC;

SCORE Live --Contingency, S/F Line--Rat Sult host, assisted by Kevin Johnson; Vehicle Tracking throughout the race at www.score-international.com
Saturday—Motorcycles/quads start at 4:15 a.m. (PT), cars/trucks/utvs at 9 a.m. (PT)

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico – Continuing its sixth decade as the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization this year, the top three Method Race Wheels qualifiers Wednesday among nearly 200 racers expected to start Saturday’s 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, were Toby Price, Christopher Polvoorde, and Bryce Menzies.
Held over a 4.4-mile course 15 miles East of Ensenada at Rancho Nelson, Mexico, Multi-time motorcycle Dakar Rally winner Toby Price, 37, Australia, powered his Team Australia No. 46 Chevy Silverado, built by Mason Motorsports to the fastest qualifying time of five minutes, 49.583 seconds. He was fastest of the 23 SCORE Trophy Trucks out of 31 entries in the class that attempted to qualify.
Utah´s Christopher Polvoorde, 24, who finished third in the last SCORE Baja 500, finished with the second-fastest qualifying time this year, driving his No. 94 AWD Ford Raptor to a time of 5:54.459.
Las Vegas’ Menzies, 37, powered his way in a time of 5:54.870 to finish third in qualifying in the No. 1 all-wheel drive Mason-built Ford Mason SCORE Trophy Truck.
Fastest in the SCORE TT Legend class for SCORE Trophy Truck racers over 50 years old was Ricky Johnson, 59, El Cajon, Calif. (Driver of Record--Gustavo Vildosola Sr, 70, Mexicali, Mexico), in a time of 6:07.935 in the Vildosola Racing No. 1L Mason-built AWD Ford Raptor.
Top qualifier out of 25 entries in the Trophy Truck Spec class was Trey Gibbs, 23, Murrieta, Calif., in the No. 232 Mason-Ford in a time 6:17.246.
SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend, and Trophy Truck Spec were the only three classes required to participate in the Method Race Wheels Qualifying sessions for starting positions as the other start positions in the various classes were determined by individual finishes in the previous race and a drawing for new entries.

WHAT’S UP
The colorfully challenging 424.96-mile race course will start and finish and pre-race contingency will be held on Boulevard Costero, adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
Entering Thursday and Friday’s final two days of late, on-site race week registration, 187 official entries to date represent 22 U.S. States, and 11 countries. In addition to the USA, U.S. Territory Puerto Rico, and host country Mexico, racers so far have also come from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, and Venezuela.
With double figure entries so far are SCORE Trophy Truck (31), Trophy Truck Spec (25), Pro UTV Open (18), Pro UT FI (Forced Induction) with 16, Class 10 with 12, and Pro UTV Stock (12).
Ensenada is 80 miles south of the U.S. Border at San Diego on the Western side of the Baja peninsula along the Pacific Ocean.
All four 2022 SCORE races will be held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the ninth consecutive year.
SCORE, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization, is celebrating its 51st season in 2024.

SCORE LIVE
During Method Race Wheels Qualifying on Wednesday, contingency on Friday and the race on Saturday until the course closes on Sunday early morning, SCORE Live streaming will be broadcasting race activities and start and finish line interviews as well as live action from Drones, ground cameras and in-car cameras from around the race course. There will also be live Zoom interviews for individuals around the race course as part of SCORE Live for this race.
Popular Rat Sult, who is starting his ninth season as the voice of SCORE, will once again serve as host and lead ramp announcer of the expansive SCORE Live streaming. Assisting Sult will be Kevin Johnson.
Sult and Johnson will be announcing from the SCORE start/finish ramp while the show will also include SCORE studio announcers in El Cajon, Calif., providing live info and updates throughout the race. Host announce in the SCORE Studio will again be Brandon Johnson while co-host during the race will be Wes Miller.SCORE live is being produced again by SCORE Media House, Bud Brutsman, producer, Alberto Luna, on-site director.
SCORE live may be launched from the home page of the SCORE website or from the SCORE App.

GREEN FLAG SATURDAY
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 9:00 a.m. (PT) for the cars, trucks and UTVs. While the fastest vehicles are expected to finish in around eight hours, all vehicles will have a 16-hour time limit in the 424.96-mile race to become official finishers in the popular race.

Source:  Score International /  Gabriel Garcia
Photo: Toby Price 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)